Dancing Commas

Canvas Photo Tutorial

2012-02-14T14:33:00.000-05:00

"Love is when you can be your true self with someone, and you only want to be your true self because of them."
-Terri Guillemets

Want to see what my husband's getting for Valentine's Day?? You have to promise to keep it quiet for a couple of more hours until he gets home from work.... pinky swear??

My tradition is to make my Valentine's Day gifts for Rob. And, sometimes that's tricky, given that we're not a super-duper, lovey-dovey, smooshy-mushy couple. Here are a couple of ideas that I've used previously: 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008.

This year, I spiced up a favorite photo (from our 2010 Washington trip) with a favorite sentiment and then took advantage of a project I had been wanting to try: canvas photo art. There are lots of tutorials out there, but I thought I would show you what worked for me. Despite my initial apprehension, it turned out great. Just need a house with walls to hang it on!

Supplies needed: photo printed to size (I used a 12x12 matte photo from Persnickety Prints), canvas, acrylic paint, Mod Podge, foam brushes.

Step One: Paint the edges of the canvas with dark acrylic paint. Make sure to blend the color over to the front and back edges of the canvas.

Step Two: Trim your photo to size... be careful because canvases are not always exactly the dimensions they say the are. I trimmed enough so that the image was just the slightest bit (I mean, less than a millimeter!) smaller than the canvas. Just enough so that it didn't overlap!

Step Three: Paint an even layer of ModPodge on the back of photo. You want to completely cover then page. Turn over and adhere to the canvas. Lightly rub a clean cloth (or your sleeve!) over the surface to remove any air bubbles.

Step Four: Even after my coat of ModPodge, I found that the edges didn't stick very well, so I peeled up the edges to reinforce the corners. Let sit for 5 minutes.

Step Five: Carefully paint a thin, even layer of ModPodge over the top of the photo. Make sure to go in the same direction and to avoid globs of glue or little crumbs of dried glue. This is the part that had me scared... it goes on milky white, but I promise it dries almost clear.

Step Six: I wasn't totally happy with my coverage the first time around, so a couple of days later, I added another coat of ModPodge on top. After this dried, all of my "problem areas" were fixed, so I'm really glad I took that chance with the second coat.

And, a Valentine's Day gift from me to you... the boot photo for your own use. Maybe you use it as your desktop background, print it for a frame, or maybe even make a canvas of your own.

To download the photo, right-click the image below, and click "Save Image As."

Project 52 Weeks: Page 6 & 7

2012-02-12T18:13:00.000-05:00

“The details are not the details. They make the design.”

-Charles Eames

Catching up on a couple of Project 52 Weeks pages...

Page 6 highlights the work I did on my exciting blog redesign, and mirrors my post here.

Journaling reads: A new spin on things. Given that the last time I changed up the design on my blog was almost three years ago, I decided it was time to shake things up again. Blog design and html coding were an effective distraction from a crazy week of real estate upheavals, unknowns, and contract extensions. After several full days of planning, creating, and coding, I'm tickled with the results.

Supplies used: Orange paper, Summer Sky textured cardstock from The Paper Company, Crop-A-Dile, Like This SMASHtape, Sophie-White from American Craft's Remarks collection, tiny brads, date stamp, "Let's Ride" glow-in-the-dark alphabet stickers by Noteworthy, chipboard stickers from BigLots.

Page 7 features my Instagram photos from the "10on10 Challenge."

Journaling reads: disinfecting after a week of being sick * washing all of our linens * one chore leads to another * a bit of freelance work * the Netflix move came yesterday... must finish book * an afternoon snack * daily walk to the mailbox * a no make-up kind of day * treated myself to TexMex * time to watch (read!) the movie with the boys *

Supplies used: strip of photo negatives, a Rook playing card, chipboard sticker from BigLots, barcode from a button card, several small buttons, date stamp.

The Story of Us minibook...

2012-02-09T17:54:00.000-05:00

"I don’t wish to be everything to everyone, but I would like to be something to someone."
-Javan

I've been waiting all week to share the "little love note" that I created to hide inside the Love Mailbox and Fabric Valentine's Envelope.

I wanted to tell the story of Rob's and I relationship through Instagram-like photos and doodles, and I was totally inspired by the Matchbook Valentine at My Sister's Suitcase and the adorable Hello Blank Mini Book by superflymollie.

Materials needed: kraft paper, graph paper, square photos, adhesive squares, acrylic paint, paintbrush, good black pen, thread, twine

Step One: Cut three strips of graph paper (3.5" x 6") and one strip of kraft paper (3.625" x 6.625"). Fold the graph paper strips in half. Fold over 0.5" of the kraft paper, and then fold the rest in half.

Step Two: Find 11-12 photos. If they're not Instagram originals, use Photoshop actions by dbox to get that vintage look. Crop to 2" squares, and print on photo paper.

Step Three: Use a dry brush method (brush the excess paint off on the palette before painting on paper) to paint a light area of color on the bottom of each "page." Make sure to get both sides of the fold as well as both the front and back of the strip. Let dry.

Step Four: Use a medium thickness, dark pen to write/draw captions on each page.

Step Five: Stack up the papers, making sure the folds are lined up. Use a wide stitch to sew a seam down the fold. I used the sewing machine, but you could hand-sew it as well.

Step Six: Use adhesive squares to adhere the photos to each page.

Step Seven: Wrap twine around and around the book to hold it closed.

What are the highlights of your love story?

Fabric Valentine's Envelope...

2012-02-08T16:14:00.060-05:00

"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart."
-Helen Keller

It's always such a surprise (and a moment of serendipitous joy!) to find a personalized note in the mailbox. Do you need some pretty mail for your Love Mailbox??

I had been planning this fabric envelope project in my head for several months, but couldn't decide on a theme-- should it hold letters to Santa, notes of gratitude, or photos of special memories?? In tomorrow's project, we will make a special Valentine's-themed love note to fit inside!

Materials needed: khaki linen fabric, patterned fabric, white fabric, lightweight interfacing, Steam-A-Seam, thread, buttons, letter stamps, stamp pad, sticky-back velcro, bone folder, scissors.

Step 1: Cut out two pieces of khaki linen fabric, using the pattern below. Cut out a piece of interfacing just smaller than the pattern. Cut out some scraps of white and patterned fabric to use as the "stamp" and "label."

Step 2: Adhere the interfacing to one of the pieces of linen fabric, according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Step 3: Use stamps, zig-zag stitches, and buttons to embellish the "stamp," "label," and even the closure button. This part is very similar to the Valentine's Fabric Tags tutorial from Monday.

Step 4: With right sides together, sew around the sides of the linen envelope, leaving one side open. Turn right-side out, and use a bone folder to push the seams out.

Step 5: Top-stitch around the whole flat linen envelope, closing the open end.

Step 6: Fold the bottom edge up to the line where the flap begins. Top-stitch the sides again. Or you can use a blind-stitch if you don't want the extra seam to show!

Step 7: Add a square of sticky back velcro to the flap to keep the envelope closed.

To download the envelope pattern, right-click the image below, and click "Save Image As."

Love mailbox...

2012-02-07T15:29:00.025-05:00

"To love abundantly is to live abundantly, and to love forever is to live forever."
-Henry Drummond

Alternative title for this post: "I love the Dollar Spot at Target!"

My favorite part about Valentine's Day in grade school was decorating a "mailbox" or "mailbag" to collect all of the cards and goodies from my classmates. So, when I walked into Target last week and spotted these adorable metal mailboxes on the shelves at the Dollar Spot, I knew one would jump into shopping cart. Well, to be honest, I really wanted to buy 3 or 4, but with no kiddos at our house yet, I couldn't justify it. (And, even at $1 apiece... we're on a pretty strict budget these days!) But, I had great plans for the one I did bring home.

Materials needed: metal mailbox, wrapping paper (my "LOVE" paper is also from the Dollar Spot), ric-rac, matching scrapbook paper, glue dots and/or adhesive squares, ruler, pencil, scissors

Step 1: Trim a sheet of wrapping paper to match the width of the mailbox. Measure and cut a slit/hole in the side of the paper to fit around the mailbox flag.

Step 2: Trace the edges of the mailbox and cut out two of those shapes. Cut out small squares that fit the top of the mailbox flag as well.

Step 3: Use glue dots and adhesive squares to adhere the paper to metal mailbox. Around the curves, it takes a little bit of guess-and-check to see where the adhesives are best placed.

Step 4: To kick the craftiness up a notch, add matching ric-rac around the edges of the body and cut out a heart from matching scrapbook paper to add to the front.

Here's another adorable tutorial for decorating mailboxes that I found on Pinterest. I love the candlestick stands. They're making me wish I had splurged on more than one mailbox!


Valentine's Mailboxes from the anderson crew

And, if you're wondering what goodies you should hide inside these cute mailboxes, stay tuned! Later this week, I'll be sharing some ideas!

Valentine's Fabric Tags Tutorial

2012-02-06T16:42:00.165-05:00

"If I had a flower for every time I thought of you, I could walk in my garden forever."
-Alfred Lord Tennyson

Today is Day #1 of Valentine's Week here at Dancing Commas. Here is the first project of a whole series I have planned for the week. Three different fabric tags to express your love. Use them to top your sweetheart's gift or just send along to your best friend. Make one, or make them all!

Materials needed: khaki linen fabric, patterned fabric, white fabric, lightweight interfacing, thread, matching buttons, Steam-a-Seam, pinking shears, bone folder, letter stamps, stamp pad

Step 1: For each tag, cut two of each shape from the khaki fabric. Also, cut a piece of interfacing just smaller than each shape and attach (according to the manufacturer's instructions) to the back of one of the khaki pieces.

Step 2: Stamp a love message on a small scrap of white fabric.

Step 3: Use Seam-a-Seam to adhere the patterned scrap and the stamped scrap to the center of each khaki tag (the piece without the interfacing).

Step 4: Embellish the tag with zigzag stitches and mini buttons.

Step 5: Cut a 8" by 2" piece of patterned fabric. Press in half. Then, press each end toward the center crease to create a 1/2" fabric ribbon. Top stitch both edges of the ribbon.

Step 6: Pin the khaki pieces with right sides together (the fabric ribbon should be looped towards the middle and sandwiched in between). Stitch three sides with a 1/2" seam allowance, leaving an opening to turn right-side out.

Step 7: Turn right-side out, using a bone folder to push all of the seams out. Pin flat, and top-stitch around edge.

Don't mind our brass doorknobs in the photo below. There's not a single doorknob in our whole apartment that doesn't have paint splattered on it!

To download the tag patterns, right-click each image below, and click "Save Image As."

A lovey dovey round-up...

2012-02-05T18:55:00.002-05:00

"Love makes the wildest spirit tame, and the tamest spirit wild."
-Alexis Delp

Did you know that Valentine's Day is a mere 11 days away? Did you know that approximately one billion Valentine’s Day cards are exchanged annually?

In honor of this lovey dovey holiday, I've got a week of Valentine's Day projects and tutorials planned. To kick-off the week, I've gathered a round-up of some of my favorite projects that I've spotted in the blog world.

