Catch -Up

Catch -Up....this is my new middle name.

No, I'm not talking about that red stuff on the hamburger!

I feel like summer has come so quickly that I am going to have to catch-up each month, on all my projects. I have been lazy so far, but have done a few nice knit things.

One scarf is nearly completed for my youngest granddaughter, for fall...in cold country...Walla Walla, WA. I have a scarf started for a friend and finished a lot of hats for donations.

[Washington and Oregon have some interesting place names. Clickatat, an Indian name; Sisters, named for two mountains; Gold Beach...wonder how much gold was washed up there? ]

In paper art there have been some fun challenges.

ATCs and Doodles are always fun!

See you again soon...remember I am catching -up!

Hmmm...

Whoa...Time Flies!

Whoa!! Could it have been February when I last posted? Time flies when you're having fun...reality check...must remember to post!

I hope that anyone reading this blog will enjoy what I post. It is meant to add something to your day, while giving me the enjoyment of sharing.

Here are some ideas that I received from friends, that might help paper artists. These are tips for padding embellishments on our cards when sending in the mail:

~~Use fun foam, bubble wrap, polyester quilt batting, padded envelopes and if you share a tuck in gift of ribbon; wrap it around the card.

Crazy things happen when you decide to step up the pace...I mean crazy good:

Knifty Knitter Looms are great for producing hats for the sharing that we do. I hope to get some hats scanned and you will be amazed that in the past two weeks I have been able to create 10 hats, [...maybe more. I have lost count!] using the KK. I always sort of thought only knitting or crochet "by hand," was best...I had my eyes opened!

~~If you have tried the KK please let me know how you are getting on.

This month has been busy already, after my sister was here for a nice visit. I have been putting the press on...to get my paper art swaps completed. They are fun to do and this time are quite a variety of projects. I like the many colors and the challenge of different ideas.

March blew in, and Marched away!

~~Doodles are FUN!

Oriental Art

Lotus blossoms are a grand art challenge.

I have always loved the look of the whole plant, and many years ago I had a pretty arrangement of dried lotus pods.

Seeing them blooming on a pond in China, near ancient ceramic kilns, was a thrill.

~~~I will be adding more oriental designs to share. The lotus card was done in colored pencils.

In the oriental grocery, this past week, I saw lotus available for cooking. I need to look it up, as I have not a clue of the recipes for this.

The time has come to sort through my rubber stamps as well as the clear stamps, in my messy collection. Having supplies handy should help me to be more creative.

Here's a Valentine Cup of Cheer!

...hope your V-Day was as nice as ours. We loved the performance of the Salt River brass at the Mesa, AZ Art Center.

Wonderful!

A Birthday Happens...

Nice to have a birthday, but I say: once a year is enough!

I plan to do this only on 2/6 every year!

Boy these suit me to a T, especially #4

[Thanks, Cat]

This discribes the REAL Me--->

"One of the advantages of being disorderly is that one is constantly making exciting discoveries." A A Milne

I know anyone reading this, is nodding... yes, yes.

I have enjoyed Oriental Art forever.

I just joined a stamping group to do these interesting projects. Luckily have a lot of oriental stamps. My favorite unusual stamps are ones for marking fish boxes from packing houses of the west coast fisheries .

They are Chinese or Japanese graphics. I am not sure which, but they represent names of types of fish. This was a great find at a garage sale.

Another new endeavor is to make some exciting new ideas up with Michael Strong stamps. These should work up well with an Oriental flair. I joined the MS group of talented artists. When I receive my order of 5 of his stamps, I will get started and add a scan on this page.

Back-atcha, soon!

Motivating everyone else, and here I sit.

Bogged instead of Blogged!

Yay! I made it out of Blog - Limbo!

I guess it's TIME to CELEBRATE!!

A lot has happened since we began a fall renovation...this seems to happen once a year. New tile on patio and utility this time. Finished up...Then a decision to do more tile. [!] Looks good and is very easy to keep clean as the hall is so much nicer with tile. The tile guy did a lovely job of setting a design to tie in the kitchen, utility and bath entries with the hall.

In the "art department," I am loving doing the ATCs, doodles and cards so this is my challenge for February, for myself:...completing swaps on time, and having fun with it all.

If you knit or crochet, you will be happy to hear, that we who do Sunshine Sharing, have finished 120 items for the oncology clinic patients and Am. Cancer Society kid's camp.

I always say this, but I really do want to set up my blog, at least monthly...for 2010.

...hand of friendship...Barb