Thinking of You

Unfortunately, this is the first of a couple of cards I need to make for a couple friends of mine who recently lost a child.

One 19 and the other in very early 20's, I belive 22 or 23. One in a tragic motorcycle accident and one a tragic drug issue. I had know both as young children. 

I have been draging my feet since sympathy cards are my least favorite cards to make, as I'm sure they are for all cardmakers out there. I decided that this challenge was a perfect opportunity to get my behind in gear and get to work. Anyway, I like the simplicity and calmness of this card, just what I want to express to my dear friends. I'm not a mushy kind of person, so the "with deepest sympathy" cards don't really work for me. And I can't, and never want to imagine the pain these two women and their families are going through right now, so I just want to keep it simple.

I will post the next as soon as I get it done.

Fall TV season

Although I don't watch a lot of TV, I really enjoy the few shows that I do watch. I love HGTV, even though my viewing is few and far between. I love the Food Channel, but ditto.
My shameful confession is that i also enjoy watching the Real Housewives. OK, I'm glad to get that off my chest. I don't know why I watch, because it really is garbage, but every once in a while, I enjoy what I call my "brainless TV time".  I tend to like the Beverly Hills, New Jersey, and New York best. Don't care too much for Atlanta or DC. Oh, and I LOVE the Betheny shows, no apology.

Then, sometime during my brainless TV session I saw a commercial for a show called "PAN AM" that was to debut on Sunday night at the gosh awful hour of  10:00 p.m. (past my bedtime!)
 
Hello?

I have to have a child at the bus stop one half hour away at 7:45. I cannot stay up that late. Even when I can sleep in, it's hard.
So, I did what all computer geeks do. I watched in on my computer this morning!!! Hallelujah!!!
I loved it! It was set in the 60's, so even a short steamy scene was done with what I thought was some taste, especially by today's standards. I hope it stays as good as the first episode was.
Another show that I was wanting to see and missed so I watched it on the puter was "The Chew".

LOVED IT!!!

Even if you don't like to cook, this is a great show!!! Can't wait for the next show!

So there you have my faves for the fall for what it's worth. I haven't watched any others I could watch with my parents, so I won't recommend them.

Still a few I need to try, like "Suburbatory" and "Up all Night".
Doesn't sound like brain food, but that's not what I watch TV for!

Helping the Fiori Crew

***Disclaimer! Long post, sit down and grab a drink***

Last Saturday, we had our monthly sibling get-to-gether at John's house. We always end of walking, and this visit was no different! (Not like I don't need it, hahah...)

We worked up our appetite by walking to a nearby Chinese restaurant for a nice lunch. Well, it was supposed to be nearby, but John miscalculated and we ended up walking  a lot further than needed, but that's another story that he will never live down.
Anyway, after a nice lunch and great company, we walked off  our lunch by walking back home. We were a little worried he would forget his way home, but thank goodness Miles was there to save us!

We then proceeded to the Edgewater Inn to help Miles set up for a wedding.

This picture is not from the actual installation that we did, but this is the beautiful view from the room that we set up.  ***sigh***

So, we picked up flower arrangements from the shop and delivered them to the Edgewater to be placed on tables not already occupied by a fishbowl containing a Beta fish. We spread rose petals around the fish bowls while Miles decorated the cake with roses.
Besides the Beta fish, some cute personal touches I noticed, was the punch bowl, made entirely out of ice, the ever popular candy bar, and the grooms cake, which was a cougar with a WSU collar! GO COUGS, sorry Miles. He needs to send me some pictures, I didn't have my camera that day :(

I really would have liked to stay, especially after seeing the fully stocked bar, I mean, the candy bar, but I was dragged out kicking and screaming. Well, at least internally!
I know, I know.... Anyway,
From there, we drove (thank goodness) to Mile's shop and from there, walked down to Nordstrom so that he could show us what was going to be transformed into his Fiori at Norstrom shop.

This is Mr. Fiori himself, Miles Johnson

And, the three stooges, OK, the 2 stooges,

John's camera added 50 pounds to my normally svelte body. What's up with that???  ;)

Time for a new camera, John! I also want to add that these were taken after dusk, and I also did not edit them.

Not that that has anything to do with the extra 50 pounds, I'm just sayin'.

