Hold Dear

Happy Friday...

What a lovely day!!! The sun is out, it's payday, AND I got to leave work early for a orthodontist's appointment. Out of all these happy things, I'm the most excited about the latter. I'm going to be getting braces and today was the day they did the X-rays, impressions, and pictures. Yee-haw! I get braces on 8/8/08...that date just has a magic ring to it! :-)

Because of this appointment, I am now home early, ergo, I'm blogging!!! Yay! It may be slow and not as frequent, but I really think I can get back into this AND still manage to balance all the other important things I need/want to do in my life.

I got a chance to sort through some pictures I took of the Jewel of the Sea Pendant Swap I participated in. This was hosted by the lovely Heather of Speckled-Egg. I have been promising myself for months to NOT join in any new swaps but so far that hasn't been workin' out so good for me. Especially when a theme like this comes along!!!

Here is the front of the pendants I made...

The back...my soldering's getting a little better.

And here's a picture of all of the pendants. I took about 10 of them and hamburgers! if they all didn't turn out blurry. Here's the least blurry...

I still wanted to show this because I've realized that's one of the reasons I love swaps so much, I LOVE seeing things in quantity!

And speaking of quantity, I wanted to show you a recent Garage Sale find. Now, mind you, most people won't get this...but I know there are a few of you out there that just might...

A box FULL of small screws, nuts, bolts, and washers. Sigh. After just finishing up two grungey charm swaps (with one more still to do), this box spoke to me. It said "take me home!"

This is SO my next Moo card...

In other news, I'm volunteering at CAT tomorrow morning. Gosh I SO enjoy working there! For any of you local peoples, this weekend is CAT's Under the Big Top (UTBT) event. It's kitten season, you know and  UTBT is a very large scale kitten adoption event. Do you or anyone you know need a kitten or a big kitty? Come on over!!!

Other than UTBT, not too much on tap for this weekend, which is probably good. It's supposed to be HOT over the weekend. Tonight, for Friday Night Date Night, Glen and I are going to try to get tickets to see Avenue Q. Looks fun -- and naughty! It's supposed to be like Sesame Street for adults! I'll keep you posted.

Have a LOVERLY weekend...and see you soon!

my goodness...

You'd think I forgot how to blog. It sure feels that way. I have pictures and lots to share but...I guess I just haven't had the motivation to sit and crop and all that jazz. So for today, I'm just gonna type. I just need to break my streak of not blogging! :-)

Let's see...what's going on...I've been super busy having fun with LOTS of swaps. I think I am just about over my obsession with charm swaps. I got stuff in the post today for two swaps I joined. Heather's Jewel of the Sea Pendant Swap and Amanda's Diamonds and Pearls Charm Swap. I've also received my charms from three different Charmsters swaps I participated in and there are three more charm swaps on the project table. And holy moly, can I tell you I've made some MAJOR scores at thrift shops and garage sales lately?! So I really have LOTS to post about! I guess this is just a phase I'm going through where I'm happy being a spectator of other peoples blogs and websites.

One quick thing to mention...I made the decision to get back to working towards my degree in the Fall. My "take a term off" has turned into over a year. So that means I seriously need to kick things up a notch and finish all the projects around the craft room and house. This house is in a sad state right about now. Even Mr. Hold Dear has mentioned how "untidy" the house is...not his actual words. :-) So I think it's time to start striving for some balance.

Okay, hugs and hugs to you...see ya on the flip flop! I hope you're having a lovely summer.

happy summer!

...and happy summer solstice!

I have been in SUCH a good mood lately! SO much joy in my life. My husband, my girlie, my family, my friends...just lots and lots of love. And I know I haven't talked much about my Weight Watchers adventures but just thought I'd casually mention that I am down 17.8 lbs so far! I'm pretty happy about that and that happiness just can't help but filter out into the rest of my life.

We finally got sun here in Portland! And what perfect timing...not a whole lot going on this weekend so I'll be able to get outside and enjoy it! Don't you just love that? The plan is to stay close to home...sleep in, hit some garage sales, go for some walks, catch up on the bizillion artsy projects, do some housework, and oh there's so much gardening to do!

And I started my weekend off right by venturing over to SCRAP and collage after work. Perfect timing because then I also got to have a visit with the fabulous Maria, although it was all too brief. :-)

I also hope to catch up on some bloggin' this weekend. I have lots to show you...more charms, and some super finds from thrifting and SCRAP! I've just been too lazy to take pictures!

Okay, I gotta get...we're heading over to a neighbor's house for a firepit party. I'm looking forward to just sitting around, drinking a Corona or two (how many points is that?), and visiting with our good pals.

