HEART PICTURES!!!!! THE HEARTS ARE IN THE MAIL!!!!!

Remeber the heart swap? Well they are finally in the mail! It was all the post office's fault - they returned a package to one of the swappers so we waited for it to come back to me. Aren't we all so nice? And now, here all all the pictues, some of them are front and back, and some are one dimensional - sorta.
Enjoy!!!!




















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Lisa Volrath has started her easter countdown! Clink on the link and enjoy some free images - but only until easter! Same as the cadbury easter eggs!
Cheers, Denise

Lisa's Easter Countdown

This is what I get to play with!
I have one more paper then the two exams, which are spaced nicely in April. Oh boy, it's getting harder and harder to study when all I want to do is let my imagination run wild with art, fiber, beads paper, ink, glues threads!!!
But I'm here blogging, instead of reading all this stuff (some of which I actually have read!). I can be such a bad procrastinator!
Soon!!!!
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I miss my art bench! I miss my art supplies, my paints, brushes, inks, glues, stamps, paper - oh, paper! All the great textures, the smells, the heat gun, the colours!






And my beads!!!! Oh my wonderful beads! I've been buying and not using, but buying in anticipation! Buying beads is way too easy and only take a fraction of a second!

I love these countdowns!!! Thank-you Lisa Vollrath!!
Lisa Vollrath
This is the St. Patricks day countdown. Free art for St. Patty's day! Lisa has been kind enough to create these fun countdowns for other holiday occassions. I've collected Christmas, Valentines and Mother's day. So bookmark Lisa's site and also have a look at all the other wonderful things Lisa has created!
Cheers, Denise

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DREW!!!!!!
I HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT, WONDERFUL DAY!!!!!!

We had a relaxing day yesterday with a nice dinner. Tonight I am at school so the kids will have to make dinner for their Dad and give him his gifts. Should be fun for them to make it special. We'll back a cake today too and have some fun with that. It's March Break here in Ontario, so the kids are home all week. And we will have our share of kid friends here too!

We got an extension on our paper. I'll be able to play a bit more with the kids over march break. This is good for me cause I'm thinking some of my research articles may not fit and I'll have to find some new ones. Such is the life of a student.
The first picture is just because. The second picture is to remind me that somewhere under all the paper work and reading is a bead artist itching to get back to beading!!!
Cheers, Denise

A YELLOW Dragon Lies Beneath!

My inner dragon is the most interesting of all. Not only am I the Air Elemental dragon, but I am the fourth rarest type of dragon in the world. Given the chance, I'd spend my days just soaring through the clouds, and I'll only attack if provoked. Click the image to try the Inner Dragon Online Quiz for yourself.




I'll have to try again another day. I suspect my inner dragon is different depending on how many human's I've eaten. Then again, depending on how many crystals I've managed to stick to my stomach, I may prefer to go out raiding for shiny sparkling goodies!!!
Or I may want to be the wise dragon who is imperious to others but will deign to dispense wisdom when I'm well fed and content.
Can you tell I need to play?????

This old heart of mine

been broke a thousand times

I am sailing, I am sailing

home again

Act one is over

without custome change

the principals would like to leave the stage

the crowd don't understand

tonights the night!!!!!

Let's see how I do - watch for updates!! I'm looking forward to a week off - oh wait, I'm a Mom, so no week off. How bout I'm looking forward to staying in my pj's, crawling back into bed and reading trashy mind candy. Oh wait - three assignments do as soon as I get back and two major essay's shortly after. Ahhh, well, at least I don't have to go outside! Oh wait - the dog needs a walk, the groceries need gathering and at the very least, I should reach for the mail!!!
Hmmmmm.....You can bet I'll be napping!!! That's definitely one of my favourite activities! Nothing beats a nap at one in the afternoon!

I love this card generater! Thanks to A stitch in time ,,,, Artsy Mama ,,,, and of course the card generating people!

cheers, Denise

You Are 25% Left Brained, 75% Right Brained

The left side of your brain controls verbal ability, attention to detail, and reasoning. Left brained people are good at communication and persuading others. If you're left brained, you are likely good at math and logic. Your left brain prefers dogs, reading, and quiet. The right side of your brain is all about creativity and flexibility. Daring and intuitive, right brained people see the world in their unique way. If you're right brained, you likely have a talent for creative writing and art. Your right brain prefers day dreaming, philosophy, and sports.

Are You Right or Left Brained?

