Welcome December....

We are so very excited to have December finally here and it is time.  Time to relax and enjoy the season...

I am creating a December Daily this year and just wanted to share...

I am really looking forward to documenting memories and creating with friends...

Thanks for checking it out.  Can hardly wait to get started.

~L

thirteen...

look who is having a Birthday....

the things...

the things I know for sure:

1. fall has arrived
2. fall is leaving it never seemed to have enough time for us.
3. the sky is a overcast beautiful shade of white.  I only wish I could paint chip it for the paint dude.
4. the house smells fabulous of apple crisp baking slow.  I know I don't like apple crisp, just the smell.
5. this is my favorite time of year.  Everything BIG happens to us in the fall months.  Sometimes scary.
6. so many good things have come from our falls they outweigh the scary.
7. I love the smell of the air it is a smell you can wrap your arms around and embrace.
8. I have started Christmas shopping or creating is a better word.
9. I am in love with my husband, he doesn't always know it but I am.  He is a man beyond any words.
10. He is love.
11. I create with no plan.  I maybe need a plan.  Plan might be good. I never let color hold on to tight.
12. I walk along the edge of life these days grateful.  For my legs move forward, without much hesitation.
13. I know things, many days it is this pile messy information, without purpose.
14. I know that today I am grateful, for every breath, every smell, every crazy random moment.
15.  I know life is once and it is short, it is to be lived.  Lived how you choose, you choose life.
16.  I know you choose your life, the path will lead you past many bends, but they are yours.  No other...
17.  I know to live the life you are given...

long time gone...

it is a long time gone....

at some point one gets to, "what is there to fill in the blanks with?"....so much has happened
I am not sure where to turn and begin...so how about just in the midst of it all...

I was able to capture a few wonderful photos lately,  enjoy....

fall is here and it is making it's way slowly to winter....time to start thinking about turkey, gravy, and pie.  Lots and Lots of pie...

Hello again....

forever by lstudio at StudioCalico.com

forever by lstudio at StudioCalico.com

long time gone....

long time gone....when a computer goes down, what is left..well no way to blog..then once you walk away it is easier not to return and pick up, then to start again...
the summer has gone by quickly....with so much to share...
I will be returning in the next few days to share....good to see everyone....

the studio....

Happy Friday!!

I woke to this,  an email from a friend....check out this blog...The first photo and my name are on there....yep that is me, how great is that!!  That Rocks!  Thanks for sharing with me.  Little ole me.

My Space     *****I'm here...**** (click on this...)
be sure to scroll down....  :)whoppa whoppa...

I love my space and I love that I could stay in there forever.  The space is ever changing, furniture and supplies come and go.  But it is mine and is like nothing else.  I love it!!!

be creative everyday...L

challenge....

All from a day ago....

The challenge:  Create a layout from "outside" inspiration.  This magazine articles design has been hanging in the lockers just waiting for a little reason to move.  This was it.  What I loved was the title first and then the design.  

This is a fantastic photo taken of a one room school house that my Great Aunt Helen taught in.  It is a wonderful photo and I will cherish it forever.  She was an amazing lady all four feet something of her.  She taught me many things one was love, and that sometimes it was ok to say that was a hell of a deal.  In other words to speak your mind.

be creative everyday....L

texture

National Scrapbook Day offered lots of challenges.....one was to create a layout working with wood accents.
Well as you might have guessed I didn't have any wood accents in my stash.  I realize it is a great trend with many collections. But I am not a fast fan.  I think it because I don't love the "feel" of the tiny wood bits.  So when the challenges began, over the weekend...I when to work.  I accomplished all the challenges for Studio Calico celebration, but "create with wood and create with typography" challenges were my stumpers.

At first I figured those would be the two I'd skip.  Well as you can see, I didn't skip them and here is the wooden one.  I began with a vanilla piece of card stock.  Decided on an approximate size of paper and design I wanted to work with.  I drew the design by hand, which isn't difficult considering the bark of a tree is forgiving and irregular, easily.  I drew the design first with pencil and then outlined it with black ink.  I then traced that with Super Glossy Accents.  Used a heat gun to dry it caused waiting the recommend 30 minutes is not an option.  I added a touch of dark ink.  Embossed and inked again for the finishing touches.
Waaalllaahh!  You have wood accents.  Happy Scrapbooking....

Off the subject.....sometimes your man is a dork!  Right you know it is true.  Mine had this crazy brain fart yesterday.  Goes like this:  Him: "I tried all day to find this guys number, you know I have been trying for a while now."     Me:  " Honey, I can't believe that given his business he is not in the phone book?"  Husband: " Oh, (long long pause) I never thought to look in the phone book?  I only look on the net."
So that is what this world is coming to....not on the net...not to be reached....lost and not found.....

Be creative everyday~L...

one for the books

Love the details.

