Altered Whimseys

Mojo is back!!!!

2012-01-26T15:58:00.000-08:00

Mojo is back. I've done a layout about turning 40 this year....

Where to find me on Pinterest

2012-01-13T23:32:00.001-08:00

I'm at KimberlyRae72 on Pinterest, or Kimberly Rae Cole....

Pinterest....

2012-01-13T19:08:00.000-08:00

I'm on Pinterest now.... interesting site. Still learning how to navigate around.

It's Been a While....

2012-01-09T20:38:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year to all. It's been a while, I know. I'm slowly getting my creative mojo back and thought I would start by getting a Twitter account, you can now follow me @KimberlyRae72. I'm not promising anything epic or life changing, what I do promise is some creativity and fun. Life is too short to not be creative. So this year, get creative....

In Memory of Steven Jobs....

2011-10-05T23:47:00.001-07:00

Today we lost a true visionary, one that gave us the tools to imagine and create. Thank you Steve Jobs. My prayers go out to the Jobs family for their loss.

A Book for Nancy

2011-08-23T19:09:00.000-07:00

This year we received some troubling news, my cousin Nancy's breast cancer has returned. She's now doing Chemo and has a great outlook. I'm creating kind of a scrapbook journal for her during this journey with pictures of friends and family.

Of course I had to bling it up.... Oh and Nancy, if you see this on FB, look surprised when I give it to you... haha. You're so awesome, love ya.

Winner winner chicken dinner....

2011-08-21T19:24:00.000-07:00

Really, we're having chicken for dinner. While I'm creating, David is cooking chicken out on the BBQ. Speaking of which..... wait for it..... THE SCHLUMP is over! Below is the evidence. Thank you to my furry baby Tybalt for being the subject.

Determined....

2011-08-21T17:41:00.000-07:00

I inherited two traits from my mother.... my stubbornness and my creativity. The past few months you have been reading about my lack of mojo and the fact I haven't been able to get anything creative done. It's been a bit of a struggle with depression, but today I'm up in my creative haven and I'm determined to get at least one scrapbook page done and post it to the website. Have you ever been in a scrapbook schlump, and if so, what did you do to pull yourself out of it. I'd love to hear your answers...

My Creative Haven...

I think I found my mojo....

2011-08-17T07:05:00.000-07:00

Once again I've had another sleepless night, haven't been able to sleep good the past couple of nights. Been trying to get the creative juices flowing and get myself out of this depressive funk I've been in for the past several months. It's been sad, I haven't even been in the studio to work on anything. What do you do when you get in a funk?

Happy Birthday Mom

2011-07-10T23:53:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to the woman who blessed me with all my creative blessings.... Love you Mom!

(Page elements are from Wee Faerie Ring)

Doing a little digital....

2011-07-10T23:37:00.000-07:00

I'm getting my feet a little wet, doing some digital scrapping.... getting the scrap mojo going....

Trying to find the mojo....

2011-07-10T22:20:00.000-07:00

It's been missing for quite a while..... looking for some inspiration..... any ideas?

YAY! My laptop is fixed....

2011-05-20T23:47:00.000-07:00

After months of dealing with a broken screen on my Mac I finally have it back and fixed. Thank you Bud! Now all I need to do is get back in the studio and start back working on projects.

Sigh.....

2011-05-10T12:12:00.000-07:00

14 Years ago I married my best friend,

Love you David!

Right now I've been grounded up to the 2nd floor, David is making something downstairs that is a surprise... I love surprises, especially when David is the merry maker... It's been a wild 14 years, and we have held onto each other through the bad, and cheered each other on through the good. 2 Moves, 2 college degrees, various jobs, and two cats later here we are, still very much in love.

Creative ramblings and bicycle tires... trust me, it makes sense

2011-05-07T20:55:00.001-07:00

I've been trying to spark my creativity.... depression has the tendency to decimate any ounce of creativity around me and in me. I've been this hollow shell. Ok, I'm all over the place but I must tell you that I successfully inflated the tires on my bike. I know, sound really silly, but we've got this bike pump that just refuses to cooperate with me. For some reason after I did that I just felt like I could do ANYTHING! Well, not ANYTHING, but I felt like the me that has been hiding in the sheol that has been my mental state has awoken. I went upstairs and made a cute card for a friend. Ok, enough of that tangent, like I said, I'm all over the place. It doesn't help that I'm watching Lady GaGa either. I can relate to her, I'm creatively brilliant, a bit eccentric, and often misunderstood. She has the courage to show who she really is.

Haven't done much lately... APB out for my mojo

2011-04-21T17:39:00.001-07:00

I haven't done much scrapping lately, don't know what that's all about. Oh yeah, my mojo has been missing.

More pages done...

2011-03-03T23:32:00.000-08:00

The Mojo is slowly coming back... I found this photo of my mom and our cousin Tommie when they were about six. They look so cute all dressed up.

Gramma Ollie

2011-02-19T15:16:00.000-08:00

Back to scrapping again. I've been going through the pile of pictures that I brought back with me from FL on my last trip.

2011-02-15T19:54:00.000-08:00

The cake that was doomed.... this poor cake, first knocked out of my hand by Halley dog, met it's final demise out on the driveway... long story short, this cake was not meant to be. Why do I have such poor luck with baked goods. Fortunately Nancy found some more chocolate icing at Florences and patched up the poor thing...

Missing Daddy...

2011-01-19T23:14:00.000-08:00

This is the first page I have done since losing Daddy in 2009. I had made a two page spread which is now in FL on his memorial board at my grandmother's house.

Progress and goals...

2011-01-15T01:49:00.000-08:00

I managed to squeak out two pages yesterday. Used to be an effortless venture, now I find myself wanting to pack everything up and put it away.... yet when I'm in there creating I find great comfort and peace. I do have one project I want to start for this year and that is David's Navy scrapbook. I was only in for four years, David was active duty for 20.... and I have a whole box full of stuff for his book.

My first few layouts of 2011....

