Helium Days

Collage love - lu summers

2012-02-10T22:37:00.001-05:00

001, a photo by lusummers on Flickr.

Another of my favorite collage artists, lusummers. I have some very simple gocco prints of hers - floral graphics printed on vintage book pages. They hang above our salvaged piano (which needs a new paint job, btw ... must add to to-do list ::scrickety scratchety with pencil adding to list::). Anyway, if you love collage, too, explore her flickr photostream. Oh, and here's lu's etsy shop!

Vintage photo collage love

2012-02-09T22:57:00.001-05:00

4x4 grouping, a photo by ANDstudio on Flickr.

One of my favorite stops at a flea market or thrift shop is the table or basket with old photo albums. Alisa Nordholt-Dean (ANDStudio on flickr) has grouped a precious collection of old snapshots here, adding dimension with chunky canvases, stenciling, and paint. I'm mesmerized!

12 years ago, we met

2012-02-08T22:17:00.001-05:00

Two hearts, a photo by KimWJenkins on Flickr.

While you consider Love-related events as we approach Valentine's Day, add this anniversary. On February 4, 2000, Dave and I had our first date. Everybody say, "Awwww." :)

But let me tell you about the embroidered tea towel. I cleaned out our china cabinet to prepare for some renovations and I noticed, in the pile of tea-towels-of-the-month (a Christmas gift from my sister Erika a few years ago), that the February towel had never been washed - had never been used! I had yet to hang the February towel on the oven door, as I had with other towels of the month!

So, I have decided, that in the month of February, I will hang the tea towel in commemoration of my first date with my now-dear-husband Dave (xo). It will remind me of how special our relationship is. Silly towel that now is not just a towel. Goofy, I know.

Oh, and need a chuckle? Read this blogger's post with Valentine's Day gift advice for husbands. The writer begins, "Married men, practical gifts on special occasions do not bode well." Read on and be entertained. (Stole this link from a former colleague, Katie Orloff, who shared the link on FBook.)

Big day tomorrow!

2012-02-07T21:37:00.001-05:00

Dining room before, a photo by KimWJenkins on Flickr.

This is our dining room before ... walnut laminate! I'll share the "after" pics tomorrow. I will be so glad to have our heirloom dining room set - that belonged to my grandparents - be the first thing you see when you come into the house ... instead of that dingy carpet. Wahoo! Oh, by the way, our wall color is Behr
Harvest Brown - painted more than five years ago - I've got the date on the paint cans to prove it! Phew. It will be nice to feel closer to "finished" - at least in this room.

I guess my favorite color is "sunset" ...

2012-02-06T21:57:00.001-05:00

Sunset Delights , a photo by SusanNajarianArt on Flickr.

I am attracted to Susan Najarian's piece because of its liberal use of grades of orange - rust, tangerine, almost red ... It's said that Frank Sinatra opined that "Orange is the happiest color." OK, I'll buy that!

And this must really be my year because Tangerine Tango was chosen the Pantone color of the year for 2012. Read more here.

Now to find a place for a color like Tangerine Tango in our home ... hm ... Maybe a Behr color like Fiery Red will do ...

Oh, and see more Susan Najarian art in her etsy shop, Red Truck Designs.

May your day be full of orange!

More Instant Ancestors you can wear!

2012-02-05T16:38:00.001-05:00

resin bezel, vintage photos or illustrations, a photo by KimWJenkins on Flickr.

I almost can't wait the 72 hours required for these resin beauties to cure entirely. These pendants feature vintage photos, illustrations and text from books protected by jeweler's resin. Should I use ribbons to make the necklaces? (that would be new for me) Or a combination of ribbons and chain? Stay tuned. 72 hours from now (give or take) I'll have the answer for you - and more pics. Check out my flickr photostream for more pics. Silvertone bezels from objectsandelements. Brass bezels from studioonthehill's etsy shop.

Happy birthday, Mom!

2012-02-03T13:03:00.001-05:00

Mom and Brian, a photo by KimWJenkins on Flickr.

My mom's birthday is February 5, but I ran across this picture from summer 2010 and I love it and think it's fitting to pay tribute to her today, a couple of days early! So Happy Birthday, Mary Ann White!

