WELCOME TO BLOGABELLA

Hiya sistahs!

I hijacked my own post yesterday LOL..  because we had a long weekend, I thought yesterday was monday.. what a DOORKNOB.  LOL

I had to take a picture of Jayden this morning.. she craftily  popped out her lenses from her 3D glasses from a movie (atta girl) and decided she wanted to wear these.. I thought she looked STUNNING.. this picture is going RIGHT on my inspiration board near my art table.  THIS picture inspires me…

Ok now let’s discuss AJ TOOSDAY (on wednesday).. the theme this week was to journal about what’s on your mind these days…

next week’s theme is TIME.. you can use clocks, clock hands.. minutes.. passing of time.. time flies.. etc..  use some colored pencils on that page…

Have fun sistahs!

MWAH!

Hiya sistahs!

I hope you had a great weekend. we had a long weekend here in Toronto and it was just beautiful.  We were invited to our friend’s cottage and this was the view.  Breathtaking.  OF COURSE they had beautiful weather UNTIL WE GOT THERE.. I was called “the black cloud” LOL.. but we had fun nonetheless

It was my BFF’s birthday this weekend and she had a splash at her home that her hubby hosted for her.  On the invitation it clearly said NO GIFTS.  She always admired my paintings and was my cheerleader for so long and she has been begging me for one for such a long time, so about two weeks ago, I started on my painting adventure.  And here it is.. raw and true friendship

I have been researching poetry for the last little while and I came across a beautiful poem by Maya Angelou which I HAD to include in the painting for her. And this was what the inscription looked like on the back

When I read this poem, I felt a bit of a sigh of relief.. I can’t explain it… It all came together.  This is what feeling 40 feels like 🙂

PHENOMENAL WOMAN by Maya Angelou

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I’m telling lies.
I say,
It’s in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.

I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It’s the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.

Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can’t touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them
They say they still can’t see.
I say,
It’s in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I’m a woman

Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.

Now you understand
Just why my head’s not bowed.
I don’t shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It’s in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need of my care,
‘Cause I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.

Need I say more?

here here to all da PHENOMENAL women in my sistahood and in my life 🙂

mwah!

Em

Hiya sistahs!

well things are winding down in Bellaland.. tomorrow is technically the last day we are open but watch your inboxes because we may still continue next week as we are there working anyway 🙂

Things are SO exciting on my front.. and what’s to come?  OMG I am ready for the adventure!  I have found a new artist who will knock your socks off.. I mean she knocked mine off ! fun and whimsical and full of personality.. hmmm we talking about my stamps or me? LOL.  I also have a batch of Uptownies I will be releasing soon too… Oh and our website will be getting a facelift!  Lots of goodness!

Ok let’s discuss bellarific winnahs from last week shall we?

Winnah for commentaytin goes to….

Here are your random numbers:

1-KELLY YOU WIN!! please email me for your $10 in bella buckeroonis!

Timestamp: 2012-08-03 19:40:12 UTC

Now for da CONTRIBUTIN’ winnah

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

6-Maria you win!  please email me and I will send you your $20 bella bucks vouchah!

Timestamp: 2012-08-03 19:41:16 UTC

and now for this week’s challenge!  Summertime!  paper, colour, stamp… let’s see what our baberoonis came up with!

Lindabella and Paulabella will be taking a hiatus for a while.. I think I worked them too hard..LOL.. either that or I SMELLLL.. I am hoping it is neither!  But I do understand how hard it is to balance full time work and a full time hobby and I will miss them both so much you have no idea.  Words CANNOT explain the void in my heart not having them here with me right now.  This will, of course NEVER affect our closeness nor our deep friendship.. we have learned to separate business and pleasure and the visits and closeness will NEVER EVER go on hiatus.  They are both stuck with SMELLY me for the rest of their days! LOL.  But let’s hope they rest up, quit their full time jobs and come back SOONER rather than later..!  Paula and Linda.. I LOVE YOU both SOOO MUCH!!!

Well, Linda decided to go off with a BANG.. check out this card!

Tell me these cards aren’t PHENOMALISH.. OMG.. beyond.. I would say GOURMET!

And now for our GOURMET sistahood!

were those not GOURMET?  Hells ya!

Now for next week’s theme .. it’s a SKETCH!

don’t forget AJ TOOSDAY on TOOSDAY.. make an art journal page depicting where “you’re at” right now..  CANT WAIT TO SEE!

and don’t forget to post a comment here for a chance to win $10 in bella bucks next week

and don’t forget to send me a card for next friday

and …. Don’t forget that I love you

And  and… DON”T forget to have a great crafty weekend…

Oh AND AND AND.. don’t forget to follow me on Instagram.. Im OBSESSED and have been posting stuff like crazy there!  say hi when you’re there, k? k.

Mwah to da sistahs who LOVE da fridays

Em

Oh ANNNDDD I wanted to leave you with this.. these cards are all over pinterest and really some of them have me in stitches

Hiya sistahs!