2011-01-14T19:52:00.000-08:00

I've finally gotten some creative juices flowing and scrapped two pages....

Happy New Year....

2011-01-01T01:13:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year my Altered Whimsey's Fans!!! This year is going to be better, blingy-er (I know that's not a word, work with me here, ok?), and full of fun and creativity.... But for now I'm off to bed, it's been a loooong day and I'm pretty tired.. I'll be on later after the Rose Bowl parade posting some new scrappy goodness and some birthday cards as well.

Mazel Tov!

Merry Christmas to all....

2010-12-25T23:32:00.000-08:00

This year it wasn't about the what... it was about the why and who.... God's only son born to live here on Earth with us... not about the gifts, not about the food, not about the endless lines at the stores, not about the family dramas that some of us have to endure....

Merry Christmas to all my creative muses and friends!

Santa has me on his 'naughty' list for blogging...

2010-12-18T14:54:00.000-08:00

I've been horrible for not blogging... this Christmas season has hit us hard and finding the mojo was a no go.... know what I mean? It took us three weeks after Thanksgiving to finally put the tree and outside lights up. Yeah... you don't have to say it, just nod...

Well, I had better get to creating.... speaking of which, I spent at least an hour wandering around Michael's and didn't buy a thing... is that sick or what?

Back to Project 52....

2010-10-25T00:24:00.000-07:00

I'm back to working on my project 52, I'm so far behind it's not even funny, I'm going to try to catch up by next week.... that's going to be a challenge unto itself.

This layout was from my trip to FL, when Catrina and I went to the beach... sticking my newly pedicured feet into the pristine sand at Treasure Island. Ahhhhh.... I miss the beach, my bliss, my secret to happiness. This is where I connect to God the most.

I did another reorganization of the studio, and I thought I'd share the latest redo....

Just some changes....

2010-10-24T23:14:00.000-07:00

New header.... the graphic is a card I created. The creative mojo is slowly but surely returning. The header is an example. I used Graphic 45 paper.... I looooove the vintage look. Please keep on returning as I post more creative inspiration, and thank you for checking out Altered Whimseys...

I'm not a zombie, really....

2010-10-04T21:07:00.000-07:00

Well, came pretty darn close, right now I'm getting ready to sit back and craft some. Had a full day of getting stuff done and tomorrow you just may have to send the troops in to find me in my closet, it's in dire need of a clean out and what not.... it's shameful, trust me on this one. I'd take pictures and post them but I'm afraid someone from the 'Hoarders' TV show would show up on my door step. That and I'm just not up for that much ridicule, I get that from my cat.

I'll post photos of the creations and some other randoms later, until then.... loves you bunches...

PSA.... Bipolar Disorder....

2010-09-11T01:35:00.000-07:00

For those of you who don't know, I suffer from bipolar disorder, I have created a blog for my writings of what I go through on a daily, if not hourly basis. I guess what I'm trying to say, it is also part of who I am and from where a lot of my creativity and need for creativity comes from.

Faith in the Chaos

Thank you for your time, now back to your regularly scheduled blog surfing.

It's been a week....

2010-09-11T01:29:00.000-07:00

Can't sleep, I should be creating.... my brain is going 100 mph with ideas, and worries... the worries I give to God, the creativity I give to this page.

All Church Camp was amazing, Ruth Reynold's program was a gift from God. Something I definitely needed. I need to spend some time later this morning in my creative space and write to Ruth as well as my other friends I made while on my journey last week. I have begun breaking away from the bonds of depression, I'm just afraid I may have spun into mania.... is there ever a happy medium? Sheesh.

And prayers are needed for my grandmother, she is in the hospital and not doing well.

Down by the Riverside....

2010-09-02T23:09:00.000-07:00

Good old country hymn, sung by family friend Jim Avett, dad of the Avett Bros.... anyhow.... I've been finding inspiration in nature lately, and this is what I've been doing....

This was taken with my iPhone on my morning walk.... the American river about 8:30 in the AM...

The path down to the riverside.... lesson learned today, wear shoes with better traction

This was taken Sunday with my Nikon D80.... gawsh I love that camera.... and check

out the rapids... kinda wimpy...

Inspiration Saturday.

2010-07-25T00:44:00.000-07:00

This week was kind of off.... do you ever have one of those weeks? For me I have to manage a brain disorder that sometimes put's a hitch in my creative process. It either gets me firing on all cylinders at 100 MPH, or I crash horribly into a quilt covered mass on the couch... I've been between both this week, hence I didn't get anything done. I did join the Holiday Faire craft team for this year. That's going to be fun.

It's Christmas in July.... well kinda...

2010-07-21T11:59:00.000-07:00

This week I stepped out of my creative comfort zone and ventured forth into the land that is known as 'Holiday Faire', our church's annual craft, bake sale and luncheon. It was the beginning of the craft planning, as in making this and that and what not to sell to the huddled masses of Rancho Cordova. In the past I've had a hard time with 'boxed in' creativity... I'm a free spirit, I create what I want and how I want. With Holiday Faire, it's what the group decides and we all do it together. Yes, I am a control freak, and yes I create on my own time and what I want. I need to get over that. Had a real good time with the girls and Darla (our creative maven) has already handed over copious projects which I'm going to start working on today.

I love technology pt2

2010-07-17T17:50:00.000-07:00

Pictures too!!!! I'm loving this. What is your favorite piece of technology?

Just a test

2010-07-17T17:15:00.000-07:00

I love technology... Now whenever inspiration strikes I can just pick up my iPhone and just post away...

Inspiration Saturday....

2010-07-17T13:15:00.000-07:00

This is going to be a weekly feature about what inspires me... and hopefully you. Feel free to e-mail me and let me know what inspires you and I can add it to my blog on the next feature. Today felt like the beginning of a new start for me. A lot has happened to me in the health arena the past few years regarding my heart, and last week I had a major wake up call from my Dr. who pretty much told me if I kept on eating the way I was eating, and living the way I was living (I'm horrible at getting out an exercising) that my blood pressure wasn't going to improve no matter what drug they throw at me, and my risk of breast cancer is going to increase. I knew it deep down, but for me it was huge. I had been dancing around the pink elephant in the living room for quite some time. That is my inspiration now, renewal... a new way to live, eat, create.... physically and spiritually.