Valentine's Love Notes Garland by Bugs and Fishes

LOVE mini-quilt tutorial from kelbysews via Sew Mama Sew

Felt heart garland from Betz White via Craft

Simple Valentine's Heart Banner from simple as that

Valentine's Wheel printable from Martha Stewart

Valentine's Goody Bags from That's My Letter

Matchbox Valentines from inchmark

Love Pillow tutorial from Ucreate

I Love Everything About You printable from tried & true

Painted heart bag from V and Co.

Valentine's Treat Bags from Twig & Thistle

What other inspiring Valentine's crafts have you seen lately? Leave a link in the comments!!

And, don't forget to come back tomorrow for more projects!!

A new spin on things...

2012-02-03T15:01:00.000-05:00

“Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.”

-Maria Robinson

Dancing Commas blog design from March 2009 to February 2012

Given that the last time I changed up the design here at Dancing Commas was almost three years ago, I recently decided that it was high time to shake things up again.

I've gone back and forth on whether to abandon Dancing Commas and move on to another blog. I've debated whether to switch from Blogger to Wordpress. I've dreamed about what it takes to make it big in the blog world. But after deep consideration, I have decided to stay here for the time being.

But that doesn't mean that I still couldn't put a new spin on things...

Blog design and html coding were an effective distraction from a crazy week of real estate upheavals, unknowns, and contract extensions. (I'm choosing not to dwell on the negative... only looking forward to the positive!) After several full days of planning, creating, and coding, I'm tickled to share the results with you!

NEW Dancing Commas blog design from February 2012 to ??

If you want to know the nitty gritty details... the header font is Typewriter Condensed. The background stripes were created by the Stripe Generator. The Blogger template is the Simple template. The header and other images are all me.

Over the next couple of months, be on the lookout for more crafts, projects, and tutorials. And, as soon as we get all of this house stuff sorted out, there should be many more decorating posts and home ideas as well. I'm more than inspired now... I'm just waiting on a blank canvas.

If you're reading on a mobile device or in a reader, I invite you to click over to the real site so that you can fully admire the new digs (and the fancy new pages at the top). Because I've changed the template size and the default attributes, some of the archived posts may look a little wonky. If you're navigating through and find something that needs to be tweaked, please let me know.

So... what do you think?

Project 52 Weeks: Page 5

2012-01-29T16:06:00.000-05:00

"Progress always involves risks. You can't steal second base and keep your foot on first."

-Frederick B. Wilcox

This past week has the impetus to become a momentous one in my life. But, a couple of more things have to fall into place before the history books will decide.

However, it was not without some hand-wringing, and to be honest, a little bit of freaking out. Last Sunday, while waiting for our house in Georgia to close at some yet-to-be-determined date next week, Rob and I put an offer on a house with no contingency clause. This past weekend we watched the movers pack, load, and drive away with most of our household goods to sit in storage until we move into a house in South Carolina.

Big risks bring big rewards. It could be the next step in our life journey, or heaven forbid, if something falls through, it could be the biggest nightmare ever. Keep your fingers crossed that it's the former.

Journaling reads: Our Buford house has been on the market since August. We've been house-hunting in Spartanburg since October. This week we had to take an uncomfortable risk to move ahead on both fronts. On Sunday we put an offer on a house (without a contingency!), and then we heard that our closing date had been postponed indefinitely. Scared us silly, but we have our fingers crossed!

We moved out and away. We accepted an offer.

Supplies used: carbon copies of South Carolina real estate form, brown packing tape from the movers, Harvest from Basic Grey's Urban Prairie collection, Sophie-White from American Crafts' Remarks collection, tiny brads, fortune cookie fortune from Panda Express, blue index card, date stamp.

To infinity and beyond...

2012-01-25T21:50:00.000-05:00

"The color of springtime is in the flowers, the color of winter is in the imagination."

-Terri Guillemets

I've been dreaming of infinity scarves for a couple of months now, but wasn't quite sure I could pull off this fashion-forward trend.

1, 2, 3, 4

That is, until my sister-in-law gave me one for Christmas, and I wore it a couple of days in a row. [See self-portrait I took a couple of weeks ago.]

At that point, I took things into my own hands and bought supplies to make another one. Found this awesome Native American print (to be honest, completely different than what I had first imagined... but I knew it was perfect when I saw it!) at Joann's! And, Saturday afternoon after my Home Sweet Home project, I just kept sewing.

The project was quick and easy, and a great way to practice working with knit fabrics. I bought 1/2 yd of stretchy knit fabric, folded it in half, and sewed right sides together with a zig-zag stitch. Then took the two ends and sewed as much as I could by machine, and then blind-stitched the rest of the hole closed by hand. Twist once in the middle and then place over my head. Even Rob was impressed!

I wonder how many more of these I'll make in the next couple of weeks. Hopefully enough to wear one every day!!!

Reverse applique...

2012-01-24T10:44:00.003-05:00

"I challenge you to be dreamers; I challenge you to be doers and let us make the greatest place in the world even better."

-Brian Schweitzer

When I first dreamed of this project, I imagined the starburst peeking through a hole in a solid color fabric. I had to do a little online research to discover the "reverse applique" method. Thankfully I was able to adapt this tutorial from Sweet Verbena (super cute t-shirt, by the way!!) for my project.

Here's how I achieved the look for myself:

Cut a rectangle out of khaki fabric. I wanted mine to ultimately fit in a 8x10" frame, so I cut my rectangle just larger... 9.5" by 11.5".
Cut out a pattern shape from a cardstock. I free-handed a house shape, but then folded it in half to make it as symmetrical as possible.
Trace around the pattern with a fabric marking pen.
Cut out a rectangle of fusible interfacing just smaller than your khaki fabric. Mine was probably 8" by 10".
Iron the fusible interfacing onto the back of your patterned fabric (or in this case, my starburst patchwork), as directed by the interfacing. Usually this requires steam and a damp pressing cloth.
Trim around the patterned fabric, no need to deal with all of that extra fabric.
Pin the patterned fabric to the back of the khaki fabric. Make sure that the tracing lines and the pattern are facing the same way and that your pins don't cross the tracing lines.
Use a small and tight zigzag stitch to sew around the tracing lines to attach the patterned fabric to the khaki fabric.
Trim the patterned fabric, leaving about 1/4" from the seam.
Pinch up the top layer of khaki fabric (making sure not to grab the bottom layer!!) and cut an "x" to allow your scissors better access.
Carefully use microtip scissors to trim close to the inside edge of the seam. In this project, I trimmed as close as possible. With knits or other fabrics, I might leave a bigger margin.
Use water to remove the ink from the fabric marking pen.
Voila! All you have to do now is find a frame and a place on the wall to hang! Although it would make an adorable pillow front or totebag as well!

Starburst patchwork...

2012-01-23T09:42:00.000-05:00

"Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to weave."

-Mignon McLaughlin

Can't promise this is the best/most efficient/most effective way to create a starburst patchwork! For this project, I didn't care much about fitting an exact size, so I didn't measure too closely (who am I kidding... that's not unique to this project, it's my normal method for crafting). And, yes, my result is a little wonky in places... the starburst didn't exactly close just how I wanted it to. But, I'm okay with that.

Next time, and yes, there will be a next time, I'll try to follow this tutorial from Film in the Fridge a little bit closer. In fact, maybe that quilt will be the next starburst project... or maybe just a couple of blocks to make an awesome pillow.

But, if you want to make your own starburst, here's my way...

Cut strips of two different fabric patterns (preferably one solid and one pattern). Mine were about 8" long and between 3-4" wide. In the end, I needed 11 strips of each color, but I wasn't quite sure how many I would need until I was done.
Pin strips of contrasting fabrics together at an angle. You want to match up one long edge of the solid strip with the diagonal of the patterned strip.
Sew along this diagonal line. Repeat with 10 other pairs of strips.
Press the seam open, and trim the pattern strip on the side where the seam allowance is.
Pin together two pairs at an angle. Match up the side of a patterned piece with the diagonal of the solid strip. Sew, press, and trim.
Continue matching up pairs until you create a full circle.

Home Sweet Home applique...

2012-01-22T09:38:00.001-05:00

"Everyone who's ever taken a shower has an idea. It's the person who gets out of the shower, dries off, and does something about it who makes a difference."

-Nolan Bushnell

Last night while lying in bed, I had a wonderful vision of a sewing project that could be framed and hung on the wall, next to this letterpress print that my mom gave us for Christmas. Going through my fabric stash today, I realized I already had most of the supplies I needed. A quick trip to Joann's for fusible interfacing and some microtip scissors, and I was back to the apartment, ready for an afternoon of crafting.

I've been inspired lately by the thought of home (we've been househunting lately, and might be close to putting down an offer!) and starbursts (as you can see from the first page of my SMASH book).

1. Rainbow art, 2. Paper starburst, 3. Pinwheel painting, 4. Starburst quilt

I find it so invigorating to take an idea full circle from a nugget of an idea to the finished product in one day. Now, all I need to do is find a frame, and then of course, have a wall to hang it on.

Be on the lookout for tutorials in the next couple of days! And, hopefully in a month or so, you'll see it displayed in our new house!

EDITED TO ADD: Starburst patchwork tutorial & Reverse applique tutorial

Project 52 Weeks: Page 4

2012-01-21T17:53:00.000-05:00

"Love one another and you will be happy. It's as simple and as difficult as that."

-Michael Leunig

I've been saving notes on my phone for this one all week.

Journaling reads: Pillow Talk Conversations. Rob and I really needed the three weeks of distance we had over the holidays. We needed it. Our marriage needed it. Through the course of Week One, we gave each other space, and hardly talked at all. Week Two, the dialogue increased, as we shared what was going on with our respective familie. By Week Three, we didn't leave each other alone... we had an ongoing email, instant message, phone conversation. The passion and excitement was back. Many nights this week, we found ourselves in bed really early (like 8:00 pm). Although Rob insisted it was because he was tired, we found ourselves awake, talking in bed for the next hour and a half. Those moments, those conversations are precious. Pillow talk does the body and soul good. [List in pocket pulls out to show all of the random things we talked about.]

Supplies used: Like This SMASH tape, baker's twine, pages from a 1959 issue of Science and Mechanics, page from an old farm ledger, aqua ribbon, date stamp, cardstock price tag, Bluebird from Basic Grey's Urban Prairie Collection

Project 52 Weeks: Page 3

2012-01-19T12:15:00.002-05:00

"When one has a great deal to put into it a day has a hundred pockets."

-Friedrich Nietzsche

Inspired by Carly's 10 on 10 Challenge over at Simple Things, I decided to document January 10th with 10 instagram photos. I had to be a little bit creative to squeeze all ten in, but it shows a wonderful snapshot of a day in my life.

