Resolutions - Resolutions!

(sisters photo - reminds me of the wonderful blogging sisters! graphic from the graphic fairy)

Thought I would tell you a little something else I want to do this year.  Leah from CED blog wrote about Christine Kane, and shared Christines blog.  I have enjoyed reading and have decided to choose a word to help guide me this year as I continue in the CED challenge. 


I have chosen the word "continue" (below is the dictionary definition of the word).  Definitions 1 and 2 have really spoken to me.  I am very good at beginning . . .not so good at going on.  My self esteem gets in the way and says "this isn't good enough, so lets quit.  Can't get "hurt" if you quit"  Such a hard thing to break, and yet I want to make it my goal this year to continue even if I don't like my creation, or if I feel foolish all of the sudden.  It is a good word, and to think of the definition each day, will help me to keep on going on.  *smile*

Thank you Leah, and Thank you Christine for the inspiration to try!


Continue:


verb, -ued, -u⋅ing.

–verb (used without object)

1.	to go on after suspension or interruption: The program continued after an intermission.

2.	to go on or keep on, as in some course or action; extend: The road continues for three miles.

3.	to last or endure: The strike continued for two months.

4.	to remain in a particular state or capacity: The general agreed to continue in command of the army.

5.	to remain in a place; abide; stay: Let us continue in this house forever.

–verb (used with object)

6.	to go on with or persist in: to continue an action.

7.	to carry on from the point of suspension or interruption: He continued the concert after the latecomers were seated.

8.	to extend from one point to another in space; prolong.

9.	to say in continuation.

10.	to cause to last or endure; maintain or retain, as in a position.

11.	to carry over, postpone, or adjourn; keep pending, as a legal proceeding.

---

Origin:
1300–50; ME (< AF) < L continuāre to make all one, v. deriv. of continuus continuous

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Happy New Year Wishes!

I wanted to take the time to wish everyone a Happy and Blessed New Year!  May all your dreams come true!

Hugs
Renee

Crafty Storage

I have finally some free time, kinda. *smile* I am off for winter break from school, so can sit and enjoy some computer time that isn't school related.

I have been wanting to share for some time a cute storage idea that was posted Whip Up. (A really great blog dedicated to handcrafted community!)Isn't this creative! I have always used any containers including ones like these for storage, I just never thought to pretty them up so nicely! Guess what I will be doing after the holidays??

Welcome to another Friday Flea Market!!
Black Friday Shopping this week!
Go Here

Contest Alert - Contest Alert!!

“Enter the Holiday Giveaway Extravaganza, sponsored by Moms United in Business LLC, http://www.momsunitedinbusiness.com celebrating the launch of Resources for Work at Home Moms, http://resourcesforworkathomemoms.com! Come celebrate with us, and enter for your chance to win an awesome prize package, just in time for the holidays! Over $850.00 in prizes! You will NOT want to miss this! Enter at http://tinyurl.com/5b7hvm.”

Mmmm . . .Can you smell the coffee??

I love coffee and am an avid coffee drinker. I love trying new flavors, and enjoy a good flavored creamer now and then.

I want to share a new blog I have discovered with you, and a contest they are having this month.

Click on the "bean" and take a peek for yourself!

Friday Flea Market

Welcome to another FFM!!

Below are some new goodies for this week:




Both Towels are NEW - with hot pads attached. Perfect to hang on your stove, to wipe your hands and use for a hot pad! Both are 4.00 each. Leave a comment or email me!
For more of my goodies go here and click on the Friday Flea Market Button.

Click on the Red polka dot square to visit my FFM friends!

Designing Heaven

It has been an extremely tiring day . . . nothing new, right?? *smile* I have finished my project and excersizes for this week. I really enjoyed working with illustrator. What a fun program! I am expirementing with photoshop but haven't mastered a whole lot with it yet. I am sure it will be a program I will use just as much as illustrator. Here is this weeks project:
This week I created a composition with spatial illusion of depth and volume. It was a challenge for me, but fun too! I have so many ideas to create with this program. Have any of you used illustrator?? Any good tips out there in blog land??

I did alot of painting today. Mostly preparing the surfaces. Prep is always a tedious job, but when you take your time, and do it right, the out come is fantastic! I also worked on hubby's birthday present today. I am making a light house for the yard. I am using terra cotta pots. It took forever for the white to cover the pots. It looks really nice, now that it is opaque. I hope to finish it tomorrow. I have another busy day planned.

