Nest Feathers and Twine - Formally Artist's Block Studio

The things that make a house a home and the stuff that holds is all together.

Years ago I started this blog with a mindset and goals that I have found have changed direction over time. I am excited to say that this blog has a new name.....Nest Feathers and Twine. I hope you come by and visit often. Feel free to get comfortable and kick off your shoes and join me on this journey of metamorphosis.

Friday, February 24, 2006

part of studio friday something borrowed!

ok....it has been a rough couple of weeks around here.......i followed a link from a comment on my blog to this blog, i giggled to the point of tears.....thought i would borrow this from her blog and pass it on and share...... my father had a very warped sense of humor....he would have gotten a laugh outta these..........

o1. You - Off my planet.
2. Not the brightest crayon in the box now, are we?
3. Well, this day was a total waste of makeup.
4. Errors have been made. Others will be blamed.
5. I'm not crazy, I've just been in a very bad mood for 40 years.
6. Allow me to introduce my selves.
7. Sarcasm is just one more service we offer.
8. Whatever kind of look you were going for, you missed.
9. I'm just working here until a good fast-food job opens up.
10. I'm trying to imagine you with a personality.
11. Stress is when you wake up screaming and you realize you weren't asleep.
12. I can't remember if I'm the good twin or the evil one.
13. How many times do I have to flush before you go away?
14. I just want revenge. Is that so wrong?
15. Can I trade this job for what's behind door ..2?
16. Nice perfume. Must you marinate in it?
17. Chaos, panic, and disorder -- my work here is done.
18. Earth is full. Go home.
19. Is it time for your medication or mine?
20. How do I set a laser printer to stun?
21. I'm not tense, just terribly alert.

By all means share with other women in stressful positions. A daywithout a laugh is a wasted day!

THIS IS HYSTERICAL!!!
Little Golden Books that Never Made It:
1. You Are Different and That's Bad
2. The Boy Who Died From Eating All His Vegetables
3. Dad's New Wife Robert
4. Fun four-letter Words to Know and Share
5. Hammers, Screwdrivers and Scissors: An I-Can-Do-It Book
6. The Kids' Guide to Hitchhiking
7. Kathy Was So Bad Her Mom Stopped Loving Her
8. Curious George and the High-Voltage Fence
9. All Cats Go to Hell
10. The Little Sissy Who Snitched
11. Some Kittens Can Fly
12. That's it, I'm Putting You Up for Adoption
13. Grandpa Gets a Casket
14. The Magic World Inside the Abandoned Refrigerator
15. Garfield Gets Feline Leukemia
16. The Pop-Up Book of Human Anatomy
17. Strangers Have the Best Candy
18. Whining, Kicking and Crying to Get Your Way
19. You Were an Accident
20. Things Rich Kids Have, But You Never Will
21. Pop! Goes The Hamster...And Other Great Microwave Games
22. The Man in the Moon Is Actually Satan
23. Your Nightmares Are Real
24. Where Would You Like to Be Buried?
25. Eggs, Toilet Paper, and Your School
26. Why Can't Mr. Fork and Ms. Electrical Outlet Be Friends?
27. Places Where Mommy and Daddy Hide Neat Things
28. Daddy Drinks Because You Cry

Wednesday, February 22, 2006

altered postcard!

ohhh! how fun this was. i have never done this before, and was not sure if i would ever do another. this was done for an exchange with my yahoo group. once i got started i knew i would be hooked.

i photo copied the post card.....somethings i have a hard time arting on. by copying the postcards i was able to pick out my favorite front and back to make 1 post card.

i used the gel medium to transfer the flowers on the right side of the top, and the entire side, below.

i have used the gel transfer technique before and became frustrated because you can never get a perfect transfer........one of my many hang-ups that i am learning to get over!

i made an extra for a one on one trade with someone maybe, or ebay...... Posted by Picasa

Sunday, February 19, 2006

ArtAngel of Sunsets

this is a 4.5" x 5.5" piece of watercolor paper that i used as a tray liner while painting other items for other projects.....i love the prize you get in the end......not knowing what the paper will look like once it is fully covered in splishes and splashes of paint!

this one came out looking like a beautiful sunset! the car is a not so identical twin to the one i put in bev's journal....notice the headlights.......off to art some more...... Posted by Picasa

Wednesday, February 15, 2006

the left side

of Bev's journal. Posted by Picasa

the right side

of Bev's journal Posted by Picasa

the front

of bev's charm. Posted by Picasa

the back

of bev's charm Posted by Picasa

Tuesday, February 14, 2006

from the world's sweetest man

this morning as i came upstairs when i heard my hubby come home from work i found this (and cheesecake) waiting for me.......my hubby majorly sleep deprived, and money so tight around here since there has been no more overtime and he made sure i had flowers, and not one, but two cards.......ohhh the heart shaped peanut butter cup.......yummy. we shared a few bites of cheesecake and then i tucked him and madalyn in bed. Posted by Picasa

dog daze of february

my hunny bunny trying to relax on the couch for a few minutes......molly and melvyn chasing each other all over the livingroom and up onto the couch and all over my exhausted hubby, then add a jealous madalyn.

we put molly's cute little pink boots on melvyn to watch him walk funny.....money is tight these days, and we needed cheap entertainment.......we joked melvyn would be traumatized wearing 'pink' boots.... Posted by Picasa

Monday, February 13, 2006

my baby boy.........

