November Daily Thankfulness

I have seen several posting on FB and blogs about finding something to be thankful for everyday of November. 30 days in November, 30 things to be thankful for in my life. 

I am sure I have many more than 30, as do others, but we often get so caught up in the "busyness" of life it is so easy to take so much for granted. 

So this month I will try and post something I am thankful for everyday. And since this is the 2nd of November, I am already behind!

November 1st. 

Sally and me in 1960? Sally is the one with hair :)

I am thankful for my sister Sally. Especially since the 1st is also her birthday! I gave her her gift last week and wished her a happy birthday then. I could wish her one here, but she does not use the computer and internet at all! I wish we could visit and chat more, especially as she is only 60 miles away in San Francisco. Time and work always seem to get in the way. Time to work harder to stay connected!

November 2nd.

The weather has been so good, the roses are still in bloom!

I am thankful today for the lovely weather we are having! I was able to tackle a painting project outside and it was so warm and sunny, the paint almost dried too fast! No signs of the cold and miserable weather they had in the east this week. Something truly to be thankful for. 

Crafty Weekend

This lovely view is taken from the deck of the vacation house my girlfriends and I are renting for a weekend of crafty fun! I love my Bodega Bay retreats and the fun group of crafty girls that share this weekend with me once or twice a year.

I may only be 10 short miles from home, but it seems like a million miles away from the chores and duty of regular life!

I will be crafting from Thursday afternoon to Sunday morning. So much more fun when you share the time with girls who "get" your crafty, artsy ideas!

This lovely view of Bodega Bay is such a nice addition to the weekend. Need a stretch? Walk out to the deck to view the ocean and listen to the waves, gulls and peaceful surroundings. Too bad the house next door gets in the way of the almost perfect view.

Hopefully I can post some of my scrappy pages I create through out the weekend!

Halloween Ornaments

This past week while I was visiting my sis in Oregon, I took some time out in the evenings and on Saturday to craft some more decorations for my Halloween tree. 

One of my favorites was this simple music paper rosette with a glittery witch glued to the front. 

The rosette is about 6 in. in diameter. I trimmed my 3.5" strips of music paper with my jumbo scallop scissors (a $ store find, the best buck I ever spent at Dollar Tree) and pleated the paper at every scallop. The silver glitter circle was cut from glitter paper with my new pennant die from Stampin' Up. The glittery witch came from MS crafts at Halloween last year. Why didn't I buy TWO packages?

My ghost is an old Making Memories chipboard shape I have had for years. The "paper" is real birch bark I found on the ground at my sis's house, from birch logs she got when someone cut down their beautiful birch trees! More black sparkly glitter paper is glued on the back for his eyes and mouth.

My little "boo" owl is punched from Stampin" Up punch and he sits on an orange paper rosette made from a new Tim Holtz Sizzix die. It makes two sizes and makes making "rosettes" a snap! The black circle is from my new package of sewing pins. Too cool to toss, so it was saved and re purposed into this fun ornament. I even added a MM Halloween pin. 

 The new tree topper for my Halloween tree this year will be this paper mache hat form I covered with old book paper and stained with a "black wash". 

I made some roses from black crepe paper to trim the hat, along with my glitter polka dot ribbon from Michael"s. To get the ribbon to lie flat to the brim, I pulled the top ribbon wire until it gathered to fit the hat brim. A little black bird and a big bow top it off!

My last ornaments are from a design I saw at Vintageimagecraft and is a free download and tutorial. 

They are too cute.  

I need to find an online source for the "bumpy" chenille as I can only find it locally at JoAnn's and you have to buy a pack with 10 different colors. And since you need 2 stems per color, you need to buy 2 packages. Good thing I plan to make some Santa's at Christmas to use the red and green. 

I hope to put up my "Halloween Tree" tomorrow and add all the new ornaments I made and decorate the rest of my house. Why did the weather have to hit the upper 90's this week? It does not feel like fall! May be my fall decorations will cool us off? 