I treasure this pic because it represents the character of my mom. She stands behind my son in the picture, like she stands behind all of her grandchildren - all 12 of them! Like a sentry, she is looking out for all of them. Add five children (and their spouses and significant others) and a husband and all the rest of the people in her life that she cares about and you can imagine how much "looking out" she's been and will continue to be doing.

For 70 years, Mom, you have been a blessing to so many. Here's to many more! We love you! xoxo

"She Saw It On Pinterest"

2012-02-02T21:16:00.001-05:00

She Saw It On Pinterest, a photo by Amy Rice on Flickr.

You know why I am drawn to this - because I'm drawn to Pinterest! I imagine that the woman in the print saw a sweet DIY project and was consumed with urgency about creating jars embellished with hearts. Well, who can't relate to that?

The artist, Amy Rice, uses a Gocco printer to make her pretty prints. Learn about Gocco here. Amy uses antique journal pages for printing. More about that at her etsy shop.

I haven't used my Gocco printer in months - maybe more than a year ... hmmm ...
Amy's inspiring me to dust off that Gocco.

Peace be still | Mark 4:35-41

2012-02-01T22:41:00.001-05:00

PEACE BE STILL, a photo by Robes-Pierre on Flickr.

"Angry winds blow suddenly
How this world can threaten me
Then the Master speaks with sure authority
Peace be still,
Peace be still,
Peace be still."
Twila Paris

Click here to read Bible reference

"Red Dress" | example of daily digital coolness

2012-01-31T21:23:00.001-05:00

Mixed Media Collage, a photo by collage a day on Flickr.

Fantastic digital collage by collage a day. Check out the photostream for some inspiring altered vintage photos. Just keep clicking through the stream. Amazing stuff, collage a day ...

Could you/do you produce art every day? A serious challenge, for sure. Check out The Crafter's Devotional, a book of 365 artistic ideas so you're never out of techniques to try or media for experimenting.

Do you practice creativity daily? How do you stick with it?

"Do Much Good"

2012-01-30T21:20:00.001-05:00

Do Much Good collage, a photo by Rebecca Sower on Flickr.

The title of this work reminds of this week's Sunday School lesson. In Deuteronomy, we studied God's (through Moses) instructions to the Israelites before they were to enter the Promised Land. God knew that the Israelites wouldn't naturally settle into the land full of love and generosity for each other. Some would own land, and others would work the land for them. Some would be orphans, and some widows, requiring justice. Some would require loans from those with money to lend. God instructed that all should treat each other with respect: to give generously and not even expect repayment; to treat the poor with dignity; and to demand justice for those who cannot get justice for themselves.

There are lessons for me in Deuteronomy. I am really working on the "give generously" part - giving out of love and not out of duty, and not expecting recognition or "credit." I want to "do much good." And I know that only when my heart is right can I ensure that.

fun flickr tools at bighugelabs

2012-01-29T20:23:00.001-05:00

jewelry mosaic, a photo by KimWJenkins on Flickr.

have a flickr account? you can create mosaics with your own or others' pics (if they allow sharing) with mosaic maker from bighugelabs.com. i was just foolin' around and this isn't the best composition, but it's a rockin' tool. try it! you can adjust background color, space between squares (pics should look good in square format), adjust number of rows and columns, etc. like i said, rockin' - and free!

warm inside, snow outside. how can you make it warm for others today?

2012-01-29T16:47:00.001-05:00

Through condensation on storm door. finally, snow., a photo by KimWJenkins on Flickr.

i took this picture through our front storm door which is covered with condensation because it's toasty inside and so cold outside. looks kinda ghostly, huh? i am so grateful to have a house which God provides for us, to shield us from the elements. more than once today i have heard about people in need of clothes to ward off the cold weather. praying that we will all give where God leads us to. He commands His people to give with a loving heart, from the bounty that has been given to us.

"our font"

2012-01-28T23:00:00.001-05:00

A Friend, a photo by bockel24 on Flickr.

Whenever I see the font used on this collage, I instantly and easily recognize it, because we used it on our wedding invitations that we designed ourselves! I might see "our font" on a grocery store sign, or in a magazine ad, or in a piece of art like Marion's pictured here and I think, "Hey! They didn't ask permission from me!" Isn't that funny? Being protective of a font? Silly and sweet, huh?

kirk in the woods

2012-01-28T17:43:00.001-05:00

Coolest geocache set up by our friends. Dropped off a trackable and on our way ..., a photo by KimWJenkins on Flickr.