Journaling reads: Woke up early to drive down to Greenville. Commute wasn't bad at all. | Spent the day at the Hyatt in a Social Media Seminar. Wasn't much new. | Wearing gray striped sweater, gray infinity scarf, new jeans, and a headband. | Went to Jason's Deli for lunch. Ordered beef stew. Yummy! | Best part about eating at Jason's is the soft serve for dessert. | Had two checks to deposit at the ATM: last Sylvan check and one from ENT. | Stopped by library to check out a new library book. Saw friend Shana here. | Rob offered to "cook" dinner for me. He's still excited I'm back home. | We had authentic tamales brought back from Arizona. | After two long days in a row, we were in bed early.

Supplies used: Instagram photos, index cards, date stamp, a leftover chipboard diecut (the inside of a frame used long ago), "Let's Ride" glow-in-the-dark alphabet stickers by Noteworthy.

Project 52 Weeks: Page 2

2012-01-18T21:12:00.001-05:00

"Scrapbooking isn't about scraps of paper and photos. Scrapbooking is about scraps of life - yours and those special to you."

-Rebecca Sower

The highlight of the first week of the new year was traveling down to Baton Rouge with my mom for Camp-Crop-A-Lot, a weekend scrapbook retreat sponsored by Memory Mania.

Journaling reads: This weekend Mama and I went down to Baton Rouge to scrap with Ms. Valine and pals at Camp Crop-A-Lot. All day and all night (until 2 am), we scrapped. I worked on a journal of our wedding plans, and I'm almost finished!

Supplies used: Hayloft from Urban Prairie Collection by Basic Grey, labels from an online giveaway, placecard from the event, date stamp, and photos.

Project 52 Weeks: Page 1

2012-01-16T08:53:00.036-05:00

"We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day."

-Edith Lovejoy Pierce

The tribute to my not-so-exciting New Year's! I beckon in a new year, a new beginning!

[Notice I highlighted "Tangerine Tango," the 2012 Pantone Color of the Year.]

Supplies Used: Calendar overlay created by me, iPhone Screenshot, New Year image (recolored) from eighteen25, Instagram photo, index cards, chipboard stickers from Big Lots.

Project 52 Weeks: Inside the Front Cover

2012-01-15T08:08:00.000-05:00

“Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes, and having fun.”

-Mary Lou Cook

Here is my first page of Project 52 Weeks, aka the inside cover and the ode to my "one little word" for 2012.

Supplies Used: "Boho Chic Luscious Lace" from We R Memory Keepers, purple patterned paper from an online giveaway, Adhesive tags from Sticko by EK Success, Notepaper from Present Company, Instagram photo, magazine cutout letters from Vogue and Time, quote image by Marius Roosentaal pinned here, date stamp, and page from a vintage dictionary.

My SMASHbook station...

2012-01-14T08:04:00.001-05:00

“Daring ideas are like chessmen moved forward; they may be beaten, but they may start a winning game.”

-Goethe

Inspired by Ali Edwards' Project Life album and Elise Blaha Cripe's 2011 album.
Motivated by the Mod Black SMASH Folio I received for Christmas.
Energized by my one little word for 2012: create.

This year I will be tackling a yearlong project: Project 52 Weeks, to document the highlights and everyday moments of 2012. I've set up my SMASHbook station on the top of a bookshelf in our office/cycling room. I hope that by keeping the project out and accessible it will be easy to keep up with the project. I'm also choosing Wednesday and/or Friday evenings to create a page per week.

My SMASHbook philosophy will be a step back towards more traditional scrapbooking... the kind my grandmother, mother, and even I made as kids. At Canton a couple of weeks ago, I dug through the piles of junk to discover random vintage ephemera to add alongside my receipts, clothing tags, cut-outs from magazine, and photos.

I don't know exactly how the final book will turn out. In fact, everyone to whom I've explained the project has asked, "So are there 52 pages in the book?" And, to be honest, I haven't even counted...

Hopefully I'll post a photo of each week's page(s). Look for the first page (the inside cover and introduction to the year) tomorrow!

If you're looking for other SMASHbook inspiration, these are some of the bookmarks I've saved: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.

twenty-twelve...

2012-01-13T12:19:00.000-05:00

“I am not afraid…I was born to do this.”

-Joan of Arc

[source: Marius Roosendaal]

My one little word for this year is "create."

In 2012, I want to

Create projects--both digital and unplugged.
Create a home--we're house-hunting again!
Create a family--this is a big dream, but this just might be the year.
Create a friendship--locally would be nice.

Follow my progress and be inspired.

Holiday recap...

2012-01-12T18:12:00.004-05:00

"I shall make of this day–each moment of this day–a heaven on earth. This is my day of opportunity."

-Dan Custer

The good thing about freelancing is that I can take my work on the road. I just returned Monday night from three weeks away. Although it has taken a couple of days to get back to the grindstone, I have such wonderful memories from the time spent in Louisiana with my mom and sister.

Here are a few highlights:

Practicing the manual setting on our cameras. We may have had a tiny breakthrough... although it doesn't always seem to work. See more.

Lots of cooking and baking: sugar cookies, pork roast, pecan pie, bread, etc. And, then of course, we ate it ALL!

Celebrating on Christmas Eve after the Candlelight Service. Yummy feast, thoughtful gifts, and wonderful family.

Freezing our tushies off as we sat through the rainy and foggy Independence Bowl. We stayed until the middle of the fourth quarter, when we were able to convince Callie that there was no hope left for UNC, her alma mater. See more.

Putting Mama's sewing room back together after it was remodeled. It even spurred a couple of sewing projects. See more.

One of which was a camera bag insert for our DSLRs. Now we can be stylish and functional!! See more.

Digging through the piles of junk at the First Monday Trade Days in Canton, TX. I had been wanting to join my mom on this adventure for years. And, now I can't wait to go back! See more.

Lots of exercising and aerobics at Mosley's Movements... Good thing, since I ate half of a batch of cookies all by myself.

Eating at some of my favorite places and seeing some of my favorite people. Sometimes at the same time!!

Driving down to Baton Rouge for Camp-Crop-A-Lot, a weekend scrapbook retreat sponsored by Memory Mania. Another place I've wanted to go with my mom for several years. I worked on a scrapbook journal of our wedding planning activities. I hope to put the final touches on it in the next couple of weeks so that I can post it here. See more.

And, most importantly, lots of quality time with my mom and sister! I love and miss you girls!! See more.

What's in that Package?

2011-12-22T12:52:00.004-05:00

"The nice thing about doing a crossword puzzle is, you know there is a solution."

-Stephen Sondheim

Let's play guess what's in that package...

[BTW... if you happen to know the recipient in person, you're sworn to secrecy!!]

Inspired by this awesome Box of Teacher Goodies from the super creative eighteen25 blog, I couldn't wait to adapt the idea for my own Christmas gifts.

After watching my sister and brother-in-law huddle around a crossword puzzle book while on vacation this summer, I decided to whip up a "Crossword Kit" for Jordan, full of lots of goodies that would come in handy while working puzzles.

Here is what's inside:

Pages of a crossword puzzle book rolled up and tied with string
Needs no explanation : golf pencils
Keep it sharp : pencil sharpener
For those occasional mistakes : pink pearl eraser
When you're feeling confident : pocket pens
Mark your page : decoupaged magnetic bookmarks
Relieve the stress : brain-shaped stress ball
Nourish your mind : black and white M&Ms
Boost your brainpower : mini Rubik's cube
Finished the puzzle... give yourself a hand : plastic clapper toy

You could also pair this with a great puzzle book, an electronic crossword game, a daily crossword calender, a crossword puzzle dictionary, the movie Wordplay, a set of mystery novels about crosswords, or the World's Largest Crossword puzzle. You'll just have to guess which one I chose...

Signed, sealed, and delivered...

2011-12-19T15:55:00.001-05:00

"Christmas is love in action. Every time we love, every time we give, it's Christmas."

-Dale Evans

Well, maybe not delivered yet... but they're on their way.

I took advantage of a freebie deal from VistaPrint and printed our photo and Christmas message as a small postcard with envelopes. I'm pretty tickled with them.

Not our Christmas card...

2011-12-18T15:03:00.001-05:00

"Anyone can be passionate, but it takes real lovers to be silly."

-Rose Franken

In honor of our Christmas cards being dropped in the mailbox today, here are some of the photos we rejected for this year's card...

Can't imagine why!

Felt letters how-to...

2011-12-16T12:36:00.000-05:00

"Wanted: a needle swift enough to sew this poem into a blanket."

-Charles Simic

My youngest nephew turns two next week. With his birthday so close to Christmas, I knew I wanted to make something special for him.

At first I was inspired by the many different ABC projects that I saw on Pinterest:

1. Fabric letters, 2. Applique beanbags, 3. Lettered beanbags, 4. Felt letters

Then I remembered I'm a commitment-phobe, and I could never commit to 26 individual letters. But, what about numbers? There's only ten of them!

Look how cute they turned out!

If you want to make a set of your own, you will need:

Plenty of felt : I bought one mini-sheet of each color.
Plenty of thick embroidery thread
Needle
Stuffing : I actually used quilt batting because I could cut it into strips.

Steps:

Print outlines of the big numbers on cardstock; I fit four to a page.
Trace each number on the felt with a sharpie.
Stack/fold your felt and cut two of each numbers.
Use the blanket stitch to sew around the exterior of each number. I had to reacquaint myself via a tutorial at Futuregirl Craft Blog.
Use a pencil/pen/chopstick/etc. to stuff the numbers as you go. Stitch up the final hole.
Throw the number to the side, and start the next one. Thank goodness that you have only 10 to do!

Find a small totebag or make a little drawstring bag to hold all of the numbers. And, of course don't forget to attach the cute tag!

What's under my tree...

2011-12-15T16:24:00.000-05:00

"You can give without loving, but you can never love without giving."

-Author Unknown

Take a guess... what do you think is inside?

Only one of my favorite gifts that I'm giving this year. One that I've been working on for a couple of months.

Remember when my nephews came to stay with me for a week this summer? Here, here, here, here, here, and here.

Needless to say, I took a lot of photos of all the fun things we did... with hopes of turning it into a photobook for them.

And, then a couple of weeks ago, I took advantage of a free 8x8" photobook offer from Smilebooks--you can get one for yourself here!-- and all I had to pay for was shipping!

I hope the boys will always look back on our week together with fond memories!

Holiday (in)sanity...

2011-12-13T16:15:00.002-05:00

"Christmas is for children. But it is for grown-ups too. Even if it is a headache, a chore, and nightmare, it is a period of necessary defrosting of chill and hide-bound hearts."

-Lenora Mattingly Weber

The #1 thing that keeps me sane throughout the Christmas season... the Better Christmas List app on my iPhone.

I've used it for three years straight, and I love it. I'm a total believer in picking up gifts throughout the year. (Come December, I'm always thrilled to discover that I can avoid the crowds at the mall and still stick to my budget.) But once a gift is hidden away in my secret gift stash, it's easy to forget that it's there. However, with a quick tap of my fingers, this app keeps track of my ever-growing gift list.

