Clowning Around Birthday Card

I made this card for a long-time friend. This era can be difficult, so I wanted to make a card with some levity. I found this idea on Pinterest.



I used another of my border dies to add this fancy scalloped edge. This is when I learned that the dies are not quite as long as I had anticipated. I'll keep that in mind for future cards.

I printed the sentiment on purple paper, glued it to the larger dark purple rectangle, then adhered the sentiment with dimensional tape to have it pop up.



I used bright colors for the faces, and fun scrapbook paper with small scale prints for the hats. I color-coordinated the googly eyes. For additional fun, I made the green eyes two different sizes so this clown could be particularly whimsical.

I decided to use real pompoms for the tassel on top of the party hats.



Inside, I decorated the upper edge with some washi tape in coordinating colors, then wrote a personal message below.



I signed the back of the card in my usual way.



Then I decorated the edge of the envelope with some of the same washi tape used on the inside. That's a sweet touch that pulls it all together.



I hear the card even arrived on time. Bonus points!


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I was inspired by this card that I found on Pinterest. The original was uploaded by Sharon Johnson.

Jodie's Birthday Card

A big part of Jodie's birthday gift from Dale and me had to do with arranging flowers. So I made a birthday card for her that mirrored that theme.

I tried a few new-to-me techniques added to my tried-and-true methods. First, this card was cut to open vertically, with the fold on the top of the card. Then I used a new die to make the fancy cut on the bottom of the card front.

I extended the stems of the flowers to go beyond the edge of the white card front for extra visual appeal. I got to use my new stems and leaves dies to make the leaves.  The Happy Birthday sentiment was printed on a separate sheet, cut in a fun shape (another new die), and adhered over the stems.

The flowers were fun. I stacked two or three different sizes of flower shapes in bright colors. Some were glued down flat. Others were adhered to the layer below with some dimensional tape so they pop up. Then I added gem stickers as the flower centers.

On the inside of the card, just below the fold, I added another flower, leaf and gem set. I added a hand-written note below the flower.



On the back of the card, I made my usual stamps. To decorate the envelope flap, I used a spray of leaves.

It's traditional in our family to have Dale decorate the envelopes of greeting cards. Did you know that in a former job he was a graphic designer? He still has a great touch and each card is unique and clever.



Our daughters always look for "the little dude" on the back of the envelope. This time, the dude is holding onto the leaf spray!



I love my family and our little traditions.


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I was inspired by a card I found on Pinterest to create my card. This card by Crafted Living was an excellent jumping off point for my imagination.

Mosby Bridge

Here's another of the covered bridges that Jodie and I visited on her birthday outing.

Mosby Creek Covered Bridge, sometimes called "Layng Bridge," is the only covered bridge that is still part of Cottage Grove's roadway infrastructure. ... Mosby Creek Bridge is also the oldest covered bridge in all of Lane County.

Mosby Bridge was built in 1920 and named after pioneer David Mosby who had a large land claim near here.

(Do you see the heart in this photo? Look at the sky in the upper left.)

The sides of the road in our approach to the bridge were covered in these beautiful pink blooms

all intermingled with blackberry brambles. Blackberries grow wild all over this part of the state. Jodie and I found a few ripe berries (free of spider webs) to eat.

This is a view of the interior of the roof. While driving through the bridge, we took this photo looking straight up through the car's moon roof.

Currin Bridge

While Jodie and I were out enjoying the countryside on her birthday, we stopped by several of Oregon's famous covered bridges. Seven or eight of them are nearby.

The current version of Currin Bridge was built in 1925 It replaced the original bridge that was built in 1883. It's named after an early pioneer family. 

The Currin Bridge is the only bridge in Oregon that is painted two different colors. It has white portals and red sides. It's closed to auto traffic now, but pedestrians can still use it. It's quite beautiful, with the natural light coming in around the roofline. This bridge is in the National Register of Historic Places.

Throwback Thursday - 2007 Part 12

This week the Wayback Machine takes us to the end of October, 2007. I finish five small projects.


Bugs Bunny

Bugs is another quilt square for charity. It was part of a cartoon quilt. Usually the charity quilt squares have a white ground cloth, so it was fun to stitch with the bright crayon colors on the yellow for a change of pace. Bugs is dapper in his yellow bow tie.

Roly Poly Clown

I decided to finish my charity ornament and bookmark obligations early so I could end the year working on personal stitching again. This design is by Pamela Kellogg of Kitty and Me designs. She has a wonderful use of shading in her charts. This has about five shades of pink and four shades of green. The lovely shading makes the piece look 3-D.