Another sight while geocaching today. So c-c-c-cold! But worth the trip to see the travel bug motel set by our friends, Dave and Mary. Want to know more about geocaching? Check out geocaching.com. My husband calls it "a hobby where you use multi-million-dollar satellites to find Tupperware in the woods." That's pretty accurate.

bee boxes - "say cheese!"

2012-01-28T17:35:00.001-05:00

, a photo by KimWJenkins on Flickr.

While on a geocaching trek today, we discovered these beekeeping boxes. out of season and artfully stacked, they made for a beautiful picture.

Captivated by hens teeth's handbag

2012-01-26T23:23:00.001-05:00

handbag, a photo by hens teeth on Flickr.

I love how hens teeth composes her birds. What a fantastic little bag!

sweetly distressed ATC

2012-01-25T22:18:00.001-05:00

ATC vintage inchies TRADED, a photo by thekathrynwheel on Flickr.

I love this distressed Artist's Trading Card (ATC) by thekathrynwheel. It includes a collection of "inchies" (1" squares) that are often combined to make a piece of art. Here's more info about inchies from craftster.org. It's got me itching for inchies!

Sweet art in a tin .. and more from hen's teeth

2012-01-24T20:53:00.001-05:00

small Pastilles tin # 1, a photo by hens teeth on Flickr.

Love the idea of a secreted note inside a mints tin ... and love the stitched dog - with wings? Beautiful. Here's the artist's blog with her screen prints, monoprints, collages and bunny brooches with ears made out of the fingers of leather gloves. Sweet!

Love Danita Art's paintings!

2012-01-23T22:11:00.001-05:00

20100831-the-mushrooms-collector, a photo by Danita Art on Flickr.

I have admired Dainta Art's work for some time. Love the sweet, moody figures, like The Mushrooms Collector here. Check out her etsy shop for original paintings and giclee prints on wood, among other items.

"Bloom where you are planted."

2012-01-22T18:21:00.001-05:00

184 / threesixtyfive, a photo by Tonya Doughty on Flickr.

What does this instruction (attributed to St. Francis de Sales) mean to you? For me it suggests patience, not wishing for what you don't have, or to be where you're not, because God's got a plan for you, right where you are. What do you think?

More beautiful work by Roben-Marie

2012-01-22T00:05:00.001-05:00

Points of Two - Week 43, a photo by Robes-Pierre on Flickr.

Roben-Marie Smith's work ...

2012-01-21T23:49:00.001-05:00

I AM FULL, a photo by Robes-Pierre on Flickr.

... so inspirational. i *will* get out my paints and pens and papers, i *will* get out my paints and pens and papers ...

Adoring mixed media tonight

2012-01-21T23:32:00.001-05:00

My favorites, a photo by Pretty Arty on Flickr.

Artists on flickr are inspiring me to explore mixed media again. Sweet little notebook by Pretty Arty.

Ladder stitch bracelet fun!

2012-01-06T23:06:00.000-05:00

After seeing so many versions of these ladder stitch bracelets, I just had to give them a try. Here are my takes. 16" long, will wrap twice on my wrist. Chunky, fun, colorful. Both available in our etsy shop.

Mardi Gras

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Seafoam

Zumba Kick-Off at Merriman Road Baptist Church

2012-01-05T20:04:00.001-05:00

Can you believe this crowd?!?!?

Couponing is in Fashion

2012-01-05T19:20:00.001-05:00

With some of my Christmas money (thanks, mom and dad) I purchased a very chic coupon wallet. Yeah, I said a chic coupon wallet. Miles more beautiful than my old ratty plastic one with the limp elastic band to keep it closed. And it velcroes to the cart, and stays open while I shop! I'm still couponing after a phase during which I was a bit too intense about it (paid subscription to a matching service, etc.). Sometimes I let the coupons dictate what we ate, not the other way around. So, with a goal of continuing to eat healthy in 2012, I continue to clip coupons for things I know we'll need, and what I know is pretty healthy. And I use these free sites like these to discover serendipitous matches:

Oh, and here are some great etsy sellers who make cool coupon wallets.

Share your faves!