Saturday, January 31, 2009

Challenges and challenges.

This has been a challenging and emotional week...have had some issues for some time with my house helper, and today was her last day - since she is from a tribal area and several of our students are from her same village, many of them involved themselves in the situation, trying to help her change, but she's choosing not to...it is really a long story...and the whole situation has gotten much more complex and heavy than it needed to...needless to say I'm exhausted and I'm just ready to have it over with, learn from it, and move on. *sigh...*

Also, a bit of a crisis in our extended family - if any of you are from Texas you may have heard about an Eagle Pass woman who was in the midst of a messy divorce and has been missing since Jan. 21 - her brother is my sister-in-law's husband, so while she's not a direct relative of mine, this is a really hard time for my in-laws, who have gone to TX to see what they can do to help. You can read more about the situation here ...sad and very scary.

OK - enough heavy stuff. Challenges! I played a couple this week, just for fun. Need some fun in my life, no?! Here's my entry for Taylor's Cupcake Challenge, sketch 53. I picked up this cupcake wreath from Eureka Stamps - cute, huh? The image is watercolored with lots of glitter pen on the confetti. Saying is from Heart & Soul Rubber Stamp Co.

I played the House Mouse challenge too - that's one of my favorites - love those mice and bunnies!! The challenge (#22) was to do some piercing on our cards. That barely shows up in the picture...but there is piercing around the edge, and a little on the little pail, where the handle attaches. The pail and shovel are stamps from Firecracker Designs by Pamela, and the flip-flop border is from Art Impressions. The saying is one of my favorites, from Heart & Soul Rubber Stamp Co. The scene is watercolored with reinkers and watercolor pencils.

Thanks for checking in on me!

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14 comments:

  1. Gosh... sorry you're going through "issues" with a househelper again! I can imagine you are mentally & emotionally drained with these ongoing problems. Hopefully you will find someone who is just right (soon!) I hadn't heard about the Eagle Pass case... so sad. By the way, your cards lifted my spirits, especially the little rabbit!

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  2. What a great blog! I have gone back and read many pages, and it sounds like you have seen the world! My daughter was at the Petronas towers a little over a year ago. She was all over Asia, and totally enjoyed her city and desert trek. I'll be back to read some more!

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  3. Nothing helps stress like creating beautiful artwork! I think you went above & beyond trying w/your housekeeper. I'm sorry to read about the woman from Tx. It doesn't sound good.

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  4. What a fabulous image (I bet Taylor loves that wreath image). Very yummy card. Glad you found some relaxation time.

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  5. Very pretty cards! Look at that cute cupcake wreath! Thanks for playing the challenge!

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  6. This is just beautiful!!

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  7. AWWWWW!!!! This is too cute! I love that little Hopper. Great job love the vibrant colors.

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  8. WOW -- both cards are so very pretty!!

    I will keep your extended family in my prayers --

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  9. Just know you are not alone during this difficult time - you are so greatly loved and thought of by all us card-makers
    ... we're just one huge family. Please keep us posted about your extended Texas family.

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  10. This is my first visit on your blog and I really love all these wonderful pieces of art you are showing here! I'll be back... :-)

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  11. Hope you're doing ok Dina! I saw the story about your extended family when you shared on FB - so awful. But on a happier note - LOVE the cards - that cupcake wreath is so adorable!!!!

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  12. Your cards always have such wonderful details and artistry!

    LOVE the lighthouse image you created for the ODBD set!!

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  13. That wreath is GORGEOUS!!!

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  14. Great cards. Love the happy hopper image. x

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