While I'm pretty sure that this app has some functions that I still haven't utilized the fullest, I love the fact that I can

Archive the data from each year, so that I can see what gifts I gave last year and prevent any repeats.
Attach a photo of the gift after I buy it, so that I can match something else to it later, and I don't have to dig in the secret stash to remember exactly what it is.
Organize the list both by recipient and by what step I'm on (need to purchase, bought, wrapped, or delivered)-- the latter comes in handy especially during the month of December when I'm trying to pull it all together.
Add notes about each gift, so that I can compare prices and/or continue brainstorming.
Keep track of my budget, although I have to admit, I'm not very good at setting initial budget limits, so I always set them so that I'm way under-budget!
Match each recipient with their address and other contact info through my phonebook, so that I don't get stuck at the post office without my address book.
Be confident that I always have the list with me, so I don't have to keep up with a physical notebook (I'm always leaving those at home or even in the car anyway)!

The gift wrapping awards...

2011-12-13T12:53:00.004-05:00

"Love came down at Christmas, Love all lovely, Love Divine; Love was born at Christmas; Star and angels gave the sign."

-Christina Rossetti

I package up each gift with wrapping paper, ribbon, and a whole bunch of love. I hope the people on my Christmas list feel that love as they untie the bow and pull off the paper.

I have to admit though, some gifts are easier to wrap than others. Here are the winners of the 2011 Gift Wrapping Superlatives:

Tied up with bows...

2011-12-12T12:23:00.003-05:00

"A joy that is shared is a joy made double."

-John Roy

I also have picked up a great ribbon-tying strategy that lets the gift box sit evenly on the table, although I can't seem to remember where I first saw it. (Previously I used a criss-cross ribbon method that left a twist on the bottom of the package that just didn't look as crisp as I desired.) I've since converted 100%.

Here's how:

Cross. Run ribbon under the back of the package. Bring the two ends up, so that one end is be significantly longer than the other-- in my example, the length of ribbon on the right side is about three longer than the left. Cross the ribbon end over the front of the package, so they run parallel to one another... the longer end should be on above the shorted end.
Twist. Twist the ends of ribbon around each other, so that the longer ribbon (from the top) is now pointing down, the shorter ribbon (from the bottom) is now pointing up, and the intersection point is in the middle of the package.
Wrap. Bring the longer ribbon around the back of the package and around to the front.
Knot. Back at the original intersection point, tie a double knot between the two ends.
Bow. Tie a pretty bow at the intersection point. Trim the ends so that they are equal in length.

It takes a little practice, but your presents will look so polished!!

All wrapped up...

2011-12-11T19:24:00.002-05:00

"As long as we know in our hearts what Christmas ought to be, Christmas is."

-Eric Sevareid

With the exception of a few handmade gifts that I need to finish, I have all of our Christmas presents bought and wrapped. I'm no expert gift wrapper by all means, but I have picked up a few tips over the last couple of years that make all of the difference for me.

First off, wrapping paper quality is key. There is nothing more frustrating than that cheap drugstore giftwrap that tears in a million and one directions except for the way you want it to. I've tried many alternatives over the years, including brown kraft paper and matte paper, but I think I landed on my favorite.

Last year during a half-off sale, I purchased two rolls of glossy-finish paper from Hobby Lobby (Brother Sister Design Studios). Not only are they fun coordinating patterns, but they even have a grid pattern printed on the reverse to help you cut in straight lines. They're surprisingly thick, allowing my scissors to glide right through. And, you can't even see through the white paper! I think I'm in love.

Next, tags. I always like to find a clever way to address the presents for the recipients. Sometimes that means making my own tags, sometimes that means finding cute printables online, and once in awhile, it means printing customized tags for each person!

Some quick tag inspiration for you: Printable Gift Tag Roundup from Creature Comforts, Circle Snowflake Tags from Winnie0917, Printable Gift Tags from Skip To My Lou, and Fun with Fonts from Bugs and Fishes

Last, ribbons. On a tip from Jordan Ferney on Oh Happy Day years ago, I purchased several rolls of 7/8" single face satin ribbon from PaperMart. She raves about this ribbon, and I agree. It's gorgeous! Unfortunately after several years with the same stash, I need to remember to order more before next year's holiday season.

Tutorial on my awesome ribbon tying method coming up next!!

A few Christmas scenes...

2011-12-08T16:40:00.002-05:00

"It is Christmas in the heart that puts Christmas in the air."

-W.T. Ellis

This week I've put up a couple of holiday decorations and started wrapping some presents. There's no room in our little apartment to set out (or store) all of our decorations, but I couldn't resist a little bit of red and green.

Love the little holiday tree that I printed from HP (found via Design Crush!). In typical Jana fashion, this simple project turned into quite the labor of love. I had to visit three stores to get printer ink (as soon as I had installed the new yellow ink, it informed me that I was also out of black!), and then I didn't read the instructions and went crazy with the paper cutter to remove the margins before I realized that the puzzle pieces wouldn't match up. Thankfully I had a fabric garland on hand, and as I trimmed the tree, I was able to disguise the mismatching.

The perfect corner for our presents to sit. That is, until I finally get around the post office to send many of them on their way.

Picture Fall: Day 21

2011-11-22T16:56:00.002-05:00

"The yin and yang of stark contrasts create a notion of a fine balance."

-Valerie Kent

Outside our apartment, just before the sun sets and the storm begins...

Picture Fall: Day 20

2011-11-21T12:57:00.003-05:00

"Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive."

-Anäis Nin

Taking three engineers on a hike through the mountains results in the nerdiest conversations ever. Despite the discussions about video games, fractions, the weight of rocks, and the chemical makeup of plastic, I enjoyed trailing behind the boys, feeling thankful that we have such wonderful friendship connections in our lives.

We slowly made our way over the wet rocks and through the mist, only to find that Table Rock was still surrounded by fog. We stopped for a snack and to take pictures at the summit anyway. Luckily just after this photo was taken, the clouds dispersed for a second, so that we could make out the outlines of the surrounding landscape.

Picture Fall: Day 19

2011-11-21T12:35:00.001-05:00

"Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars."

-Les Brown

To me, this is a beautiful, beautiful mess. It's the last few scraps of paper cut for my projects for the Epworth Craft Fair. For weeks I've been printing, cutting, and gluing. And, the end is almost in sight. Regardless of how well the products sell, it has been fun to work towards a goal like this.

What goals are you close to achieving?

Picture Fall: Day 18

2011-11-18T17:39:00.001-05:00

"Take rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop."

-Ovid

When I need creative inspiration, I find that taking a break usually does the mind good.

This week Rob finally figured out an arrangement to put my bike on the trainer here at the apartment. Although I'm no Lance Armstrong, I do enjoy a good spin. My mind goes completely blank as I pedal, which is sometimes quite a relief for my overactive brain. Our new setup allows me to watch shows on my laptop as I ride, which, I hate to admit, is all the motivation I need to put on my exercise clothes.

Picture Fall: Day 17

2011-11-18T17:00:00.001-05:00

"We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures."

-Thornton Wilder

Yesterday I was stuck in traffic during my errands. Apparently the interstate was shut down nearby, and all of the tractor trailers, etc were being redirected down my neighborhood streets. As I "patiently" waited to move from one stoplight to the next, I found myself overwhelmed with gratitude for supermarkets and superstores. I have more than six different superstores in a half mile radius from my current home. Not only am I able to pick up everything from fruit, meat, and cereal to laundry detergent and prescriptions at one spot... I also have choices of which brand to buy and which version is cheaper. Bounteous goodness, indeed.

Picture Fall: Day 16

2011-11-18T12:41:00.001-05:00

There are dark shadows on the earth, but its lights are stronger in the contrast.

-Charles Dickens

Really struggled with this prompt. But when I walked out on our porch, I was struck by the contrast of the shadows of the railing against the wall.

Picture Fall: Day 15

2011-11-17T09:21:00.001-05:00

"The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts; therefore guard accordingly."

-Marcus Aurelius

As cliche' as it sounds, these days I get much joy from looking at the front of our refrigerator. I've carefully curated my collection of photos to include only my favorites... only the ones that make me smile. [Side note: these were the same photos I chose to display at school near my desk, knowing that they would lift my spirits after a hard day!]

And, this particular message has been displayed on the whiteboard for a couple weeks. I am inspired every time I walk by.

Picture Fall: Day 14

2011-11-17T08:43:00.001-05:00

"The possession of knowledge does not kill the sense of wonder and mystery. There is always more mystery."

-Anais Nin

Inspired by Julian Bialowas' untitled photo from last week. I set out to create my own. My camera skills are not nearly as impressive as Julian's; luckily, I've got Photoshop on my side. :) Still a pretty neat image, I think.

Picture Fall: Day 13

2011-11-17T08:29:00.001-05:00

"Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see a shadow."

-Helen Keller

This particular tree can't decide whether it wants to be yellow or green. I'm partial to both.

Picture Fall: Day 12

2011-11-13T22:01:00.002-05:00

"For fast-acting relief, try slowing down."

-Lily Tomlin

I know it's not Christmas season yet. But, yesterday my moment of relaxation was a spontaneous craft project. Inspired by thoughts about this year's Christmas cards, I pulled my paper craft stash from the closet and whipped this right up, while Rob and Thomas played video games in the background. Of course, only after hanging it up on our mantel and stepping back to admire my handiwork did I realize that we used a pennant banner in our card last year. Maybe I should try to think of something else... Any ideas?

Picture Fall: Day 11

2011-11-13T21:35:00.001-05:00

"There's something strange and powerful about black-and-white imagery."

-Stefan Kanfer

I've been admiring these furry stalks on my daily walk to my Sylvan job. Patiently waiting for just the right Picture Fall prompt. When I read about this challenge to capture textures in black and white, I knew exactly what my subject would be.

What have you been admiring lately?

11.11.11 at 11:11:11 am

2011-11-11T12:45:00.003-05:00

"Every second is of infinite value."

-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Although November 11, 2011 is an oddity on the calendar, it's just been another regular day in my world as of late. At 11:11 am today, I'm still in my pjs, trying to decide if it's worth getting in the shower today... really, I'm thinking, is it worth blow-drying my hair?

I've got daytime television on the background because I work better with noise. Right now it's the Rachael Ray show. But I'm not really paying attention... I've got quite the to-do list for my freelance gig. Creating flyers, posting image on the website, researching advertising opportunities, and more.

Usually Fridays are slow, but not this morning. Hopefully things calm down this afternoon because I'd love to venture outside and maybe do a little Christmas shopping (or window-shopping!).

Picture Fall: Day 10

2011-11-11T10:16:00.001-05:00

“One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.”
-Virginia Woolf

Lately we've often been having a house guest over around dinnertime. Rob's friend Thomas is regularly been at our apartment working out or just hanging out. My initial reaction is, "oh no, my go-to frozen stir fry meal is just not going to cut it." But, then once I realize I can justify making a big bowl of mashed potatoes and that we'll have rousing conversation along with the meal, it's hard not to embrace the extra mouth to feed.

Picture Fall: Day 9

2011-11-10T21:30:00.001-05:00

"Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower."

-Albert Camus

It brings me such joy to finally live in a place that has vibrant fall colors. I'm amazed as I drive around town. I hope that the colors never cease to amaze me.

