PAPER COWGIRL IS BACK FOR YEAR THREE!!

I am very excited to tell you that the third annual Paper Cowgirl Art Retreat is being held June 24th - 26th, in Waxahachie, Texas, which is off I-35 south of Dallas.
And it's not called the Best Little Art Retreat In Texas for nothing!

It is an amazing weekend with the choice of different classes using different mediums, wonderful teachers and the best Texas (and a few other states will be represented - word has spread!!) artists/women/old friends/new friends that you would ever want to associate yourself.

Dale of Sea Dream Studio will be returning

as a teacher simply so she can strike her diva pose.

The above photo is a picture of the "Crown" swap at the 2009 P.C. Retreat

(Any one of those crowns would make Marie Antoinette beg)

Art + Laughter = peeing your pants Texas fun!! (Photo 2009 Retreat)

Most of you will remember my dear, sweet friend, Tina Wright, a woman loved by many, that passed this last January after a valiant battle with cancer. She was the co-founder of the Paper Cowgirl Retreat and she, along with Cindy Mayfield, co-founder, worked their bums off to make the retreats the best they could be. This year, after much prayer and thought, Cindy decided that Tina would want the retreat to continue on, so she *along with some little elves* have been working very hard for months! And the retreat just keeps getting better!

Sweet, wonderful Tina - she'll be there this summer, don't you doubt it.

If you're looking for a Texas retreat to attend, with very reasonable class costs, give-aways, fabulous swaps, wonderful sponsors (WHERE WOMEN CREATE and T.J. DESIGNS are two that I know of:), amazing food, shopping at antique/junk stores, the BEST scrapbook store I've ever been to, vendor's night *if you can't attend the retreat you are more than welcome to come to Vendor's Night*, and the most amazing women to spend a weekend with, then go to the P.C. blog and check it out!!

Vendor's Night - This is Texas, don't steal or we're gunna hafta shoot ya. Bring $$$

And, you can ask me any questions if you want. If I don't  have the answer I'll find it for you or direct you to the place your question can be answered.
I promise that if you come you will be blessed.

A girl geriatric attendee. We do not discriminate; we are Texans.

Oh! Oh! One more thing.
Geez, this is such an important part of the retreat, I can't believe I almost left it out! Whew *wiping my brow*.
One of the highlights of the weekend is when we have shots. You know, like at a bar? (I keep tellin' ya, this is Texas) Only ours are even better...................we have Frosting Shots! (haha - fooled ya) Homemade Frosting. Oh, man, I have to be rolled to my room every year!


On another note.....
Readers, y'all have been an amazing blessing to me these last l-o-o-o-ng weeks and I want to sincerely thank you. I'm working my way through all of the comments left on my last post and I will get to you eventually because I want to thank each of you individually for your support and kind words. I am so blessed.....

y'all are a blessing to me,
Jan

WANNA KNOW WHAT KEEPS ME YOUNG?

Ahhhh! It's a purple day! I wonder if this color will show up well on my, oh, so beautiful pale pink background? M-m-m-m-m-m-m-m, don't you just love pale pink???

Wanna know what keeps me young besides my convertible?
I wonder how many of you guessed that in your head when you read the title to this post?
My convertible, that is.
I love my convertible, my little red convertible that will literally be the death of me if I get hit in a not so bad way because it IS a convertible.
Still love it.
Still makes me feel young.

But, it's not the only thing, it's not even the most important thing, that keeps me young.
I'm 55 years old and have enough ailments that if I lost my mind and started telling you about all of them, I'd sound like some old woman, you know the one, all she can do is talk about what's "ailin'" her. Just shoot me.
Anyway, I mention this so those of you that aren't "in the know" because you haven't been reading my blog long enough or know me well enough, will know that I have a lot of reasons not to feel so stinkin' young.
I don't talk about all of it very much or with very many people. My cousin, Melinda, used to get so mad at me for keeping these type of things from her so with time I think I've gotten better - but, I'll never feel comfortable telling you "all".

So, okay, I digress...............all the time! LOL
And, while I'm digressing, have you noticed that I've posted several times these last two weeks? It's only because I'm glued to this chair and ottoman - don't get used to it.

Okay.
Here's what keeps me young:

MY ART. Really. My art.

MY ART FRIENDS and ART RETREATS

JUNKING & ANTIQUE MALLS, ESTATE SALES & GARAGE SALES.

MY PHOTOGRAPHY.

I didn't realize it until I was putting this list together, but my YEARLY SHOPPING TRIPS WITH MY SORORITY SISTERS FROM COLLEGE.

MY BABY, BEN.

MY SENSE OF HUMOR.

YOUNG PEOPLE! Which includes MY LITTLE GIRL, SKYLER,

and BRAT!MY F.C.A. KIDS

MY LITTLE GIRL, CHRISTINA, and ANA!

MY BOYS. . .here we are, mom trying to take the annual Christmas picture...

I can honestly say that I have laughed until I couldn't breathe, until I snorted, until I cried, until I PIMP, and/or until milk came out of my nose, at one time or another with each of these groups.

And, there's more.......more groups, more individuals, my sisters, my cousins, BF'sF, more times, daily for instance, that have involved everyone I love, or alone, because it's the way God made me - to see the humor *even if my mother doesn't - heeheehee* in even the oddest of moments.

And, hanging with the fun people, often the young people, is one of my secrets. Young people are a riot. PIMP!!

