Wanna Play With Matches?

Hi everyone,

Hope you are having a most Awesome day! It's beginning to feel a lot like fall here in the Ozarks. Pumpkins everywhere, mums and leaves and the cool crisp evenings!! Fall is absolutely my favorite time of the year. There is just something about falling leaves and the smell of apple pie and apple cider not to mention fall festivals everywhere!!

 

I have been busy in the studio trying to play catch up on my art and it has been crazy busy. Oh, please don't let it sound like I am complaining NOT AT All!! My studio is my sanctuary , looking at it right now some might laugh!! But such is the life of an artist, after all I specialize in Creative Messes!!! LOL

Anyway I just I would give you a few glimpses of what is going on here in the studio and then see who would like to play with MATCHES!!!

 New designs using images from CrowAbout StudioB

New travel tubes

 

 

 

 

And Matchbooks!!

Yep!! You heard right I said MATCHES!!  No we're not going to burn anything down we are just going to light up the Swap world with a long awaited swap here on the blog!! I have had such a wonderful response to these sweet little art pieces. I created mine for the Matchbook swap over at Mischief Circus hosted by the amazingly talented Marsha Slayer of Tumble Fish Studios

Now we did not use actual matchbooks we created our own and then added little snippets of our personal art. Such a FUN FUN time and AMAZING talents!!!

Here is a peek at some I received

 

 

 

 

Aren't these the BOMB!!! Oh LUCKY ME!!!

So with that who’s in for playing with Matches!!! LOL

 

Here is how it will work:

You will have until October 16th to sign up here by leaving a comment in the comment section below and emailing me at www.melodee.oia@gmail.com

After signing up you will create 6 matchbooks using REAL Matchbooks. You need only cover the outside!! Then you will have until November 14th to mail them to me along with a self-addressed and postage paid envelope.  I will then divide all out (you create 6 and receive six back) and mail them back to you on November 16th. There may even be some little surprises lurking!! Now please NOTE: if you do not send a prepaid mailing envelope (envie addressed to you postage paid) I will NOT be able to mail back to you until I receive postage!

I can't wait to see what you all create!! Mine are being tucked away in this cute little jar to sit in my living room!!

What a GREAT conversation piece not to mention MATCHES in case of electric loss!! After all for some of us winter is coming!! You can find some GREAT image packs by Nancy Baumiller of CrowAbout Studio B and Tumble Fish Studios over at www.mischiefcircus.com  Tell'm Melodee sent ya!!

Well that's it folks I hope you all will join me for this fun swap!! I can't wait to see what you come up with!!

 

Have a beautiful day everyone!!

Leap'n and Hop'n on a Moon Shaddow

Wow,  seems like it has been forever since I have been in this room, being creative or typing on this keyboard. Seems like my muse just died when you said goodbye. But here I am alive, singing and finding my muse has come home. Who knew I would miss you being here so much. But even though I am back doing what I love, there is still that hole, that desire to run in and show you what I created today, seeing that wrinkled worn grin while hearing you say "that's Neat Hun!" and being reminded you were my biggest fan and how much having you here with us meant. But I made a promise to you before things got so bad that I would continue on, I would not crawl in that dark hole like so many do and I would remember the precious times we had. You were my very first best friend, an amazing father, and my ultimate cheerleader. You are in heaven now laughing and dancing with our mother, no more pain, no more sickness just peace! Today I am no longer leaping and hopping on that moon shaddow crying, angry and depressed, but living as I have always tried to do, like the song that Cat Stevens wrote and interpreted: "finding hope in any situation. attempting to be present and joyful. seeing life as it is, right now, and not comparing it to others', or other times in my life. Every moment in life is rich and unique; whether we are aware of it or not, we are always leaping and hopping on a moon shaddow - the inescapable present moment. If we are wrapped up in our whirlpools of worry and concern about what could be, or what has been, we are missing the richness of life as it is". While the last couple of years with us may have had its ups and downs because of your illness I would not have traded it for anything and I know you wouldn't have either. Those last days were tough but they were beautiful, they were painful but they were a blessing, the shared talks before bed still and will always linger in my heart and  those precious moments, no one will ever be able to take from me and though you were tired you gave all you had. Daddy, thank you from the bottom of my heart for being the bravest, strongest man I have ever known, for allowing me the blessing of inheriting your strength and being your daughter.

Today, I dedicate this blog post and my first art journal page after finding my muse

 

 

 

 to my very first best friend,  my father. 

 

 

 

Harley Hamilton

May 1928- May 2015

 

             A Special Thank You to all of my beautiful Art friends for being there for me!

 

 

 

 

Above art journal page created using the kit 

 

 "Heart Wide Open"

 

 

by CrowAbout StudioB

at www.mischiefcircus.com