Sunday, September 30, 2007

Okay--Autumn can start now!

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Growing up in the North Eastern U.S. gives you a special affinity (not to mention allergies) to the Four Seasons of the year. However, I have this thing about the inaugral moment a season starts for me. I anticipate the changes in weather, sights, sounds and smells, but regardless of what the calendar states, the season does not start on a particular day for me. The season starts when I get my tradition "fix". I have certain traditions that help commence the seasons.

For Winter, it is Christmas Eve when all the friends and family are around, the candles and glowing and the aroma of home-cooked foods and beauty of house decorations make a warm welcome to the chilly season.
For Spring, it is the first windy day without rain, when the gray clouds of winter give way to the puffy white ones. I don't recognize Spring until I can fly a kite with my kids on one of those perfect days.
As for summer--well, even though I'm a teacher and you'd think the offical start of summer is 3:00 pm on the last day of school, it actually doesn't begin for me until I see my first drive-in movie outside after a picnic supper with friends and family. We don't live too far away from America's Oldest Drive-in Theater!!

And now for Autumn--it can offically start because our family has visited the Apple Orchard for our hand-picked version of Johnny Golds. I don't declare that Autumn is here until I ride the old raggedy truck out to the trees, bite my first apple and snap my farm photos like I've done every year since my children were born. That's what we did today, and so even though it is Oct. 1st tomorrow--today was the 1st day of Fall for me. Let the festivities begin!

Friday, September 21, 2007

I call this one "pieces of me" and it exemplifies the way I love to create. I call my style "Controlled Chaos". This is actually a photo of the layout BEFORE I ripped it all apart and reconstructed it with a different background and journaling. I am not posting that as yet, because I am hoping the new layout will be published. Enjoy!

The Note Box Purse
I found these cute little index sized note boxes on sale at Target and decorated them with 7 gypsies new line "Zanzibar". I filled them with note cards from DUDE and used this as a Kind thought box for our former boss who moved away. Each of the staff filled out a card and then we gave the filled box to our friend as a way to always keep our memories fresh.

*It's also a great idea to fill with favorite family recipes and give at a wedding shower, or fill with well-wishes for someone who is sick.










The pink purse has a Fancy Pants chipboard swirl on the front for flair.

Thursday, September 13, 2007

Inspired


Wow--I found this artist/author and her blog today. I heard she is writing a book and her art is simply breathtaking. Check out her Blog

Sunday, September 9, 2007

TOOT TOOT!

It's my very first official "toot" and win in the scrapbooking world. I entered my Pirate LO in AMM's August Contest (A Million Memories). Way fun theme for this way excited chick!
AMM gallery