Another Journal...and my assignment

As a matter of fact...the first page of my journal is dedicated to the goals I am aspiring to achieve some day. The few that I am getting closest to achieving include:

1. Graduate with a 3.5 GPA or better

2. Run a 1/2 marathon (I'm doing my first 10K in April...I'm getting there)

3. Go on a road trip with my mom and sis JO (My mom and I are off to Hawaii in May...sorry JO!)

Assignment: Do!

...With God all things are possible.
Matthew 19:26

Since we only get one day off a week we really value it. We plan it out so it isn't wasted. Why not really add value to your time off and plan ahead. Jot down ideas of restaurants you've always wanted to go to, a store to look at, a city to explore, the next time you have free time, do it. Don't sit around at home, just go and do. I want you all to be really passionate about what you do. What are your wildest dreams? Why not start a piggy bank for a specific thing to buy. Share your dreams with other people. At first, Sam and i were a little hesitant telling people the crazy things we wanted to do. We wrote them down. When we first wrote down our crazy dreams I didn't think any of them would actually happen. (Ok, I wanted them to, but they were crazy!) We prayed about them, we didn't count 100% on them all happening, but so far it is going good. We took big risks, sometimes it was hard. As all of you know, from time to time I've called all of you and complained about something (ok several things) There is always a trade off. While some things look glamorous (backpacking Europe) the work that we had to do (28 days straight of 12-15 hour days of physical labor) and the way we traveled wasn't at all glamorous.
The bathrooms we used, and the beds we slept in were so gross, but we did it.

Or sleeping on a heap of dirty sheets and trash because there were no seats left on the train, but we begged the conductor to let us on anyway.

I was willing to sacrifice cleanliness for the experience. But it was all so worth it.

In front of Colosseum.

Sistine Chapel

Be bold. We are such creatures of habit, and the habits we get into are comforting. I'm just starting to enjoy getting into a routine, it's comforting and reassuring, and we do need it. But it's great to jump out of our comfort zone as well, from time to time and push ourselves.

Your assignment: Name 3 crazy dreams, what actions are you going to take to make them happen? Let's encourage each other and not make any excuses or buts. They don't have to be anything major, they can be little things, but don't be afraid to list a major dream. Please share, if you've always had a secret dream to be a circus clown I want to know about it!

And you can laugh, but to me (and Amy, I'm pretty sure you'll agree) quotes are inspirational. So I'm going to share some motivating quotes with you. Who knows, maybe you can incorporate one of them into your page?

Sometimes you just have to take the leap, and build your wings on the way down.
-Kobi Yamada

Getting a good idea should be like sitting on a pin; it should make you jump up and do something.
-E.L. Simpson

Our fears must never hold us back from pursuing our hopes.
-John F. Kennedy

I have always wanted an adventurous life. It took a long time to realize that I was the only one who could make an adventurous life happen to me.
-Richard Bach

If someone believes in you, and you believe in your dreams, it can happen.
-Tiffany Loren Rowe

If you follow your bliss, doors will open for you that wouldn't have opened for anyone else.
-Joseph Campbell


Give your dreams all you've got and you'll be amazed at the energy that comes out of you.
-William James

If you can imagine it
You can achieve it
If you can dream it
You can become it
-William Arthur Ward

Shoot for the moon, even if you miss you'll land among the stars.
-Unknown

Oh I could go on and on all day. But I will stop now.

travel journal

My SIL Jenny is leaving for England mid-March. I put together a little Bon Voyage care package for her, including this mini travel journal. The quote inside reads:

"The world is a great book in which they who never stir from home read only one page." -Augustine

Jess' Journal

Alrighty, I suppose that in the name of our crafting sisterhood, I can reveal a peek into my ultra-confidential top-secret journal! Just kidding of course. I started this journal in a cheap-ola composition book a little over a year ago. One experience that really motivated me to begin was a lecture on the therapeutic value of journaling in my holistic nursing class senior year. Even if you don't have a terminal illness, you can still find stress relief, meaning, and purpose by jotting down your stream of thoughts. Even though I've been less than faithful to this book throughout the year, I have managed to open it up at least monthly. It's astounding to see how prayers are answered and how quickly yesterday's worries have become today's blessings!

Although I am less than a shining example of successful journaling, I do have a few tips that helped me get started...Hopefully worth sharing!

