little lady

On friday night we celebrated the life of one of my good friend's mothers. She passed away suddenly last week. There was a small gathering at a local beach where she loved to spend time with her children and grandchildren. It was sad and beautiful.

We really appreciated the rest of our long weekend. The baby and I spent time together on saturday while my husband got together with friends. I went to my LSS and got a few things...a bit of paper, adhesive, nothing too major. The baby can only tolerate so long of me looking around at things she can't grab! That night I did a layout using some Authentique papers and stickers I bought a few months ago. I love them! The photos are from last 4th of July....

I included some journaling written to baby girl. I had some thoughts in my head I wanted to write down for her...

I will post some other layouts I worked on recently later this week. Hoping to catch up on blogs while the baby is sleeping. I have class tonight...first class of summer session two. This will be the last class (hopefully) I need for my counseling license. Ugh. This has been a long hall. Not really excited about going but I plan on making the most of my day at home before class!

Happy Monday!

my other favorite hobby

 My good friend from high school is having a baby boy in April and I'm so excited! I knitted her the placket knit sweater in a really pretty yarn by Sirdar that makes a beautiful fair isle effect.

I knitted the same sweater for baby girl in the 6 - 12 month size and she has been able to wear it since she was little and it still fits her...

I also pulled out an old card I had made out of my stash of cards and bought her a little notebook that says "rest." When Ellie was little I always found having a small notebook around handy for writing down questions for the doctor, feedings, little memories I wanted to remember. I also used a cutout to decorate a plain aqua blue bag and stamped a little giraffe tag...everything was so fun to make and it was neat seeing my original bag among the sea of store-bought bags...many of which I saw at my own shower over a year ago!

Haven't done much scrapping since Friday night I think? So I have a few layouts almost complete to post. Things have been busy though. I'm on spring break from the college so yesterday I sent her to daycare so I could finish touching up the white baseboards. When my dad installed them we never got around to touching them up after we moved in. They look so much better. There are still a few more projects I need to get done but most of them involve my dh or my dad when he feels better.

I also have great news...which I really needed. I got the job! I start in a few weeks. I'm so nervous but excited!

Happy Tuesday!

knitting sneak preview

A sneak preview of my sister's Birthday present I'm working on....my first time doing Fair Isle! My mom taught me...it is so much fun!

Had a really nice weekend. Took my dad out for a walk on Friday, shopping with my brother and sister Friday night and a somewhat extravagent fondue dinner out with my cousin and friends on Saturday night. Today I spent more time with my family for Sunday dinner and gave my sister a ride home. Now it's laundry and a quiet night. I am probably the only New Englander not glued to the Pats game tonight. Hoping to do some more work on my sister's birthday present.

I have not scrapped in months. I really want to. I need to get some photos printed out soon and sit down to work. Maybe in a few weeks I'll have some girlfriends over to scrap...that will help me get back into a groove. I have been spending most of my free time with my dad and family since Christmas. I may still be doing that for awhile. So knitting has been an artistic outlet for me. But I need a little more art of some sort. It is my therapy.

Happy Sunday!

beautiful weekend

my cousin's wedding reception

This weekend was spent racing to get to a wedding on friday night after work. What a beautiful evening! My cousin and I were insperable as children...only a year apart. Countless sleepovers, bike rides, days playing outside, and hours watching "The Neverending Story."

The rest of my weekend was equally wonderful. Spent time having dinner with a friend's family and she taught me how to sew a bit. She even gave me her old sewing machine that she had gotten at a yard sale for $1....

...I feel a new crafting addiction coming on...

weekend nesting

Since it rained yesterday and a beach day was out of the question I did some errands and shopping. I could wander around HomeGoods for hours. And I did. I have really been wanting a white pitcher for flowers for a long time. I like how simple they look. Very pretty. So I found this one for $10 and a set of four quilted placemats for $10. My guy isn't a fan of placemats on the table...he likes the plain wood but he might like it when he sees them. We'll see!

