Friday, December 31, 2010

Cemetary Cripts


I have mentioned before that cemetaries fastenate me....so much history....These pictures of cripts were taken over the summer at three different cemetaries .... the architecture is so different on each one.....
wonder what the residents would tell us about life if they could...




Thursday, December 30, 2010

It's Around the Corner....Valentine's Day


This pretty card was done for a challenge with one of my on line groups.....I found the image on line and added flower soft to the bouquets and Pearls and lace for the the nosegay....of course you can't live without alittle glitz...I used a Glitz pen to add a little twinkle to the edges, matted it and put on a card.....
The inside consisted of a great quote on vellum held by two embossed hearts...don't you just love cuttlebug! The embossing it can do for you is amazing...so deep and pronounced....a Martha punch created by EKSucess, love their tools, then of course a sparkle pen for the finishing touch along the edge of all the valentines....
After creating my little work of Art, I had to be sure that I signed it for posterity!
Want to create some cards with me? Send me an e-mail: krazy4kroppin@aol.com


Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Artist Trading Cards


I thought that I would share some more Artist Trading Cards (ATC's). This one required that we use any Stampers Anonymous Stamp. It actually came out looking alittle like "steampunk" which seems to be a new craze these days.
The Next one was a Mini Challenge with one of my groups. The Group leader sent everyone a bunch of cigarbands and we needed to create an ATC of our choice with the cigar band as the central theme. Fun!
Last but not least, this one was with a third group that I belong to and the requirement was that we use one of Tim Holtz's new stamps at that time....I loved how this came out!



If anyone is interested in starting a small group in our area making and trading ATC's send me an e-mail at: krazy4kroppin@aol.com

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Ginger Bread Creation


Look at what won the Michael's Craft of the year! So pretty all made out of gingerbread and candy! Quite a piece of work!!! I think that the winner certainly deserved to win!
Amazing!

Mother Nature.....


Gotta Love when Mother Nature Excersises herself....the dumping we got over Sunday and Monday was quite pretty...alittle bit of a pain to shovel and clean up, but so lovely to look at....I am sure that the kids had a great time with it!
I think that we are lucky....It was only the first for the season of any accumulation...usually we have a bit more by now.....

Monday, December 27, 2010

Presents

I decided this year to try and make most of my gifts for Christmas....I am a collector of different things...yarn is one...I love color and when it's good color it invites itself home with me!

This scarf was made for my friend Alan the Biggest Steelers Fan I know....I am only allowed to hang out with his wife if I carry with me at all times my Steelers Talesman! Hope this keeps him warm at the games!


Next I made this great blue scarf for my friend Karen, wife of Alan. Karen has the most beautiful blue eyes and this is really going to bring them out more than they already are! I know she liked how soft it was!

Miss Emily, daughter of Alan & Karen, is her Dad's partner in cheering on those Steelers! This Tam will hopefully keep her warm at the games she goes to with her Dad!


Last but not least, we saved the best for last, is Miss Sarah, Daughter to Alan & Karen and Sister to Emily....Sarah is our actress and hat lover....thus I thought a "Love Story" hat would be great for her....it went over well!
They gave me a really really cool fleece blanket to snuggle with! Great colors and so soft....I will post that another day!


Sunday, December 26, 2010

Waterfalls

I think waterfalls are so restful and mesmerizing....I found this cool one in the Town of Wallkill on a drive on a back road....worth the stop to take the pic from both sides.....


Saturday, December 25, 2010

Christmas Evening


Took this picture on my way home from friends on Christmas Night.
So very pretty!
Hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and that Santa brought you all you wished for!

Friday, December 24, 2010

T'was The Night Before Christmas.....

Well here we are at the "big night"...still a bit early yet...these pictures were taken slightly after sun down tonight...a few more hours and the kids will be asleep...'visions of sugar plums' and all that jazz..

This picture was taken in The Town of Mt. Hope, I just loved how they set it up....not too gaudy...just right!


This Christmas Tree is in Festival Square in Middletown...a very pretty tree with just colorful lights...the wind blowing making the tree limbs move made it alittle hard to get a crisp picture even though I was using my brandy new tripod which I am loving!