10 years later

09/11/01-09/11/11



I remember this day so well, as everyone else does, as it changed our lives forever.
Even if we did not know someone in the Twin towers, the Pentagon, or a farm field in Pennsylvania, it has affected our lives. It started as just a regular work day for me. Before I left for work here in CA, the news events were just coming in on the TV. I heard more and more as I drove the 40 min. to work. Each report worst than the one before.
The shock and dis-belief was apparent to everyone.

How could this happen?

Why would someone do this?

The sadness of all the lives lost, the pain of all the families and friends who lost loved ones
and were left behind to carry on with out their fathers, sons, mothers, daughters, sisters, brothers or friends and co-workers.

But despite the tragedy, we as a country united, just as a family would unite.
You hurt one of us, you hurt all of us.

I am so thankful for those who stepped up that day to do their duty, who rushed into burning buildings as others rushed out. Who helped their neighbor, their co-worker, the total stranger on the street.

It showed the true spirit of our nation.

My only wish is.....
that unity, that cooperation would extend always,
beyond politics, beliefs, disagreements to make this truly
the greatest nation on earth.

Changes

Today, Tuesday, is the first day of my last week of work at my current job.
I am not changing my job by choice, my job is changing me.
For the first time in my work life I will be unemployed. I will not have a reason to hit my snooze alarm 2 or 3 times and drag myself out of bed. Get ready for work and drive the 40 minutes to get there.

But I am not sad. I have known this was coming for a while now and I am thankful I have had time to plan and think about my future, many others have not been so lucky.
But what will my future hold?
I do not know.
Go back to school? Look for work in an entirely different job? Who knows?
I am thinking of taking a break and exploring what my future may be.

Change can be scary. Change can be exciting. Change is inevitable.
What we do about the change is what affects us most.

Some words of wisdom...

Wonderful words to live by.....

seen here by way of FB

 And.....more....

Special request to all you kids returning to school. If you see someone who is struggling to make friends, or being bullied because he/she doesn't have many friends, or because they are shy, or not as pretty, or not dressed in the most "in" clothes, PLEASE step up. Say hi or at least smile at them in the hallway. You never know what that person might be facing outside of school. Your kindness might just make a BIG difference or even save someone's life!!

A post someone shared on Facebook. I don't know where it originated, but since school starts this week I re-posted it on FB also.

I remember school so well. I was not one of the "popular kids". I didn't have the best clothes, and I spent many evenings alone in my room watching TV. I did have a few friends I could count on...but never made that life long friend connection.

I had to change schools between 11th & 12th grade

I know how hard it was to "fit in".

Here' s hoping every kid has a great school year and makes many new friends.

Card Swap Reveal

I recently hosted a card swap with 12 of my crafty friends and all of the cards have returned to me, ready to sort and pass out back to the group.
Because there were 13 crafters we each made 13 cards. Most everyone made the same or similar card 13 times and when all are sent to me (the host) I sort the cards and everyone gets one of their cards back and 12 new cards from the other crafters.
It is a fun way to add to your card stash and get lots of card crafting inspiration!
All of the cards that came back are just beautiful!

The first card is from Kelli, done in my favorite red/black/cream combo. Each card has a different embellishment. And is just beautiful! The second card is my poppy card as seen here

Ida's card is a pretty and pink. She used lots of die cuts and borders to shape her card.

Lara made a big flower card with pretty petals on a kraft background. With a button center, so sweet and lovely.

Karen made a lovely card with a beautiful butterfly flitting over some pretty pink flowers.

Lou's card has a sweet punched lace border and some beautiful hand crocheted flowers!

Both Heather and Jenny made pretty flower trio cards. Heather used 3 little buttons for her flowers and Jenny stamped and hand cut her flowers. Both used cute punched borders.

