con-tain-it

Enchanted by Josephine Bloggiversary and Giveaway...

Hop on over and check out Lucy's wonderful blog post which celebrate's her 1st year Bloggiversary with a wonderful interview with Sandra Gulland who is the author of The Josephine B. Trilogy and Mistress of the Sun books.  Lucy continues her special celebration with a "grand" giveaway of not one, but three books that celebrate her muse, Josephine to three separate winners.  The following are not to be missed...so hop on over to Enchanted by Josephine and get in on the celebration:

The Many Lives & Sorrows of Josephine B.

 

Tales of Passion, Tales of Woe, by Sandra Gulland

The Last Great Dance on Earth, by Sandra Gulland

Winners are to be announced on January 3, 2010 so be sure to got to Enchanted by Josephine's blog and read Lucy's interview with Sandra Gulland and find out the details for entering this great giveaway!  

ps...please mention me as a referral when you visit Lucy's blog and leave a comment to enter this contest so that I receive extra chances...love it!

Merry Christmas...We "Elfed" Ourselves...

 
 Christmas Eve was spent with all of us who were in town, gathering at my sister's home for lots of fun opening up our stockings...aka Elf Hats...I cleaned out all that Dollar Tree had and we were one short.  So DH and I shared one...his name on one side and mine on the other. 

 Front row...left to right...my new nephew (DH to Cortney) Carl, DH Kevin, Me, my sister Debbie...standing...my nephew Wesley, niece Cortney and my oldest son, Mitchell.  

We ate...and drank...all night and played..."So You Think You Are Smarter Than a Fifth Grader"...NOT!  We finally got back to our hotel room by 2:00am...much fun.  Sure do miss having my youngest son Timothy and daughter in-law, Ashley here with us!  They are in Pittsburgh with her family celebrating their first "White Christmas".  Also miss my Mom and sister, Bonnie and her family and my brother, Ray for this final family gathering...for this year...can't wait till we can plan the next family reunion.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful Christmas...feeling blessed, celebrating with your families.

Fondly, Roberta & Kevin Phibrick

The Twelve Days of Christmas: WWC Style...

"The Twelve Days of Christmas": WWC style!

Starting December 1st and continuing until December 12th at midnight (MST),  the blog for Where Woman Create will feature a fabulous prize each day. All of the wonderful items have been generously donated by twelve talented artists. You can enter each day by simply leaving a comment on the daily post. THE BEST PART ABOUT THIS CONSTEST IS THAT you can comment on ANY of the posts throughout the contest until the last day at midnight (MST). Please make sure to post only once on each post, unless you have an additional entry. An Additional entry will be given if you put the "Twelve Days of Christmas" WWC image on your blog or website (widget available here), or by posting about the contest on your blog. You may add this one additional entry on every post you comment on by simply posting the word "blog" under your daily entry post (so you will post twice). WWCwill use a random number generator to pick the winners and announce them on December 14th.

Good Luck Everybody and Happy Holidays!

 

Winner...Winner...Chicken Dinner!

Well I haven't been to Vegas...just Pittsburgh, PA...and when I got back I discovered that I was a WINNER once again...WOO HOO!  This time it was for a gift certificate/card to Target for $50.00...great timing with the holidays :}   So...how did I win this time...you ask?  By leaving a comment on a great home decorating site called houzz.  This interactive, design site is being called "The Flicker of design idea sites,"  by The Washington Post.  The best part is...that it is absolutely FREE for everyone to set up an account with your own "page" and "idea books" so that you can keep all your favorite photos handy for your next home project.

Every week I receive an email highlighting all the newest designs, idea-books and interviews that they host on their site.  These interviews can feature professionals, hobbyists and bloggers who all have a passion for home design.  A few weeks ago houzz featured  Mary's Little Red House and her blog and just for leaving a comment, everyone had a chance to win a $50.00 Target  gift certificate/card!  All's you have to do is join houzz by setting up your own page/account so that you too can leave comments!   The fun part is that the individuals's who are being interviewed, Mary in this case, decide on what gift they want to offer.  So THANKS TO MARY for picking out such a great gift AND THANKS TO HOUZZ  for recognizing those bloggers who have a passion for design.

Houzz Interview: Mary's Little Red House

houzz- kitchen design, bathroom design, landscaping and more

So hop on over to Mary's Blog and to houzz and check out all the cool design ideas and get in on the all the fun :}

First Christmas in Pittsburgh...

