Debbie Overton Designs

It has been a week filled with emotions everywhere.....thankful grateful stressful worry surprises and relief are just a few we have had over the past week.  As I was busy finishing up things for the vendor show I received a call from our daughter....she was sick and wanted to know what to do....after a round of questions I sent her to the campus nurse and from there she was sent to the ER....back to the dorm 4 hrs later with a round of meds.  Instead of getting better she was getting worse and in less than 24 hrs my excitement for the upcoming show went to worry and a feeling of helpless.  Steve called to check on her around 9:30 Wednesday night.....she sounded worse and after getting her to check her temp and finding out it was 103+ he told her to call one of her friends to take her to the ER and we would be on her way up......after many phone calls, questions and answers Steve was headed west 3 hrs as he was working in northeast Georgia and I headed northwest 6 hrs.  She was released to Steve 5 hrs later with the flu.....the hospital was filled and other than this she was a very healthy young girl.  I made it up and we stayed in a hotel with her overnight then I brought her home Friday.....There was no way I was bringing her home that sick and then leave for anything....I called the convention headquarters and explained the situation.....being a parent also they understood.....it was a long weekend that lasted 6 days....but she is back on campus today feeling better.   The door to the art convention was closed, but over the past several days several others were opened.  I will be adding some of the things I had packed and ready to go to my Etsy shop over the next few days.  Need to take tons of pics.

Now on to good news......Seth picked up the mail while I was gone to get KC and I came back to find a letter inviting me to exhibit in an upcoming Art Festival over on Jekyll Island....now I just need to decide on which pieces.  Yesterday I received an email with another invitation to be a part of another exhibit in April......so it is true when one door closes another opens....and I am a big believer things happen for a reason.

I had received an email from my friend Amy the day KC was so sick....while visiting her blog either Monday or yesterday....can't remember....imagine my surprise when I was reading along and see my name listed as one of her inspirations.....then when I read what she had written...."She has to be one of the most generous people on the planet!"  I was speechless....I know some of you find that hard to believe.  I have always tried to live by the Golden Rule.....Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.  I have known Amy for several years and she is always the sweetest kindest soul....always offering to help....I believe she would do most anything for you if she was given the chance.....and she is so funny....always has something funny to share....about herself usually.  She is such a joy to know....almost makes me wish I lived in Texas sometimes just to be closer to her!

And there is more......

Monday I ran to the post office and found a little manila envelope addressed to me....a week or so ago I received an email from another art friend, Kathy....she drew my name from her mailing list for her monthly drawing.  Inside was this sweet little collage created on an old book cover.  If you are looking for something special you really should check out Kathy's Etsy shop and her blog is always filled with lots of eye candy.  If everything is as sweet and well made as my little collage you will not be disappointed.  Thanks Kathy for drawing my name!

Thankful and grateful for all the things mentioned above....I am back in worry mode.  Colby called us last night.....his girlfriend had come over and could not wake him.  She called for an ambulance....he spent last night in the hospital and is back at his apartment this afternoon.  He was treated for low blood sugar and potassium with a follow up in the morning with his doctor. 

I have been unboxing some things and taking photos.  Will post here when I get some things listed in my Etsy shop.

Thanks for visiting.....

Debbie

3 Days and Counting

I feel like such a bear.....I have been hibernating inside working 24/7 getting ready for this weekends Creative Palette Convention at St. Marys Georgia.  In some ways I am making progress.....in others I feel as though I am way behind.  If messes count towards progress then I am on my way.  Today will be spent doing the last of any gluing, painting and sealing.....and working on anything that can be fit in between those processes......Wednesday making sure I have everything on my list and start pulling it together....Thursday.....will be Ready Set Pack and GO!!!!!!!!

From day one of launching my website years ago.....I have always said, Everyone has a story to tell......and I have always tried to do that with my artwork.  Just as you have seen clothes come back into fashion from years ago......so have journals.  24 and pregnant I was making journals just like you see everywhere you look today.....so 25 years later I am making a come back with what I did in my younger days.....here's a peek at one of the things I will be selling in my vendor booth.

The Paper Book..........

The Paper Book.......Everyone has a story to tell....yours can begin within the pages of our handmade one of a kind Paper Book....use it as a journal diary or sketchbook.  This 6 x 6 book has 75 sheets (150 pages) of heavy bright white paper waiting on your notes lists & doodles.....Paper Books will vary in size.....and will also be available filled with antique sheet music and book pages, wallpaper scraps, vintage letters and various other papers ready for you to play with....you can write or draw or tear one out to use in your next art project.  Each hardboard cover is recycled from various sources....in some Paper Books you may find snippets of antique sheet music or 1800's book pages on the inside covers as well as various other elements.....Each Paper Book is bound with metal rings to allow you to easily add refill or remove pages or other findings.

Start your Story today......with The Paper Book!

The Notecards are ready.....the Paper Books are ready.....the Paper Packages are almost ready.....the Original Collages.....some are still a work in progress....but getting there.....and several other things are already packed.

I keep thinking of things to add to my list to carry with me......I am one that believes one should always be ready for the unexpected.....be prepared and you can handle anything.....the Duck Tape is already packed!!!

I have had the music on my blog going for hours.....had my diet sprite.....said a few good mornings to some friends and am now ready to hit the hardwood floors barefoot and running!