1. My first inspiration... Sunrise Farmer's Market on the corner of Folsom Blvd. and Sunrise Blvd. in the Light Rail parking lot.... OMG.... organic veggies, fruits, berries... yummmm. And I got the best Apple Cherry Cider... oh it was sweet deeeelish! The colors just set my mind on creative fire.

2. This should be my first... my spirituality. My faith inspires me to create, not only for myself, but for others, to lift their spirits.

3. My mother... where I get all the creative genes from... this is one of her art masks that she designed for the Halloween Festival in Key West. As soon as I get her store site up and running I'll post the link. She is an amazing artist and my momma!

4. My friend Nancy... an amazing woman of courage, beauty and grace, and who has taught me so much....

5. Dale Chihuly.... enough said?

What inspires you....

Where do you create....?

2010-07-08T17:49:00.000-07:00

I've been feeling very thankful lately, thankful that I have a creative sanctuary that is in my house and with air conditioning. Before when we lived out in the country my art area was out in the detached garage and it was HOT! Sacramento summers can run around 110 degrees on a hot day. Granted we have no humidity... but over 100 is melting.

We have since moved to the city into a townhome and my art room is on the 2nd floor in our third bedroom... I have room for others to come and scrap....

My creative sanctuary....

Some more photos...

2010-07-08T02:35:00.000-07:00

This is the cover of the mini book I just finished for my mom's birthday....

It's three AM and I'm still scrapping...

2010-07-04T03:10:00.000-07:00

YAY I'm cured LOL.... seriously though. I've been a hot mess lately... depression killed the mojo... but here are some layouts that I've been working on, plus I have more to take pictures of when the stickles dry...

Some random pictures...

2010-07-02T06:31:00.000-07:00

Once again I'm at the starting off point for growing my hair out... this was me two years ago, my hair is pretty much the same length....

Here I am a few months later.... sometime the following year, I'm thinking Spring time...

And this is me in May of 09 with it all pulled back and it's all curly.... I can do this... I will not cut my hair I will not cut my hair.

Yes, this wasn't really a creative post, just me obsessing over my hair. Welcome to my world.

New look....

2010-07-02T05:37:00.000-07:00

Been having mojo issues, as most of you have read, so at 5:30 this morning I made an executive decision to change the blog around a bit.... It seemed a bit too busy....

Late night musings...

2010-06-14T00:56:00.000-07:00

My creative mojo has returned... along with a pile of laundry. Tonight has been great, watched True Blood season opener, then David and I made latke's with sour cream and apple sauce. Oh sweet heaven... it was bliss. I am so thankful for David, sometimes I don't say it enough, in my posts or to his face... sigh. Ok, enough of the mush. Tomorrow is laundry, mixed with some creativity, and perhaps some Key Lime Pie... who knows.

Happy birthday to my friend Kelly who's going off to Nevada this month as chef at the Sierra Service Project. She's an amazing pastry chef (cakes and cupcakes...)...something big and bright is in her future.

Mojo has been found....

2010-06-13T15:43:00.000-07:00

It was hiding in my pile of laundry...

Today was a good day. Church, brunch with friends, then home to work on some creative projects. Been cleaning out my iPhoto library.... good times...

More photos to scrap....

Turning 38

2010-06-09T23:27:00.000-07:00

Turning 38 was a little less painful than I thought it would be.... had a great day starting with my husband making me pancakes for breakfast, and ending with him BBQ'ing ribs.... it was a quiet day...

Feeling better....

2010-06-07T19:21:00.000-07:00

Feeling better and posting today upstairs in 'Altered Whimseys Studios'..... It's been crazy since I got home and for some reason or another my creative urge just flew out the door when the depression set in. Being bipolar has it's perks... the wonderful blessing of creativity with the stamina to work on a project into all hours of the night, yet it also has it's pitfalls... the depression. The fear, sadness, and all out craptacular feeling that takes hold and just doesn't want to let go no matter how many 'happy pills' you throw at it. It isn't a pretty picture people. Fortunately I am blessed with a wonderful husband who has stood by me through Hell and back, a family who understands me (most of the time), and friends that know all about me and love me anyway (love you Cat and Ria). So, even though I'm in the midst of battling another infection, I'm working hard at getting myself going spiritually. This means it's CREATIVITY TIME!!! Yay....

I was a naughty girl and while I was in FL and pilfered my grandmother's photo basket of pictures. The photo above is that of my grandparents restaurant they used to own on Gulfport Beach called 'The Pit'. I'm going to create a mini book out of this.... I'll post photos when I'm done.

Note to self...

2010-06-06T15:32:00.000-07:00

Turn off TV and work on your book.... still sick and confined to the couch... so I've got all that I need to feel somewhat human... all the remote controls, my Macbook, box of tissues and my quilt. I spent this morning channel surfing... missed church. I love my church family, but I don't think they would love me coming there and sharing all my lovely germs. So I am resigned to my post on the 'cootie couch'. Tried to do a load of laundry before that gets behind again and my dirty jeans start to grow begonias... and the washing machine started making hideous noises. So that makes three... I'm done. Rambling and random today, yes I am. I have 9 pages of an unfinished story staring me in the face..... like many things in my life, it is incomplete... ok. Shut up Kimberly... you have a wonderful husband who loves you, a roof over my head, food in the fridge, you're blessed with wonderful creative ability, you've been sober for 15 years! Put on your big girl panties and move on! Well, as much as humanly possible. I've really been trying to write something here everyday, whether it is creative or inspiring, or just what's wracking my brain.

You've just written a worldwide bestseller... where do you want to go? DISNEYLAND!