Jessica participated in her first card swap and made these pretty green, yellow & orange floral cards. Each one is slightly different. Some have stamped flowers, others have ribbon trim, but all are very pretty.

Tiffani's cheery green card has an embossed background and a patterned paper square with a punched butterfly embellishment.

Michelles fun card has a stamped bicycle carrying a pretty basket and boquet of "Flowersoft" flowers. Flowersoft adds such a great "touch me" accent to a card.

Ann's card is very similar to Tiffani's but because she used different papers, colors and trims it has a cheerful look all its own. Even if you use a card "sketch" or "map", your color choices make the card unique!
Narda's pretty butterfly card has layered stamping and is very elegant and beautiful.

Each of the ladies made a beautiful and unique card and they look even better in real life. I think when they get their cards back they will be pleased!!! I love hosting a card swap and seeing what all my talented, crafty friends come up with. I also get to add to my card stash, but most I can never part with :-)

Inspiration in the Everyday

You can find inspiration everywhere. Even in the mundane routine of the everyday.

Even when housecleaning!

Dusting is a weekly (or at least every couple of weeks) chore! While I was dusting my milk glass collection, I noticed while even though it is all the same color, each piece is unique and has a different texture. Ruffly, dotted (hob nail), glass cut and scalloped. I use my milk glass as decoration in my dining room, for serving meals and in my scrap room for storage.

After looking at all the pieces of my collection and seeing all the differences I was wondering if I could use my milk glass as inspiration for some cards.

But I knew I would need more than just plain paper to make an interesting card. 

So I gathered up some cardstock, papers, ribbon and embossing powders all in whites.

For texture I added some cool sparkly paper covered in glass dots, embossing folders and texture plates.

These three cards all sprang from my housecleaning inspiration. And the dusting never was completed, as my crafting bug took over.

Card #1 used a Stampin' Up texture plate run through my Cuttlebug the get the embossed words onto the pearly Bazzill cardstock.

I added a border punch/embossed edge to one side of the card with a MS punch. I added some pearled lace ribbon between the papers and 3 vintage velvet flowers from the hat I posted about Here.

Some pearl centers and the card is finished!

My next card used more embossed pearly Bazzill paper. The paisleys were embossed with a Cuttlebug embossing folder. The white paper with the sparkly glass "beads" is from Aaron Brothers Art Mart. It is a big sheet 2x3 ft, so I will be able to get many cards from that sheet. 

The white satin ribbon is from SU. I used a MS doily stamp and heat embossed the images on the plain side of the pearly Bazzill cardstock then cut out the scalloped circles with Spellbinders dies.

A close up of the heat embossing. A white washed brad from SU completes the card.

In my last card I added just a bit of color with the pink velvet embossed trim. More of the Bazzill pearl paper, without embossing and more of the sparkly beaded paper.

I popped up the oval scalloped greeting with pop dots for more texture.  

Using just a very simple color palette I was able to get at least three different cards with lots of texture from sparkly beads, heat embossing, dry embossing, pop dots, and decorative paper.

Look for your own inspiration in the everyday. And then make some cards!

If you would like more info on any of the papers, tools etc. Leave question in the comments!

A New Day

"This is the beginning of a new day. You have been given this day to use as you will. You can waste it or use it for good. What you do today is important because you are exchanging a day of your life for it. When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever; in it's place is something that you have left behind . . . let it be something good." author unknown

And a happy field of daisies is always a good way to start the day!

Happy Saturday!

Eye Candy in the Mail

It was a good mail day today. I got my new issue of Summer with Matthew Mead.
This a great "book-azine", so full of summer! Cool summer colors, hot summer colors and great ideas for summer parties, summer decorating, summer crafting.
I had gotten the winter Holiday issue, and liked it, so I figured Summer would be a good buy also.


The book-azine can only be bought on line here Summer

After all the rain we had this winter, summer ideas sound really good right now. Eating outside, reading a book in the shade while lazing in the hammock. BBQ's, picnics, pool parties and family reunions. I will be hosting two family reunions this year so summer ideas are what I am looking for right now.

