I'm Work'n Here

You may think I am doing nothing, since I haven't posted in days. But, wait. I have been working on a swap with Karla; the Bird Song tag swap. I am making 8 tags, instead of the required 7. I want to send a little special tag for Karla. So, whew, I've got 2 done...pretty much. I think. Maybe just a touch more...

Just Made It

After a year to the day, I qualified for a Weight Watcher's Lifetime membership. Yesterday I attended a WW meeting in order to make the official transition; my usual meeting leader was there, along with a number of WW members I've seen at meetings over time. Quite a surprize to me, I got very emotional and teary, which is rare for me. I am proud of myself for accomplishing this weight loss, but almost more, I am scared that I will fall back on old eating habits and put back the weight it took me so long to lose. This is a battle everyone in WW faces so I am in very good company. My team leader has been really a joy to work with. For her, I made a couple of fabric flowers, experimenting with this and that. I still have to weigh in once a month, and will get a gentle reminder to get serious if I gain more than 2 pounds. So, while I just made my goal, there is no end to this journey. ps If you like the beige flowers, they were made following this tutorial from my friend Laura. http://rhinestonearmadillo.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/04/faux-flower-tutorial.html

Hello Friend

Except for 1 friend, all of my friends live out of state. Doesn't mean I'm not in touch with them. I make good use of social networking, and thank the stars for it. In fact, several of my friends I've met through blogging. While we've never been face to face, I consider these gals good friends; the kind I can call when I really need to talk to someone 'cause there's a new rumor about Johnny Depp, or I get stuck on a "which glue to use" type of problem. You know, serious stuff!

Friendship is important to me. Never more so than those friendships that have endured for many, many years. One friend in particular goes back to my early teen years. She and I had some WILD, WILD I tell you, times. She makes me laugh because she is still that teenager at heart...and so am I!

So, today, to that forever friend, I want to say "Hi. Thinking of you". This little card will be in the mail to you tomorrow. Laugh and think of me everytime you look at it.

Day & Night

Wanting to redecorate your living room, and your outdoor terrace? Look no further than the latest MacKenzie-Childs catalog. I think these products are new, and spectacular. This checked suite would be perfect in my family room.

And wouldn't it be a party, guests not needed, to sit on the back lawn, at sunset, gazing lovingly at this over-the-top wicker set? How much, you ask? This is one of those times when the old saying is true: "If you have to ask, you can't afford it". Ah, but to dream...

Happy Mother's Day

On Saturday we had a little party at Mom's to celebrate all the May birthdays plus Mother's Day. When Mom saw my "card" to her, she got all weepy. Which she always does, so we consider it a family tradition. My mom is truly loved by all the kids, grand-kids and great-grand-kids. She can be stubborn and sharp, but everyone knows how much she loves us. Behind her, lined up on the windowsill are a few of the cards she received. All picked specially for her.

I made a quick card for Garrett, too. And I do mean quick, and cheap; cupcake liner, printer paper, scrapbook paper, staples and I used a Tim Holtz texture fade on the red paper, with money tucked inside the pocket. It does not "pay" to give these kids a card with special elements...they don't care! Where's the money, honey?!

Start Me Up

In my family there are 5 birthdays in May. Such a lovely way to greet Spring. Because this coming week is going to be exceptionally busy for me, with 2 long drives plus a museum outing, I needed to get Mom's card created and finished. Usually I fiddle around for an hour or so on a new project, return the next day and fiddle some more. No time for that. I had a good idea of the main component I was going to use; an old cabinet card. So, start me up and away I go. I think Mom enjoy the reminder of our warm, sunny holiday in Hawaii. As for the toad themed scrap? Well, we used to tease my step-dad that he was Mr. Toad from Wind in the Willows, because of the way he drove. I think Mom will get it.

I also wanted to make a card for my nephew as we will be celebrating all the May birthdays this Saturday. He is 30-something, and marches to his own drummer. Don't all Taureans? Ask me, I'm surrounded by them: Mom, husband, nephew, great-nephew, best friend. I found this playing card in with my stash; Jack of Hearts, oh yeah.

For the inside of the card, I sewed a piece of vellum down the middle, with school pics of his kids on each page. I tied on a "cupcake pic" in an appropriate image for each kid. The idea is that the kids can write a birthday message to their dad on the vellum. I had a lot of fun with these projects today and will not be stressing as the week whizzes by.