I also got this very cute red ceramic pie dish and wire "caddy" for $10. I got home and made myself a blueberry pie. One of my favorites. I tried a Trader Joes crust and wasn't as happy with it as I thought I'd be. It didn't come out flaky...a little soft. Almost like it needed to be baked longer but that didn't help either. Not sure why. I think it's the first thing from there I haven't been 100% satisfied with...
At HomeGoods I also found these adorable little cards I plan to use as invites when I host Girl's Night in July...

They are vintage-like images of Barbie. I love them! Today I get to see my girls for lunch and the movies. We were supposed to go to the beach originally...but

alas...

today isn't a beach day either! Oh well.

Happy Sunday!

calm after the storm

calm after the storm - waves at the Boulevard

So we rode out the wild storm that came through Eastern Massachusetts last night. Didn't see that coming quite so strong! We lost power last night at 10ish and didn't get it back until 4pm today. My parent's still don't have it...but they have a generator. Pictures I've been seeing of the ocean views here during the storm were crazy! I took one photo this morning of the harbor but it definately looked more like the calm-after-the-storm. One thing that struck me when I drove to work this morning was the amazing smell in the air. Fresh. Like wood and pine trees. There were so many trees and branches down. But we are safe and sound...as are family and friends. Just some cleanup.

I'm feeling grateful about that this week. On Monday we watched a big fire in another apartment building in our complex. Scary. Everyone is ok but two apartments are uninhabitable. I need to buy myself some renter's insurance asap.

I'm very much looking forward to a few days to relax. Cary is going to a gamer thing tomorrow so I signed up for a class at my LSS. It is using Tim Holt's new inks and some interesting techniques on cards. I'm excited. One of my New Year's Intentions was to take one art class a month to challenge myself, learn new things and take time out for myelf.

I hope to post some pictures tomorrow!

TGIF

cabin fever

Finished up my kitchen calendar project yesterday. Used my 7 Gypsies Artist's Printer tray and a Maya Road calendar pieces..and lots of stamps, stickers, cutouts, pop dots, etc. Had fun with it. Worked on each month separately and related the themes to what is going on in our life during that month...holidays, birthdays, anniversary, etc.

Here's a closeup...

It was nice staying in on New Year's Eve and Day but now I'm on day 2 of being home and I have major cabin fever. We are having a 2 day long snowstorm here in Massachusetts. Grrr. I was going to have friends over to scrap but now no-one can make it because of the weather. And Cary worked a 12-14 hour shift yesterday and today. So I'm home alone and going stir crazy! You would think with all these scrapbook and cardmaking supplies, internet, Wii, books to read....I wouldn't be bored. But I need some human contact!

Oh well. My focus for 2010 is ENJOY. So that is what I will try and do. I will leave you with another project I finished last night....a blue cable edged beret....

Happy Snow Day!

vacation project and other stuff

Our tree. There is a story as to why we have a pumpkin under the tree. It is just the longest-lasting-Halloween-pumpkin-ever! We bought that in early October and it is still solid! So we feel badly throwing it away. I don't know how to make pumpkin pie that doesn't come out of a can...

This Christmas was another different one but so nice. Last year was the first year I wasn't living in my parent's garage apartment so I didn't get up at the crack of dawn and open gifts with everyone. Cary and I went over later in the morning. It was nice...but different. This year he had to leave for work at 6:30am unfortunately. So another different Christmas. He and I celebrated and opened gifts on Christmas Eve day. On Christmas morning I went over to my families house after he left for work. So it was almost like it was as a kid. It was nice to feel like Christmas stretched out over a few days instead.

I'm on vacation this week and loving it! 9 more days...
Yesterday I went to my LSS and picked up a few things for a project with some Christmas gift money...and received a $20 coupon in return! Good deal...I'll be back there this week :)

Anyhow I was eyeing this...

and saw a store sample where it was turned into a calendar. Perfect! I just took down the one I made at a class there last year. So I bought some basic neutral supplies....