In addition to DMC cotton floss, I used some DMC stranded metallics in the hair, hat pompom, hat fur trim and buttons for added pizzazz.

Spiral Bookmark

This spiral design was adapted from a freebie border pattern. I decided to use up some stray purple/white variegated floss on this. Unfortunately, as I started stitching it, I noticed that the white of the floss was disappearing into the white of the fabric. To remedy the situation, I decided to use a second variegated purple that went from a medium purple to dark purple for the second "strand" of the spiral. Then I used a plain purple for the center vertical line.

The chart did not call for any backstitching, but that white floss was still causing a visual problem. So I decided to backstitch around all parts of the spiral which allowed the design to "pop" off the ground cloth. I was much more satisfied with the result.

This bookmark was donated to the charity literacy project.

Train Bookmark

This cute train is the twelfth and final bookmark I stitched for the literacy program in 2007. The simple shapes and primary colors used are very effective. The design is by a designer named Crystal and was an online freebie.

Rudolph

With this stitched piece, I finished my twelfth ornament in 2007 for the charity project. Rudolph was a freebie chart from Blue Heron Designs. The pattern called for Gentle Art Sampler Threads. I used a couple of those (for the fur and antlers) so they have that nice overdyed look, but I used DMC for the eyes, nose and mouth.

I ended up using a funky olive green aida ground cloth because I had a scrap of it about the right size. After the stitching was done, the design didn't POP, so I backstitched all around the character and it looked a lot better. I imagine a different shade of green would have been more appealing.

In November and December of 2007, I completed only five more projects. I'll share all of them next time. 

Birthday Girl

Jodie turned 27 years old today.

We spent the day driving around the countryside, singing at the top of our lungs, sharing a picnic by a lake, and geocaching. We even dipped our toes in the water.

Later we had dinner with our spouses, ate Kenny's amazing homemade bread, shared a special dessert and watched Jo open gifts.

What a wonderful way to spend a special day with one of the sweetest young women on the planet. 💖

Revisionist History

As part of my 20 Goals in 2020, I've been listening to this new-to-me podcast. It's Revisionist History by writer Malcolm Gladwell. I've listened to twenty-five episodes so far. Gladwell takes

... a journey through the overlooked and the misunderstood. Every episode re-examines something from the past -- an event, a person, an idea, even a song -- and asks whether we got it right the first time. Because sometimes the past deserves a second chance. 

It's really good! One nice thing is that Gladwell has a good voice for a podcast. He speaks clearly, and at a good pace. For podcasts, that's important. It's well produced, too. It's crisp and clean with good sound production. So there's nothing in the way of listening to the excellent stories.

If you enjoy podcasts, I can recommend this one. There are five seasons, which makes for 67 episodes of enjoyable listening. You just might learn a thing or two, too.

Grace

This weekend Dale and I bought some heavy-duty shelves for garage storage. We still have moving boxes that haven't been sorted through as well as seasonal storage (home decor) and long-term storage items that need permanent homes. Once Dale put the shelves together, it was easier to see what items will stay in the garage and which need to find homes indoors.

We uncovered some boxes of fancy glassware that found homes in the china cabinet. We found some glasses and mugs we no longer need which are in boxes for charity donation. I found the silver napkin rings. And I unwrapped Grace, the giraffe statue that my three daughters gave to me one year for my birthday.

Grace isn't new to my blog. She's been featured several times before. But it's nice to feature her again, all cleaned up and back in her place of honor on the table by the front door. She's just beautiful. Her sweet expression makes me smile. It's lovely to see her settled into our new home.

Homecoming

Know about this show? It's won all kinds of awards.

It's a psychological thriller about a company that, in theory, is helping war veterans overcome their PTSD with the help of a plant-based substance. From there, things go awry.

I watched the first season this afternoon. I'm hooked.

I also watched a movie called The Dressmaker staring Kate Winslet. I liked it quite a bit, too.

I spent the entire day lazing on the couch. That's a pretty nice way to wile away a summer Sunday.

Twice the Standard Personality

Ever have one of those days?

Birdhouses

I had another itch to do a puzzle, so I got out this 300 piecer.



Nice and easy. Just enough to occupy my mind for a while.

Only $15 each? A steal!

Throwback Thursday - 2007 Part 11

Welcome back into the Wayback Machine. Today we're traveling to October 2007. I was busy stitching that month, completing nine projects. Here are the first four.


