Sisterhood

Last week was filled with days of remembering--the 17th was the one year date of my precious husband's death. The year since has been filled with many things that God has showed me, helped me through, and with which is refilling my life.

One of His blessings is a gift of friends who have come alongside me in this walk--new Sisters--kind and caring, teaching, making me laugh, sharing tears, leading, helping me to think outside myself.



Not wanting me to be alone on that day, these girls treated me to lunch at Ya Ya's.

What bright and shining faces welcome me to share their day and their lives.

As little mementos, I made some small embroidered hearts nestled in little sandwich glass hearts and tucked into these beady bags.

They seem to be my colors and style lately...

But mostly, it's because these sweet women have my heart.

And we all shared a fabulous decadent dessert--A puff pastry covered baked brownie. Hot chocolate lava poured out upon cutting, topped with ice cream swizzled with raspberry sauce.
I should have snapped earlier, before the digging in began, but couldn't get the camera up fast enough.

It didn't last long!!

Since we were eating in YaYa's Restaurant, we thought we could rightfully be called YaYa Sisters. I think we can. So, we are.

Sisters, truly, as children of God.

Carol

Christmas Planner

A holiday planner seems to be a good idea for keeping things altogether. This is one I made from a Mead composition book.
The cover was layered with Christmas paper, the Bigz die cut letters in the Twang font.

The different sections tabs were inked shipping tags inbetween the glued together pages.

Include a calendar for scheduling...

A place for decorations. It's surprisingly easy to forget something you really liked when the next holiday arrives.

And the food! Don't forget the food, the recipes, the menus you liked.

Write the recipes on cards and include them so you don't have to look them up every year.

Have pages for photos of past decorations. Make a list for each year.

And all your favorite Christmas traditions--You will enjoy reading them from year to year, and they will be a treasure for your children.

Your book will become more important to you every year--more like a journal of the best of times!

Don't wait to put one together. You'll want to use it THIS year!

Carol

First Dollars

Evan, my grandson, has done several photo shoots for magazines, and when he received his first check, we wanted to capture the moment. He really was tickled.

This is one that was done for Bargain Style (Better Homes & Gardens)Fall 2005.

He was a good little model. The hours can be long and tedious, but the work interesting, and the crew was sweet to him.

Carol

Halloween Inspiration

It's time to get out all the Fall decorations, and that means the Halloween pieces. We've only about 6 weeks to display all the fun things that the season brings.
This is a hanger, about 5 X 7"--using vintage images and embellishments.


There are so many visual inspirations out there--
This one is my daughter's, from a BH&G spread...

More hangers (from Elizabeth). So many ways to portray the season....

Find your favorite image, combine with varied papers, and there you are.

Another color inspiration--knitted dish cloths....

This is a super simple, but effective, pennant. I used the painted woodies from Michael's and placed them onto the huge paint chips (should say, paint chunks!) from Better Homes & Gardens. Thanks, BH&G, for making such luscious colors available; not just for my projects, but for warming up the walls of our homes.

These are closeups of the project's beginnings--

I think this cat is a hoot!

This is fabric--so precious--from Hobby Lobby (not sure about availability this year).

Fall gives us so much with which to work.

Hope your craft tables are full of fun projects.

Carol

Fall Signs

We had a cool snap, it's warm again now, but the plants must know it is getting closer to Fall. The dogwood in the back yard is always the harbinger with it's lovely red colors.

And those red berries--so shiny.

The morning dew shows off the spider webs.

And this is the last of the spring volunteers, a sweet little pink "thing". Anyone know? They reseed and return every year.....all over the place.

And these pods......anyone know here? The answer is below....

The last of my meager little container garden, those banana peppers and bell peppers. Mine would never have made the grade for the grocery store. Look how tiny.

This Doublefile Vibernum. What's up with this? It's putting out a bloom, and it is one of the earliest bloomers in the Spring. Silly bush.

And these little red cuties--more volunteers (I haven't planted them in years). They give something for the hummingbirds in the late fall.

Beautiful hydrangea, very interesting with it's Fall outfit.

Onions, gone to flower, and then, seed.

And the Lace Cap Hydrangea. This one looks a bit depressing.

I should have ended with a cheerier photo.

Oh, and the answer to the above question....about the pods? Wisteria seed pods. I've never tried to plant them. My wisteria send up runners and new plants all over the yard. I have to mow them down, but if anyone wants these, let me know, and I'll mail them to you.

Enjoy your Fall.

Carol

Pictures of the Heart

This is a card I did a while back for PaperWhimsy - painted background and collage elements -It was a specific challenge to use all these separate elements into one collage - Lots of fun.
Elizabeth