more travel

 Continuing from yesterday...more inside pages with plenty of room to journal the actual sites, sounds and adventures I am hoping this year's explores will bring into focus. I am seeing plenty of space here for photos and journaling, or even attaching a postcard or other ephemera from our journeys.

 Yes, that is pattern paper. Sewing pattern paper. A technique Ali shared in her class. I am especially fond of the directional arrows this method showcases. I know I will be doing this again in other books.

 7gypsie journaling pages are perfect for this kind of book. I always have these extra in my stash.

 A bit hard to see here in the photo, but the left side page is the back side of the 7gypsie paper. It is painted over. I left it a bit transparent to show the pattern underneath. Now it is ready for journaling OR photos.

 I could not have enough ledger paper anywhere. And this book was just another excuse to trim it, punch it, and die cut it into various and diverse shapes.

And this is just the back of the die cut.

Lovin' this book. Making me excited to take our little road trip as soon as summer shows her pretty little face.

And tomorrow...I will take a break from showing off my book as I have joined the OLW (one little word) blog hop. I do hope you will stop in and say hi, as well as visit the other bloggers.

Take care!
~j

time to travel

I am up to my elbows in life right now...and dreaming of getting away this summer. While we do not have huge travel plans this year, we do have a family trip planned, as well as a weekend waterfalls explore in the works.

So this past weekend's project found me following ali edwards scrapbook on the road online class and making up one of three travel journals I will be keeping this year.

Now while I think I know my way around  paper to come up with my own ideas for a travel album, I have always enjoyed seeing ali's on the road type books. And while I have made my own in the past, I wanted to not have to think, and simply follow the directions and ideas of someone else. And so that's what I did.

Fun techniques. Lots of layers. Use of clear overlays, staples, stitches, oh my!

I had very little of the suggested supply list, so this made the shopping of my own stash, as well as making a few of my own embellishments, very rewarding. As you saw on the vellum I used, I printed a digital map paper with the transparency about 50%. I like the result and will probably do it again.

Next time I will post more of the inner pages that allow plenty of room for journaling on the road.

painted ruffle scarf

If you follow this blog at all, you can see I am hit and miss these days. I don't like it. But it's a four letter word called LIFE. The haze of head colds and chest colds and new jobs and vision therapy and what not is taking it's toll right now.
But, fret not. I am here today. If not for a moment. A stolen moment at that. But a moment none-the-less.
And the creative act I bring to you today is the painted ruffle scarf. My sweet california girlfriend gave to me for Christmas the pattern and the yarn to do this scarf on my own. And how much higher she thinks of my crocheting skills than I actually possess. I did try. Once. And then I was done. (that would be the perfectionism of first child syndrome that prohibited me from crocheting if i could not do it right!).
But alas...she was coming to visit for my birthday! Yeah! my tutor. She held my hand. She cheered me on. She checked my every stitch...and mission accomplished! Painted curly scarf completion. And don't tell her this (because she thinks I actually really hate crocheting), but I could not be more proud of myself. I am sort of eager to accomplish another. Because I need another hobby in my life.
pattern can be found here.

hello.hello.is this thing on?

feeling a tad bit out of the loop this week for sure...
This week has been full of life and activity.
Mr. Pate and oldest daughter left Sunday to spend spring break working on community needs on a reservation way down south in New Mexico. I have hardly heard from them. But what I do hear is that the work is going well.

Oldest son is on a lake in Utah with uncle and cousins.

I bravely faced 43 this week. O.K..so maybe not so bravely, but thankful just the same. Thankful for the past year's journey. The past year has been a significant road in my life. It's good to reflect and review. Can I tell you how stinkin' happy I am to have the little mr. here, and to NOT have been pregnant this birthday?

My girlfriend came out to visit from California. This is beginning to be a yearly event. How she puts up with us and this crazy household is beyond me. But she keeps coming back. God bless her! I miss her desperately already.

That head cold and fever thing finally caught up with me. It is having it's way with the little mr. and daughter number three. Not the best of spring breaks for her. edited to add...and now she has an ear infection...just where DID i put that calgon?

I did get in some crocheting this week thanks to girlfriend from california. She coached me through a curly scarf. And I am rather pleased. Don't tell her, but i just might have to make another. Once I figured out the double double crochet thing, I nailed it. Photos to come on another post.

And here is a sneak peek for some work for April's Work In Progress gallery. So glad I have the weekend still to finish that up. It's not easy being single parent to these little people, especially when some of them are sickly.