Moving along to down town Goshen were we have a Nativity and a Menorah....all bases covered here!
"Merry Christmas to All and to All a Good Night!"


Sunrise on Christmas Eve

Got up early this morning....couldn't sleep, caught some fabulous pictures of some amazing gifts that occur each and every day! Such a warm glow....I was able to get this picture this morning as the sun came up....the colors were gorgeous!


This picture is not retouched....isn't the blue an amazing color!
Lovely little gift God gave us this morning!

Another beautiful untouched shot in another spot as the sun was just rising....


Aren't waterfalls just the best?! I love to watch the cascading water...I find it mesmerizing & relaxing.....
Lots of little gifts today to start my day!
Hope everyone has an amazing day full of the holiday spirit of family and peace!


Thursday, December 23, 2010

A Friends New Home


My friend Jeanne's son Dennis just purchased his first home, a beautiful new condo in the Clinton Hill Section of Brooklyn!
Here are mom and son just after the closing!
So exciting! Glad I could be a part of it!!!
I am sure that he will enjoy many happy years in his lovely new home!
Congrats Denny!!!

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Quote

"All Art is Autobiographical...

The Pearl is the Oyster's autobiography..."



~Frederico Fellini

1920-1993





I love when I find a great quote....thought you might enjoy this one too!

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Artist Trading Cards

In the spirit of the season I am sharing this card I called "winter".



















As I mentioned before I love Clocks....we had a swap that involved time....Thus this trading card done as a little booklet so when opened you find another clock on the inside and a quote about time.
Fun trade!




Anyone interested in doing ATC's in a group for swaps locally?
send me an e-mail:

Monday, December 20, 2010

Brooklyn Revisited...

My girlfriend's son is purchasing a condo in Brookyn and I am handling the closing for my office.... After we toured his Condo and checked out the punch list we took a ride through my old neighborhood to see the building where I grew up.

This was a great building to grow up in as a kid....my brother and I were the only children in the building and very spoiled by our neighbors...

The building owners were German and extremely proud of the building's appearance, keeping it up meticulously. I can remember Mrs. Kreigal on her hands and knees scrubbing the stoop off every day as well and the hall ways and stairs....
It was alittle disheartening to see the sofa bed dumped where there used to be meticulous flower beds...
Otherwise the building looked just the way it did when I grew up there!
Kind of a kick to see it....




This is the Church a few blocks from the apartment house where I went to Church and got my sacrements.
Cool to see~
My friend took this picture quickly as we drove past out the car window....good memory shot!
So excited to see Dennis Condo as well! We are closing on Thursday and he is really looking forward to it!

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Clocks


Well anyone who knows me well, knows I love clocks....any shape or form....the more unique the better! This lovely clock stands outside the General
Store at Museum Village in Monroe, NY ....
Even when I decorate for Christmas, my Christmas Village and my Carolers each have their own Clock.
We are very lucky in Orange County to have so much history....Museum Village has some wonderful events and tours just stocked in history of our county.

Friday, December 17, 2010

Counting the days....

It's getting closer....are you done shopping and wrapping and taking time to enjoy the joys of the season? Hope so! Thought this picture was adorable.
We are in single digits....the guy in the big red suit comes in just 8 days!

Thursday, December 16, 2010

ATC's

Artist Trading Cards....more commonly known as "ATC's" are a very popular hobby among crafters.
They are little peices of art created no larger then 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches in size. Thus they are just like the baseball cards we traded as kids .... you remember the ones with the horrible bubble gum we thought was so great in the package!

Shown here are a few of my favorites....The Rooster Card which I call "Prized Cock" was for a Rooster trade.






















"Oooh La La!" Was entered for a trade on the Roaring 20's...fun....




"Time to See Art" was entered for a trade in one of my groups that features Tim Holtz stamps and more.
Truly fun to see how much you can incorporate into a small trading card and have a fun peice of art!

