Winter delights, some layouts, & a RAK

It is so so cold here, but we are trying to stay warm. Bundled up with an undershirt, a long sleeved teeshirt, and another shirt or shawl. At least I am getting to use some of the beautiful knitted scarves and shawls that I have made. I took the above photo after dinner last night - an empty soup bowl - because there is lots of soup making and

baking happening - French bread every other day, banana bread, and chocolate chip cookies.

Sketch #2 of the Scrapgal Back to Basics Sketch contest - come on over and join in. This layout is of Crate Paper (manu of the month and another contest) and old Making Memories diecut paper. Hana looks so stressed, don't you think?

this layout was done for the Scrapgal yearlong challenge of 10 thing lists - the January prompt is resolutions for 2010. the pp is Cosmo Cricket; the alphas are pink paislee, October afternoon, and Making Memories; and the epoxy sticker is K&co. The picture is a postcard of one of my idols, Frieda Kahlo.

I thought since it is the beginning of the year, I would do a little RAK. I have noticed many people doing art journaling or wanting to do art journaling so I am offering 2 books - The Artful Journal - a spiritual quest and Kaleidoscope - ideas + projects to spark your creativity. Just leave me a comment and I will randomly select one next Friday, Jan 15.

Today is quite a bit warmer but then tomorrow is supposed to be miserable so we are enjoying today! Lots of sunshine - I am doing laundry, will finish a painting this afternoon, listening to Charlaine Harris's book Dead as a Doornail on my cd player, going to a gallery opening for a friend this afternoon, and then out to dinner, probably Mexican, tonight. We watched Julie and Julia on Wed night (got it from the library) and loved it. I have reserves in for several other movies and also for the 1st season of True Blood.

I have been hand quilting a quilt at night (so warm and cozy as I lay it over my lap) - I made the quilt top the year after my mother passed - it is made of fabrics that she gave me the last time I saw her before she passed (not really what I would have picked) - I put it away and finally last summer I was able to get it out and finish the borders and now I am quilting it. I think the problem of finishing it was the finality of it all - the fabrics remind me so much of her. I think she would like it. and once I am done, I will show a photo of it.

Thanks for reading and hope you have a wonderful weekend. Try to stay warm and I will be back on Sunday - be sure to comment for the RAK!

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