10 years ago today my last baby was born.......like his brother and sister he almost left this world before he was officially here, with severe problems that could have killed us both a few hours before he was born, he was my smallest weighing in at 9pounds 8 ounces and just a bit more the 2 weeks early.

where did the time go, how did he grow up so fast.........i just can not believe it.

today we went ahead with our traditional birthday skip school day to go shopping for birthday gifts......he was still a bit sick but you sure can't tell from these pics!

10 years ago i looked into his newborn eyes and saw an old soul......one who had walked this earth many times, he would be my ball of fire.
i was right.....i also guessed he would be the one who would end up tattooed and/or pierced, and so far he has lived up to the pierced part......if it would up to him his diamond looking c.z. bling bling thang would be the size of his head, but he mama made him settle for something a bit more respectable in size. the tattoo thing, thank goodness does not interest him now, and that, if he ever decides to do will have to come after he graduates school. he has a very strong sense of style, but it is his own, and once he does his hair, just like his grandpa, don't touch it! he is one of the most mature 10 year olds you will ever meet. he is a take charge, lets get in there and get it done kid, who is wise beyond his years and you would never guess he inherited my learning disabilities.....


he came home with what is called a green machine. and he also picked out 19 hotwheels to add to his collection, while dad looked to see if there were any missing from his collection! i don't know who is the bigger kid of the two!

this wild boy is also one of the most sensitive and most incredibly sweet boys you will ever meet. he is a snuggler, and is squishy and lovey....

however.....is is also all boy and he loves to get muddy especially on the days when that is the last thing i need, he loves to aggrevate his brother and sister until they are ready to choke him and i am ready to duct tape him to a wall! he can not walk through the house, he has to runjumpbouncehoproll at all times, and when he is tired he drops where he is and it out. he is a practical joker......and some days ugh!

just like his brother and sister he is a unique individual, and just like them he is perfect the way he is, although if he would have been born first there would not have not been a 2nd and 3rd child! my nervous system could not handle it!
 Posted by Picasa

Saturday, February 11, 2006

A few quotes that relate to Studio Friday

I love quotes......i collect them like they are the world's most valuable treasure....i remembered a few quotes that kind of relate to Studio Friday that i love and thought i would share......

"feed your faith and your fears will starve to death"
author unknown

" every tomorrow has two handles. we can take hold of it by th handle of anxiety, or by the handle of faith."
author unknown

"faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase."
MLK JR.

"when you come to the edge of all the light you know, and are about to step off into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing one of two things will happen: there will be something solid to stand on, or you will be taught to fly."
barbara j winter

Friday, February 10, 2006

~STUDIO FRIDAY~ FEAR

I have recently take on and confronted a few of my fears.........

  • started my own yahoo group.......and have tackled a few problems that have arose! what if no one joined i worried, then after i had to send out an email to lay down the law so we would have no more problems crop up in the future, i feared everyone would leave, think i was mean and horrible, but they didn't, and i have been wonderfully supported.......ahhh sigh of relieve! and a wonderful group of artists have joined!
  • applied for membership to MMCA.....that was a huge step in conquering fear.......i am putting myself in the position to be rejected...big time.....i put my app in last sunday at almost midnight, it said i would hear something within 7 days. a day or so later a friend noticed that the site said they were temporarily not taking any more applications........hmmmm did mine just slip in under the wire, or is it sitting in limbo out there maybe to be discovered eons from now and on the 8th day i will check my emails to see still no answer and feel rejected.......i guess i will know the answer to that monday.
  • did a demo at redlead back in october, i was terrified, what if i bored everyone to tears, people walked away, BUT everyone loved it, my demo ran a half hour over and everyone stayed! and loved it! yehaa!
  • joined two local groups......that was sooo hard to walk into a room where i hardly knew anyone! and drive far away from my home to places i was totally lost!
  • FEAR I HAVE TO WORK ON: selling my art..........again another issue with rejection......seeing a pattern here? childhood baggage! i have admitted this to very view people, but i am afraid and not only am i afraid of rejection, but i am also afraid of success! how stupid is that!?!?! i want success sooooo bad, but yet i FEAR it sooooo much.

see the fears of other artists here

i have been tagged!!!!