I received a comment in a gallery the other day...which got me to thinking...

Finding a style....this is something often talked about.  I have never had a style that maybe fit anywhere.  It is not what magazines or design teams are made of.  It is my own and I have just decided that it is ok.  I often struggle with my differences from others in style.  I mostly notice it when I have to share in public, say at a crop for example.  I am not out spoken about style, I have always felt that to each is own. I'll attend a crop and there will be one "friendly" voice that expresses a tart tone about one's style.  They can't see past the straight edges and cookie cutters, to see delightful style of everyone.  I love to see every ones style and what they have created.  It is personal and it is true, laid out on paper to be cherished and capturing the memory.  I often feel that a layout opens you up and sometimes that is so difficult.

The many companies that create goods don't design products with only one thing in mind for them.  If that was the case, everything would come pre-done for you.  Paper would not be 12x12 flat.  It would be cut and crinkle and stitched.  Creativity has no limits, no boundaries.  Creativity is so subjective.  It is also forgiving,  if you can't "see it", you can change it.. 

I have too many years of retail and fashion experience to speak of.  The one thing about a visual design, you notice is the ones on the edge of wonderful.  Not cookie cutter.  I loved pushing the buttons you might say, like what is pleasing to the eye.  Or surprising. The one that made you stop and take it in.  Note it is also ever changing!!  It never stays the same. I could be changing displays a number of times in one day, feeling frustrated because I had just gotten it done and perfect and there was someone tearing it apart..  Then I realized that was a compliment, and if I wanted it to sell.  I had to show an item some love and put it out there.  Be willing to step it outside the standard and imagine it...Be willing to do, what "I" may not do...but what created an imagination.
It is true I could display a rock and it would sell.  Because it would be much more than just a rock. It was how you imagined it.

I received a comment the other day in one of my galleries that said "You have such a defined style, it's hard to lift"....I thought really?  I hadn't seen it.  Then I went back and I looked.  I then realized "yeah" maybe I do.  All of a sudden I felt a block in designing the next layout.  It took me days to jump back in. I fly under the radar I often create a little something, without a comment ever.  It is ok, because my style is for me. I am not in magazines often, nor do I submit.  I am not on a design team nor do  really I try.  Not saying that wouldn't be nice, just saying that it  is ok. My validation is my own...it is the smile and peace I have when it is done.

I am not a sketch follower, I usually don't even have a design in mind or photo when I sit down.  I have products.  That's it!  The layout simply builds and evolves into a design.

I decided that my style is good for me.  It is not meant to be duplicated, it is meant for me.  That is, a very good thing.   It is something that every time I am done with a design I love it as much or more than the last one.  How awesome is that.

"If I can imagine it and believe in it, then I can see it"~L

Happy National Scrapbook Month!!

be creative everyday  ~L

Moving forward...

Recovery....it is the hardest thing I have had to do..in awhile. I am recovering two major surgeries in a row.  I have decided  recovery is so slow paced.  It is lonely and it is hard.  Mostly it is lonely.  You have something big happen to you in life and you survive.  Thank God for that, right?  Life moves on, it doesn't wait for you to catch up, it doesn't pause with you and hope your feeling well.  Life just moves, often times it will move away from you if you don't stay on track.

It moves forward and so does everything else.  Life doesn't wait, it never takes a break, it moves always looking forward.  Life never looks back, only people do.  Sometimes we even get stuck and caught in the moment of pain or despair.  Although we have to slow down and mend.  Life keeps going, until finally you are left chasing it.  Running behind hoping it will slow at a bend, so you can jump back on.  Hoping that everyone around you just gets it.  No one ever does.  Only you get it-- you, the one slowed, the one in recovery.  The one off track.  Well wishes, and expectations.

Last Friday we celebrated in our house.  The doctor's appointment went well.  They said I could go back to work, I could live with few limitations.  I could lift 20lbs and walk stairs and in a few weeks make my way around the block.  I am thinking really?  Where have you been?  Not in my life.  It has been 12 weeks.  I am pretty sure I have been working for 9 weeks already and the rest well, enough said.  Life moves without limitations, so how am I expected to do the same.  The doctor's office is celebrating a medical victory for them.  I am walking with little limitations.  Visibly.  I will walk, I will live without limitations.  I will survive.

Someone said, you'll do well, your a fighter.....obviously they don't know me well at all....I am not a fighter...I am a survivor.  Nothing more.

Moving forward is what humans do best.  I think we adapt and adjust to what we are given. 
I think what I am trying to share that if you or yours is recovering...be mindful.   You have to understand that moving forward is the only choice, it is strength and it is powerful.  Moving forward is moving to heal.  Often times we are quietly stuck in what seems like forever and not everyday is a grateful one.  Some days it is angry and just plain hurt. To heal and be part of this ever changing world we must move forward, and only glance back at the "maybes and what ifs".  Don't allow yourself to be in one place, set your mind to get over it, life already has. 

