Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Circle of Friends Journal Mail Out Day

Beverly of Pink Saturday How Sweet the Sound fame invited a group of 10 willing blog friends to join in a Circle Journal project. Each of us chose a theme and built a journal.  I picked Gift from the Sea as my inspiration since I love Anne Morrow Lindberg’s book by that title. I wanted the look of the book to be sort of beachcomber.

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The cover is wrapped with strips of batik type fabric in seashore colors…the words are stamped on strips of sand colored muslin. Inside words from the book remind us of our gifts from the sea…

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Inside the back cover echoes the look and theme…

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I made tags for each of the other nine “Beachcombers” to introduce herself…

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The finished tags will be tucked into pockets made of the same batik strips…

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That’s all I am showing…I want there to be an element of surprise when  the book makes the rounds…Each month two new pages will be added by a new member of the circle. Our first mail-out was scheduled for February 1st. But before I sent it out, I had fun with the inside cover of the box…a “group shot”…

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Each book will be as different and unique as each of the ten creative journal builders. Mine was mailed to Sheila in Galveston, Texas! How perfect is that? She will create her vision of Gift from the Sea during February…judging by the pictures she  posted of her journal, her contributions will certainly bring my book up a notch. Any day now, Nancy’s book will arrive in my mailbox. I will spend March working on Nancy’s book…March 1st will come and Sheila will send my journal on to the next contributor…  and then I will  send Nancy’s  on to Sheila… By the time it visits all of the other nine “Beachcombers”, it will come back to me in the fall as a true gift from the sea. It’s one of the most exciting adventures I’ve ever joined. It’s all thanks to the idea of Beverly…Let the fun begin!

Friday, January 27, 2012

Pink Jump on Spring

On my way into the grocery store this week I spotted these pretty pink foliage plants for under two dollars. Aren’t they pretty? Aren’t they PINK? There were only these two left, so I was happy to get them.

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It’s probably jumping the gun to even think about spring planting of foliage plants, but the pair I bought last year (also at the grocery…also the last two) have survived the winter (so far) in the base of this rubber tree with only a blanket covering….They were less bright, but they are still pink…

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Its sister “survivor”  plant…as I call any annual  that lasts more than a season…has  gotten leggy, but is still colorful at the base so I think a Spring cleaning haircut and a little Miracle Grow will pop it back into shape.

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The four of them will look Pretty in Pink among the wine corks that I’m using as mulch… Those outdoor survivors are looking better than their cousin plant that was shoved into the back of the makeshift greenhouse in our screened porch…it hadn’t been watered in a long while and when Hubby discovered it, it was ready to give up…

pink for spring 006Pretty sad, I’ll admit…plant abuse for sure, but it spent the afternoon outside in the filtered sun and it got a good watering. Maybe the pink will spring back and it will be a happy plant by spring. Maybe I’ll have an amazing recovery story to post for pink Saturday in a few months. Hope your Saturday is Pink and the coming week is filled with good news…We got much needed rain in Central Texas earlier this week and we got our Pink in beautiful lightening bolts and buckets and buckets of welcome rain.

I’m off to the post office to mail my Circle Journal to Sheila.  Beverly has gathered a group of ten fellow bloggers to join in a year long project to create ten journals. Each of us has chosen a theme, designed a journal and we are now starting the circle.  My theme  is Gift from the Sea  because Anne Morrow Lindberg’s book is so wonderful. As mine  makes its way to  Sheila,  I will receive Nancy’s journal and I know it will be amazing…so I have some Pink journaling fun coming my way from her.  It will be such a lovely challenge to create a double page spread each month for each of the chosen themes. I already know what I’m doing for her journal and can’t wait to get started.

Stop in to visit Beverly at How Sweet the Sound. Enjoy your weekend as you make the rounds of Pink Saturday participants.

Friday, January 6, 2012

You Go Girl on Pure Pink Saturday with Mary Engelbreit

Every year I watch the Mary Engelbreit web site around June for the new calendars. I buy several of these purse sized folders for friends and family. The size is so handy…

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You know the art work if going to be fabulous…

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You know it’s going to be loaded with Pink.  Look at this sweet Pink June page…and this February

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page…I love how there’s lots of space for notes…and the matching folder is perfect for holding appointment cards. They are surprisingly sturdy holding up the entire year of daily use!

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They have become an annual gift that I give my sister at Thanksgiving because with her busy life, she will already be planning for the year to come.  And I can’t think of an artist/illustrator who is more Pink than Mary E.  I never tire of her work. My other yearly purchase is the day-by-day calendar for my desk. This year’s theme is Life Is Sweet…I told you it pure Pink!

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Every day includes words of wisdom and quotations that remind us of our many Blessings.  Here is today’s…

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“Carry Laughter with you wherever you go.” And with that happy thought, I send you off the visit Beverly at How Sweet the Sound to check out the list of who is posting for Pink Saturday. Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a very Pink week.



Limping Deer and the Twins

Limping Deer and the Twins
They are still spotted at this time.

Show and Tell Sunday June 15

Flea Market Finds...sounds like my whole house and yard...

Milk Glass Collection

Milk Glass Collection
Who knew that a 25 cent flea market find would unleash such a collecting frenzy? I never pay more than a dollar unless it's a really nice piece. They are great grouped with a single daisy in each.

These used to be inexpensive florist vases in the 50's and 60's. Everyone's Grandmother had bunches.

Mexicana Dishes

Mexicana Dishes
My sister found these for me at Bussy's Flea Market in San Antonio, Texas. I had seen pictures in her Fiesta reference book. Mexicana was also made by Homer Laughlin in the 30's. I had been looking for several years without ever finding even a single piece when she found the set...with a promise to hold it for us, she came running to find me and I bought the entire set...60+ pieces for $50.

Mexicana

Mexicana
I've added to the set over the years, but the price and experience will never match that first amazing find.

Vintage Kitchen Hutch

Vintage Kitchen Hutch
When my hubby found this hutch it was Pepto pink and I was not 100% sure about it. But with a new red back and fresh white paint and refurbished hardware, it became one of my favorite pieces.

Nancy made me save the vine

Nancy made me save the vine
The vine and flowers painted on the inside were in such bad shape that I was ready to remove it all. Nancy -My Crafty Little Page convinced me to keep it and after some touch-up work, I'm glad I listened to her. My husband restores vintage Cushman motorscooters and he tries to make everything "mint" condition again. The Shabby Chic movement came along just in time to keep me from making some terrible mistakes.