Call me obsessive.  I spent 12 hours this Saturday working on this amazing puzzle.  I dedicate it to impressionist painter Edgar Degas, who thought the Eiffel Tower  a true eyesore.  The puzzle is made by Liberty Puzzles (www.libertypuzzles.com) and the music is "Little French Song" by Carla Bruni.  It's one of my "happy songs."

Coming Up Next!

My next class at Paper Tales will be held on Saturday, May 24th, beginning at 3:00 p.m.  It will focus on fonts, especially on faux calligraphy.  I'll also include ideas which can be used to make some "quickie" pages.  Hope to see you there!

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My Self-imposed Journal Challenge

This is the journal    that has inspired my next class at Paper Tales.  I found the sweetest little journal (5 x 7") in Michaels dollar bin and couldn't resist.  I bought the matching stationery cards to make it a total $2 splurge.  Came home and didn't want it sitting with all my other empty and waiting journals, so I gave myself a challenge:  finish this journal in one week…

tI'm now on week 3 and I'm dangerously close to being done.   I have the final page to complete, the cover, two pages still need writing (the art work is done) and a tag or two to insert.

This little book has made me get up a few minutes earlier in the morning in order to write an entry or complete some art work before heading off to school.  Even though it's early (5 a.m.), I find I'm just a little bit happier leaving home knowing that I've already done something "just for me."

What do you do when the well runs dry?

Sometimes you stare at a blank piece of paper and nothing happens.  I had that happen to me this week so, looking for inspiration, I went to Miramar Lake for a stroll.  It's been a while since I've been there, and this time I took a different path (I mean that literally).  I had forgotten how beautiful it can be there. My hope was that I would come home and journal.  Instead, I went to the nursery and bought a lovely pink (what else?) climbing rose bush and a cylindrical tower to support it.  Can't wait 'til it grows completely!

E-6000 is our Friend . . . 

What do you do when you find a bunch of little miscellaneous glass pieces in your garage?  Well, of course, you go to the Salvation Army and other thrift stores in search of even more little miscellaneous pieces!  Here are some photos of candlesticks and totems that are made from wonderful mini-finds that caught my eye and are simply glued with good old E-6000.  Who knew recycling could be so fun?  I know these will make appearances at my annual spring garden party.

(Sorry about the less-than-ideal photography!)

Hello, February!

Took most of the day, but I've just figured out how to embed a video into my blog!  This is a major accomplishment since I didn't even know how to create a blog 4 weeks ago and didn't know how to create a video this morning.  I am feeling a bit smug.

This Ledger Journal is a work in progress.  I found the ledger at a favorite store in Solana Beach and couldn't resist buying it.  The more I played in it, the more I fell in love with the texture and color of the paper.  The journal is almost half-way complete, and I'm already worried about what I'll do when it's all filled up.

Somehow, when I uploaded the video, the typeface changed and an end slide was missing.  I regret that because I'd like to give credit to the musicians of one of my favorite songs.  "Life is Better with You" is performed by Michael Franti and Spearhead.

Let me know what you think of my first attempt at movie-making . . .

Ledger journal 2 Large