Until Next Time,
Renee

Friday Flea Market!!

Hi Guys and Gals!

Another Friday Flea Market!Beauty of a magazine for sale this week $3.00




This romatic magazine on sale for $3.00

Or BOTH for $5.00 (plus shipping costs)

Please send me an email at strokesofmagic at hughes dot net

If you would like to see other FFM goodies go to my website and click on Friday Flea Market button on the left!

If you have time, Please check out my friends FFM sales this week. Just click on the red polka dotted square on the left!

Until Next Time,
Renee

Friday Flea Market

I have had a terribly busy week. Classes started again, and we have had the kids suprise us with a visit. I just haven't had anytime to collect any goodies for FFM this week!

Until Next Time
Have a great Day!

Renee

Friday Flea Market!!

Friday Flea Market - Already! Where did my week go??? I have so many things to do yet this weekend. (I did sneak some time in this week to go shopping - Tee Hee!)

New items this week!
Isn't this just the sweetest teacup set? I found some other goodies too.




This teacup and saucer. . .







And a pair of these sweet little rose plates.

To purchase any of the above go to my website, or click on the pictures. Go to the Friday Flea Market Category.

Please stop by my friends FFM blogs and see what goodies they have for you! Just click on the Red Polka Dot Square in my side bar.

The garage sale be sure to type in toletown as the username and password to enter. My sale is under Renee Wilkey (of course - smile) - check everyones sale! Lots of goodies to be had by all!

You will be glad you stopped by!!



Until Next Time,
Renee

Changing Beautifully!!

Hello Out There! *smile*

I have had a really hectic week this week. Trying to finish up all the last minute items on my to do list. School starts again on the 14th . . .I am looking forward to it. The class I am starting on the 14th (my next class starts a little later) is called Fundamentals of Design. I have heard from previous students that the class is "very" difficult. I am a little apprehensive. I enjoy learning, even if it is a difficult class.

Did you notice my new template??
BEAUTIFUL isn't it!!! I have been popping over to the Tip Junkie
whenever I can and entering in the drawings/contests. Today was a wonderful one. I feel lucky even if I don't win the drawing . . .I found wonderful Leelou's! Leelous offers free blogger backgrounds (including the one I am currently using). I fell in love with so many of them. I will enjoy changing blogs around in the future now that I have found leelous templates.

Time to head to bed - tons to do tomorrow too!
Until Next Time,
Renee

Writing on the Wall??

I fell in love with this idea! (From DIY-Click here to see the whole article) I love to paint walls, and have been so wishy washy in deciding what I want to paint on the walls now that the remodel is coming to an end, and painting can begin. I love the beauty of of a mural - but I also like to change things too. With this idea I can have the best of both worlds! Isn't it just the neatest Idea?? It can be done on huge canvas' too. Sooooo many ideas twirling around in my mind. I will be sure to photo once I have my ideas created into reality. *smile*

Until Next Time,

Friday Flea Market!!!

Above is a sneak peek of my Friday flea market finds! To join in the fun and find a special treasure just for you - click on the link below:

Friday Flea Market

Please stop and check out my friends goodies too! Just click on the red polka dot square in the side bar!

Until Next Time,

Garage Sale!!! SAVE!!!

Graphic Copyright Toletown.com 2008

Join in on the fun and find some bargains. There is many crafting/scrapping/mixed media supplies available at unbelievable prices!! Click on the link below and enter toletown as the password and username!



Online Garage Sale
Click here!



Until Next Time,

Drawing on the Wall

I wanted to share a wonderful site with you today . . .This site offers free lessons (and pay lessons only if you choose to download the lessons) and has so much talent represented!

Drawspace.com - Level - Lesson

One of the artists that shares her talents for free is Cindy Wider. I am just chomping at the bit, so to speak, to get a copy of her book. The little peeks into the book on the website (click Cindy's name to take you there) has really got me hooked! *smile*

Cindy Wider

NEWS - Painting Color Wheel

I will be writing an online newsletter on my website. This is be an informative article with many resources. To start it out, please go to the following site. Great Information here!!

To continue with the series - please visit my site (banner below) regularly!




Paint Color Chart - Do You Know What A Paint Color Chart For Artists Is? Truth is, if you're interested knowing about making better colors when painting then this could be the most important message you will ever read. Discover the secrets to the paint and color chart.

