Christmas is Over...All Ready!?!?!?

I haven't completed all of the projects I had in mind.  Oh well.  :)
Next to come...my Snowmen Collection and Valentines Day.

I thought you might like to see the fun "gift boxes" I made this Christmas.  I purchased the ILLINOIS one at a craft fair.  After I got home, I decided to create more boxes.  So, off to Michaels I went and purchased these primed, tin, lunch boxes.  I decorated the boxes, scrapbook style.  Then I put gift cards and holiday candy inside each one.  They were a big hit with the nieces and nephew.  I think they would be cute for all kinds of gifts.  The smaller boxes are the small, tin, Michaels gift card boxes...decorated scrapbook style.

I hope these little boxes inspire you to make some of your own.  Have FUN!

My Holiday Treasures Blog is now closed for the season.  I"ll let you know when it re-opens.  Thanks so much!

XO, Lucy

It's December 17th...YIKES!

Hi Friends!

I admit it...I'm playing the avoidance game! I have bells around the base of our tree...to let us know when the cats are up to no good...but no ornaments! The Christmas card photos are all ready to drop in the mail...but wait...I have yet to write our annual letter! I have presents to wrap! My sister is visiting tomorrow...better clean the guest room...blah...blah...blah!

Forget all of the above...I want to share more of my Christmas treasures! :) You all know I LOVE Mary Engelbreit's artwork and know I am...slightly...obsessed with collecting ME Christmas...But...I do have other collections too. Surprised?!? :)

My living room shelves are dressed for Christmas! I love my Lori Mitchell figures with the skinny legs...resin or not. I also LOVE my original pieces by my late friend, Joan DeMent. I miss you, Joan!

My Holiday Treasures blog is still open...

http://lucysholidaytreasures.blogspot.com

Everything is handmade by me! Email me at thimble art@aol.com if you see a treasure that interests you. Heck, email me with any comments about my little blog! :)

Off to hang...write...wrap... and clean...after I sit in my living room a little while and saver my Christmas treasures.

XO, Lucy

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Hi Friends!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas at our home! There is no way I can load photos of my Christmas treasures in one post! So, I'll start with my Mary Engelbreit collection...which fills a whole room! It's fun to share...I hope you enjoy the photos and that they inspire you! ENJOY!

ME herself has photos of her Christmas home on her blog...ENJOY!

http://maryengelbreit.com/blogs

Gentle reminder...if you are looking for any handmade treasures as gifts...please visit my Holiday Treasures blog...

http://lucysholidaytreasures.blogspot.com

Check back in a few days for more photos!

XO, Lucy

It's Open!

Hi Friends!

Lucy's Holiday Treasure blog is open. If you are looking for handmade holiday treasures...please stop by...

http://lucysholidaytreasures.blogspot.com

My good friend and I ventured out to the Lambs Farm Craft Show at Arlington Park Race Track today. We were so disappointed! Yes, "Claudia" was there with her beautiful ornaments. But the line was soooo long for personalizing and the ornaments have gone up in price. My first "Claudia" purchase was an angel...which I bought at the Grove Craft Show when my 26 year old daughter was just a baby. "Claudia" seemed to be one of only a few handmade items this year. I DO NOT like or appreciate knock-off work! I did buy some good homemade chocolate granola so our outing was not a total waste...and I was with my good friend. :)

Have a lovely weekend. I plan on putting out our Christmas decorations and turning our home into a cozy holiday paradise.

XO, Lucy

It's Coming....

Hi Friends!

Christmas is coming! The little ones at preschool are excited! I LOVE this time of year!

I'm getting a slow start to my Christmas decorating. All I have done so far is dressing the mantle in our bedroom. Like the checkerboard tiles? Inspired by Mary Engelbreit...of course!

My little "Holiday Treasures" Blog will be open on Thursday, December 1...that THIS Thursday! I better get painting!! http://lucysholidaytreasures.blogspot.com

XO, Lucy

Post Halloween...Pre Christmas

Hi Friends!

So, I was going to skip from Halloween to Christmas this year. But..when I packed away the Halloween, my dear husband asked what was going up for Thanksgiving. So...out came the Fall treasures. It's been a couple of years since I put Fall treasures out so it was a little like seeing old friends. Most of my treasures were handmade treasures purchased at craft shows or a now defunct craft shop named Coomers. A couple of items are treasures that I made...the "Eat Ham" turkey is an old friend I made back in 1993! I sold many at the Holly Fair at OLPH. Do any of you still have your turkey? I don't remember when I made the Fall angel in the star wreath. The little scarecrow gourd is brand new...I literally just finished him tonight.

