The post title pretty much says it all! I don't have a picture today, but wanted to let all of you know that I'm working on a tutorial for the pansy cart and hope to get it posted early next week. I think I'm going to have to ask a little bit for it (maybe $5?) because of the amount of time it took to make another cart and photograph the whole process, plus writing up the tutorial.
Also, in case you missed it on the previous post, I'm going to be offering finished Christmas card sets, as well as Christmas card kits, so stay tuned for that as well. I'm hoping to get the samples made and photographed this week and posted next week some time.
Nighty-night!
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Monday, October 18, 2010
Daybook
A friend of mine does this periodically on her blog, and I thought I'd give it a whirl today. I promise there is a card at the bottom. Here's a sneak peak just to reassure you.
Outside my window…
Today was a lovely fall day--a hint of chill in the air, fall colors on the trees, bright sunshine and the crisp smell of coming rain. At the moment, however, it is dark and quiet.I am thankful…
for our wonderful babysitter, who is unflappable in the face of toddler whims, potty accidents, baby spit up, and everything else.
I am hoping and praying…
that cooler weather is finally here to stay (and eager for winter weather!)
that I have enough time to get all my work done and get dinner on the table
that my children grow up to be polite, productive adults who are active in the life of the Church.
From the kitchen…
I'm still keeping on with Weight Watchers and am trying to stay motivated. My mantra these days is that nothing tastes as good as skinny feels. Some days I even believe it.
Towards rhythm and beauty…
I've got a better rhythm of meal planning (although I know it could still use some work) but will be glad when the day comes that my overall housekeeping has a better rhythm. I was doing well in the second trimester with Boo--I was on a laundry and cleaning schedule, in addition to regular weekly meal plans. Since his birth, however, I'm just keeping up with the meals and doing laundry as needed rather than on a particular day. Cleaning, well, I have some help. :)
I am reading…
Blindman's Bluff, by Faye Kellerman, the latest in the Decker/Lazarus mysteries
The Unwanted Sound of Everything We Want: A Book about Noise, by Garret Keizer
One Day by David Nichols (actually, I just finished it, just in time for my book club on Wednesday!)
I am pondering…
C.S. Lewis' thoughts on prayer
My own failures as a parent
I’m creating…
Wedding invitations and birth announcements! Plus a few cards here and there. And gearing up for Christmas cards. Stay tuned for an announcement on how to order yours from me.
I am listening to…
At the moment, nothing. But on my ipod, I'm listening to a mix I've dubbed "coffee shop", which includes Kate Rusby, Sia, Bat for Lashes, Bon Iver and St Vincent, Allison Krauss, Sting, Anya Marina, Iron and Wine, Joshua Radin, Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart and Elton John, just to name a few.
On keeping home…
See on keeping rhythm. I'm working on it. My house is clean, my dishes are washed, my family is fed, and my laundry is done, but I can't take credit for the clean house. At least I keep it neat and swept myself. Oh, and my bed is made every day.
Around the house…
I've done a lot of canning in the last two years, and this year, I decided I just couldn't do it. We were traveling almost nonstop during the first half of August, and then the last half, when I would normally be canning tomato products, hubby had a big work deadline and I just didn't have enough time with him working 16 hours a day and Boo nursing almost non stop. I feel guilty about it, but I have enough left from last summer to get us through part of the winter anyway. I did make freezer jam at least. I had hoped to make applesauce again this year, but that is going on the list of Things I Could Not Manage With a Nursing Newborn and Needy Toddler.
In the garden…
Um, well, we don't have a garden. We had aspirations at one time of using the community garden, but frankly, I don't have a desire to dig in the dirt when it is 100 degrees outside and I have two little children clinging to my skirts.
This week in the Church…
Nothing special this week, but next week (31st) hubby is being tonsured a reader by the bishop.
