Song bird cards

Some new cards winging their way to friends!!

Off to stay overnight with my friend Shannon, always fun!!

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Quote sent to me from my pal Suzi in Westbank...thanks

“Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.”

George Bernard Shaw

What I have been making....

I have been making my own journals now for several days. The top two are made from a recycled post cereal box that was decoupaged with images from magazines and Catalogs.

The bottom journal is just a pad of watercolor paper that I took apart. I added a piece of pattered scrapbook paper on the cover and then did some sewing before I bound it all together. This is filled with additional papers as well.

Of course words and a bit of bling are always needed.

I filled the inside with heavy watercolor paper cut to fit each journal, added both patterned & plain scrapbook paper, quotes and allot of space to write your thoughts. Then I bound it all together with the "Bind it all" machine made by Zutter..

You can use any kind of cardboard for the front and back covers and what ever you have around to fill the insides. I found that the heavier the paper or glue a couple of pieces together makes a book that can hold up to the wear and tear that I put mine thru.

As if you could kill time without injuring eternity.

Henry David Thoreau

Pottery from England.

This lovely pottery collection is from Emma Bridgewater in England.

I am sure that Caroline, Cindy, Christa, Shirley, Frosso, Patricia. Andrea and Suzi in B.C. would like the look of these as I think they represent Spring!!!!

As found in Country Living, British Edition.
http://www.emmabridgewater.co.uk/

Betz White's art...

These are the felted cupcakes that I made, and I noticed that one of my favorite artist, Betz White had used a similiar sweater, so I sent her off a quick note...

Her beautiful work is shown below.

My pal Suzi loves her work as well.

Hi Dagmar,

Thanks for the comment. Sure, you can use the photo and link back to me.

Thanks for asking! Betz

P.S. Nice hummingbird save! :)

http://blog.betzwhite.com/

Happy Valentine's Day...

I finally finished off the "Heart Book" that I took @ my scrapbook class last week. It had so many small pieces that I needed time to sort it all out. I added more of my own embellishments as well as glitter (what a surprise!!) and outlined each page with a silver pen to glitz it up.

The whole idea for me taking more classes are the new techniques that I can learn.

With this class I was able to experiment with lots of things that I had never tried before. We did quite a few clear plastic shapes, added words and bling. It was all punched together using binder rings.

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So where ever you are reading this, I hope you have a happy day, some one to kiss and give you a hug...dogs and cat kisses count!!!

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Nobody has ever measured, even poets, how much a heart can hold.

Zelda Fitzgerald

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

These are my sister Caroline's newest paintings that are heading for the

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

(The Elk Foundation’s mission is to ensure the future of elk, other wildlife and their habitat. )

These paintings that Caroline has donated will help generate money for this fund when they are auctioned off.

Am I a proud of my youngest sister or what?

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Time is a companion that goes with us on a journey. It reminds us to cherish each moment, because it will never come again. What we leave behind is not as important as how we have lived.
from the film "Star Trek: Generations, spoken by Capt. Jean-Luc Picard

Wire bound Journal

Front Cover

"Do what you love, Love what you do."

You can add all sorts of elements to the inside that you like.

Sewn back Cover.
I had taken a class several years ago where we used a wire binding machine to make a journal.
I have always thought I would like to make some more journals in several different sizes and fill them with different papers.

For Christmas this year, Jim bought me a Zutter machine that does this very thing.

I bought & downloaded this video from Donna Downey website and with her good instructions was able to learn my machine in no time flat. Her teaching style is great and if you haven't seen her work, please check out her website.

http://www.donnadowney.com/
I finished sewing the covers, put water color paper into the insides and just for fun, some covered cereal box additions. I love how it looks, and now no piece of paper will be safe in this house.
It gives re-cycling a whole new meaning.
I have the confidence to try something new!!!

PS: This just into my e=mail from Donna Downey:
YEAH dagmar!!
that is exactly the kinds of email i love to get!!
thanks so much for taking the time to send it and enjoy your bind it all!!
d

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You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.
You're on your own.
And you know what you know.
You are the guy who'll decide where to go.
Dr. Seuss

Hummingbird Rescue

This little guy/gal flew into our window yesterday morning. I found her lying on the mat, so I picked her up and held her in my hand so that she wouldn't freeze...it was really cold out.

Her head lay at an angle, but in about 5 minutes she seemed to perk up. I wanted to put her in the sun, so I took the seat cushion, got some lint from the dryer and made her a nest so she would stay warm. It took about 20 minutes and when I went out to make sure she was find, I stroked her, she fluffed out her feather, gave me a wink, and flew off...

It was a very rewarding rescue.

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We need to restore the full meaning of that old word, duty. It is the other side of rights.

Pearl Buck

Cindy on her deck..