Introducing Fiori Floral Design at Nordstrom

There was much to do before the Grand Opening of FIORI FLORAL at the downtown Seattle Nordstrom store, so I got to help Miles and his staff prepare roses for customers coming in to check out Nordstrom's new addition!
My job was threading his signature ribbon onto a business card and tying it to a rose.

400 of them!!!

There were many different colors, unfortunately, I didn't think of snapping a picture when they were all sitting together waiting for their ribbon and business card to be attached.

BEAUTIFUL!!!

After finishing the roses, Miles and some of his staff and myself, walked from his shop on Terry Avenue to the Nordstrom store, to see how things were coming along, and OM Gosh, it looked so beautiful! I especially fell in love with the lighting and an antique flower cart (that I couldn't take a picture of with all the workers milling about!). I was however, able to sneak in a few quick shots of the lighting.

Sorry, the first picture ended up slightly blurry. It was a quick shot since I was trying to not to be in the way of the dear folks scurrying around getting things ready.

I managed to sneak in a close up of these wonderful lights!

Did I happen to mention how much I love these lights??? They might turn up missing someday... (insert evil laugh...), they would look great in my house!

These pictures really don't do them justice. I'd take them anyway.

Today is the big day!

For my dear friend............!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm so excited for him I can't stand it!!! More later...........

Happy Saturday!

I am leaving for Seattle to visit my brother today for our sibling lunch. I'm picking my sister up at 11:15 so I gotta scoot!!! Will post photos tonight! Happy saturday!

*****still waiting for Miles to send me picures. Hurry up Miles!!! ;) *****

Doxie Love!

I received my weekly e-mail from Pinterest this morning. It tells me how many items I pinned, how many of my pins were re-pinned, liked, etc. and goes on to show boards I might enjoy and so on.

Don't look Cindi, don't look!!!! Well, I looked and just happened to see a Dachshund image. Uh oh!
Now I'm on a hopeless rabbit trail!

O my gosh, did i see some cute stuff or what?

For example;

adorable pillow!

I gotta have this clock!

and this beer ad......

another pillow!

an ornament.......

ribbon!

embroidery

I MUST TRY THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

awwwwwwwwwwe!

Ok, ok, so I love Dachshunds, It's not my fault, God made me that way!

So I'll just leave you with this.....

and this...........

and this...............

And for the fashion conscious........drum roll please.................

or this???

well, maybe not!

Try not to have nightmares over this last one ;)







Amuse Studio challenge

A Muse Studio blog has a challenge to make a card using ribbon. http://amusestudiochallengeblog.blogspot.com
I used three different ribbons on this card, the adorable bee ribbon, the orange ribbon with yellow dots and the blue ribbon with the tulips.

I especially loved this "Bugs & Butterflies" collection from The Paper Company. All the bright colors, adorable prints, glittered paper, chipboard, ribbon, rub-ons......all too cute!

The paper I used for the card reminded me of ribbon and is from their "Celebration" collection, very cute also! Unfortunately, these are earlier releases, I believe, 2009, so they may not be easily available :(

So much paper, so little time.................

Challenge card

Moxie Fab World has a Tuesday challenge, appropriately called Tuesday Trigger. Last week's challenge was to create a card using this picture;

I was inspired not only by the color scheme, but I loved the pillow. It reminded me of a Thank You card I made not too long ago for Sue.

I know, I know, the colors are not exact, but the idea is for inspiration, not replication!

I have some other paper I plan to use to make another card using that color scheme. Stay tuned!

***Edited to add new card***

I liked this color combo so much I made another card this afternoon. I used an A Muse stamp with Shabby Shutters and Broken China Distress Inks with a little misting on the inked up stamp. I used a piece of paper to make a faux pleated ribbon border and added a couple buttons threaded with embroidery floss and added a rub-on sentiment, by Rhonna Farrer. I really like how it turned out!

I guess I should go and do some domestic chore now that I've had my creative fix for the day!

Sunflower Love!

Anyone who knows me well knows that my favorite color is yellow and that my favorite flower (besides Lilacs!) is the Sunflower.

I     LOVE     SUNFLOWERS!!!