A few plans for the rest of the week…
I'm working on a custom order for a baby brag book and going to the gym. I didn't go today because I had to run errands while I had a babysitter and the errands took me all morning. I feel terribly guilty about it. But I have more energy than I have had in the last 3 weeks, so there's something to be said about missing a day at the gym.
Piglet this week…
Yes, we've resorted to bribery on the potty training front. Given the inducement of M&Ms, he went twice on the potty this morning for the sitter. (Yay for that!) We won't talk about the #2 accident he had at the playground in between.
Piglet is such a character--he loves all things related to church and is obsessed with prayer books. He likes to carry them around and chant at the top of his lungs. He likes books of all kinds and is especially into coffee table books at the moment. I have a big album of postcards from my and hubby's various travels and he loves flipping through it and looking at all the churches. The running commentary is hilarious ("blue church! people open the gates! people close the gates! gospel book! icon of Christ! icon of tokos!").
Boo this week…
Boo is one long string bean. He is 5 1/2 months old and wearing clothes that Piglet wore at 10 months! He is extremely social and loves to be around people. He is a smiley happy baby, and as long as he can see someone, fairly content. He has started to grab at toys and likes to exercise his vocal cords by "talking" fairly loudly for a stretch every afternoon. He is a good night time sleeper, but a lousy day sleeper. He prefers to sleep on his belly and has been known to flip over in the car seat for sleep if not properly strapped in!
A picture to share…
Okay, I have to toot my own horn on this card. I made it by request for my dear friend Elena, who wants to send it to her mother. She just asked for a "flower pot card" after seeing something my mom had sent me. I have been eying the butterfly punch pansies for some time and wanted to give them a try. I saw this set of note cards at the post office that featured pansies flowing out of a wicker wheelbarrow and decided to try and recreate it. I'm so pleased with the result!
This is how the card opens--you pull out the top layer of pansies to reveal the card inside.
I'm considering making a tutorial out of this one, but only if there is enough interest. So let me know, okay?
Supplies:
Sahara Sand, Whisper White cs
Elegant Eggplant, Rich Razzleberry, Pale Plum, Almost Amythest, Daffodil Delight, Sahara Sand inks
Sponges
5/8" Old Olive grosgrain ribbon
Gold brads
Paper piercing tool
Butterfly punch
Basic black marker
dimensionals
Circles #2 die
jumbo brad (white)
glue
Friday, October 15, 2010
Parenting
Parenting is a humbling experience. Not only do you see all the flaws in yourself (and your spouse) replicated in your children, you also get your worst moments parroted back at you. Piglet has started to repeat my scoldings in the exact same tone of voice. Not to taunt me, but because he likes the sound of his own voice and is trying out new things. But it taunts me a little. I hear how I sound, and what it must sound like to him and I squirm with embarrassment. I never wanted to be that parent.
And yet, my scolding is often to keep him from hurting himself, or causing harm to others, so it does serve a purpose. I just wish it wasn't such a frequent necessity. A priest once told me to reserve my ire for the moments where it was most needed, so that when I really needed the message to get through, it wouldn't be lost in the general atmosphere of constant nagging and scolding. I have a hard time with that one, because I feel often feel like my days are one constant obstacle course of trying to keep my children safe and teach them right from wrong. And it is hard to do that in a soft voice when they frequently develop deafness where discipline is concerned. But I'll keep working on it. There is a priest's wife I know and admire who has a great way with children (she has five of her own) and never seems to raise her voice or get flustered. I realize her children are nearly grown, and that I don't live with her, but I aspire to speak softly (and not carry a big stick).
Today's card is a thank you card for my good friend Rebecca, who sent a lovely book to Piglet for his namesday on the 11th. I wrote the card from him to her, and I hope she likes it! I used the Mojo Monday sketch again, omitting the buttons on the side. I used up some SAB dp from two years ago and another color combo I'm fond of. I made 10 more of these as birthday cards for the Operation Write Home box. I think some little child will be happy to receive these! I borrowed this set from a friend and am having some fun with it!
