Someone put a hex on me!

Last week, I went to the Long Beach Int'l Quilt Show with a friend of mine and I got hypnotized by the beauty of hexagons. Before I knew it I had purchased a hex kit along with some Halloween fabric that caught my eye. The technique uses English Paper Piecing to make the hexes by basting them onto paper. I settled on a method where the basting is only on the back of the fabric instead of through the paper to save myself from having to remove the stitches later.


So far I've made over 110 hexes and I had to order more papers. I have been stitching them while I watch TV in the evenings. Sewing the hexes together to make a flower is taking me almost an hour for each 7-hex group and the stitches are so tiny I have to put on my reading glasses!

Instead of the recommended whip stitch, I started using a running stitch for the construction as I think it gives a nicer look to the front. For durability, I am whip stitching each corner several times to secure it.

Here is a view of the back so you can see that I am using squares to baste instead of spending the extra time to cut hexagon shapes. When complete I am hoping I will have a lovely table runner as a gift for someone special!

Happy Whisky with Chocolat

Well, on this post I think the title says it all! Yes the whisky was very happy with the chocolat and so were we to taste it! Suntory Whisky—nothing else like it to warm you up on a cold day!

Continental Breakfast, Anyone?

When we were in Tokyo we stayed at a businessman's hotel that included a continental breakfast. Consisting of dry dinner rolls sealed in plastic, they were not very tasty.


Matt found a much better use for his roll. Can you guess what he did with them? Ah, yes--his poor tired feet hurt so much that all he could think of were pillows of bread to walk on.


A photo of the sorry-looking rolls at the end of a very long day!

J-Sign

If you ever get to Japan, one thing you will notice are the signs that may have lost a little something in the translation. Some of them are a funny mix of English and will just make you smile. This sign comes complete with a fun diagram.

"You tossed your cigarette out the window. You looked like you were fleeing the scene of a crime. RUNS AWAY - VICTIM - WITNESS" Below this dire warning against littering is the slogan for Japan Rail: "Meet your delight"

NOTE:
I appreciate your comments, but I am now closing comments on this post. For some reason, I am getting 2-3 spam comments every day on this one and it is driving me nuts!

Embroidered Napkins

I am a huge fan of old-fashioned linens and white-on-white things. They seem so pretty and pure and elegant to me. This is one of the last things I sewed and it was way back in 2004. I made these linen napkins for my cousin Matt's wedding to Gina.

I mail ordered some exquisite linen cloth and cut it into 18" squares. I finished the edges with a serger rolled-edge hem. The machine embroidery was done using silk thread and (I believe) a Martha Pullen monogram for the "B". I'm not thrilled with how the edges turned out but I didn't have time to re-do them by hand. I do love how the monograms turned out. Hopefully Gina appreciates old-fashioned finery (I know her mother-in-law does!)

Another Frame-up

Here is the second set of pics I have added to my bathroom. They are beautiful tropical photos hung to remind me of beauty and our relaxing time in paradise.


This was taken at Club Bali Hai in Moorea, Tahiti. I love the soft colors of the twilight here and it is so tranquil and lovely this time of evening. I set my camera on the dock and laid down on the wooden planks to compose this shot. I could have stayed there forever with the warm wood under my skin and the cool breeze melting over me. Sigh! I wish I could be there again.



We saw the most perfect sunset on our last night in Honolulu. We were leaving our hotel to walk along the beach to get to our special dinner we planned for our anniversary. It was such a wonderful evening.





This is an overwater bungalow at the Moorea Pearl Resort. It was that early peaceful time of the morning when the sun was just starting to come up. I had left our bungalow and wanted to enjoy the peace of the morning on our last day there. Not as soul was awake except myself and the pool boy who was rearranging the chairs for a new day of sunbathing.

ATC set

I realized I hadn't posted these anywhere last year so I thought I'd share them here. They are for a Jane Austen Theme swap I did with some friends. I used pages torn from an old Jane book that my mother-in-law was going to toss. She had worn through her second full volume of Jane Austen because she loves her so much! Now she is on her third.

I put a thin layer of gesso over the page and then stamped and colored the image. (stamp from Great Impressions) I kept this one simple like so much that I do lately and I put it on some pretty patterned paper from Daisy D's. The corners were rounded, inked and I stamped a simple sentiment from Stampin' Up with a tiny gel heart sticker to dot the "i".

Some notes about the coloring: I had issues using my Copics on top of the gesso. It will come off onto your marker so it is wise to test your process first if you try this. In the end, I only used the Copics for the skintone and used my stamp pad and a blender pen to watercolor the rest. I had tried two different inks to stamp the lady and was having trouble either with the color running or with it bleeding into the Copic color. I think the brown ink for stamping I tried was my Adirandock and SU Basic Brown (my favorite brown color and the one I use for almost any non-Copic technique.)

