Show and Tell

Wanted to share a couple things with you that I recently received. Remember the flip flops I made for the Flip Flop Swap? Here are the ones I received. I have them hanging on a ribbon over a mirror in my dining room. Just a week left to enjoy their beauty, before all traces of summer are removed and Fall takes its place.

Last weekend I attended my ATC (artist trading card) club meeting. It was such fun! They always teach us a new technique. Most recently we learned about using gold foil, something I've never used before. We used the foil on the moon in this ATC that we made during the meeting.

There are 16 club members that each contributed a card for the month of August. Our theme was "Under the Sea". It's so interesting to see all the different perceptions. Aren't they beautiful?

I was the lucky recipient of "Pay It Forward", hosted by Deb, our Garage Sale Gal. She spoiled me with massive vintage goodies and two beautiful handmade cards. I have been having such a good time creating things this summer and these items are going to be such fun to put to use!!

Check back tomorrow for my "Pay It Forward" so I can bestow upon you some luscious treats just because!!

When in Sanibel recently, I found this print that I framed yesterday. I am going to hang it in my bedroom in the little spot I carved out for myself to create fun things. I just love the colors and the feeling it evokes.

We all have creative thoughts popping into our head daily. We just need to grasp those thoughts and run with them. There's no finish line so enjoy the journey!

Ducks

I have different ring tones on my cell phone so I can easily distinguish the caller when my phone rings. Of course my ring tones bear some significance to the caller and it's fun to pair the person to the appropriate ring tone. Rachel's ring is a quacking duck. I remember not too long ago reading about when our President was speaking and someone's quacking phone went off. The President found it quite amusing and wondered what would be next. I thought it was quite funny that it was the same ring tone as Rachel's.

My dear daughter befriends every critter in our neighborhood, with her favorite being the ducks. They are interesting creatures, the ducks. Each one has a name, lovingly bestowed upon them by Rachel. Do you realize how often ducks reproduce? I've always heard that rabbits take the lead in that area, but these ducks are either sitting on eggs or they are surrounded by ducklings.

I can't help but be drawn to them, to some extent. Imagine my dismay this morning as I was leaving for work, when by my car were nine two week old ducklings quacking their little heads off because their Mama was nowhere to be found. I mean, just where do these ducks get their mothering instincts from?

I figured this would be a good Kodak moment, so I try to snap a quick one. Guess I should've gotten a photo release or something because in a flash, Mama was back, herding up her babies away from the mean old lady with the camera.

Hmpf! Now she acts like the doting mother!!

ATC's

I finished my ATC's for the swap I'm in at my local scrapbooking store. There are 16 participants and our theme was "Under the Sea". It was lots of fun and I can't wait to see what next month's theme will be. This is only my second time making an ATC, and I just loved the whole process!

On our recent vacation to Sanibel, we brought home a bountiful of shells and a small container of sand as I wanted to give these ATC's an authentic look. Here are all 16. It was interesting to make 16 of the same thing, but once I had the first done, it was nice to sit and listen to Norah Jones while working on them.

Tomorrow I'll show you the ATC's I received. Hope everyone is having a wonderful Sunday!!

Back to School

School started here in south Florida on Tuesday. Rachel is in 10th grade this year. Time sure has flown by! Bags are packed, ready to go!

My nephew, Kyle, is starting high school. He made the football team which makes everything a lot more fun.
The cousins went to their first day with lots of positive anticipation and they were certainly off to a good start.

Here's to a good school year!! Hope everyone makes the most of it!!

A Day In The Life

It will be 19 years next month that I have been living in Florida. I love it here. I am vacationing this week on the west coast of Florida. One may think that Florida is Florida, but the north is so different than the south and the west coast is so different than the east coast. There are so many interesting things to see and do in each part of the State.

I had a rather startling revelation today. In the half century plus that my existence has graced the face of this earth, I have never gone to the beach by myself. There is something ethereal to spending time alone in such a peaceful place.



I chose not to go along on a three-hour boating and shelling cruise and opted to spend some time alone. I love time to myself and it was splendid today on the beach. It's a totally different experience to spend time at the beach alone. Have you ever read Anne Morrow Lindbergh's "A Gift From The Sea"? Add it to your "must read" list. You won't regret it.

We did some shopping this afternoon and I found the cutest little plate in one of the local antique shops.

Sounds like today it was all about me!!

I wonder what adventures are in store for tomorrow . . .

A Room With a View

We are loving Sanibel! This is our pathway to the beach. The condo we are staying at is behind me from where I am shooting this photo. Yep, we are right on the beach! The water is gorgeous, the shells are plentiful and the state of mind is peaceful and content.

Look at this pretty plant. I imagine it is a hibiscus as that is definitely a hibiscus bloom, but I've never seen one with pink leaves. I love this and must find it when I get home. This will look beautiful in my garden. I have a nice container just waiting to be filled so I may do something similar to this.

I always get so inspired and rejuvinated when I have time to sit and relax. Vacation is a beautiful thing.

Flip Flops Are Done

I finally finished the flip flops for the swap I'm in. Jennalee from Artrageous Afternoon is hosting this event and once I got into it, I had a lot of fun, but boy oh boy, I had a hard time with this one. My creations are below.

My one and only other swap I did with Jenn was the Easter Egg garland which was lots of fun. I don't know why I had such a hard time with the flip flops. I guess because it was hard to get past the fact that you wear flip flops so they couldn't have any texture to them because you certainly couldn't have texture under your feet! I had to keep telling myself that this was a creative enterprise and texture is good, but Easter Eggs were definitely easier for me to make!! We'll be making these flip flops into a garland also and I'm anxious to see the ones I get in return.

The next project I have to work on are ATC's for an ATC Club I recently joined at my local scrapbooking store. Our theme for this month is "Under the Sea" and I really love what I have planned. I'm going to be including some sand and shells from Sanibel and I am excited to get working on them.

Sanibel is beautiful. While these next two shots are not the best, I wanted to share the view from the living room of the condo we're staying at, as well as a picture of Rachel standing in the Gulf of Mexico.

Vacation time is such fun!!

Sights on Sanibel

School starts here in South Florida on Tuesday, August 18th so next week me and Rachel are getting our last dibs in on summer. We're leaving tomorrow for Sanibel Island on the west coast of Florida. We're going with friends and are anticipating a wonderful week of rest . . .

shell seeking . . .

and fun with friends . . .

See you soon!

A Pretty Little Rose Box

I bought the cutest little box at Home Goods last weekend. I love the roses on it. I love roses on anything!!

Guess what's inside this pretty little box . . .

It is perfect in my bedroom.

The steady tick, tick, tick lulls me to sleep each night. Sweet dreams . . .