BFF Open House Link Party 1st One From the Desert

Happy Friday eve and welcome to my weekly party from it's new location. Well the virtual location remains the same but you understand :) 

Let's start with some features from last week's party. 

Once we find a place, I think I will have to make this Heat Transfer Vinyl Pillow from Hazel and Gold Designs. 

Spring is the perfect time for a new wreath. This first one is from Domestic Deadline is perfect in its simplicity of using the same silk flower throughout. 

Vintage Paint and More has not only another pretty Spring wreath, but a whole mantle idea that's so pretty in blue and yellow. 

While I'm not a Vegan, I have enjoyed some wonderful Vegan treats and this gorgeous Mounds Cake from Vegan Dollhouse looks AMAZING and combines two of my absolute favorites, chocolate and coconut. 

So now let's see what everyone's been up to this week! 

   

    An InLinkz Link-up

   

Yes, I Remember I Have A Blog...Why I've Been MIA

After a lifetime spent in the Pacific Northwest, I am now a desert dweller in the Phoenix AZ area! Needless to say, with getting ready to do a massive interstate move, I have not had a lot of creative time and not sure when that is going to resume. 

Like a lot of people, we're part of the generation seeing our parents get older . My mom aka "The Mumster" moved here several years ago and we've loved visiting her each year and for several of those years she came up for holidays etc.  And while she's in good health overall, we will all reach an age where some health concerns come up and she's had a couple of ER trips that I would really rather have been here for. Mr. Chocolate has had itchy feet for a while so it took no convincing on his part to move, and work, while crazy, is portable so that's good. While we figure out where we want to ultimately settle, and while we get some things settled for The Mumster, we're going to stay with her. I brought my InstaPot and she's excited to see why I love it so much. 

Space is limited right now so I don't have a dedicated craft room but did bring some core supplies with me. I know I'll be focusing on lettering and jewelry since those don't require lots of space! 

Looking forward to finding some new creative places. I already have some favorite bead stores from our visits here and can't wait to visit them. And I haven't set foot in Michaels or JoAnns in more than a month so even if I don't buy anything I can't wait to explore some new stores. 

I'm excited as well because I know a lot of shows and conferences come this way...moreso I think than the Seattle area, so I have lots of ways to keep the creative inspiration flowing. I know Tim Holtz lives in AZ so he may find me stalking him lol. Just kidding. Mostly. 

If you're a Phoenix area creative, let me know! 

Onward, 

Carol

Wishing You A

May all your bunnies be chocolate! 

BFF Open House Link Party

Happy end of March which seems insane. Then again, this week has been insane and it's not even because of work. In the middle of an inter state move so have had NO time to look at features and even less than no time to make ANYTHING. Will share more soon but for now, I at least want my bloggy creative friends to share what they've been making. This week will be all party, no features. Enjoy! 

   

   

    An InLinkz Link-up

   

   

BFF Open House Link Party

Hi all and Happy Spring!  A much calmer week for me workwise so this week's party is on time and with features! Hope you all have had a wonderful start to Spring and those of you in the Northeast aren't dealing with too much snow. 

My name twin Carol from The Red Painted Cottage shared how to bring some Spring inside with her gorgeous tiered tray. 

Crystal, from Surviving a Teacher's Salary ( hear hear ) shared this natural planter using a found tree branch,  moss, and air plants. 

Artsy VaVa is back with a gorgeous Easter Egg bouquet showing off her painting talents once again because she hand painted those eggs! Wouldn't these be fun to put with your Easter dinner table settings ? 

Sugar Spice and Family Life shared these Peanut Butter Cup STUFFED Chocolate Cookies ( drooling...not gonna lie). With Reeses PB Eggs everywhere right now thinking you could even use those to stuff these cookies! Not that I go overboard or anything. 

   

    An InLinkz Link-up

   

BFF Open House Link Party

Yikes! Late for my own party. Does that tell you what kind of week it's been? So so sorry and no features this week. Hope everyone has a Happy St. Patrick's Day! We're all Irish on the 17th right?

   

    An InLinkz Link-up

   

Blast From The Past: Spring Eggstravaganza

I haven't eggsactly been on a creative roll lately. I'll share why in a future post. But I thought I'd do a roundup of some past egg projects as we approach Easter and Spring!

Still one of my favorite projects is this one "Eggshells Under Glass" which used real eggshells that I painted to coordinate with the base of a cheese dome I picked up at Goodwill. 

In a similar color palette, are these Tissue Paper and Twine Eggs that are easily made using a combination of plastic eggs from the craft store, tissue paper, Mod Podge, paint, twine and misc. embellishments. 

Of course you know I love chocolate and what goes together this time of year but chocolate and eggs?! 

This Vintage inspired egg also uses a plastic egg, tissue paper, paint and misc. embellishments. 

This "Faux Oeuf en Chocolat" aka "Fake Chocolate Egg" is a different type of egg from the craft store , painted in chocolate brown, then speckled with gold and covered in a chocolate label graphic. 

Hope you've found some inspiration!