Supplies:
Whisper White, Sahara Sand, Real Red, Bashful Blue, Delicate Dots dp (retired)
Teddy and Train set
Crumb Cake, Daffodil Delight, Real Red, Marina Mist, Wild Wasabi markers
Real Red grosgrain ribbon
scallop edge punch
Top note die
And yet, my scolding is often to keep him from hurting himself, or causing harm to others, so it does serve a purpose. I just wish it wasn't such a frequent necessity. A priest once told me to reserve my ire for the moments where it was most needed, so that when I really needed the message to get through, it wouldn't be lost in the general atmosphere of constant nagging and scolding. I have a hard time with that one, because I feel often feel like my days are one constant obstacle course of trying to keep my children safe and teach them right from wrong. And it is hard to do that in a soft voice when they frequently develop deafness where discipline is concerned. But I'll keep working on it. There is a priest's wife I know and admire who has a great way with children (she has five of her own) and never seems to raise her voice or get flustered. I realize her children are nearly grown, and that I don't live with her, but I aspire to speak softly (and not carry a big stick).
Today's card is a thank you card for my good friend Rebecca, who sent a lovely book to Piglet for his namesday on the 11th. I wrote the card from him to her, and I hope she likes it! I used the Mojo Monday sketch again, omitting the buttons on the side. I used up some SAB dp from two years ago and another color combo I'm fond of. I made 10 more of these as birthday cards for the Operation Write Home box. I think some little child will be happy to receive these! I borrowed this set from a friend and am having some fun with it!
Supplies:
Whisper White, Sahara Sand, Real Red, Bashful Blue, Delicate Dots dp (retired)
Teddy and Train set
Crumb Cake, Daffodil Delight, Real Red, Marina Mist, Wild Wasabi markers
Real Red grosgrain ribbon
scallop edge punch
Top note die
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Mojo Monday: Creating in the desert
I've been feeling a bit creatively dry lately. I've got some biggish custom projects on the horizon, (to say nothing of Christmas cards) and I just can't seem to get going on much else right now. It doesn't help that I'm so tired all the time. I shouldn't be--I've been blessed this time with a baby who actually sleeps a good amount at night, and my toddler rarely gets up anymore, but I still end up feeling like I'm sleep-walking through my days lately. I'm hoping it lifts soon because I've got new stamps begging for ink!
I did manage to create a bit last night--I pulled out this week's Mojo Monday sketch and my new favorite color combination (Wild Wasabi, Early Espresso and Marina Mist) and got to work. I decided to ink up Day of Gratitude, which arrived in a big box from the brown boyfriend on Tuesday. I went back and forth a lot before ordering this set and I'm so glad I did! That big medallion has a lot going for it and the smaller images are pretty versatile, as this card shows, I think. I had to move the ribbon down to the bottom because it didn't look right at the top, and I moved the brads a little further to the right from the sketch, but it's just a guide, right? I love this new Afterthoughts hostess set--the big words are great. I just double mounted the smaller sayings on the side of some of them for greater versatility. I made four of these for the Operation Write Home box I'm working on filling.
Okay, I should go take a nap now.
Supplies:
Wild Wasabi, Marina Mist, Early Espresso, Whisper White cs, retired dp
Afterthoughts, Day of Gratitude stamps
Marina Mist, Wild Wasabi, Early Espresso inks
Chocolate chip epoxy brads
grosgrain ribbon (non-SU!)
scallop edge punch
I did manage to create a bit last night--I pulled out this week's Mojo Monday sketch and my new favorite color combination (Wild Wasabi, Early Espresso and Marina Mist) and got to work. I decided to ink up Day of Gratitude, which arrived in a big box from the brown boyfriend on Tuesday. I went back and forth a lot before ordering this set and I'm so glad I did! That big medallion has a lot going for it and the smaller images are pretty versatile, as this card shows, I think. I had to move the ribbon down to the bottom because it didn't look right at the top, and I moved the brads a little further to the right from the sketch, but it's just a guide, right? I love this new Afterthoughts hostess set--the big words are great. I just double mounted the smaller sayings on the side of some of them for greater versatility. I made four of these for the Operation Write Home box I'm working on filling.