Just daydreaming, but when I finish the book, and when it becomes a bestseller I'm taking my family to Disneyland to celebrate! Then David and I are going to go on a Caribbean cruise.... a girl can dream can't she?

Ugh....

2010-06-05T18:52:00.000-07:00

Yes, I'm whining on my blog. It's my blog and I'll whine if I want to. Strep.... almost 38 years old and I've got strep three days before my birthday. No wonder I've felt fabulous. My creativity is nil right now... maybe I'll start another hat. I've got a lot to do before Holiday Faire this year. I want to make a shawl as well as some scarves and hats for Holiday Faire. (Holiday Faire is our church's Craft Faire and luncheon... all home made wares.). I'll also be making my famous 'Saucy Redhead' BBQ sauce. First of all I need to figure out how to can. Never done that before. I usually make the sauce in small batches. I want to make some this year for the faire and to give as gifts. David and I practice the 'Advent Conspiracy' for the holidays... less buying, more giving, more worship. I'm rambling.... mainly because I can't talk... ugh. What do you do when you're sick? Yes you? Do you have someone there to take care of you? (Make you soup, drag you to the ER when you're throat is swollen up like a beach ball) I got one, my wonderful husband.....

Well, time for soup.

Finding inspiration....

2010-06-04T16:52:00.000-07:00

I find inspiration in many things, today I found inspiration in my new kitchen toy, a food processor. For years the art of cooking has eluded me. With anything in my life it was a confidence problem. Fear of sticking my neck out without getting my head chopped off by the sharp knife of failure. Yeah, me, the one who does not fear anything creative. Cooking is chemistry, and I flunked chemistry in HS... but what I've learned from the likes of Alton Brown, Michael Symon, and Bobby Flay has inspired me.... and today the movie 'Julie and Julia' has inspired me. David (my husband) has been my cooking yoda from the very beginning. When he asked me to marry him, the first thing I told him was, I can't cook. I could cook, I could boil water. I could make spaghetti. I could heat up stuff in the oven, but to cook... not so much. David looked at me like I was an alien from another being when I told him I had never had artichokes.... he has since remedied that. He survived my first solo cooking.... the spicy crispy chicken incident of 1997. The consistency of the chicken was that of jerky.... not crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Oh and the 'spicy'.... well, his lips were on fire, and not in a good way.

I have since improved....

Today.... I am feeling inspired, ready to stick my neck out.... and ready to start living again.

Temporarily out of order....

2010-05-27T13:43:00.000-07:00

Sorry about the lack of posts, I have been out of commission since Monday. My hopes today were to post on some new layouts.. today is rest and more rest.

Happy Anniversary to US.... Kimberly and David....

2010-05-10T12:38:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it's been 13 years since we got married.... we've been through so much, and our love and friendship and passion for each other gets stronger every year.

smoochies....

The Coles 1997

The Girls are BACK!!!!

2010-05-03T19:52:00.001-07:00

Cupcake heaven....

2010-04-15T15:40:00.000-07:00

Magnolia in New York is now but a dusty page in my book of favorite places to find a fabulous cupcake..... now it is Patti Kakes.... a perfectly pink place to find the perfection in cupcakes... oh yeah, and she has ice cream too. It's located in the Northwest area of St. Petersburg, FL in the Tyrone Gardens shopping center. OH MY GOSH!!!! Chocolate and peanut butter cupcakes, Madagascar vanilla heaven... and the sweet sweet sinful chocolate buttercream topping on a strawberry cupcake.... are you drooling yet? Good, then I've done my job..... Go see Patti and indulge in this fantabulous mecca of cupcakes...

Back to FL

2010-04-02T04:46:00.000-07:00

It's been crazy the past few weeks, mainly me being crazy. Haha.... life catches up with me and for some reason I just couldn't get in the creative groove. Well, this month I'm flying to FL to help my mom out with taking care of my grandmother. My grandparents raised me, now it's my turn to help them out. I can't sleep tonight, guess I'm getting excited, or completely overwhelmed... three and a half weeks and I haven't even started packing. No, I stand corrected, I have packed all of my camera equipment.. Debating on whether I want to pack my compact tripod. Well.... time for some rest.

Spring has sprung....

2010-03-14T19:00:00.000-07:00

There is some speculation out there that because some artists are in studio or at the computer all the time blogging, that nothing gets done around the house... au contraire mon frere! Starting Thursday I've been Spring Cleaning, putting away the sweatshirts and fuzzy boots and bringing out the shiny flops and strappy sandals and flirty skirts. I've de-cluttered the back patio and got rid of the leaves and put out the patio furniture... here's a little glimpse at the Cole house...

The end of the weekend I created a fabulous dinner of citrus fire chicken with mixed steamed rice and edamame...

Haven't posted in a while...

2010-03-13T09:42:00.000-08:00

It's been a crazy couple of weeks... yesterday I celebrated 15 years of sobriety... it's a good feeling... really good. Anyhow, I've finally gotten some scrapbooking done, made a mini book for my sister about the object of her affection... or should I say obsession... Johnny Depp.

I used the K and Co. paper pad, and Stickles by Ranger.... Acrylic mini book pages are by Fancy Pants.

Creating in the kitchen....

2010-02-23T17:37:00.000-08:00

From this....

To this... now it's cooling off on the counter top... it smells soooooo good. I had to sample a piece just to see how it tasted.... ummmhmmmm, that's my story and I'm sticking to it... LOL

I'm waiting for that very important date....

2010-02-22T22:28:00.000-08:00

yes.... I'm one of those people who are absolutely salivating at the upcoming release of Disney's new 'Alice in Wonderland'. Not only am I a fan of anything Burton or Disney... but this movie is going to be full of eye candy that is going to be nothing short of spectacular....

sources.... uk.movies.ign.com, neoavatara.com and neoavatara.com

Found some creative mojo and had a visit from Vonnie....