Picture Fall: Day 8

2011-11-09T19:40:00.001-05:00

"It's sad to grow old, but nice to ripen."

-Brigitte Bardot

This has been Rob's nightly cocktail, as of late.

[Btw, I took almost 50 photos of this dang soda can, and I still know nothing about manipulating the light with the manual settings on my camera. I don't know why these concepts won't stick in my brain.]

Picture Fall: Day 7

2011-11-08T19:42:00.001-05:00

"falling leaves hide the path so quietly."

-John Bailey

Look at that bokeh in the background...

Picture Fall: Day 6

2011-11-07T19:47:00.001-05:00

"I'd like to die with my boots on."

-Daniel Berrigan

I'm a day behind. So sue me... It just takes a day for me to marinate on the daily prompt before I know what and how to post about it.

Picture Fall: Day 5

2011-11-06T13:10:00.001-05:00

"Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not."

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

This week I ran across this really inspirational website, called Operation Beautiful. It's a message that we all need to be reminded of. And, often!

Picture Fall: Day 4

2011-11-05T12:49:00.002-05:00

"The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate."

-Oprah Winfrey

How fitting that yesterday's theme was "early morning"! Although not our usual routine, Rob and I certainly had an early morning. We woke up at 3 am for the opening celebration of the new Greenville REI. We sat in line in front of the store in the cold and the rain, waiting for the 10:00 opening.

It was worth it though because I won a doorprize (free Vibram FiveFingers shoes!), and we each got a free CamelBak waterbottle and $5 REI giftcard.

Although I decided not worth it to go again this morning. Rob and Thomas, however, did.

Picture Fall: Day 3

2011-11-03T19:09:00.001-05:00

"Each day comes bearing its own gifts. Untie the ribbons."

-Ruth Ann Schabacker

Usually we're captivated by what's inside the packaging, today I took a second look at the organic forms of the discarded bubble wrap. [The present from my sister-in-law wasn't bad either :) ]

Picture Fall: Day 2

2011-11-02T08:45:00.001-05:00

"O bed! O bed! delicious bed! That heaven upon earth to the weary head."
-Thomas Hood

When I read the Picture Fall prompt first thing this morning, I grieved over all of my comfy and stylish furniture that's still sitting in my house in Georgia. How could I take a photo of our ugly futon couch or our ghetto air mattresses on the floor? I spent two minutes in a pity party for myself and our makeshift living situation. Then I knew it was time to get out of bed... and, I argued with myself... can't I just stay here for a few more minutes?

Whack! I got walloped on my head with a big dose of gratitude... wrapped in the blankets with my head on the pillow, I always feel so cozy, so warm, so safe. Even in the midst of the chaotic and less-than-perfect, I am surrounded by blessings.

What's the last time you realized you were given blessings in disguise?

Picture Fall: Day 1

2011-11-01T19:38:00.001-05:00

"Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower."

-Albert Camus

My mom and I are taking the Picture Fall class from Big Picture Classes. I'm looking forward to appreciating this season to the fullest.

I love the sound of crunchy leaves. Do you also go out of the way to step on the fallen ones?

Almost camping...

2011-11-01T10:23:00.004-05:00

"Camping: nature's way of promoting the motel industry."

-Dave Barry

Friday night, Rob got off work early so that we could head up to North Carolina to go camping. After packing up the car (gosh... it takes a lot of gear to go camping!), we were on the road with plenty of time to arrive before the gates closed at 8.

We arrived at the given address about 7:20, only to find a dark and completely empty parking lot. Apparently we were not in the right place. Luckily I had printed out the park maps, so I could direct us to the other campsite. The estimated time of arrival on the GPS was 7:59 pm. However, in the dark and fog, it was not easy to drive fast. We breathed a sigh of relief when we drove through the open gates.

However, due to car trouble (luckily not ours!) and scary weather reports (roads were already being closed due to ice!), we decided to take our camping trip back to Ricky and Heather's house in Hickory. We put up our tents in their basement. With a heater, real bathrooms, and a TV to watch college football, we had ourselves a much more comfortable camping trip.

On Saturday we made the executive decision to play outside, so we headed to a local corn maze. After our lengthy orientation to the maze, it was our turn to get "corn-fused." This was quite a difficult maze, and we were proud of ourselves for making it out in just over an hour and thirty minutes.

Good distractions...

2011-10-27T15:02:00.001-05:00

"Memory... is the diary that we all carry about with us."

-Oscar Wilde

Yesterday Rob and I brought two more carfuls of stuff up from our house. Everything else was supposed to get packed and moved into storage, however, long story short, that did not happen. Suffice it to say that we will not be closing on our house tomorrow... instead, it's back on the market. (Wanna buy a house?)

Knowing that we will probably be in this apartment longer than originally anticipated, I spent today organizing closets, winter clothes, and all of the other treasures we brought back with us. As usual, I got a little distracted when I got to the bag full of scrapbooks.

My scrapbooks go back to sixth grade, and it brings back such a flood of memories to flip through the pages. Here are a couple of favorites...

If you look close, some of you may recognize yourselves in the photos...

A Sunday afternoon...

2011-10-24T09:58:00.002-05:00

"When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, "I used everything you gave me."

-Erma Bombeck

including...

Pitching our new tent in the living room... practicing before we have to set it up (for real!) in the dark this weekend.
Gluing together cupcake toothpicks for the Epworth Craft Fair.
Simmering meat on the stove for Natchitoches Meat Pies.
Admiring my freelance work, a last-minute ad in the Spartanburg Journal-Herald.
Another evening of house hunting... fingers crossed that we saw our future home.

A good day to get dirty...

2011-10-17T21:14:00.003-05:00

"Gold medals aren't really made of gold. They're made of sweat, determination, and a hard-to-find alloy called guts."

-Dan Gable

Apparently the place to be this weekend for active twenty-somethings in South Carolina was Columbia for the USMC MudRun -- the largest mud run in North America. A couple of months ago, a high school friend of Rob's invited him to join his team. Team BOHICA was made up of two Army drill instructors, a high school football coach/Army vet... and Rob.

Every fifteen seconds from seven in the morning, a team left the starting line of the race to complete a 10K run with 34 muddy obstacles in between. Rob's team left late in the day (around 4:00 pm), after the mudpits had already been made really soggy and the trenches really deep.

Another one of the wives and I ran along the Spectator routes (and sometimes just through the woods) to catch up with them to photograph them and provide SAG support at some of the obstacles. We may not have gotten super muddy, but we also got our exercise!

Obstacles ranged from walking across logs, swinging from ropes, sludging through muddy trenches, and climbing up wooden walls. And, if you couldn't conquer the task, you were required to take a penalty... sometimes just waiting an extra minute and other times PT exercises (pushups, situps, flutter kicks, etc) until the drill instructor in charge decided to give you the go ahead.

An hour and forty-five minutes later, four dirty boys jogged across the finish lines. Mud and sludge covered almost every inch of their bodies, not to mention the scrapes, bruises, and blood. They walked right over to the makeshift showers to clean up as much as possible before we headed home.

Now, they're anxious to do it again next year!

Find more photos on my Flickr page.

Things I want to stay on my radar...

2011-10-14T12:25:00.007-05:00

"A mediocre idea that generates enthusiasm will go further than a great idea that inspires no one."

-Mary Kay Ash

Ran across a couple new (or almost new) things/projects this week that I'll be keeping my eye on... and you might want to, too.

1) Prem Midha's YouTube channel. A fellow GT graduate. In fact, several of his songs feature some of our friends from the Rusty Boys.

2) The Mixed Race Project. Really interesting photo-documentary about mixed race families.

3) Money Saving Mom. In this economy, we can take all of the hints we can get.

4) Paperless Post. Finally pretty e-vites from real stationery designers.

5) Some new-to-me house-decorating blogs. With all of this house-hunting, I'm dreaming again.

I think I had an epiphany...

2011-10-13T12:44:00.001-05:00

"A plan is a list of actions arranged in whatever sequence is thought likely to achieve an objective."

-John Argenti

The first part of the week was stressful... there were frazzled nerves and even tears. It was that bad! I was really questioning my ability to manage freelancing. Much less to ever think of taking on another client.

Up to this point, I've been waking up at a decent hour (between 7:45 and 8), working out to a Netflix dvd, do my daily chore, taking a shower, eating breakfast, and then getting so discouraged that I wasn't starting work until 11 or so. And, then I wouldn't get a chance to eat lunch until minutes before heading to Sylvan at 3:30. This was simply not working.

Today, however, on a whim, I decided to immediately start working after waking up. Sitting there in my pajamas I realized I had just had the most productive two hours of the last month and a half. It's now 1:30, and I've completed the majority of today's work. And, I feel great. I'll probably spend the next two hours cleaning up a bit, planning dinner, job searching, and checking in to make sure there are no freelance emergencies before heading to Sylvan.

I like this plan. Now, I've just got to figure out how to squeeze a workout in.

A fruitful anniversary...

2011-10-08T13:17:00.004-05:00

"Love is a fruit in season at all times, and within reach of every hand."
-Mother Teresa

Rob and I happily celebrated our fourth wedding anniversary this past week. I think the traditional wedding gift ideas are kind of neat to follow (Year One: Paper, Year Two: Cotton, Year Three: Leather), so I was anxious to find something to fit this year's "Fruit/Flowers" theme.

I waited until the last minute, hoping I would have a job and could justify spending money on one of these cool fruit bowls: Made of Clay Ceramics or Polka Dot Stationery or Museware Pottery. But, in the end was most inspired by this etched glass bowl that I pinned from Create Studio.

Glass etching has always been one of my favorite crafts. It's so amazing how easy it is, and how awesome it looks when you're done.

So, hence the thrift store trips the other day... I need to find a glass fruit bowl. But no luck... Ended up at Bed, Bath, and Beyond, where I used a 20% off coupon and $3.00 left on a gift card (probably left from our wedding gifts!) to pick up a trifle bowl (I also learned that's the name of these type of bowls with vertical sides!) for just over $5 out-of-pocket.

Then I set to work. You pretty much follow the directions on the Armour Etch glass etching cream bottle, but in case you're unsure of the process, I created a mini tutorial for you to follow.

And, voila!

But, I wasn't done until I added fruit and some cute cards with metaphors explaining the significance of each fruit choice.

Here's the text if you care to read:

Banana : Year One : Although we’d been together for awhile, our first year of marriage ushered in a new way of relating to each other. We had new names, new identities; we became our own “bunch.” Our futures were “ripe” with possibilities. I remember a conversation early on when we agreed, “After we get in an argument, it’s such a comfort to know, that we’ll still be together in the morning.”
Apple : Year Two : Just like an apple, year two also started out a bit crunchy (putting a down payment on a house, Poppy’s death, and looking for a teaching job), but we took on these things, knowing that they were steps to reach the sweet fruit of our labor. At the core, we were looking to fulfill our dreams. (Not to mention... this was the year we bought Apple iPhones!)
Peach : Year Three : With two nine-to-five jobs (ok, maybe they were more like seven-to-sixes!), two incomes, two cars, and a mortgage, we were in a warm “fuzzy” routine. We worked long hours, but we came home to curl up on the couch with each other. We wondered how anyone our age could possibly still enjoy partying and staying out late. How could they trade all that we had?
Grapes : Year Four : Just as this bunch is made of lots of little individual grapes, this past year has been full of so many life-changing events. Some sweet, and some sour. But what I will remember most about this year is that we took a risk to follow our dreams. A year ago we hoped that we would be brave enough to move across the country. And, look at us, in a new state, with our house almost sold, looking toward our next adventure...