Recovery is lonely and seems to take forever.  It is unforgiving, it is sometimes bigger than you are.  That is OK, just look at each day one step at a time.  Move forward and be strong, even when you are tired.  You have only yourself to depend on, and  be thankful for you. You can achieve recovery, you can survive....
We are sometimes lucky to have support of family and friends, but they can't do this for you.  You do this for you.  You are the one to move and take the first step.

Move forward....

~L

lucky...

Just a little something to share....This dog Charlie...his spirit always shines in every photo....He has a new wrinkle which includes a "Smile Charlie" and you get a toothy grin.  Nothing is better.  He has officially been a part of our family for one year now and it seems like forever.  In a good way, all he needed was a family to love.  Love us is what he does best.  What a sweet boy.

So waking up this morning, I found it to be 26.4 degrees outside.  I can't imagine it to be warm ever again.  It am afraid by the time it warms it will be soooo hot that we won't be able to be outside. One thing is for sure this weather certainly is changing the way we are spending our spring.  Planting and camping are getting pushed back due to the freezing cold weather. 

So today although it is cold I am grateful for the sunshine.  It gives us hope that a warm tomorrow will come soon.  I am hoping to get outside and walk a bit, last night walking was difficult and sleeping was impossible.  I think I over did it yesterday.  Life keeps moving, even when you are not.  In some ways this makes me sad to think of all the things you'll never get done or get to do.  For example, there is so much world out there and I'd love to see every bit of it.  Places like Italy or Ireland...  Oh the places one must see.  A little place outside of this world, I am in.  Let's just take a step out and dream. Life is short and you never know when....so if you can dream it and make that dream happen I say go for it....The only thing in this life you can have and take with you every where is a dream.  Dreams make memories...memories are yours alone, you may share one or two...but they are the things that make life go around....

If your lucky enough to document in some form you must.  Whether your a scrapper, a writer, or a photographer, be the story teller of life.  It is too precious to miss.  Nothing is to big or small to miss.  So today make a memory and document.  Anyway that makes you happy.

Be creative everyday ~L

Good Morning!!!

Welcome this week with a delight of my dog Jorge when she was a puppy...thanks to a few vintage finds and October Afternoon papers.  She was adorable.  She loved the water and given the chance would jump in the tub and beg for a bath.  Who does that?  This dog was a fish...If there was a puddle she would pull to be wet.

We have a small victory to celebrate in this house today.  No it is not political.  It is my discharge from the neurosurgeons.  Friday I had follow up and I am on a road to recovery.  They had very positive things to say about my future.  It is time to start over and get busy.  I realize it will not be all at once, but in no time at all.  It will be a distance memory!!  Celebrate!  I have a great deal of physical therapy to do...uughh...  The discomfort of the spine missing will become common place for me.  I can not imagine.  I am hopeful that with time I will be stronger and I pray additional tumors do not return. 

Time, for that I am grateful!  I wasn't expected to walk again and I am walking, maybe a bit shorter and slower.  But these legs work, if they work I will walk. Even though there was a few days of touch and go, and the experience very personal, I am so grateful to be here now....Thank you for all of your support and prayers.  The amazing power of prayer...

Be creative everyday~L....

Blue Icee and Daddy....

Life is simple and precious...it can be concluded into the simple need of a big blue icee.  With the wrap of her "tiny blankie" and a big straw we have a delight that only Daddy knows how to buy...It is their treat and their time.  This photo is hands down one of my hubby's favorite.

It is all about the big blue icee.  It takes the world away and offers a hint of a treat and a whole lot of fun!  Some days I have to wonder if we all started the day with a big blue icee, it just might be a better place.  Really, just imagine it: at the intersection instead of the morning growl from the car beside you who is of course in more of a hurry than you, they'd be sipping on a big blue icee....  Or when you greeted your boss this morning she would have to smile a toothy grin at your big blue icee teeth.  I'm sure she would be blue too.

So today I must say I am wishing for a big blue icee. It will be a tough day here, and I will work hard to find the good in this day.  I have faith it will close with peace and joy.  Only one more sleep to a day off and results we are so waiting for.  We can't wait to start a three day weekend.  Hopefully we are able to find some delightful treasures.   Belle will probably start with a big blue icee and my will be Starbuck's love..  I can be sure that my day will include a big blue cotton candy--what a great start to the season!!!

Have something blue today, and I'll bet it will give you the smile your looking for.
~L

2 for Tuesday....

Well, Say Hello to October Afternoon's,  new "5 and dime" line, it is out and I will go broke trying to find all of it..... I am in love, love, love....It is delicious!!

4 4 Good Friday.....

Happy Friday to you....

be creative everyday  ~L