Hey there Handsome...

I wish I could do a Windsor knot...

Wine gift bag made from a boys shirt sleeve by yours truly.

Colors swap pages

After a long delay on my part... I finally finished the first set of pages in the colors round robin.

I was so surprised at how difficult just having colors to use was for me. Without a theme, I was spinning my wheels and not able to focus on the task at hand.



The colors were chocolate brown, turquoise and ivory...we could splash black if needed.

This first page was the only one I had in my head from the beginning. This is actually the middle of a signature. These pages will be sewn into a plaster page book for a class, if I understand right.




 


These swirls are on the back of the signature. You can see the fold mark down the middle.

This next set I actually started with the back. I had the papers picked out long ago. Of course the scan isn't showing the color properly. I messed around in Photoshop a little trying to fix it but only seemed to make it worse. So imagine the colors are proper...which they are in real life. :)

This is actually the inside of that signature. I liked the poem and the color was  right.


So for all my fretting about these pages, everything just sort of fell together when I put my mind to it.
I sure hope this is what Marilyn is looking for in these pages.

Friday Freebie

Happy Friday!  This week we have BobbiAnn waiting on the step to greet you. Doesn't she look sweet in her apron.

Enjoy!

Wee Bit Wednesday on Thursday

{one} have you ever been stuck in an elevator?Um...no. I'd be a basket case.

{two} have you ever ridden on an elephant?YES!!  At the MN Renaissance Festival about... Well...lets just say a long time ago.

{three} have you ever met a well known celebrity?A couple people I went to high school with are semi-famous now...but they were just typical kids back then.

{four} do you have any food allergies?Yes...chocolate....doesn't stop me though. I just sneeze my head off for a minute or two then its all good. :)

{five} do you know how to sew?Yes...I wing it most of the time though...I'm not good with patterns and instructions.

{six} did you get an allowance when you were young?No. I did start getting paid when I mowed our couple acres of yard though...of course, my payment was directly deposited into my SAVINGS ACCOUNT.

{seven} how often do you fill up your gas tank?Maybe once a month...I don't drive much.

{eight} have you ever been stung by a jelly fish?Um ..no...I don't really care for the ocean. Too many things that can eat you in there.

{nine} have you ever been robbed?It's funny...a long time ago, my VW rabbit was broken into...everything from the glovebox was on the front seat...they took NOTHING...I guess I didn't have anything good.

{ten} what is the worst haircut you’ve ever had?Hmmm...it would either be that haircut my cousin gave me when I was 4 and she was 5.She tied me to a chair....seriously. We stuffed my hair into a Kleenex box...yeah, like that would hide it.Or maybe the time I thought I could give myself a haircut. You see, my mom was a beautician so I figured I could do it. Yeah...not so much... I went I to get it fixed and said that a "friend" did it. I couldn't confess that I'd been so dumb.  

Vintage Sewing pages

These were some fun pages. I'd do another but the book is getting full fast and there are still two people left in the round robin.

I hope she likes them!

Tea Tuesday

My in-laws were over for Easter. They surprised me with an early birthday present. 
It is so cool!! 
Since I normally drink bagged tea, I popped into a little shop next to the dentist's office yesterday to grab some loose leaf tea. They only had black or green tea. I opted for the green.

The tumbler is so pretty...the blues are just gorgeous. Such a unique piece.

I used Photoshop to try and correct the color since it's such a cold and rainy day.

Blah...cold...wet...windy...

Time for more tea!!

You can find the full list of Tea Tuesday participants over on Kimmie's blog.

It's Earth Day

Personally, I think every day should be Earth Day or at least treated as such. Being aware of what we buy, what we dump, the resources we use and how it effects our planet.

I think so many of us forget about our trash once it hits the can. Out of site, out of mind. I know I've been guilty of this. 

We are fortunate to live in an area with really great curbside recycling. And I've sought out options for a few other items that aren't curbside recyclable such as #5 yogurt cups...which our county environmental center will take. 

Other things we do in an effort to be eco-friendly are:

• buying in bulk at our local co-op
• shopping local which includes farmers markets, buying beef from a farmer and shopping at our small local hardware store whenever possible so we aren't wasting gas driving to the big box store.
• turning junk into art
• reusing containers for storage
• patching clothing
• making blankets from old clothing
• buying used whenever possible
• buying safe, concentrated, plant derived cleaning products for our home as well as our health and beauty products (find out more) 
• grouping errands into one day or just walking for the small stuff
• drying clothes outside during the summer
• doing without or figuring out how to use what we already have

I hope some of these have inspired you to your continue efforts help keep our planet 

a safe place for all living creatures.

Have anymore tips for me? 

I'd love to hear what you're doing to be eco-friendly!!

PS...it's my friend Elizabeth's birthday today..stop by her blog and wish her a happy birthday!

Friday Freebie

It's Good Friday folks...
This family looks as if they are on their way to church.

I think the dad's expression is funny...with 3 daughters there likely isn't too much to smile about.
Can we say DRAMA!?!

Magician's secrets

This is my more traditional thought on the theme of Magic.

I really wanted the bunny to be able to come all the way out of the hat but maybe he's better this way so he doesn't just decide to hop away. :)

Anniversary Tea

Seventeen years ago today...a Tuesday, like today...I married the man of my dreams in Las Vegas.
We were young and impulsive...I'm sure many thought it would never last. But here we are...17 yrs later, happy and very much in love.

Stop on over at Kimmie's blog to see what my Tea friends are doing today...

Blogoversary winner

Congrats to

Stacie (craftprincess)

Thanks for the nice comments everyone!

Magic Portals

The second book in the round robin has arrived.
The theme: Magic.
The thought of magical portals came to mind immediately. A world brought to life through the power of imagination. Our imaginations are magical...they can take us places, experience things, create a world all our own...suspend reality...

I have a more traditional "Magic" thought for the second page in mind.

Friday Freebie

Hey, it's tax day here in the good old USA ...do you know where your paperwork is?

The the IRS would believe you if you said the bears ate it?  Probably not....

Enjoy!

***Just two days left to enter my blogoversary giveaway!***

Wedding Paper Bag Book

My daughters teacher is getting married. She is such a sweet and fun gal, so I wanted to do something special for her.
Of course, because I am the way I am I wait until the final moments to complete it. That works out okay I guess because since she's already opened it I can share it with you!

Tea and books

I really enjoy my tea. It's a daily ritual for me...at least until the hot weather comes.

I also love books! I'm especially drawn to old books. I love the way they look and feel.

Some I would never alter in any way and others scream at me to make them my own with paint, paper, fabric and glue.

Hop on over to Kimmies blog to see what the other girls are doing today.

Blogoversary..and a giveaway!

I can't believe it's been 4 years since I started blogging! I wasn't sure it was going to be for me but now I can't image not blogging!

My very first post was on a tiny handmade book that I sent off to North Dakota if memory serves.

I'd like to celebrate by having a giveaway!!  Doesn't that sound like a great idea...

So if you'd like to win this set of 5 blank greeting cards...
Just leave a comment on this post, making sure I have some way to contact you if you win, by 10pm CT on April 17th.  I'll draw a name and post the winner on Monday morning!  

Lions and Tigers and Bears...oh my!

Ok...so, no lion... I'm not sure that there is one at our zoo. But we didn't make it through the whole thing. We were tired and the weather wasn't nearly as warm as promised.


How about Wolves, Tigers and Bears... oh my! 

The bear on the tree just cracks me up!!!