Okay, I should go take a nap now.
Supplies:
Wild Wasabi, Marina Mist, Early Espresso, Whisper White cs, retired dp
Afterthoughts, Day of Gratitude stamps
Marina Mist, Wild Wasabi, Early Espresso inks
Chocolate chip epoxy brads
grosgrain ribbon (non-SU!)
scallop edge punch
Monday, October 11, 2010
Swaps
The weather is lovely today--I wish I could take more advantage of it, but Boo is having a fussy day and Piglet just went down for his nap, so I guess I'm just going to have to enjoy it through the window. I did get out to the gym and grocery store this morning, so at least I got a little taste. I really have nothing interesting to impart today--I'm so tired from the weekend, I just want to sleep for a week. But a mother's day never ends, right? Speaking of tired, I took this photo last week one day when I went in to wake up Piglet--he likes to "snuggle with Andy" during his nap, and had pulled the doll's legs over his head at some point. I had to chuckle.
One of the things that we do at downline meetings every month is participate in a swap of card fronts. It is a great way to gather ideas, see new products in action and ooh and ahh over gorgeous techniques. I don't always have time to get a swap together (we have to make 12-16 fronts, depending on the size of the meeting), and I always accept pity swaps, but this month I had my act together. I started with a color combination from the Color Coach, dusted off my Choo Choo set, and went to work. And,....not so much. I scrapped it after an hour of fiddling and just not liking the results.
I was stumped then, and sat for a while, trying to figure out where to go from there. The color combo I really wanted to try out (Tempting Turquoise, Rich Razzleberry and Pumpkin Pie) I didn't have enough cardstock to make 12 fronts. In the end, I went back to my Haiku paper, and used the color combo from that--So Saffron, Tangerine Tango, More Mustard, Old Olive and Whisper White. I used the Because I Care hostess set and I'm quite pleased with the result! I had a ton of Tangerine Tango scraps that are 3.5x5.5 from a project that I did two summers ago, and have been trying to whittle away at the stack. I think I'm down to under a dozen, so that is good! I'm really looking forward to our meeting tonight--a chance to get away and stamp some of my stress away. Plus there is usually chocolate involved, so can't go wrong there!
Supplies:
So Saffron, Tangerine Tango, More Mustard, Whisper White cs
Because I Care, Short and Sweet stamp sets
So Saffron, Old Olive, More Mustard, Tangerine Tango inks
Old Olive 5/8" grosgrain ribbon
Square lattice embossing folder
One of the things that we do at downline meetings every month is participate in a swap of card fronts. It is a great way to gather ideas, see new products in action and ooh and ahh over gorgeous techniques. I don't always have time to get a swap together (we have to make 12-16 fronts, depending on the size of the meeting), and I always accept pity swaps, but this month I had my act together. I started with a color combination from the Color Coach, dusted off my Choo Choo set, and went to work. And,....not so much. I scrapped it after an hour of fiddling and just not liking the results.
I was stumped then, and sat for a while, trying to figure out where to go from there. The color combo I really wanted to try out (Tempting Turquoise, Rich Razzleberry and Pumpkin Pie) I didn't have enough cardstock to make 12 fronts. In the end, I went back to my Haiku paper, and used the color combo from that--So Saffron, Tangerine Tango, More Mustard, Old Olive and Whisper White. I used the Because I Care hostess set and I'm quite pleased with the result! I had a ton of Tangerine Tango scraps that are 3.5x5.5 from a project that I did two summers ago, and have been trying to whittle away at the stack. I think I'm down to under a dozen, so that is good! I'm really looking forward to our meeting tonight--a chance to get away and stamp some of my stress away. Plus there is usually chocolate involved, so can't go wrong there!