I wish for all of you the most delightful Thanksgiving full of God's blessings.

XO, Lucy

What Did You Do Today?

Hi Friends,

Well, with Halloween over, it's time to start painting for my Holiday Treasures Sale! But, first, I painted Rubber Ducks! My young client is an avid Rubber Duck collector. She also LOVES Harry Potter! So...what did I do? I painted a Harry Potter Duck on her bathroom wall. That may not sound like FUN to you...but I find painting VERY therapeutic...and FUN!

Only negative part...I need to redo my nails... :)

Tomorrow I'm going to a fabulous craft show with my friend, Mary. At least I hope it is fabulous, and not all knock off work. Sadly, true craft shows are becoming a thing of the past. It is harder and harder for true artists to compete with the cheap prices of the knock-offs. There are two or three items that I purchase that are not handmade. Mary Engelbreit items...of course...Lori Mitchell items (resin but they sure are cute) and Willie Ray Studio work...also resin but very cute. My late friend, Joan DeMent, had a collection of 19 ORIGINAL Willie Ray wood carvings! Now, Joan was a true collector!!

So, after all of that painting, it's off to dinner and the movies for me...and my husband.

XO, Lucy

Hi Friends!

Happy weekend...and what beautiful weather we have...so far!

Busy times...Open House at school last night...so much fun...but a little like being a hostess at a HUGE party!

I'm just about to close my BOOtique for the season...washing out my orange paint brush. I painted a large, dried gourd to sell...BUT...I just can't! He was sitting on my craft table as I was painting other items. Sitting there...just staring at me! We've grown quite attached! So...he's going to be staying with me. :) I have more large gourds, so I may paint more next Halloween season...then again...maybe not. http://lucysbootique.blogspot.com

My "Lucy's Holiday Treasures" Blog will start on December 1, 2011. I'll have lots of ornaments and other "winter" items...

http://lucysholidaytreasures.blogspot.com

Mary Engelbreit is still looking for people to attend her workshop in November. She is even adding a mini ME store into the mix...that and she is decorating her workshop for the holidays. I am SO tempted to go again! I must resist temptation and wait for the next workshop next summer.

XO, Lucy

Happy Weekend!

Hi Friends!

I hope you are all having a fabulous weekend! I spent Saturday at an Early Childhood Conference...one can never know too much in the teaching field!

The weather is beautiful here in the Chicago suburbs...I LOVE the leaves blowing around!! It feels very Halloweenie!

Off to paint my newest Thimbleart design...FUN and CUTE!

XO, Lucy

Hi Friends!

Busy...busy...busy...the story of my life...I LOVE it!

I've been busy painting more items for my BOOtique...http://lucysbootique.blogspot.com

Right now I'm working on some CUTE skeleton gourds...and a big pumpkin gourd with a witches hat...and my newest Halloween thimble art design.

I'm also busy teaching preschool...LOVE...LOVE...LOVE those little ones! We are getting ready for Open House next week!

I've also been super busy on the weekends. Champaign two weeks ago...GO Illini! Last weekend I had a lovely time in Lake Geneva, WI with 6 of the teachers from preschool...Laugh-A-Polusa!!

I usually find some time on the weekends to shop with my good friend, Mary. We used to love shopping at craft malls...which no longer exist. We still go to craft fairs but are becoming more disappointed at the knock off items being sold. I much prefer handmade, creative treasures...unless...of course...it is a Mary Engelbreit treasure.

I'm off to school. Chicago is having FABULOUS weather right now!! Enjoy!

XO, Lucy

Time for my BOOtique!

Hi Friends!

I'm a little delayed! We had a fabulous weekend down in Champaign...Illinois Homecoming! Go ILLINI! Great game!!!!

I just set up my BOOtique Blog...please go see what I have for sale...

http://lucysbootique.blogspot.com

Enjoy looking at my Halloween WITCH collection on our mantel! Some of my witches were made by my late friend, Joan DeMent.

XO, Lucy

HALLOWEEN at Lucy's House!

Hi Friends!

Ok Doky...here are some photos of my Halloween treasures!

Did I mention I LOVE decorating for Halloween!?

In the next few days...I'll add photos of our witch collection on our mantel.

