Empty Nesting!

IT"S OFFICIAL!!!!!!!!



As my Son flies off to return to University in England, OMG, it hit me and hard, this is it, I am now OFFICIALLY an "Empty Nester!"

Some women hang out the "Vacancy" sign and throw a party when their kids go off to college.

Some Women have nervous breakdowns and can't function when their "Babies" are no longer home. I think I fall somewhere in the middle.

With One 1,000 miles away in a different State, One 2,000 miles away in the opposite direction in yet another State and One 6,000 miles away on a different Continent, I feel I have done my job in raising kids who are confident enough to go off and explore the planet. Of course, some might say I drove them away with my constant nagging and demands but who would say that???? :)

In these harsh economic times I have seriously thought about renting out a couple of rooms but what would we do at Christmas when they all return, I'm way too polite to tell my kids to sleep on the sofas (or am I?!?!?) I do not think I am going to have a nervous breakdown anytime soon but I am going to party! I have planned a weeks vaca to Napa with the "Old Man" and a little R.& R. which is much needed. Sitting in the California sunshine and sipping wine at 4 o'clock in the afternoon by the pool with nowhere to be, no one expecting dinner cooked, no laundry to be done, no airlines tickets to be booked, school fees to be paid (ok, that is on going) you get the picture :)

Expect photos of that trip when I get back but it most probably will be of wine and more wine. :)

What I really am looking forward to in the coming months is literally having my life back. I will wonder around the house and not see anything out of place (ok, I have to tidy it all up first, of course, just indulge me a little) Then I will listen to the silence, walk to my art area and be the most creative I have been in a long time. Do I hear "Dream On!"

Of course, there is always the other scenario that I never get the things put away, the silence will be overwhelming and I walk to my art area and disolve into a jibbering wreck and not move until everyone comes home again at Christmas!

No, I don't think so. I love my kids greatly but now it is my time. See you in 10 days, I'm off to pack my bags and get ready to fly to Cali!!!!!!

Happy Painting/Creating! :) T.

Time for another Giveaway!

Here we are another Month another Giveaway! This Month I am giving away 2 more pieces of my Artwork! :)

Here is the start of a new series; "HOT LIPS" greeting cards. This is a fun series for those "Hot" people in your life or if you just want to raise someone's spirits, they're cute and will make everyone smile. :) The cards are prints of original artwork created by me in watercolour, the cards are then hand finished by me with a dab of colour and a light glossy coat. The cards measure approx. 6" x 4.5". The card stock is white and comes with a matching envelope. "PoppyPlace" is on the imagine for copyright protection it will not be on the cards. The cards are initialed and dated by me.

"Twilight Sand Storm" is a great piece of original art. Created in water based inks on watercolour paper it evokes the image of a "Twilight Sand Storm" over distant sand dunes with the setting sun fading over them. There is depth, texture and movement created with the placement of the inks in an abstract form but there is still the possibility of reality. Even as a serious artist creating artwork is play time for me and I hope the joy I experience creating art comes across in my work. "Twilight Sand Storm" comes in a pale grey textural matt measuring 5" X 7" and is Ready to Frame. "Twilight Sand Storm" is an original work of art, it is signed on the front and back, this piece has not been copied or reproduced in any way for re-sale.

I am loving these giveaways because I get to interact with some really awesome people and making connections is so much fun. :)

So, all you have to do is check out my Etsy Shops and please heart me! :)
Follow my blog and then post comments back here on my blog until the 3oth of September; I will enter every name from the comments and have a drawing on the 30th.

Have fun!

Happy Painting/Creating! :) T.

http://vintaget.etsy.com/ (for Vintage wares)

http://poppyplace.etsy.com/ (for Artwork)

http://designt.etsy.com/ (for Handmade items)

A Day At The Beach!

Labour Day Weekend, the weather was horrible. It really put a damper (sorry about the pun :)on any outdoor plans, oh, like painting part of the outside of our home, not that we really minded putting off that big job and we were able to get that done this past weekend (Check that off the ever growing "To Do" list :)

Anyway, it was partly the thought of things to come, Winter and all the rain and gloomy days, that spurred a day trip to the Oregon Coast. As so often happens Labour Day Weekend is a mixture of weather and once the kids are back in school the sun comes out again.

