Dexter Gordon: Montmartre, Copenhagen, 1971

"Saucy Joanie"

Another great piece of ephemera....reminds me of Lady Joan. If you create something special with this beautiful old girl, please share it with me so I can forward it to Joan. ♥

Happy People Dancing on Planet Earth

Holidays making you feel a little blue ~ watch this video - I DARE you not to smile ~ get up and dance!

Ephemera ~ Harvard Girl in Winter

Wanted to share this image with you ~ for Emily ~ who is in Boston taking graduate classes at Harvard.....miss you and can't wait to see you at Christmas!

Finally Friday - Gifts Card/Tag (Two Peas In A Bucket)

Quick and easy ~ perfect for last minute wrap-ups when you've run out of tags. Also consider using pieces of the gift wrap to make the "boxes" ~ matchy, matchy, that's for me!

Snowman Soup

I found this on youTube today - looking for quick Christmas gift ideas for teachers and friends. I've seen the "reindeer food" version before - but I love the snowman soup. This video uses Stampin' Up products (I used to demo for them, too) but you could use any snowflake or snowman stamps with your own cardstock. Also, vintage imagery would be great as well. For the labels that say "freeze dried snowballs" you could print a label by hand to match, or use print your own label sheet on the computer. This looks so fast and easy - it would be a great project for kids to make. Super idea. I mean, there's chocolate in it right? Off to check my pantry for some freeze dried snowballs!

Snowman Soup Poem

Here is the "snowman soup" supply list and poem (for the posted video above) - it's listed on several Christmas crafting sites - with variations on how many chocolate kisses to include....more chocolate is better for me! More ideas: stocking stuffer, gift basket filler, 12 days of Christmas gift, Secret Santa present......I better get busy :) ♥

1 package hot chocolate mix
1-2 Hershey Kisses
10 mini-marshmallows
1 mini candy cane or cinnamon stick

Place in a small ziplock bag or in a new mug - or follow the instructions below.

Attach this poem:

"Was told you've been real good this year.

Always glad to hear it!

With freezing weather drawing near,

You'll need to warm the spirit.

So here's a little Snowman Soup

Complete with stirring stick.

Add hot water, sip it slow.

It's sure to do the trick!"

Thinking about Christmas

The leaves are all off the trees, and we've had more than one snowfall at my house (more coming next week). The kids already have their winter clothes, boots and sleds at the ready!

Is it just me or does Thanksgiving seem like a day of rest and lots of food to help us gain our strength for Christmas and the Holiday season? I can't believe I'm saying this because used to hate people who crowed, "I'm all done with my holiday shopping" - but "I'm done with my holiday shopping". I realize this is possible this year: 1.) because my youngest of 4 kids is in Kindergarten... 2.) I've really pared down the shopping list.... 3.) I hit a really great sale at The Christmas Tree Shop... 4.) I've been stashing gifts for the kids here and there as a make a little money from my eBay auctions. I may never be done with shopping this early ever again in my lifetime so this is my written proof. ♥ All that's left to do is the wrapping, baking and crafting. My three favorite things to do during the holidays. The hard part for me: getting all to the post office in time!

This vintage image is so inspiring to me- I have a shoebox full of old postcards from a nearby antique barn - I hope it inspires you to stay home, get cozy, and start your holiday crafting.

If you make something with this gorgeous blonde - I'd love to see it!

Vintage Imagery....Joanie on Holiday

I love this image - I've always called it "Joanie on Holiday". My dear mother-in-law Joan lives in Mijas Pueblo, Spain. She has suffered a stroke and seizure over the past weekend and is in hospital in Malaga. Feel free to copy and create something wonderful with this image. If you like what you've created, please share it with me so I can send it to Joanie. hugs and thanks ♥

....and the Winner of Blog Candy is.... ~ CazJN ~

CazJN - you are the winner of the Blogspot Candy Giveaway - please contact me with your email address - I want to make sure you get your goodies!

Happy Stamping! I'm off to practice my yakkity sax :)

Back on the Sax.....

I realize this is a crazy blogpost title, however, I wonder if I'm a little crazy lately myself. As you may have read in a previous post, I have taken out my tenor saxophone again. For those of you who knew me in my youth and are cheering me on - I appreciate your support (thanks, Margaret ♥). I am also grateful to my family for tolerating all the tooting.......

While I was mulling over whether or not I had any skills or chops left, searching on the internet led me to an intriguing website and forum: http://www.petethomas.co.uk/ and it's companion http://www.breakfastroom.co.uk/. After lurking in the forum group for a month or so, devouring all the posts about technical strides in mouthpieces, reeds, ligatures and which saxophones were considered the best - I've just posted my intro. Both are a fabulous resource for all things Saxophone. It was encouraging and inspiring to read the posts from men and women, younger and older and in between, who have been playing the sax for years and those at every age just beginning to play. Thanks, Pete ♥. Who is Pete Thomas? - click above and find out for yourself - and don't forget to check out his shopping links...Pete donates proceeds from sales to APEC, Leukaemia Busters and IMC Burma Cyclone Appeal.

Happy Stamping Halloween!

Happy Halloween! I dug in my box of unused rubber - and found this little cutie in my stash of old PSX. She's stamped in black permanent ink and colored in with Berol prismacolor pencils. I found a little bag of "collage" odds and ends and found this little kraft colored speckled oval - kind of looks like a cracker I think. Distressed it and sponged on some Antique Brown and pumpkin colored ink. The background paper was sent to me by my sister-in-law, I don't know who it's from - but I LOVE it. If you know, please comment so I can buy some more and give credit. Everything else is pretty self-explanatory, layered with mounting tape and then layered on the cardstock......and speaking of Trick or Treat, don't forget to register for the "blog candy" - Stampland's new instructional dvd with lots of goodies from Darlene's duster demos - (Eclipse tape, dusters, and an assortment of unmounted and mounted stamps along with a brand-new sealed dvd!) Who needs more candy corn anyway?

More Spectacular Fall Foilage

Okay, okay.....I know I just blogged about this yesterday - but the rain from hurricane "Kyle" had a transforming effect - overnight! Compare the picture below to the one of the same scenery from the previous post - the change is soooo dramatic in one day!

Besides, the winters are sooooo long and grey - I can't get enough of this beautiful foilage.

Here are the colors of my favorite rainbow pad - ♥

It's Officially Autumn in Vermont

The colors this year are spectacular and inspiring - it has been a few years since they've been so vibrant - the reds are incredible - next weekend is the official "peak" color of the season - I wish I had a rainbow pad that did justice to these hues.....these photos were taken early this morning from my back porch - I was afraid I would miss something if I waited.....very inspiring - if I could just find the time to mess with my stamps ♥

Featuring Susan Fordyce!

I am so excited to post these two amazing works of art from Susan Fordyce, an accomplished artist and friend from Indiana - her compositions are unique and visually captivating - she takes detail in mixed media to another level of perfection..... I love them they are so intricate ♥

From Susan "...these photos were taken just as a record of work and the sea-image one was done after I framed it so was done at an angle. It is much lighter in color. The pearls sewn on it are real pearls and tiny bits of green glass that I glued on are about 200 years old...I love this piece...the other one just was tooooooo fun for me to do....they frame out at about 16 x 20."

Thanks so much for sharing these Susan ♥