2010-02-21T17:59:00.000-08:00

On Thursday Vonnie came over to play... and we had sooo much fun! It had been a while since I had someone over for a day of scrapping.... we're hoping to make this a regular thing. While she was there I worked on some cards (which I haven't scanned yet...) for my woman's group.

Today I worked on this....

For Project 52....

Just for fun.... I love that picture of us...

Finding the beauty amidst the pain....

2010-02-19T23:06:00.000-08:00

I've been dealing with a bit of depression... but today God sent me a sign of hope in a very beautiful tree... I was grateful to have my iPhone with me to take a picture of this tree that was in the middle of the VA hospital courtyard.

Do you know what kind of tree it is? I don't know.... But I do know that it set the tone for the rest of my day. Thank you to the friends and family who have come to my side to help me through this horrible bout of depression. God is good all the time....

If only there was the internet and blogs when I was 13 I wouldn't be broke now...

2010-02-19T14:03:00.000-08:00

HAHA... which brings me to this little quick witted, tongue in cheek teenage fashionista Tavi... OMG... what a riot. She says things the writers of WWD are afraid to write and keeps it honest. She is so HER... she never pretends to be anything but, and for someone her age that is an amazing virtue. There is so much pressure at her age to be something your not, to be skinnier, prettier, more popular. She is who she is and she embraces it! GO TAVI! You rock! If I had the internet and blogs at her age I don't know where my life would be now.... writing for a magazine or who knows....

source 'Style Rookie'...

p.s. snaps for using a Mac my dear... :)

Changes....

2010-02-14T22:12:00.000-08:00

Some look at change as being bad... scary. It is scary. Especially in these times.... change is coming soon. Life is happening and the priorities around our home are going to shift a bit... well a lot until prayers are answered.... yes, this post is cryptic... life is cryptic, God never gives us the whole story up front, we've got to do the foot work and have faith, and above all listen and love. And above all pray....

Alright people, you can relax... we found her....

2010-02-05T21:41:00.000-08:00

Hiding under the covers... snuggling a quart of Gatorade and a box of tissues... Yes, Kimberly had the flu and all the fun that went with... hence her creative mojo has been on hiatus all week... yes, ALL WEEK! But she'll be back soon... and stronger, more creative and awesome than ever... just no more pink hair. Had to wash it out.

PINK HAIR????

2010-01-29T14:05:00.000-08:00

YEAH.... it's been one of those crazy compulsions... After some pretty emotionally taxing days the past few weeks I decided to do something a little fun and spontaneous... scary thought huh?

Wanted: 1 Pair of flowery rain boots....

2010-01-28T04:19:00.000-08:00

Growing up in FL I dealt with rain, but I've never dealt with rain and cold as much as I have since I lived here in Rancho Cordova, in the northern CA valley... this year it's been raining, raining, and cold... well cold for me (Shut up Ria, I know, it's cold in Iowa). I'm just not prepared tho.... so now I'm in search of rain boots, not just any rain boot, a rain boot with some kitsch! I'm just tired of cold, wet, sloggy tennis shoes....

Ok.... I just found these..... ZEBRA, these are too cute. I don't know what it is with me and Zebra print lately. Lovin' it!

Also loving these flower print boots... ugh.... can't I get both...? No... just one pair.

Me....

2010-01-24T14:15:00.000-08:00

Just few things for Sunday...

It's not all about me, but here are some things you oughta know...

1. I'm a woman of faith
2. I'm a fierce friend
3. I love my husband, he's my best friend
4. I hate mushrooms... in other words, I don't eat fungus
5. I love sushi, especially spicy deep fried tempura rolls
6. I sometimes love to color with crayons
7. I am a sister in sobriety since 3/12/95.... 15 years for me this year
8. I'm a Sunday School teacher
9. I'm a sensitive soul
10. Chocolate is the only mood altering substance I partake of....

My day today...

2010-01-21T16:15:00.000-08:00

I've been a bit out of commission due to messing up my shoulder.... attempting to muster up some mojo to do something. Right now, a nap is about all I can muster...

New header....

2010-01-19T10:15:00.000-08:00

New header... again.... Mainly because I'm just killing time waiting for my ride to get here... this whole dislocated shoulder torn rotator cuff thing is a pain.... and for someone like me {so independent it's painful...} I am learning great lessons in humility. Right now my house is a disaster.... ugh... and on that note... it's time for me to go. I'll post more later.

Some more Alice....

2010-01-18T23:23:00.000-08:00

I saw another Alice in Wonderland preview... and I must say that I am behind the literary curve and have not yet read Lewis Carroll's famed fable of the little blond girl who followed a talking rabbit into the hole... I must say no other adaptation of this story has intrigued me more than Tim Burton's incarnation. I am a very visual person and Burton's maniacal telling has already pulled me in. From the Mad Hatter's orange hair to the bulbous and comical face of the Queen of Hearts the visual exaggerations have captivated me... yet that's just the surface. My challenge to myself... to read the story... before the movie comes out...

Self proclaimed Queen of Something....

2010-01-16T01:08:00.000-08:00

Although life is going relatively well.... my creative mojo is kind of idling, as if waiting for something to happen... but WHAT??? I've had a pretty good week this week, reconnected with a dear friend from my crazy high school days, had a job interview yesterday afternoon for an advocacy agency for the disabled (I'm such a champion for the underdog), enjoyed a very sinful yet tasty red velvet cupcake while hanging out with Debi (figure skater and artiste extraordinare) at Starbucks (who knew that they had those tasty treats...?). I'm feeling pretty good, so good that I thought a tiara was in order for the day.... hence the tiara header... (I'm kinda wacky that way...) More creativity to come later. The agenda for Saturday is sadly taking down all the Christmas lights (yes, we are the last in our courtyard to take them down... for one thing it's been raining, David works, and I'm forbidden to climb up on a ladder unless the Sacramento Fire and Rescue are present... seriously...)

Tomorrow afternoon, perhaps another shot at creativity... but for now, it's one in the morning and this girl needs to sleep...

Yummmmmmmmmmmmm......