Supplies:
So Saffron, Tangerine Tango, More Mustard, Whisper White cs
Because I Care, Short and Sweet stamp sets
So Saffron, Old Olive, More Mustard, Tangerine Tango inks
Old Olive 5/8" grosgrain ribbon
Square lattice embossing folder
Friday, October 8, 2010
Smokin' Pink Hotrod
I know you are probably scratching your head over my post title, but sometimes titles come to me and sometimes, not so much. Today was so busy I've just now had time to write this little post. I spent the morning baking and cooking, partly for a little party we are having for Harry's feast day tomorrow (we are celebrating it early), and partly for dinners next week. I don't always have the foresight to cook ahead for busy days, but I was on my game today. So my whole house is redolent of curry. I will say that while I like the taste, I don't care for the smell. I made a lovely pumpkin cake with cream cheese frosting, but the smell of spiced pumpkin was no match for the curry smell of the Turkey Saagwala we are having on Sunday night. (Stephanos asked what I had made and I said Saagwala, and Harry said, "Go to Wawa?" Ha!)
Luckily, the weather was nice today, so I've had the windows open all day to try and air things out. I went and got my patootie kicked by my Pilates trainer (yes boss!) and then I worked on swaps for Monday's Philly Inker's meeting in between nursing and just holding the baby (he was in a mood today).
I made a bunch of these cards with some Haiku dp--I know the color combination is a little unusual, but I think it works. Gotta love that hot pink motorcycle!
Supplies:
Melon Mambo, Tangerine Tango, whisper white cs, haiku dp (retired)
Motorcycle (retired), tiny teacup stamps
Melon Mambo, Chocolate Chip ink
Melon Mambo grosgrain (retired)
Curly label punch
Luckily, the weather was nice today, so I've had the windows open all day to try and air things out. I went and got my patootie kicked by my Pilates trainer (yes boss!) and then I worked on swaps for Monday's Philly Inker's meeting in between nursing and just holding the baby (he was in a mood today).
I made a bunch of these cards with some Haiku dp--I know the color combination is a little unusual, but I think it works. Gotta love that hot pink motorcycle!
Supplies:
Melon Mambo, Tangerine Tango, whisper white cs, haiku dp (retired)
Motorcycle (retired), tiny teacup stamps
Melon Mambo, Chocolate Chip ink
Melon Mambo grosgrain (retired)
Curly label punch
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Rock-N-Roll, baby!
As any woman who has borne children knows, the hardest part of the whole deal (well, besides the sleep deprivation and nursing issues) is the jiggly bits you're left with after the baby is born. That whole line about breastfeeding being a great diet tool is just a load of bollocks designed to keep us at it, if you ask me. I've never lost much while breastfeeding, and I found I got down to my pre-pregnancy size (and a bit less) right about the time I got pregnant again! (6 months after weaning and 18 months after birth...) So I went into my pregnancy with Boo with fear and trembling on the weight front. I gained an incredible amount of weight with Piglet (25 pounds of water, plus all the other weight one gains while pregnant) and I was loathe to be that big again. Things started out well--I gained much more slowly, had much less water retention and generally felt like I was on track to gain a reasonable amount of weight. Until the third trimester, that is, when I started retaining water again, and carrying so low that I could hardly walk. So while I gained less this pregnancy than the last, I still gained more than I wanted to. So I'm left with a bunch of jiggly bits and a nice jelly belly. That I've been trying to work off with a weekly Pilates session. Unsuccessfully.