"OO" to my precious readers and especially to you - hugs are so important!

. . . .Jan

OH, I JUST HAVE SO MUCH TO TELL YOU!

BLOG GIVEAWAY

IT'S STILL OPEN, SO IF YOU HAVEN'T ENTERED,

SCROLL DOWN A FEW POSTS & ENTER!

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Now, where to start???
Should I break all of my fun news into several posts over the next several days or give it all to you at once?
I'm feelin' "break it down into several posts" - keeps ya guessin' and comin' back, right???
So, let's start with the BIG NEWS!

I HAVE *finally* OFFICIALLY OPENED MY LOLLISHOP! wooo hooo!!
I have been working so hard on Valentine's pieces so y'all would have much to choose from and I feel like I've stocked the shop enough to break out in song that it's open!!
You're looking at some pictures of what you can expect to see in
my new shop.

And, while you're here, I'd like for you to take a poll........
in the comments section, after you rave about my art

and before you go to the shop and buy lots,

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let me know, do you think:
(a.) I should keep the name "Velvet Rain Studio" for my Lollishop name,
(b.) I should change the name to "the Polka Dot Barn" which is the name I've used forever for my Etsy shop and my blog, or
(c.) I should call it "the Velvet Rain Studio at the polka dot barn".

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I really value your input so please let me know what you're thinking - though I will tell you that if you "search" for "Polka Dot Barn" when you go to Lollishops, it should take you to my shop because I always use P.D.B. in my tags list.

OH, and this is a vital piece of information!..........
THE POSTAGE CHARGE IS FIGURED INTO THE COST OF EACH PIECE!
No extra postage charges tacked on at checkout.
AND, if you buy more than one item,

of course I'll combine the shipping!

I'm even using a digital scale, so I'm exact.
Obviously, I'm a professional. LOL

I hope you've enjoyed this peek into my new Lollishop!
I'm really excited about it!
Double click on any of the highlighted and underlined

"Lollishop" or "my new shop"
and my shop will magically appear for you to look over!
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Thanks so much for letting me ramble on about my new adventure!

And, don't forget the giveaway if you haven't entered!

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Like I always say,

I have the best readers and I do so appreciate you!!

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XOXO,

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KREATIV BLOGGER AWARD....i got an award!!

For me, to receive an award that references my blog and shows me that someone appreciates the work I put into making it the best I know how, means a LOT to me.

Silly, I know, and it sorta reminds me of high school - the affirmation, the being chosen (and not being chosen last - horrors)

- anyway, my sweet friend, Heidi, at Everyday Cookies has presented me with an award! ....made MY day!

(Also, be sure and visit her blog because she has a nice surprise for you:)

The rules of this award are pretty straightforward.

I am to name 7 random things that I love and pass the award along to 7 deserving bloggers.

Now, naming 7 random things that I love is easy-peasy - I could make this list like 100 random things I love! LOL
So. What I'm going to do is list things that are not the first things that pop into my head.....like God, my family, my studio...........you get it, right? I'm going for random!

1. I love that all three of our boys (age 18, 21, 23) are letting God lead them in school, relationships and work. (pics of the Fab Three are in a post a couple below this one...)

2. I love that we have so many winter birds that they're eating us out of house and home.

3. I love that we live on a ranch and don't have neighbors. That I can spend days at home without seeing anyone or going anywhere.

4. However, I love going to the movies, so much so that I don't mind at all going alone.

5. I love that I'm having my very first blog giveaway - I think that's so cool!

6. I love that I've taken the plunge, which comes with great risk of failure, to open a shop on the new marketplace, Lollishops. (www.lollishops.com/velvetrainstudio)

7. I love junking. It's like a drug for me. The thrill of the hunt and then when I find a treasure and the price is right - it's a high.

Now, the rules state that I must pass this award onto 7 deserving bloggers and they will tell us 7 random things that they love. I think this is one of the better survey thingies I've been asked to do - I liked the random part.

So, ladies, I tag..............

1. Kathy @ http://www.alteredantiquity.typepad.com - she' a friend from Paper Whimsy and I just adore her!

2. Blaiz @ http://www.blaiz.blogspot.com - I met Blaiz at Art-n-Soul and she is the sweetest thing!

3. Tina Lee @ http://cherryhillcottage.typepad.com - I haven't visited her blog in entirely too long *however, I will very soon!*, but, I love it and Tina Lee, herself!

4. Theresa @ http://gardenantqs.blogspot.com - oh, my gosh, I adore her blog!

5. Keesha @ http://lemoncholys.blogspot.com/ - one of my dearest friends and even though we have both gotten so busy in so many directions that we're not in touch as much as we used to be, I still count her as one of my BFF. She's wonderful!

6. Pam @ http://pamwardenart.blogspot.com - a true soul mate. This woman is one of my closest friends. . .and we've never even met! How about that!

7. And, last but never least, Rande @ http://r2artstudio.typepad.com - she is my inspiration when it comes to art. Visit her blog and see what I mean...http://r2artstudio.typepad.com

I hate that I have to stop at 7 because there are more I'd love for you to get to know.

The only thing I ask of my 7 is that when you've posted, that you shot me an email so I can go read and learn more about you because you're all dear to my heart.

Don't forget my blog giveaway (the post is right below this one:) and thanks so much for taking the time to visit my blog! I've just got the BEST readers!

XOXO,

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