Magazines and poetry - such joy!

The newest challenge is up at These are a few of my favorite things blog - what is your favorite magazine? I have to admit that there are several I enjoy but my absolute fav for inspiration is Somerset Studio - so of course, that's what my layout is about. I used some Stampington paper (the publisher of SS), some actual tickets, a funky butterfly that someone gave me long ago, and a typewriter transparency. I would so love to have one of my creations published in a tangible magazine - that's one of my goals this year!

And since I won the Scrapping the Poetry challenge last time, I was GD for the blog this week. Be sure to check it out - the poem is really wonderful! Again I used Stampington paper and some funky old odds and ends. Everything just seemed to work together - I had a lot of fun with this one!

This morning I received good news about my biopsies - the one on my hand is precancer and can be frozen but the one on my chest is basal cell cancer so I go in next week to have it removed - no big deal - I had one where my neck is attached to my body removed about 6 years ago - 21 stitches but he did such a super job that you can hardly see the scar. It's so amazing what they can do today! On the other hand, the cost is a bunch and it will be scary to see how much I will have to pay - so depending on the number, we might be eating a lot of beans! LOL!!!!! I just feel grateful that I can get it taken care of - and that I am so healthy otherwise. DH goes down to the VA hospital in West Palm on Thursday for his 3month bladder cancer exam - he feels great and has had no symptoms at all so he is feeling very positive! 

I am finishing up the laundry this morning and have begun to sketch some lilies to paint this afternoon - and hopefully I can finish up the Prima BAP.  The sun is shining brightly and hopefully it will be warm enough that I can open up the house this afternoon. Dan is working at the golf course today and then we are going out for dinner tonight - yum!

thanks for reading and have a super day! and don't forget to check out the challenges!!!!!
Chris

Right now......

As I have mentioned many times, one of my favorite blogs is http://www.soulemama.com/soulemama/ so in that vein, I am doing a "right now" post similar to what she occasionally does------

Right now...
I am drinking a lovely cup of tea and feeling grateful that the sun is warming my studio nicely

I am working on the February Prima BAP

I am healing (hand and chest) from skin cancer biopsies taken last Thursday - but won't know the results until next week

I am enjoying the lovely card and box of dark chocolates that DH gave me this morning - I picked some azaleas from our yard for the table. We will be having leftover fancy turkey dinner tonight (yesterday I fixed a turkey (bought on sale at Thanksgiving) and all the goodies to go with it and have lots leftover - LOL)

I am getting ready to go to the Art Museum (I volunteer in the library there on Monday afternoons)

I just finished reading a wonderful book yesterday - The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley - you will need a tissue for this one!

I did some housecleaning while Hana watched me with suspicion and foreboding - she hates the vacuum cleaner!

I am still doing very well with my "not buying it" goal - I have not bought any clothing, books, craft or art items this year so far - I have won a $15 gift card for Michaels and a $10 gift card for Jenni Bowlin but I have decided to hold off using them until the new CHA stuff is available in March.  I figure that I will have to buy some Prima stuff then too so I can continue to do the BAPs - my supplies are getting low.

I am working on a watercolor still life - a vase of flowers, a lemon, and an artichoke

I am altering an old book that I found at the used book store

I wasn't able to do any knitting this weekend because of my hand but will be knitting again this week

I am working on some projects to submit to magazines (a big goal this year).

Well, that's about it - I enjoyed the Grammys last night - listening to old and new favorites, and being introduced to some performers that I hadn't heard before - I am off to search them on the web.

Thanks for reading and have a super Valentine's Day! I'll be back tomorrow with a new TAAFOMFT challenge and my GD layout for Scrapping the Poetry.
Chris

Inspired by Pink

Just feeling in the Pink right now - I redid my 7gypsies tray with any and all things pink that I found in the studio - some of the things looks almost white in the photo but they are all pink IRL. The actual inspiration point for the whole thing was seeing that ancient Heidi Swapp stamp in my equipment tray - I haven't used it in a long long time but the words are so appropriate  - each moment, together, you, lifetime, memories, and friendship - you might be seeing these on some layouts and projects in the near future!

Also playing with some fabrics for a wall hanging - not sure yet exactly what.

And playing around with altering a purse for spring. I have a Relic bag that I got at a thrift shop a couple of years ago and I was thinking about creating a canvas and fabric cover for the fabric outer on it - then let the leather trim show at the top - I have pretty well figured out the logistics - now for the design - I like the idea of the strips of fabric coming up from the bottom (like the infamous Fossil bag with the birds on it) but I want to put my own spin on it - not sure yet just what to do, possibly some funky embroidered flowers - hmm........

And making progress with the Shalom cardigan

And reading the coolest book, Prospero Lost by L. Jagi Lamplighter - it is the coolest mix of literary fantasy with Sam Spade style mystery - just picture Miranda from Shakespeare's The Tempest talking on her Smartphone!

Lots to do - stay warm and thanks for reading.
ttfn
Chris

Hearts to you

Hearts, flowers, candy, and jewelry - what do these things make you think of?

I have a collection of heart-shaped candy boxes from past years (hopefully I will be receiving another one this year!?) and some heart jewelry that is very special to me. I bought this silver and turquoise pendant at the Jacksonville Museum of Art quite a few years ago, and it's still one of my favorite go-to pieces - it works as well with jeans as with more dressy things.

Hope you are having a great week!

Chris