Winter Storms and some more creativity....

2010-01-15T08:14:00.000-08:00

The Valentine hat....my latest creation...

With the mountain of laundry conquered and as the sky begins to grey.... it's time to get creative! For me it's hard to get in my niche when it's too pretty outside or if I have stuff that needs to get done around the house.... I need to relish these quiet times because when the little one's arrive these times will be few and far between. (Hubby and I are planning to Foster/Adopt.... in early stages now... will update more on that later)... anyhow... with the studio arranged the way I want it and everything in it's place, there's no excuse (except lack of mojo) to get working on some more Valentine's day projects....

A day of silence....

2010-01-10T00:20:00.000-08:00

Today there will be no blogging... there will be a day of prayer and a celebration of a life lived briefly, yet fiercely, powerfully, and passionately... Today there will be prayers for a fellow artist and scrapbooker Sonda, as she and her husband mourn the loss of their beloved Baylee. Sonda... I love ya girl, and I'm here if you need me. Sonda's love and devotion to her daughter is shown throughout her scrapbooking and art, and those of us who knew beautiful Baylee will miss her infectious smile and giggle and her special hugs.

'Up where they walk, up where they run, up where they play all day in the sun.... happy and free, I want to be... part of their world...' - Ariel, 'The Little Mermaid', Disney 1989.

The Scrapbook Sorority 2005....

Barb, Thelma, Kimberly, Marianna, Sonda...

Manic Creativity...

2010-01-09T02:03:00.000-08:00

This is my altered dress makers 'dummy' , this project is actually still in process. I need to find a stand for it. It's painted with hot pink acrylic paint with a translucent glitter paint overlay (Lil'Davis Designs Glitter Paint). Wings were created on my Cricut using the Indie cartridge. They are fastened in the back with two brads. Still need to work on the head... not quite sure when I'm going to do with that...

These are the cards I made tonight.... soon to be on sale at my Etsy Store 'Altered Whimseys Studios'... Handmade Valentines for $3.00 each, or a pack of 3 Valentines for $8.00 stay tuned... I'll let you know when I post them.

And this is my wall... above my computer desk.... I've been really loathing the white space since I moved things around the day after Christmas (that's when I completely overhauled the studio into it's current incarnation. I did some fun frame ups, along with an original altered camvas (Created with Tim Holtz mask, Prima flowers, some Cricut cut out...)

This card started out as an accident... the Paris stamp didn't stamp on the original paper I had.

So... I pulled the paper up and stared over, and this is what I came up with.

.... Finally this.... my lone cypress....

Forever Changing...

2010-01-07T23:51:00.000-08:00

It's been a long time since I first started blogging... well, maybe only 4 years... still, it's been quite an adventure...

Come take a ride and see where we've gone....

From 06 til around the beginning of 07 I was running Altered Whimseys under the pseudonym 'Runs with Decorative Scissors'.... then I felt I needed a change the end of the year...then in 07, No Ordinary Scrapper was born the start of 07... then while settling into what is now known at 'Altered Whimsey's Studios'... Altered Whimseys was born...

Finally getting the mojo going....

2010-01-07T17:42:00.000-08:00

Today's been a rather sleepy day... it's so yucky outside.... cold and damp. Sad though, missing the girls from Scrapbook Sorority.... its' been three years since we were all together scrapping... feels like forever. My prayers go out to Sonda and her family as they are struggling with Bay's illness. Prayers for comfort and peace.

Some more layouts....

2010-01-04T12:58:00.001-08:00

So far so good the creative juices are flowing.... and the sun is finally shining out here in CA....

Isaiah 40:31 P52 Layout #3
by Kimberly Rae
Scrapbook.com

First Pages of the New Decade...

2010-01-01T16:55:00.000-08:00

Wow.... that just blows my mind... Any how the girls and I got together starting around noon today and held a 'virtual crop' via Skype and Yahoo... if anyone reads this can find a way where we can video conference for free with more than one person PLEASE E-MAIL me... Anyhow, the girls and I are having a blast and as usual I'm doing other things and it takes me four hours to complete a layout... (said ain't it)...

Here they are... the first layouts of the new year.... the picture does not do them justice... I am so annoyed. I soooo need a 12 x 12 scanner.

So.... what's on the agenda for 2010....?

2010-01-01T02:51:00.000-08:00

I'm thinking a whole lot of creativity and joy.... creativity fueled by joy.... and just plain fun... of cotton candy pink hair and some thrift store dresses.... of new paintings and pages and trips to far away places...

Although this pink is a little too pink, I'm thinking cotton candy pink.... am I too old for this? Am I having a mid-life crisis???

Happy 2010....

2010-01-01T00:50:00.000-08:00

It's been quite a decade... both good and bad, happy and sad.... the decade in review for me....

2000.... Lost Dad Cole in February, Natalie was born in June....

2001.... 911, Mom C was diagnosed with cancer...

2002... Worked for KKFS the Fish as producer of the John Stoos Show and Pastor to Pastor in KFIA... I turned 30....

2003... I re-discovered my passion for scrapbooking, met my friend Nancy through 'Memory Making Divas'....

2004... Returned to college to finish my degree

2005... The great 'Boobie' drama and lumpectomy and celebrated 10 years of sobriety...

2006... in May I graduated from College, in December David got his BA in Religious Studies from CSUS, I started working for EDS

2007... we lost Mom C in April, in May David and I Celebrated 10 years of marriage...we sold the house in Wilton and moved to Rancho Cordova, I went to Disneyland for the first time and David turned the big 5-0, I joined SB.com and found my wonderful friends of the BBD! (that's Bodacious Blinging Divas)...

2008... I became a homemaker... and Altered Whimseys the blog was launched!

2009... in April we lost Poppy.......David crashed his motorcycle, then got laid off, in July David got hired on by the state...

2010.... Prayers for a better Decade....

Different Directions...