Sunday morning was our last morning in Pittsburgh with Tim and Ashley and we decided to celebrate our Christmas that morning.  We all slept in and stayed in our pj's as we came down for a late breakfast and coffee and tea.  Once we were all somewhat awake...we gathered our presents and cards to open them as we stayed warm with blankets in the living-room.  Please note...no one took showers so we look a little "rough" to say the least...Tim looks like "Crammer" from friends...so funny :}

Even when he is "rough"...he is still a cutie...love ya babe...

Also...note to self...please remove all "distractions" from the wonderful photo opps...like in this photo...i.e., the bright orange "level" in the background and the purse and stuff on the coffee table.  It's just amazing what you do not see when you originally look through the camera lens...you tend to narrow your focus on the subject and forget the entire scene which the camera actually "brings" into focus for you once you load your prints.

Here, Ashley opens up her scarf and "mittens"...they are actually these great gloves that have the fingers exposed for completing tasks and then they have this neat little "mitten" that covers the fingers when you need the warmth...a little button holds the mitten flap back out of the way when you need to use your fingers...like when you need to answer your phone or use your keys, etc.   Cool beans...I got Tim and Ashley each a set.

Next up...go "Wolverines"...Tim opened up his "T" monogram to put up on his office wall.

Another great shot...NOT...

Don't you just love it when they cover their faces with the "gift"...lol

Thanks Tim for turning it around...still not the best shot!  So here are a few photos of the gift, close up:

It is a collage, in a shadow box frame, of Tim at NC State during his Senior Year and his Graduation.  Here's a photo of the "T" monogram with it for his office walls...to go with his diploma that he had framed:

Next up is a photo of Ashley opening up their "Vera Bradley" gift box...

 
Their gift box was filled with "travel" bags...which all meet the requirements for "carry on" for those weekend getaways that they want to take advantage of while Tim is working for US Air.

Previously, I had gotten Ashley the "cambridge" pattern and wanted to get them more bags that would coordinate with this pattern...so I got them a "large duffel", a "clear travel pouch", a small "jewelry case", a "zip ID Case" and a "tech case".

Of course we exchanged gifts...but I would not let anyone take my photo without having had a shower or make-up...ugh!  So that's why you don't see any photos of Kevin and myself...but we had a wonderful morning of exchanging gifts and we spent the rest of the day watching movies and playing Kismet.  It was such a relaxing day with "hot turkey sandwiches" and all the leftovers from our Thanksgiving Dinner. 

Needless to say, I was very sad to say goodnight, because I didn't want the time with them to end.  Tim had to go to work the next morning...so I got up to give him one last hug before he went off to work.  Then Ashley drove us to the airport and we were back home here in Charlotte, Monday afternoon before dark.  Can't wait to see my "babies" again...THANK YOU so much Tim and Ashley for such a great time in your new home...love you!  Mom and Dad   

PHIPPS Botanical Gardens

Saturday morning we woke up to snow that was just "spitting" and making the ground wet but not actually sticking to it...however, it did collect on the trees and bushes and made all the "dull" surfaces sparkle.  We decided to play "tourist" for the day and went into the city to the PHIPPS Botanical Gardens where I had read about the "Life in the Gardens" exhibit that featured hand blown glass by the Italian artist, Hans Godo Fabrel.  It was a great way to see the city and we parked and walked on the "Carnegie Mellon" campus and saw all the beautiful, old buildings that had great architectural features.  Holiday decorations were up everywhere, so I grabbed a photo of Tim & Ashley in front of the PHIPPS Christmas tree:

 They are just so sweet...it's beginning to "feel" a lot like Christmas now..yeah :} 

Once inside, we were all pleased with the "Fabrel" glass displays.  All throughout the "gardens" there were hand blown glass flowers, fairies, sprites, amphibians and aliens...it was very cool.

The glass sculptures looked as if they actually belonged in the gardens and every time we turned around we were finding something new to look at.

These large glass flower "bowls" look almost like "venice fly traps" and around the corner you see several forest "sprites" dancing through the forest.

Here we have "visitors" dancing on the tree branches and swinging on the spanish moss.

Next up, the "visitors" are heading back to their geometric "ships"...which are large glass cylinders, connected and constructed into large cubes...that appeared to have landed and "rolled" into their settings in the gardens .

Here we stopped and posed for a group photo...the lighting and the lush backgrounds through-out the gardens are great for all photos...I took over 100 while we were in the gardens.

Then we came around the corner to the open atrium and found this AMAZING structure suspended from the glass ceiling...just unbelievable.  This piece must weigh a ton and it was over 20 feet tall...it reminded me of the Murano Glass Factory in Venice...beautiful.

