Thursday, December 31, 2009

2009>>>>>>2010.

What will we say....twenty ten? two thousand ten? two-o-ten? Time will tell.
See you all in the new year. Be safe tonight!!!

Once in a blue moon...

I know the moon wasn't technically full last night, but it was darn close. This is how it looked when I was leaving work last night...snapped on my iphone so a bit grainy. This will probably be the most we get to see in the Pacific Northwest because today is :-(((( cloudy.

Friday, December 25, 2009

Happy Christmas!




It's a white Christmas here in the Pacific Northwest, but it's just frost. No battery in the camera this morning so these pics were taken on my iphone as it was just getting light out this morning.
I'm wishing everyone the merriest of holidays. I hope you are with the ones you love and that you all have the gift of good health!

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Christmas Eve.

Leaving work this evening after six days in a row. This is what
I saw when I got in my car and looked up. Very peaceful.

Merry Christmas to all. And to all a good night.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Learning.

I'm desperate to be sewing, but I have no time or space right now. Sew....I thought that I'd make some potholders. Here's my first attempt. At first I did not have enough batting to make it thick enough so I tried doubling it up which helped, but then I found that they make thermal batting for projects just like this. I'm learning. Off to try again....

P. S. I just won a fabric giveaway over at Pink Chalk Studio! I'm so excited!

Friday, December 18, 2009

Auntie Sophie.

Miss you and thinking of you on what would have been your 90th!
Julie, Aunt Sophie, Cathy, me and mom.

Monday, December 14, 2009

Saturday, December 12, 2009

A California Christmas Card.

Here's a card that I picked up at an after-Christmas sale at Dana's Showhouse here on the Island, but it is so Southern California and reminds me so much of my childhood. Those were the days! Here we are at Laguna...that's me on the right.


Friday, December 11, 2009

Happy Hanukkah!

Menorah by me.

And some funny ones....




I LOVE these very creative collaged cards from Cara Scissoria.
We carry them at Paper Products on Bainbridge Island!


Thursday, December 10, 2009

Another favorite.


This one is from the wonderful stationer Marcel Schurman.
Artist is David Roth.

Holiday Pears.

Another card from my collection. Original art by David Walker from Madison Park Greetings in Seattle.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Holiday card.

I'm still working on my own cards, but wanted to share this one with you. I have a collection of cards that I just could not resist buying. I usually make my own with a family photo so I don't really need to be buying any cards, but I love them. This one is titled "Sledding Christmas" by Susan Jokelson, dated 2002, published in France and printed in the USA.

Today is my sixth day in a row at work, hence the lack of posts. I was covering for someone out sick and the extra hours will be nice on my paycheck, but I'm pooped!

Friday, December 4, 2009

Giveaway winner.







Congratulations Happy Cottage Quilter!
Please email me with your mailing address.
Thank you everybody for your comments.
Happy Friday!


Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Can't believe it's December.

Calendar page from Ilee Papergoods

Monday, November 30, 2009

I did it!

This is my 36th post in 30 days! Thank you NaBloPoMo for the challenge.
This calls for a giveaway!



I have two boxes of these gorgeous Christmas cards to send to the author of a randomly selected comment posted here before Friday, December 4th at noon Pacific time. I promise to mail them Friday afternoon (or as soon as I get your address) so you get them ASAP.
Both cards are in sets of 8, designed by Caroline Gardner and made in England. My scan does not do them justice. The tree is all glitter in the top one and the red one is embossed. Then the red hearts got cut off in the scan, but they're perfect on the cards. They both measure 5" x 5". Inside reads, "Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year" in both. I purchased them at the Seattle Art Museum.

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Back to work.

It was a nice weekend. We had a quiet Thanksgiving, which was so relaxing. Then on Black Friday (after the IndieBanditas Bazaar of course) we cut down our Christmas tree. It's been our tradition since moving here in 1997. It was a gorgeous day...very chilly, but lots of sunshine and blue sky. Here are the kids going to the warming hut for some hot cider.
After a few days off I'm heading back to work today. This next month is going to be crazy as I am in retail....mind you, Island-style retail. No opening at 5 a.m. or getting trampled by the crowd. No coupons, special ads or discounts. It'll just be busy and crowded with our faithful "shop local" customers. AND we have a post office in our store to add just a few more people. I'm looking forward to being part of the holiday hustle bustle.

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Yesterday's loot.

The Indie Banditas Bazaar was fantastic! We were there early (too early, my fault...thank you Sally) not wanting to miss out on a swag bags so we were first in the door. Sally found some gorgeous frames made from recycled magazines by ColorStoryDesigns....right up my alley, but too pricey for me. I was on a budget and thought I'd like to try making something similar. I had told myself no more fabric until I use up more of what I have, but I loved this pack of fall fabrics from Pink Chalk. I bought gorgeous cards from Susan Najarian and sandbox, cute typewriter stickers from craftyFOLK, felted rocks from SpiderFelt and an owl ornament. And then there were the freebies from Today's Baby, Nikki Wheeler and tangotwirl. Simply awesome! My favorite....definitely the felted rocks.

