Five Fingers and more

Well, not really fingers .. they're toes! Yes, these are my new shoes, or slippers actually. Weird, yeah, I know ... but comfortable!! I discovered these over the weekend .... they're called Vibram Five Fingers. These are soft leather, beautiful purple (yeah, Debbie, i know you're jealous!), and intended for inside use. But the Classic design has a sole designed for walking, running, hiking, kayaking .. all kinds of outdoor use.

I'm into yoga. 2, 3, 4 times a week ... love it. We work our feet, alot. There are lots of studies on how healthy feet make for healthy bodies. These shoes are like walking barefoot, allowing your feet and toes to work naturally.

If you want to find out more about them ... check out the website here ... http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/ ... or try them on at Fitness West in Tempe, 209 E Baseline, Suite 108. They're getting a new shipment in on Wednesday ..... i'm keeping my fingers (toes) crossed for a pair of classics in my size!

This is what the sole looks like ... tricky taking a picture of the bottom of your foot! Hmmm, wonder if CSI would confuse these with real toe prints??

And then I did something today that I haven't done in a long time. I made a simple scrapbook page. As I was working on this I found myself thinking how fun it was to just go back to the basics. Used up some old product, threw in some new product, didn't worry about it being a "masterpiece" ... just wanted it to tell a story.

Saturday, February 20th, I'm teaching a Copics and Cards class at Frenzy Stamper, 3:30 to 6. Call Debbie at 480-946-0007 for more details.

Enjoy your week!

Tornadoes? Rain?

I live in the desert ... I'm not even sure I spelled tornado right .... and rain, well that is a scarce and beautiful thing. But last night ... we had a storm pass through the valley that has already gone down in the history books as one of the worst storms to ever hit Phoenix and the state of Arizona!

Around 5 pm, the governor of the state issued some emergency status, the airport was shut down for several hours and lots of flights were cancelled ... i only remember that happening once before when the temperature outside hit 122, and they were afraid the tarmac at the airport would melt the rubber on the planes tires .... and the wind proceeded to blow harder than I've ever seen. There were two tornado warnings issued, but thankfully never were confirmed to be tornadoes.

And the rain ... in many places we had 4" of rain fall .... thats more than we usually get in a year. Yes, things are a bit saturated this morning!

And snow .... lots and lots of it up in the mountains.

Being in the insurance industry .... I'm hoping we didn't loose too many roofs last night!!

But I love this kind of weather ... it refreshes and revitalizes me ..... just in time to head off to CHA tomorrow! Can't wait to see all the new and exciting things!!

Photos of the fun stuff .... next week

I love picture frames ..

.. full price, half price, bargain frames ... i just love cool picture frames ... and then follows the hunt for the perfect photo to compliment the frame.

But, I have to admit, there's nothing better than searching the closeout aisle at Hobby Lobby, or the markdowns at TJ Maxx, and finding the perfect frame, preferably marked down to a mere pittance, that can be painted, further distressed, covered with paper, or embossed with metal .. so you get the picture. Terri, my idol, is the master of turning the ugliest frame you could imagine into a piece of art!!

In my last post, I mentioned that I found a great deal on some very nice frames. They started out purple and chartreuse. I like to wear those colors, but I'm not so fond of them on picture frames.

So I spent the day today, retooling them a bit ... cuttlebug embossing folders with metal .. and thanks Dawn and David for making it even easier!!


... and the best part is .. the templates fit so perfectly into their spots, that I didn't have to permanantly adhere them, so I can redo the design and/or the color any time I'd like!

Now the hunt starts for the perfect photos!

Took a break ...

... and didn't even mean to!! Whoooooosh, and two weeks went by!!!

The only creative thing I've managed to get done since Christmas is this:

Happened upon some great frames ... with bright purple and green fabric inlays ... marked down to next to nothing. I grabbed everyone they had, as all I could see was embossed metal inserts in place of the fabric. I cut out chipboard pieces, covered them with metal, embossed with cuttlebug embossing folders, and slipped them into the space covering up the fabric. Love how it came out!

I hope everyone's new year .. and new decade ... is everything you want .. and need .. it to be!!

The morning after .....

A bittersweet relief .... sad to see the joy of the holidays pass by again, happy that the hustle and bustle is complete for another year. I hope everyone had a fabulous time with family and friends and had at least one very special moment, near and dear to them!

I certainly did. I was working on a very special project the last couple weeks before Christmas, totally stressed trying to get them done in time. Couldn't share it until now because I didn't want to take any chances of spoiling the surprise!

My mom passed away September of 2008, and my sisters and I spent a good part of 2009 sorting through her belongings and getting her house in order. I was able to quietly gather up enough of her clothing, the pieces that we all recognized and remembered, to make a couple quilts.

Yes, they look like the "quilts of many colors" that don't particularly match, but they are beautiful to us. They hold years and years of great memories!
All bundled up with love ....
We cried, we laughed ... very special moments!

I only wish she'd had a larger wardrobe so that everyone in the family could have one .. but I'm sure these will be passed down for many generations.

Merry Christmas!!

Wanted to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas surrounded with family, friends and everything special to you. May God bless everyone with a happy, healthy, prosperous and blessed New Year!!


Here's the last Christmas project for this season ... a dimensional tree, all done with Ten Seconds Studio metal, all glittery and full of sparkle (that you can't see in the photo) .... now we're onto planning and cooking the big meal, wrapping presents and tying up all the loose ends for this holiday season.

Have a very merry and bright one!!

Wish I could make time ....

... Like i make dinner, (thanks Terri for putting that idea in my head) because there just isn't enough of it to go around during the holidays! Everyone is feeling the pinch. Don't we all wish we had the time to bake all our holiday special recipes, to check out all the beautiful holiday displays and special shows, to really enjoy the shopping trips to pick out the perfectly special gifts for friends and family .... yes, its all about having the time to really enjoy the special moments of the holiday season!!

My hat goes off to the working moms, who have children at home, and that have to keep up with all the demands of the holidays. I don't know how you do it except with the help of an angel or two!!

I've been spending alot of time working on a very special project, which I'll post about when its done .... a true labor of love!

Through the hustle and bustle of the season, I hope everyone has a little time to just sit back and enjoy their families, friends and many blessings!