 

The best part of the whole exhibit, for me, was "Balancing" which is a play on "Frabel's" famous clowns.  This installation consists of 13 clowns balancing on large, brightly colored, spheres that freely float on the water.  It was also "interactive" were you, as a visitor, can participate by pressing buttons on a control panel to make the the "fountains" squirt up and gently move the beautifully "reflective" spheres and clowns around the pond.  The message here was: "to enjoy life as it is one big carnival".  

After we finished touring the gardens, we headed out to find a place to enjoy dinner and we found a great restaurant close to Tim & Ashley's home called "Pittsburgh Chops".  It is a locally own/managed steak and seafood restaurant (not a chain...yeah!) that has a great atmosphere and menu.  However, it did remind us, very much, of "The Palm" restaurants with their cartoon caricactures of sports legends (mainly Steelers) on the walls and the cigar/pipe smoke that came "wafting" in from the bar into the dinning room...thank goodness we were all done eating and that we were just finishing up our coffee and wine.

Oh boy...I'm so full...we need to go home so I can get into my PJ's...

 
Notice how Tim's eyes look like they need "toothpicks" right now...believe me...he barely made it home, to sit in his chair, before he was serenading us all with his snoring...lol 

We had such a wonderful time, and now,Tim and Ashley have a great place to go for a romantic dinner or to take Ashley's family when they come visit over the Christmas holiday.

Second Thanksgiving...

Once the holiday rush was over with all the "black friday" sales and the Thanksgiving travelers had returned home and cleared the airports and highways, Kevin and I grabbed our bags and flew north to Pittsburgh, PA to celebrate our Second Thanksgiving with my son, Timothy and his wife, Ashley and my niece Cortney and her husband Carl.

We arrived on Wednesday night and found the weather to be only a few degrees cooler in Pittsburgh than what we left in Charlotte. Tim & Ashley have a lovely two-bedroom town-home is a great neighborhood just minutes from Tim's work at the airport and from downtown Pittsburgh where there are lots of colleges and cultural activities.

The next morning, Thursday, we slept in and spent the morning relaxing and catching up with Tim & Ashley.  Then we made an afternoon of  browsing at IKEA and eating their famous "Swedish Meatballs" in the cafe...when we took a much needed break.  Had so much fun there gathering all kinds of great storage ideas for our new "smaller" home in Raleigh.  I was "dizzy" looking at all the armoires and storage containers...fabulous!

Ashely and I decided that these plastic bins would be great for "switching" out your seasonal clothes from storage...just throw a label on the container and you are good to go: spring/summer to fall/winter.

Sorry if these are a little blurry...DH took these with his cell phone :}  Then I went crazy when we got to the bathrooms because I'm looking for shelving and a new mirror/medicine chest...when I got to the kitchens it was all over...I died and went to heaven...lol

It took many glasses of wine to calm me down that night so that I could fall asleep...had many happy dreams of "organizing" my stuff...lol

Then on Friday we stayed home and prepared the turkey and all the trimmings during the day while we waited for Carl & Cortney to arrive once they got out of work that day.

So while Kevin and Tim carved the turkey in the kitchen, Ashley and I made the gravy and warmed up the casseroles.

Hmm...what are those boys up too?  Finally...we are hungry...Tim brings the bird to the table...

Now the table is full...Ashley made sweet potato casserole, squash casserole, cornbread and

a tossed salad which had to go on "tray tables" because we ran out of room... what would we do without them...

Now it was time to open up the champagne to toast the holiday and Tim & Ashley's new home.

Ashley said "grace" and Tim gave the "toast" as the hosts in their new home.

Once we finished eating, Ashley & Tim pulled down the "stockings" that they had hung, for all their guests, as a holiday "favor".

See the stockings here, hung in the kitchen...this was a continuation of a tradition that Tim & Ashley started when they were in college...they would give each other stockings to open for their own, intimate Christmas before traveling home to spend the holidays with their families over the school break.

ohhh...Carl got truffles...he's hiding them from Cortney...maybe he'll share them with her later...Chocolate is a commodity in their household...they barter for personal "favors"...lol

We spent the rest of the evening relaxing and making room for the NY style Cheesecake that Tim baked with fresh strawberries...it was so good...my favorite....I like my fork to stand up in the cheesecake...none of that whimpy "jello" or "cheesecake factory" soft stuff!  It was after midnight before we'd let Carl & Cortney go home...poor Cortney had to get up to go to work at the restaurant (her second job) all day Saturday.  So we said our goodbyes and went to bed feeling very, very thankful :} 

Consignment 1st...Matthews, NC

Consignment 1st, for those of you who are not familiar with them, is a locally owned consignment store that specializes in the resale of furniture, home decor, antiques and collectibles.  They are locally owned and have been operating since 1987 here in the Charlotte, NC with several other store locations in the surrounding areas.  Check out their web site if you are interested in your own franchise...right now with this economy it could be a great investment opportunity.