As one of my sons had a few days before he was due back at college we took the opportunity to head off for a day at the coast and the weather was very obliging. :)

"Eleanor's Undertow" is one of the fun family friendly places we have found on the Oregon Coast. We used to take the kids there for lunch or dinner on our numerous vacations at the coast. Now the kids are "Young Adults" we do not get to go there very often and rarely together.

My son and I spent some time there playing pool and air hockey, both of which I love to play and do not get to do as much as I would like to, I giggled my way thru air hockey, there are not too many things that make me giggle from pure joy, this is one of them. I also am really grateful my Son would want to spend a day with me, we did have fun! :)

I found this link about Eleanor's check it out, they are truly nice people. :)

http://www.oregoncoasttoday.com/eleanorsundertow.html

The waves were pretty high and beautiful. Don't be fooled by the sunshine, notice not a soul in the water even though the temp. on the day was over 80, the water is always really cold, wetsuits needed :) (JK)

This was the other end of the beach, there is nearly always a mist somewhere, still beautiful!

A couple of photos taken from the car on the way. Oregon scenery :)

Happy Painting/Creating! :) T.

A New Venture on my Blog.

I thought it would be fun to start a segment on my blog called "Friday Features". Basically, it would be free advertising for other Etsians to spread the word about there Shops but in a more personal style. I will send out a set of questions and you can answer some or all of them as you see fit, add links to your shops, websites etc. You can also add photos too.

I feel Etsy is a great community and the spirit is re enforced by the support of others, so I thought I would just do my bit. :)

So, if you are interested in participating let me know either by leaving a comment here on my blog with a contact email or convo me at http://www.poppyplace.etsy.com/ I am very excited about doing this!

Happy Painting/Creating! :) T.

In a Treasury on California Blue's Blog.

Yesterday California Blue asked Etsians (in the Forums) to match items in their shops with a beautiful flower photo she posted. I responded and she was sweet enough to include my yellow scarf from my Esty Shop http://www.designt.etsy.com/ in her Treasury posted on her blog.

Here is the link to her blog post: http://californiablue.tumblr.com/post/180493638/photo-inspired-treasury-this-is-the-first-of if you have time check it out it is inspiring! :)

This is her Etsy Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=7047793

Happy Painting/Creating! :) T.

Sports T-Shirt Quilt.

I am making this sports T-Shirt quilt for my son who just went away to college. I have time to finish it before the Midwest winters kick in; so I am told they start with a vengeance at the end of October.


I know this is forward planning but I knew pretty early on I was going to do this project so I have been saving my son's sports related T-Shirts since he was very young. One of the shirts is from his preschool T-ball team. How cute is that. :)


My Son is a sports fan (to say the least) and is studying a sports related curriculum at college. He pretty much lives and breaths sports and I have spent many an hour, like a lot of proud parents, driving him and sitting watching him play basketball, baseball, soccer and tennis plus all the sports camps. He has spent his free time watching pretty much every sport on the planet except golf. He likes his sports but he also knows so much about most sports and is passionate about stats.


So, I thought I would share this to inspire all the Mom's who have sports crazy kids to save their favourite T's and make this simple quilt. It is basically a memory quilt, a brief capsule of fun moments in their lives.

Of course there had to be one Superman Tee in there. :)

Some are Tees from his favourite basketball teams, some from tourneys he participated in, camps he was involved in and seasonal sports too. I miss those times but also I am glad they are over. With 3 kids playing 3 different sports at any given time within a 25 mile radius after school and weekends were a juggling act but one many do with love and I joyfully did it, I just can't imagine having the energy to do it though.

Have a wonderful Weekend.

Happy Painting/Creating! :) T.

Giveaway Day is Here Again!!!!!

We have a Winner!!!

I am so excited to announce the winner in my 3rd Giveaway on PoppyPlacePdx!!!!!

..........................................(silent drum roll) .................................................

The winner is ****Alicia Istanbul **** from Etsy Store http://www.istanbuldesigns.etsy.com/ and her blog http://www.istanbuldesigns.com/blog/

Congrats to Alicia.

I would like to thank everyone who participated, commented on my blog, went to my Etsy shops, hearted them and everyone who is now following my blogs :) It is such a great way to make connections with fellow Etsians and I love reading other people blogs! There is so much great talent out there.


Watch out for next month's giveaway!

Happy Painting/Creating! :) T.