Cheers and hope you have a GLORIOUS weekend!!!

picture from Heidi's 60th birthday party

what a wonderful weekend!

This has been one of those extra fabulous weekends...from start to finish!

Friday was a GORGEOUS day and I got to leave work early! LOVE that!!! I came home, picked up Miranda and we went out for a few errands (Goodwill, New Seasons) and then a quick meal at Pastini. When we got home, she finished up all the amazing cooking she'd been doing all day in preparation for Glen's homecoming. He'd been out of town for the week and to start off his Father's Day weekend, Miranda prepared lots of goodies!

In addition to the amazing pasta sauce and homemade chocolate chip cookies, she also made him a strawberry pie.

Miranda baked it and it turned out like a strawberry cobbler. She also made fresh whipped cream to go with it. SO GOOD!!!

Our Saturday was a very full day. We headed down to Eugene to attend a graduation at U of O.

The graduate...

Karen got her BA in Architecture. I am SO excited for this young woman! I remember when she was in high school and when her mom and I would do our annual garage sale, she would sit and doodle floor plans. Just as a hobby. I used to do that too so I just have so much admiration for her to see that she has taken her avocation and turned it into an occupation. It makes me so proud of her! I made her a little necklace as a graduation gift...

When I gave it to her I told her that SHE will always be the key to her success. :-)

And aside from the crazy allergy attack I had being in Eugene, we just couldn't have asked for a more perfect day...

I did NOT alter the color of the sky! This is for real!

After attending Karen's graduation, Glen and I stopped in to visit a very special bloggy friend. I was absolutely thrilled to get to meet and hang out with Jana and her family! We had such a lovely visit! Jana's husband, Brad, was just marvelous too and, of course, he and Glen hit it off with all their nerdy chit chat about machinery, motors, etc.

In thinking back, I sure regret that I didn't take pictures of Jana's house! It was so gorgeous! Just so  charming and so colorful! I just didn't want to come off like some crazy woman and come into her house for the first time and start taking pictures of her fabulous studio, amazing work and all the terrific artsy touches throughout her house and garden! Maybe next time. :-)

The four of us went out to dinner at a GREAT restaurant called Fireworks. Just terrific, great food and even greater drinks! Upon Jana's recommendation, I tried the Passionfruit Margarita. Oh. My.

Here's a picture of Jana and I. I though for sure I took more pictures but this was it! THANK goodness this lone picture turned out okay!

Okay...that's it for now. I hope you have a GREAT week and I hope you and the fathers in your life had a sweet day!!!

June 12 of 12

Another 12th of the month and another chance to join Chad's 12 of 12 party. To see who more 12 of 12 party goers, visit here. :-)

The story of my day, in 12 pictures...

I got to the bus stop about five minutes early and I didn't want to get out of my warm car just yet. Sigh...I think my car driving days are numbered with gas prices the way they are, I think next week I need to bite the bullet and start getting up the necessary half hour early so I can walk to the bus that will take me to the bus that will get me into town. Oy!

I usually get off the bus at the PSU stop. It adds another two or three blocks to the walk to my office, which is a good thing, and it's also makes for a lovely start to my day. Especially this morning with the roses in full bloom along the South Park Blocks.

And it also takes me by this Portland icon...

Snack time at my desk...

Oh! So since it's Thursday, you get to meet a few members of the Taco Salad Gang! :-)

 

Then for break, I met up with my cute friend, Melissa, also a member of the Taco Salad Gang. I FINALLY passed to her a circle journal from a group that we're both participating in.

BTW, the tall glass of Heaven sitting there is my crack in a cup Red Cane Cola from Seattle's Best. Sugar-free, no whip, splash of soy...SO GOOD!!!!

When I got home from work, it was SO gorgeous out so I thought I'd stroll outside to see what was going on, garden wise. I took the wild animals with me (Bastian and Atticus), thinking they'd just hang around me. Wrong! They immediately headed straight over to our neighbor's yard...you know, the one doing the landscaping with all the rocks and big machinery? The dangerous one? Yeah, that didn't last long.

I'm guessing that tractor must have run over a mouse or something. So once I wrangled the cats back inside, I spied around the garden a bit. The raised beds are starting to come alive...

 

Dinner time...Chinese Chicken Salad, hold the chicken but then add the faux chicken. Ridiculous, I know...but the faux chicken makes such a superb delivery mechanism for the salad dressing! I caint resist!

Laundry...ugh...

