Place Cards

I've invited some friends over for dinner this weekend.  It's a belated b-day dinner for Cathleen, and I've included another couple that are neighbor's of Cathleen's, to get to know them better.  We've all been to a number of summer B-B-Q's that Cathleen and her husband hosted this summer.  When I extended the invite to the new couple, I quipped, "Those of us who know how to have fun can enjoy a glass of wine"...to a reply of "Oh, I don't drink".  Awkward.  'Cause Cathleen and her husband don't drink so I was being a smart Alec.  You see where that got me.  Let's recount, shall we.  Of the 6 eating dinner (including me and hubby), 1 is a vegetarian, 1 is a fishetarian, 1 is allergic to seafood,  1 doesn't like vegetables beyond a salad.  Ah, pasta it is!  I like to set an interesting table, and thought of using these masonite tombstones as place cards.  Those clever sayings came from cocktail napkins I saw in a catalog.  I fussed with papering both sides of the "stones", then dolled them up a bit with some Spellbinder flourishes, fabric leaves and little spots of bling.  Let's get cooking. 
 

Heads Up

In a couple of weeks I will head back to my home turf in CA to visit my good friends.  I made a little card for Josef yesterday, to remind him of my visit.  The background panel is the only page I didn't use for my Oahu album; it is from an inexpensive set I bought on sale.  I used a Character Construction stamp for the pumpkin lady, plus the umbrella on the envelope; a Graphic 45 circle cut from their new Halloween collection; a bit of fabric, lace and a doily from my stash.  Oh, and those cool glasses are from a set that Alpha Stamps sells. 

Back Home From Oahu

 We spent 6 days at a beautiful resort in Oahu's North Shore:  Turtle Bay Resort.  Here is the view in front of our cottage, just a few steps from Turtle Bay where there were turtles swimming most days.  The temp was around 80 degrees, with a slight breeze that kept us cool at night.  The water was perfectly warm, though visibility and snorkeling weren't good.  So I skipped that for walk-abouts instead.  There were lots of trails and shorelines to explore, plus a stable on the resort with many riding horses, as well as a couple mini's for kids to experience. 

One morning we took a 2 hour "eco-kayak" tour of a neighboring bay, where we again got to see turtles.  It was our first time kayaking; what a great introduction.  The food in each of the restaurants was very good.  We only left the resort twice; once to see the little town of Hale'iva and once to visit Waimea Valley botanical garden.  Loved the garden; the town held no interest for me.  I do love Hawaii.  I'm counting the months until I return to Kona on the Big Island. 

Prelude to Oahu

In preparation for our trip to Oahu, to celebrate our 25th anniversary, I decided, at the last minute, that I would like a journal after all.   I had been going back/forth on this in my mind for a while.  Then I picked-up my order of Graphic 45's new Bird Song collection...and I knew I just had to make stuff with it.  And, while I don't often journal, I have journaled while traveling on our past few trips.  Above is the cover of the special Oahu album...still lots more to make (OH, SO MUCH FUN!).  I started with an inexpensive chipboard album I got on sale a few months ago.  I covered it with Bird Song papers; the interior pages will be made from that collection, too.  I like it so much I had a hard time cutting into the paper.  I bought a 12"x12" pad and a 8"x8" pad.  It is easier for me to cut the 8x8, the size of this album. 

 For every trip I take, I now use a travel folder for my documents.  A couple years ago I came upon a YouTube video that Karla Nathan filmed showing how to make these simple folders.  I have made many, based on the theme of my trip.  They are a terrific way to keep boarding passes, reservation docs, maps, etc handy and organized.  If you want the link to Karla's video let me know. 

 I keep my "immediate need" docs in the center pocket and my future or completed docs on the right. 

Lastly I made myself a bookmark for the hardcover I'm taking:  GONE GIRL.  I am excited to read this as I sneaked a preview and it is riveting.  My vacation schedule?  Sleep, eat, swim, snorkel, read, repeat. 

Prayer Flag

A friend had to say good-bye to a beloved horse this week.  Let me tell you that there is NO BOND LIKE THAT BETWEEN HORSE AND HUMAN.  I wanted to make a little remembrance for her, and came upon the idea of a Prayer Flag here http://justtickety-boo.blogspot.com/2012/08/prayer-flag-swap.html  As with most things I do, this had to develop in my head for a couple of days before I sat down with my supplies.  When I heard this at my Senior Exercise class yesterday, I knew I'd found the perfect words of comfort:  "I honor the place in you in which the entire universe dwells.  I honor the place in you which is of love, of truth, of light, and of peace.  When you are in that place in you, and I am in that place in me, we are one."   (ps  this flag will not hold up to outdoor "flying")

Tim's September Tag - My Version

 Another month and already Tim has produced his tag for September.  I decided I wanted to feature my Dad's custom '36 Ford.  Custom, indeed.  My dad was 17 years old when he bought his car.  He asked Harry Westergard to do the work on the car starting in late '43.  Westergard chopped the windshield a couple inches, built a removable top from a '37 Pontiac, bobbed the front fenders, molded the headlights, etc. etc. etc.  Then when the car was ready for paint...my dad joined the Marines and was shipped out to Guam.  He mailed Mr. Westergard checks from boot camp.  Dad did get to drive the finished car for a few days while on leave.  Then he decided to sell the car when he was offered $1,500, which was a lot of money in those days.  OK...back to "Tim's tag".  I wanted more color for my version so I did not sand off the ink staining.  My rivets and such don't show up as clearly as Tim's do.  I used a hot rod image from Flickr to get something in color, 'cause my Dad's photos from the time are in black/white.  The above illustration and more terrific ones are from http://www.flickr.com/photos/pckstudio/

The middle and bottom photos on the backside of the tag are my dad's car.  The illustration is by artist Robert Williams from an article in a hot rod magazine (don't know date...somebody clipped it out for me).  I tucked a copy of the article into the little pocket I made from the center pic.  My dad's been gone for 12 years now.  Yet I am still able to find many mentions and a few photos of him on the Internet.  He was a well-known drag racer in Sacramento in the '40's.  And a wonderful dad.