Ready or not, 2012 is here.
Happy New Year everybody!
Well, Miss Pinky Rose is on her toes, and is ready to go to a new home.
Who will it be?
(Insert drumroll and fanfare . . .)
The winner is Sharon of A Merry Heart Journal!
Congratulations to you!
Grandma and her friends really knew how to have fun! No snow here yet. Just lots of rain. Like six inches in the last few days. I might need a small boat instead of a sled if this keeps up. These last lingering days of 2011 have been a whirlwind of activity inside the house though. The girls and I have been crafting up a storm, so to speak, with various projects that we can't wait to share. Oh it's all very exciting. In between the paper mache and the modge-podge, my to-do list has also kept me rather busy:
1) Re-open the PatternBee Vintage Embroidery Shop. I'll admit, it was nice to have a little break from all the printing and shipping, but I'm getting excited about jumping back in and conversing with everybody again on Tuesday. I miss you guys!
2) Finish vintage pattern restoration/contribution for "Baby Blankie". Thanks again Cathy, the new pattern will be on its way to Canada soon. (For everybody else, find it on the website under 'New Additions'.
3) Create the January 2012 Bonus Design. I went straight to Valentine's Day with this one, with a LOVE theme, so you have plenty of time to stitch up something cool for gift-giving if your heart so desires.
4) Make my special crock-pot potato cheese soup for our New Year's Day Open House. This was by request so how could I say, no? Obviously, I am making no diet-related resolutions this year. (ahem.)
5) Choose a winner for the Pinky Rose Give-Away! I know you are holding your breath; I'm rolling up my sleeves. Check back tomorrow to find out who won. It might be YOU! If you haven't entered yet, hurry and do so before the comment section is closed.
OK. I think that's it for the blog, 'til next year. See ya on the flip side friends. Have a safe New Year's Eve!
In the past, creating photo albums and scapbooking journals is something I've really enjoyed doing. Fun rummaging through pictures and putting something meaningful together. I recall the first 'Creative Memories' workshop I went to at a friend's house in 1994. The scrapbooking phenom was new back then. We were all sitting around tables and learning how to crop photos and make "theme pages". This was a revelation! A BIG step-up from "magnetic" albums with tacky cardboard pages covered with plastic, that over time warped, faded and discolored your photos. So yes, I suppose we were all hankering for something better. The vast array of decorative papers, stickers, templates, tools, and trimmers helped motivate me and move the projects along. And for years that's pretty much how I rolled in an effort to preserve the family photographs.
These early albums are still very much enjoyed and cherished; they are practically a work of art for all the time and money that went into them. I still have six or seven shoe boxes of photo prints tucked away that end at 2001. That's when I began to transition over to digital photography. At some point I plan to get them all into albums like this one. But everything that came after that is on a disk or in a file on my computer. Which in some ways is good. No need to worry about dust gathering there or where to store boxes. But there are also some drawbacks. Like when the computer crashes and all your data is lost, or you copy everything onto a disk and it gets lost or destroyed. The reality is, you can never get those bits and bytes back. They are lost in cyberspace forever. Since I only take digital photos now this worries me a little. Often I have wished there was an easier way to put it all on to a hard copy for safe keeping. Yes, Blurb and a few other book services can do that, but without frills. Adding your own can take a fair amount of time and know-how.
Well, recently I had the opportunity to review a product called My Memories Suite, a digital scrapbooking software designed for photo journaling. It's been out for awhile, and lots of people are talking about it, blogging about it, raving about it, and doing give-aways for it, but somehow all this escaped my attention. It's easy to get tunnel vision sometimes! I need to look up once in awhile. Wow!
It could not have come at a better time. After I downloaded the program I was able to make a 30-page photo album in just under a week! Remember the Summer Book I was trying to put together for my granddaughters? That project was about to fizzle because it was taking more time than I had just to edit the photos and create the design elements for the pages. But then My Memories Suite came to the rescue and I now have a lovely album to give as a Christmas gift, and to more than just one person because you can also print duplicates. All for about $20 each. What!
I still can't believe how easy it was to use. The program does all the work. It has everything you need to jump-start your way into making beautiful photo albums, books, calendars, and even note cards. There are background papers, trims, word art, and a host of other nifty design elements and embellishments traditionally used in making scrapbook photo albums. You can even create and load your own art from other programs, or purchase additional package sets from the My Memories website as needed.
Are you as thrilled as I am? I hope so, because My Memories would like to give one of my readers their My Memories Suite Digital Scrapbooking Software FREE! Here's what you need to do to participate. Visit the My Memories website, take a look at the digital paper kits and/or the different layouts in the gallery, then leave a comment here on the blog telling about your favorite, or anything else you love about scrapbooking. I'll announce the winner a week from today.