• Beautiful, expensive, handcrafted journals can be intimidating. Try starting with a plain jane notebook. As I mentioned, my latest journal is nothing but a cheap composition book (apx. $2 at Target). Slap a few snazzy stickers on the front and you're in business.
• Try journaling in a book without lines. That way you can get fonty, do a few little doodles, or (gasp!) write as fast and sloppy as possible, focusing more on your thoughts than your perfectly dotted is and crossed ts.
• Unlike blogging, no one else gets to read it--that is, not without your discretion of course. So get over yourself! Don't even think or worry about grammar, spelling, etc.
• Try setting a timer for 10 quiet minutes during your day and just write, write, write!

C'mon girls, they say that if you repeat something 8 times, it can become a habit. That's 8 days of journaling. Are you in?

old things new part 2!

Ooh, and speaking of Amy's recycled sweater journals...Here's the one she sent me for my birthday! I already offered up my praise at the Swell Life, but *ta-da* again, in case you missed it. ;) Amy, you're incredible. This jounral is darling and I can't even wait to overcome my fear of scarring the pages of a perfect, clean new journal and fill it up with my latest musings and dreams. I often find journaling to be especially fluid when I'm at the end of a funk or in those little valleys in life. This will be a perfect place to unload my everyday worries. :)

Make old things new!

My Christmas Craft...Sweater journals

Here are 2 of the journals that flew off the production line...I think I ended up making around 8 altogether. It was a blast digging through St. Vinny's dig and save for these lovely wool sweaters!

Assignment: Journal

"A journal is more than a memory goad. It's therapeutic. The simple act of opening a notebook to put words down stills the crosscurrents of worry, drawing to focus the essential thought patterns that best defines us, intersecting those thoughts with the condition of our life at that exact moment. A journal is one of the few anchors the human condition allows us." -"Outside," Randy Wayne White

I counted up 30, filled and blank journals that Sam and I have. After I got to 30, and told Sam what I was doing, he opened a desk drawer to reveal 21 more! So 51 total! We love to write and read. Sam definitely has an obsession with moleskin! There is something great about writing on a page, rather than typing. I picked up a cool book on making mini books from the library. And I bought a great papermaking and book binding book from a secondhand book shop. Sam has always been fond of journals. We want to start making our own. He gave me this wonderful one he made when he proposed to me.

And we both fill this little book with love letters to each other, we started that in 2003. My favorite is our little dreams list of dreams we have, we draw a little heart next to each one and fill it in when we accomplished it.

Sam gave me a lovely leather journal as a wedding gift to fill in with our travels to Europe.
I have another journal (given to me by Sam for my birthday) I fill this one with everyday thoughts, and I like to try to make this one a more artsy one. I also keep wish lists in it, and lists of ideas of what to give people as gifts. I have a list of books I want to read, movies I want to watch, restaurants or stores to check out. It's keeping me organized.

I am really into journaling lately. I started a bunch of new ones and I've been writing in them everyday. I love journals with blank pages, without the lines. That way I can draw in it paste something in it, or write as big or small as my heart desires. So my new journals are: an exercise one, a scripture one, a food one, a work one and soon to come a quotes one. I love writing in these because they hold me accountable to getting done the things I want to. Everyday I write an entry in the exercise one, and the scripture one, and if I have to write- didn't exercise, or didn't read Bible at all- I hate doing that, so these journals keep me motivated to do what I want to get done. They help me to start develop the habits I want to create. The food one is supposed to get me organized with what I make for dinner. Each week I write out what I want to make for the week in it. I also keep track of what I eat, writing it down just makes me more aware, and then I think, wow, I should really eat more fruit. And it will maybe help me figure out if their is a food trigger to my migraines. And it's fun because I put in some old time 50's housewife pictures in it. The work one is good for venting! It's good to keep track of improvements we make, struggles we have and how we overcome them, and to keep track of the interesting people we meet. It's great to write these things down, because the next time I need to interview for a job I can easily look it over and find a good problem, and how I overcame it, (those lovely questions we all love to answer)

And then, right after starting all these journals, a package arrrived in the mail from Amy. She gave me this great journal! I don't know what I'm going to put in it yet, but I can't wait to fill it up.

Another nice thing about journaling faithfully is that you can refer back to your journal for your thoughts if you're doing a scrapbook layout. I love to try new art techniques in my journal-use stamps-scraps-paint-decoupage. Start a new journal today, or tell me about one you already have. Borders always has these great big blank ones for sale very cheap. Mine is filled with magazine clippings of house decoration inspiration.