2009-12-31T17:19:00.000-08:00

Four years ago for Christmas I gave one of my best friends a bellydance instruction video.... it was something we had both been toying with starting, just never had the chance. Well, four years later Nancy, aka. Cymbelline is performing Tribal Fusion at local hot spots and has shown me what it means to push the boundaries when discovering one's self....

One of the things I discovered this year is acceptance. Not by others, but just accepting myself with all my many flaws and celebrating all my blessings as well... The new year should not be about regret, it should be about resolve... Resolving to go in a different direction that one has gone in the previous year. Resolutions are great... but short lived anecdotes blurted as the clock strikes 12. Resolve takes power, strength, and a good sense of hope and faith...

Blessings to all my blog watchers and friends... 2010 Here WE COME!!!

Another HAT

2009-12-30T09:01:00.000-08:00

This hat was inspired by my friend Amy's hat.... this on is made with four different kinds of yarns.... I'm just lovin' it! I think I want to make another one going with some pink and red and white yarns for Valentine's day... perhaps even sew some cupcake patches on it...

Project 52 and 365.... and 2010.... and....

2009-12-30T08:48:00.000-08:00

So many numbers... Project 52 is something that a few friends of mine are doing, a page a week with a topic and basic page guideline (click on the Project 52 icon to see what I have done so far)... just to keep each other on our toes... Project 365: n. to blog everyday... will I do it... I shalt try...; and project 2010, well, that's getting ready for my 20 year class reunion... a number that just doesn't seem possible, 20 years since I graduated from HS!!! OMG!

Yes, that's me... check out the mall hair... LOL

Some Penguin love....

2009-12-28T10:44:00.000-08:00

My grandmother adores penguins, so this is the card I made her for her birthday.... Part of my new Miss Rae Penguin Cards line..... (trademark is the little glittery bow)

Altered Whimsey's Studios gets a makeover...

2009-12-26T21:34:00.000-08:00

Thinking about Christmas past...

2009-12-23T22:12:00.000-08:00

Debi at WeeFaerieRing has got me thinking about my Christmas' past... sigh..... about favorite Christmas', and most interesting Christmas moments....

One of my earliest Christmas memories was going to the Gulfport Christmas parade with my grandfather and being picked from the crowd to ride with Santa up on his sleigh through the rest of the parade... I think that was in 1976....

That was my favorite gift that year, my baby doll... she had a bottle where the 'milk' disappeared and she was a pretty baby. That was the first year I lived with my grandparents...

One of the roughest Christmas' for me was my first Christmas away from my family when I was in Naval boot camp. My home was over an hour away, but it might has well have been 3000 miles away... that weekend we watched movies, the kitchen crew prepared a special Christmas meal...

The Roosevelt Rough Riders of Co. I016.... BoooYAH!

Oatmeal Craisin cookies, a new scraproom makeover and just plain giddy...

2009-12-22T21:05:00.000-08:00

Giddy... LOL... yeah well... More like over-tired... it's just been one of those days. I think I'm going to go plant myself on the couch, or go to bed.

Finally found a teensy bit of creative mojo...

2009-12-21T03:00:00.000-08:00

A couple of little gifts and a card... the card at first was a little 'meh'... then a little Stickles and 'voila'! This is what happens when you have a sticker that is a little less fetching. The pendants are silver frames with Diamond Glaze.

Some photoshop fun...

2009-12-16T23:55:00.000-08:00

Thank you again to Wee Faerie Ring for the angels wings... (from her Faerie Tale Collections)

Thank you.... and a random drawing...

2009-12-16T16:15:00.000-08:00

Thank you to the Wee Faerie Ring for the adorable Christmas Elements from her website. For those of you who digitally scrap, she is one talented gal! Now if you can see where her elements are on my website and leave a comment with their location, I'll have a random drawing for some sparkly goodies on Friday.

Feeling a little like the Rabbit....

2009-12-16T13:54:00.000-08:00

"I'm late, I'm late, for a very important date..."..... Ok. I feel a bit like a hypocrite, pledging not to get caught up in the buying and 'stuff' of Christmas... yet today I feel completely overwhelmed. For those of you who don't know already, I was diagnosed with pneumonia yesterday and sent home with meds and was sternly told to rest... by both my doctor and my husband... and all my surrounding friends. I don't know whether it's the bipolar mania kicking in or what but I was totally disgusted with my living room floor and kitchen floor that I cleaned and vacuumed this afternoon and did a load of laundry... then I was out of breath. As for my Christmas projects... I am seriously dink....Ugh. I just feel as if it's all caving in around me....

Aghhhhhhhhhhh!

It's not the what... it's the how.... Christmas 2009

2009-12-13T22:57:00.000-08:00

This year it's not about the what, it's about the how... about how I'm making Christmas. I haven't bought one present... I've bought stuff to make the presents, but not the actual present itself... this year it's more about presence... being there. Being there for our friends, our family, being there in faith. When times are hard some find it hard to get in the Christmas spirit... they find it hard because our culture has taught us that the bigger the gifts we get and give, the better... It's not Christmas, it's stressmas... This year is about creating new memories, new traditions.... Christmas' full of hope and happiness....instead of stress and strife... a new day, Christmas day.

Bummed...

2009-12-01T15:18:00.000-08:00

Bummed, and a little relieved, kind of... Didn't make the cut for Elle's Studio Design Team. This was my first time trying out for a design team and I didn't have my hopes up too much, but still, it's a bit of a let down. Well, I'm just going to combat it by cranking up the Christmas tunes and making some cards.

Ten things I love about December....

2009-12-01T14:41:00.000-08:00

10. Cold weather, yeah, I'm one of those people who love cold weather... I grew up in FL, so I never saw the trees change, never saw snow until I was 21.....

9. Mint.... mint chocolate chip, Peppermint candy canes, mint in my hot chocolate....

8. Soups, I just can't justify chili during the heat of summer... but chili and cornbread when it's cold and blustery outside.. yummy

7. Making Christmas cards... since I've been scrapbooking, I haven't bought a Christmas card...

6. The smell of cinnamon and apples... and Christmas tree smell...

5. 'A Charlie Brown Christmas'....

