Destruction and Creation

There's the theory that energy is a constant... it can neither be destroyed or created.  I would have to agree.  In my household this weekend, energy went into both destroying and creating:)  Saturday afternoon, I walked up the stairs after being summoned and saw this:

Yes, folks, that's the view through our bedroom ceiling into the attic after hubby made a wrong step.  It was quickly patched and all is well now... made for a good story!  

Also on Saturday, I decided to recycle a shoe box to use for sewing items in my office.  With a few papers from my KI Memories stash and some trusty Mod Podge, here's the result...

Pretty cute, fun and easy!  Use some of your stash and go green!

What Inspires You?

I introduced a friend to one of my favorite sources of inspiration last week!




She had NEVER BEEN to IKEA!!!  It was a whole new world... one that I love being in (wish they'd bring one to Richmond!)  So I brought my camera along because I love their displays. Here's some of my shots...

I love the colors in these aprons!

SHINEY!

I bought a pair of these scissors...
there were actually 3 in a pack!

Color and Pattern

Needlework... gonna learn this!

Shapes and color again!

Repetition

I couldn't resist buying 3 of these adorable vases!

Cool giant pic of Paris

Love the raised frame around this mirror

Collage

more collaging

not sure what it was about these,
but loved seeing them all hanging!

shape with the
crazy boy!

more color

practically psychedelic!

pattern and calmer colors

What fun!!  Seriously, if IKEA comes to Richmond, I am in serious trouble!  I did make a bigger purchase for my office...

Expidit came out with a new bookshelf!  That makes 4 in my office...   It's laying on it's side in front of my desk.  My sewing stuff will live there!  I really can't fit any more, but would if I could!!

Another One Bites the Dust!

I have been accomplishing more projects since challenging myself to blog on a regular basis!  My latest was a kit that had been started and was just sitting under a pile of crap on my desk.  When I uncovered it, I decided to NOT put it away, but to FINISH it!

So here's my mess on the coffee table that I worked on while watching back episodes of Friends.  Yes, it's a Christmas album!   You've started thinking about Christmas, right?:)

Sorry I don't have any process pics, but here's the finished album.

Pretty cute, eh?

Rectifying a Wrong

In June, after witnessing my son's devastated face, I resolved to make things right.  He came home with his yearbook and said he wanted to throw it away.  There were hardly any pictures of him and his friends (despite the fact that I had submitted quite a few), but many pics of certain other kids.  Evidently the moms in charge of creating the yearbook wanted to make sure no-one forgot their children.  It didn't help that a couple of the kids and my son aren't friendly with each other... that's a saga for another venue:)





So today I modified his yearbook.














There were some blank pages, and I knew I could add pictures that I had taken throughout the year.  Gotta love photoshop!

I printed out some pages of different events, cut the borders and glued them to the inside pages of the book.  Now he has a remembrance of his 4th grade year with him participating!

Take 5 Project

I got up this morning feeling surly... a sure sign that I need to be creative!  So I picked a project that was sitting on my desk just waiting for my final touches:)

"Take 5" was inspired by a book and a keynote speaker at an event I attended.  The book, Five by Dan Zadra, is truly a "must read"!

It's a positive and affirming reminder that we need to live our lives to the fullest.

The speaker was Stacy Julian, a person I always find inspirational in life and creativity.  So without further ado, here's the project...

This began as a blank pre-made chipboard book with number extensions from the pages.

 

I used patterned papers* to cover the book, front and back of each page.  The numbers are actually stickers that were made to fit the extensions on the book.  

*The papers were Fancy Pants- Holly Jolly collection and Cross My Heart double-sided cardstock.

I'm sorry, I don't have the product names for the alphabet or number stickers.  There are journaling cards that match the papers and are from the same manufacturers.

I began this book at my event (mentioned above) in 2007.  Isn't it so cool that Stacy Julian signed it?!!

So I'm really proud to have finished this project... very satisfying!  Now I'm going to re-read the book!

Taking a Break to be Creative

Since the office clean-up is going into it's second week, I decided to take a break and do something creative.  I have a pattern that I've been wanting to try out.  Overall, I think it turned out ok.  Here's a pic of the final product...

I really like the size of the tote/purse, but I think I'll make the straps thicker next time.  And it would be nice to have a lining... maybe with pockets!

More Textiles

I can't wait to make some more designs!