And I plan on doing each months's square differently while all using the basic neutral base. Adding colorful, meaningful details. Probably using some of the papers and embellishments I have been getting in my Cocoa Daisy kits. I am looking forward to working on this during the week. And it is the sort of project that while it is hanging up in my kitchen I can add to it during the year if I find something that fits it.

Today I am looking forward to spending some much needed time with Cary. He has been working 12+ hour shifts for the past few days. We plan on going to the movies and maybe dinner. And the mall to pick out a new Wii game or two. Last night I met some old high school friends and a local bar and had so much fun chatting. Two of the girls live out-of-state and I hadn't seen them in years.

Happy Sunday!

a christmas girl's night

our tree in the sunshine

Hosted the monthly Girl's Night last night. Had SO much fun preparing and then hosting. I love having people enjoy my food and home. I cooked a big Christmas ham dinner for everyone...apple pie, red velvet cupcakes and lots of cookies. My friend brought a beautiful Christmas punch and we ate, laughed and had a Yankee Swap. It was our usual group but with the wonderful addition of two old friends we recently reconnected with this year. We all went to high school together and have been friends all this time. I loved it.

Some more scenes from the night....

my table decorations...rosemary tree that I hope I don't kill!

Favor boxes I filled with cookies and decorated with an ornament for the girls

Pretty Christmas punch one of my friends made.

Sweets. Cary watched me bake for two days!

Today I spent some time at local yarn shop, visited my parents and knitted. Had dinner with them and now I'm home waiting for the snowstorm and Cary to come home from work. Looking forward to a snow day tomorrow. Hoping to play with my December Cocoa Daisy kit while I watch the snow come down.

Happy Saturday!

saturday and a card

My sister asked me if I could make her a Halloween card to send to her friend who is in England. This was the first card I've made in awhile. I used a variety of stamps, rhinestones, inked paper, and pp squares. It was fun to put together. I had good intentions to make a bunch for friends this year but I haven't been up to it.

Tonight I have an odd costume party/Girl's Night. I have to come up with a recipe that involves pasta...that includes desserts. One of my friend's sister has this Pasta Party every year and we are going this year. I am not motivated to make something. I might end up at the grocery store buying plain old pasta salad! It should be interesting!

Happy Saturday!

great days

summer girl's night at my place

Yesterday was a great day! Started off with a few hours at the beach. Only bummer was that there have been so few beach days I'm still getting roasted on any little spot I miss with sunblock! That's fair Irishness for you.

In the afternoon I got a surprise phone call from Cary. He's doing good and it was so nice to have a longer phone call from him. Then last night I hosted Girl's Night last night. A monthly get-together with my high school girlfriends. It was so fun! I love doing stuff like that and hadn't been able to since my last hosting because of the apartment issues we had. I love cooking and home stuff and having people over and never do. BBQ pulled pork sandwhiches, baked "fried" chicken, potato salad, Greek pasta salad and homemade blueberry pie. It was great!

This morning I sat by the pool for awhile and talked to a few friends and Cary's dad. I never talk on the phone that much but it was nice to feel connected. Tonight I plan on going to my knitting circle and getting some help with my shawl that has a mistake in it. Then my brother is coming over for dinner and DVD watching.

Tomorrow is my last official day of vacation and it has been a nice relaxed one. I hope that I can hold onto some of this positive energy as I start off my work week. So often I get caught up in the stressfull nature of my work and I don't like what it has done to me. I want to hold on to what is important and get rid of the rest of the "baggage."

Happy Sunday!

homesick at home

desert boots

I've been trying to keep busy since he left. It is such a wierd feeling...feeling homesick in your own home. That is the only way I can describe it. I have new found appreciation for women who send their men off to war for years at a time. Especially those who have children. I cannot imagine being in that position. I only have to wait 54 days to see him and we don't have kids yet. And I know he's safe and not in a war. I am lucky. We are lucky. He will be back soon. But it is still hard. It is preparing me for how it might feel if/when he is deployed.