Hub City: Thrift Store Adventures

2011-10-05T18:30:00.001-05:00

"A bargain is something you can't use at a price you can't resist."

-Franklin P. Jones

Yesterday in the search for supplies for a recent craft project (will show more later, when it's complete), I set off to explore the thrift stores of Spartanburg. Given the size of the city, it seems like there are a lot of thrift stores and consignment shops. Not sure what that says about the economy of this region, but for me, it means a good adventure and occasionally finding really cheap treasures.

Unfortunately what I was looking for was not to be found, but I did run across an unopened package of two pillowcases, decorated with cycling images from the 1996 Olympics. What a find! Going straight into Rob's stocking this Christmas! That boy loves bicycles and pillows, and is pretty keen on the Olympics--sounds perfect, right?

I thought I'd share my thrifting adventures with you. As well as keep track of the stores for myself. Some are worth returning, some maybe not. But hopefully this is just the first of my Spartanburg thrifting.

First stop,

The Salvation Army Family Store. 1529 John B White Sr. Blvd, Spartanburg, SC 29306.

Huge store. Laid out with plenty of room to browse. Furniture largely situated up front, clothes in the middle, dishes/etc. to the right, and random knickknacks around the edge of the room. This felt the most like a real store. And, happens to be where I found the pillowcases. Of course I didn't think to take photos of thrift stores, until I had already left the building, so unfortunately all I have is the outside shot. Proceeds benefit The Salvation Army.

Grand Opening Thrift Store. 152? John B White Sr. Blvd, Spartanburg, SC 29306.

Right next door is another thrift store. The sign in the window said "Grand Opening," so I ventured in. This one reminds me of the things you find in old church closets. And, not in a good way. It's a small little room, not many treasures, and very little organization--things are just thrown onto tables or stacked on the ground. This one is the store I'll be least likely to visit again. Proceeds benefit a local church.

Not Your Average Thrift Store. 369 Whitney Road, Spartanburg, SC 29303-3143.

This store was amazing! It kind of had a funky smell, but it was huge and stuffed was piled everywhere. And, can't beat the misspelled sign: "Dinning Room." There was lots of furniture, and a whole long aisle of kitchen knickknacks. You could tell that a lot of the merchandise came from old retail outlets/restaurants, which is neat. You can dig and dig in here. There have to be treasures buried in here.

Miracle Hill Thrift Store. 369 Whitney Road, Spartanburg, SC 29303.

This store is in the same shopping center at Not Your Average Thrift Store. It is laid out like a real store would be. And, it was busy! There were people everywhere. When you walk in there are knickknacks to your right, clothes in the middle, books on the far right, with a small furniture section and building supplies section in the back. There was a lot of stuff here, and it was organized well. Apparently there's a 25% off coupon online, too. Proceeds benefit the Miracle Hill organization, which supports homeless, hungry, and addicted people in the Upstate SC area.

Getting my craft on...

2011-10-01T11:31:00.002-05:00

"I'm a material girl - want to see my fabric collection?"

-Author Unknown

I know what you're thinking... You watched the tour of my apartment and then a couple of weeks later you saw this awesome blanket that I made... But you don't remember seeing a sewing machine... you wonder where in the world did I create that?

I'd hate to leave you in the dark any longer, so let me tell you the story. A couple of weeks ago I had a really downer week (this unemployment/job-searching/sitting-around-the-house/not-spending-money-we-don't-have thing is harder than it looks), and Rob made the suggestion that I drive down to Buford to bring my sewing machine back up. I took advantage of having a day off and did just that.

I filled my car with craft supplies and brought them back to our humble abode.

Fortunately/unfortunately, my freelance gig really picked up the next week, and so I haven't had much time to really get my craft on yet. But I've got big plans...

Here's a pic of my new space. (You can see my old craft room here.)

Just waiting on baby...

2011-09-27T19:57:00.002-05:00

"The sewing machine joins what the scissors have cut asunder, plus whatever else comes in its path."

-Mason Cooley

This past weekend my (very pregnant!) friend Ashley, who I mentioned last week, and her husband celebrated the upcoming arrival of their first baby. I was so thrilled that I was able to travel up to North Carolina for the baby shower. But I certainly couldn't attend empty-handed...

Inspired by the Taggies blankets and this quilt that I pinned on Pinterest, I set out to create a soft, tactile blanket. After a not-so-quick trip to Joann (it took me awhile to find a collection of fabrics that I liked together), I settled in for a Friday afternoon to sew a "not-quite" quilt.

This was my blueprint when I started...

I tried to take photos of the process... however, towards the end, when I could see the finished product coming to life, I got too excited to stop and snap pictures. You'll have to imagine 10) turning it right-side out and 11) top-stitching around the edge to close the hole.

Hub City: Caesars Head State Park

2011-09-21T11:05:00.001-05:00

"Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul."

-John Muir

Maybe I should have called this feature "Uniquely Upstate," since most of the posts up to this point have been about the surrounding areas rather than Spartanburg itself. So far, we have fallen in love with the nearby cities of Greenville and Charlotte, but not yet with our own town.

But, nevertheless, this past Sunday we headed up to Caesars Head State Park (just a few miles from Table Rock) to hike the Raven Cliff Falls Trail. The 4.4 round-trip trail was rated Moderate/Difficult. Turns out it was by far more on the moderate side. We're actually becoming such experienced hikers that it seemed to be a breeze (in fact, the boys were a little disappointed). But it was a nice change of pace, and the recent cool spell has made absolutely perfect to spend the afternoon outside.

And, did I mention that before the hike the boys made breakfast? Breakfast burritos with eggs, sausage, peppers, and hash browns. Our bellies were so full that we contemplated trading the hike for a nap. But, as you can see... we went out anyway. Maybe we have a new Sunday tradition...

A daily journal...

2011-09-20T18:36:00.002-05:00

"After the writer's death, reading his journal is like receiving a long letter."

-Jean Cocteau

I've always liked the idea of journaling, telling the everyday story... but besides this blog (which is anything but daily!), I've always had a difficult time sustaining the relationship with a journal. As a kid I had quite a few "dear diaries" with only one or two entries apiece.

However, this Christmas my mom gave me a perpetual journal made of notecards and timestamps that she had seen over at Design*Sponge, and I have been super diligent about adding a couple of sentences about each day (maybe not ON that day, but within a few days!). Sometimes with mundane notes... "Made mango chicken for dinner tonight." Some notes that expressed frustration... "Cannot seem to get a grip on this classroom management situation." Some notes that reflect highlights from my year like... "Rob got the job! We're moving to Spartanburg!" From January 1-September 20, every single card has been written on.

Thinking of my friend Ashley who is due with her first child in just a few short weeks, I thought about how perfect this system is for an exhausted, yet enthusiastic new mom. I wanted to make her one and to have it arrive in time to record some of the last few pregnancy memories as well. I carefully searched all around town to find color-coordinated papers and a cute little box/basket/tin to store in. And, the finished product was darling! So cute that I decided to make another one... I guess someone else from my list will be getting it for Christmas... just have to decide who will be the lucky one!!

Gift giving woes...

2011-09-15T15:05:00.001-05:00

"We should give as we would receive, cheerfully, quickly, and without hesitation; for there is no grace in a benefit that sticks to the fingers."

-Seneca

September... the month that I realize Christmas is approaching (and dread it a little bit). "What brings this on this insight?" you ask. Every year my mother-in-law's birthday (Sept 16th) makes me realize that in the next few months, I must come up with not one, but two gifts for her. She is not an easy person to shop for. Our tastes could not be more different, and she basically buys whatever she wants. I've almost given up on finding the perfect gift that she'll ooh and aah over, but I still want to find something that she'll like. Needless to say, it's been a headache.

However, this year, inspired by the whole "in-a-box" concept that's a popular topic on Craftster.org, I put together a "mountain getaway-in-a-bag." (She wanted us all to meet up in the Great Smokies this weekend to celebrate, but realized it was too late to make reservations. Still sounds like something interesting for a later date, though.)

So here's a breakdown of what's inside:

"To research a mountain getaway" : Great Smokies/Blue Ridge Mtns guidebook
"To make plans and to record memories" : two small journals from Target
"To mark must-see sights" : Post-It note flags
"To snack on the trail" : a bag of trail mix from Target
"To pamper and relax" : a manicure set and a bath fizz ball from Michael's
"To bring the outside in" : an Autumn Leaves scented candle from Target (not pictured, because I had forgotten about it... had to reopen the package to add it)

One birthday present down... one Christmas present left to go. Fingers crossed she likes it!

Searching...

2011-09-08T16:36:00.001-05:00

"I know well what I am fleeing from but not what I am in search of."

-Michel de Montaigne

I've been feeling restless. Which is understandable, considering I'm still sitting at home with no full-time job. And, yet there is restlessness even beyond the understandable.

I am at a crossroads, and I can't decide which way to go. I don't even know which roads are available. Hell, I don't even know which roads I wish were there.

Today I realized that my days are full of searching. Maybe "search" should have been my word for 2011.

I'm searching for a job.

I'm searching for a career path.

I'm searching for ways to save money.

I'm searching for Christmas gift ideas.

I'm searching for acceptance of my situation.

I'm searching for a good way to use my free time.

I'm searching for a passion.

I'm searching for a way to lose a couple of pounds.

I'm searching for a way to stay sane.

I'm searching for a nearby friend.

I'm searching for something to believe in.

I'm searching for something fun and cheap to do this weekend.

I'm searching for good recipes.

I'm searching for inspiration.

I'm searching for a connection.

I'm searching for discernment.

Have any to spare?

I love a good bike race...

2011-09-05T15:50:00.001-05:00

"Sports is human life in microcosm."

-Howard Cosell

When people ask me about our hobbies, I usually reply, "Rob is a cyclist, and me... well, I have a bike." While I may not be pedal to the metal as often (or as fast, or with as much skill) as Rob does, I certainly won't turn down the chance to watch a race. (Strangely enough, I have yet to actually watch Rob race... he's a bit shy about his own events.)

Sunday evening we headed down to Anderson, SC to watch the crit stage of the Tour de LaFrance Labor Day weekend omnium. We arrived during the handcycle race and stayed until the end of the night. (Unfortunately we missed Rob's friend and riding buddy as he cruised to the finish in the Cat 3/4 race. Go Justin!!) The women raced for 60 minutes around the one-km track in downtown, and then just as the sun set, the pro men started their 75-minute race. The peloton stayed together most of the race, but in the last 10 laps (or so), two riders broke away. Unfortunately the rest of the leader's team slowed down the pack so that no one could bridge the gap, and they ended up with a 12-second lead. Not the most exciting finish, but a true testament that cycling requires both individual and team strategies.