Friday, November 27, 2009

Indie Banditas.

I'm off to the IndieBanditas craft show this morning. Some of my favorite vendors will be there...the very talented Kathy Mack from Pink Chalk Studio and the equally talented Jenn from Esther's Fabrics, and so many more. Katie, top bandita, has most of the vendors on her blog. Hope to see you there!

Keep it simple. Buy local. Buy handmade.

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Too much turkey.

A favorite by Jack Prelutsky.....
I Ate Too Much Turkey
I ate too much turkey,
I ate too much corn,
I ate too much pudding and pie,
I'm stuffed up with muffins
and much too much stuffin',
I'm probably going to die.
I piled up my plate and I ate and I ate,
but I wish I had known when to stop,
for I'm so crammed with yams,
sauces, gravies and jams
that my buttons are starting to pop.
I'm full of tomatoes
and French fried potatoes,
my stomach is swollen and sore,
but there's still some dessert,
so I guess it won't hurt
if I eat just a little bit more.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

New necklace.

Actually I got it in September for my birthday (from Sally on our trip to Port Townsend), but I finally took a picture. It's a magnet pendant that you can change as often as you like. The company is Magnabilities and they have hundreds of different pendant choices on their website. Mine came from a shop in Port Townsend and I love it. I don't do fancy jewelry and I rarely wear a necklace, but this is my style. Of course I wore the baseball pendant until the season ended in October.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Winter Olympics.

I'm already looking forward to watching the Vancouver Winter Olympics and this guy....Apolo Anton Ohno. OMG, he is so gorgeous with personality++++ He's been in the local news a lot lately...these pics are from King5.com. Olympics start February 12th.

Today is day 24 of 30 in NaBloPoMo. I'm working and house-sitting this week so posting is a bit difficult, but I am determined.


Monday, November 23, 2009

Cookie planning.

The December issue of Sunset magazine arrived with lots of cookie recipes. I'm making my baking plans and challenging myself to try some new recipes. I'd like to try making crackers too!



Sunday, November 22, 2009

Happy Birthday Mom!

Today would have been my mom's 73rd birthday.
Oh, it's been a difficult year. I miss her so much.

My father-in-law's birthday was today too. He would have been 84, but he passed away in 1995, also from cancer. A very distinguished man. He lived and worked all over Europe and the Middle East for PepsiCola. Here he is in those dark sunglasses with Pepsi celebrity spokesperson, Pele.

And with me on the day we met.




Saturday, November 21, 2009

Craft night.

Tonight we're having "craft night" at Rosario's. I have so many projects started that I wasn't sure which one to bring, but I've decided on my Christmas card envelopes. I'm making them all from recycled magazines.

Friday, November 20, 2009

Author evening.

I'm off to see Barbara Kingsolver at Bainbridge High this evening. It'll probably be a full house. I got reserved seats when I purchased the book....the book that I am trying to get through. I like it, but don't love it so far. It's moving far too slowly, but it might be because I haven't had a big chunk of time to sit down and read. I've loved her previous books and can't wait to hear her in person. I listened to her read "Prodigal Summer" on tape and her southern accent just draws you in.


Thursday, November 19, 2009

A gift.

This beautiful hand-crafted dish in memory of my mother arrived from my cousin Susan today. After my mother's funeral in April we sent her some of the flowers from the service and she decoupaged them under glass along with a picture of St. Cecilia. I love the colors, the shape, the thought...I am so touched and will treasure this piece of art forever! Susan happens to be an amazingly talented artist (and my cousin!!!)....check out her "Spirit of Flowers" website and her very impressive bio.


Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Project.

I saw this journal at Anthropologie and I'm going to attempt to copy it. I need some simple gift ideas and this looked like something I can do. I'm going to start by covering a composition notebook with some of the gorgeous paper I have been collecting. Will keep you posted....

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Rain.

And the rain rain rain came down down down and Piglet started bailing.
He was unaware atop his chair while bailing he was sailing.
The Hundred Acre Wood must have been in the Pacific NW!
I barely slept last night. The wind and rain were so loud.
I'm thankful we have power this morning.
8:45 pm....just corrected all my typos!!!

Monday, November 16, 2009

Blogs to share.

I've got to get to work, but wanted to share two inspiring blog posts with you this morning....
Please check out Sarah Ahearn's blog and the Shutter Sisters.

Happy Monday!

Photo courtesy of my daughter; matrushka courtesy of my son.

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Happy Birthday Julie!

My younger sister Julie is having a birthday today. Here we are in front of grandma & grandpa's in Glendale on Easter....circa 1965? 66? We always got new dresses and new patent leather shoes. I don't remember the purses, but I do remember not liking it all...see that look on my face. I'm still a jeans and tee-shirt kinda gal.

Saturday, November 14, 2009

To Do....Ta Da

I did not get out of my pajamas until after noon today.
And I did not write a thing on my ToDo list today...
the only thing I really had to do was a blog post!
Today is day 14 of 30 in NaBloPoMo.
If I had made out a ToDo list it would have been
on these pads I made from recycled paper.
And on the backs....recycled cereal boxes!