Until Next Time,

Quotes to learn from!

Painting is an illusion, a piece of magic, so what you see is not what you see. I don’t know what a painting is; who knows what sets off even the desire to paint? It might be things, thoughts, a memory, sensations, which have nothing to do directly with painting itself. They can come from anything and anywhere.

Philip Guston

I love this quote! I enjoy the artist to whom the quote belongs as well. If you would like to learn more please to click here.

Friday Flea Market

I don't have anything new today for FFM . . .hopefully my "goodie" searches will yield some more for next week!




Until Next time,

Attn: Doll Collectors!!

Introducing the dolly pops! Candy-colored clothespin dollies with lollipop stick arms. They are based on lollipop flavors, like lemon drop and orange...



Click here to go to Jen's blog and read more about her darling dollies!! These are just a doll collectors dream! This is on my list for a Christmas gift for my mum. She collects dolls, and has many different dolls but not on like this! Oh, so cute!!

Glassware Decore!

I have a great blog - and painting idea to share with you! Below is a little taste of the painting idea from Kari and Kijsa. Click on the picture to head right over there!


(photo copyright "Ask Kari and Kijsa")

Please read the following from Decoart (the manufacturer of the paints used in the above idea) - it is very, very important to use a piece of paper towel underneath dry foods (like cookies) or to use a clear glass plate ontop of your decoratively painted one to place your food upon. I prefer the clear glass plate, so I can show off my pretties!!





FAQs for Ultra Gloss Acrylic Enamels

1. I would like to paint some drinking glasses and a pitcher as a gift. What kind of paint do you recommend? If I paint these items, will they be safe to drink out of?

Ultra Gloss would be the best paint to use on your glassware. It is specifically designed to adhere to hard, slick surfaces like glass, china, ceramics, and hard plastics. Clean your glassware well and rinse with vinegar; be careful not to put your hands on the area that you will be painting, if you do you may redeposit oils on to the glass. Paint your design, but remember to keep the pattern out of areas that will be in direct contact with food or utensils (though Ultra Gloss is non-toxic, it is not recommended for use where food or utensils will be in direct contact with painted areas). Allow your finished piece to dry at least 7 days to ensure that the paint has cured. To add extra strength and durability to oven safe items, you may bake them after 24 hours. (Baked pieces are dishwasher safe.) When baking, do not preheat oven. Place the piece in a cool oven and then heat to 325. After 30 minutes, turn off oven and allow oven to cool before removing your piece. Finished pieces can be used for dining but should be treated like fine china or crystal. Remember, these are not fired pieces. 2. I would like to get a frosted look on some glassware. Do you have a paint I can use for this? Ultra Gloss is available in 6 lovely pearl shades. These colors will give the effect of a frosted look when sponged very lightly on glassware. You might also try our Easy Cling stencils. These stencils are made of a pliable material, which will temporarily adhere or "cling" to glass or ceramics. They will easily curve around glasses, cups, pitchers or hard-to-fit areas. You can then sponge on Ultra Gloss Pearl paints and have a frosted look in many different designs. 3. Is Ultra Gloss suitable for use on casseroles and other oven ware? Are they microwave safe? We do not recommend using Ultra Gloss on casseroles or baking dishes that will be heated in either the microwave or conventional oven. Ultra Gloss is best for decorative items.

(above information from Decoart website)

If you would like more information on Decoart Paints/Products:
http://www.decoart.com


Until Next time,

Contest Alert - Contest Alert!!

Yippeee!!! Now this is the way to start a week!! I love reading blogs (I am much more faithful at reading, lately, then writing. I know baaaaad me!)
and one of my favorites is hosting 20 days of contests!! Hop on over and join me in a really good time - entering to win some great goodies!!






Until Next time,

Friday Flea Market

Friday Flea Market Sneak Peek!

Special price for FFM this week, $6.00 each (regulary $10.00 each)


Set of Two cups and Two saucers. Beautiful Roses in a dark mauve and pink!






Check out my friends sales too!






Until Next Time,

New Painting Project

This is a new item I am working on. When finished it will be a three piece set. It feels so good to have a brush in my hand again. Seems like forever since I painted.

Except for painting with my grandchildren. We had a grand time while they visited - it was sad to see them go back to germany! I will miss them!





Until Next time,