There are already two or three ideas I want to make and several recipes I want to try.

I wish I could share more pictures from Summer, but check out Matthew Meads' blog for lots of great decorating & crafting ideas and inspiration + yummy recipes. Lots of great eye candy!

I got a new toy today, don't be Jealous!

I got a new toy today. I was shopping at JoAnn Fabrics and all their sewing notions were half off! So I could not resist picking up a few necessities and of course a few "wants" too!

One of my wants has been a new one of these. And if JoAnn Fabrics says it is a sewing notion,

I won't argue.

Now don't be jealous I bought a new ironing board! I know, an ironing board is not the stuff of every woman's dreams, but if you sew a lot, it is a wonderful tool. My new one also has an iron holder at the end, very handy, as I am notorious at bumping my board and sending the iron flying. And you don't want to "catch" a hot iron!! (Don't ask how I know this).

The ironing board will be a nice addition to my two other trusty sewing companions, my sewing machine and serger. I have had my Husqvarna (Viking) machine for over 25 years and still sews perfectly. And to think Husqvarna also makes chain saws? And yes, we have many of their saws around our ranch.

My little Husky Lock makes beautiful finished seams.

I am planning several new sewing projects so a new board will make the sewing go much smoother.

I made these curtains for my bedroom in March. I love toile prints and am happy with my new curtains.

But my old chair is looking shabby with its mis-matched hand me down stripes from two other rooms.

So the machine and ironing board will get put to good use making a new matched set.

I also have my red case I found at the antique faire that will become my beading case. It needs a new inside lid to hold my beading tools that I am planning to make. I have not decided if I will use the vintage fabric I found or raid my fabric stash or buy new.

I have several other sewing plans in the "planning in my head" stage. A new pincushion, a new purse, a new tote, new living room curtains? The list goes on. If only the time would go on and on too!

Decoration Inspiration

My friend Jenny loves to decorate and paint her home! We joke if you stand still long enough, she will paint you! But she has beautiful taste and has been on a painting spree lately. You can see her work on her blog.

I don't know if it is because Jenny has inspired me, or it is spring cleaning time or a big family reunion at my house in June, I have several decorating projects on my mind. The biggest would be my gallery wall in my long hallway. It is similar to the one below, but not nearly as neat and organized as I have added to it over the years.

photo display seen here

I love this look, with all different frames, as I have now. But I have been wanting to update my gallery and make most of the frames black. I love this cohesive look, but I know I will also would like to add in a bit of metal or color.

Seen here at Reinvented

 I saw this photo of the frames hanging from picture rails and like this idea also, as you would be able to rearrange you photos at will. Decisions, decisions!

Mirror seen here

When looking for photo galleries I saw this mirror at Pottery Barn and remembered I have an old mirror in my attic that used to be on a dresser I now use in my craft room.

(The black dresser in my blog header photo).

It is now just has an old and discolored oak finish and could use a bit of color.

Another project to add to the list.

Bottle lamp seen here

I also saw this lamp in the May/June issue of Country Living. I have many old jars and bottles I could turn into a lamp. In Country Living they filled the bottle with dictionary pages. This would be fun to change out with the seasons. I love the shells and sand for summer, Snow glitter and Styrofoam balls at Christmas?

The possibilities are endless!

great table seen here

I also saw this table at Funky Junk Interiors and Donna has a wonderful tutorial on how to paint old signs. I love how she turned the "sign" into a table! And you can see it again in the May 2011 edition of Romantic Homes! I will be checking out the newsstands!

Lots of projects to look forward too. I need to "paint" my entire house desperately but until I have my long unplanned break from work coming up in September, it will be little projects to tide me over.

That is unless I can bribe Jenny with Starbucks, and she will paint for me. After all, she will eventually run out of rooms to paint!!!!