Giveaway!

No, I'm not the personal bestower of these lovely vintage-inspired goodies, but they ARE beautiful nonetheless... click HERE to read all the juicy details of this collection from Webster's Pages and have your chance to win the entire collection!
Go on now...click the link...just don't drool on your keyboard.

For.Ev.eR

Every day has seemingly run into the next, and I hate it when people apologize for being "away" from their blog, because if you're doing it right, most of life happens while your away from your computer. And, believe you me, life is happening...every moment. Children are growing, relationships are evolving and changing (for better and for worse), and I find myself floating in a sea of financial concerns, still-hot afternoons (98 degrees in October!), and muttled personal relationships. But paired with these things are great support of friends and family, the excitement (and work) of a budding new business, and the satisfaction of making a way for myself and remembering that I am an artist EVERDAY, regardless of how many (or few) canvases I may touch on any given day.

Today I take a moment to observe myself, and realize what my subconsious already knows: I am completely capable of rising above the endless run-on sentence that is my life right now and find my way.

And, dare I say, be happy.

Don't leave me now, friends, because great things are afoot.

Come see the amazing SLURRY!

Gauche Alchemy is pleased as punch to introduce our newest product, the Slurry! Slurries will be full of bits...of this and that. Vintage postcards, labels, buttons, scraps of paper, you name it! Our premier Slurry is called "Fun and Games," and is comprised of 99% vintage game pieces, score cards, play money and various ephemera. We've found board games from the 30's and 40's and now you get to add those fab pieces to your layouts or collage projects. And at $9.95, you really can't pass it up!!!
BUY IT HERE!

October Guest Design Team Search!

This is a repost from our Gauche Alchemy blog:

We are looking for you!!!! Amy and I are so excited to get some “new blood” here at Casa Gauche Alchemy!
We are searching for an OCTOBER Guest Design Team member to help us shake things up. Applicants must have a sense of humor, an artistic eye and know how to color outside of the lines!

To be considered, please submit your most fabulous recent layout or project to: gauchealchemy@cox.net with DESIGN TEAM in the subject header by Friday, September 26.

Please include your name, contact information, blog or gallery link (if applicable), and a paragraph or two telling us about why you love paper arts.

*Deadline for submission is September 26, and we will announce our winner on our blog no later than September 29.
*Winner will receive the complete October kit (and some extra goodies!), and will be required to complete projects as directed. Promotion on your blog is also encouraged.
*International applicants are welcome!

Don’t be shy—all applicants are welcome, regardless of level of experience! Come play with us!

{image courtesy of the amazing Helen Dardik. See more of her creations HERE}

Fall Bedroom

Doesn't this bedroom look cozy? I know, it's the whole "dark colours make rooms look smaller" blah blah blah, but I can't help but be drawn to this warm, chocolaty brown tone. I just want to snuggle up with a good book on that bed.



The punches of fuschia, yellow and peacock really liven the space as well.

Visit the lovely Design Sponge blog to see more!

To all the Pups I've loved before

TQ has loved animals from the time that she was very small. Today she would like to introduce you to a few of her favorites.

This shaggy pup is named D'Bella. TQ names all her pets herself, without our input. She is one of her rotating favorite pups.

These are some of her more diminutive friends. Daddy lets her buy them out of the little machine at the grocery store (way better then bubble gum, right?). They're great for when you're walking across the carpet barefoot, especially late at night!

This pink kitty has several aliases, including Sarah and Pinky. A constant playmate who can often be found sleeping in an empty tissue box or Lego container. Precious.

TQ is growing weary of all this animal talk. Show and tell is over (for now...).

NEXT time, she will introduce to the infamous golden pooch that we all love, PUDDING!!!
{yes, that really is her dog's name, no foolin'}

Sewing...who knew?

{supplies used: from Gauche Alchemy premier kit- Bazzill bling cardstock, vintage magazine ad, pattern tissue, vintage seam binding and button, regal paperclips, basic grey patterned paper}

Well, I was making a card for our design team examples at Gauche Alchemy headquarters (Amy's house), and I decided to try out her sewing machine. I think I'm in love! I spent some time poking around Craigslist today looking for a used sewing machine, but didn't find one that I was completely excited about. I would love to get one that is easy to manipulate if I wanted to do some freestyle stitching on a scrapbook layout. Oh yeah, and one that is very user friendly and doesn't take up too much space. Any advice? Or maybe you have a fabulous sewing machine collecting dust in your guest room that you would like to give a good home?