Thanks for all the encouragement and support I have been receiving via comments, emails and snail mail.

Debbie

Happy Valentine's Day & Congratulations OWOH Winner

WOW!!! Being a part of the One World - One Heart event has been so much fun. I want to thank each of you that left a comment on the OWOH post and also those 100's of visitors that came by but chose not to leave a comment.....many of you have been back several times....your visits are always welcome here.

And the lucky winner is Beachy at Cap Cod Cupboard. All I need is your mailing address as your package is all wrapped and ready to be delivered to the post office.

I have collected vintage postcards for years and this is one of my favorites....yes the front is sweet....but it is the pencil handwritten poem on the back that is what makes it so special.

Some love blushes

Some love smiles

Some love maidens full of wiles

Some love dimples and eyes of blue

I love them all for I love You

Happy Valentine's Day to all my blog friends!

Debbie

Lucky Find & Hearts

I can't believe it is already Wednesday....this week is flying by!  Just like many of you my in-box has been filled with many wonderful comments coming from the One World One Heart event.  I have found some awesome blogs to visit and met many new Internet friends.  Don't forget tonight at midnight eastern time is the deadline to join in on the fun here. 

On the morning of February 14th, Valentine's Day I will randomly draw a name from the comment's with the winner posted here on my blog no later than 10:00 AM Eastern Time.  The winner will need to contact me within 24 hrs with their mailing address and their blog link if they have one.

Speaking of Valentine's Day.....look at this wonderful sea shell I uncovered at the beach.....while strolling along looking for shells I saw a shell hiding beneath the sand.....not much more than a quarter in size was actually showing.....the sand was still very wet from the tide....but I decided to dig around this little spot....I dug and dug....the shell was getting bigger with each dig....when I finally had dug deep enough around and pulled it out....it was about 4x5x2!!!!  I rinsed it off, walked up to the edge of the dunes to take a picture in the sand.  Once home I downloaded 105 images I had taken that Saturday afternoon.....as I was looking through I thought this one is perfect.....look at the two hearts to the left of the shell!  A perfect Valentine's Day gift to myself!

This past weekend was perfect for the beach....as well as hitting a few antique shops, flea markets and thrift stores.....lots of fun down time away from the computer and art and laundry and cooking.  When not being a beach bum.....I have been working on some great projects for the vendor show....I am down to just over a week....and still have so many things to finish up.

With my play-list turned up.....diet spirte next to me and working on some journals.....I am waiting on cutie pie brown (the UPS guy) to make a delivery of last minute things for the show.  He is going to be disappoint though.....when I am expecting a delivery....I try to have a baggie of homemade cookies ready to exchange for the much awaited package.....no cookies today!

I leave you with this gorgeous sunset from Sunday's day at the beach....See I told you it was a perfect beach weekend here in Southeast Georgia!

Have a wonderful day....I certainly will!

Debbie

Art and Vendor Update

Even with my hectic schedule I have been doing a little art......

I started this piece a few weeks ago...just laying elements here and there.  There was something missing.....it was bottom heavy....it needed something to make it "pop".....I took a photo and uploaded it to our Critique Me section of MMCA.  I received some of the best little tweak suggestions.....thanks Lorraine, Patsy, Carmen, Karine, Sue P.....from there I began playing around again.  I left it for many days.....just walking past to take a look to see if anything jumped out that needed changing.  Days later I was trying to straighten up some of the messes I had made while working on some other projects for the vendor show and uncovered a canvas I had painted a while back....I then took each element and placed it on this canvas and it was as if everything just popped.  This was what it needed.  I just love how some things fall in place when you least expect it.

Speaking of things falling into place.....I received my vendor spot location a few weeks ago and I am a very happy camper.....I will be located in the Riverside Cafe Complex right on the waterfront.....

If you are attending the Creative Palette 2008, a Mixed Media Convention in St. Marys Georgia, February 21st - 24th, please look me up....if I'm not in my booth....check across the street.  The only spot that I think could be better than where I will be is if I could have been in the pavilion on the water!

Lots to get done before the event and time is quickly going by.

Debbie

Spending the Day with the Deen Brothers

It hit me last night around 3AM that I had saved the following post as a draft when I received a phone call from my parents.  They were trying to make arrangements to fly in to see us and I would need to pick them up from the Jacksonville Airport.....I got so excited about their coming that I forgot to come back to see if I needed to do any editing to this post before I published it.  So here is the February 4th post.

This afternoon I decided to take a break from anything related to art.....and spend it with the Deen Brothers........Jamie and Bobby....... Paula's Boys.  My kids gave me an autographed copy of their cookbook Recipes from the Road for Christmas and I decided today was the day I needed to sit down with the boys and pick out a few recipes to make.  I just love to watch the boys on their show or when they are on one of Paula's shows.  They are the sweet talking southern gentlemen with smiles that will knock you over.  So many wonderful and delicious sounding recipes it will be hard to pick out just a few to add to some of my already favorites I plan to share with you over the next few months.....maybe Cream Cheese-and-Pecan-Stuffed Berries or Elvis' Favorite Tea Sandwich.

Off to catch up with some emails, do a few chores and then hit the art hard and heavy today.  Hope you enjoy your day and as printed on the back of this wonderful cookbook.....Come Along for the Ride!

Debbie