Good to see that Cindy's wrist is finally strong enough to hold a bottle of the beer that they make and enjoying the sun shine... to bad it isn't bathing suit weather yet in Nelson.

Emmy Lou enjoying her view from the cabin's deck overlooking the lake...brr, it still looks cold to me.

Friends are those rare people who ask how you are and then wait for the answer. ~Author Unknown

Cold there Today!!

More crafts seen @ Tubac.

Love this coyote jumping in this water color painting.

We watched some of these rugs being woven, just like they did years ago.
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Boy, is it cold here today and the wind is just howling!!!
Definitely time to stay indoors.

Sights at Tubac Art Festival

This dog friendly town of TUBAC has water bowls out for our Pets. Cookie came with us for over an hour, then slept the rest of the way home. She just isn't that interested in seeing the sights.

Her idea is "If you have seen one Art Festival, you have seen them all."

NOT true..so I am not inviting her along to the one in Tempe in March!!!

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Metal flowers that never need watering, how appropriate for the desert where it poured last night

Made from pressed paper.


Some of the wonderful Mexican Pottery.

Off to the Tubac Art Festival..

Art work, similiar to what we will see in Tubac. Heading out this morning, it looks like it will be another lovely day, but cooler. Maybe even rain, but as my sister Evelyne says "Who can begrudge the desert her rain"
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Happy 96th birthday to our good friend Doris Drayton in Kelowna..

What a terrific lady she is and to her daughter, Penny, whom she lives with and cares for her. What a team. Hope you enjoyed the ballet last night.

Caroline's lastest Paintings...

Young Bobcat

"Say What" (Saw-Whet) Owl.

What a Hoot!!!

Pileated Woodpecker

My very talented sister Caroline's newest work. The work speaks for itself.

Feeling better today, heading out for a walk to catch some rays. The weather is supposed to change in the next day or two. If it doesn't rain tomorrow Jim and I are heading to the Art Festival @ Tubac south of Tuscon. I will have new photos to post.
The Ya Ya's group had allot of fun yesterday at Tubac. Sue took some photos and with the ones I take tomorrow I will be able to show all you a very good overview of the festival.

"We cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails."

Projects I am working on..

Some of my new cards.

This one has fabric sewn to the card. Some vintage, some lace, felt and ric rac. I covered this chipboard bird in paper, sewed it onto the card, attached a feather and some string in her beak. I also added a small glass eye and a printed saying on old paper to the bottom. A sewn tag with a flower and button added to the back of the card.

Placed it into this tin which will become it's home until sent off into the mail.

Small felt sewing kit

The inside of the kit.

I am still working on the class I took and will hopefully have that craft finished today.

I was supposed to go to the Tubac Art Festival with the Ya Ya's and a couple of other gals today, but I had a rough night with coughing and allergies, so I stayed at home and will do some catch up crafting...

house work has gone out the window...

Journal entry..

Trying my hand at drawing and coloring in my journal with pencil crayons...

It is fun and I like it allot!!

I took the inspiration off of a little tin.

Some of my "Pretties" in my carry all ready to use at a moments notice.

Ya Ya Supper Club Italian Dinner

As you can tell, the dinner was a success.This is the 4 of us after we did all the prep work and before the guys came for dinner. These tasty appy's were filo pastry wrapped with Prosciutto and provolone cheese, then baked...Loved the whole feel of the dinner and the food was great. Will post the menu later.

Off to a scrapbooking class, more photos tomorrow.

Luggage tags to make...

Whether you're jetting off for a weekend jaunt or stealing away for a month-long getaway, don't forget these helpful tags. Outfit suitcases with our dapper traveler and his dog or a plane flying in the clouds -- both will keep your things clearly identified at the baggage claim. Tucked in plastic holders, they'll be travel companions for many trips to come.
Luggage Tag How-To:

To protect the finished labels, use plastic luggage-tag holders. (At office supply stores, look for ones that are self-adhering or that can be sealed with a laminator. Both come with straps.) To make the tags, download and print the templates onto plain white paper.

Fill out your contact information. Cut out the tags. Fold each in half as shown. Place in holders and seal.

http://images.marthastewart.com/images/content/web/pdfs/pdf1/0605_luggagetags.pdf

Where does the time go?

Time flies with this clock in your home...

Details of a sunflower pillow from Pottery Barn

Stacks of dishes at Antropologie

Measuring spoons that would make your food taste better.

Cupcake stand from Crate and Barrel.

These were still some of the photos of fun and colorful displays in the stores when we went to Tuscon last week.

Today is February 1, 2009...we leave here in 2 1/2 months, so we enjoy all this wonderful sunshine and all that retirement has to offer.

Off for my walk and then shopping for our Ya Ya Supper Club "Italian Dinner" for tomorrow night.