36 years ago

Happy Anniversary, Bill!

I think its about time for a new post!

I can't believe it has been so long. I have been so busy being creative. I decided I had better get some cross-stitching done, so moved my favorite Dazor magnifying lamp back to the living room and took one project (out of MANY - hundreds, probably) to work on. I haven't finished it and have hit a significant snag but am hoping to be able to plow my way through. I have also been trying my hand at long arm quilting. Since the LA quilter is at my sister's, I haven't made much progress at getting my dozen or so quilting projects done but now that the weather isn't keeping me off the streets maybe I can get over there more.

Here is a manually quilted feather wreath that I did while in Houston learning how to work on the Innova 26 Long Arm Quilter that my sister bought. Definitely a beginner, but not too terrible.

However, it is a good thing that this is a computerized machine that stitches out perfect quilting designs so I don't have to rely on my freehand attempts.

And there is my Close To My Heart papercrafting. It gets done, often late at night and at the last minute, but it gets done. When I look at all the scrapbook layouts, cards and other projects I have been able to create in the year I have been with CTMH, I am rather impressed with myself. Let me show you some of my latest creations:

This is the calendar topper for April. I teach these little 3.5 inch square monthly projects to the gals at the Our Lady of Lourdes school fundraising crop. They look forward to seeing what I come up with for each month (so do I! LOL) The umbrella and the adorable little ducks are from the Springtime stamp set (D1415). It is such a cute set and also includes several rainboot stamps. Adding some Liquid Glass over the raindrops really makes them pop.

This second project is either a card or one fourth of a scrapbook page, depending on how it is finished. Should I not mention that the little boy in the photo is my now 30 year old son? The little ducks from the Springtime stamp set are used again here. This saying (and "Happy Spring") is included in the set.

And last, but not least, for this post, is a paper-crafted votive candle holder. The ladies and girls just loved making the paper flowers. They were so surprised that they weren't purchased premade. I am always so happy when I can show them something so simple but so spectacular. Nobody was displeased with how their's turned out. This project used last summer's limited edition stamp set Framed Moments (D1394) plus a leaf from C1397, Smiles, plus a dot (available in many different flower sets, in this case D1369, Delightful Things.)

As always, it is my intention to post more frequently, but you know, sometimes life just gets in the way of my best intentions.

Susan Boyle 'I Dreamed a Dream'

I played the U-tube of Susan Boyle singing on Britian's talent show so many times my family hated it. Can anyone who watched it forget Simon's widened eyes and quirk of the eyebrows? I was so moved by her story. Here is a middle-aged, frumpy, frizzy-haired woman who is rocketed to fame by her incredible, undiscovered talent. Just maybe, some one person will look past the surface appeal and discover what hidden talents another person possesses. But, anyway, I received Susan's CD for Christmas and have just tonight opened it and popped it into my computer. Wow! While I think her original rendition of 'I Dreamed a Dream' may have been better (but maybe that was because of the surprise factor of the video), there are some great songs on this CD and not a single hint of frumpiness in the singing!! I love the message behind 'Who I was Born to Be'. I have to think that I, too, am just who I was born to be. A daughter, a wife, a pretty good nurse, the best mother I knew how to be, a 'great' grandmother (according to my grandchildren), a person who shows her creative abilities in the crafts (counted cross stitch, quilting, papercrafting and others) I do. This CD is going to be one of my favorites and I can unequivocally recommend it to you!

Spring Idea Book goes live TODAY!

There are so many new wonderful stamps sets in this year's first catalog that there should be no excuse not to qualify for the Felicity Constant Campaign for FREE. I love fuschias and they are featured in the So Sweet set along with hummingbirds to paper piece. If you have young boys, the Playin' Hard and Boys at Play sets are perfect additions to your scrapbook pages. The So Lucky stamps cleverly combine both Valentine's and St. Patricks Days. One of a Kind and Smiles both feature LOTS of different whimsical flowers and stems. I want them both. Enjoy Every Moment is different from other stamp sets. It features 3 large floral groups that are perfect for those people who want outline stamps to color. Butterflies abound in Embrace Life and Love Birds have several small birds and 3 different bird cages for them. I love the sentiment 'somebirdy loves...you' that comes in this set. Springtime is a series of umbrellas, rubber boots and cute little ducks. I can't help but think 'April showers....' There are big candles and a happy birthday sentiment in Candlelight. Scrapping for babies? Love You Forever is a must with mom and baby owls, birds, sheep and quails along with the signature phrase from the "I'll Love You Forever" baby book. I could go on and on about the new stamp sets in this book. I haven't mentioned the new monthly stamp series and the Stamps of the Month. And then there are the new products, like the mini Sparkles, new paper flowers and My Creations Journal. The best thing for you would be to just click on the Idea Book picture in the upper right corner of my blog, go to my website and explore the online catalog on your own. If you want a catalog of your very own just let me know and I will do my best to get one into your hands as soon as possible.

January SOTM

I did not get signed up in time to join the Stamp of the Month Blog Hop for January but this card would have been my contribution. It uses the January SOTM set "True Friends" and the "Evergreen" stamp set (and you thought you had to put that set away until next Christmas!). The paper pack is Felicity and the little flower accents are from the stamp set that comes with it. This set of diecut papers and stamps is available until January 31 for $34.95 or FREE with qualifying purchase ($60 in stamps or a $125 order.)

CS: Colonial White

B&T: Felicity

SS: True Friends, Evergreen, Grown with Love (the little heart)

Inks: Desert Sand, Sorbet

Other: CW crotcheted ribbon, Sparkles,

Free To a Good Home - SNOW!

This Christmas season we have received the most snow I have seen since 1975 when they brought out the heavy earth-moving equipment to get the streets open. And with the cold (!) temps, it isn't going anywhere fast. It is difficult to transmit the depth of the snow without climbing into it (and I am not going to do that) but the drift by the basement windows is about 5 foot - taller than the fence. And the snow plows have piled it up to the base of the mailbox. The path outside the basement door for the dog to get across the cement patio to the grass to do her business has about 18 inch walls of this white stuff. The streets are pretty good but dangerous because the corners are piled so high you can't see oncoming traffic. So I am content for the moment to pretty much stay put inside.

Christmas 2009

Here it is New Year's Eve, and I am finally getting around to getting some new posts on my blog. We had a very good and merry Christmas. The grandkids were very happy with their gifts, and we had a good day watching them play, although I must say I have had enough of the Hannah Montana CD! But it was fun listening to Miss Courtney sing along on her new Karaoke machine.
As I sat waiting for the kids to fall asleep Christmas Eve, I was listening to the wild wind and watching the blowing snow of our Christmas blizzard and was so very thankful that I was no longer working at the hospital. I am sure that I would have been stuck there and would have had to miss Christmas morning watching the kids opening their presents. Our Christmas dinner turkey got stuck in my S&BIL's driveway but we had a rib roast on stand-by just in case, so we had a nice dinner anyway.

I hope all of you had a very Merry Christmas, too.