Friday after I left the hotel and he went off to the airport I did some retail therapy at outlets in Maine. Hit LL. Bean and others. Stayed within my budget and got some really pretty things including a few skirts and summer dresses. I rarely wear skirts but do like how easy they are in the summer. Plus Cary loves when I look girly so I figured he'd appreciate them too. I love one skirt in particular from LL Bean...

...so pretty and flowy. Have a basic white t shirt to go with it. Also got a flowery blue skirt and will wear that with just a white t as well. I should own stock in white-t's. I wear them with everything all year round! I know ...boring but they are so easy!

Friday night I went to the paint-your-own-pottery Girl's Night after dinner at a friends. It was fun but I was so overtired from getting up at 3:30 am and getting very little sleep. Saturday I slept in and cooked dinner for my parents and brother and sister last night. It was so nice having them over. We haven't been able to host anyone since January when we had all the issues with the apartment begin. So it was nice to have them over. I'd like to do that again when he gets home.

Today it is rainy and gloomy out. I plan on doing chores: bills, laundry, etc and then going to my knitting circle tonight. I also rented more of Season 1 of Weeds and the movie He's Just Not that Into You. Looking forward to watching that tonight!

Happy Sunday!

nesting and celebrating

June 1st on the Boulevard

Today's been busy with errands and sending Cary off for his last guard weekend before he goes down south for OCS next week. He'll be gone for 2 months and that is starting to hit me. I guess it is good practice for any future deployments we might face. Today I got a few treats/neccesseties for the apartment. Nothing really exciting...a shower curtain, some new throw pillows for the couch, some fun patriotic summer dishtowels. Stuff like that. I love nesting!

Last night he and I celebrated our 3 year anniversary of when we first met this week. Just a quiet dinner at the place we had our first date. Delicious baked local seafood and a quiet night at home.

As for other stuff...

I finished this layout on Monday (scraplifted the layout from one Wendy Smedley did in an old magazine)....hoping to do a few more layouts this weekend. Trying to get some girlfriends together at my place tomorrow to scrap. We haven't done that since this winter and it was so fun!

"First Moose Sighting"

Materials: Creative Cafe tags, really old patterned paper, Creative Images clear tag, Making Memories tiny alphas, brown pen, distressor, ink, American Crafts alphas.

Well I'm off to catch up on blogs and heat up some dinner. Hoping to do some reading tonight. I know...real exciting Friday night! My favorite kind! Started reading One for the Money - Janet Evanovich. Have heard this series is funny...so far so good. A light read.

Happy Friday!

1st layout in 5 months

Materials: Cosmo Cricket patterned paper, DCWV cardstock & patterned papers from thier stacks, Fancy Pants chipboard shapes, Creative Cafe journaling tag, Collage Press journal card (cut to fit the circle and bracket chipboard shapes), Heidi Swapp chipboard alphas, Carolee's Creations dimensional "laugh" flower sticker, Colorbox Chalk in Dark Peony, Fuschia Sharpie, Black pen, Rhinestones, unknown source black rub-on letters.

Here it is! I don't love it, but I do love that I got to make it! I used a lot of my new goodies and some old favorites like rhinestones. Last night was actually another Girl's Night. We had our fundraiser. I forgot how fun glazing pottery can be! When I was in high school I took a clay class and my first job as an Art Therapist I worked in a studio that focused on clay. I love the sculpture aspect. But glazing a peice and working on a design is so fun. I have decided it. My dream business.

Handmade by You: it will be a place where people can come and glaze a peice of pottery and make a handmade card to go with it. Make your own gift if you will.

