A Collective Journal

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

A Special Military Wife, Mother, and Artist

http://www.zibbet.com/creationsbygena

Surfing around the e-commerce site Zibbet, I saw this wonderful interview with Gena. I immediately wanted to introduce you to this creative lady.

I'm only reposting the first portion of the interview, but you will find the link for the entire article at the end of this post.

Her shop, Creations by Gena, has a beautiful selection of all kinds of various art. If you like variety, you should be sure to stop in, because you can find gifts for every one of your friends and family. Gena currently resides in Georgia with her husband and is a proud supporter of the US Military.

1.Tell us a bit about yourself?

Hi Everyone my name is Gena of CreationsbyGena -specializing in glass art, Misc. Folk and collage art, Primitive crafts and More!

I am a Proud Army EOD (Bomb Squad) wife, which my husband is now retired after 22 years of service..yeah and I am also a very PROUD Air Force and Coast Guard mom (if I had more kids, I am sure I would have the other branches covered too…LOL). When I am not supporting my family I am an altered art, mixed media, Folk art artist. As far back as I can remember, I’ve always been creating things. …just ask my parents. In School while growing up, I took many art classes and graduated from a 4 year vocational school for Graphic and Advertising Design. I had planned on having a career in Graphic Arts, but let’s say “things change” and for the best I must say.

I like to work in different mediums and enjoy learning new techniques. I love to paint, and to craft things. “I hate an empty white wall, and think that the best way to defeat blankness is by making affordable art available to everyone.” It brings me great joy to share my love of vibrant, colorful, whimsical art and crafts with others, thus the reason for the many different items you will see my shop.

And here's a special item from Gena's shop that I thought the ACJ team would really appreciate.

Here's the link I promised so you can read the entire interview. Please visit Gena's shop. She has such a variety of items (even sale items) that would make great gifts. http://www.zibbet.com/blog/2011.11.21/featured-zibbeter-creationsbygena

Wishing everyone a very special Thanksgiving.

Pepper

Monday, November 21, 2011

Herbies Great Adventure...

A while ago I introduced the new man in my life....his name is HERBIE, click on his name if you haven't met him yet :)

This past October we were preparing for a business/pleasure trip and Herbie overheard us talking about it! Well he begged and pleaded for us to take him along....of course we said yes....

Even though we started out early in the morning, Herbie was so excited he would not sit quietly in the car...

Part of our fall trip tradition is to have small pumpkins on our car dash as we travel...a fun reminder as we look at the road ahead that fall has arrived :)

Needless to say, Herbie loved them...especially when he found out that he was taller than all of them....(He seems to have a slight complex about being short :( )

But business before pleasure (or so THEY say)...that meant setting up our space display for the antique show came first...
Initially Herbie was a big help....figuring out where each item showcased best...

Alas, once he discovered the vintage toys....he lost all interest in helping....

Have you ever tried to get a tiny little man to WORK once he has discovered toys that are just his size? It is not an easy thing to do....
In all honesty, I just gave up and let him have fun :)

Once the show was over we took a road trip to Montana via Washington....when Herbie saw his first real lake he was enthralled...to the point of insisting he be taken from the car so he could get a closer look at the water....

I was a little worried that the birds flying overhead would think he was dinner since he was standing on the picnic table, but all went well and he was a happy little traveler.

We rushed to get to Montana because the weather report said SNOW was on the way...yep...it snowed...another 1st for the Herbster...out side we went so he could play in the snow...I think he did pretty well making a snow angel...what do you think?

Especially when you realize he came from the Las Vegas area and this was the first snowfall he had ever seen.

By the end of the trip Herbie was doing his happy dance....he had so much fun!

And so did we :)

VE

Friday, November 18, 2011

The Year Was 1955

Sometimes, you read something that you just have to share. So is the case today. I got this last week and just couldn’t wait to share it today. I wonder if anyone is keeping track of things being said in 2011 ~ and if someone will write about in 2067! Anyway, hope you enjoy, and maybe some of them will even ring a bell! (I’d never admit it though – lol)

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Comments made in the year 1955!
That's only 56 years ago!

I'll tell you one thing, if things keep going the way they are, it's going to be impossible to buy a week's groceries for $10.00.

Have you seen the new cars coming out next year? It won't be long before $1, 000.00 will only buy a used one.

If cigarettes keep going up in price, I'm going to quit. 20 cents a pack is ridiculous.