I've been thinking. Some would say that's dangerous, but I did it anyway. I was thinking about my art and how many people I know on the internet that nobody knows about at home. My family knows that I participate in groups but they don't know names or interests or who goes with what art project I'm on. They know I have fun with the art and that it's important to me (hence the art room they take over all the time!) but they don't know that I admire Heather's constant stretching of her boundaries or Sharonb is an amazing stitcher and doesn't even know that I read her on a regular basis. I read so many different blogs that inspire me and keep me motivated! I love the yahoo groups that I'm involved in - and love the contact I have with these fellow artists. The family isn't aware of the names of the people that are involved in my beaded art doll group that has been going for too long but with any luck and a lot of positive pressure, will be finished before too long.
I've been reading about inchies and white books and samplers and charms! They aren't aware that I'm the proud owner of some amazing artwork from people all over the world and that hopefully some people are happy with what I've sent on too.

To all the people who I owe work to, I haven't forgotten. I am working on them and I am getting to it all so please have faith. I am doing more school work than I have done to date - 3 classes, 3 kids, 3 pets - 3 a good number! So please be patient and thanks for that!

Cheers, Denise

title picture-amber

title picture-amber, originally uploaded by mdsmeaton.

I'm trying to do some things with my blog, including changing the title picture but I'm having difficulty. That's alright though because I don't learn if I don't try. So I did make up a picture out of my red doll but I haven't quite figured out how to get it to where it is supposed to go. I need my daughter's teen friend to help me again!
She was using photobucket. Maybe I need to use it!

What are the roman columns for? I'm trying to work on a white page and I started with this page as my inspiration but I'm still working on the pages and I'm thinking that I'm going to be changing it up some more to get these pages done!
cheers, D

blogtitle

blogtitle, originally uploaded by mdsmeaton.

Hope this works! I'm acting oh so teenagerish - not being afraid to make mistakes!

Heart Warming Cheer Beaded Heart Swap

Hi everyone!!!
I'm announcing a swap that I'm hosting! It's a beaded heart swap!!! Yup, for Valentines day! I am hosting this over at>Bead Art and at

All About Beads Both of these groups are through Delphi Forums.

So if you are interested in playing too, drop me a line! Remember, they have to be beaded and they have to be hearts. There are some great people already signed up so create something spectacular!
The cost is the cost of postage - not bad eh? I might even find some nice hearts to include as gifts!!
Cheers, Denise

Done now!!!

Handed in my last paper - and no exams!!! So look forward to some upcoming art blogs, where I actually post art and enjoy the process of making art! I went to Wallacks today which is an art store here in Ottawa. I picked up a couple of things and hopefully will get to play with them really soon!
Cheers, All!
Denise

Another Advent!

Thanks To Lisa Vollrath. She has a great countdown calendar of clip art, tags and who knows what else! Go click on the title above and add her wonderful gift to your daily list!
Cheers, Denise

Advent Calendars

They are so fun. Here's one to play with. I found it on .The Brocante Home Chronicles and I thought it would be fun to share. I think I might look around and see what other neat things are out there for counting down the days to Christmas.
Now back to what every you were doing!
Cheers, Denise

Still, Here, not doing any art.

I'm doing home work. so for those of you who are waiting for a wonderful something from the meme, I'm still here, I had in my next paper on Monday and then I'm off! I can art! I can create and play and bead and decorate for Christmas. My poor daughter is wondering when the Christmas Tree will go up! I'm so looking forward to the month of December!
I did make a bracelet with crystals and didn't glue the knots and lost it yesterday while I was out. I hope someone finds it and likes it and fixes it. I'd rather that then it was run over by a car and crushed! Maybe I'll find it in a grocery bag or something.
And I have pictures of my freeform peyote bracelets that I'll post next time I'm here. I might even try to make a new banner for the blog once I'm finished my homework! The potential to create will be awesome.
It's like I'm getting this build up of creative energy what with not being able to do any of it! December will be fun!
Cheers, Denise

School work, work work, beadwork?

I can't find the camera. If I could find the camera, I would show you all the papers I have to read for my two assignments. Then I would show you my beautiful free form peyote bracelets that I made. I'll find the camera and show you them but maybe not the reading. It's interesting reading but I'd rather be beading! Or working in the art room on my charms for the charm swap. Don't know about the charm swap? Well!!! Then I can at the least tempt you with that!
Check this out!
Amber Dawn

Cheers, Denise

A Picture For You!!!

