Friday, September 30, 2011

Just a Photo Today

Do you ever just spend time on your compuer googling photos?  I do.  It can really suck my time, but I enjoy it.  I do it while I am watching tv.  Today I googled "lush yards" and this is one of the photos that came up...
I love it!  I love the messy, yet green-ness of this yard.  I think I could be safe in saying it probably isn't in Arizona, although it could  be - you know, an older part of the Valley.  Just this photo today.  Have a great day!

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Thank you, Carlos and Celina!

I understand this is not Celina's interest, but she knows that I absolutely LOVE Project Runway - although I have to say I am a little disappointed in this season's challenge (to put it mildly).  Last week was pitiful.  Celina takes my card classes whenever she can and on Saturday she surprised me with this:
 It is a Project Runway pin cushion!  Now I ask you, how cute is that??11??
 It comes with a little storage area attached to the base...
and a tape measure with it's own holder.  
Celina and Carlos, thank you!  I absolutely love it!

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Teresa's cards

Teresa signed up for my sewing class, but recently started nursing school and had to do homework and study.  She came for about half an hour, cut some paper and put some cards together.  Sometime later she finished the cards by stitching on them.  They are very cute and I still love this line by Crate Paper.
Thanks, Teresa, for sharing!

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Early morning excursion

On Friday night, I checked out Craig's List for possible estate sales in my area.  I found one that said it opened at 6:00 on Saturday and everything had to go.  I thought "I'm usually up at that time, but I'll just play it by ear."  I woke up at 5:57 AM, and as my car's clock proves, I was on my way by 6:15 a.m.  Not bad.  I even brushed my teeth.  I would not have called it an estate sale, though.  It was more of a "we just got married and are consolidating our homes" sale.  I bought a tower fan, silverware, and kitchen shears.  Not bad for $10.  I was able to get to another estate sale and I bought a Corningware electric skillet.  I didn't even know they made those, but I was totally intrigued.  I need to find a 10 x 10" corningware skillet.  Then my life will be complete - just teasing.  I have faith I will find one.
I am having fun sifting through other people' stuff!

Monday, September 26, 2011

Saturday's Class

was a lot of fun - kind of got off to a slow start - there was a lot going on in the store, but once we went through one card together, they were able to work on their own.
Above are the kits and place settings waiting for everyone when they entered the class.
My favorite mother-daughter team:  Carol and Brooke.  I think it is nice how they spend time together every month at my card class!
Sue, Greg, Celina (only half of Celina - clear to the very left of the photo), Valerie and my sister, Susan.  Susan is the one at the end of the table on the right side.  No one in the class was aware that she is my sister - until about halfway through - and they were surprised.
It was a nice class and I always enjoy my time with everyone to catch up on what they have been up to.
Take care!

Sunday, September 25, 2011

I am so very jealous!

Nicole very early this morning headed out to an estate sale.  She got some great - and I mean great - finds!
In the first photo, it looks like there are corks, tupperware containers, a door knob, outdoor knobs, chains, a picture of an indian chief, a sink stopper thingy (I could have made her a deal on one I have), and more.  Wonder what she will do with all of that???
These next items were a steal!  The Royal portable typewriter looks to be in excellent shape.  The suitcase was only $3 - they obviously didn't know what they had.  And the trunk was only $8 - another good deal and it looks to be in great condition.  Now, Nicole, what will you do with all of this stuff?  Keep it in your trunk maybe?

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Lunch with a friend at a nostalgic restaurant

This week I was able to get away and go to lunch with Mary, who I have known since my work days at Sanders & Parks.  That has been a long time ago - happy memories, though.  Mary now works at Jones, Skelton & Hochuli - she just celebrated one year!  She had never been to McGurkee's Sandwich Shop (now it is an Italian Kitchen), so I thought I should take her there.  It is located at 15th Avenue and Thomas.  I tried to find the history of McGurkee's and the only information I could find is that it has the same owners since 1978, maybe before. 
They have a new sign and now offer pizza and pasta at night.  The old/regular menu is still offered at lunch.  The Super Sicilian sandwich is wonderful!  Half of one is more than enough.
This is the new patio.  We sat outside under an umbrella.  It was a little warm, but nice to be outside out of what I call "canned air."
Meet Mary.  I apologize for the dark picture, but we were sitting under the umbrella.

Friday, September 23, 2011

Kit cutting time

This week I've been getting ready for my class this Saturday.  I have been cutting kits.  I need bigger a bigger room for this project.
One card done, four to go.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Stitched pumpkin

Adriana knows how much I love to sew paper on paper, so whenever she sees something interesting in a magazine, she sends it to me.  This pumpkin is entirely cute!
I think she said this one was published in Scrapbooks etc.  This would be really cute on a card front, too.
Happy sewing!

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Weekend's Tasks

I decided this last weekend I would put some effort into hanging pictures/photos, and pushing around furniture.  I guess that means I am staying...
I have always wanted to take a wall and cover it - I mean COVER IT with photos of my girls.  I never did it at any other home, so I decided to start here.  I like hodge podge (in just about everything), so my frames don't match, the photos are different styles and different times.  The wall is small, but I can see myself expanding it over the door frame.  So glad I did it.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Before...

This is what my craft table looked like before I started cleaning it up.  I am so bad about pulling stuff out, then more stuff, and even more stuff, until finally I can't see the wood of the table.  So this next picture is the "After" ...
It's better.  Before I started my next project, I had to clean it up - at least somewhat.  The bad part is that once I see a nice clear spot, I want to start working.  I don't think it ever gets cleaned off 100%.  Anybody else like that?

Monday, September 19, 2011

Something from the dollar store...

