Moulin Rouge! Finally here!

I am off to Manhatten Beach to attned this spectacular event... vendors, classes, goodies, giveaways, but mostly being able to see some AMAZING friends that I have met through attending these events. I also love making new friends, as a matter of fact I am even rooming with a sweet girl named Rachel that I will be meeting for the first time on Thursday. I mean seriously when you get to be in your 40's and maybe even in your 30's, not so much surprises or excites you like Christmas eve did when you were little. But these events come close, the anticipation is part of the fun. So this will be my last post, when I get back I will be showing you all the glittered at Moulin Rouge!

OH and if you are not one of the lucky ladies attending, please visit GLITTERFEST in Santa Ana! You wont be disappointed!

-Denise

Moulin Rouge Raffle Prize

I have been trying to think of what to make as a giveaway item for Kims Moulin Rouge Event. I have donated something for the last two or three events and I always enjoy creating a themed piece of art. But since I am on birdcage mode, I created a little Moulin inspired birdcage, with an altered ballerina in the inside. Not a lot of time to gab, have to get to work so here are the pics. Maybe you will be one of the lucky winners! -Denise

{I was a little worried that I spelled Oh la la right, and YES! in fact it is not Ooh la la, en Francais it is correctly spelled Oh la la!}

faufiler coup d'oeil or Sneak Peek-Moulin Rouge

Today I did some crafting with my girls that are going to Kim Caldwells Moulin Rouge Artistic Affaire in a few weeks. So I decided to share a few sneak peeks at one of my swaps. I know most of you know what a swap is, but for those of you who don't: This is a swap among a group of friends attending the event, we all made 14 pages for a journal, sent them to the swap hostess, and she puts one of each of our pages together into an amazing bound journal. This swap is being hosted by the very talented Michelle Gellar of Hold Dear. Michelle has an online store filled with amazing ephemera so make sure you stop by and check it out.
       I am really not supposed to give away my pages, but here a few tiny peeks at what I made. After the event I will reveal my entire pages and those of the rest of the swap-ees! Denise

{Michelle has used these little glissine bags in some of her journals, so I decided to do the same as on homage to her. I heat embossed them and they came out great!}

{I love paper mechanics so decided to make a little pop out eiffel tower. The journal is supposed to be just that, a journal, so I inlcuded plenty of places to write in. I circled the "cloud" journal spots with sparkle gel pen}

{and of course what French themed journal would not be complete without a little Marie? I used these great little clear balls for Martha Sewart to cover her hair, I loved the way they highlighted it and gave it texture}

Workshop Announcement! Handwired Birdcage

I am very excited to have a class at a new shop that just opened down the street from me in Long Beach called Bella Cosa, please check out her website, her shop is great with something for everyone. Christy Pardini the owner has also created an amazing class space in the shop and I can't wait to have you all there! We will be making a handwired birdcage made from wire fencing I found in my husband the hoarders storage shed (shhhhh don't tell him!). I have so many ideas to share with you from patinas, to glitter, to ribbons and wiring techniques. And add to that a glass or two of wine and great conversation too! This will be a fun class where you will get to use your creativity to make your birdcage your own. Don't feel the creative bug? Don't worry I will walk you though it! So join me... class size is limited so reserve your spot soon at the shop, my website or on the sidebar!- See you soon! Denise

Vacation Pic's

Well this is how our vacation started out. We were here: 

38°50'58"N   110°55'36"W also known as the middle of f@#king Utah. We just stopped to change drivers and Tyler decides to do a donut to peel out of the rest area, loses control and crashes into the curb. All fun and games until we realize the car is now un-driveable. One night hotels stay in Moab-$69, Car rental-$176, Subie repair-$915.... giving my husband shit about this for a lifetime....PRICELESS!

So instead of having my beloved subie to drive through all this weather we hit, we are in a stinky 2 wheel drive Toyota Camry.

Then when it seemed nothing else could possibly go wrong, I go to put the key in door to Tom and Sandies house and Sandie gave us the wrong key! Apparently our love of shopping at thrift stores and creativity aren't the only thing Sandie and I have in common! That is TOTALLY something I would do..(hey in Sandies defense I believe there was a City Market club card tag on the key)

But liuckily Tom had a hide a key- and of course Tyler had to break trail to get down to it..... In waist deep snow !

But finally here...and look at that amazing weather! Isn't Tom and Sandies home amazing? We are so lucky to have such great friends that let us stay here, but we did miss skiing with Tom and Sandie this time, but they were in New Zealand.. it must be nice to take vacation from vacation!

isn't it beautiful? This is the great room.

Love this kitchen too

And the couch and Toms chair...here is where we spend most of our time, resting up after long days on the slopes.

I love all of the vintage ski's and pictures that Tom has hung around the house

Dinner at the Dillon Dam Brewery

Matt and Tyler day one Keystone.

Me at my favorite place, Blue Sky Basin...Vail. Can you believe this spot is 9 miles away from the village we started at?

And of course we took our traditional hot dogs up to the back bowls and barbequed on the grills they have set up back there.

picnic at blue sky

my most brilliant invention- thumbless liner gloves-for cell phone touch pad use! Worked like a charm!

what a beautiful day at Vail.

The boys!

I miss this guy. So I drew a little memorial in the snow for him at the top of Game Creek Bowl-Vail. 

Starbucks Vail Village

Since Tom  was in New Zealand I decided to keep his chair warm for him, and read the paper. (Someone has to do it!)

Breckenridge!

Seriously no way in hell I would ever go up this T-bar, the runs this services some pretty steep walls.

The boys head straight for it!

This pic does not do it justice, these walls are near vertical!

Lunchtime at Breck

There is really just no way to look cool in my ski get up. Its all about being warm and being able to see.

After skiing I hit Magical Scraps.. this shop is so cute, it would be my dream to have a shop like this on Main street in Breck....AND it's right across the street from the Crepe Cart!

I got this cute belt for my friend Audrey who baby sits my doggies... the bag was so cute! That's all for now, one day left to get my craft room organized and get ready for Moulin Rouge, my next big Art event. I can't WAIT! Vacation had some ups and downs... but I wasn't going to let anything get in the way of having a good time regardless.... lifes too short not to enjoy vacation!

-Denise