They are so bright and cheery and I can't help but smile when I look at them. They make me happy!
Whitey grows them every year and I usually let them be, instead of bringing them in so that the birds and bees can enjoy them. I took some pictures last night so that I can enjoy them too!

Daemyan's birthday

We celebrated Daemyan's birthday with my family yesterday.
It's hard to believe that he will be 11 years old on Monday! He came to live with us when he was 5 months old and he has been to joy of our lives. He is such a sweet, good natured little man and he makes us proud!
He will celebrate again in a couple of weeks with 3 of his best buds from school. Today, he was able to spend the day with them, so that makes his birthday extra special.

I guess I should have thought to move all the assorted items of clothing hanging on our rail before pictures, but...............well, sorry............

Anyway, on another note, I just love a truck full of out-of-the-field hay and that is what I got to see in my barn yesterday!!! It smells so good, and is irresistible to cats, kids and dogs, but the dogs couldn't jump up on the truck.

Dachshunds, you know!

Looks like angry cat wakes up from nap in the hay.

His beauty sleep was disturbed, poor guy

Have a wonderful Sunday and please don't forget to pray for the souls of all the victims of 9-11 and for their families.

Ellensburg Rodeo

It was my turn to attend the Ellensburg rodeo with my dad this Sunday.
For the past 6 or 7 years,( I just can't remember), my sister and I take turns attending the rodeo with my dad. My mom is not a rodeo person, but she did it for years to "make dad happy". Now it's our turn! Anyway, I got my love of all things Western from my dad, rodeo included. Horses were my earliest passion. I watch the rodeo with tons of emotion, from envy of the rodeo queens to terror for the bull riders.
Most of all I feel twinges of grief for not following my life's passion. I know I need to accept my life the way it is, regardless of what I thought it should have been, but there is still that passion........ OK, I'm getting depressed, so I'll move on....

Where Tradition Lives On

The Ellensburg Rodeo is one of the “old rodeos” and has earned its place as one of America’s Top 10 professional rodeos. The Ellensburg Rodeo is the final stop of the Wrangler Million Dollar Gold Tour and hosts the World Finale of PRCA’s Extreme Bulls Tour. Started in 1923 with the same volunteer spirit that still “fuels the fire” of today’s volunteers, the rodeo has grown from a local competition among ranch hands to the Professional event of today with over 600 contestants and prize money in excess of $400,000!

Today’s best riders, ropers, and wrestlers compete in what many consider to be the best rodeo arena in the nation. The Friday night opening performance starts in the evening and ends under the stars. The Saturday and Sunday afternoon “perfs” feel electrically charged by the brilliant blue sky. It all leads up to the Labor Day Monday Championship Finals…

                               ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Long live the Ellensburg Rodeo!!!

On a challenge roll.....

I've been in a card making funk for a while, so after participating in a few challenges I'm rearing to go again!
I spent most of the summer being very lazy productive, so when I wasn't busy on the computer, doing hard labor, I was, well, trying to keep up with dishes, laundry, mail, my animals, grand kids, various appointments to try to get my hips and back in working order (chiropractor, acupuncture, massage, ice, heat.....) and other housekeeping and domestic chores.
I am happy to report that I am much better and have actually taken an interest in my horrible neglected garden once again.
but I digress....
This week's challenge on the A Muse Studio challenge blog,
http://amusestudiochallengeblog.blogspot.com/
is to create dimension on your card using whatever keeps your card from being flat. Piece of cake, I don't even know how to make flat cards!!! They just don't seem to look right without dimension and texture, although I must say that there is something about a clean and simple card.......it's just I have a hard time making one!

Sorry about the gigantic pictures, I just thought they looked better because I can see more detail ;)
I also seemed to have used a LOT of blue!

My pinwheel card was made with a tag punch and folded a certain way and adhered to the card. The pearl brad in the center gives it yet even more texture, but kind of "softens" it.

For the choo choo train, I cut green card stock to make it look curvy and snipped little pieces to make it look like grass. The train is on dimensional squares, as well as a couple of the stars. The inside of the train wheels are brads and the sentiment is acrylic.

The clam shell is on dimensional foam with pearls and glitter to add dimension. The paper is also very dimensional because of the glitter. 

Needless to say, I do my part in keeping the USPS in business since I can rarely mail a card with regular postage. Always glad to help the economy..........................