Apparently I did more than unplug over the holidays. I also seem to have tripped right into a creative desert. For the first time in probably over a year, my creative brain is quiet. After the non-stop, constant, never ending project list of last year, I'm not complaining. I was in need of a break… Continue reading Feast Or Famine
Author: TJ Fox
I am a slightly sane artist, amateur photographer, book addict, wife, mom and raging introvert. I have more hobbies than I can count, so it is beyond shocking that I manage to find time to do any of them, let alone most of them and still have time to do anything else. Of all the talents I claim, writing wasn’t one of them until my muse dropped the idea for a book on my head.
Snow Day And The Last Of The 40s
It seems like there is always snow on my birthday. I'm sure that isn't the reality, but I remember so many times over the years when I've had to change or cancel plans because the weather was too bad to get out. This year decided to follow tradition and gift us with snow. We didn't… Continue reading Snow Day And The Last Of The 40s
Frozen Bubble Time
My fingers and my face are numb, but I couldn't pass up the chance to play today.
Belated Happy New Year!
I sort of gave myself the gift of being unplugged for the holidays. Everyone was going to be home. Hubby takes vacation every year to closely match the kids' winter break from school giving us all almost 2 weeks of just family time. Of course we do the holidays, but the rest of the time… Continue reading Belated Happy New Year!
Happy Winter Solstice
On this shortest day of the year, I'm looking forward to the days getting longer again. I don't know if I'll get to see any of this lovely white stuff this winter, but I'm hoping. I may just have to live it vicariously through other people's photos. Happy Winter even if it doesn't feel like… Continue reading Happy Winter Solstice
Emotional Week
I knew last week was going to be emotional. I expected to be weepy at every Christmas program. I did just fine on the first one because BG kept me laughing with her antics with her dance friends. The second one was just full of fun, so it wasn't one that choked me up. After… Continue reading Emotional Week
Wild, Stressful, Emotional Week
This whole week has been weird. And wild. And stressful. And emotional. And it isn't over yet. I knew it might be emotional because it is Christmas program week. I have one down that I managed to make it through without crying. Mostly because BG and her friend in that class were goofy and laughing… Continue reading Wild, Stressful, Emotional Week
The First Flood Of Lasts
I've mentioned before that this is going to be a year of lasts for me. When I say year, I'm mostly referring to school year and not calendar year, because it is BG's senior year. That is bringing with it SO many lasts and they are making me a bit of an emotional mess. While… Continue reading The First Flood Of Lasts
Sharing The Tradition
This was such an emotional project for me. I'm sure I've shared this tradition with you before. It is something that was started by my grandmother when I was young. Every Thanksgiving, she would hang up a santa curtain that she'd painted. We kids were always excited to see it go up because it meant… Continue reading Sharing The Tradition
Oversized Wooden Ornaments
The last of my Christmas decorating projects is finally done! My hands cramped like crazy after hours of trying to grip a 4 inch ball without touching any of the wet paint and I discovered that my perfectly steady hands really aren't so steady anymore. It was all worth it, though. I love these so… Continue reading Oversized Wooden Ornaments
The Ever Growing Project List
I really though that completing the last 3 holiday projects would give me time to breathe and relax before I started tackling other things. I thought wrong. While I was working on the snowmen stocking holders, I had an idea that splintered off from those designs to something else. I figured that since I already… Continue reading The Ever Growing Project List
Holiday Project #3: Snowman Stocking Holders
And done!! I kind of can't believe I got these done it time, but I did. With a couple of days to spare, which I desperately needed because I have way too many other things to do over the next few days. I only managed that because I've spent the last several days doing nothing… Continue reading Holiday Project #3: Snowman Stocking Holders
Holiday Project #3: Stocking Holders In Progress
Probably one of the hardest parts of building my stocking holders is finished. I had to figure out a way to cut "sides" into wood spheres to give the balls flat sides for the top and bottom. Let me tell you, that required some major creativity and patience. And I wasn't entirely precise, because that… Continue reading Holiday Project #3: Stocking Holders In Progress
Holiday Project #2: Stockings
And project #2 on my holiday project list is done! I had really wanted these to be a bit "more" than what they ended up. When I say "more" I mean that I was imagining that they'd have some really cool embellishments added that I could do just a little differently on each to personalize… Continue reading Holiday Project #2: Stockings
Full Fall Color
I haven't had much time for any photography that isn't the portraits I'm doing for BG's senior portfolio, but I did take a few minutes to grab this shot out my front door. I only get this view for a couple of days each year, some years I don't get it at all as they… Continue reading Full Fall Color
1st Project Done: Santa Hats
I got the first item on my holiday project to do list finished! There were quite a few trial and error tests I had to run on scrap fabric before I could get my final design worked out. I wanted these to be a good quality that would last a long time, so I decided… Continue reading 1st Project Done: Santa Hats
Happy Halloween!
It looks a little different than normal around here. We aren't carving pumpkins or handing out candy this year. Instead, we are going to do our first big Family Night since MCG moved in. I'll be doing our traditional finger food/junk food buffet while we play games or watch movies (still on the fence as… Continue reading Happy Halloween!
A Stay Puft Halloween
I finally get to post it! This is the costume I made for BG to wear to ballet this week! It is a tradition at the studio for all the ballet assistants to wear coordinating costumes the week of Halloween. They are supposed to be simple, usually just a dressed up tutu and maybe something… Continue reading A Stay Puft Halloween
Newest Project List
I can't decide if I need my brain to shut up for a while or not. On the one side, I've had so many ideas of things to work on it's not even funny. I'm exhausted just looking at the potential project list. On the other, this latest burst of inspiration is pretty exciting. Normally,… Continue reading Newest Project List
Craft Supply Pack Rat
I've been both lazy and productive lately. After finishing my room, I started checking a few other things off my bigger to do list while taking some break days in between. Finally, after months of it sitting unfinished and ugly, my garage door is completely painted. It no longer looks like we are under constant… Continue reading Craft Supply Pack Rat
Reusing A Little Fun
Since we decided to no longer do the garage for Halloween and last year was a huge no go because of Covid, all of my decorations sat unused last year. What I had been using in the garage doesn't translate all that well to general decorating and all the other pieces I used to put… Continue reading Reusing A Little Fun
TJ Fox: Sharing the Experience 