“Listening is a magnetic and strange thing, a creative force. The friends who listen to us are the ones we move toward. When we are listened to, it creates us, makes us unfold and expand.” - Dr. Karl Augustus Menninger

The coffee is ready.
The cousin is here.
We are ready to create. Talk. Laugh. Make a mess.
Loving it.

“Laughter is the shortest distance between two people.” - Victor Borge

When I hear that distinctive sound of duct tape I never know what creation I might find later.

Sometimes I'm still not quite so sure.

This boy never ceases to make me laugh. I love him.

"Celebrate the happiness that friends are always giving, make every day a holiday and celebrate just living!" - Amanda Bradley

"There's a lot happening in many of us. I think you have to celebrate every part. It's what you are. You have to try to find all of those secret names." - Cassandra Wilson

I have been so out of commission the past week or so, still not at 100% but making steady progress.

It seems like a lot of people pick a guiding word for themselves now. Ali has popularized this in the scrapbook world, yet I know it isn't a "new" thing. It is fun to read other people's words and their reasoning behind the words.

Last January I talked about my reasoning and how I started the process of choosing a word here. I also like to find a few quotes to keep around to encourage and remind me. I am a quote girl - I love 'em.

This year, as you may have guessed, I chose the word celebrate to focus on. I like the idea of celebrating the everyday, the good, the bad, the little things, the big things. There is something everyday that is worth celebrating even if it is just that God gave you one more day. Last year was difficult in some ways - emotional, trying and I am ready to focus on good, focus on celebrating the details of everyday.

I'm excited for this year - this journey of celebration. While I know this word won't make me have a perfect year I hope that it will remind me to focus on what I can celebrate everyday.

So, while I was sick I made the canvas above - decoupage (got a little messy - it was great) and a quote and some of my favorite letter stickers. Thanks to my husband for his creative input.

Hope your 2010 is in full swing and going well so far.

Let's celebrate!

"Everything you can imagine is real." - Pablo Picasso

I was thrilled when I received a card in the mail from my friend Katrina. It was quite thick, so I was curious as to what was in there. Imagine my delight when I pulled out these beautiful paintings from the kids. I love art made by children. One of the things I miss most about Archer growing up is I don't have the fridge and the laundry room door covered in his work...I love it when Katrina shares Madeline & Erik's masterpieces. What treasures.

I love that M & E told Katrina which picture was for each of us. The top middle was titled, "a rainbow spider web for Jerrie's birthday," the blue one had a note saying "this one is just for Troy," (both by Miss M) and the orange and blue one said, "this pitcher's for Archer" (by E). So much fun. The card on the upper right has been on the fridge for a few months now (made by M) and I have another one from her in my room...Such creativity in them. Love it. Thanks for sharing their art Katrina.

I was also thrilled to find a few coupons for thai food and free cupcakes (YAY)! My friends know me well!

"May you have the gladness of Christmas which is hope;
The spirit of Christmas which is peace;
The heart of Christmas which is love."
- Ada V. Hendricks

We made a good start on the Christmas cards yesterday. We had a good time. Good company. Good conversation. Good coffee. Good food. I love spending time with my cousin creating. So much fun.

However, I battled a migraine all day and night. I haven't been feeling great today - headache, tummy ache, rotator cuff ache...

Warm winter wishes from the cold (23 degrees right now) Pacific Northwest. Grab a cuppa cocoa, a good book and snuggle in! Enjoy!

Edited: We are thinking the rotator cuff injury is due to the move of that freakin' heavy dresser. It (my shoulder) was feeling a bit better until I kept using it (go figure)...by Friday evening I was hurtin'! So, it isn't horrible, just a bit painful and hopefully with a bit of rest and stretches that help not hurt I will be feeling fine in no time. 

can you feel it?

Right around Halloween (2 days) I start getting really excited about Christmas. Oh, not the busy, frantic, spend too much blah blah blah of Christmas, but the season in general. November and December seem almost magical. Chilly weather. Staying home. Tea and cocoa. Family. Friends. Joy.

This year I am excited to create a December Daily Album with the gentle counseling of the most fabulous Ali Edwards (again!). I followed along with the Week in My Life series and that was so much fun that I thought I could do this one as well...Documenting December seems like quite a challenge - I hope I am up for it!