For me, Consignment 1st has been a great answer to our current situation...we are downsizing and moving to Raleigh.  My son, Mitchell has been working with Consignment 1st with their website development and he told me to send them an email and find out if they could help me liquidate my inventory from my Black Lion shop as well as some of my personal decor that will just not fit into our new home.

From the first email, Consignment 1st has been a great help and setting up an account was easy...you just bring in your items on Tues/Wed/Thur and they price them while you wait (and try not to spend any money on all the great deals in the store).  So far I have made five trips down with things and they even offered to come to my home and pick up things for a small fee, which they can deduct from your proceeds.  Most items sell within 90 days and Consignment 1st in Matthews had a 97% success rate for their sales last year.  After 90 days you can pick up any items that have not sold that are over $10.00 or Consignment 1st donates them to a local charity like Habitat for Humanity.  So now I just wait for my proceed checks and I do not have the hassle of listing items on Craig's List or trying to do a yard sale...which I'm so over after the last move...lol

So if you are in the Charlotte area, stop by and check out some of the great deals...just in time for the holidays...here's a few photos of the Black Lion stock that I'm liquidating:

Hobby/Artist Pen Holders

Hand Painted Ceramic Platter

 

Hand Painted Ceramic Rooster for serving dinner rolls or planter.

 
Floral Arrangements and much, much more...
 
 

The First Thanksgiving...

This year our FIRST Thanksgiving was spent at home here, in North Carolina, with the few family members that still reside here...as our families have grown (with two weddings this year) each child/adult has pursued their dreams...which ultimately has resulted in them moving out of state.  So with new jobs and responsibilities the holidays are shrinking...yikes!

So, our First Thanksgiving was hosted by my sister Debbie in home here in Concord, NC.  In attendance was her son, Wesley and his girlfriend, Dana as well as myself, DH and my oldest son, Mitchell.  It was a day of great food and fun and games.  Debbie roasted the turkey, made the stuffing, boiled onions and corn on the cob.  Dana made the whipped potatoes, I brought a sweet potatoe casserole and crudites and munchies for the game playing while the turkey was roasting.  One the turkey was done DH carved it while I made the gravy from the pan drippings.  Debbie has a small kitchen so we lined up some tray tables for our "make shift" buffet and everyone loaded up their plates.

Kevin and Mitchell are first in line...

Not to worry...there is plenty to go around and don't forget the yeast rolls and cranberry sauce...yum!

Then we tried to remember to get pictures before everyone sat down and finished their plates...this is a great photo of my son, Mitchell...he rarely smiles when I try to get a shot of him.  So here's a shot (left to right) of my sister Debbie, my son Mitchell, my nephew Wesley and his girlfriend, Dana.

So then Debbie got a shot from the other end so that we'd capture everyone in attendance.  Starting with my husband Kevin at the head of the table, then Mitchell with his milk, then Wesley, Dana and me.

After eating diner we cleaned up the kitchen and played a game of cards before we were ready for dessert.  Dana made a rainbow cheesecake with a brownie crust (yum) and Mitchell brought some pies, apple and mixed berry which we ate with vanilla bean ice cream (of course)...needless to say we were ready to roll home to our beds.  The day was warm and ended with a big hail storm because a cold front moved in when the sun set, so we had to wait for the rain to stop before we could drive home...but we were still happy it wasn't snow...lol   Which...kinda makes up for our babies not being with us... NOT...lol...Timothy (my son and his wife, Ashley) and Cortney (Debbie's daughter and her husband Carl) are all living in Pittsburgh PA right now.  My husband and I will be joining them for our Second Thanksgiving in Dec...stay tuned:}

All in all, we were very grateful to be together and to all be in good health and great spirits to celebrate and have fun together. 
 

Handmade Holiday Day 7 Winners!

HH 2009 Day 7 Winners...