I have a picture for you!!! It's of a couple of fall tags that I made for a swap on
Mixed Media Art

We are a low key group that has lots of fun trading postcard and tags and such. We have been swapping with each other for about a year now and we have lots of fun!!! We don't talk too much - well some of us don't but if you have a question or a new thing, then go for it! Visit us! If you mention my name,you won't get a discount but I'll try to say hello!
Cheers, Denise

My partners in Sharing

I had two people come forward to share art with me! So for those two - one of them, I can't seem to attach your comments to the blog! Anyway, please send me your address in the comment section. Because I moderate the comments, I will be able to get your address's and emails without it going everywhere on the net!
So I'm not sure when, but please look forward to something in your post!
Cheers, Denise

Art Share Meme!

Oh this looks like fun!!! I'm committed to playing with this one!

"The first five people to respond to this post (via the comments section) will get some form of art made by me. I make no guarantees about type or delivery deadline. (You get what you get, when you get it, but I'll do my best work.) The only catch, of
course: as with most memes, if you sign up, you have to put this in your own blog as well."

Cool eh? Who wants to play with me?
Cheers, Denise

Forgot to Take Pictures

I just came back from the post office. If you are looking forward to something from me, it's in the mail. Really. I always feel an odd sense of accomplishment when I do that - take all these envelopes and parcels to the mail. Of course, with the new regulations that exist, the paperwork is silly!
So of course, as I was leaving the post office, I realized that I didn't take pictures of my tags or atc's or 4x4! I bet you all are beginning to believe that I don't do any art! But I have been! Really!
So yesterday I was working on art all afternoon. It was cold and wet and windy and perfect for playing with my art supplies. I've joined a charm swap and I'm playing around with different ideas for the charms. I think I've got one idea that involves beads, and the other involves shrink plastic. So far so good!
Pictures soon! I promise!
Cheers, Denise

School

I'm learning. It's really hard. The discussions are difficult, the topics are heart wrenching and for the first time, I had tears in my eyes during class. That really surprises me cause I'm not a teary person, not a bit!
So what has me on edge? Child Rights. The course is on the Convention of The Rights of the Child. And as we go through each right, there are stories and examples and student presentations on children who's rights are being violated. And it is very hard. I think about my daughters and I think about children I know and I think about these children around the world who have never known and don't know that they even have rights. They don't know that they don't need to work, don't need to prostitute themselves, don't need to go hungry. But that is their reality and they do have to do those things because that is their life.
I had no idea I was walking into this. It was listed as Issues in Interdisciplinary Studies and it was mandatory for Child Studies Students. I had no idea we would be talking about war, child soldiers or slavery.

So that's were I am right now and I'm trying really hard to not wear my heart on my sleeve and to smile and laugh. But oh, I tell you, it's hard!

Denise

Thanksgiving Weekend

This is a picture of some jewellery I helped my sister and my neice and my daughter's wanted to make. I don't do a lot of jewellery but I can do it. I must admit that I was scrambling for findings! My sister commented on the fact that I was picking too many beads but then when she went to find just the right bead in just the right size, I didn't have it! All of a sudden, I didn't have enough beads! Hahahaha, and so the addiction continues!




This is me and my neice and my daughter working on the earrings. It was fun having so many of my family playing with me!! Of course, I didn't make anything, but I did manage to take apart a crystal bracelet!!!
I'll try to upload the pictures from Gatineau park tomorrow - it was a perfect weekend! Colour and good weather and a wonderful walk. We came home to an awesome turkey!!!
Cheers, Denise

Christmas is coming....

I thought I'd tell you a little more about Christmas Presence.


It's a seasonal store that opens just after Thanksgiving - in October and stays open till January. So in August and September, we are setting up the store and getting it ready for opening. Each year it always comes down to the crunch and we are over worked and tired and scrambling to get things done. It really is amazing what goes into setting up the store. And this is compounded by the fact every ornament comes out of it's package and is hung on pegs. Every tag is ripped off. Every year we have a different location in the mall and we have to work with the new store, figuring out shelving, plugs, where the trees are going, counter space etc. We will probably have about 25 or so trees set up and decorated by the time the store opens. Each tree has a theme, and develops a name. We also have all the other things that help make Christmas so special. This year we are also doing Halloween and Thanksgiving/Autumn because we are opening early.
It's fun, it's cool, and it's a lot of work. There are definitely days when it looks like we haven't gotten anything done, and that's not a good thing. So, for the next few days - Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, we at the Christmas store will be working harder than elves to get the store up and ready for opening on Friday Night. Friday night is a bit of a celebration because we are open and all the panic disappears. But we are tired so sleep also holds a big draw!
On Saturday I'm teaching at Dragon's Lair and I'm really looking forward to that cause I love to teach bead work!
Cheers, Denise

Quirky? Who Me?