4 jobs I've had:

  • pizza maker at BIG CHEESE pizza.......my 1st job
  • unit secretary for screen print company.....i was laid off because the owner needed to remodel his private work out room
  • senior customer sevice agent for insurance company....that is the special name they give you when you do the bosses work but get the janitors pay
  • full time mom, keeper of dust bunnies and other assorted duties as required......the best yet!


4 places I've lived:

  • all over st louis as a child
  • many places in kansas
  • north carolina
  • saint charles missouri for 17 years, the longest i have lived in 1 place


4 shows I enjoy:

I don't really watch much tv......and rarely sit through a whole show...but when i do it is:

  • house........love, love,love this show!
  • medium
  • csi
  • anything science-y (i am a science geek at heart!)


4 places I've vacationed:

  • nags head beach as a child
  • no
  • where
  • else (unless you count an hour in the shower with NO ONE screaming mom on the other side of the door!)


4 websites I visit daily:

  • my yahoo group
  • friends/ art sisters blogs
  • other yahoo groups & blog groups i belong to
  • blogs and websites of a few inspiring artists that i don't know


4 favorite foods:

  • my morning maple brown sugar oatmeal
  • clementines....my new love
  • roasted almond granola bars and vanilla yogurt
  • COOKIE DOUGH!


4 places I'd rather be right now:

  • some place warm and sunny.......i can't take another bleh day!
  • at an artsy lock in with friends and art sisters
  • on the receiving end of a winning major big bucks lottery ticket ( hey a girl can dream, can't she........)
  • oh, this is hard....i am a home body....there is no place like home......


4 bloggers I'm tagging:

ohh.....i will be back in a minute with this one.....i think everyone i know has played.......

YUP, everyone i know of has been tagged..........but if you are reading this and haven't been tagged.....then ha! tag your it! neener neener!

what our part of the world

looked like a couple of days ago! i hate winter......and i like 1 good snow...well this was pretty wimpy, but BEAUTIFUL !

madalyn rose is pouting because i would not let her walk my oldest son to the bus stop!

madalyn and i each with snow covered black coats........ Posted by Picasa

Thursday, February 09, 2006

some more soldering work...

these will eventually be put together as one necklace in the order they are layed out.(the very bottom charm has a feather in it from one of my teeney birdies.....went to patina my chain and it won't stick, so must be cheap-n-cheesey chain....i was on such a roll and planned on finishing this up this evening.....poohey..... Posted by Picasa

charming.......

2 more charms i made just for the heck of it.....actually i am working up the guts to list some stuff on ebay.......this might be part of my stock for that. Posted by Picasa

Wednesday, February 08, 2006

charm bracelet rr

these are 2 charms i made. the one on the left is for carol's bracelet. the one on the right is a gift for heidi.....long story, but after what she has been through with her bracelet i felt the need to do this for her.

the background is the paper i used in carol's journal that i hand painted. my new love painting my own papers! Posted by Picasa

charm bracelet r.r.

this is the journal page for carol's journal. Posted by Picasa

Tuesday, February 07, 2006

~SPT~

just made it by the skin of my teeth!

just under the wire......

it is hard to see but i am in the process of whitening my teeth. the stuff on the strips on my teeth begin to foam.....i feel like i look like a rabid dog!

most people just whiten their teeth because they need it.....for me their is a whole story behind the why........

this is all worth is. last year i was on liquid iron 3 times a day for 8 months trying to get my iron levels back up. i was so anemic the doctors were amazed i was not in unconscience, the doctor was amazed that i was even able to walk into her office. and had the lab check my results 3 times two days in a row. they wanted to stick me in the hospital and transfuse me. i told them as long as i was able to hold my own to save the blood for someone who wasn't doing so well. i was actually up and functioning cleaning house, taking care of 3 kids, and even taking walks at night. i was tired and shakey, and afraid i had suffered another pulmonary embolism .......caused by birth control pills.....you know that pamphlet that comes with the bcp's that you read and say....ehh that happens to other people, not me, especially because i don't smoke.....well, guess what...it happens.
not that i ever,ever,ever want to relive what happened to me 3 years ago, but coming as close as i did to death makes you look at life in a whole new way.....so i do thank GOD for that, and pray i never have to go through a life lesson like that again!

so as i whiten my teeth some reminders of the road in life i have traveled is being washed away...but that is ok, the memory alone is enough i don't need any souveniers.

see other SPT artists here. Posted by Picasa

Sunday, February 05, 2006

don't B foolish....

