Helena c studios

All Is Calm All Is Bright...

Hey buddies,

Matt and Hope are off shopping, Michael is next door and I have the house all to myself except for my 2 critters right beside me. It's REALLY shockingly quiet.

December officially slipped away. I have yet to finish my beachy tree on the back porch, but still plan to, and to take pix to share of my beachy decorations.

My sales were exceptionally good this year, thank you thank you, and  I have just shipped my last order, well Michael did, yesterday.:)

We had lots of fun Christmas festivities in Beaufort this year, a fun sing along at Hope's school on Friday, and then news that our oldest son Matthew was in the hospital Saturday morning after breaking his ankle in 3 places. After surgery and the family waiting and waiting for news, he is being sent home from the Federal Agent Academy and will recuperate at home with us and then return to finish his Spanish course. Although we are beyond thrilled that we will be coming home, Christmas Eve, leaving class, his friends and the painful circumstance really is a shame for him.

To see his face on Christmas morning will be the best gift in the world for us.

I am off to go carve, take a deep breath, shake off my headache and be extra thankful,

Have a great night

Hugs,

Helena

Arts A Flutter And A Cottage Christmas

Hey buddies,

Hope ya'll had a nice Thanksgiving. Once the plates are cleared I'm full speed ahead to decorate for Christmas.

This year I am doing a cottagy tree in my bedroom, and a beachy tree on the back porch. They are both still in progress since things have been slow going with stitches in my thumb. (attack of a tin can)

Anyway, here is my cottage Christmas page in my Arts A Flutter shop. Featuring this little bird above.

If primitive, folk art is more your style, head on over here.

If you need anything in particular, whether it's from me or if I can help you find it from someone else, I'm just an email or comment away.

Have a great afternoon and happy decorating,

Hugs,

Helena

Happy Thanksgiving

Hey buddies,

I am being beckoned from the kitchen...  wishing you a wonderful day making new memories with loved ones.

Besides my daily thanks for my family and friends, I am especially thankful for all of your support throughout the years.

Many hugs,

Helena

PS~ Congratulations to our oldest Matthew, who was just  promoted in the Navy. MISS YOU xoxoxo

Pottery Bowls and Platters

Hey buddies,

Today was my last pottery class of the year, which sounds a lot worse than it is. class starts up again January 7:)

This is my latest palm frond bowl.

I need your opinion on which is your favorite of the 2 below, please leave me a comment, because I can't decide and one is a Christmas gift.

Now I am off to wrap Christmas gifts for our dear friend Derek, who Matthew met at Corpsman school. Derek is in Iraq again and Santa needs to pay him a visit:)

Have a great night,

Hugs

Helena

Happy Veterans Day

A huge thank you for all who have, all who are and all who will serve our country.

And a special hug to my husband Matt, brother in law Bob, and oldest son Matthew (in the photo with his proud sister Hope, just minutes home from Iraq Oct 2007)

Hugs,

Helena

Arts A Flutter Update

Hey buddies,

I have just done my killer Turbo Jam workout, and I am packaging up some carved spool Santas and heading outside cuz it is GORGEOUS!!

I wanted to tell you a few days late that the Arts A Flutter update is up and ready to be over run by shoppers:)

Ohhhhh, and get your Kleenex ready, I have found through various sites this amazing woman, named Bernie Berlin who gives all of herself to rescuing dogs and cats from a high kill shelter in TN. She is AMAZING!!!

Check out A Place To Bark and please spread the word. Our 2 sweet kitties and both of our wonderful dogs have been rescues, so Bernie's cause really holds a special place in my heart.

I will be back to share hysterical pictures from Halloween soon.

Hugs,

Helena

Growing A Pineapple Plant Tutorial

Hey long lost buddies,

Looks like I fell off the face of the earth huh? Well I did have a birthday so I am busy slapping on the Oil Of Olay:P

Actually I am just busy being a mom, gardening at the school and at home, and carving  for Christmas.

Today I was at my friend Cindy's house helping her decorate for her annual Halloween party this Friday. Matt will be Harry Potter and I was supposed to be Hermine, but Hope and Michael don't think I can pull it off with the blond hair. Cindy has saved the day with a hippie costume that she found at Goodwill, brand new I might add. (ya have to love Goodwill)

Michael is going to be Joe Dirt with his mullet wig and Hope a scary ghoul, with a mask that I don't think she will like wearing.

Now on a completely different topic.......

As we all know about the economy  and pinching pennies, I have decided to share how to get a free plant and your fruit intake at the same time.

1~When you are buying a fresh pineapple look inside the top leaves for  a healthy pretty green. Cut off the top of the pineapple leaving about an inch of fruit with skin still on.

2~ Let sit for one day (the fruit flies will thank you)

3~ plant in a pot with a nice loose soil. (I have a few planted in the ground here in SC, but will cover them if it gets cold)

4~ cover pineapple in pot with a plastic bag to give a humid environment.

5~Be patient, it may take months for it to take root. Give a gentle tug from time to time and if it feels as if it's firmly in the soil you may be in luck)

6~ don't be mad at me if it doesn't grow:)

*I have tried this about 8 or so times and have had 6 actually grow roots and flourish. I have yet to have a pineapple fruit but am crossing my fingers)

Now I must figure out supper and head back to Cindy's to help decorate in the dark and take Hope for her sleep over. (she's on fall break and gets to have fun this week)

Please let me now if you try growing a pineapple.

Hugs,

Helena

The Mystical Love Leaf

Hey buddies,

I just got back from a fun thrifting day with my pal Cindy, Hope and Allison and wanted to share my latest plant find called, "The Mystical Love Leaf."

It is such a fun plant. The little plantlets grow from the mama leaf.

In the green dish I have one growing on wet gravel, and below laying on dirt (it needs a drink in the picture)

Read about the legend here, and if you would like one for your own you can visit Carol's Etsy shop here. Please tell her that Helena sent you:) She's the sweetest lady and so helpful.

 

I am now off to wash my thrifting goodies so I can share them with you tomorrow.

Have a great night

Hugs,

Helena

PS~ There's a new blog in town with cool vintage book cover purses~I chatted about it here, but you can check it out right here.:)

Arts A Flutter's Latest Update

Hey buddies,

I can't believe October is here already. I better brush off the dirt, put away my gardening gear and get to carving Santas. (Nah, I'll make time for both.)

This month's Arts A Flutter has been updated. Please click on the bold link and you can check out the latest fall creations.

Hope and I created this witch collage together. She designed her with lots of detail, and I recreated her with acrylic paints and collage papers on canvas. (with Hope checking in on me to make sure that I was doing her design justice.)

I am off to hurry Hope to bed and call and check in on Matthew.

Have a great night.

Hugs,

Helena

A Pottery Bird House

Hey buddies,

I am heading out the door for pottery class, and hoping to calm my frazzled nerves by playing with clay.

Matthew left Texas early yesterday for the Federal Agent Academy and I didn't hear from him last night. I ALWAYS hear from him, but I'm sure he is fine. He was traveling with his group of soon to be Border Patrol Agents. Matt thinks it may be a bit like boot camp and they may have taken away their cell phones. I guess we will find out soon enough.

Until then I will be doing deep breathing, yoga and sniffing lavender to calm my nerves. Or I could go and throw some pottery plant pots on the wheel and get nice and muddy:)

I made the bird house above by hand building on a balloon. It was a lot of fun and I'm thrilled with the color of the glaze once it was fired. 

Now I need to hang it up so the birds can have a new house.

Have a great day.

Hugs,

Helena