All in all this was an unsatisfactory experiment, but I liked the final results anyways. I never found a happy medium but it all worked out OK since it was a small area to color and I didn't mind the softening effect from the image blending.

I've been framed!

After 6 years I finally decided to hang some photos on the wall. I thought I would share the ones I added to a triple 4x6 frame in my bathroom. I thought they might add a little color and beauty to my life as I get ready for work in the morning.

The first photo was taken in Osaka, Japan. It is the plum orchard next to Osaka Castle. I remember how haunting and beautiful the blossoms smelled that day. I wish I could bottle the elusive scent of the plum blossoms to remind me of the loveliness in the world.


This was taken at Man Mo temple in Hong Kong. I love the repetition of pattern and color here and the photo soothes me and reminds me of a lovely day of sightseeing.


This fragile beauty is a hibiscus blossom from Tahiti. I love how delicate and serene this singular flower is. It reminds me to enjoy the beauty around me and to be at peace in the moment.



I hope you enjoyed this small break in your day and the world photo tour I have given you! Enjoy a beautiful day.

Stamptoberfest

I've finally got a start on Stamptoberfest--a fun stamping event at one of my favorite sites. If you want to look at some wonderful cards or read through the challenges, please go to the site and check out anything labeled SOF09!

Two Peas Stamping Board

My desk is a disaster and I will be gone all day but hopefully I can get lots done tomorrow. Cleaning up can wait until next week, ha ha!

Card Credits:
Paper by Basic Grey, Little Yellow Bicycle and Stampin' Up! Stamps by Karen Lockhart and Clearly Wordsworth. Coloring using Copics and memento ink.

August CFH Bloghop

Welcome to the CFH August Bloghop.

Did you get here from Sheila's amazing site?
If not, make sure you start here to see all the featured cards today.
You're almost done now so continue to the last stop of the hop. Thanks, everyone who made it this far and to everyone who participated in any way!


Can you believe Summer's almost over!? That means it's time to think of holiday cards for our heroes. You need to make them early so there's enough time to organize them and then mail them overseas and back again. The deadline for holiday cards is November 1. They don't have to be fancy or perfect or anything at all except heartfelt and made with love so there's no pressure. Make one or a hundred--they are all appreciated.

One of my favorite things about making these cards is knowing just how much joy one little card can bring.

1. Of course I get the joy and relaxation of doing my favorite hobby.
2. Then whoever gets my box at CFH will feel great knowing that another bundle of goodness will be ready to mail soon.
3. When our heroes get the cards I hear they have tons of fun picking out which cards each person gets to send to their loved ones.
4. Finally, a friend or family member will get a much-needed card from their hero letting them know they are missed and everything is ok.

That's a lot of love for one tiny card, isn't it!?

Here's a super simple card you can make for any occasion and in any color scheme. All it takes is a large sentiment stamp, a gem or brad some embossing powder and ink and a marker. If you have a Scor-Pal that will add the perfect touch. To start, cut your card out of heavy ivory cardstock. I used Papertrey Ink brand because it is extra smooth and extra heavy. Score it in half and add two score marks on the bottom side for an elegant decoration. Use your marker if desired to add a line between the decorative score bumps. Stamp and emboss your sentiment using green powder (mine's from My Sentiments Exactly) and add a red gem. Voila! A fast and easy card.

I am thinking of making more with some dark burgundy cardstock and gold embossing and marker. You can also do a "Thinking of You" or any other occasion card using your favorite colors!

Memorial Day CFH Bloghop

Today is the start of the big Cards for Heroes Bloghop! If you haven't been there yet, please visit the CFH website at http://cardsforheroes.org/bloghop to start your hop (everything starts at noon, PT)!

Sandy has done wonders with the site and there are so many fabulous volunteers working hard to create cards and make sure they get out to our heroes overseas so they can write home to their friends and family. Every time I see the pictures of the heartfelt cards people make it makes me feel so good. You can send one card or a hundred—each card it accepted with appreciation and love.

My card features a beautiful red poppy to observe Memorial Day and the sacrifices that were made for our country.

Card details: Cardstock from Papertrey Ink and Bazzil; patterned paper from me & my BIG ideas; stamps from Stampin' Up!; markers from Copic; Punch from EK-Success. In the background is my grandfather's flag; Alfred H. Bentley served in the Army in WWII and retired as a Master Sergeant.

Once you are done here please hop over to Vicki's site where you are in for a special treat. Her cards are so cute and cheerful I know she will have something wonderful cooked up for us today! Whoever gets her cards are very lucky!

(Scroll down to read more about why poppies are a symbol of this day. )



Thanks to my coworker Captain Troy H. for forwarding the text and story below.