well, i have been doing lots of playing around lately. i have been trying new stuff. i did a bit of everything on this one, and if i could have found an adhesive strong enough may have even collaged the kitchen sink in on this one! it is a bit 'cluttered' which i normally don't do, but i like it, i like it! i might have to do another busy piece. with valentine's quickly approaching this seemed to be the easiest time of year for me to play around.... i luv love and romance. i love all of the geeky sayings, the silly-ness and serious-ness of it all, love vintage valentine's, i have a collection that is left out all over the house all year round.

i originally had a whole other plan for what this would become, but then i noticed you could see part of the title of the book (foolish) so i rethought the whole thing.....sometimes you just have to throw out the map and just see where the road takes you, sit back and enjoy the journey! that is what i did with this one, and i am glad i did!

valentine don't B foolish B mine. Posted by Picasa
blehhhhhhh!!!!!! i can't get a good photo of this, or a good scan.......

i had originally planned to put the words 'you hold the key that opens the door to my heart' but no matter where i positioned the words it just did not look they belonged.......i will leave this alone for a day or so and see. i find that keeps me from boogering something up......i constantly have to tell my muse to take a deep breath and back away from the art........sometimes less is more....sometimes more is just right.....and sometimes a muse with adhd is a baaaaadddd thing! Posted by Picasa

open your heart

this looks better when it is not squooshed up against scanner glass, but i could not get a good photo with the camera.....the paint is shimmery and it was reflecting light from the camera flash. Posted by Picasa

Friday, February 03, 2006

here is the atc

using my 'by accident' background! Posted by Picasa

~Studio Friday~ by accident

i have created lots of stuff by accident, an even mixture of good and bad.........i still save the bad stuff in hopes that someday it will be work in something someway.

the background for these atc size papers was one of the good accidents.

i needed a a background for my halloween atcs for a local group, see above photo of finished atc (which by the way is cute, and i normally don't do cute......)

i wanted something to look like the perfect halloween/autumn sky just as the sun was slipping below the horizon, leaving a glowing reminder of its warmth. i grabbed some cardstock, a metal tray and my black and orange pearl-ex/hairspray mix and began to spray first what would be the back of the atc, then flipped it over and sprayed what was to be the front. i was not real excited what the front looked like, so i flipped it back over to the back to try playing some more and was surprised to find what had happened in the process. the accumulation of hairspray and pealex on the tray helped create the patterns as the paper was lifted up! i loved it so much i played around with a few other color combinations! by the end of the day though i was a little sick of the smell of hair spray! Posted by Picasa

see other studio friday artists here

Thursday, February 02, 2006

a new day, a new start....

one of these days i am going to wake up an hour earlier than i have to, feel like i have slept a week, it will be just as warm and cozy outside of the blanket as it was underneath, my hair will not look like i have been through a windstorm and i will not discover my jammy shirt is on backwards and inside out, i will prepare a huge breakfast for the children, who bounced out of bed cheerfully, who don't drive each other nuts while waiting for the feast, the puppy will be waiting patiently to go potty outside, i will not discover my youngest sons sneakers caked with mud on the front porch an hour before he is to run to the bus stop, the laundry, dishwasher, vacuuming will be done.....the bathrooms spotless even after all 3 kids have been in them to get ready for school............... i go to shower and i am suddenly in a tropical paradise standing under a waterfall, a waterfall that is magical and washes the cellulite right off ones backside and reverses what age, childbirth to 3 babies the size of kindergarteners, and almost 41 years of living with gravity have done, and there is no need for zit creme AND wrinkle creme..........these were my thoughts in the 9 minutes between the two times i hit the snooze on the alarm.......and why is it 9 minutes........maybe because one gets so flustered trying to do multiplication while mostly asleep that they just give up and just gets up rather than remembering what 9 times 3 is....or was it 4........

Wednesday, February 01, 2006

karma baby......it will get you.....

this message goes to the woman who joined my yahoo group, signed up for the charm bracelet round robin, received another members bracelet and journal, decided not to play but did not bother to communicate it to anyone, ignored 7 phone calls, umpteen million emails, 4 numeric pages before she finally emailed and said she could not participate and would return what she received in the mail, and then did not do so, and then hung up on me today when i tried again to call her...........i was going to offer to meet her some where to get the package back, just in case she was having financial problems.......... honey, the next time you have a really bad day just think it might be karma bitin' you in the butt.

~SPT~ 'all of me'

my studio floor has.......have not seen the vacuum in about 2 weeks......the trash can over floweth.

had to take off the pepto bismol pink shoes to show off the paint job my youngest son did on my toes, he is a typical boy.....almost manly man boy but yet he loves to paint my toenails.....i don't know why, but it is the only time, besides when he is sleeping that he is quiet!
then there are the toe rings......i love them, but my mom told me the day of my dad's funeral that he hated them and she wanted me to remove them. i didn't. Posted by Picasa

Quote for the moment



"Never give up, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn."

Harriet Beecher Stowe

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