That would be me...yeah!  Just wanted to share with you all that, people that you know...aka ME...really do win these blog contests so be sure to participate and Take The Pledge this holiday season :}

For those of you wondering what I won...well I got to choose a lovely photograph from Kimberly Taylor's lovely ETSY shop, Mimi Charmante - home of lovely things.  I chose this little lovely and now I'm trying to decide if I'm going to keep it for myself or give it away for Christmas...such a touch decision...I'm so bad...lol

I think this would look wonderful in my new kitchen on top of my cabinets with all my cookbooks...be sure to hop on over to Kimberly's shop, Mimi Charmante - home of lovely things for your holiday shopping. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wishing everyone a wonderful day with their friends and families!

May all your travels be safe, your tummies...not too full...

and your day filled with many grateful memories.

Fondly, Roberta

 

 

Vintage Clip Art courtesy of: The Graphics Fairy

Wednesday's Workbook: Handmade Holidays 2009

Well with all this moving stuff going on around here I am not able to get much done around here as far as creating for the holidays.  So I'm relying on all the other lovely participants who have taken The Handmade Holiday Pledge to visit their shops and get my holiday shopping done for my family and friends.  It is going to be a small Christmas this year so I really want it to be special and since I can't create my own gifts this year, I'm going to find something special with Frenchie & Flea.

  Be sure to check out Frencie & Flea's sidebar and my sidebar here at con-tain-it and look for this "button" for the great shops that are participating in taking "The Pledge"!  Your support of all of these businesses is greatly appreciated...so be sure to leave comments even if you are just browsing...we all love to hear from our readers...now go "SHOP TILL YA DROP"!

New Book Review and Giveaway

Lucy of Enchanted by Josephine, has another great book review and giveaway this month:

Contest Ends November 22, 2009

So hop on over to Enchanted by Josephine and read Lucy's wonderful review and find out how you can enter the giveaway...it would make a great gift for someone on your Christmas list, I'm sure :} 
 

 

Wednesday's Workshop: Maya Mist Muslin Roses

Have been real busy around here because...we just found out that we are moving, AGAIN, the end of January...AHHH!  Which means, that I won't have as much time to work in my studio and to be as creative as I want to be...but I will continue to work on my Sketchbook Project that I committed to before all the wedding and moving craziness started.  Also, I will try to keep blogging a few times a week to let you know how the everything is going...just will not have as much time to document my steps as I have in past project posts.

Now, before I forget, I want to show you all how I used this great Maya Mist Tutorial as my inspiration for creating flowers for Cortney and Carl's wedding.

I was so inspired with the end results...that when my niece, Cortney was married last month and was stressing over, the price of and the time involved in ordering boutonnieres for all the male guests in her wedding...that I decided to "play" with their tutorial and try making some of these muslin roses myself.

So, first, I gathered my supplies: 1/2 yard of white muslin, spray inks, florist  tape, water in a mister bottle, one small silk grape leaf bush and adhesive...and I made seven boutonnieres for under seven dollars.  Probably could have made eight...but I didn't measure the muslin strips when I ripped them up and one turned out really "big"...lol  Instead of fabric glue, which takes time to dry, I used some of these great "Zips" Clear Adhesive Lines to hold the roses together as I rolled and twisted the muslin into roses...and even after wetting the fabric with the spray inks and then water to dilute the inks the "Zips" still held the shape of the "roses". 

The "roses" look a little funky...in the above photo...before you apply the inks but, when done and dry, they looked very "realistic".  In the original tutorial, they simply glue down the flat bottom of the roses to a chipboard element.  However, to add these to the leaf stems it was a little harder because they were difficult to hang on to...so after the first one, I learned to leaved the "ends" of the muslin fabric "hanging" out so that I could tie them together to secure them to the silk leaves and stems to form the "base'' for the boutonnieres.  Sorry, I didn't take any photos because I could NOT hang onto the flower and the stems AND hold the camera at the same time!  The wedding colors were green and purple and Cortney wanted the men to wear green ties with their suits so she wanted the boutonnieres to be green.

  
Once I got the first one assembled with the florist tape on the stems, I sprayed the leaves with some glitter...just like the florist do to add some depth to the silk leaves.

We finished them all up and added some green floral tape the the stems and all the wedding party loved them and many of the guests didn't realize that they weren't real flowers...they thought the roses were simply sprayed green...ha!

 
Here's the lovely couple, Mr. & Mrs. Carl Lyon...sorry for the fuzzy photo...was hoping to have more photos from the photographer, etc. but not as yet.  But you can at least see the flowers and how well they looked pinned on.  It was hard to find a photo with the guys still wearing their "jackets"...once the reception started they all took their suit-coats off...kinda like us women with our shoes!  It was a lovely wedding ceremony and reception...and Cortney liked the fact that she had Carl's boutonniere to keep with her memorabilia.