The Poppy Story

From the battlefields of World War I, weary soldiers brought home the memory of a barren landscape transformed by wild poppies, red as the blood that had soaked the soil. By that miracle of nature, the spirit of their lost comrades lived on.

The poppy became a symbol of the sacrifice of lives in war, and represented the hope that none had died in vain. The American Legion Auxiliary Poppy has continued to bloom for the casualties of four wars, its petals of paper bound together for veterans by veterans, reminding America each year that the men and women who have served and died for their country deserve to be remembered.

Poppy Day has become a familiar tradition in almost every American community. This distribution of the bright red memorial flower to the public is one of the oldest and most widely recognized programs of the American Legion Auxiliary.

This poppy, as a memorial flower to the war dead, can be traced to a single individual, Miss Moina Michael. She was so moved by Col. McCrae's poem that she wrote a response:

. . . the blood of heroes never dies
but lends a luster to the red
of the flower that blooms above the dead
In Flanders Fields.

On impulse, she bought a bouquet of poppies–all that New York City's Wanamaker's Department Store had–and handed them to businessmen meeting at the New York YMCA where she worked. She asked them to wear the poppy as a tribute to the fallen. That was November 1918. World War I was over, but America's sons would rest forever "in Flanders Fields." Later, she would spearhead a campaign that would result in the adoption of the poppy as the national symbol of sacrifice.

Baby Fever!

Well, it has been a whirlwind of babies around here lately! My SIL (the one who was engaged and pushed up her wedding, planned everything in a month and got married a couple of weeks ago!) had an "emergency" baby adoption that was the cause of the shortened wedding time.

She got word from a friend of a friend of a friend that someone was giving birth and was going to leave her baby at the hospital because she didn't want to keep him. So instead of abandoning the baby to be left with social services, the birth mother gave the baby to someone who has wanted children for so very long! Nena went to the hospital that very day to pick up her sweet and precious newborn.

She and Carlos have a long adoption process to go through but they are some of the happiest parents ever! I helped them out by making emergency birth announcements (80 of them!) to mail out.

Pictures today are the birth announcements, an extra card I made while making them, and the card I made for her shower.

In the meantime, Lena (one of my other SIL's) found out that she is pregnant and she also getting married soon (at the end of the month). She is due in October and I know that she and Joe will have a beautiful baby! Today I found out that my cousin Laurel is also pregnant and her due date is in January. I am thrilled for everyone!

Details: Precious One shower card uses Hambly transparency, Stampin Up and Hanko Designs papers and Cosmo Cricket rubons. Punch is by EK Success.

Happy New Baby announcement and card use papers by Prism, Amuse Art Stamps and Hanko Designs. Stamps by Stampin' Up.

Sunshine

I was on a photography forum and the challenge was to post a photo of "sunshine". I thought it would be fun to post some photos that feel like sunshine to me.

I love sweet Ollie with the warm sun on his fur. He has such a sweet disposition that I even call him "sunshine" sometimes. Matt took this picture.
We are so lucky to live on the beautiful California Coast. This was taken near Malibu. Can you see the rainbow in the sea spray?

My baby cousin, Ruthie got married in a beautiful redwood grove in Northern California on a perfect day last May.

Here's another wedding shot of the sweetest, freshest strawberries you've ever had! They were grown locally and picked at their prime the day before.

A lovely waterlily at the Getty Villa in Malibu. I love how the sun shines off the leaves and petals.

What is more sunshiny than bold, beautiful sunflowers?

A final wedding shot. It really was a perfect day for Ruthie & Craig. These cosmos were the centerpieces.

I did not take this picture (obviously!) but I wanted to leave you with one of my favorite wedding photos. I love the soft glow of sunshine here and the peaceful feeling it has. We were dancing to either "As Time Goes By" or "Moon River"; our first two dance songs. (Did you know how much Matt loves "Casablanca"?)
Hope you have a nice end of your week and hope my sunshine warms you even if it's still cold where you are.

Hong Kong Trinkets & Treasures

Colleen Challenged us to blog about the 6th photo in the 6th folder so here is mine. My photo was just awful and blurry (I guess I was in too much of a hurry and now I can't re-take it) so I figured I'd blog about all the items in the small folder.

These are some of the gifts I brought back from Hong Kong. Hong Kong is known for its fabulous shopping and boy did we have fun! I got most of these at the Jade Market, which is a section of the city with some big warehouses that are set up with small kiosks for individual vendors to sell. It is a great place to find some deals on trinkets and haggle for costume jewelry. Oh, how I love me a good haggle!

The Jade earrings on the left were for my mother.