Sorry for the delay in this post… it’s been a crazy coupla days with the store closing.. people visiting.. etc.. So please forgive me!  I just wanted to let all the local sistahs not to be sad about the store closing… I am SO happy about my decision and I cannot wait to focus on what I love.. please continue to follow me on INSTAGRAM (love that app) and FACEBOOK and of course my bloggypoo!  Now again for the local sistahs.. I may be making you happy… so stay tuned because I may have some good news for you 🙂

Now for Art Journaling TOOSDAY on WENNNSDAY

Pinky dinky doo (my soul sistah Lori) sent me a link about a very SQUISHY DELICIOUSLY sweet older gentleman talking about how and why he keeps a journal…  It is very short and so interesting to watch.  It just proves to all of us that we don’t need all the fancy tools.. paper qualities.. different pens and glue sticks.. cases… (I am talking about myself here..LOL)… it’s about what’s in your head, and what should come out on paper..

watch “mr Squishy” and his bio is under the video.  He has since passed away but imagine the legacy he has left his family.

Ok now the theme for this week was to use your favourite colour!

Let’s see what da sistahood came up with!

This week was TERRIFIC sistahs!!  I am so impressed!  I LOVED IT!

ok for next week’s theme.. I would like you to make a stenciled background with sprays/pastels/gesso/paint.. whatever you are in the mood for.. and maybe incorporate some journaling about where you’re at right now.. how you’re feeling.. what’s up in your life.. what’s on your mind…

Mwah to da sistahs who take on the challenges!  It makes my heart SINGITY (bella ism)  SING!

and THANK you pinky for reminding me about that video so that we can share it with da sistahood!

Em

a little bit of DIS and a little bit of DAT…. As I had mentioned earlier.. I have been wanting to sneak in some time for lil’ (big) ole’ (not that old) me… so I have been snatching any moment I could get over the last week or two and have been spending quality time with my basement (craft studio)…

I have been painting, and transferring images, and collaging..  Like I was having an artistic TANTRUM! LOL.. my kids called me and didn’t get answers.. I was on a roll.. and no one could stop me….. LOL

So having said that, my stampies have been neglected and I miss them terribly… so they will be my VICTIMS today…bwahahahaha

So be kind to da tantrummy bella k?

I’m now gonna share a little piece of me :)..

Ok so that’s about it.. a few more works in progress and will show you them when they are somewhat ready to be seen..LOL

Hope you had a CRAFT ful weekend and are working on your AJ page for tomorrow!!

Also don’t forget to comment on the bellarific friday post for a chance to win $10 in bella bucks

Mwah to da sistahs who WON’T make fun of da BELLA

Em

and I am here.. I swear I am.. it’s been a crazy week.. I decided to paint a little bit and got a liiiitttle carried away..LOL.. didn’t know what time it was, where I was.. just painted and painted and painted… Oh.. and did a little bidniss too… I will show you what I painted on Monday k?  Just gonna finish them up..

And da BIDNISS I have been up to …. 2 new baberoonis in da house!!  One will be announced in September… and one today!

But FIRST…

Let’s discuss some winnahs, shall we?

Winnah for COMMENTAYTIN on last week’s bellarific friday goes to….

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

9- MARY J you win!  please email me and I will send you your $10 vouchah!

Timestamp: 2012-07-27 14:59:58 UTC

Now for

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

2- MARGO you win!  please email me and I will send your VOUCHAH!

Timestamp: 2012-07-27 15:39:04 UTC

da CONTRIBUTIN’ winnah for last week… ($20 in bella bucks) goes to…

Now for this week’s theme.. we had a sketch!

and now for today’s announcement you’ve all been waiting for….

drumroll please……..

CARLABELLA is our new BABE!  Ive been getting emails lately to go visit her site.. go see Carla… so I finally wanted to meet this “MASKED CARLA”.. and her work blew me away.. oh and it didn’t hurt that she used LOTS of bella stamps in her posts :)…  So without further ADO… please go and visit her and post a comment welcoming her k?  This sistahood is one fantastic place to be I must say..

this is PAULABELLA’s SPOT..LOL and always will be

I just love how each BABEROONI represents a different style.. this is what showcases the images.. makes the images pop.. and makes you realize that these stamparoonis are not particular to one style only!  You can use our stamps in classic elegance, in whimsical.. in mixed media.. embellished.. not embellished.. *sigh*  I love art.  I love stamps.  I love my babes.  I love my sistahood.  k now I am getting MOOSHY.

Now let’s take a looky at our sistahood!  One of these lucky sistahs have a chance to win $20 in bella bucks!  You can too if you just submit a card to me following our theme for the week!

Now how is DAT for some BEAUTICIOUSLICIOUSNESS? (say that 10 times fast).. hmmmm?

Ok next week’s theme? SUMMERTIME :)… ink up a stamp that reminds you of summer.. or use colors that inspire you in the summer…. easy peasy lemon squeezy?  ( I love when my daughter Jayden says that to me..LOL)

Ok signing off…

roger

10/4

i’m a little giddy

and mooshy

and squooshy..LOL

Em

p.s. don’t forget to participate in next week’s theme for a chance to win $10 in bella buckeroonis!

and if you place a comment here, you have a chance to win $10 in bella bucks!