Santa in the Moon

Sometimes it's nice to stitch with a single color to create a design. I was drawn to this simple, sweet design by Twisted Oaks Designs from the 2007 edition of the Just Cross Stitch Christmas Ornament Issue. I donated this ornament to the charity project.

Joy

Here's another ornament I stitched for the charity project. It's also from the 2007 Just Cross Stitch Christmas Ornament Issue. It's from one of my favorite designers, Lizzie-Kate. I used DMC colors rather than the Sampler Threads listed. This was a very quick, fun stitch that I completed while watching a movie.

Merry Kitty Klaus

Here's one more ornament for the charity project. Isn't he a cutie?

This is yet another pattern is from the 2007 Just Cross Stitch Christmas Ornament Issue. I altered this design by Val's Stuff a bit. I left off the border, words and cat paws because I didn't like them. Once again, I chose to use DMC floss instead of the specialty fibers called for in the design. I did use Wisper for the fuzzy part of his cap. And yes, that is a real bell hanging off the end of his cap!

Tulip Bookmark

This is another bookmark I stitched for our literacy charity project. The pattern by Kissy-Cross was a blog freebie. It was shown as a scissor fob. I finished it by stitching a border of Nun's Stitch and fringing the ends.

My daughter suggested stitching that border with the same green as the stem, thus tying the design together with the border. I thought that was an excellent suggestion since the only green on the bookmark was the stem. It brought more color balance to the piece.

That's it for this week! I'll share the final five October 2007 finishes on the next #throwbackthursday.

Celebrating Another Minor Holiday

Yesterday was International Chocolate Day. That calls for a celebration.



We obliged.

Itsy Bitsy

I like the way this gal looks. Her big dark eyes. Her hairy forelegs. Her translucent back legs.

I like the way she clings to the screen, all the while her thread of web is released behind her. I like those amazing pincers, her broad chest, her tiny waist.

I like her fashion sense. Those striped pajamas!



I really like that she let me take a portrait ... and didn't crawl on me.

Lovely Minor Holiday

It's International Kissing Day!

(Does that mean I need to kiss people from around the world?)

Dale and I have been kissing each other off and on all day. What a way to live!

Can you believe it? I won a contest with this kiss the year I met Dale.

Local Mural

Jodie and I took a very short walk near Amazon Creek here in Eugene. We found a geocache near this pretty mural that was painted on a retaining wall by the creek.

Pretty Garden Birdhouses

I put together another small 500 piece puzzle last week.



Pretty Garden Birdhouses is a puzzle I bought at Dollar Tree.



The way the birdhouses are painted inspires me. I have a few decorative wooden birdhouses in my stash, ready to paint.

I like the hearts and flowers motifs.

No surprise there, I suppose.

See You In September

School's out.

The kids and shrieks of laughter are gone.

The city literally rolled up the schoolyard field behind our house.



Then trucked it away.

No ball games will be played during social distancing.



The field looks desolate and forlorn.

---

Hush.
No worries.
The turf is being replaced this summer.
If the world is healthy enough, the kids will return.

If we build it, they will come.

Throwback Thursday - 2007 Part 10

These are the last three small projects I completed in September 2007


Wannabee Crab

This tiny quilt square is another donated for a charity quilt. Our group decided to make another quilt from Dale Burdett's 23 Wannabee Bears from the Seashore. As a change of pace, we chose a seafoam green aida instead of the usual white ground cloth.

I stitched a fish pattern from this book before. All the charts are adorable! The shading is wonderful and brings the pieces to life. I'm a big fan of this designer.

Thank You Cards

In August 2007, I received a very special gift of five books inscribed by the author Sid Fleischman. The personalized sentiments were lovely. I thought that such an outstanding gift deserved a special card of thanks made with care.

I decided to create these cards using embroidery on paper. I designed these cards as a combination of computer design and two motifs from Erica Fortgens book New Ideas with Embroidery on Paper.

I stitched the first card with a blue metallic floss. And though I liked the blue-on-blue effect and centered design, I decided to try something a little different with the second card.

On it, I stitched the words with green metallic floss. Then I added the two flower motifs to the left, stitched with two strands of cotton floss. The flowers add just a bit more sweetness to the design. I sent the second card to the author.

Tipsy Tree

This sweet ornament is the first I stitched from the 2007 edition of Just Cross Stitch Christmas Ornament Issue. I stitched with DMC stranded floss instead of the specialty threads called for. For the sparkly "lights," I used a white metallic floss. For the ornaments I used some red rocailles beads from my stash.

