We're ba-aaack!

Sorry for the "radio silence" but I hate to announce to the Internet world that we're leaving on a trip. Dear and I traveled, sans children, to Sanibel Island, FL where we had a little R&R in celebration of our anniversary.

Many many wonderful highlights of the trip will follow... but I want to have the pictures to go with the narrative, so you all have to wait.

In other news, Senior Son is completing his web page project for his computer class and .... drum roll...
it's a Whimsy and The Word web page... yep... no Etsy, no ArtFire (although I'll still list at ArtFire), but my very own web page.  How cool is that. Of course, he still has to get a server going, and get the page finished, and the kinks worked out, and I have to figure out paypall ... but hey... I can dream.

In the meantime you can still purchase from my other blog located at WhimsyandTheWord.blogspot.com, or use my Etsy or ArtFire links on the sidebar. And, as always I'm quite happy to work on special orders... currently I'm working on a mini-collage that will be divided 8 ways into friendship necklaces... when the friends are all together the necklaces can be placed together to complete the collage. Pretty cool, eh? I thought so. Occasionally I have a good idea.

Anyway... I'm doing things in this order:

1. finishing the photos and narrative for Senior Son's web project... I have to finish today.
2. writing a birth story... finish by Wed.
3. teaching a childbirth class for a couple for whom I'll be the doula.. class is tonight
4. working on plans for an art project for my last art class of the year
5. attending the funeral of my friend's mom
6. beginning the last month of "Starting Points" teaching
7. finishing Denise's necklace... (Hi Denise...I'm starting over because I was inspired today!)
8. Packing up the prizes and necklace and sending them to Denise
9. praying for my boys and their finals this week
10. attending Bible study
11. viewing "Around the World in 80 Days" in play form, about an hour from here, with our co-op
12. having our last academic co-op (next week is something special)
13. Other things... eat, cook, clean, laundry, etc.

Oh... and my anniversary gifts as if the trip weren't enough? A CD that Dear compiled for me and put our pics on the front, a poem he wrote (framed... twice... one for up front and one for wherever), and a Cherry Red Chevy S10 truck to replace Bluebell who has gone to live with dear friends since I think we all despaired of me EVER learning to drive a stick shift. Pictures will follow. New truck... Cherry Baby... as in "Sherry Baby"... as in the song... Dear helped me on this one. If something else comes to us we'll rename her. She's really really pretty and she has an ah-ooga horn! She seats four so our whole family can cram in there... if the boys aren't home.

Oh, and finally... Young Man added another cert to his pilot's license AND has a paid internship in VA this summer working as an airplane tech/mechanic. How cool is that? Although, I will miss him a whole whole lot. At least we get him for about 2 weeks before he has to head East.

Blessings,
Kim

New Items Listed

You're welcome to visit my other blog... my "blogfolio" at Whimsy and The Word to see my latest listings. These are all listed on ArtFire. Or, simply click on the links to the right of this page and you'll be taken to the ArtFire site (or try my Etsy site for my "Bit of Charm" necklaces... I happily make special orders, just ask.)

"Old Style Romance" $30

                                              

"Imagine"   $20

Blessings, Kim

Please visit the new blog site!

I've put in hours and hours of reshooting all my pieces. Not done yet, but getting close. As I upgrade the photos I also upgrade the photos on my online sites. However, I am including all information for each piece right in one place at "Whimsy and The Word." Stop on by... you might find something you really like!
Blessings, Kim

~Grand Opening of the New Blog~

In keeping with my move to making my art more easily found, more easily marketed and more easily seen... I have decided to begin a blogfolio of my artwork. If you jump over to the other site you'll note I give Kara the credit for this idea.

While some who read here may enjoy my art, that is not the main purpose of this blog. I will still post photos here, but probably not as many or with the total story for each. All my art will still be available via my Etsy or ArtFire stores, and also you can simply email me and ask me to make something. (This works over on the online sites as well...)

Currently the photos are not yet posted as I am re-shooting every piece in order to provide the best pictures possible. I've been learning more about how to shoot the pieces and my sweet Dear gave me a new camera for Christmas... so now I'll put both the knowledge and the camera to good use.

I'll still be posting here, and also on my doula site, but will now be posting my art at my other site... http://whimsyandtheword.blogspot.com/.

Blessings!
Kim

I'm baaaack! (and a special offer at the end!)