I have yet to figure out how to add photos without deleting others.

Starting on October 1st...I will have my Halloween Bootique here.

My Junk Yard Cute bracelets are always for sale.

If you have questions...my email is Thimbleart@aol.com

XO, Lucy

What to do first???

Hi Friends!

I did it! I have all of my HALLOWEEN out! I LOVE HALLOWEEN decorations! I'll take photos this weekend to share and inspire.

School is in full swing and so much FUN!!!!

My BOOTIQUE sale will be on my blog this year. The BOOTIQUE will be mostly HALLOWEEN and Fall items.

BOOTIQUE Sale...starting October 1.

Holiday Sale...starting December 1.

Noah's Ark

Hi Friends!

Labor Day is past...preschool is about to start. This week will be spent making Home Visits to my new little students...FUN!!

It's almost time to get my HALLOWEEN out! I love to decorate for HALLOWEEN!

Before I start on HALLOWEEN...I wanted to show you the Noah's Ark Thimbleart Set I painted...ENJOY! Very soon I will be creating a link to a page of ALL of my Thimbleart...with prices.

Enjoy this FABULOUS weather!!

XO, Lucy

Hi Friends!
I took a little break from my lesson plans and took my camera outside. What a beautiful day...after the rain! Enjoy!

XO, Lucy

Teeny Tiny House...

Hi Friends!
Many of you know that I live in a teeny tiny house! Our teeny tiny house is full of teeny tiny treasures! I LOVE to decorate! I'm not talking changing furniture...I'm talking the details. The details are what make a house a home...no matter how teeny tiny the house!

There are several places in my teeny tiny house that are redecorated at least five times a year...making fun seasonal changes. Some of these areas include the fireplace mantel in our bedroom, the fantastic shelves in the living room... built by my dear husband, and the wood box in the living room purchased years ago at a craft show. Our cranberry room gets a complete transformation at Christmas...but that is a whole different post!

Currently, my decorating scheme is in Summer Mode. I know...Halloween is out everywhere but I hold back until after Labor Day. Summer Mode in my teeny tiny house lasts from Memorial Day to Labor Day and includes lots of patriotic and summer fun. Posted are some pictures of some of my Summer Mode to hopefully inspire you.

I've added my "Junkyard Cute" bracelets at the bottom of the page. All are for sale for $25 each. Email me if you are interested...Thimbleart@aol.com I can drop one off or mail one to you. Free shipping.

It's raining again...and I have a Noah's Arc Thimbleart set to paint. Stay dry and thanks for stopping by.

XO, Lucy

Hi Friends!!

Welcome to my blog! It's not fancy...but fun...and maybe cute to look at. :)

I have so much in my life to be thankful for! I am passionate about my family, my friends, my preschool teaching experiences, my faith, and my creative energy. I hope to share my creative spirit with you all.

This summer, I attended a fabulous workshop at THE Mary Engelbreit Studios in St. Louis, Missouri. I had the honor of meeting so many talented and creative people....including Mary Engelbreit herself. My "All About Me" cigar box shadow box (above) is one of the items I created at the workshop. I had so much fun creating the box, I just had to show you all and inspire you to create one yourself! I'm happy to answer any questions you may have in designing your own shadow box. P.S. Mary Engelbreit is currently accepting registration for her November 2011 workshops! Go to her websight for details.

School is about to begin...yea...but...in the summer of 2012, I am planning to begin to host creative workshops...for adults...in my home. Imagine...attending a workshop where all of the materials are at hand and one can have fun laughing and creating with friends. My first workshop will be a "scrapbook" of sorts. My idea is to turn your child's favorite hardbound book into a "scrapbook". The stiffer the pages the better. So, start collecting photos of your child and find...or buy a new copy of...their favorite book. I'll have more workshop details in the Spring of 2012.

My first workshop idea came from one of the other items I made at the 2011 Mary Engelbreit Summer Workshop. I turned one of my many ME books into a scrapbook of my experience at the workshop! I decorated the cover and back of the book at the workshop and filled in the pages later. Yes, that is a photo of Mary Engelbreit and ME! :)

So, I hope you enjoy my little blog. I plan of sharing lots of photos. Not sure how often I'll post as school is about to begin...did I mention I LOVE teaching preschool?!? :)

At "Lucy's Thimbleart...Etc.", I will often post items I have for sale. So please enjoy looking and shopping! :)

XO, Lucy