Special Offer: To purchase the My Memories Suite V2 Scrapbook Software, use this Share the Memories code STMMMS37056 to get a $10 discount off the purchase price, and a $10 coupon for the My Memories store. Just use your mouse to copy and paste the code into the box as prompted on the order page to receive your discount. (Once you're up and running, you can easily download all the free digital scrapbook kits currently available!) Be sure and visit the My Memories blog for updates, events, workshops, and tutorials for inspiration and fresh ideas.
I'm already thinking about my next album! It will have to wait until after the New Year though because I think my Christmas plate is pretty full right now. Hopefully, with cookies and fudge soon! Oh, and BTW, the PatternBee Embroidery Shop is closed for the time being, but you HAVE to visit to get your Holiday Greeting from me. (Turn on your speakers!) I'll be back with another give-away after this weekend too! Ho ho ho...
UPDATE:: Contest is now officially closed...check the December 23rd blog post for the winner!
I know. I'm late. And just in case you're wondering . . . I didn't forget. I've just been sitting on the edge of the world drifting along with the ocean waves these past few days. Taking a little bit of a breather. Long walks. Lots of reading. A little sight-seeing and some shopping. The weather was mixed as it often is on the Oregon Coast. Sunny and warm one day, rainy and stormy the next.
During the storm we had our first blaze of the season. Which was wonderful in the big stone fireplace. It was also the first time we've ever sat in a hot tub under the stars in the howling wind and rain, with plastic frisbees on top our heads (to keep our hair dry). It worked! Luckily no one was around to witness such goings on, except for one small racoon who bravely peeked through the fence and got more than he bargained for. I'm sure he thought we were from another planet.
September is here and there's much to do! I think I may even detect that unmistakable autumn nip in the air. One of the first things I did when I got home yesterday, was run out to the backyard and check on the vegetable patch. I'm always worried the deer, somehow knowing I'm away, will find a way inside the enclosure and eat everything in sight. They didn't, thankfully. Although they did nibble a few green beans that were hanging outside the fencing. Can't blame them for that. As you can see we still had plenty. I was so grateful for this little bounty too. Saved me another trip out to the market, as provisions were low.
OK then--no more yacking about beans, because I know you're excitedly waiting and I really do appreciate your patience. But first I want to tell everyone who stopped by and left a comment, that I happily read every single one. More than once! And then I re-read them again out loud to my family, which made them happy! We appreciated every kind word. So thank you all very very much! (And I also want to thank Susan and Christy for mentioning my books on their blogs, and anyone else that has done so!)
And now without further ado...the winner is . . . Vee! Congratulations to you!! I'll be contacting you ASAP. That's it for now . . .
As I write, the house still smells of cinnamon and cake. Grace was in the kitchen all day yesterday baking up a number of scrumptious things to celebrate her sister's birthday, and for a day of giving thanks. I still
After re-reading all the stories last night (left in comments for this post), I kept coming back to one. The story of Henry, the shoe-fetish Quasimodo ROOSTER! It really tickled my funny bone. The story goes as follows::
"I'm sorry to hear of the loss of your furry friend. I've been there myself, and I truly sympathize. Now for a funny story....
Growing up, everyone in the neighborhood knew we were the family with a weak spot for unwanted critters. We ended up with a wide variety of stray creatures over the years, including the infamous Henry.... An eighth grade class at the local school had raised a rooster as a science experiment. Now that they were done, they needed to find a home for him. The cage in which they had kept Henry had caused his feet to become deformed so he walked sideways with a limp in a very quasimoto-like fashion. In addition to this, he was more than a little neurotic and had some behavioral issues. My Nana was a sweet and compassionate woman, so, of course we took in Henry and gave him a new home.
Henry was an interesting creature, and soon began to run the social empire that was the pet population of the back yard. He decided the garage was his, and defended it vigorously against intruders, both animal and human alike. It was soon discovered that Henry was also very amorous, and had an unnatural fetish for shoes. Anytime a person walked out the door and attempted to enter the garage, Henry would come hobbling sideways with his wings spread wide and proceed to get frisky with the offender's shoes! Needless to say, all of us ladies and children were terrified of Henry and gave him a wide berth...