T G I F F...that's Frickin' Friday

Man...I don't know if it's the full moon or the time change but this week has been kickin' my butt...bit time...so I'm glad that it is finally friday and here are a few more goodies for you all to check out to make this a FANTASTIC FRIDAY!

First up, is another great book review and giveaway by the lovely Miss Lucy on her blog, Enchanted by Josephine, so hop on over and read her post leave a lovely comment.

Contest Ends: November 12, 2009

Of course I love to read anything around "The Tudor" era and Amy of Passages to the Past is having another great book giveawy this month (that's two in one month now) so make sure you go on over and check out her great blog as well:

 Contest Ends: November 30, 2009

Then last but not least, is a new blog that I just discovered (because I just love checking out all kinds of blogs) and this one by Miss Susan aka, Peanut Petunia is full of great decorating and storage ideas...and "just because" (she can) she is giving away this lovely galvanized key cabinet from Pottery Barn:

How cool is that...it would make a lovely Christmas Gift if you can't use it in your home...I know my sons would love this manly, man thang!  So hop on over and leave a comment now because  I don't know when this contest ends.

Happy Frickin' Friday Everybody!

Multi-Tasking "Super Crazy Woman"

Well today I was "multi-tasking" like a crazy woman!  Which means that I continued "base-coating" my journal pages as I mentioned in this post, and while I was waiting for the "paint to dry", I was also purging and sorting my huge stacks of magazines for "clip-art"...again as I had mentioned in this post.   But that wasn't enough for "super crazy woman" so I started cleaning up my blog at the same time!  So for all of you bloggers who read/follow your favorite blogs in Google Reader or via another RSS feed...be sure to check out my cleaned up sidebars and check out all the new contests being offered all over blog land that, I personally participate in, and that I feature on my blog.

The clean-up started because I tackled a writing project that I had been putting off for the entire month of October for this Santorini Dreaming Short Essay Contest.  I am an avid follower of several foreign blogs but this one by far is one of my favorites because this man followed his dream of carving out a life for himself and his wife in this magical land.  Please read his pages Dreaming of a different life and A cave to call home... so that you can understand, fully, where I'm coming from...because there are a lot  of other blogs that I follow of individuals who have followed their dreams and relocated to a foreign soil...but none of them are as inspiring for me as Michael's journey.   So go visit Oia Santorini and "Dream Big" before the deadline this coming Monday, November 9th.

Photo courtesy of Santorini Dreaming...I could get lost in Michael's beautiful photos!

So while I was in the "cleaning" mode I also added a new site to my sidebar: The Bright Side Project

 Once upon a time, it was very, very gloomy.  The skies thundered, the economy crumbled, and people only spoke to grumble. Everything looked bleak, bleak, bleak.

Until one day, shortly after a market crash and right before another round of layoffs, a girl named Miss B. came up with a terrifically bright idea.  As she later explained to her friend and business partner, Miss K., their mission would be to scour the world for the best in fashion, design, and décor.  Then, one by one and everyday, they would give it all away to some very lucky people.

This is how The Bright Side Project began on a wintry, gray day in February.

In February they gave away art for 28 days, In March they gave away 31 days of accessories.  In April, they celebrated social conscience with 30 days of eco-friendly everything.  And so on, and so on, and so on.  Suddenly things didn’t seem so bleak anymore.

In fact, metaphorically speaking, the sun started to shine 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and everyone stopped for a second to remember life is (still) beautiful and there is goodness in the world.

You can more about the "mission" of The Bright Side Project here but I really want to do is to spread the "sunshine" about their wonderful site and to have you spread some "rays" as well.  For the month of November they are offering wonderful, "two for one" prizes, for all their giveaways...all month long...so that for the upcoming holidays you can choose to...give one or...to keep one or...to give both gifts...it's up to you. 

For those of you who love to read as much as I do, please check out my sidebars...often...because these two lovely blogs offer book giveaways each and every month and sometimes they have multiple, "autographed by the author" book giveaways.

Enchanted by Josephine

Passages to the Past

Another one of my favorite sites which I found while participating in Teresa McFadden's ezines offers FREE vinatage clip art and they have just updated their blog button aka "avitar" so I wanted to make sure you all were seeing this as well.

  The Graphics Fairy

So now I'm off to do some more "multi-tasking" before my "super crazy woman" juice runs out...aka "triple grande mocha with skim milk, no whip, no foam and only one squirt chocolate syrup"...got that!