-or-

Creativity Studio: a place for all ages where they can come and create. Cards, collage, canvases, glazed pottery...keep it simple. Girl's Nights Out, Birthday Party. It could be a studio based art therapy program crossed with a Paint-Your-Own Pottery feel. Similar to my other idea - just expand on the materials while still keeping it simple. Maybe have little designated areas for 4-5 types of creations. Canvas, pottery glazing (Instead of the clay sculpture part I would just do the glazing aspect), cardmaking, and maybe a fourth...hmmm....

Well...back to my real world...

Today I am going to spend some time in the morning trying to get the 2nd sleeve started of the baby sweater. I now have a deadline. May 30th is the shower. Uh Oh! I still need to block it and piece it together and knit the edging and sew on buttons. All of which I have never done. And I am going to Maine with Cary next weekend to visit his friends/family and will probably have no time for knitting!

So tonight at my LYS's knitting circle I will be doing more knitting -less talking :)

Happy Sunday!

the weekend

So I was in the mood to get a few treats on the way home from work friday after a verrrry long week. I found myself some Converse in my color. Aqua. Love them! My sister will be proud - she's always been into Chucks. I also got a pair of jeans and a bright white t-shirt at Target. I wear white t's all the time. And a cute blue-green fun scarf. And some cute earrings. All for not too much money. I love Target.

Yesterday made some of Cary's mom's special recipe Chocolate Chip Cookies. Some for him and some to take over my friend's house. Mmmm. Guess who else will be eating these while she is snowed in today?!

Last night was my monthly Girl's Night. We had dinner cooked by one of the girls and lots of talking and catching up. I was tired and not feeling so well but managed to stay awake through Sex & The City: The Movie...which I saw in the theatre and loved.

I got a pile of blank Strathmore ATC's in the mail that I ordered from Dick Blick. I was running out of the one little assorted pack I had and my LSS didn't have any left. Now I will be set for the rest of the year and the 52Q group. Here are a few others I have worked on in the past few weeks. Some are complete and some I haven't done the journaling on yet. I am not quite up-to-date but getting there...I really do like this project. It's a nice chance to do a little artwork eac week and really think about an important topic. It is very similar to things I incorporate into my work as an Art Therapist only this time it's for me.

Week #4: When I look into my eyes I see....

Front: StampIt square stamp. Denami Design circle of dots stamp. SEI swirl stamp. Various letter stamps. Black pen. Watercolor pencils. Water brush.

Back: Denami Design circle of dots stamp. Autumn Leaves journaling circle stamp. Black pen.

Week # 5: Today I Feel....

front: Date stamp. Close to my Heart date journaling stamp. River City letter stamp. Black pen. Watercolor pencils. Water brush.

back: Watercolor pencils. Water brush. Black pen.

Week #6: If I could do it all again...

front: various letter stamps. Denami Design circle of dots stamp. Hand-drawn flower with black pen, Watercolor pencils and water brush.

I haven't journaled on the back of this one yet.

Later today I might work on #7 and #8 and be right on track...as I sit here and wait for a SNOWSTORM! Cross your fingers that tomorrow will be a snowday for the college...day and evening classes since I teach tomorrow evening...

Also hoping to finish my2nd glove to finish out the pair...

Happy Sunday!

home alone

Trader Joe's tulips and one of my colorful Target dish towels as a mini table runner.

Cary left for guard this a.m so to avoid loneliness and spend some time with my brother we went out for the day. We went to Target, he went to the video game store, had lunch, etc. Had a really nice day. And I didn't spend much. Which was my goal. Aside from the flowers I got some soap, and kitchen stuff I needed in Target and a set of fun, colored dishtowels. Then I went to the grocery store and only went $7 over my grocery budget (between the grocery store and Trader Joe's). It is still a lot for groceries though. I really need to do a little better. I still get things at the store and then realize they are tucked in the back of my pantry. Grr. I hate that. I bought Canola Oil and realized we have two other containers of it I didn't know we had! Grr. These sorts of things are what put me over my budget.