Did you hear the post office is thinking about charging 7 cents just to mail a letter?

If they raise the minimum wage to $1.00, nobody will be able to hire outside help at the store.

When I first started driving, who would have thought gas would someday cost 25 cents a gallon. Guess we'd be better off leaving the car in the garage.

I'm afraid to send my kids to the movies any more. Ever since they let Clark Gable get by with saying DAMN in GONE WITH THE WIND, it seems every new movie has either HELL or DAMN in it.

I read the other day where some scientist thinks it's possible to put a man on the moon by the end of the century. They even have some fellows they call astronauts preparing for it down in Texas.

Did you see where some baseball player just signed a contract for $50,000 a year just to play ball? It wouldn't surprise me if someday they'll be making more than the President.

I never thought I'd see the day all our kitchen appliances would be electric. They are even making electric typewriters now.

It's too bad things are so tough nowadays. I see where a few married women are having to work to make ends meet.

It won't be long before young couples are going to have to hire someone to watch their kids so they can both work.

I'm afraid the Volkswagen car is going to open the door to a whole lot of foreign business.

Thank goodness I won't live to see the day when the Government takes half our income in taxes. I sometimes wonder if we are electing the best people to government.

The drive-in restaurant is convenient in nice weather, but I seriously doubt they will ever catch on.

There is no sense going on short trips anymore for a weekend, it costs nearly $2.00 a night to stay in a hotel.

No one can afford to be sick anymore, at $15.00 a day in the hospital, it's too rich for my blood.

If they think I'll pay 30 cents for a hair cut, forget it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thanks again for stopping by. Have a great weekend, and don’t forget to start writing those quotes down. You never know who might want to know those things in the future.

~~~ Duuude ~~~

Thursday, November 17, 2011

World's Largest!

Don't hold me accountable if you find something larger than what I post! As I was doing research for this post, I found a list of US States with what they claim are the World's largest, but it came apparent to me that no one was checking up on them! Some different states would claim they have the largest chair, for example, so just take them as you see them!

Chair: Anniston, AL

Buffalo statue: Jamestown, ND

Crayon: Easton, PA

Donut: Los Angeles, CA

Kokopelli: Yavapai County, AR

Baseball bat: Louisville, KY

Snowman: North St. Paul, MN

Old Ben (real steer): Howard County, IN

Bicycle: Sparta, WI

Thermometer: Baker, CA

Well, I have had my own experience with this one! While working in Marietta, Georgia, I would ask the locals how to get to certain places and their answers always had the Big Chicken in it, go to the big chicken and make a right, go passed the big chicken and make the first left. Marietta, Georgia is definitely the home of the Big Chicken!

Big Chicken: Marietta, GA

Tire: Allen Park, MI

Washboard: Logan, OH

Have a great day!

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Okay, so I messed up and am a bit late posting today.....

Well, I have no excuse other than I completely forgot that yesterday was Tuesday and therefore today would be Wednesday and my day to post....sorry.

I have picked out a few of my favorites from the others that are a part of this collective Journal. For one reason or another these items struck me as something I wanted to show off.

these are from Vintage Station

This next two are from Peppercorns 2

Here are some beauties from DoodleVintagePlus

Of course I have to include another horsey item from MySeriousSide

and last but not least two items from VintageEmbellishment (and I am sure she can figure out why I picked furnace part)

If you click on each picture it should take you directly to that item, if you click on the names it will take you to their Etsy shops.

Thank you for your patience and I hope you enjoy.

(jj)

A Jigsaw Puzzle.....

If this works correctly you should be able to click on the photo and be taken to a page where you can tear it apart and put it back together again...we will see!

I chose this photo because it is a favorite of someone special....LOL!

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

ONE LAST PLUG FOR THE MAGNIFICENT PUMPKIN

Wool pumpkins Autumn Halloween Thanksgiving

http://www.etsy.com/listing/83285799/wool-pumpkins-autumn-halloween

It's nearly Thanksgiving and almost time for us to say good-bye to the pumpkin. I have been planning ahead though and now have seeds for three kinds of pumpkins for next year....peanut pumpkins, white pumpkins, and a mix of orange and white miniature pumpkins. Hopefully, I'll have the best ever pumpkin patch...at least I'm optimistic at this point.

Before we leave the pumpkin season I'd like to feature a few of the most interesting takes on the pumpkin that I've found on Etsy. This little gallery is my tribute.