As with the last album I am going to try using the holiday *stuff* I have on hand. (see more Christmas stuff Tami...hidden away...can you believe it?) I am hoping to start assembling the album this weekend so it will be ready to go on December 1st. So, anyone going to join along? Hmmmmm? One photo a day (if you want), a little bit of journaling, detailing the tidbits of December. Could be fun!

progress.

My kitchen table has looked like this since Saturday morning. Over the weekend I worked off and on on my week in the life album...I am on Friday. I need to get back to work on this. It has been really fun - compiling and creating the pages...Right now I am on a motivation break...Maybe tonight...We'll see.

For now here are a few samples pages for those who are interested.

For each day I did a two-page spread in these 4x6 divided pages. This was so much fun...I will definitely do more pages like this in the future. I used mostly Scenic Route paper and embellishments and a few 7 Gypsies items and a few other things...
I think the best thing I did was use what I had on hand. I have a LOT of *stuff* and have been trying really, really (REALLY) hard to use what I have. So, except for the actual page protectors I didn't buy anything new for this album. (I think I need some praise here...it was difficult...haha)!

My plan is to finish the two page spreads for each day, then make some individual pages to add at the end with some of the pictures that I have left over...like that flashback of the 80s photo from Fred Meyer (I think that deserves its own page, don't you?). I also have some fun print-outs from wordle for each of us that I may make into pages...It is an evolving project.

project

I am pretty excited. A few days ago Ali Edwards announced on her blog that she is going to do the project "A Week In The Life." I have all of her books - so inspirational and have heard about the class she taught for this project. I have wanted to do this for a long time, going so far as beginning, but never getting more than a day in.

So, long story short I am going to follow along with other Ali readers and do this project. What a wonderful time to do it...a new season...capturing a week in the everyday lives of us. I am excited. I am going to try (try) to post here during the project so stay tuned. If you are going to do this project I would love to know (and encourage you)...let me know!

check it out!

One of my favorite blogs on my reader is this one:

Check it out. It is fun and has a different creative blog featured everyday. 

enjoy!

Fun

Here is something that may be fun! Go to my 365 project blog and vote for your favorite picture from January and February. I picked nine to vote from, but if there is another (not from March) that you like better let me know.

This has been such a fun and inspiring project for me. I started it initially just to get in the habit of taking everyday pictures more often. I tend to be an event picture taker and am envious of those who have pictures of their bookcases and their trips to Starbucks. I wanted to be one of those people and now, I think I can say, I am. I take pictures of everything. The pictures aren't always good, but I like them because they are of my everyday - places I go, things I use, people I see...

I hope you enjoy this process along with me - through taking your own everyday photos or looking at mine as I post them. I really enjoy and appreciate your comments - doing this everyday is a challenge sometimes. Sometimes I don't want to take a picture, load it on the computer, upload it, post it...It just seems like too much. But then I post it. I see all the photos in their folder on my computer and I feel good. Really really good.

So thank you for looking and being part of this process with me. It is more fun with friends!

P.S. My friend Sharon has taken on this challenge with me. She has taken some great photos (see this ladybug one). I love that I can go to her daily photo and get a glimpse into her everyday - I may not know exactly why she took a particular picture, what motivated her or inspired her, and I may not know what she did that day, however I get a feeling of what is going on...Love it. Go visit - you'll be glad that you did!

Card Bonanza

Lorinda came out yesterday and we began our annual Christmas card making bonanza. Here is a sampling of what we did. We had quite an inspired day and produced many cards. It is so fun to see the difference in what we create as we sit together with all the same supplies. What we chose to use and what we don't.

One of my favorite ways to spend a weekend day is with Lorinda making cards or scrapbooking, drinking coffee, eating...
More to come from our weekend later. Have to save some of the excitement - don't want to overwhelm all my readers.

Coming to a mail box near you....

Since we are not black Friday shoppers, Lorinda and I decided to get together Friday and get a start on our Christmas cards. Usually we have the three boys with us, however Chip kept the kids at their house and Lorinda came to mine and we drank coffee, ate some chips and dip, and cranked out some cards. So, take a look one of these (or one yet to be made) may be coming to your mailbox...Lorinda and I tend to not make the same card over and over. Often we pick a design we like and stick with it until we want to move onto something else and sometimes they are all completely different! It is such fun...we crack ourselves up. I don't think we laugh as much as when we are making cards together.

These are what we like to call the "Whoville cards." They are a limited edition, as we only made one card each with this paper...so if you are the lucky recipient keep it, it is special! :)