I got these pretty stone and braided bracelets for my cousins. Some of them are jade and I'm not sure what the other stones are. I just liked the work that was done on them. The one with the 5 jade flowers was the most expensive and it cost about $10 American. I could have gotten something similar for cheaper, but I wanted just the right one.



Sometimes you have to pay more if you don't have time to haggle and you have other people with you that are in a hurry, but it's all part of the fun. And we are talking about a few dollars here; not hundreds so there is no big loss.



I found a tiny jade elephant for myself and I had to have it. When I was a girl I collected carved elephants and I wanted one as a remembrance of my old collection. If the trunk is up in the air it means good luck. I bargained that elephant down to about $5. Imagine my chagrin when I went to the next booth and they tried to sell me the same elephant *starting* at $5! So much for my mad haggling skillz! I have the elephant at work. Someday I'll take a picture to show you.



These chopsticks were a gift for my cousin who was getting married the week we got back from vacation. I did not get any sort of bargain on them but I thought they were so beautiful I had to buy them. They were from a very touristy chopstick shop in Big Buddha Village. I ended up spending about what I would have spent buying a wedding gift here in the states.



They are hand-carved rosewood with gold engraved tops. One set has a phoenix to symbolize the wife and the other one has dragon to symbolize the husband. They are a traditional gift for a wedding and I wanted Ruthie & Craig to have something special.



I had to hunt all over town for these earrings. I ended up going to a jewelry store on Stanley Street near our tailor shop. If you look closely you can see that the gold work is much finer than the cheaper ones I got at the jade market. These are jade too; it is called lavender jade. They had similar ones everywhere, but I wanted this shape, color and gold tops. I can't remember what they say, but I think one is "good fortune" and one is "happiness".

Dreams

I made some cards this week using my new stamps by Wendi Vecchi. She's the one who taught me the resist technique that is used in my post below and in the leaf card above. If you're interested in the stamps you can find them here and here

White Ink Samples

If you're a stamper, you know how many basic inks you acquire in your search for the perfect ink. I thought I'd stamp out all my white inks for fun so I could have a comparison. The first sample is stamped on Stampin' Up (SU) Basic Black paper. The Colorbox ink was extra juicy so it is a little darker than the rest. The alabaster needs to be re-inked, I think. The alabaster is really more of a cream color than white, but I wanted to compare it anyways. It also shows up a little better in person than in the scan. I think I like the Adirondack and SU ink the best for this purpose, but if you're stamping a solid non-detailed image maybe the Colorbox is best. Of course, depending on your needs, each one of these inks has its own advantages.


This second image shows the same inks stamped on SU Ivory paper. Once the ink is dry you can try this cool technique I learned yesterday from Wendy Vecchi. I'm using her stamps as the sample. Use your sponge tool and your Tim Holtz Distress Inks (I used Spiced Marmalade). Keep adding more ink onto the paper until the image magically pops. Depending on the look you want you can choose which ink you like best. She was using the Adirondack and made some fantastic samples. Let me know if you try this--I'd love to see what you make!

Aeronaut

Can you believe I did it? People who know me soon realize that I'm scared of everything. I'm afraid of heights, cars that are too fast, bridges, skiing, falling, being cold, suffer from claustrophobia; I'm even afraid of Tzatziki Sauce! I never would have gone on a balloon if it hadn't of been my friend's 30th birthday and I knew my husband has always wanted to do this.

So with steely resolve I vowed to go on the balloon and hoped I wouldn't cry. I kept reminding myself how brave I had been to go on the Big Buddha tram in Hong Kong and how I would be able to do deep breathing and hold Matt's hand when I was scared. I reminded myself how scared I had been to snorkel and how by the end of our honeymoon it was my favorite thing ever. I reminded myself how many people go in balloons and love it. I prayed I wouldn't get hysterical and embarrass myself in front of my friends and ruin their trip.

All that worry was for nothing! As soon as the balloon took off I knew it would be OK. We ever so gently floated in our basket; slowly rising off the ground like angels. We climbed into the sky and saw the grape vine fields and citrus orchards and houses that looked like tiny models. My worries about the cold were unfounded—the heat from the flame was more than enough to keep us warm. I was at peace with the world and I didn't want it to end. Our landing was a little adventurous; we took out a couple of saplings in a small industrial park and came very close to a large plate glass window. But our skilled pilot and crew got us down safely with one big jolt and that was it—safe again on mother terra!

Afterwards, we enjoyed some almond champagne and a picnic breakfast (our adventure started at 6 AM!) and then went to a winery for a much deserved (and needed!) wine-tasting. As we drove home I was happy that we had enjoyed a perfect day!

Have you ever conquered fear and been surprised at the outcome? This time I was more worried about being scared than I was during the actual event. I'm glad it worked out and I could have a beautiful memory of a great day.