My Minutia

Come and get your love

That song has been in my head ALL day! Silly! All the "I Never Promised You a Rose Garden" Kits (#20) are all shipped out and on the fast track to the cupid's helpers. Whew. Glad that's taken care of!

I was tinkering around and made a postcard, and then another and another. Here's one I liked a lot and thought I'd give it to you.

You can add a photo, artwork or a quick love note on the left. The postmark is Feb. 14 so it'd be good for Valentine's Day! Download one for yourself here: Download postcardfeb14.pdf

Here's a snazzier one. Download it here: Download postcardfeb14heart.pdf

I know it's a little early but I've totally been in the "Valentine's Zone" lately. Enjoy!

Zoom that was quick.

Hard to believe it's the end of January already. Wow. I just finished the last project for The Winter Bella E-Zine. That was bittersweet!

But all too soon the next 'Zine: Sweet Bella will begin. Before I know it. So much to do, so much to do, eek so much to do to prepare!! Busy week here, but I'm on the case. Not tomorrow though.

Tomorrow morning I will gather spiritual nourishment. Attending a special Mass with my lil guy. I look forward to this day every year. Breakfast and Book Fair to follow. Oh boy!

Row after row, pew after pew, all of the children sit in lines, quiet as a mouse. There isn't a peep to be heard I tell you. How do those teachers get all those children to do that? There mouths do not move, but their eyes sure do and they look for their parents walking in. Eyes meet, we smile and sit together... shhhhh... quiet-ly.

There's just something about watching and listening to the little voices in the microphone. My favorite part. Some read their scripts and notes with confidence, some are overly nervous, some have small voices and some are all too loud. Every voice speaks with respect. All are from the heart and so pure in spirit. It gets me every time. Yup, totally fills me up and warms my heart on a very cold Winter day. Can't wait!

If you have been out and about in blogland this past week, no doubt you've seen posts about A Place To Bark and their exciting opportunity to gain a match for funds if they reach their goal for donations.

A Place to Bark is participating in a challenge being offered Six Degrees, partnered with the Case Foundation and Parade on America's Giving Challenge. The four USA charity badges that have the most unique donors through the America's Giving Challenge will receive $50,000 for their cause.

It's pretty exciting to watch that number rise! They only have through the end of the month (2 days) to collect donations. The details are found at Berlie's blog: Here. I just made my donation. It felt good to do that. Sorta like this boy and his dog. Doing it for them. And for sooo many pups who aren't quite this lucky.

A "Sometimes Something"

Well, guess what? There are some gorgeous kits in my studio right now! I Never Promised You a Rose Garden is ready to go. That's Limited Edition Kit #20, in case you are keeping track.

It's hard to see in a photo, but those stripes are glittered cardstock. Sooo pretty. And no, the glitter doesn't come off and leave a trail! I am in love with stripes...well I always and forever have been, and these neopolitan looking stripes are so great to me. Fun textures. And the roses...well, they speak for themselves!

You can get the full description and details and order it: Here. Kit #20 will be shipping out early this week...all ready to go. * NOW SOLD OUT *

Behind door number 2 you will find details for the next E-Zine; Sweet Bella. I realize I write about the E-Zines often, but they have been so beneficial to me. I love the new routine that's developed. A routine of creating.

If you are a creative spirit, you know how great it feels to be productive! That really changes the whole outlook of my days. I am delighted by how much I've grown creatively. Ya know? Trying new things and reaching beyond my normal scope of techniques. That's invaluable. The subscribers agree with me on all of these points, which makes me so grateful. "Something" is really working here and I love that.

The basic outline for the Sweet Bella E-Zine is that it begins February 4 and every Monday, Wednesday and Friday there is a new project featured. That's 12 projects in all for the month of February.

I try and use things that the average to intermediate artisan would have on hand already. Can't always guarantee that, but most of the time it works. We all have most of the things we are using, and it feels good to be finally using some of that stash!

I can't wait to begin!
But it's pretty critical for me that I take a few days off to get ahead of the wheel and set up the site. Plus, absence makes the heart grow fonder, right!?

OH, one more "ting". The Winter Bella E-Zine will be available online through Friday, February 1. It's been a very popular E-Zine...packed with so many projects I'm really proud of. If you are interested in subscribing to it, you can still do so: here until Feb. 1. To subscribe after that date, email me directly and we can do a Paypal transaction.

Wow, as I look up at all I've written about, it's clear to me that there's a whole lot of creating going on and it feels great. Thanks to all of you who create along with me!

Parenthetically

Hey, that's my new favorite word. Okay so, there are some things rattling around in my head that I thought were high time to post about.

For one, The Winter Bella E-Zine ends soon. Wow. That seems like this month went by so quickly! There are 2 projects next week and then it's over. Awww, man! But lots and lots of fantastical projects were made and it felt so great to be creative and have so much to show for it!

People have been emailing with a few questions. The most popular question being "Will you please do another E-Zine?" Truthfully I've been having so much with this and I still have many ideas for projects that I will be doing another one soon! Stay tuned for the details on the next E-Zine.

Another common question is "How long will The Winter Bella E-Zine be accessible?" Answer: Through mid February. People are still signing up for it and they deserve lots of "access time", so it'll be up for a couple more weeks. Plus I like looking at it, too!

And then onto that Kit I've been working on. Well, things are coming together nicely on the mini batch of Kits. Really nicely! I'm kicking myself now for not ordering more supplies. I'm flipping over it!  I hope you will, too. I'll have more details on that early next week or as soon as I get all the ducks in a row. I can't even wait to show it.

