New End Studio Blog. : 10/1/11

Tell Me About It

Growing Old With Grace passed out an award and she gave it to me (Thank You, Grace!) and 14 other bloggers. I'm supposed to tell 7 things about myself and give the award to 15 bloggers.

Okay, here goes...

1. Ten fingers and ten toes. Two eyes and two ears. One nose. Two feet, one left and one right.

2. East Coast born and raised.

3. Dual citizenship. By choice. And by birth ( forgot to state that.)

4. Green thumb. 99% of the time.

5. Trying to make the best of things while struggling to keep my eyesight and other health issues.

6. Tea drinker. Chocolate eater. Sometimes together. Delicious.

7. Hate to dust. When given a knick knack as a present, feign delight while thinking, "Where can I put this waste of money so it won't get dusty and they won't miss seeing it?" Or, "How long do I have to keep this before it's safe too throw it away/give to charity shop/ regift to someone who might actually like it?" Then feel all kinds of guilt over such thoughts. Trying to remember to be thankful in all things! Ack those spaces are not on purpose and won't disappear!

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It's my pleasure to list, in random order, the fifteen blogs who get this award. Just copy and paste the award image to your blog and list your seven things about yourself. Pass the award on, too. It would be really nice if you would visit Grace, read some of her heartfelt and often, funny posts, maybe even follow her blog. Check out her list of bloggers, too.

Knock Knock and Lucy's List Food Not to Feed Your Dog

Knock Knock!
Who's there?
Wayne.
Wayne, who?
Wayne can I eat my Halloween candy?

Page made with software from: My Memories Suite V2 .

Lucy's only asking for me, she does not get chocolate. Just only a teeny niblet, and only once in a long while, as chocolate is one of those foods dogs must not eat. Here's a list of items which are dangerous to dogs from this link at the Drs. Foster and Smith website: pet education .

Items to avoid	Reasons to avoid
Alcoholic beverages	Can cause intoxication, coma, and death.
Avocado	The leaves, seeds, fruit, and bark contain persin, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea.
Bones from fish, poultry, or other meat sources	Can cause obstruction or laceration of the digestive system.
Cat food	Generally too high in protein and fats.
Chocolate, coffee, tea, and other caffeine	Contain caffeine, theobromine, or theophylline, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea and be toxic to the heart and nervous systems.
Citrus oil extracts	Can cause vomiting.
Fat trimmings	Can cause pancreatitis.
Fish (raw, canned or cooked)	If fed exclusively or in high amounts can result in a thiamine (a B vitamin) deficiency leading to loss of appetite, seizures, and in severe cases, death.
Grapes, raisins and currants	Contain an unknown toxin, which can damage the kidneys. There have been no problems associated with grape seed extract.
Hops	Unknown compound causes panting, increased heart rate, elevated temperature, seizures, and death.
Human vitamin supplements containing iron	Can damage the lining of the digestive system and be toxic to the other organs including the liver and kidneys.
Macadamia nuts	Contain an unknown toxin, which can affect the digestive and nervous systems and muscle.
Marijuana	Can depress the nervous system, cause vomiting, and changes in the heart rate.
Milk and other dairy products	Some adult dogs and cats may develop diarrhea if given large amounts of dairy products.
Moldy or spoiled food, garbage	Can contain multiple toxins causing vomiting and diarrhea and can also affect other organs.
Mushrooms	Can contain toxins, which may affect multiple systems in the body, cause shock, and result in death.
Onions and garlic (raw, cooked, or powder)	Contain sulfoxides and disulfides, which can damage red blood cells and cause anemia. Cats are more susceptible than dogs. Garlic is less toxic than onions.
Persimmons	Seeds can cause intestinal obstruction and enteritis.
Pits from peaches and plums	Can cause obstruction of the digestive tract.
Raw eggs	Contain an enzyme called avidin, which decreases the absorption of biotin (a B vitamin). This can lead to skin and hair coat problems. Raw eggs may also contain Salmonella.
Raw meat	May contain bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea.
Rhubarb leaves	Contain oxalates, which can affect the digestive, nervous, and urinary systems.
Salt	If eaten in large quantities it may lead to electrolyte imbalances.
String	Can become trapped in the digestive system; called a "string foreign body."
Sugary foods	Can lead to obesity, dental problems, and possibly diabetes mellitus.
Table scraps (in large amounts)	Table scraps are not nutritionally balanced. They should never be more than 10% of the diet. Fat should be trimmed from meat; bones should not be fed.
Tobacco	Contains nicotine, which affects the digestive and nervous systems. Can result in rapid heart beat, collapse, coma, and death.
Yeast dough	Can expand and produce gas in the digestive system, causing pain and possible rupture of the stomach or intestines.
Xylitol (artificial sweetener)	Can cause very low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), which can result in vomiting, weakness and collapse. In high doses can cause liver failure.