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Warm Thoughts


The weather is so cold these days! Trying to keep warm thoughts....in browsing through my pictures I came across this picture of a white Iris that I took over the summer in my garden...warmed me up a bit!

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Earrings, Earrings, Earrings.....


An assortment of earrings are necessary for any fashion conscience woman...I created some fun ones....you can use them for casual or formal occassions as the need arises.
Want a lesson on making them for yourself....contact me by e-mail at krazy4kroppin@aol.com

Monday, December 13, 2010

"Geese a Swimming"

Just a week or two ago these geese were basking in an early morning refreshing dip...yesterday they looked like they weren't too tempted to hop into the stream with all it's ice and frigid temperatures....most of them were walking away leaving the one guy contemplating whether it was worth it to take a dip!

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Counting down....


While driving back from taking my sunset picture yesterday on Mountain Road, I encountered this beautiful Christmas Scene. The Homeowner has done such a tasteful job of decorating...My picture doesn't do it justice nor does it encompass it all. Some people over decorate...their choice and style....this house was done in my humble opinion..."just right"!!! I had to turn around to try and get a picture....I may have to try another time with a little more light to capture it again in all it's infamy and beauty.
Thirteen more days to the jolly old guy in the red suit puts in an appearance!

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Sunrise......Sunset.....

They say that the early bird catches the worm....since I don't like worms...I caught this beautiful sunrise which glistened off the ice on the pond near the bus terminal near Museum Village in Monroe....real pretty!

Sunset taken off Rt 84 headed to Port Jervis.....
'Red Sky at Nite....Sailors delight...Red Sky at Dawn Sailors be warned...
I always think of that little ditty when I see a red red sunset...
Pretty Huh?!

Friday, December 10, 2010

Naughty or Nice


So have you been naughty or nice?
It's 15 days and counting til the Big Guy with the red suit drifts down your chimney and visits your tree....
Hope you are all in the festive mood and have got your shopping done and presents wrapped and are contemplating the joys of the season!!!
Happy Holidays to All and to all a good night!

Red Hat Christmas & Birthday!

Here is a shot of some of my Red Hat ladies at last nights dinner which was held at Catherine's dinner! An interesting evening was had by all.

In addition to the evening being out annual Christmas get together it also happened to be one of our ladies actual birthday. Her son came in from out of town and surprised her and brought a lovely cake to share with the ladies! Happy Birthday Eleanor and her son....what a cutie and such a lovely gesture for his Mom!
Wishing you and yours a joyous Holiday Season!!!

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Christmas Presents


With Christmas fast approaching...I have been making all my presents or as many of them as possible.
I have a friend who has gifted my some lovely scarves over the past few years that she has either crocheted or knitted. Thus I was inspired to take the plunge and make my gifts this year. I felt very special when Yvonne gifted me ... so I am truly hopeful that the people whose gifts I have made feel the same way.
The scarf that is pictured will be used in our Red Hat Groups Grab Bag (steal) exchange this evening at our dinner at Catherines in Goshen.
This scarf is a replica of one that my friend Yvonne made for me! It is both knitted and crocheted.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Grave Stones


Aren't grave stones amazing?! Sometimes I will drive through a cemetary just to view the old ones. The art in some of them are just amazing. I think that they tell a story about the person. The very old ones are the best!
I chose to share this one because of the Celtic Cross it bears...I'm irish and I just think it is so beautiful.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

My Favorite Rising Star

My Boss' son Rory Brady was chosen as one of Orange County's Rising Stars for 2010. Rory has always been a rising star in my eyes...a very special person!
These awards reconize individuals between the ages of 21 and 40 who are up and coming leaders in the professional and volunteer lives.
Nominees must work and live and volunteer in Orange County. Selection was based on the individual's professional and voluteer activities demonstrated leadership and the impact that they have had on their organization or community. They are judged by and independent panel from a diverse pool of canidates for this anual award.
The winners will be recognized at an awards breakfast on December 14th at Anthony's Pier 9. There will be a keynote speaker and the program is hosted by the Orange County Chamber of Commerce and the Junior League of Orange County and Leadership Orange.
WELL DONE RORY!