Card Organizer

I designed and created this card/organizer in hopes of being better at sending cards on birthdays and special occasions. I used bookboard and covered it with paper for the cover and the book is bound using the Bind-it -All. The front cover has my inital and a frame, both of which I made. The "flap" on the front has a magnetic closure. The organizer includes a page with a pocket to hold cards/envelopes for each month of the year. Included on each page/pocket is a numerical listing of dates with a line beside each, on which to "pencil in" birthdays, anniversaries, etc. for that month. Also, included on each is the birthstone and flower for that month. In the back of the book I created, printed, and included "address book" pages so that I will have them handy when I am ready to mail the cards. This organizer/book was quite time consuming, but very well worth it. I am pleased with the way it turned out!

Pottery Painting

My son's girlfriend ( who by the way is a very talented artist) and I went to Hearts of Clay Pottery in Columbus, NC a few weeks ago and painted pottery there. It was soooo fun and relaxing. This is the plate that I painted. She painted coasters (wish I had a pic). It was a very nice day together as we ate lunch, painted the pottery, and went thrift shopping. I will be going back to paint again in a few weeks with some very special friends of mine, as we have planned lunch and pottery time together.

Card Class

I created these 3 cards for a card class I taught at a local retirement facility for a "Open -House type event they held. Have taught the ladies there at the facility cardmaking for a couple of years now, on several different occcasions and really enjoy those ladies very much. They actually have a lot of talent there, some are painters (watercolor,oil, and acrylic) and some make jewelry, while others knit and crochet. There artwork is beautiful and is diplayed in their art room for sale. I have bought several pieces of jewelry in the past and just recently had my eye on a watercolor painting that I hope to purchase soon. Sweet, Sweet ladies!

Handmade Art Journal

I incorporated paper and fabric in the design of this art journal. I painted the flowers on the fabric with acrylic paints (fluid acrylics) and stamped the butterflies and script with Staz-on ink. The fabric is sewn onto the paper (for the cover) and then the paper is glued onto the bookboard. I bound the book using the Bind-it All and coils. I covered the coil by making a spine out of the bookboard and paper . This book is one of those projects that I definitely WILL do again. Sometimes I just want to meet the challenge, but this book was a lot of fun to create, from making the cover to painting the fabric, even the sewing!

Well, Ain't that the Bombdiggity!!!!.....

And just how much fun was it making this? Way too much!!! Last Tuesday night I went (along with a friend)to The Inman Quilt Cottage and made the "to die for" casserole carrier. So practical and so easy to make. I am not good at sewing, so, I was elated to have been able to make this. Cutest thing ever... so proud of myself.

Next Project...

A quilt. Went to pick out the fabric yesterday with a couple of friends at The Quilt Cottage in Inman, SC. My first time there and it was so much fun. If ever in Inman, need to go in and see the place, it is wonderfully stocked with so much fabric and notions, Becky was so much help and so talented. Now, hopefully my quilt will at least resemble the picture shown, taken from American Patchwork & Quilting, Aug. 2009 issue. But... I will need encouragement along the way, as I have started a quilt or two before and never quite finished them. Starting fresh and anew with this "first time" applique quilt. Now that I have posted it, I HAVE TO FINISH IT, right?!?!! Send me encouragement, and keep asking about it so that I will feel "the pressure" to complete it!!! Will post the progess. Whew!!!! Here goes......

I AM BLESSED!!!

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms!

Thank you Lord, for your gifts, these two wonderful boys, that I love and am so very proud of. Thank you for entrusting me with them and may I, with your guidance, be the example for them that you would have me be. Please help me daily to continue to encourage them, teach them your ways, and be there for them. I ask your continued blessings on them and grant them safety. Amen.

OUR FAMILY

God made us a family. We need one another. We forgive one another. We work together. We play together. We worship together. Together we use God's word. Together we grow in Christ. Together we love all men. Together we serve our God. Together we hope for heaven. These are our hopes & ideals. Give us the grace to attain them, O God through Jesus Christ our Lord.