trying new things: silver class.

If you follow my other blog you'll know that for Valentines Day my husband got me a spot in a silver class. I always love learning knew things. I have trouble focusing on one project at a time, how can I? There are so many awesome things to learn! 
The class I took was given at the Phoenix Desert Botanical Gardens, one of my favorite places to be. The teacher was great. She was so knowledgeable about the silver clay as well as many forms of art. She has done and tried just about everything. From painting to sewing as well as scuplture work. I don't think I've ever meet anyone who has had her hands in so many forms of art and from what I say she's really good at all of them!
I'm really happy with how my pieces finally turned out. It's a pretty simple process but I'm glad I have someone there to guide me a long the way instead of trying to do it all on my own. We took some leaves that the teacher had picks and painted them layer by layer with the silver. After they dried completely we fired them with a torch, polished them and used a drill press and ta-da! Really simple pretty pendents. I loved how even though everyone was pretty much making the same thing, everyone's pieces turned out really different.
I hope I can take some more classes like this in the future. It was fun to learn something new, work with my hands, and get out of the house for a little while. We all need some time away from the everyday things.
Have you learned anything new lately?

life-ography: mothers day.

I had a wonderful Mother's Day this year. Every year has been really great but this was really special. This is the first year I was a mother of two and all of my family made it special. My husband, Marc, out did himself too. I felt really special and we really didn't do anything all that crazy. We went to the local farms peach festival and picked our own peaches, Marc made use a delicious dinner, and we just relaxed the rest of the evening. Aurora even made me a card and a necklace. I'm so lucky I have such a wonderful family.



I hope everyone had a wonderful day either as a mother, with your mother, or in remembrance of a great mother.

loving...

Right now I'm totally digging...

My new print from Jody at Peach Parlor

She's having an awesome sale on her photography and she added some new handmade gems to her shop.They are going to do in Carolina's room as soon as I find frames for them.

This great blog post from Alycia at The Curious Pug about selling online.

Everything about the new Jason Mraz CD. 

I keep seeing this photos everywhere and they are epic!

It's a great photo series by Aled Lewis. I love 'em.

Collecting Brooches.

I love the idea of collection artists works but it can be pricey and then... what do you do with it? It dawned on me that a great way to have art in my life and support handmade in through wearable art. Take this lovely from sweetbestiary isn't it precious?

Until next time! 

catching up with my girls.

The girls are getting bigger everyday. I look at Aurora and her long lanky legs and big brown eyes and her entire childhood flies before my eyes. I remember when we first moved to Arizona and she was barely talking at all. Now I can't get her to stop talking! They are thriving though and that's all that really matters.

Carolina or "C"

Already 8 months old!

Favorite Food: Sweet Potatoes, Bananas and Puffs.

Favorite Activity: Picking things up and putting them in her mouth (even if she shouldn't).

New Activity: Crawling around and getting into her sisters toys.

Carolina is starting to sleep a little better then she was. She's taking her bottle all day now and only nursing at night. I feel a little more refreshed during the day and its great. I also get a little time to relax after they both go to bed at night. Of course C wakes up in the middle of the night but its better than nothing. I can't believe how cute and chubby she is. I love it.

Aurora or "Bits"

4 years old (going on 14, oy.)

Favorite Food: Strawberries and Pasta

Favorite Activity: Right now all she wants to do is play "Pittsburgh." She pretends to fly home and see her Granny, I know she misses her a lot.

New Activity: Singing Songs. She's at the point where she has words to song memorized and sings them all that time. She also is really good with numbers. I don't really know what happened but she one day it just clicked and she started counting everything. It's great to see her grow mentally.

Aurora is starting preschool soon and I just hope she's ready. She's really not interested at all in going but know it will be good for her. She really wants to be with other kids. We go to the park and she gets so upset when no one else is there. It breaks my heart. 

I don't ever want to forget how they were growing up. I have a horrible long term memory, I don't even remember my own childhood. So when they get old I want to be able to look back and let the pictures and stories bring back those memories for me. Be warned there will be a lot of photos and stories of my kids to come. It's mainly for my own personal memory. I love looking back and remember. 

What's something from your childhood that you never want to forget? 

Making A Comeback.

I'm back! Surprised? I know it's been a while. If you didn't know I've been blogging a little over at kat keeps trying. I've decided to make a come back.

As I was debating on if I should continue blogging or not I visited this blog to see what I used to spend so much time doing. I was pleasantly surprised. I got to glance back in time at my life and it was such a good feeling. I forgot how far my family has come.

My hope for this blog is to continue those memories. I want to share and update about my life and love for art. I'm also going to continue blogging at kat keeps trying. That space is going to be reserved for my deeper, more serious things. Things I want to share but just seems to serious for a 'lifestyle' blog.

I hope everyone is doing will. I can't wait to get caught up!

she's at it again.

Hello everybody! It's been a while. I just want to let you all know that, yes, I have started blogging again. I was a little nervous about putting it out there. I wasn't sure it was going to stick so I put off announcing it until I was sure. The new blog is a lot of the same things going on here and a lot different too. I'm trying to keep it true to me and way more relaxed. There will be lots of random rants, post about art and crafts, my photography, and of course updates on the family.

>>>> kat keeps trying <<<<

I hope you drop and over and check it out. I missed my blogging friends way to much while I was "away." I'm happy to start again!

XOXO

kat

changing wind.

First off I want to apologize to my lovely sponsors from last month. I made a lot of promises about Ad Swaps and I did not fulfill them. I never did get my sponsor highlights up. I didn’t get back to you on my highlight either. I am very sorry about that. I completely neglected my duties. You are all very wonderful and I’m so thankful that I was able to swap with you. Life caught up to me and I simply didn’t make time for my blog.

It seems like the winds of life are carrying me away. I don’t really know where. My heart just isn’t at my blog anymore. Yes, it’s very cheesy but it’s true. When I started writing on my blog our lives were changing drastically and I was excited to share all that was going on. Our lives are still changing and growing but I’m less excited to share, I feel more obligated. Sometimes I don’t want to share what is happening but I feel like I HAVE too, and that’s not way to blog. I love my life and I sometimes feel like I’m taking out to much precious time from it by maintaining my blog. I also was so caught up in comparing myself to other bloggers that I forgot how wonderful my life really is. My life isn’t their life and that’s okay. In fact I think it’s rather wonderful.

I’m going to take a long break from blogging. I need to reconnect with myself and my family. I want to have the freedom to create without feeling obligated to get opinions from anyone but myself. I probably will start blogging again in the future and I’ll probably let you all know. It may not be on this blog but I’m sure I will be writing and sharing again somewhere.

Thank you to everyone who has commented and supported my blog. It has been a wonderful run. I’ll still be reading your blogs and commenting that’s for sure. You can still find me tweeting, pinning, and if you’d like you can become friends with me on facebook. For now I’m going to spend time loving life and my family.

Love you all.
xoxo
Kat