Sunday, November 8, 2009

A little gratitude and some ramblings

This past week has sped by - so busy! but yesterday I just stayed home and haunted my studio creating up a storm. In fact, I was so engrossed that when Dan came home from golf practice at 2pm, I still hadn't eaten - I admit I was getting a little weak. LOL! I made this gratitude journal yesterday - it came together so serendipitously - earlier in the week I was looking through some boxes of older photos, actually looking for holiday photos, when I opened a photo box and discovered that it was half full of old (2007 and earlier) scrapbooking supplies - what a treasure! and then yesterday morning I was catching up on some blogs and saw the Halloween mini book idea on the Year of Color blog. The creator had altered pages from a vintage photo album - well, I had found a repro of a Victorian album at Goodwill for $1.99 a while back. I dug it out, selected some pages, cut it apart, and then the fun began. I sanded down the pages as they were a heavy heavy stock with printing and gloss, then I painted them with tan acrylic paint dabbing it on with a dry brush to make it look like the discoloration of an old book, then I inked the edges very liberally. I sprayed on a little coffee glimmer mist but it would not hold properly so I wiped it off. I taped the pages together with mailing tape and then covered that with masking tape which I glimmered misted. I selected photos or ephemera (copies of some of my vintage postcards that I got from my grandmother) for each page, piled on the embellishments, stamped some images, added flowers, etc., and finally journaled.

I can't seem to get blogger to take more than 5 photos so the back cover is not here. that's where a lot of the journaling is located. This was a super fun project and I plan to place the journal on my entry table with some candles and other Thanksgiving decorative items. the journal is very heavy card so it will actually stand up.
Yesterday I also finished the next 3 layouts for These are a few of my favorite things challenges but no peeking........and I finished 2 layouts for Harlee-Quinnz Designs which I will post both here and on the HQD website tomorrow. As I said, I was totally obsessed.

I have also been finishing some projects for the holidays, one of which is above. This is a quilted wallhanging that I pieced (I think) for the holidays in 2006 but never finished - but ta da! now it is finally done. I also finished a holiday tablerunner and will show that later this week along with my autumn leaves table runner that I made several years ago. I began cutting out fabric for some Christmas presents yesterday as I suddenly realized that I need to get them finished so I can mail them out early.

A few ramblings - I discovered a new favorite tv show thanks to another blog mentioning it (and I apologize because I cannot remember where I read about it) but the show is called Man Shops Globe, and it is on the Sundance channel (which we get for free from Directv). The guy is a buyer for Anthropologie and he goes to different places around the world selecting items, getting inspiration, and even creating things. Yesterday the show was about India, and next week's show is about London. I can hardly wait!!!!!!!!
I have been reading quite a bit lately and thought I would offer a few comments about books that I liked or disliked -
9 Dragons by Michael Connelly - typical Harry Bosch mystery but super fast paced
Twenties Girl - Sophie Kinsella - I really do try to like her books but her heroines are such idiots that I have a difficult time with them - I loved the Undomestic Goddess but normally I don't read her stuff.
Doomsday Book - an older fantasy/sci fi that is brilliant - I love the idea of time travel
Blogging for Bliss - I read about this book in the summer and recommended it to the library - they just got it, and I am learning so much about blogging and business related to blogging. the author, Tara Frey, has spotlights on many fabulous blogs (some of which are my favs) but there are so many new ones (to me) that I plan to spend several evenings just checking them out.
I have seen the magazine Artful Blogging at Booksamillion, but it is so expensive I haven't bought one (don't you think magazines are expensive any more - and did you notice that Somerset Memories is now semiannual not bimonthly? I saw it last weekend at BAM and realized that I was familiar with quite a few of the scrappers - so creative and such beautiful creations!)
Along the same lines, yesterday I read Dina Wakley's blog where she shows the stencils that she has been using for her art journals (I always wondered where the images came from) - I will definitely be adding that book to my holiday list (Brian asked me for a list yesterday when we talked on the phone. He likes to shop early either where he lives or online, and books are a perfect thing to put on the list - they're easy!)
So, I just realized that I have been rambling for quite a while (did I catch this from Julie, my boss at TAAFOMFT????LOL!) - actually it's the way I think and talk. Sometimes I will be chattering away and Dan looks at me like WT...... - because I move so quickly from subject to subject. Oh well.......
ttfn and have a fabulous Sunday!!!!!!!!!





12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow..Chris that mini is so absolutely amazing..love it all the way...just brilliant!!All those techniques!!
Love your quilt too and you are just like Julie rambling away...LOL...love to read it!!!
Have a wonderful day!

Julie Tucker-Wolek said...

Rambling from Julie...what a concept!!! LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL!!!! U know.....since I am friends with Dina.....I have seen her work several times.....another thing I KNOW she does.....she puts paper towels down when she is misting.....and of course they get messy from the mist....and then she USES them on her lo's....the messy paper towels that is!!! LOL!!! It looks soooooooooooooooooooo awesome!!!! U should try it......AMAZING to see I tell U.....and love love love love love love love love love love that quilt and the book!!!! AMAZING!!!!!! WOW WOW WOW!!! Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh and U might want to hold off on creating anything for the next few days...lol....the BOSS just might have sent U something to help U along U know :):):):):):):):):):):):):):) Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh and that book list might get longer too!!! LOL! :):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)

Julie Tucker-Wolek said...

PS....look through Dina's older lo's on SIS or on her blog to see what I am talking about with the paper towels! :):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)

Jenneke said...

Hi rambling Chris, lol!
I LOVE this post, so much fun to read! And to see: that mini is gorgeous and so is your quilt!!
Oh, and that book of Dina is going to be on my list too, I so love her work!!!!!

Wishing you a wonderful week!!

XXXJenneke

amytangerine said...

gorgeous pages and quilt!!

sarah said...

HAHAHAHHAHA!!!! i think you got the rambling from BOSS! LOL... but that's okay because i love to read what you write about! :)

that quilt and that book are sooooooooooooooo incredibly gorgeous. i wish i had your style! :)

hope you have a wonderful week, friend!

hugs,
sarah.

McMGrad89 said...

Well, I did notice a frenetic pace to your post, but nice nonetheless. The quilt is gorgeous. I clicked on it and the detail is fantastic.

Thanks for sharing your journal...I keep saying I will get started on one, but I think having my four year old in my way has kept me.

Best wishes,
Annemarie

Deana said...

The gratitude journal is gorgeous & that quilt is beautiful! You certainly have been busy!

Hope you have a GREAT week, Chris! :-)

Marit said...

How come I missed this post? Sorry, I'm busy and getting old maybe??? Anyway, such a gorgeous mini and that quilt... OH MY!

kate blue said...

rambling is good...I'm off to check out some of the things you mentioned and to update my amazon wish list :)...gorgeous projects-my fav is the journal of course!

Cassie said...

I like your ramblings...your projects are amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have never heard of that show but now I too want to watch it.
=)

mojodawn said...

Oh My Gawwwwd! That's the most beautiful quilt I have ever seen! Gorgeous!