Okay...once I got a few chores done, I was able to do what I've been waiting for all day...CRAFTS! Tonight I finished up a jewelry organizer that I started Monday night. I saw this cool chick make a Halloween Inspiration Board back in September and I thought that would be a perfect way to display, ergo, organize my jewelry. I totally LOVE how this turned out!!!!

And lastly...glorious tea time which means I am DONE for the day!

Hope you enjoyed your visit and hope to see you next month. Cheers!

rose festival

This past Sunday was the last day of Rose Festival so Glen and I decided to go down to the waterfront to take a stroll. I didn't think I would be up to it because I volunteered at CAT in the morning but after a quick rest and some pasta, I was ready to roll.

Oh real fast...at CAT, I completely fell in LOVE with this kitty big time. Sweetest thing. If you know of anyone looking for a loving, cuddly companion, Taggart is your boy!!! He is FIV positive so he can't be in a home with other cats. If he wasn't, he would have come home with me...in.a.heartbeat. Glen doesn't know about me and Taggart...yet. :-) I did get some tears of happiness because I got to see this sweet kitty adopted! What a story with this fella!

Okay, back to my weekend...since Glen had to go out of town before he had a chance to go through the photos from Sunday with me, I thought I'd share a few of my favorite pictures here since I know Glen checks this thang occasionally! (Are you there, honey?)

Memorial titled "Ghost Ship" along the Vera Katz Eastbank Esplanade.

Looks like Gilligan lost his hat.

   

Beautiful beautiful day. The mountain was WAY out!

And of course, the obligatory self-portrait of us standing on the Steel Bridge.

See you lovelies later! I'm gonna go water the garden now so I can release our lady bugs at dusk. :-)

Just peachy...

First, I wanted to thank you for all your sweet comments about the charms and especially the pencil charms on my last post. You are just the sweetest friends!

I had several things that I was supposed to do this afternoon but with the exception of grocery shopping, I pretty much just bagged everything. Just so many fun things to do around the house and so I decided that I didn't want to go off and do anything I didn't want to. It kinda felt nice.

This evening; however, we are doing something that I've been looking forward to for awhile! Tonight is the birthday party of my dear, beautiful friend Heidi. Glen and I attended a birthday party for her about two years ago and blogged about here.

As a gift for sweet Heidi, I made her a soldered pendant. I used the words that a wonderful artist, Beth, had used for a gift for Little Melfie.

These words are just so true of Heidi.

Okay...so close up like this, the soldering looks a mess! In real life it doesn't look that bad, I promise! Here's the little prezzie all wrapped up...

This project was fun because I FINALLY remembered to use my own art in projects like this! For the front, the picture of the woman is from the Mermaid Circle Journal LO I made and then on the back is a picture of a peony from my garden sitting on top of an altered paper that was also from a circle journal LO.

So Heidi's party is a potluck and we are supposed to bring a dish that reminds us of Heidi and then be prepared to tell the story. I really wanted to take a big taco salad because when Heidi and I go out for lunch, we almost always go to Qdoba and Heidi almost always gets taco salad! But for a potluck, I just didn't think people would appreciate eating out of one bowl.

I settled on making a nice, classic Northwest-style salad with strawberries, pears, and chopped hazelnuts. Because, well, Heidi is classic, from the Northwest, and while she's not fruity, she's a little nutty. :-)

Glen is going to take a bottle of wine from one of our favorite wineries in California, Peachy Canyon, where, coincidentally, my niece used to work. This bottle represents Heidi for two reasons.

Heidi is an incredible friend and she's a peach of a gal. :-)

Oh also, real quick...I wanted to show you what I bought from Kecia...

Waaaaay cool, eh??? She even did some research about these bisque German dolls and wrote about it here. And also, lucky us, Kecia is selling them in her Etsy shop!!!!

Okay...hope you all have a peachy day!

grungey goodness...

So guess what? I have some more charms to show you! :-)

I participated in two, count 'em, two "grunge" swaps through the Art and Soul Charmsters group!Here are the charms I made for the "Going Grunge" charm swap that my friend Melissa hosted.

And here's the charms are on little cards...

Don't they just look fabulous in all their mangled and gnarly glory? These turned out EXACTLY how I imagined! :-)

The second grunge charm swap was titled Dirty Dozen and it was hosted by Carina.

And a little closer...

I can't wait to get the charms back from these groups. I'm just totally getting the sense that it's gonna be very wild and very Susan Lenart-Kazmer-inspired set of charms! Yay yay yay!!!

Oh and while we're on the topic of charms, I finally got around to putting all the charms I received at ArtFest on a bracelet. I made charms as trades and I was really hoping that there would be enough charms traded to make up a bracelet. Well, there were and I did...BIG TIME!