Your Quirk Factor: 52%

You're a pretty quirky person, but you're just normal enough to hide it. Congratulations - you've fooled other people into thinking you're just like them!

How Quirky Are You?

This makes me laugh because it's exactly how I feel about it all- or maybe I'm fooling my self?
How quirky are you?

In other news, I'm hard at work - literally. I'm working at the Christmas Store, Christmas Presence. Every year we set up a whole new store and every year it's a ton of work! So that's where I've been spending a lot of my time. After this week the store will be open and then I'll be working regular shifts. Then things will be more predictable. It's fun to set up a store but there is pressure to get finished by deadline and it sometimes means long nights and busy days. That and school - school has so much reading!!!
My oldest daughter turned 13 yesterday! Happy Birthday Claire!!
Cheers, Denise

Happy Birthday to Me!

Here are some birthday beads and some birthday beading! Well I beaded yesterday with my friend Calinda and the birthday beads were waiting patiently for the last two weeks to be opened. Thanks so much to Victoria, Grace, Judi and Dody! Today I hope to do some fun things with my family! I'll keep ya posted!
Cheers, Denise

Another Weekend Away

Heey,
So after spending almost three days sleeping from this ridiculous cold, I'm going camping with the family. I got the groceries, have some laundry in and I just want to sleep. Now I don't mind the odd cold but does it have to completely wipe me out? That's just not fair!! I feel so behind in things!
Enough complaining! I'm going to have a good time enjoying the fall colours and getting inspired from them. I'd love to pick leaves and iron them in waxpaper and stick them to the windows. Hopefully we'll be able to start collecting some great samples! Soon I'll have pictures!
So bear with me - those who still might be reading - I'll be back soon!
Cheers, Denise


OOOOOHHHHH!!!!
I forgot to tell you all! check this out! I'm going to be published in Portals! It's an online zine that is published by Heather and Joleen.
They are very talented women and I'm honoured to be part of their zine. Check it out, it's well worth it and from the other copies, I know that this one will be awesome too! Of course I'm not biased!
Cheers, Denise

I even forgot the password!

Hi Everyone!
It's been a long time - and a lot of kilometers since I last posted! We drove out to BC and back and we had a fantastic trip! Things went off without a hitch! The trailer was awesome, the dog is a great traveller and the kids were amazing! We saw some neat wild life, met up with family we hadn't seen in years and visited out old house in Victoria. The children lost their heart in Banff and Victoria and I suspect that if someone magically dropped a couple of jobs in our laps, we'd be hard pressed to find an excuse to stay here. As a matter of fact, the girls kept asking "Why did you move?"
So the pictures will be forth coming and more stories but I came home to lots of responsibility and a great desire to bury my head in the sand. Instead I got a nasty cold and immediate deadlines! A month really is a long time to be away!
More soon!
Denise

Working Hard - Getting Ready

I've been hard at work - and working my kids hard to get ready for our trip. We are going for a month and when we get back home, it will be straight into school. I'm bound and determined not to come home to a messy house so I've been driving everyone crazy with the purging and cleaning. Hard to believe, when I look around - I don't see that much of a difference! Argh,, it seems no sooner do the kids get their room half done that they go and take everything out again and I feel like I'm back to square one.

So I've run most of my errands. Now I have to plan a menu for shopping for the first few days of camping and do the shopping tomorrow. Thursday is packing and Friday we are doing our weekly clean of the house. Saturday morning we are on the road!

For projects, I've decided to bring some atc fabric blanks that need beading; a circle piece that I started for the trailer and haven't finished yet; my crazy quilt doll; and two eye glass cases that need beading as a sample for a class I'm going to be beading. They shouldn't take me long - they are already sewn up, just need some beads for decoration. I figure it will be a fun way to teach bead embroidery.




Here is a picture of my pink and orange pages. Long story - I used to play Othello when I was a kid. It has different names but it's where you are colour and your opponent is the reverse and you have to flip over the tiles when you make a line. Well when I saw this pink and orange chubby book, it reminded me of the game so I decided to make the board as my page. As you can see, that really didn't happen - it didn't look good. But I did have some fun putting these pages together so they are going in the mail tomorrow. Also going in the mail are two more dolls from our Bead Art Round Robin.