Earlier today I also emailed out my group of friends to see if anyone was up for scrapping tonight. They are all relatively new to scrapping and I usually scrap alone. But I'm lonely and thought, Hey? Why not? But, because it is last minute, no-one can make it. Two may be able to stop by tomorrow afternoon though.

So tonight, I'm by myself. This usually doesn't bother me. I usually look forward to time to myself to do whatever. But not this time for some reason I'm lonely. I feel like I did when Cary and I lived 400 miles apart. When he or I would go home after a visit I felt empty-like. Not because I can't be alone (I was alone for many, many long years) but because I missed him. But since he's lived here I have had an easier time when he leaves for guard. So I don't know what is different this time. I don't even want to analyze myself and try to figure out why. It is what it is. But it has been a fun, long day and I'm tired so I might scrap the scrapping idea for the night and watch some tv or read instead.

Tomorrow a.m. I think I'm going to the movies to see a "chick flick" with my mom and sister. Can't wait! Also need to find my dad a birthday present. Still no luck.

scenes from the weekend...so far

The Topsfield Fair...a yearly favorite for me...

A beautiful clysdale getting a bath.
A peice of art in sand....sand castle.
Cows. Cows. Cows.
Riding the rides. Not an attractive picture but so much fun!
Girl's Night at my house last night. A costume party!

Off to visit my parent's, hopefully unpack winter sweaters and pack up summer clothes, maybe stop at AC Moore and make some cards to prep for the craft fair next Saturday.

Happy Sunday!

girl's night

Every month we do a Girl's Night and take turns hosting at our house. I love making invites when I host. Here's my invite....

I bought the DCWV card sets and stamped and clear embossed the bat stamp which was a bargain at $1 at Michael's!
I also made two more of these topiaries...(this one I made a few months ago)...

They are actually pens. The "stem" is a ballpoint pen and the cap is secured in foam in the ceramic pot base. I got the idea from my supervisor. I'm planning on trying to sell them at my table at the craft fair in a few weeks.

So....last night was Girl's Night at another friends and we had so much fun. But...just got an email from her titled "Urgent." She said her husband ate the dessert I brought and is having a reaction. Apparantly he's allergic to nuts. I didn't know that and feel awful. I didn't make the dessert so I can't be sure it has nuts but it might. I feel terrible. Oh brother....

my sunday

I just got done getting my car washed and waxing it myself. For some wierd reason, I've always taken pride in my cars and love shining them up. I had such a nice lunch in Boston with my friend from college. She is an art therapist also...the only one in her city in Japan. It was so nice talking with her and catching up. It has been a long time.

I took the above photo on my way home from getting my car washed. It's one of my favorite drives with beautiful scenery. A whole different world from the Fenway neighborhood in Boston! I enjoy Boston but really am at home here where it's quiet and full of trees. creeks, the ocean, horses and sky!

happy sunday

I'm ready for a fun day. The weather is absolutely gorgeous. I am meeting a friend from college in Boston for lunch. That was unexpected. She worked with me as an RA my junior year. She was from Japan and moved back there after graduation so I haven't seen or really talked to her since around 1998. Friday night, out of the blue, she called my parent's number looking for my number! She is in Boston for our college's Alumni Weekend. So we are meeting at the college later today. Before I meet up with her I'm stopping at my LSS to get some patterned paper and transperencies to add to a book I'm working on. On the way home I might stop at AC Moore to see what they have on clearance and I have a coupon. I can't spend much but maybe I'll find something else for this mini-book I'm doing.

Yesterday, Cary took me to see Sex and the City. He is not one to usually go to a "girly" movie so I was kind of suprised he offerred to take me. He said he owed me because he's been picking the movies lately. I really liked the movie but it was sadder than I expected. Our picnic on Friday was really nice. The air was getting cooler though so we didn't stay too long. We had fun though and will definately be having many picnics at the beach this summer. He has never really gone to the beach before. I LOVE the beach. It is one of my favorite places any time of year.

Well. Hopefully later I'll post some cards I worked on this weekend and maybe some photos. We'll see!