(Not quite) Hub City: Falls Park on the Reedy

2011-09-05T14:53:00.002-05:00

"It is not good to cross the bridge before you get to it."

-Judi Dench

On Saturday Rob and I finally got the chance to head south and explore Greenville. We walked up and down Main Street, enjoying the chance to be outside, to people-watch, and even to savor an ice cream cone on a hot day.

One of the highlights of the afternoon was our discovery of Falls Park on the Reedy River, which is located in the historic West End district of the city. Just last week, we had asked ourselves why all the signs for Greenville had a bridge on them. Today we saw (and walked across) the iconic landmark!

Hub City: Table Rock State Park

2011-08-30T18:37:00.001-05:00

"In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous."

-Aristotle

Next up... Table Rock State Park. One of the best things about our move so far has been reconnecting with our college friend Thomas. The boys have their weekly boys' night, and I'm "allowed" to join them every so often. Thomas couldn't wait to have local friends to be adventurous with and had been raving about this hike since we moved in.

On Sunday morning we headed up to Table Rock State Park for a hike. Most of our hiking gear is still in Georgia, so we made do with what we had. Luckily, although strenuous, it wasn't anything we couldn't handle.

It was so relaxing to trail along behind the boys, listening to their random discussions... everything from their "Top Five" lists to their plans to make hiking part of their training regimen. Made the 7.2 miles go so much faster. Five hours later we were back down at the cars, relaxed and content after soaking in the outdoors all day, yet ready to take off our shoes and get some real food.

Hub City: The Beacon...

2011-08-30T13:16:00.001-05:00

"French fries. I love them. Some people are chocolate and sweets people. I love French fries."
-Cameron Diaz

Introducing a new feature, "Hub City Highlights," to share our adventures in and around Spartanburg SC. A little bit of trivia for you... the city got its nickname because of its location at the intersection of quite a few train tracks. A map of the tracks looks like the hub of a wheel. It doesn't hurt that it has also been designated as a "Bicycle Friendly Community."

First up... the Beacon Drive-in Restaurant. It's a bit of a local legend and Southern tradition. It's been featured on the Food Network's show Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives and been advertised on billboards as far away as California. And, on Saturday Rob and I got our own taste of Spartanburg.

Friday night delight...

2011-08-27T08:50:00.001-05:00

“If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.”

-Henry David Thoreau

We were looking forward to spending our first weekend in this new city of ours. To wander. To explore. To dream. Unfortunately though, Rob ended up having to work all day today, which is a real bummer. And, last night he was just plain tired, so we had to downgrade our plans of wandering and exploring.

Instead, we wandered over to the pizza place next door and explored the menu. Turns out it's a pretty popular place, and we grabbed the last table in the dining room. We filled our bellies with pizza (me!) and chicken bacon ranch pasta (Rob!).

Then, we wandered over to the grocery store and explored the frozen food aisles. We each treated ourselves to a Butterfinger ice cream bar.

Finally, we wandered home and explored our dvd collection to find just the perfect James Bond movie to wrap up the night.

There will be other days to wander and explore the city.

Type + Photos = LOVE!

2011-08-26T11:06:00.001-05:00

"Typography at its best is a visual form of language linking timelessness and time."

-Robert Bringhurst

Last week I fell head over heels in love with the work of Julian Bialowas, especially the 365 Quotes project. I'm still trying to decide which one to buy for my walls. This one, or maybe this one... oh wait, maybe this one, or this one... Maybe all of them.

In a moment of sheer inspiration and shameless imitation, I adopted his style for some of my Washington photos from our trip last summer. I had been struggling with finding enthusiasm and creative mojo for a photo book project to chronicle the journey... everything I put together just didn't feel right. That is... until last weekend, when I threw some big, bold quotes on top.

Here are some favorites. They might even be wall-worthy themselves.

Can't wait to tackle our Yosemite photos now!

Makes me smile...

2011-08-26T09:51:00.001-05:00

"You're never fully dressed without a smile."

-Martin Charnin

Inspired by Brains On Fire's list which was inspired by Kat White's list, here is my list of twenty things that make me smile :)

Solving puzzles
Looking through old photos
Curling up with my husband at the end of the day
Cute kids doing cute things
Finding a good deal
Getting compliments on a home-cooked meal
Cake with icing
Singing to the songs on the radio
Completing a strenuous hike, bike ride, or other exercise
Catching the punchline of intelligent humor
Going home
Being able to chat online with people through the day
Planning vacations
Dreams of our future family
M&M blizzards
When Georgia Tech wins
Connecting with a child/teenager
A sharpened pencil with a full eraser--it's got to be really sharp!
Coming home to a clean house
My husband's song parodies

Back to School projects...

2011-08-24T19:31:00.002-05:00

"It’s art if can’t be explained. It’s fashion if no one asks for an explanation. It’s design if it doesn’t need explanation." -Wouter Stokke

Wanted to share another design project that I've been working on. Callie was in the market for some notecards that she could send to her youth group students/volunteers throughout the year. She needed a 1) birthday card, 2) a thank you card, 3) a card to welcome guests, 4) a thinking of you card, and I threw in an 5) anytime notecard in for free.

Each can be printed on her own printer, stuffed into an envelope, and then sent along its merry way to brighten the spirits and faces of each recipient.

We've decided that we should make a new set for each school year! Which is totally awesome!

This gets a little deep...

2011-08-23T14:02:00.003-05:00

I find it wholesome to be alone the greater part of time. To be in company, even with the best, is soon wearisome and dissipating. I love to be alone, I never found the companionable as solitude.

-Henry David Thoreau

This past weekend we had the privilege to socialize with two different friends, in two different social settings, and in fact, in two different states. It was odd to have such vastly different experiences so close together.

Saturday night we went out with one of our college friends and her new-to-us boyfriend down in Atlanta. We hit up of the best Mexican joints in town, but of course being the best means having an hour wait. We grabbed margaritas and staked out a spot for ourselves on the porch. When we were finally seated, we had to yell across the table at one another to hear, and with my bad ears and all of the noise, I just couldn't stay up with the conversation. Rob keeps in touch with Ashley more often than I do, so I just kind of felt lost. Enjoyed the company and the conversations, but felt bad that I couldn't add more. The food was delish though.

Sunday night Rob and his friend Thomas (another college friend who happened to be a groomsman) went bike riding, and then came back to the apartment to chill out a bit. At the last minute I offered to cook dinner just to prolong the evening. I threw some tortillas on the grill pan and make grilled pizzas for all of us. It was casual, it was somewhat spontaneous, and it was wonderful. The conversation wandered from here to there and back again, but always interesting, even if it was occasionally cringe-worthy guy talk.

I've been doing a lot of thinking lately about the differences between extroverts and introverts. I've always known I was an introvert, but wasn't exactly sure what that meant until I recently read several articles by Marti Olsen Laney. This weekend just further illustrated the concept for me: even though I had fun in the crowded restaurant with acquaintances, I just felt overwhelmed; on the other hand, at the small gathering in a space that felt comfortable, I wanted the night to go on forever.

By the way... if you're interested to see where you fall along the continuum, check out this quiz (Scroll down to the "Being an Introvert" section). I scored a 26 out of 30!

Party hardy...

2011-08-16T08:15:00.003-05:00

"Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year."

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

The wedding from this past weekend was super fun. Pretty fancy, but lots of unique, personalized touches that kept it down to earth. (Plus, I happen to know that the bride and her family did a lot of it themselves!)

One of the highlights however was a photobooth. You've got to click on that one to see us up close!

And, my other favorite touch was a cupcake favor decoration station. I think you were supposed to take them home with you because they were in these cute little plastic containers. But, sssshhhh... I ate two instead of wedding cake.

Freshman friends...

2011-08-15T21:14:00.001-05:00

"You can always tell a real friend: when you've made a fool of yourself he doesn't feel you've done a permanent job."

-Laurence J. Peter

As you may or may not know, Rob was a RA in the freshman dorms all the way through college. On one hand it gave him a chance to delay maturity... on the other, he made some wonderful friends and built an extraordinary community. No place is more social than a freshman dorm. Believe me, I know... I basically served as the "freshman mom."

Over the last couple of weekends, we had the privilege to attend some weddings of Rob's old residents. Our little babies are growing up. Tear. But what's so neat is that in both cases, the group of guys that they were randomly selected to live with for a year became friends for life. What a special bond--and one that I'm proud to be a part of.

Over drinks, dancing, and wedding cake we reminisced about the days in the dorm (including some that we didn't know about at the time) and caught up on the many adventures since then (it's amazing how well each of them is doing).

Rob's first group of residents from Spring 2004:

Rob's last group of residents from the 2006-07 school year:

Calling all crafty people...

2011-08-12T14:51:00.002-05:00

"Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does."

-William James

Just finished designing an adorable postcard to advertise the Epworth Arts and Crafts Fair in December!!

They are still accepting seller registrations--you don't have to actually be there, as long as you provide (can be shipped!) at least 10 items to sell. If you're interested, let me know and I can forward the application on to you.

I'm still deciding exactly what I'm going to make and sell.

Spartan living...

2011-08-11T12:28:00.004-05:00

"He is the happiest, be he king or peasant, who finds peace in his home."

-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Almost exactly a month ago we signed a six-month lease on an apartment in Spartanburg. A week later I joined Rob here full-time. Although we don't plan to stay here long, I thought you might want to see our humble abode.

Humble it is... While most of our furniture is staged in our house in Georgia, we've brought only the bare necessities. We're trying to embrace this life with less stuff. I'm trying to push away the urge to decorate with curtains and artwork because we really don't want to put a lot of money into this place, especially right now! So welcome to spartan living in Spartanburg!

Boys' night out means a girl's night in...

2011-08-10T20:44:00.001-05:00

Go girl, seek happy nights to happy days.
-William Shakespeare

Rob went out for trivia and wings with his friend Thomas... they're apparently starting a Wednesday night tradition. On the other hand, I may be starting one of my own...

[clockwise from top left]
Skinny Girl Margaritas. Which I saw that Maegan had posted about on Facebook a month or so ago. And, because I had never seen them before, I went searching online to find the nearest retailer... which happens to be less than a mile from our apartment. And, of which, I filled my glass tonight. And, because I haven't imbibed in quite a long time, it's embarrassing to say how little it took to feel the buzz. (Let's say it was less than half a glass). And, now I'm feeling pretty good. And, it's a wonder how many times I'll have to press the "Delete" button in this post to make it somewhat readable. Gosh... I hope it's readable.

Math problems. Because who doesn't love doing math problems when they've been drinking.... No, really. My father-in-law calls once or twice a day with questions about algebra. Because he's taking online courses to finish up his college degree (he went into the Marines when he was just a couple of course shy of graduating). And, because no one else in his family is patient enough to help (including his wife, his stepson, or stepdaughter), he calls me. And, it doesn't hurt that I just spent two years teaching this stuff.

