today's goals

I haven't blogged in a few days. Busy with work and enjoying the beautiful weather and a day off yesterday. I have so many projects I want to accomplish today and tomorrow. Here in Mass. we have the Patriot's Day holiay. Yeah for 3 day weekends! We'll see how it goes accomplishing my list! Here it is...maybe I'll have a photo of at least one completed goal later...

• sew a pin back on the felted flower to go on the bag I knitted & felted
• make some more cards to stock up and hopefully sell
• complete at least one layout
• start a mini book of images I love
• start the background of a larger mini book
• dust
• make chicken parm for supper
• knit some more of the tank I'm making
• vacuum the apartment
• vacuum out my car
• wash my car

what would I do?

What would I do if I knew I could not fail?

• open up a little store downtown
  
• teach skating to little kids on weekends


• dance. i've always been too self-conscious


• live in California for at least a year...if Cary would join me


• be a graphic designer


• learn to snowboard


• learn to surf


• leave all responsibilities and drive cross country


• anything that lets me be spontaneous, imperfect and irresponsible

inspiration

I broke my creative freeze! I decided to scrap this photo I took recently of the trees...found a quote I that seemed to fit for me and did a little journaling. I tried to keep it simple. Letter stamps, ink, black cardstock and the photo with a white matte. I used Autumn Leaves clear stamps for the journaling circles.

I was on a roll so I started this layout too...

I took this photo in March...it's of the artist's Fitz Hugh Lane's House in Gloucester and a statue in his honor. Next to the statue on the rocks are a sculpture of his sandals and the words, "Step into my shoes and become inspired." I love it. I have always admired his paintings of the harbor and schooners. This layout isn't complete yet. I used a favorite Basic Grey paper as a the background and highlighted some of the flourishes with a black Souffle pen. I want to add some journaling but I'm just not sure where yet.

Then...I did a page in my "Everyday Life" mini album.

I got the idea from Ali Edwards. It is a set of alphabet index card dividers held together with binder rings. I keep it on my desk where I do my stuff and add photos, writing, quotes, pieces of life here and there. This page is a photo of the Valentine's Cary gave me this year...I just put it all down and didn't try and plan too much. Well...now off to watch some trashy reality tv, eat oreos and relax!

freezing. creatively.

I haven't been as good about blogging every day. And I haven't had time to do any scrapbooking. Tonight (after work) I'm going to my muscle conditioning class at the gym. That has been on the back burner for too long also. Maybe when I get home I will do a page. If I set that goal maybe I'll do it! I got some photos back from scrapbookpictures.com yesterday...maybe that will be the inspiration I need. I've been drawn more to my knitting as a creative outlet this past week. But I would like to try some new techniques and ideas I have for a mini book and scrapbook pages....we'll see. After the stress at my job so far this week (it's only Tuesday) it will be welcomed. Hmmm...I also haven't touched my Art Journal recently... See. This is what stops me from doing art sometimes. TOO MANY ideas. I freeze. I need to just set a small goal. One scrapbook page with one photo when I get home tonight. That I can do. and be ok with just that. And stop using "no time" as an excuse. There's always time for something here-and-there. I've been reading Julia Cameron's The Sound of Paper...creative blocks, carving out time, ...and yesterday I read a chapter that talked about preparing for creativity as a way to get past a block. Gathering, organizing, turning to other creative outlets. Sometimes I let my perfectionism get in the way and don't allow myself to do something small and quick or like I said I freeze with all the ideas I have floating around in my mind. So tonight...I'm going to carve out an hour. I will do one scrapbook page with a photo I love that I got yesterday. A challenge for myself.

sunday stuff

So...no scrapping done this weekend...but I did finally felt my bag! (It only took a few years from start to finish!) It probably could have used one more trip through the washer but here it is. It's my first attempt. The flower was done in a knitting class and was also felted and will be attached with a pin to the bag. Thinking about a button or something cute for the flower's center. Currently the whole thing is drying (the silver clip is just to hold one the strap in place because I knitted it a little crooked). I am in the process of making another with the same pattern in a spring green. I also started my brown tank and it's fun because it's a little challenging with a lace trim. I'll take a pict when I've gotten a little further. Right now it doesn't look like much.

I spent much of the a.m. putting away my winter sweaters and taking out spring clothes. So next week it will snow. Murphy's Law! I'm bummed out since I have gained weight some things are a little too small. I'm confident I can get back to myself soon. I took one of my regular walks today and will be able to get to the gym for muscle conditioning a few times next week. Now that school will be winding down I will be able to normalize my schedule.

Well...beef stew is in oven, I have to iron clothes for tomorrow, and maybe I'll do a page and post it later. We'll see...I may get lost looking at other people's blogs!

a weekend for me

I have had so much fun last night and today! Last night I went to the "Yarn Tasting" at Butterfly Yarns with my Mom and left with some yarn to make a summer tank. My goal has been to make something I can wear that isn't a scarf...I will need Mom's help with part of it though. I bought a yummy espresso brown yarn with gold flecks...I think it will be much more flattering than the color shown with the pattern. In the store they had one in a dark purple. It was gorgeous.

Today I took myself shopping in Kittery, ME. Outlets. I got some pants and Spring-y sweaters, etc. Also found something to wear to graduation which I'm excited about. A black wrap dress with 3/4 sleeves. I love it! I am a little bummed though since everything is a size larger than I was wearing. With everything going on I have put myself and exercise on the back burner. I'm dissapointed and don't want to back track on all the hard work I've done in regards to health over the past few years. I need to get back on my schedule. I think that's also why I've been getting sick more often lately. I need to make it a priority.

Hopefully tomorrow I'll get to work on a mini-book I want to start and the knitting project and I'll try and post some picts. And...I will make myself walk as long as the weather cooperates...maybe even if it doesn't. I don't need to be making excuses.

favorite weather

Today the weather hit 71' in Boston. This is my favorite kind of day. Unfortunately I didn't take advantage of it during the day by getting outside of the building at work. But after a quick dinner with Cary, he went off to work and I went for a walk. It was SO nice to get the fresh air and not have to even wear a sweatshirt at 6:00pm. I took a few random photos...this one is of some found objects my dad has lined up on the outside window ledge of the shed.

Tomorrow is the end of another hectic week. My supervisor is sitting in on my class for my eval. I'm nervous, but fortunately I'm not doing a lecture. I'll be reviewing the quiz they took, they are handing in all assignments and then half the class is doing presentations. After one more meeting after class I'm done for the week. Cary has National Guard this weekend...and although I always miss him when he's gone...I'm looking forward to just doing whatever! Friday night I'm going to a "Yarn Tasting" with my mom at our local yarn shop. A cute idea...wine and cheese, samples of spring/summer yarn, and a coupon (to inevitably be spent on yet another knitting project to add to my supply of unfinished projects!). Saturday I'm taking a little of my tax refund and going to some outlets in Maine. I need some Spring/Summer work clothes badly. I do have to do a little work this weekend but not much. It's one of the first weekends without a ton of work that needs to be done! So...since it will be a rainy weekend...it will be perfect for some scrapbooking, knitting, and whatever else I feel like doing! Cary keeps saying to me, "When the cat is away...the mouse will play!" Darn right...I can't wait!