I occasionally will drop into The Dollar Store and just see what kind of craft, specifically wood, items they have.  Here's what I found this week:
I think these little wood flower pots are so darn cute!  They stand about 7 inches tall.  They are completely made of wood and don't look cheesy at all.
I used scraps from the Little Yellow Bicycle "Twig" line and covered the flowers and pots.  I ended up painting the stems and leaves.  They are actually picture frames, but if you don't want to put a picture in there, they look nice with contrasting paper in the middle.
I think these were a great find ~

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Reminder of Next All Occasion Card Class

My next AOC card class at Paper Vineyard is set for Saturday, September 24, at 1:00 p.m.  The class consists of TEN cards (2 each of 5 designs) and the cost is $25.  The samples are as follows:
The theme is "Holiday Cards" and we will be making cards for three different holidays:  Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
I chose Cosmo Cricket paper lines for all three cards.  This is the new Dear Mr. Santa Claus line that was just very recently released.

 This one now has a saying on it "Treasure the Memories."  I used CC's Nutmeg line.
And this last card line is one of their older Halloween lines, but I actually love it!  I am especially crazy about the black crow card.  We are using the "joy fold" method for each of these cards.  I think you will like it.
Hope to see you there!

Saturday, September 17, 2011

We made our own mini Junk Bonanza

You remember my friend, Nicole, right?  Here she is 2 years ago... at Scrapfest09 with our friend, Cindy (on the right).  We went to Scrapfest10, along with stopping in at another event called Junk Bonanza.  We absolutely loved that!  There was so much cool junk and we were not prepared for that.
We talked about making it an annual event, but this year we made the decision not to go.  
And can you guess it?  Yes - we are s-a-d, with a capital "S."  We mentioned it once and no more.  It is what it is.
There is a story here.  On Nicole's way to work today, she passed a house that was open for an Estate Sale.  So she dropped her girls at school and headed back.  She bought something, I don't even know what.  She has promised me pictures.  So I twisted her arm, just a little, and we went on our lunch hour today.  Here are my purchases:
I think the basket is a picnic basket.  The metal racks came off of a peg board, an old spring loaded wrench, camp fire coffee pot a roll of rusted wired, rusty tongs, and an outdoor faucet.  Ooooh.

Not sure what I will do with these, but if nothing else, I will get a small piece of peg board for the craft room.  I think I could also stand up cards in them.  Maybe a great place to put Christmas cards as they come in.
A plaque that said "I need tender loving care.."  I can do something with that.  A book about sewing, 45 records, and a piece of tin that was hinged and folded flat into a tri-fold.  I am not sure about what to do with any of this, but I am excited about the possibilities.
Here's the inside of the book.  I really do like it.   It is so dated.
This faucet is a great find.  I want to use it on my rustic bird house.  I have also seen photos of bracelets made with them.  I am still gathering things for that.
So, Nicole and I made our own little "Junk Bonanza" right here in Phoenix.  We had a great time.  And I hope to share Nicole's great finds - I am just waiting for photos.

Friday, September 16, 2011

What are your favorites?

I just LOVE used book sales - you get such great buys on books.  You just can't beat the prices.  In my office building, there is a group that holds a used book sale once, maybe twice a year.  The proceeds go to a charity.  This is what I bought this time for $9:
Nelson Demille wrote my favorite book ("The Charm School") and so I felt very comfortable picking Plum Island and The Lion's Game (which is a book on CD - looking forward to that).
The others, I have no idea if they are good are not, but the covers caught my eye.  Anyone ever heard of any of these?  Or even read one of them?
I would love to hear about some of YOUR favorite books.  I am always looking for good books to share with my book club.  Happy reading!

Monday, September 12, 2011

Sunday's Sewing Class

may have been small, but we had a great time.  I had Gayl...
and Colleen...
This is Gayl's work - her first layout - not quite finished...
and this is the back of her project.  She used varigated thread and the back of her layout was just so pretty.
One of her cards.... in progress...
 Colleen's finished projects are below.  
Thanks, ladies, for a wonderful class.  We were able to do quit a bit of visiting while we stitched our projects.

Sunday, September 11, 2011

A somber day...

Ten years.  My heart goes out to the families of loved ones lost on 9/11.


 
I cannot imagine what that day must have been like, but I have been thinking about the multitude of people who were affected on this day.  We will always remember.

Saturday, September 10, 2011

One hectic and productive day...

Dinner in crock pot - check.
Take car to repair shop - check.
Dental appointment at 9:00 - check.
Pedicure (killing time waiting for car to be done) - check.
Pick up car - check.
Take car to Discount Tires to repair tire with nail in it - check.
Back home to pick up dinner and let dogs out - check.
Pick up Kate and Kim and head to Peoria for dinner - check.
Dinner with in-laws - check.
Back home for some card making - check.
And - finally - some finished cards...
These cards are/were for August's Card Exchange at Paper Vineyard Scrapbook Store.  You might remember the theme was ribbons and lace.  Many of us could not make it, so we actually didn't meet, but will exchange these cards later this month.
I love the white gathered stuff - it has like a thin spongey feel.  Actually is it like the pieces of thin foam that we used for perms when I was a kid.  This actually came from Claire's Boutique on a roll.  You can see from the photo below that it has a shimmer to it.
I am so excited to be done with September's cards.  My normal routine is to do them the week before they are due, so this is a real treat for me.  September's theme is, as you can see, Halloween and something else.  I obviously chose.  

I decided to make it easy on myself and use the ready-to-use die cuts by We R Memory Keepers.  The paper line is really cute.
Some of them I embellished with Stickles.  It really added a nice look to the finished card.
That's all for now.  I have a sewing (on paper) class tomorrow, and I will be sure to share more photos.
Good night!