Chips and salsa. It's the dinner of champions. And, it tastes good. Enough said.

And, don't I look cute today. I'm really glad that I decided to buy a hip-fitting belt for that last job interview. I may not have gotten the job, but damn, I got a really cute belt.

Apparently I talk funny...

2011-08-09T11:18:00.003-05:00

"To speak and to speak well are two things. A fool may talk, but a wise man speaks."

-Ben Jonson

Click the PLAY button below to listen to this post!

It seems I talk funny to the people around here. Never mind that I moved from a town just two hours south. Everyone I've met here in Upstate South Carolina has commented on my "accent." In the used bookstore, at the sno cone shack, and even the kids and fellow teachers where I tutor. They ask, "Yur not from 'round here are ya?" or say, "y'know, I like listenin' to you talk."

Huh? You're the ones with a crazy-ass backwards way of speaking. I mean, really... I can hardly understand you. Will you repeat yourself please?

Making it a habit...

2011-08-04T12:17:00.002-05:00

"Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going."

-Jim Ryun

While trying to embrace this little "vacation" I have going right now, I have also decided to try to establish some good habits. They (the almighty "they") say that a routine takes about three to four weeks to establish. I'm halfway through week two on all three, so hopefully I'll make it through.

First off, I bought a new water bottle with the hopes of increasing my water consumption and decreasing my coke and food consumption. Of course, when Rob saw it... his reaction was, "we don't have enough water bottles already?!?!" But, this one is just for me and had to meet my specifications--clear sides, comfortable opening to drink from, and rather sturdy. So far, I've been filling it up throughout the day, taking it with me as I walk to Sylvan, and carrying it around the apartment with me. My daily intake so far has been about two bottle-fuls. I'm still having a caffeine-free coke around lunchtime, I have noticed that I've been snacking less--although that could be because we simply have very little food in the cabinets.

Drinking more water brings us to my second goal... exercise more. Although we brought my bike up to SC in one of our early moves, it's just too bleeping hot to ride. I envy those of you who enjoy a long run, but I've come to terms with the fact that I'm an aerobics kind of gal. So instead, I've been grooving every morning to a workout video. I've decided to use the same video for five days in a row, and then start over with a new one each week. That way, I can really improve throughout the week, but still get variety in my workout. This week's video is a killer with its wall-sits and planks. But, hopefully I'm getting stronger and might even lose my little pudge (hey, how'd that get there anyway?)

Lastly, after watching CJane's vlog explanation of her zone cleaning, I've been inspired to divide our new little apartment into six cleaning zones. On Monday I tackle the bathrooms, Tuesday the bedroom and closets. On Wednesday I clean the kitchen and the laundry room, while Thursday is for the dining room and the living room. Friday is all about the guest bedroom/office area, while I leave Saturday and Sunday for laundry. We're beginning to embrace our 2-bedroom apartment and its lack of furniture (as most of it is still sitting in our house, staged and waiting to be bought). But, I've made it my goal to keep it as tidy and as uncluttered as possible.

Now, the trick will be to see if I can keep up with these routines. Especially when (notice I said when, not if) I get a full-time gig!!

Unemployed Summer...

2011-07-28T14:04:00.001-05:00

"Summer is the time when one sheds one's tensions with one's clothes, and the right kind of day is jeweled balm for the battered spirit. A few of those days and you can become drunk with the belief that all's right with the world."

-Ada Louise Huxtable

Being unemployed in the summer is good for just a few things... namely, reading best-selling novels and lazing in the pool. Have the apartment pool to myself this afternoon, which is awesome. Means I can float all around and not have to worry about bumping into people or getting my paperback splashed.

Where, oh where have I been?

2011-07-26T13:55:00.001-05:00

"How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives."

-Annie Dillard, The Writing Life

I bet that you thought once school was out, I'd be around here more often. Tricked you! It seems I've been around the world and back in the last couple of weeks (even if only in my head!) And, been without internet for several days at a time here and there.

First off, we've been trying to get our house ready to go on the market. Which, in this economy, means get ready to get screwed! Rob and I have been back and forth a million and one times, but hopefully progress will be made soon. Fingers crossed. Selling a house in a recession sucks!

And, because our house will soon belong to someone else, we needed to find a new place to live. An apartment hunting trip was in order. And, then the day we returned from vacation, Rob rushed up to Spartanburg to move in before his first day of work on the 11th.

I am bouncing back and forth between Georgia and South Carolina for a few weeks, but we were able to move most of our necessities for the next couple of months, so I'm making SC my home base from now on. The only thing we're really missing is a real bed and a sofa, but we're making do.

Oh, vacation... did I mention vacation?!? We spent Fourth of July week at Yosemite National Park with my mom's side of the family. It was a wonderful week, full of hiking, good food, connecting with family, and several adventures we had not planned on. Rob's and my knees are still hurting from the 40+ miles we walked, hiked, and climbed during the week. We've got a ton of photos and great memories. Can't wait for the next trip!

As for the job search... ug! Upstate South Carolina is not the graphic design hub that I had hoped. In two months of research, I've found a grand total of five jobs that I'm qualified for, and I've applied for them all. In fact, some of them seem like a perfect fit for my interests, experience, and career goals... I just wish that they'd call back!

I did have an interview last week, but despite psyching myself up for it all day, I got in a fender bender in a parking lot not 45 minutes before my originally scheduled time. So, despite the fact that I had gone to the library to get my new library card and become an official resident, I got the added benefit of meeting the South Carolina Highway Patrol. Unfortunately there was a witness who said it was my fault--we backed into each other and couldn't really tell who had pulled out first. Good thing I have "accident forgiveness" on my auto insurance!!

Despite the fact that my last teaching paycheck arrives this week, we're taking the opportunity to celebrate one last week of being "dual income-no kids." We splurged on big ticket items like a microwave, a new bra, and dry erase markers. Woohoo! These are exciting times!

Caught the craft bug...

2011-06-24T13:38:00.001-05:00

"When I don't have any ideas, I pick up fabric and start working with it and something happens."

-Geoffrey Beene

Not knowing exactly where my sewing machine is going to be stored for the next couple of months (we're apartment hunting this weekend... wish us luck!), I decided I better go ahead and get it all of the craftiness out of my system.

I've been on the lookout for a new summer purse that goes with everything. I haven't found quite what I wanted, so I decided to try one of my own based one of my favorite bags (which is looking a little rough these days!). I filled several pages of a little notebook with sketches, layouts, and steps, hoping to minimize the mistakes. Besides having to rework the lining of the bag, it turned out pretty stinkin' cute!

If you're curious about the fabric... the print is "Ellie" by Michael Miller Fabric and the solid is just khaki-colored Duck from Hobby Lobby.

And, then once I had a cute purse... I needed some matching accessories. So, today I created a luggage handle wrap for our upcoming trip and a sunglasses case to protect my new shades.

Maybe someday I'll create tutorials for them. But this time, the process constantly evolved as I was working.

Aunt Jana Camp Crafts...

2011-06-21T19:21:00.001-05:00

"For me, the best work is passionate, fresh, well designed and well executed - the perfect balance of art and craft."

-Judy Villett

It's taken a couple of days to unwind and clean up after the boys left on Saturday; however, I did want to do a quick craft wrap-up from "Aunt Jana Camp" last week. Although most of the activities we engaged in throughout the week involved toy cars, the Wii, or the swimming pool, Thursday was designated as "craft day"--with somewhat of a snake theme.

We used watercolors to paint snake coloring pages which I printed from HelloKids.com.

We used freezer paper stencils to make snake t-shirts, using this process from Say Yes to Hoboken.

We also bought neckties from the thrift store and turned them into stuffed snakes, like this tutorial from Skip to My Lou.

We drew and colored a drag strip/mud hole for the matchbox cars to drive.

And, last but not least, we created a "Welcome home from your trip!" banner to hang from the balcony.

Needless to say, Thursday was a busy day!

Photo Challenge: Day 30

2011-06-17T07:37:00.002-05:00

"Hope is that thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tune without the words and never stops... at all."

-Emily Dickinson

Day 30 (06/17/11): A photo of whatever you please.

Can you believe that this challenge is over? Can you believe that I posted 30 times in 30 days? Can you believe that I actually finished something that I started?

The end of May and the beginning of June brought lots of changes, some endings and some beginnings. It brought visits from family and friends, some planned long in advance and some more spontaneous. It brought both crazy days and relaxing days. But, with this photo challenge always in the back of my mind, it always brought inspiration.

I finish up the month today on my 27th birthday--no longer in my early twenties. I sit here without a full-time job, without knowing where we're going to live a month from now, without knowing what surprises the next year will bring. But, today, I'm okay with that. Maybe I won't be tomorrow... but today I am.

I'm finishing up a crazy but fun week with my nephews, and my fingers are crossed that Rob is able to make the first flight out of LAX today. I'm ready to see him. I'm ready to kick off this new year in style!

Photo Challenge: Day 29

2011-06-17T07:22:00.001-05:00

"The activist is not the man who says the river is dirty. The activist is the man who cleans up the river."

-Ross Perot

Day 29 (06/16/11): A photo with clouds.

Granted this only has one cloud in the sky. But, crazy enough, out of all of the photos I took this week of the boys, this is the only one that had even a hint of a cloud. Guess that's what happens when your subjects are close to the ground.

Chase offered to take TJ for a walk while I worked in the front yard. After making it several houses down and back, he came back asking if we could go for a walk around the whole neighborhood to pick up litter. A heavy rainstorm the night before had soaked the ground, and left a lot of wet newspapers. As we trekked through the neighborhood, we played "I spy" with newspapers and then tried to guess whether it was "readable" or not. We left the dry ones, but figured that no one was going to sit down with a soggy paper.

We filled up the stroller basket with wet newspapers and other tidbits of trash. Chase really wanted to save them to show his good deed to his mama, but luckily I was able to convince him that a photo would do the trick, since the garbage collectors were coming the next morning.

Photo Challenge: Day 28

2011-06-14T20:56:00.001-05:00

"Boys are found everywhere -- on top of, underneath, inside of, climbing on, swinging from, running around or jumping to."

-Alan Marshall Beck

Day 28: An action photo.

This week an action photo is not hard to come by...

If you ask Chase how much fun he had at the park, he will say, " Too hot, too much walking, boring." But this photo shows otherwise...

Photo Challenge: Day 27

2011-06-13T20:40:00.001-05:00

“Sun is shining. Weather is sweet. Make you wanna move your dancing feet.”

-Bob Marley

Day 27: A photo that plays with shadows.

After walking down to the neighborhood pool to find it closed, we set up the sprinkler in the backyard. Chase had a blast running through, but TJ wasn't too sure about it! He sat over to the side for a long while trying to get his courage up.

We've had a great day, but I'm exhausted--there's no down time around here this week. From one activity to the other... go, go, go. Read...Wii Bowling... Library.... Take a walk... Play tennis... Throw the frisbee... on and on and on.