Fresh Art Where Friends Gather Under the Stars Mixed Media Masquerade Ball

Five ravens stringing up the bunting, they're the only ones who can reach that height and keep a lookout. There isn't any RSVP to the Black and Gray Masquerade Ball. It's an impromptu private party and so far eleven masks have heard the calling.

Linking to Inspiration Avenue Theme Masquerade Ball and Gingersnap Creations Color Challenge Black and Grays. This piece is about 9x11 inches (too big for the scanner.) Mixed media of clippings from zoology, national wildlife, and children's story books and magazines; plus ribbon, envelope, greeting card, sticker, and acrylic paint.

Thrills Not Bills From Up North a Gift From Magic Love Crow

The mail held a special treat for me today and here it is:

Click on these images to make larger.

Stacy paints with a sense of humor, charm, and compassion. Her aceo baby crows are so sweet and her larger canvas paintings, well, just go see them for yourself, she's a talented lady. There's always something interesting in her blog posts. Go and say hi! Thanks so much, Stacy!

Scary or Sweet? Your Halloween Costume

Vampire lady or Zombie some kind of combination that's me in the black dress, and a friend in gypsy costume some years back hamming it up before the Halloween party. I was in exaggerated makeup, with painted moon and scar with toy spiders and worms. Just faking an attitude on the phone and with my friend in her costume, she's wearing a black wig. I used My Memories Suite V2 to make this page.

When you were a kid, did you wear a costume with a coat over it because it was so cold or rainy on Halloween? We fussed about the coats because we wouldn't get any candy if the people thought we didn't get dressed up! Yes, some of the neighbors were sticklers costume=candy vs. no costume=empty pillowcase or treat bag.

I wanted to wear the coat open, but Mom said, no. Once out of her sight I unbuttoned the coat, between all the layers and the mask, it was sweltering. Later at home, the tattletale told on me, so punished, no candy for 48 24 hours. (I've been corrected.) The agony of waiting for ~~two days~~ one day and the sisters waving their treats in front of me.

If you wear a costume for Halloween, do you go with store bought or something you put together? Scary or Sweet?

Fresh Art Thanksgiving Card Mixed Media

You might say this is a month early, but Cheerful Stamppad for Mixed Media artists is having a theme linkup for Thanksgiving and here's what I made. The base is part of a Thanksgiving card, then the rest is made up of calendar clippings, ribbons, doily, a golden leaf from a barrette someone gave me and was not my style, stamp pad ink, and acrylic paint. It's about 4.5 x 7 inches. I put a magnet on the back to hang it on the fridge. The lamp washed out the colors in the top left of the piece, it's a little darker irl. To view it larger, click on the image.

If you have something for Thanksgiving and want to add it to the blog, the linkup closes in about ten days.

Another blog I'd like to mention is, "the aceo challenge". This blog names a challenge theme to make an aceo for and then you add yours to the linkup. Aceo is 2.5 inches x 3.5 inches in any medium and is welcome. Votes for this blog challenge are made monthly by viewers. Come and see what the theme is and make an aceo if you like.

What do you do with the things you make that are made for these different themes? I read about swaps and atc trades, but if you're not listing to sell what you make, do you keep and display, store, throw away, donate, or something else? Just wondering.

Fresh Art Blues Trio Mixed Media Contemporary and Vintage

Hope you like these color combinations. After reading the name, Gingersnap Creations a few times around blogland and seeing this post on Cindy Adkins' Whimsical Musings blog, I decided to go and see what the excitement was about. I mean, the name of the blog, Gingersnap Creations conjured up one of my favorite cookies and a spice so the temptation to visit was strong.

I made these two pieces in response to the challenge to use Turquoise, Blue, and Purple and papercrafting in a piece. The blog has all the details, FAQs, etc. Go check it out and if you want a theme to make some art sometime, you'll find it at the blog.

Both pieces are 4x4 on coldpress paper. The first one with the children is acrylic paint, inks, rubber stamped, using scraps of cards, envelope, calendars, magazines, ribbon, and catalogs, plus ephemera. The second one with the girl and the pink umbrella, I used acrylic paint, and pieces of an envelope, magazines and catalogs. What do you think, it's my first try at 4x4 size.

