The Kids!

Elizabeth and Pudge-hanging out in their room.

Elizabeth and Bryan.

William.

Elizabeth and Matt.

Elizabeth, Matt, and Pudge. 

Bring on the snow!  Happy Tuesday!

Decadence

Thursday afternoon snack:  strawberry flavored heart-shaped marshmallows and a cup of coffee.

Saturday evening ice cream.  Mmmmm.

Vintage bookpage hearts strung together with the sewing machine.  Original idea and how-to info on Dottie Angel here. 

Lovely and soft yarn waiting to be worked.  {Sigh}.

I think we all can use a bit of decadence on a Monday morning  

Have a decadent Monday and remember to treat yourself to something nice. 

Happy Monday!

Blast From the Past-Jan 2011 Edition

Check out these jogging beauties!  Grandpa running in his work boots.  Me in that awesome Addidas sweatsuit. 

This is one of my favorite Christmas memories and I didn’t realize that I had a photo of it.  Grandma had written 1989 on the back of the photo-which is good because I never remember which year is which.  But I do remember that I asked for money this year for Christmas.  And I love how it was presented  

Sweet.

Happy Friday!

Together Time

One of the best parts of the kids getting older and more independent is that we get to spend more time alone together.  Just hanging out, going out to eat, or going to the gym.  And the 2 of us are much nicer to each other than the kids are to us. 

Happy Thursday!

Sunlight

Sunrise in the city on a cold January Sunday morning.

The sunrise filtering through the East window in my studio. 

Beautiful clouds and a bit of blue sky for a change-it didn’t hang out long!

Simple Pleasures-Lovely.

Happy Wednesday!

Painting Nook

I have been planning to “de-clutter” one of the dormers in our attic where my studio is located (and our bedroom). 

It is part of my “Simplify” plan/ One Little Word for 2011. 

This is a pile of things.  Yes-I’m going to leave it at that.

And another pile of things. Neither lovely nor simple nor pleasing to the eye.

Now it looks like this.  Beautiful natural light.  And Space.  And Room. 

{And no piles of things-at least not nearly as many}

And this.  Paintings that aren’t complete, but that I am inspired by.

I even brought my laptop up for reference on the painting that I was working on.  It is very bright during the day, so it makes a great weekend retreat.  Not so much during the week since there is usually no daylight by the time I get home from work this time of the year. 

Lovely.  And simple. 

{Simplify}

Happy Tuesday!

Fabric Love-Bliss

(Jelly Roll-Bliss, by Bonnie & Camille-info on Camille’s Blog)

I am totally in love with this beautiful fabric “jelly roll” from Moda. 

I love the colors, the patterns, the feel of the fabric in my hands. 

I mean seriously-isn’t this beautiful? 

And Camille Roskelley’s book has some beautiful quilts in some beautiful colors as well. 

(Her book is called Simplify with Camille Roskelley available here.)

I am very excited to start playing with that jelly roll and working on my quilting.  Maybe…I will even finish my first quilt which I started a LONG time ago, but never finished. 

Happy Monday!

Senior Photos-Elizabeth has chosen!

The Senior Yearbook Photo

So we finally have some Senior photos to show off.  Because I LOVE taking the photos-and I procrastinate as long as I possibly can on editing them.  Not because I don’t like editing-I actually love it.  I think it is more of a fear that I won’t like any of the photos that I took. But it’s not about me-back to Elizabeth. 

One of the things that I love about Elizabeth is that she doesn’t agonize over decisions.  The photo above was my favorite from the beginning.  I love the river in the background and I love the way that the late afternoon sun is reflecting on her hair.  It gives a glow to the photo that frankly didn’t need much editing. 

I also love this one. 

This photo was Elizabeth’s second favorite and it almost made the yearbook pick.  But she decided that she loved the background of the other one better. I love this photo too.  Which is funny because the “Straight out of the camera” photo looked like crap.  Seriously-I did the most horrible job of looking through the viewfinder…ever…

I also really like this photo. 

And this one would have looked great if she hadn’t been in a “mood” and making a face.  Of course, it does “reflect” her personality perfectly!

And finally-this photo.  I love the lace and the jean jacket.  And of course-I heart the zinnias.  In fact, this shot was set up by Elizabeth-she chose the location at Mom’s.  I love it.  She will make a great photographer!  She is well on her way already! 

Okay-so now to ship off the yearbook photo and get ready to start ordering photos. 

Peace out and happy Friday!

One Word Update-Necklace

Today I got my “One Word” charm in the mail along with the pearl that I ordered to go with it. 

{LOVE}

Here I am wearing it. 

(I figured it has been a long time since I have done a self-portrait too)

Playing COD. 

(William was sleeping, so no photo of him )

And another self-portrait. 

Happy Wednesday! 

Night Photography

I was feeling a bit cooped up last night and decided that I needed to get out of the house.  So I went to the backyard-yes, I know, I didn’t get very far, but it was 7:30, so there weren’t many places to walk.  Plus-I could take Ralph with me. 

It’s been a long time since I’ve taken night photos-probably since the summer when it was actually WARM. 

If it wasn’t for the snow, I would be ready to light a fire in the firepit and have a seat by the fire. 

Ralph is really hard to photograph.  He is always on the move.  Even this one is a little blurry. 

I love the fence. 

Here is where the winter starts to get really long.  It’s the middle of January and I am starting to go a little crazy.

Happy Tuesday!

Weekend Projects

Bryan and I went to Barnes and Noble and the Starbucks inside for Caramel Brulee lattes.  Bryan got a frog cookie.  He didn’t like it (it sure is cute) so William ate it instead. 

My new set of watercolors came on Friday from Dick Blick. 

I spent a lot of time playing with it on Saturday, but I don’t have anything to share yet. 

I am also working on a Valentine project, but it is hush hush right now. 

And I watched some football.  A couple of important games happened  

I guess the Bears-Packers will play one more time this season to get to the SuperBowl.  I LOVE THE PLAYOFFS!  

Happy Monday!

Random Friday

So-not much going on around here lately…so you get these photos  

Tigger was concerned. 

William is wearing another Dymo label moustache. 

I was sorting through old Creating Keepsakes magazines over the weekend and ran across an article by Ingunn Markiewicz with a trio of canvases similar to these (of course I can’t find the article now that I want to reference it, but when I run across it I will post about it). 

I love butterflies and I loved the way that the paint colors merged together on the canvas. 

Happy Friday-hope it is a creative one!