The Sketchbook Project 4: Inspiration

 Finally found my inspiration to start The Sketchbook Project 4 which is sponsored by Art House Co-op currently located in Atlanta, GA (but relocating after the new year to New York City...kinda makes me sad) which I signed up for over a month ago...but with the wedding and all...just didn't have the time or motivation to get started.   

But after this "organizational" and "inspirational" post last week I was in the mood to attack my piles of magazines that have started to gather around the house again...I swear they make babies and multiply while we sleep....shhhhh

So I was really proud of myself because I got through one pile stacked this high and sorted the clippings in a temporary file next to my chair while my DH and I watched old movies and snuggled in while it was raining outside.

DH even went to the coffee shop and picked us up some Triple Grande Mochas with Skim Milk and No Whip Cream...and btw...only two "fast" squirts of chocolate...the waiters at the coffee shop know my DH when he comes in and they no longer have to be told how to make MY perfect mocha...lol

So while the boss was away...the little mouse played...and opened up her google reader and found these wonderful videos that Teesha Moore is doing on her blog...for free...I was so excited that I watched all day long as she kept uploading more of them...cool beans...she's done eight so far and I can't wait for the rest to come out...here's the first one for you to see where I'm going with this on my Sketchbook: 

So today with inspiration from Teesha's videos I am starting my Sketchbook Project by painting all of my background papers with watercolors:

 
Don't  you just love this bright orange/red color...I'm going to use this one alot through out my sketchbook.  Now if I could just stop myself from being distracted by the wonderful views out my windows again...love it when the sun shines...awwwww

Every time we get rain...the pond turns real brown from all the "red" clay/mud here in the Carolinas...

...but the ducks don't seem to care about the "mocha" colored water...mmmm...maybe a mocha will help me stay focused...have to go see what DH thinks?   I know...I'm so bad... 

Happy Halloween!

Fall has finally "bloomed" here in Charlotte, NC....this is the lovely view that I have from my studio windows...just love it when the sun is shinning.   Hope you all find lots of "Treats" and a few "Tricks" tonight  :}
  

Wednesday's Workbook: "Inspiring" Magazine Storage

Well I'm back...had a short blogging break due to my niece's wedding and all the out-of-town guests that were here for it and all the family events we managed to coordinate while everyone was together...it literally takes an "act of congress" to get everyone together anymore...but it was so worth it!   So I'm posting a day late...but I wanted to get this "Workbook" post done in October because it relates to my recent art journal that I completed while taking Rhonna Farrer's "The {21} Challenge.

So many friends and bloggers ask me "how do you keep all of your ideas handy?"  So while I was working on the challenge I took the time to take photos of my "inspiration" files and promised myself that I would blog about it as soon as the challenge was over...didn't want any additional interruptions!   Even though I love the virtual computer world and all the access we now have to so many fantastic, creative people...I still love the "tactile" part of buying a magazine and "feeling" and "finding" inspiration between the pages...even though I'm struggling lately with being "green" and not wasting paper with all the printing of magazines, etc.  I've always justified some of this"green guilt"(hey...that sounds like a new blogging category...hahaha) with the fact that I rarely throw anything away...something my DH can attest to because he has had to move my mountains of paper enough times during our marriage...and now my grown sons, nephews and friends...refuse to move me because of my paper issues...lol

Previously, I have posted about my clip art storage for when I am making collage/mixed media pages, and now I want to cover my magazine storage.  My system is broken down into two main processes with the first being:

1.) Relatively permanent magazine storage:  this includes all my favorite art magazines like, Somerset Studios, Quilting Arts, etc. that are so full of inspiration that I cannot find it in myself to "tear them down".  At one point I still had every "Stampington" issue that was published, but when we had to downsize last year...I forced myself to go through them and I realized that styles had changed drastically and things that were inspiring to me 15 years ago, no longer tugged at my heartstrings...so then I was able to process these as well.   So for all the "keepers" I have invested in many Highsmith Corruboard magazine files...found these years ago when I was scrapbooking and sold them in my retail store.  Here is a photo of these in my living room now:

 
In the above photo you can see the "brown" files with the words, "Share Your Knowledge", as well as a set of black ones on the bookcase next to it.  The brown files are my "permanent" magazine storage because they are facing with the backs out and, because I didn't want to see the plain/ugly backs, I used these lovely vinyl lettering quotes from Wall Words on the backs.  Wall Words is/was a home-based, party plan business that I originally signed on as a Representative for (over five years ago) when they just started their party plan...but after Creative Memories...I knew it wasn't for me. 