And lastly, today is a special day. Today is Phoebe's Birthday. Happy Birthday Phoebe way over there in Washington state!! Your family is some kinda wonderful as they asked me to wish you a Happy Birthday! Hope your day is extra special! Check your mailbox soon...for a lil birthday sumpin' parenthetically from me. :)

**Edit: The darling necklace in photo was purchased from LuLu Sparkles Etsy shoppe. Love her and her work!

More, please

When my kiddos began babysitting a few years ago, I gave them a few tips from my babysitting days-oh so long ago.

One tip that worked like a charm every time for the 2 sweet girls I babysat routinely: make them a snack and read them stories before bed.

Only trouble was their momma, bless her heart, went to the grocery store maybe once a month? So by the end of the month, snacks were slim pickens in their home. So I'd fill a bowl with little bits of this and that. A couple marshmallows, a handful of dry cereal, a cracker, popcorn, etc. They found it to be delightful and always requested this special snack!

So anyway, it's somehow become a favorite at our house, too. Even when the cupboards aren't bare. Maybe it's that surprise factor? Seeing what's in the bowl? I dunno but out of the blue, my lil guy asks for it about once a week. Cute.

Okay okay, you caught me...I confess. I secretly am just rambling with bits of minutia to justify posting this doodly photo. I have been having a ball with my Bamboo Fun Wacom Tablet. *GRIN!* What a blast. I got it for Christmas and have dilly dally'd a bit with it, but last night it just sorta came together for me....I finally "got it". Mostly anyway. Hooray!

However, if you find yourself in a pinch for being magical whilst babysitting or need to charm a kiddo once in a while...try the bowl of surprises in the story above. For real.

An artist's eye

Hey, by the way, Allie says " thanks for looking at my kissy cat photos and leaving such great comments about them. We couldn't decide which we liked either...so it was fun see what everyone's favs were!"

Again, I do love it when she takes pictures. Any pictures. But you know how it is, her mind and time go into a thousand different directions these days. This morning I noticed that she made a calendar and posted it on her ceiling above her bed. It's a countdown to the first official days of track season. And workouts and conditioning up until then. That was something to see!

Anyhoodle, I started working on a small batch of kits this morning. Key word - started. It's still sitting there! Oh dear. I'm not going to push myself, but if it happens it happens. I hope it does.

And it's snowing again. Oh okay, BIG surprise. Gotta run. I promis'd my son if he brought his gym clothes home from school today we'd go to the cupcake store. He loves those cupcakes so we'll see! It's my last resort besides going in there and getting them myself. Uhm, yeah.....NO.

Her Photo Op

Once in a blue moon she grabs my camera and takes photos. She loves to take pix of her kitty cat kissy cat. I love it when she puts her eye behind the lens.

 

 

(all photos copyright, 2008, Allison McFayden)
 

A few years ago, she won a couple Scholastic Awards for her photographs. I guess she's like me and awards aren't that big of a deal. It's the personal victories that we favor the most. But for now, for today, I'm  enjoying her photos and, of course, her subject. Which one is your favorite?

process and progress

I spent time yesterday looking at lots of the Winter Bella E-Zine subscribers projects on our site. Hundreds of photos to look at and yet only one word. Wow. There is so much talent coming forth and it's great eye candy and inspiration! I will definitely head over there more often. So cool.

This weekend I spent time in my studio making projects for this week and next. Course, had to clean off the table first. It never takes as long as you think, and I felt welcome again in no time. The above is part of one of the upcoming projects.

One thing I have learned after this routine of creating on a schedule is that it gets easier and easier. Ideas flow so much more easily when there isn't a lag between projects. I love love love love that. Seriously. I think the great gals who are doing the projects are learning the same thing, that you just need to take the time to do it, ya know? And it's a blast and afterwards you are holding something in your hands that is a reflection of you and you are proud of it. So that's my profound thinking for the New Year! Reminds me of this quote:

Okay, so putting my feet back on the ground now...ahhhh, there we go. We had a super afternoon with Jim's Sister, The Sister. Always a treat to spend time with her.

We had a fabulous brunch at Granite City, then us girls ditched the guys and went to The Westroads to walk it off all that brunching. Picked up a few things and had a really nice time together!!

The next time she comes to town will be for some major family celebrating this Spring. Oh, I can't wait for Spring. But, right about now, I'll even settle for anything closer to like 40 degrees.

OMG...Patriots vs. Giants in the Super Bowl!!!

i can read her like a book

The high today was a whopping 14 degrees, people. Ridiculous. Much too cold to go out and play.

Definitely a sleep between the cushions of Daddy's chair kinda day.

"But wait! Waita minute here...she opened the door!!! Could she mean....do you think she means I can go out? Is she going out? (NO!).. I could easily make a break for it (sits up quickly and thinks fast)...oh easileeee..."

Miss New Cherry Jubilee Collar is ready to bolt.

Then someone snuck into the mini shoot. These two are inseparable when he's home. Miss Cherry Jubilee makes sure of that. Inside or outside--no matter when he's around.

"Okay maybe I won't go outside. Right now anyway."

601.

Okay, it's 10:25 pm Thursday evening and my mailbox is soooo heavy. Wow, we have a winner!!

My son (number professionale that he is) was the random generator, and picked #229 this evening. To the left is Yvonne's comment! Please email me with your mailing address Miss Yvonne!

There were sooo many sweet and dear comments and that meant so much to me. Of course I read each and every one of them. At least once. How could I not? Who wouldn't?!! I will probably read them again and again, actually.  :) First all the "hey, great hair" comments in post 599 and now all of this blog love. Thanks so much!

And here's to another 600. I promise not to wait that long before another celebration...