The problem was, the extra fridge and freezer were in the garage and we often needed access when there were no men folk around to venture into the fray. A creative solution was needed, and finally found. We collected old shoes in a basket near the garage door. When we needed something from the garage, we would throw a shoe to the far end and wait until Henry ran to make his romantic advances on it. As soon as he was otherwise engaged, we would run in as fast as we could and grab what we needed. We were always sure to make a speedy exit. The highlight of the weekend for us kids was watching Papa go into the garage with his work boots on to collect all the shoes. Some of my earliest memories are of him in the garage with Henry clinging to Papa's feet for dear life, clucking and flapping away. Henry went on to live a very full Rooster life in the garage. Despite his early life in a rotten old cage, he was happy in his own way, and fancied himself to be quite the ladies (well, shoes) man. I always think of him fondly whenever I see roosters, and remember how much color he added to my childhood days."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
So, Kristy my dear, CONGRATULATIONS you are the winner -- my book will be on its way to you pronto! Thanks every body for participating and sharing your funny stories with me. It was a blast reading through them and it really brightened our days. Here's a funny for you. . .
H a p p y T h a n k s g i v i n g !
Oh the humanity!! I keep stopping in here and reading your stories and laughing---SO much! If you haven't already, just go read a few, you'll see what I'm talking about. Thanks, good peeps of the earth. We are smiling again. And keep those stories coming--I'll announce the winner of the book give-away Wednesday the day before Thanksgiving.
Speaking of turkey day, are you ready? It's coming up fast and Sarah's birthday is smack dab in the middle of it too. Busy, busy... We're planning a small gathering here again this year, so time to clean my house and start making pies. Pronto!
Unrelated: I keep running across recipes and testimonies in favor of homemade laundry detergent and finally got around to making some and testing it out this weekend. I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised by all accounts. I started out with a small batch: one bar castile soap (this is Dr. Bonner's above), 1 box baking soda, and 2 cups Borax. I took liberties of adding a few drops of lavender oil. Then I used one tiny ladle-full (about 2 T.) to wash a full load of white towels, and they came out beautifully. If you're interested, there are dozens of other recipes out on the Internet--just do a search for: homemade laundry detergent; and be prepared to be amazed.
Another batch of books just arrived and I do believe it is time for another give-away!
If you'd like a chance to win an autographed copy of my book for yourself (or to give to a friend), please make us laugh! Tell us about a funny thing that happened to you. Share your story in the comment section, so we can all giggle together. We especially need some cheering up around here, having just laid to rest our furry little hamster friend, Pumpkin, who died peacefully in his sleep (of old age) Thursday night. He was actually Sarah's pet, but I think I sobbed more than anyone! I do have a soft spot for animals. And not just woolly ones either. I'll be using my laugh-O-meter this time to choose a winner, which will be announced on Wednesday (11-25-09).
To readers around the globe: I welcome your stories as well---but due to sky-high postage rates the drawing is limited to U. S. residents.
Farewell sweet friend.
You touched our hearts and will surely be missed.
*Update: Thanks everyone for all the laughs and cute stories! Comments are now closed. Winner to be announced soon!
These two pulled a fast one and they're still laughing about it.
One of them was rotten and stunk up the whole house.
Definitely a trickster.
We are making progress on the baby-doll dress, one loving stitch at a time. I love puffed sleeves. Whenever I make them though, I start thinking about Anne (of Green Gables), begging Marilla for a gown with puffed sleeves. I believe at the turn of the century those enormous puffed sleeves were referred to as "mutton sleeves", because they looked like 'legs of mutton'. You know, the hind quarter of a lamb. (Ew!) Sorry, my sincere apologies. But it is true.
Anyway, these puff sleeves are tiny and sweet and not a smidgen of mutton anywhere in the vicinity. I'm edging them with lavender bias binding to match the piping on the bodice. I couldn't believe that I found a scrap left-over from another project that was just exactly the right length and color for this. I so *LOVE* when that happens.
OK. Before I duck back into my sewing corner and pick up my needle and thread, I need to announce the winner of the Blanket Statement give-away: The winner is Rebecca, who authors not one, but two blogs. (I'm amazed how some people can do this when I can barely keep up with one.) Her food blog, Kitchen Riches is amazing and has me drooling. I'm definitely going to have to try her recipe for Cappuccino Chocolate Chip Bread. (Congratulations Rebecca! Please email your address and I'll get a signed copy of my book in the mail to you pronto.)
Thank you everyone else for stopping by, and for your very lovely comments. I so enjoyed reading them and visiting your blogs too!
And now, we return to the puff sleeves...
Congratulations Shari! After visiting her blog, Big Yellow Farmhouse I can see that this little treasure will fit in quite nicely. (And I ask you, just how cute is that farmhouse? And that chicken?) I'll pop this little prize in the mailbox ASAP! Thanks to everyone who stopped by and left a comment and joined the fun. Happy Spring!