Pretty wild, eh?! And don't ya just love Kecia's charm she made from an old yellow Gumby? Oh they're just ALL so glorious!

I am amassing quite the collection of charm bracelets. I love it! And my collection is just gonna keep growing!!! Still two more charm swaps coming up plus the big one...the Art and Soul Charmster Charm/Trade Swap in October! Yee-haw!!!

Briefly, in other news, Miranda and I went to watch Sex and the City last night. As a big fan of the series, I have to say...I absolutely LOVED it! I never wanted it to end and when I walked out of the theater, I felt as if I'd been on vacation for a week! How's THAT for a recommendation! :-)

After the movie, Miranda and I went to a little spot called Dessert Noir and had the obligatory Cosmos. SUCH a fabulous evening!!!!

go garden go!

Since it's been so doggone rainy here this week, I thought I'd share a few pictures I took a week or so ago, when it wasn't pouring!

The irises and other flowers in our garden are so beautiful this year and when I'm home during the day, I've been taking picture after picture of them. Here are a few of my favorites...

The irises and columbines...what a lovely combo!

These amazing irises just get better and better every year!

What the phlox?

Oh my! Violets!  My favorite flower second only to Sweet Peas! Before Glen redid our front lawn, these were popping up ALL OVER in it! I secretly loved it but Glen wasn't too happy. Can't say I blame him though. Between the violets, blue star creeper and lemon verbena, you could barely tell there was any grass in our lawn! :-)

The weather has definitely turned all "fall" on us but in between the raindrops, we got our front garden planted. I need to say a very special thank you to Glen for all his very hard work in making these raised beds last year and then getting them planted. Thanks honey!!!! :-)

We planted tomatoes, peppers, pole beans, sugar snap peas (yum!!!), basil, and lettuce. We also planted beets for the first time. The package says they're supposed to be planted later in the summer but we'll just see what we can get out of them! I'll be sure to share the progress. Go Garden!

Happy Day to you!!!

Sunday Show and Tell

Today's fabulous Show and Tell is hosted by the lovely Cerri aka Little Pink Studio.

This week's topic is "storage." Oh be still my heart! This one is near and dear (and an obsession!) to my heart so put your feet up, grab a cuppa, and take a little tour of my studio, won't you?

To see other bloggers play Show and Tell Sunday, click here.

Storage for me, is pretty close to being a hobby. I probably rearrange all my supplies and little collections more than I actually use them. I'm a very visual person so I LOVE to have things out. I just walk into my little studio and I am instantly happy.

I like lots of different kinds and styles of storage. When Michael's Crafts had some storage cubes on sale, I got rid of a desk in my studio so I'd have room to set this up. I just love the uniformity of it.

So while we're here, let's zero in on a few "sweet spots" in this area. Or at least they're sweet to my eyes!

I like to use trays for storage of random bits and collections...

I also have some fabulous old cigar boxes that I've picked up here and there and on eBay that I like to either use. Confession...even if they're empty, they still get some prime real estate on the shelves.

Here's how I have my collection of Moo cards stored/displayed...

Oh and also on these shelves are some wire baskets that I bought when Daisy Kingdom in Portland was going out of business. Man o' man I miss that store!

Another glorious storage area is this cabinet that my fabulous friend Andrea used to have in her studio. I changed the knobs to give it a little more character. One of these days I'd like to paint it too!

I LOVE this cabinet and I just adore all the drawers! Let's look inside a few, shall we?

One of my MANY obsessions...vintage bingo cards!

Then on the top of the cabinet, some of my favorite storage...my gazing trays!

One of my sweet finds at an antique store in Vancouver, BC when I was visiting my sweet friend Lilli, was all those fruit and vegetable pieces that are in the largest jar. I love how colorful it looks!

Another area...the custom shelf unit Glen made for me...

I originally intended for this to store rubber stamps but I quickly realized that rubber stamps displayed didn't inspire me as much as my punch, paint, ink and glitter collections did!

Ephemera and button and crepe paper and anything else storage...

No space is safe in my room...this is a shoe rack hung on the back of the door. Perfect for punches and what nots.

A pegboard for scissors...although I'm rethinking this...

Then the front of the closet doors...these are steel plates hot glued to the door. The steel cost about .39 each at Home Depot.

Then on the top of my desk (I can't show you the whole thing...TOO MESSY!), some old file drawers that pretty much just get random things tossed in until I figure out where I find a home for them.

Be sure to go visit all the other players. This is a FUN FUN FUN topic. Thank you Cerri and Analise!!! Always a pleasure!

Have a great day!!!