The chart called for a star charm to be stitched on top of the stitched star. That way the weight of the charm "pulls" the treetop over. I didn't have a charm, but the impression still works. This ornament was donated to a charity project.

I completed nine small projects in October, 2007. I'll share at least half of them next time.

June Goal Update

In June, I concentrated on one goal:
* to finish posting 20 #throwbackthursday blog posts.

I did that and made progress on a five other goals. I changed out one of my original goals for one of the alternate goals because I have a better chance of completing it. I also continued my high-achieving ways ::eyeroll:: by going above and beyond several of my stated goals.

I like that I'm half way through the year, and have completed more than half of my 20 goals. I have a feeling this Covid isolation has contributed to this accomplishment.

Overall Statistics

Completed: eleven goals
In Progress: six goals + two alternate goals
Unstarted: three goals
High-achiever (reached my goal but did more anyway): seven goals


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Goal Details

1. Transcribe session from last year's Skamania Celebrate Your Life retreat

Finished in February

2. Create a watermark for my photos

Not yet

3. Memorize the names of all the U.S. presidents in order

Not yet

4. Reach a new goal weight

Finished the 1st in March. 

Reached the 2nd goal weight in April. 

Working on a 3rd goal weight now. I'm so close - just two more pounds!

5. Find a new doctor, a new dentist, and a psychiatrist

In progress:

Got my new doctor in February
Talked with a mental health nurse in April
I have a lead on a dentist, but will forego making an appointment until the crisis is over.

6. Put together 20 jigsaw puzzles

Finished in February. 

Dale and I did three more in June:

29.  The Farm - June 04

30.  Colorful Buttons and Thread - June 18
31.  Pretty Garden Birdhouses - June 29

7. File all new digital photos once per quarter

Finished first quarter in March
Finished second quarter in June

8. Zero out email box once per quarter

Finished first quarter in March
Finished second quarter in June

9. Learn to cook six keto dishes

Finished in March. 

Learned three more in June:

12. Chocolate Frosty
13. Beef Stroganoff
14. Zucchini Ravioli

10. Listen to 20 podcast short series

I finished five more podcast series in June, bringing my total to 18:
14. Inner Space with Dr. Barbara Van Dahlen - June 04

15. Serial, Season 3 with Sarah Koenig - June 15
16. Family Secrets with Dani Shapiro - June 20
17. Untitled Dad Project with Janielle Kastner and Carson McCain - June 29
18. Life Handmade with Scrapbook.com - June 30

11. Find 20 geocaches

Finished in March.
I've found 25 so far this year as of May.

12. Watch 20 movies or series from my Netflix / Netflix DVD / Amazon Prime / Hallmark queues

Finished in May.
21. The Favourite - June 28

13. Celebrate 20 minor holidays

Finished in May.
Celebrated four more in June:

21. National Email Week - June 8 - 12
22. Donald Duck Day - June 9
23. Flag Day - June 14
24. National Parchment Cooking Day - June 24

14. Read / listen to 20 books / audiobooks

I finished two in June:
14.  In the Unlikely Event by Judy Blume - June 4, 2020
15.  Traveling with Pomegranates by Sue Monk Kidd and Ann Kidd Taylor - June 25

15. Write 20 #throwbackthursday blog posts about my 2006 and 2007 projects.

Finished in June! Then went above and beyond.
18. April 2007 (part 6) - June 4
19. May 2007 (part 7) - June 11
20. June and July 2007 (part 8) - June 18
21. September 2007 (part 9) - June 25

16. Create a preliminary design for permanent furniture and fixtures in my Studio.

Not yet.

17. Master bedroom closet organization.

Finished in February.

18. Send 20 letters / cards
I have 19 completed so far. Eight were done in June.
This is the goal on my alternate list that I'm moving to the main goal list.

19. Paint 20 rocks.

Finished in March.
I painted 20 more in June.

20. Buy furniture: couch, loveseat, glider, dining room table.

Finished in April.



Alternate Goals

Complete 20 previously started projects 
3. Flag Wreath for Flag Day / 4th of July - June 7

Make a food treat or a dessert each month

June - Chocolate Frosty (June 3)



Word of the Year: Settle

In June, I simplified my life by unsubscribing to several YouTube channels that no longer serve my needs.

I've continued to watch the sunset most evenings and took photos. It's a great way to settle into the end of a day.

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In July, I'll concentrate on the last two podcast short series and write the last letter. I'm also going to put some effort into designing my Studio with more permanent furniture. Maybe I'll attempt to build a watermark for my photos and complete another partially started project, too.