It's so fun to have journals because it's great to look back over what you have written. The hardest part about journaling is starting. I wanted to start my food journal and exercise journal for a long time, it took me about 2 months thinking about it to get it going. It's a little intimidating having a nice blank book in front of you, you don't want to "wreck it" But just start filling it up,just go for it, or alter an old one you have laying around you don't use. Paint over the pages. I just made my first altered book. That was a fun and different experience. On our little vacation to Bayfield last year I brought my little traveling art kit, and one ziplock baggie filled with random patterned paper, etc. I bought a cheap book at a thrift store in bayfield. I made a rule that I could only use the supplies I brought along, and I picked up rocks, twigs, little pieces of nature that caught my eye to put in it. It was a great way to preserve the memory of that vacation because it was nearly done when i got home! I just had to print some pictures and pop them in.

So Sam and I are a little crazy I know. But I love that we don't have a tv, but we always have 5 different random piles of books and journals laying all over the house. That makes me happy. Reading and writing is so good!

So for your assignment please leave a comment or post a pic. of a favorite journal. Tell me if you keep one at all, or if you would like to start one. Amy, maybe you can show pics of the other ones you made, or tell us about that. Or tell me if you're looking at this at all, I'm beginning to wonder if anyone is!

New Assignment: Window Shop!

Alright ladies, just because you're done with the major assignment doesn't mean you're off the hook! I had enough posts to do one a day, but that was just too much for everyone I think. This is a fun assignment. It is to simply window shop. I know you all do it all the time. You can just leave a comment, or do a post with some pics of some good window shopping. I seem to always be shy about taking pictures at stores, but hey, this is homework, so you can feel comfortable doing it! You can also bring a tiny notebook with you, so you can jot down any good ideas that you see. It's great to get decorating and design ideas from stores. I especially like going to the big stores downtown. They have so many cool ideas. I would just love to work at Anthropologie. I believe that in every store they hire people to do projects and make it look cool. They get to buy old suitcases and cool vintage couches. The one in Seattle had the whole upstairs wall lined with chopped I don't think it's like Target, where a display at one store is exactly like the other stores. I'm guessing that's part of the reason their clothes are astronomically priced! But, nevertheless it is fun to look. And if they have a crazy discount, and a button missing, you might be able to snag something (and not just window shop!)

So this was a stolen idea from Anthropologie. I just couldn't resist. I think I'll post some more bathroom pictures on my blog in a few days, so check that if you want to see the rest of it. I stole paint chips from Lowes and put a few pics. from the Oregon coast and starfish and tidepools in a few tiles. Free decorating, gotta love it!

The finished: My Dearest Loira

Well, I finished mine. I don't know about you guys, but I had a hard time figuring out how to use everything, and I was the one who picked the items! I had a couple totally different ideas for creating this page, but in the end I decided to make it about my grandparents love letters during WWII. I copied an original letter onto tracing paper. The letter itself was written on paper just as thin. My other patterned papers are below the letter. Since some of the pink was too light I had to tone it down. I used alcohol ink on the clothesepin, and on the pink eyelets.
I had some clear UTEE (ultra thick embossing powder.) After painting my tag, and then putting some distressing ink over it, I added an old valentine rub on I had. Then, I embossed it with my UTEE. I embossed several layers. If you guys don't know about this stuff, it's really cool it makes everything you use it on look plastic. So after several coats I bent it back and forth and it crackled. I did a paint/water wash over the heart sticker to tone it down and added the buttons.
I had the best time stitching! I love stitching! I painted some newspaper with watered down pink acrylic paint, cut a heart with pinking shears. Then I used the blanket stitch on the purple felt. I attempted the chain stitch on the pink heart, not sure if I did it right, but it sorta worked. (I used my new to me, old Good Housekeeping book and studied different stitches!) I figured since I was sewing it on, I'd add a little fluff, so I stuffed some batting in it.

I put the acetate tag onto the patterned paper and I attached the ring to it. I thought this could symbolize their engagement ring.

I stitched my lace onto the page. I put my pink gem into the bottle cap. I had some silver beads I threw around the edges. I used purple crystal lacquer around the outside, and I used pink on the inside. I also made a little purple heart out of the purple crystal lacquer in the middle (you can't really see it) This picture is a bit blurry, sorry. Oh, and crystal lacquer is another cool thing that acts kinda like resin. I have it in a bunch of colors. You can also use it on a page and make your own bubbles. (I love to buy weird stuff like this at scrapbooking stores when it goes on sale!)

My Dearest Loira

Happy Valentine's Day!

To know someone with whom
you can feel there is understanding
in spite of the distance, or thoughts unexpressed,
that can make this life a garden.
-Goethe

I feel so fortunate to have this month. I would have sent you all an old valentine in your package, but I didn't get a chance to hunt some down. You can look for one at a thrift store or antique store.