See ya!

Fabric ATC blanks

I've created these atc crazy quilting atc's to embellish for a swap that I'm in and also to swap with some friends that I know from the store Quilty Pleasures. I don't know if they have begun or have thought about it - perhaps I should light a fire under their beads?
So I'm really looking forward to embellishing these and all kinds of ideas keep swimming around in my mind. Fibers and beads and faces and embroidery floss! I don't know if I'll have time to put all of that on each card but I'll keep you posted!
I've booked a class at Dragons Lair Beads Remember that gorgeous blue bracelet that Genevieve Crabe created? Well, I'll be teaching that one. I"m also booked to teach bead embroidery at Micheals at the Pinecrest Mall here in Ottawa. More bookings to come!

On one more note - we are getting ready for our big trip out west. We are contacting people and practicing getting out of bed, making our beds and getting dressed - first! That means we don't come downstairs and lounge around watching cartoons and playing computer games. That, I swear it is harder to teach this to the girls then all the other preparations I've been working on! Less than two weeks!
Cheers, Denise

Don't look Ellen!

I picked up this lighthouse form years ago. I really like lighthouses and always wanted to do something with it - there were six originally I think. Anyway, I sent one to my friend in Washington State and we agreed to trade them when I get out there in August. So Ellen, here is mine - all beaded! I'm not sure if I'm going to add anything else to it, but I sure had fun beading it and it really didn't take very long. So now I'm showing it off, and Ellen - don't look!!!

Cooke Family Go Karting Day

We had such a fun time! Here are a few pictures of the day with a few of us - me driving, my daughters, my niece and her boyfriend. Check out the awesome family t's! They were a great surprise by my brother and father. There may be more pictures coming, I have to go through them. I of course, forgot the camera back in Ottawa and didn't get any shots. Silly me.
We had a wonderful dinner with the 22 of us. Lots of laughing and giggling. The kids were great - it was wonderful to see my cousin Anne again and meet her boys. My Aunt was there and she went out on the track too. It was very cool!
We were all getting together to have fun and play. It hasn't happened in a long time and it was great for us to see and be together. It also happened to be on my father's birthday! We had great enjoyment celebrating his day and making the whole thing that much more special.
The next day we went to my Mom's. We had a good time there too but I do have to apologize because we were all a little sleepy. Still, a short visit was better than none at all!

On Friday I came home to teach! It was a great class - the students were enthusiastic and fun! I love teaching bead embroidery! I teach at Quilty Pleasures - it's a wonderful store here in Ottawa.
The staff are the best and it's where I've been taking my quilting classes. I'm not teaching there anymore this summer but look for more classes in the fall! I'd love to create a scissor case class or a needle case class. It would be great to work on projects and see how creative people can be!
Cheers, Denise

Here in Toronto

Hi all!
I'm here in Milton - just outside of Toronto, with my sister and her family. We are having a great family event tomorrow where a bunch of us Cookes! Will get together for some laughs and gokarting! Way cool - the kids are really excited and it will be great to see some of my relatives.
Then off for dinner with the same bunch. My brother was absolutely great to arrange all of this! Thanks STEVE!!!!
On Wednesday we are off to see my Mom and hang at the beach if it's beach hanging weather. I'm hoping! My Mom lives in Cottage country and it's a great town. I really like driving to and from that area because we take the back roads which are turn and roll and are very scenic. And on Thursday we will be doing just that - home.
We had a good drive yesterday. Haley did a triathon in the morning and then we were off. We couldn't get the computer to play a DVD so we talked and laughed and read ghost stories in the car. It was good.
Cheers, Everyone!
Denise

Chores

Weeds grow so fast! Pools get so dirty after a storm! Arghhhh - yesterday they called for high winds, hurricane like weather, and hail so I rushed outside with my daughter to close the trailer quickly. The storm passed us. Not like the day before, when it hit us full force and put the electricity out. Then, the trailer was up and everything stayed dry. This morning, I opened it up and all kinds of things are soaked - because we closed it in the rain! Note to self - leave it up!
So the weeds are mowed, the pool is clean, the kids are doing chores and I'm ready to watch them by the pool. Of course, the dishes aren't done, the art room is a mess and I still have to rake, but lemonade by the pool just sounds so darn good!
Cheers, Denise