4. Traditions.... making Welsh Cookies with David's family, Christmas caroling, The Live Nativity Scene at our church , Wassail...

Welsh Cookies, about 12 Dozen or more...

3. Christmas lights... at our house and around the courtyard, and around the neighborhood...

2. Celebrating Christmas with my family and friends.... going to Christmas Eve Service...

1. Christmas Day with my family.... hanging out and enjoying each others joy.

Some word art....

2009-11-26T23:47:00.000-08:00

Some word art inspired by a friend of mine, now it's time for bed....

Thanksgiving, Part 3.... What I'm Thankful For

2009-11-26T01:12:00.000-08:00

1. My wonderful husband....

2. My faith... my church family.....

3. My Family.... both in CA and in FL... Just missing them... my FL family. Especially Poppy...

4. My friends...

5. For David's new job....

6. For our 'furbabies'...

A Week of Thanksgiving... Pt. 2

2009-11-25T21:33:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow, as turkeys are roasting, potatoes are being mashed, and football is being watched... there will be several thousand men and women halfway across the world, putting their lives at risk, eating a cafeteria style Thanksgiving dinner, sending e-mails and video conferencing with their loved ones as able. Some may be out in the middle of the desert with nothing but rations and a water bottle. Tomorrow, I give thanks for those defending freedom, our American Armed Forces. Whether you agree with the reasons or not, please keep the Troops and their families in your thoughts and prayers. For if it weren't for brave adventurers willing to sacrifice their lives, they may never have been a Thanksgiving Day at all.

I remember my first Thanksgiving day away from home, I was still in Navy Boot Camp at NTC Orlando. By that time, the 34 women that I had been bunking with were no longer strangers, but sisters. There were some of us that were able to go nearby families homes to celebrate the day. It was done by lottery, and I wasn't very lucky. That morning I was awake and up and out the door for our morning run, then back to change for breakfast, then to Damage Control and Firefighting... It was a busy day. That evening we entered the great dining hall to be surprised by table cloths on the tables, a beautiful centerpiece at every table, and best of all, the smell of sage, roasted turkey and pumpkin spice permeated the air. I was immediately homesick, and fought hard to tear up. My second time away from family at Thanksgiving I was up at my first duty station in WA, and ended up going to dinner with a few friends at Black Angus... had steak for Thanksgiving... didn't feel much like Thanksgiving at all... without the turkey, trimmings and family.

'Bees' makes the sweetest honey in my head....

2009-11-22T23:18:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was spent with my goddaughter, a sometimes misunderstood, always loving 16 year old slip of a girl... we started our 'girls day' with going to see the new 'Twilight' movie New Moon, then grabbed a late lunch and went home and watched a movie that neither one of us had seen, 'The Secret Life of Bees'. That movie has struck such a chord with me, plucked a note very deep inside that has once again brought to life my lifelong desire to write, and to write what I know in my heart. Usually this blog has been full of the pages of art, the knitting, and the cards that I create... yet now I want to return to my roots a little more. My writing. I had a college professor in FL, Ms. LaPointe who was baffled at my decision to join the Navy, the last thing she said to me before I left was 'you had better write a book about this'. Well, Ms. LaPointe... you just may get your wish.

Blessings and things.... Part 1 of a Week of Gratitude

2009-11-22T14:09:00.000-08:00

Why just a day to give thanks? I was wondering about this today as I listened to our guest pastor. Got me to thinking about the actual origins of the Thanksgiving Holiday. It also got me to think about what I'm really thankful for this year.... family, David finding a job, a roof over our heads, food on the table, a warm bed to sleep in. I have friends around the country this year that are struggling, not only financially but emotionally and physically as well. There are those out there that are just not sure whether they're going to be able to eat today, let alone have a 'feast' for Thanksgiving, and wonder what they have to be thankful for. It saddens me to think that our state has money enough to put their officials in SUV's and to bankroll gambling.... but not enough to help families find jobs to feed themselves and their families. What happened to the priorities of the people we voted to defend our interests and well being? Well... our priorities too have changed... there are some out there that complain about not being able to afford Thanksgiving dinner, but they have enough money for their cell phones, DSL and Dish network....???? Not judging, just a little confused. One of my blessings I am thankful for is my gift of creativity, because it allows me to give back... My disability keeps me from being a 'career' type person, even holding a part time job, but I feel that my creativity has allowed me to use the time I have now to give back... It's the things that hold us down, clutter our closets and sit on our shelves collecting dust... it is the blessings that we can give back....

This month I was thankful for the Saturday morning breakfasts to share with my hubby... with his work schedule and our crazy schedule in general, some quiet Saturday breakfasts were a rarity... and so is Vanilla French Toast...

Growing up and spreading my wings...

2009-11-20T15:46:00.000-08:00

Altered Whimseys started three years ago under the simple premise of being a place for me to post all of my latest creations with the world..... as time passed my creativity has evolved, and so has Altered Whimseys... from 'Runs with Decorative Scissors to No Ordinary Scrapper...' to it's current incarnation... Now we have our own store, a Facebook page, and a place in Twitter... (awstudios09). It's been a wonderful ride... and I'm so blessed to have my friends and 'page lurkers' out there supporting me. Thank you! Next year will be full of some more surprises, a possible message board and community.

Update on Gramma

2009-11-19T12:56:00.000-08:00

Surgery went well, Dr. thinks he got 85% of it (???), still has to biopsy the lymph nodes. So far so good.

My mom as a little girl...

2009-11-19T02:26:00.000-08:00

I came to realize the other day that I have very few pictures of my mother as a little girl... so once again I was on the horn to FL to my grandmother who has 'boxes and boxes' of photos... Lord knows how much I want to get my hands on them and scan them. One day, one day. She did send me these which I quickly scrapped... I love the picture of her with her sunglasses on riding her bicycle... classic.