Volume 1 - plus, WELCOME ALPHASTAMPERS

This is the first page in my "Window to My World" book, welcoming all who come this way to have some fun with me.

My medium of choice is paper. And I've been quite content cutting, pasting and stamping for years. Yet, for a while now I've been wistfully dreaming of a sewing machine to spice up these paper projects. Even more so after hand-sewing various stuff...tedious, I tell you. So, with my $50 Amazon gift card from Christmas, I bought a basic machine! Let's add this up: $30 for the online workshop, $80 for the sewing maching (minus the gift card), paint daubers, etc. Are you getting the idea here? In Teresa McFayden's journaling workshop we made a book, then craft till we drop to fill the pages with whatever we want to say about...whatever. Here is the cover of my very first hand made book, Volume 1! Teresa encourages us to use paint (not something I use often), add lots of texture, hand journal, and to let loose with the creative spirit. This has been a leap for me. Actually, I haven't made the leap yet. I'm still gauging the distance between here and there. Alphastamps.com has a user group that is blog hopping this weekend. Alphastamps has awesome products and customer service. Most of my collage sheets come from them. Thank you for stopping by. Nice to meet you.

Air Strike

Apparently I caught the oh-so-common airplane cold. Except it's flu. This has been my world for days now. More to come, I fear. I'm alive.

Sun!

I'm back from 5 days in the sun. 5 days of being so warm that I lived in shorts and tank tops morning, noon and night. Actually, make that short and tank top, because there is no need to change. Everybody here is casual.

Here is my traveling companion and snorkel buddy, Garrett, sailing the seas of south Kona in his boogie board. The water here at "2-Step", next to the Place of Refuge, was crystal clear and relatively calm 2 of the 3 days we went there. Cool, though. We would snorkel until we were shivering after 45 mins or so, dry off, warm up, and go back in. We used Garrett's watch to time us. Heaven on Earth.

We didn't JUST snorkel. We also had world-class cappuccino and smoothies at Kona Coffeehouse & Cafe. This was just up from 2-Step, but even if not, worth the 45 minute drive from Kona town. That's Garrett flashing me the Shaka-Bra.

Here are my peeps, Mom, Garrett and Herm chilling out at the condo. This was just before dinner at Jackie Rey's Ohana Grill. Delicious food there. Go now. Or wait until next February and maybe I'll run into you.

Aloha

We are having a wonderful vacation in the Kona area of the big island of Hawaii. Favorite thing to do is snorkel, which Garrett and I have done several times each day. Love 2-Steps at Hounounou, next to the Place of Refuge. This surgeon fish is just one of the many fish we have seen, including moray eel, an uncommon saddled snake eel, turtle and dolphin. Today I'm meeting my best friend from 7th and 8th grade, who now lives on this island. May have to fore go snorkeling...hmmm, maybe not.

Good Stuff II

I was so awed by the use of really good stuff in Karla's challenge, that I sprinted back to the studio (after a day of high-maintenance dog chores, ugh) to pull out some of my better stuff. Including a vintage daisy from Karla, an old photo and cabinet card. And, I had to make another journal anyway because my Sis was apparently feeling left out.

Using the Good Stuff

That fun loving gal, Karla, challenged her friends to let go of their inner hoarder and use the good supplies they have been saving for...what? I admit to being reluctant to use those things in my stash that are, maybe vintage and irreplacable?, or really cute?, or maybe just a little expensive to use in a paper project? So I combined a need for a travel journal with the freedom to use whatever I wanted to use regardless of value. While I was in the zone, I made a quick journal for Garrett. You do know that he and I leave in 5 days for KONA HAWAII?! ps you must make you way over to Karla's post. while I eeked out 1 thing for this good stuff challenge, she produced many charming pretties. she has the best stash on the continent.

Understand that there is nothing of monetary value here. But I banished all hesitation along the lines of "well, I maybe if I save it I will find a better place for this special little doo-dad..."

I used some of my gilded scrap alphabet, most of a packet from 7 Gypsies of heavy card stock ephemera, old velvet ribbon, acetate transparancies, using staples liberally. Since this will serve as a place to record my thoughts and gather momentos, I didn't tart it up with tons of gee-gaws. Hopefully, those will be added later :>

This is my first home-made journal. I think this may start a trend.