This one I got in a ghost town outside of Buena Vista. I want to make a shadowbox collage out of it, using tiny kitchen utensils.

These two were both given to my grandpa (in with his letters) I have Christmas ones also, I love displaying these!

This one said it's from: guess who. Written with pencil on the inside it says, the girl you took to the show. Hmmmm, I wonder who that was. I don't think it was Loira! (Although that one is from early on, when they first started dating, right after he left, there was quite a love triangle going on!
As you all know, I think. Sam and I are typing up 5 years worth of love letters that my grandpa wrote to my grandma during WWII before they were married. We are having so much fun doing it, and we hope to get it published. So here is one of these romantic letters: {Note: This letter was written shortly after he got a break, and was able to visit her in the US, then he had to return to Italy, and they number their letters to each other, because they receive them out of order.}

March 11, 1945

Italy

My dearest Loira:

Here it is Sunday darling so thought I had better get to writing to you. I had numbers three letter from you and number one today now you see how the mail comes ma. I'll always number mine too so you'll know how you get them.

How are you today sweetheart? I am pretty well myself.

I just finished playing a couple games of horseshoe with the boys and then the mail came in so I thought I'd better get to writing to you.

Oh yes darling I couldn't hear you very well when I called that night either. I don't know what the trouble is with those lines, some of the boys said they could hear real well.

Say ma let the neighbors think what they want to. I don't know why everybody is so concerned about us getting married. I hear the same thing over here darling. I guess we are just slipping, don't you think ma. Well next time we'll make it for sure so everybody will be at ease. Don't let them get you to believing that I have a girl over here ma. You know better than. I never would want anybody else. I got the best girl in the world so why should I want to change my mind. I just love you so much darling.

Carroll didn't get married either but it looks like he'll stay true to her. I hope it is the same with her. I know Carl will feel quite bad otherwise. He won't have to hold me down from going out with all those "pretty girls" as you say. I've got my first to see over here yet that could come close to you and I'm not just talking either. Oh by the way we have a couple more fellows getting married over here again. I don't know what the trouble is with all the boys if they could only get back to the states once they would change their minds. That seems to be most of the trouble though they figure they are stuck here for the rest of their lives anyways so they might as well get married and enjoy a little of it.

I saw that movie, "Till We Meet Again" I could have told you what it was like honey I know you didn't like it. I saw it just before I came home. [The movie] Up in Mabel's Room I saw too. I really got a kick out of that. You know I was pretty sure of coming back over again even though the people all thought different, you have to be almost dead before they'll have you there. Oh well honey, we just happen to be among the unfortunate for this generation. I hope we are more fortunate in the next one though.

I don't know whether we'll get hooked for the army of occupation or not so I can't tell you anything about it. I believe though that we may get back to the states for a while and then go to the Pacific from as much as I gather now.

Did I tell you ma that I collected my bet when I got back here. The fellows paid me without me even asking any questions. I sure could use it too. I was broke by the time I got here, besides Carroll and I borrowed ten dollars from his sister in Newport News.

I didn't find my pipe anyplace. The fellow that was to look after my package went home so nobody seems to know what happened to the things. Oh well I quit smoking anyway ma. I haven't smoked at all since we've come back.

Oh say darling you won't have to send those booklets from the church anymore. The Lutheran service center in Milwaukee sends them to me. I have two of them here now. You know Mrs. Wadzienoki sent my name and address to them. I had about six letters from them when I got here and also got one from them today.

Say ma don't you get any ideas that you don't have to write as much. I'm expecting just as many letters as before. You're all I got darling and thats all I have to be with you is your letters. I know how it is with us but I'm still counting on those letters. If you don't write as much now I'm going to have to take you across my knees. Better still I'll tell your mother, I guess she'll take care of you ha! ha!

Say ma maybe Edgar wants you instead of Virginia only hes going around about way to get you. Now if he could have you for a housekeeper why everything would be in the bag ha! ha!

I dream't about you last night darling, only I wish it was true instead of only a dream. I miss you getting me up mornings now ma. That was what they call "the life of Riley" I had there. Oh well one of these days maybe they will come true, what do you think darling? You know how we feel about each other so it won't be any different.

I'm going to say goodbye for now and try and get some of my other letters answered. Here's your kiss for this time. Say hello to the folks for me. Be sure you don't forget about your writing me.

Lots of love,

As ever,

Your sweetheart,

Kenneth

Baby Anna

So it ended up being a late night last night ladies, but I completed challenge #1. After 30 minutes of trying to post the thing I gave up. So I'll giver another try!


