Hey everyone! It's been a while since I posted and I've been super busy as a little bee in my hive...making tons of cards and sharing a lot over on the Simon Says Stamp Blog! I hope you are keeping up with me over there!! SO much going on...and more to come this week too! A new SSS card kit is coming out and then another new stamp release soon after that. Besides that, I have been unusually busy with fun social activities! Most of the time my life is pretty quiet! But the way it seems to work is....no activities for weeks, and then everything all at once!! I had a very very nice and creative and inspiring weekend so I thought I would edit some photos and share all that with you! A project, some cupcakes, a visit to the museum, and a crafty girl day! It was so delightful and now it's midnight Sunday night and I'm wide awake from all the excitement! What better time to write a blog post!? Buddy is here too!
Friday the hubs and I went out for breakfast and then went to our local (and awesome) art museum. It's called the Crocker and it is actually right across the street from where I used to work! A few years ago they added an entire wing onto the old part of the building and now it is a cool mix of old and new. The reason for our visit was to see the Andy Warhol visiting exhibit and it was great. Here is a photo of the front of the old part of the museum.
Our museum now has a Chihuly sculpture! It's AMAZING! It's only been here about a month and the nice docent was telling us the story of the installation. All I can say is, I'm glad it wasn't my job to install this gorgeous glass piece!
In the courtyard of the museum are these gorgeous old dogwood trees. The blooms were about 80% gone, but I found a couple of pretty ones to photograph...
Mark caught me in action!
These gorgeous miniature roses are also right in front of the museum...sigh...
This was our tasty breakfast at The Mill Coffee....
So, we'll skip over Saturday because we did chores and laundry and grocery shopping...and I did some work.... But on Sunday I attended a lovely crafty girl get together at my friend Brenda's studio. So, I had to make some treats - right!? I never pass up the chance to make cupcakes! I made carrot cake cupcakes with cream cheese frosting. I always love to make them pretty - and get crafty! I die cut some cupcake wrappers and then made butterfly toppers. The toppers were easy and quick - I die cut some woodgrain circles and then attached beautiful butterfly dimensional stickers. I hot glued the cake pop sticks to the circles! Then, when the cupcakes are frosted, you just stick them in the centers.
And I brought a pretty hostess gift and card!
Here we all are in Brenda's studio getting crafty and having a wonderful time! We watercolored Brenda Walton for Sizzix Dies and made fabulous cards! How the time flies when you are having fun. Really such a great group of women. Made my heart happy to laugh and create!
Here are all of our cards! Isn't this a great explosion of color? Everyone made something beautiful and unique! We used watercolor paper and watercolor paints and Brenda's Sizzix dies. We mixed and matched dies and colors to our hearts' content. I can't really think of a better way to spend a cloudy Spring afternoon!
Brenda's lovely husband took this group photo of the happy crafters!
Brenda made this card using her new Teacup Bouquet Die Set. Here is a photo of all of the pieces. It's so fun!!
Everything in her amazing garden is so pretty and healthy and green! I snapped a few quick pictures while she was showing us her gorgeous heirloom roses and other plants.
So if you're still reading...thanks for taking the time to hang out with me!! I know it's a lot of pictures, but I really do love to share with photos. I think photography is my language. I always feel like I can explain anything...if I can just show you a picture! I hope I've brightened your Monday just a little bit and I hope you have a fantastic week ahead of you. Thanks for stopping by here and many blessings to you friends! XOXO
What a wonderful time you have had! And nothing better then to get crafty with dear friends! Love all your wonderful photos! Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Jill Norwood | 04/25/2016 at 07:54 AM
Beautiful pictures!!, thank you so much for sharing these :)
Posted by: Jamie | 04/14/2016 at 04:22 PM
So enjoyed this post and all your beautiful photos! What a great weekend you had!
Posted by: Nancy Leppek | 04/11/2016 at 12:52 PM
what a nice read. your pictures are beautiful. that lemon conjures up lemon pie, cupcakes, lemonade. Yum!
Posted by: Marian W | 04/11/2016 at 12:10 PM
Looks like it was lots of fun.
Posted by: Princess Judy | 04/11/2016 at 10:46 AM
Thank you for your tasty (and irresistible) cupcakes, gorgeous photos, crafting inspiration, and most of all your wonderful company! So happy we could enjoy a day with lovely and sweet friends. xoxo
Posted by: Brenda Walton | 04/11/2016 at 10:44 AM
Love all the photos! Cheerful colors for a rain weekend.
Posted by: Rosa M. Vasquez | 04/11/2016 at 10:01 AM
Love all the photos, especially of happy crafters and Chihuly's work. I love his stuff!
Your bio photo is new too, correct? Lovely.
Posted by: Knitty | 04/11/2016 at 09:17 AM
Beautiful photos with this blog. I have never seen an actual Dogwood tree, but love the blossoms! What fun you girls must have had at your get together. Love the teapot design.
Posted by: Renee | 04/11/2016 at 09:08 AM
The teacup bouquet die set looks amazing. Bet your cupcakes were a big hit.
Posted by: Julie | 04/11/2016 at 08:12 AM
Your photos were awesome and thanks for sharing your weekend with us. I feel like I was there with you....I WISH I was there with you and your new craft friends. I love BW sizzix products and looks like I might have to get the teacup die set. It sure made for darling cards. When I used to scrapbook, I bought a lot of her product to use especially her paper packs...always such beautiful florals. Any how, always share with us your photos....a lot of us love it.
Posted by: Connie Brooks | 04/11/2016 at 08:01 AM
What a fun weekend!
Posted by: Michele K. Henderson | 04/11/2016 at 05:57 AM
I've been following you for a while now and I had no idea you are a photographer!!! Beautiful pictures!!
Posted by: Rannah Romps | 04/11/2016 at 05:09 AM
Nothing like crafty time spent with like minds to fill up the inspiration meter! I absolutely adore your photos of the various flora, and that Chihuly sculpture is awesome!
Posted by: Susi Kelly | 04/11/2016 at 04:50 AM
Looks like a great time was had by all! Love the cute cupcake cups and the butterflies are adorable. Glad you had a fun weekend!
Posted by: Teresa Doyle | 04/11/2016 at 04:46 AM
Great photos, Wanda. The florals remind me that there really is such a thing as spring. Our yard here in northern Minnesota is still snow-covered.
Posted by: Barb B. | 04/11/2016 at 04:42 AM
Know that feeling so well..not being able to go to sleep from all I saw...
ALWAYS love to see your photo's ..they are stunning!
LOVE the museum..such a gorgeous building..in and outside ....
Would have loved a cupcake..they look so delicious....
love that lemon...and WOW such great photo's from that great Girls day..such gorgeous cards...
You had a super weekend!
Hugs Holly.
Posted by: Holly Saveur | 04/11/2016 at 04:27 AM
Hi Wanda, what a lovely weekend you had! I'm a tea drinker so it was nice to see a pretty card made with a teacup and cute teabag. You take beautiful pictures and I always love seeing them, it's like we're right there with you, lol. I think I'm going to move to Cali after retirement, you have the coolest places for crafting. The closest places where there would be a gathering is anywhere from 2-3 hours away. Even at that they aren't remotely close to being as nice as the places you show us, lol. Thanks for sharing and always inspiring.
Posted by: Lisaerica | 04/11/2016 at 04:14 AM
What a great blog! Love the pictures! So glad I found this blog!
Posted by: Holley Downs | 04/11/2016 at 04:06 AM