Nope, I didn't fall off the face of the earth, just had to dig and shovel and dig and shovel and drive and drive and dig and shovel. Nope, I won't leave you with that...

Mr. Snowman, aka "Frosty", continued to have modifications made day by day. Yes, Dear and I have warped humors. I'll spare you from the "tipsy snowman" photos we made... hey, when you come out and your snowman is upright but just barely the photo begs for a "tipsy"sort of focus.

And the snow kept coming. So much in fact that Frosty himself decided to pitch in and help with the snow removal.

But, as you know all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy... well, it makes all of us a bit crazed. So, sledding and snowboarding down the front hill were the next orders of the day.

And of course, if you're messing with the snowman you'd best include him in your Superbowl wishes... and yes, he PROUDLY wore the blue shirt of the Colts. Poor poor colts! See the ball? I think he was ready to help out Manning if he could!

Dear gave him some tips on proper etiquette for a Colts fan.

Poor Frosty... he was so sad!

Now, for all who have read this far... THANKS for your patience! If you really want a thank you then simply join as a Facebook group member to "Whimsy and The Word" and you will qualify for a 20% discount on all pre-made items in either of my online art shops... (see the sidebars). That's right... all you need do is join my FB group and you're set to go. Is there a catch? Well, this only runs through Friday night, so hurry.

Happy Snow Day!
Kim

Latest Creations

It's been a bleak and weary number of days, but last week I was struck by the creating muse and grabbed some vintage dominoes, paper, glitter stickers, beads, linen cord and buttons and went to work.

"Bubbly Love"

First try... ah, not so great. I didn't like the bubbles in the finish. I used a glue that said it could be used as a sealant. I don't think so. As a matter of fact? I KNOW it's not so. Not unless I want to pop every bubble with a pin. Ah well... live and learn.

"Bliss"

Second try... THIS I LOVE!!! This time around I simply used "Modpodge." Much nicer finish. Oh, and the edges, which I didn't show, are wrapped in copper. Really fun .

Third try... well, it's not done yet. I'll be adding a bit more to this third one and it will have a sort of fairy face on it. Guess you'll just have to wait and see. I think these will go up on my ArtFire shop.

Then, I made this button necklace a while back. It had issues. The buttons liked to flip and the dangle liked to come off. So... I let it sit a while. (I was mad at it and it was getting a time out!) Just this week I took it apart, started over and remade it. Now it hangs beautifully and nothing is coming off!

"Beautiful Buttons"

Hope you enjoyed these peeks. I've several more pieces in progress, but they just aren't done yet.

Blessings,
Kim

One-and-a-half years and counting

Yep... that's how long I've been working on my doula certification. I could have been done quite a while ago. That is, I could have been done had I not been procrastinating and wallowing in all my "poor me" phases.

So, here it is. I talked to my doula friend last night and she said, "Just do it." Doesn't she sound like a Nike commercial? Funny thing is that I've been trained through ASPO/Lamaze as an CBE (childbirth educator) and physiology was a HUGE part of that training as well. I've been teaching childbirth classes for about 18.5 years and attending births since before I had children. But somehow I got it in my head that I just couldn't pass this test (series of tests). And... here is where you will laugh... it's an open book, untimed test. Yep... that's right. So, I just need to get it done.

After that it's just one short unit about being a doula... I've been reading reams on the how to's, I've set up my doula blog and I already have clients calling from church and a few from another website in which I take part. You'd think I'd do this already.

So, here's my latest contest. Everyone make/post a guess on when I will actually finish my physiology tests. If anyone gets it just right, to the day, I'll send them one pack of my "Simple Faith" note cards as seen on my Etsy shop.

Maybe that will kick me into gear and I'll get going. Off to be ready for the day. I'm on call today as a back up, I have a meeting with a new client (a dear friend), and of course homeschooling as well.

Blessings,
Kim

Whimsy and The Word is now on ArtFire

Hi All,

Well, I'm at it again. Never one to let things sit for long (unless it's painting projects, sewing or math to grade) I've gone and found a new online venue for my art.

ArtFire is a wonderful site for new artists and very very easy to use as well. Please stop over and see my items. Or, if you want, just look to the side for a quick peek. This system even allows you to buy from one site never leaving another... of course I won't always have just two items for sale, so you may still want to check out the new shop, but for now... have at it. These bottles have never been listed before and are the foundation of my "Core of Faith" series. You've seen them here on the blog before as "The King of Kings" and "All That Leads a Heart to Knowing."

Blessings,

Kim