I ended up doing a 8X8 page because I wanted to do a smaller book of my niece with just the most precious pictures. Its all there I swear all the bits and pieces you sent me Bek...there on the page. Here are a few up close shots.

The banner at the bottom used up most of the items. It was a challenge to fit it all on this little page, but as most of you know I love to make the most of a page!

The tag painted and covered with pink paper. The felt heart the final touch!

left my heart

Here to inspire...Presenting Jessica's rendition of February's C*J Challenge! I faithfully used each and every pretty component of my kit. How handy-dandy that I'm currently working on our honeymoon scrapbook...A love theme was a cinch! First, I used Bek's reused tag from the Body Shop. I slathered it with pink+red+white polka-dot paints and layered a scrap of coral-colored paper and my acetate tag. To finish it off, I secured the threesome with my large pink eyelet.

Next I tackled my bottle cap. I must admit, I've never used a bottle cap on a l/o before!! Good thing! I painted the bottle cap and added 2 layers of stickers. At first I used the heart sticker, but I felt that it needed something more. Amy's valentine stickers to the rescue!! I dug these out of my chocolate box of embellishments. Love that thing! I wasn't sure how to adhere the bottle cap. I stacked 3 pop-dot stickers to span the height of the cap. It worked pretty well.

Last but not least, I had a blast with all of the cute embellishments! I decided to line them up on my title block, to draw attention to my stitched, felt heart. I used plain white thread AND my sparkly red string leftover from Bek's wedding invites! I like how the double stitching turned out. :)Can't wait to see what the rest of you ladies come up with!!

Tag: You're It

Happy Birthday Jessica!!!

Sing a song of Birthdays
Full of fun and cheer
And may you keep on having them
For many a happy year. - Anonymous

Today's postings are going to be all about techniques to try! Have fun!So in an attempt to have less waste this year, I'm saving all tags from clothes. I keep them all in my box of tags. There are so many cool tags that come with things you buy. Why not save them and you'll never have to buy another tag again. Simply alter the tag however you wish. Paint it! Add stuff to it. Put an eyelet on it, emboss it! Have fun using your tag.

I got the idea of saving tags from the gift I got from Heidi. It had the best tag attached to it. I'm going to use it as a bookmark! So please, when you rip off that tag don't toss it in the trash, make it into something cool.

Assignment #4: Handmade is the way to go!

Fine art is that in which the hand, the head, and the heart of a man go together.
-John Ruskin

Your assignment: The next gift you give, make it, or buy on etsy, or at least buy it used. And take the handmade pledge.
Please, I hope everyone will take the handmade pledge. I can't word it better myself, so I'm going to let Rebecca Sower say it,

"I have taken the 'handmade pledge'. This means I am stopping to think about items I purchase; if they are available in a handmade format, that's where I will buy. As of today, over 12,000 people have taken this pledge. If this number keeps growing, we could actually get our message across...we're tired of mass-produced cheesy product!"

That number is now over 13,000! Simply click on this image and take the pledge, it's easy and quick, do it right now!

I'm sure you all have heard of etsy by now. I sure hope so. I know Jess has given some etsy gifts. I have, and I want you to also. There are so many cool things out there. It's a great place to look just for inspiration. I like it so much better than e-bay. It's more up our alley. Here are some shops that I like: Yellena, Sugar loop, Hide n Seek, and Ashley G. {Again, an organizing tidbit for you here, if you start browsing, make an etsy folder for the bookmarks so you can find the shop again} I really haven't spent much time looking on Etsy, I only do it when I'm looking for a gift or something for our house.

I like Girl on Swing for inspiration in my own art.

I like the idea of painting over a book, and I love the cute girl and playfulness of her!

I want to start my own Etsy shop. You guys all can start a shop. I know that we already value handmade stuff, but let's try to get more people thinking this way. Please spread the word about etsy. And let's not be ashamed of our talents and use them more for gifts. Before you buy anything, think, can i somehow use what i already have, could i make it, could i buy it from etsy, could I get a gifted friend or family member to use their gifts?

Now I can't help but talk about my dear grandma Martha here. She is the real Martha Stewart (as my mom likes to say) She has made suits, made "softies" (as they like to call them now) aka stuffed animals. She has made hundreds of quilts, crocheted many a baby blankets, or snowflake ornaments, she bakes like crazy, you name it- if it's anything crafty I'm sure Martha has done it! And best of all, she is so selfless and humble about it. She doesn't think twice, it's just natural for her to make all of these things and give them away! I can only hope to be half as crafty as she is!