Inspiration and Freedom Mixed Media

Celebrating the theme of, "inspiration" the blog party at Inspiration Avenue asks us, "What inspires?" To answer this completely literally, here is my entry for the week, if you want to see it larger, click on it:

There are parents, friends, wishes, and memories. Peace, love, faith, home, and pets, add to the joy. Time is a pressure, it's limited and elusive. Yes, health and a combo of issues (diseases) are now intrinsic to the picture; they make time demands and deplete my storehouse. These are some things which inspire AND motivate me.

I'm late to arrive at the place where freedom in self takes a stand. I may never move in. I want to, "Thank You" for the welcome I received from the kind and generous people from Inspiration Avenue. Your comments and the comments from other gracious readers have made this a brighter place. Thank you for sharing yourselves with me and others!

Before It's Too Late Chocolate Medication Mixed Media and Barber Shop Dog Aceo

What are you afraid of, what do you fear the most? This hellish theme was the gift this week of Inspiration Avenue. I put off making anything since I'd rather not think about things like that. Then, the molecules were percolating and I thought about the way I don't let things scare me. I'm anxious, and worried sometimes, but not afraid. Well, nightmares aside, not afraid. Although as little girls my sisters and I would turn off the lights to watch a scary movie just so that the screaming would be more dramatic. My poor parents' ears.

If I give a voice to my worries and fears that might make them come to life. So, I won't list them. However, I thought about the piece I made, it's a fear that I won't get it together and take control of my health. Some people are perfectly healthy and padded, I'm not one of them. As my circle of family and friends got smaller and I moved from a place I wanted to be to somewhere else, I medicated with chocolate. That's not good.

So here is my chocolate coffin. It's stopping me from doing what I want and being where I need to be. The coffin is lined with candy wrappers, it's 3 dimensional and I wasn't able to get the underside of the lid in the photo. Be sure to visit IA (link above) to see other interpretations of personal fear.

The words under "Now" are, "You Want Reasons."

On a much happier theme, the aceo challenge theme is, "at the salon." Well, since I've been cutting my own hair for the past several years I decided to tell you about the shop in town where my husband goes to get his hair cut. It's one of those small town neighborly places where men and women can go. The thing that makes this shop special is the resident dog. She's a rescue stray the shop owner took in. The dog is always there and loves a good scratch on the head or chest. Visit the aceo challenge blog, link above.

You're Stuck With Me and Ribbon Organizer from a Wine Carrier

I've got in the habit of checking both of the craft stores in my area, the one that's well known with the initials JA and then the non-conglomerate one which carries no fabrics but does have a really good assortment of art supplies. I used to only go to JA, but since they are still not responding regarding the faulty alphabet stencil set, I decided to also go to the other store, I'll call it LP.

If I haven't confused you yet, I am finding the same items in both stores but LP is selling at a cheaper price. I bought this jewelery form in LP for $3.59 and it's $4.99 in JA. Paints, glue, inks, papers, and other items I was looking to buy cost more in JA than in LP. The price differences are substantial. LP=lower prices, not the store's real initials.

So, I've been wrist deep in glue this week. In for a penny, in for a pound. While I've been covering the form in papers, I've been gluing other things that needed to be fixed. The temperature knob from the car broke and I hope the repair is long lasting, since I don't think we're going to find a replacement knob. The cute little kitty on a Jack o' Lantern (pardon the blurry image)- his ear broke off in the bag, so I was able to glue it back on. He was the figurine from the box of Red Rose Tea. I used Dazzle Tac, it's a jewelery glue but it worked really well on these repairs.

This is as far as I've gotten on the form:

I've been carrying this wine basket from home to home for years, and I'm always going to donate it, it didn't sell in my one and only yard sale. Last week while rummaging in the basement I picked the basket up and said to it, "If I can't think of any use for you in the next day, you're going out the door!" I don't know what happened, but within a minute or so, the idea of a ribbon organizer came to me. Here it is on my wall:

I never did use it for wine, so at least it's getting some use even though as yet, I rarely use ribbons, don't know why I keep buying them, "just in case." Are you a "Just in Case" shopper?

Kaleidoscope Spring Dance Pantone Fashion Color Report Spring 2012

What do you think of this selection of colors forecasted for women's fashions for next Spring?

Shall we dance the Tangerine Tango under the Solar Powered canopy of Bellflowers while Cockatoos tiptoe between Starfish sleeping on Driftwood with the scent of Sweet Lilacs sweetening the air throughout the Cabaret with offers of drinks including Margaritas and diet conscious Sodalite Blues?