 
As you can see from the above photo, I have several of these files...over 30 last count...so it was very important to me that they be "functional" as well as "stylish".  Now once you turn the magazine holders around you can see that I have used my label machine to add the name of the magazine subscription that I am storing in each holder...see the next photo:

So when I buy/receive a new magazine I immediately view it and add "post-it" tabs to any article or product advertisement that "speaks" to me at the time.
Then...when I'm working on a project and "hit the proverbial wall"...I simply sit on my floor and pull out my magazine files and check my "tabs" first.  

Now for all those magazines that I do "break down" and save only the "inspiring bits" then I use my second process that we can refer to as:

2.) Temporary Article and Visual Storage:  which is very affordable and utilizes another of my all-time favorite storage items: magnetic photo albums...yeah baby...these have come a long way since the acid-free/safe archival explosion with the scrapbooking industry.

Now I have used these for YEARS...really...I started using them when they were deemed "unsafe" and "unfit"...lol...for storing recipes that I had pulled out of magazines and placed in piles in drawers and many file folders...where they would wait for me to find them again...which was usually NEVER and then I'd end up throwing them away...hahaha   Here is a closer peek at my labels on these albums:

You see...I love many things...so I use these albums for all of my interests...and the best part is that you do not need any ADHESIVES...yeah!  You just trim down your magazine article, recipe or latest fashion find and peel up the protective film and presto...it's in there!  Notice the blue album with the label "Post Apartments"...this was one I used when we had to sell our home and downsize...so I collected several magazine layouts on small spaces or on the newest colors/trends and made the move exciting.

The above photo shows articles I've kept on "Women in Business"...I always find it inspiring to read about other successful women...especially in the art world.  For magazine articles that are multi-paged with printing on the front and back sides of the magazine pages...I simply staple the pages together and punch holes with my "standard" three hole paper punch and put them in the album.  The pages are a little larger than the magnetic album pages...but that doesn't bother me...makes it like an interesting "art journal".  And here you can see that I use my trusty ole "post-its" to highlight what I'm finding most interesting at the moment.

Sometimes you will pull something out of a magazine and then when you see it again...you cannot for the life of yourself...remember what you found so darnn interesting in the first place...my suggestion is to "throw it away" at that point.  Or to prevent that from happening too often...you can take the time to jot down notes on your "post-it" notes:

 
OR...you can write a detailed note and place it inside the magnetic album page like I've done here:

 Sorry for the bad photos...was having a hard time with the reflections in my husbands office where I store these particular magnetic albums.  Now I have a BONUS process that I also want to share with you.  It is more of a portable "inspiration" file for you to take with you to the book store, library or classes, etc.

For this process I use a "blank book"...now the book in the above photo I have had for over five years and it still has plenty of room for more "inspiration".  Now let me explain how I use this...whenever I go to a bookstore I bring along my book...because there are many magazines that I look at in the store and just cannot justify buying them...especially when there may be only one or maybe two things in the whole magazine that "inspire" me.  So I will make notes about these inspiring ideas in my book and at times I have "sketched" these ideas as well...see the following photo:

The sketch is of a pattern for covering some ugly metal file cabinets for my office and I actually completed the covers...I like keeping the measurements in case I ever want to make more...I rarely use patterns when I sew household decor.  You can also see that this is where I will glue down "small" inspiring snippets that I've found in magazines...you know how alot of the woman's magazines have the greatest tips for hostesses, etc.

In the following photo you  can see where I made notes about an article that I read one day in a bookstore about how a woman made collaged Tags or ATC's about all the novels she has read.  She then keeps them in an altered box on her table at home for a beautiful reference file.  I loved this idea because I read so many books and it is hard to keep the story-lines straight...and I just love historical novels about the Tudors and Marie Antoinette and would love to combine my art and reading in such a lovely way.

On the right side of the above photo you can see my notes for a "future" album idea for chronicling my favorite number "13"...it is still a work in progress so as I collect inspiring ideas and dates...I simply jot them down in my blank book.

And finally, in the following photo, you can see where I combined a previous album idea for "The Perfect Date" with my DH with a class that I took with Donna Downey.  I simply took all the wonderful things we like to do on our dates and incorporated them onto this two page "Celebrate" spread that Donna was teaching...only I labeled mine Cherish and you can see the photos of this completed project when you click on the "Cherish" link.

There is so much more "goodness" in this little book...but I'd have to write a book to show it all to you!  I hope that this long post has answered all of your questions and that you found some "inspiration" for yourselves and for storing your magazines in "style".  If you have any more questions or want to see anything else...just leave a comment and I will post or email you with more of my tips!   

You're Invited...to a Family Gathering

Make a Smilebox slideshow