I decided a few weeks ago that I was going to ramp up my gym sessions, add in another weekly Pilates session (for an abs-killing total of two per week) and after much thought, rejoined Weight Watchers. I had terrible luck on WW my last go-round and wasn't too enthusiastic about it this time, but I thought, well, at least give it a shot. It worked for Jennifer Hudson, right? Plus they had a good 3-month rate going, so I thought it was a good time to start, at least. So I started walking 3 days a week on the treadmill, 3.6 miles per hour, on an incline, for an hour, plus the Pilates sessions, and watching those Points. I spent last week being cranky and tired because I was sore, exhausted and hungry all week. I'm not one of those people who is energized by exercise--it just makes me more tired. But I stayed within my allowed Points for the week and got in a lot of exercise to boot. So when I stepped on the scale on Monday for my weekly weigh-in, my heart sank and my crabby factor rose by 10. No change. I couldn't believe it. I spent a week killing myself and being hungry (because nursing makes you VERY hungry) for this? No change?? I was angry, to say the least. I thought about that dumb scale on and off all day yesterday, and decided to try again this morning, just for kicks and giggles. 2.5 pounds down! Now that is more like it! So while I'm still tired and hungry, at least I have a little more motivation to keep sweating at the gym and watching my Points. We'll see how it goes. Here's hoping the jiggly bits get the message and take a hike. :)
Rock-n-roll is a technique that I've always had trouble with--I either end up missing the edge of the stamp entirely, or I end up covering too much of the stamp so the two-tone effect is lost. I will say, with these cards, however, I think I've got it! Requires a little wrist action is all. The orange slices card is CASED from Heather Van Duken. The other one is all me. I took the layout from a card I saw somewhere else, but changed up the paper, the stamps, and the color scheme to make it mine. Love that Haiku paper! These two cards also represent part of my challenge to myself to use every stamp set I own during this catalog year. I've had that Charming set for a while and haven't really used it much, even though I fell in love with it when I borrowed it from a friend last December. I saw the mums on the Haiku paper and instantly thought of the medallion in that set and decided to ink it up! So, three sets down.
I decided a few weeks ago that I was going to ramp up my gym sessions, add in another weekly Pilates session (for an abs-killing total of two per week) and after much thought, rejoined Weight Watchers. I had terrible luck on WW my last go-round and wasn't too enthusiastic about it this time, but I thought, well, at least give it a shot. It worked for Jennifer Hudson, right? Plus they had a good 3-month rate going, so I thought it was a good time to start, at least. So I started walking 3 days a week on the treadmill, 3.6 miles per hour, on an incline, for an hour, plus the Pilates sessions, and watching those Points. I spent last week being cranky and tired because I was sore, exhausted and hungry all week. I'm not one of those people who is energized by exercise--it just makes me more tired. But I stayed within my allowed Points for the week and got in a lot of exercise to boot. So when I stepped on the scale on Monday for my weekly weigh-in, my heart sank and my crabby factor rose by 10. No change. I couldn't believe it. I spent a week killing myself and being hungry (because nursing makes you VERY hungry) for this? No change?? I was angry, to say the least. I thought about that dumb scale on and off all day yesterday, and decided to try again this morning, just for kicks and giggles. 2.5 pounds down! Now that is more like it! So while I'm still tired and hungry, at least I have a little more motivation to keep sweating at the gym and watching my Points. We'll see how it goes. Here's hoping the jiggly bits get the message and take a hike. :)
Rock-n-roll is a technique that I've always had trouble with--I either end up missing the edge of the stamp entirely, or I end up covering too much of the stamp so the two-tone effect is lost. I will say, with these cards, however, I think I've got it! Requires a little wrist action is all. The orange slices card is CASED from Heather Van Duken. The other one is all me. I took the layout from a card I saw somewhere else, but changed up the paper, the stamps, and the color scheme to make it mine. Love that Haiku paper! These two cards also represent part of my challenge to myself to use every stamp set I own during this catalog year. I've had that Charming set for a while and haven't really used it much, even though I fell in love with it when I borrowed it from a friend last December. I saw the mums on the Haiku paper and instantly thought of the medallion in that set and decided to ink it up! So, three sets down.
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