I couldn't resist, well I could have, but I didn't- so there you go. I feel a little dizzy from this dance into Spring.

Owl About Meeting Me At Midnight? Three Aceos

Several years ago I contemplated opening a small shop. I got so far into the planning that I wrote out many of the details. One of the things that stuck with me was that I was going to have the word, "Owl" in the name of the shop. Daydreaming and planning...but things happened and I didn't open the shop. I threw away the paper with the list of details- along with my hope. I later found that my husband had taken the plan out of the trash and saved it in his wallet. He put it there since he knew I'd never find it!

So when Inspiration Avenue gave the Owl theme, I thought about that shop and wonder if...Anyway, here is my first ever attempt at painting an owl, so I've given you two. These are aceos in acrylic. They are taped onto a plastic/flexible chopping board sheet which I cut in half. The card in the middle is leftover paint, haven't decided how I'll use that one. The words were added in Picnik. Click the image to see it larger.

Also, don't forget the party that Inspiration Avenue team members are throwing.

Go visit, and join in the fun!

Word Search Diversion Make Your Own

Word searches and crossword puzzles are a bit of a diversion. Did you have those, "Connect the Dots" books when you were little? I wonder if those dots pictures fueled creativity or dampened it. I remember wanting to make pictures of things that did not go with the straight lines and being told that wasn't what the picture was supposed to be. Thank goodness there are a lot of people who colored outside the lines with nontraditional hues.

I've made a little Word Search for the blog. It was a first attempt and thought I'd show it to you. I was doing this when I should be doing other necessary things, but there you go.

Clicking on the images will enlarge them.

If you want a little word search diversion, make your own here. After I made it I gave it the look you see by visiting Picnik . Both of these are free sites, Picnik has a fee if you want to use their advanced/premium features. I used the free features.

I'm linking this post to Thursday Favorite Things at Katherines Corner.

Singing With the Windows Closed

Do you feel like cocooning inside now that the weather is getting cooler (I know you lucky people south of the equator are feeling Spring), but I had to break down and put the heat on September 30th, it's only been in the 40'sF outside in the daytime, so autumn is here, no more open windows (only in the car when I'm not singing.) Do you have favorite music you sing to?

Here are some favorites: Surprising Shoppers , Nat King Cole and Louis Armstrong .

ACEO Art

Find and Be Found Here

Get Featured on Handcrafted Pretty

Celebrate with Inspiration Avenue

If you have time and want some blog tips, Cindy's blog, Whimsical Musings is providing, "How To Blog, Free Seminar" with helpful advice on practical and technical issues for bloggers.

There are some useful and fun linkups and blog hops listed on my page at the top, under the header. Promote your businesses and share your favorite posts, too.

Is Jo-Ann Blaming Them Now?

The latest email from Jo-Ann, received on September 13th. Note today is October 4th and this email saga began on July 3rd, 2011.

"Dear NewEndStudio,

Thank you for contacting Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores Customer Service. We apologize for our delay in responding.
We are not able to visit the link you have provided. Please write us directly for assistance.
You may contact Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores Customer Service via phone at x-xxx-xxx-xxxx, Monday through Saturday, 9 am - 7 pm Eastern Time.

Thank you,
xxxxx
Customer Service Coordinator
Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores
x-xxx-xxx-xxxx"

I replaced numbers and name with x, then I realized, they really must be kissing me off. I did "write us directly" a couple of times.

My previous email to them asked why anyone else can "visit the link" and they can't perhaps it's because they aren't allowed to. I sent them the entire blog post with photos in an email, so they didn't have to click on a link. They responded with this email on September 14th, note I am now reduced to "Customer":

"Dear Customer,
Thank you for contacting Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores Customer Service.
Please be assured, your concerns are important to us, and we will respond to your email in the order it was received.
If your matter needs an immediate response, please call us at x-xxx-xxx-xxxx Monday through Saturday between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Eastern time.

=======
Subject: Re: (Ticket# xxxxxxxxxxetc.)"

Hey, I thought there was progress as I'd now been assigned a Ticket#. Since Jo-Ann has said that they will respond in the order in which my email was received, I suppose that they must either have a huge number of complaints or very few employees. Or, they are waiting for me to stop bothering them with something so small but which affects their profits, if they actually fixed the product.

This is how the saga began: Dear o ann fa r and raft stores and Jo-Ann Fails ABCs Update .
I will continue to update when and if there is a response from Jo-Ann. Thanks for following along.

The image was found on the web, it's not mine. In fact Jo-Ann couldn't have written it as the, "I" is missing from their product.

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