Thanks for stopping by for a visit. Been a little lonely around here.
~j

one more time

yesterday i posted the hybrid version of this, and then realized i was suppose to post a digital piece of art. so i went digital. {see yesterday's post for more details}

it's a bit of a stretch for me. but a fun exercise in creativity.
supplies: singin' in the rain::rhonna farrer
              snapshots frame kit::rhonna farrer
              white damask overlay::karen funk
              staple::michelle underwood
             

~j

singin' in the rain

A little contest going on over at Rhonna's.

And I could not resist making this little mr. the star attraction.
I created mine hybrid style.

Well, o.k. The star attraction next to the  singin' in the rain kit.

Maybe it will be a happy birthday win for me!
Thanks for stopping by today.
And for all your fabulous comments on Thursday's featured project over at 2p's. I was so very honored.

~j

my project life

Today I am over at Work In Progress kits sharing my version Project Life.

And thank you for the sweet comments on the "life" mini. They have been so wonderful to read.

Have a good day.

inventory continued...

today is a look at the rest of yesterday's life book.

As I review these photos, I have not completed the answers on the tags or the journal prompts. But these are what led me to do each photo spread. We are blessed that my husband works for a major retailer, and is quick to help me stock my kitchen in the 'servants' that make life easier.

This page represents a little bit of our daily life. My mind is reeling with ideas for perhaps an entire mini along this theme. Life is so unique right now, I am afraid in our busy-ness I will forget what is making us buzz currently.

Life is full of challenges left and right, but it is indeed good. I have used this paper several times now in different projects. I am sure I will stock up on it again. Love it. Trish included a couple of mini-overlays in the project kit. Here I sewed it onto the page and used it as a pocket for this layout's tag and prompt. The yellow polka dot paper is not part of the kit, but rather some 7gypsies extra's from a previous WIP kit.

Abundance indeed. Again, forgot to fill this in...and while I am sure we do not have as many electronic devices as many others do, I know we have more than we need!

This pages includes a piece of Echo Park paper. I made a pocket of the left side page to house the tag for these photos. Our laptop's hard drive went bad last week, which has some photos on it which I could not get to (no worries, they are archived, I just don't have them on hand)...so there are a few other photos I had in mind for this.

Notice, like Trish's book, I did not include myself in the 'crazy' photos. I had plenty to chose from with this clan. Ah! So in love with that paper! And that clan!

The final page summed up with the main quote of the whole project...
(Another of the framed overlays from the kit. It too was sewn on and the quote tag added inside. I really like those mini-overlays.)

Thank you for visiting and sharing this with me today...
~j

taking inventory

In light of this past weekend's events, it is profound to me to be taking inventory this week. My heart breaks for Japan and the horrific images we continue to experience. We here continue to talk and pray for the many, many lives effected in these disasters.

The reason for inventory you ask? It's my birthday week. Yep. That's right. I am facing it head on. No fear. Only planning and scheming and enjoying. Finding joy in the journey. Thankful and rejoicing for the abundance I am so lucky to have in family, relationships, and just plain stuff. 

The March Project kit from Work In Progress became a tool in the process of this current inventory that came to me as a serendipity. This exercise in registering 'ordinary' life within my home has had a profound effect on me. Although  some of the journal prompts had to do with the 'stuff' within the walls of our home, it became a ritual of thankfulness for what makes us, well, us. And in fact, it's not the 'stuff' that makes us 'us', but indeed, it is us.

Trish included a pdf of journaling and lists to include in this book. I took them and made tags of each of the lists, and each of the items became my own personal photo prompt to tell the story of our life in our current home. At first it was sort of silly to take pictures of a bread machine, or a mixer, but then it dawned on me that those daily items are not only daily, but they tell their own story. They tell the story of how my blossoming 11 year old daughter is becoming the queen of the kitchen aid in her pursuit of become a baker. They tell the story of how my family is so happy to smell fresh baked bread baking in the oven and how that simple food brings us together again in the kitchen. They tell the story of my husbands daily routine of getting the coffee maker ready for me every morning, with my thyroid medicine and protein bar. These prompts told many stories, that to other people may mean nothing, but to us, mean everything.

The kit included a hard back book, with the inner pages still intact. Trish included a binding mechanism to attach inside the book, once the pages were removed. I love this altered use of a book. It is becoming one of my favorites.
The book I received was green, and I quickly changed that to black. Added one of the Teresa Collins frames to the front, and used Making Memories tiny type to have the title 'life'. The kit included several 6x6 sheets of 7gypsie Lille collection. Since I had several pieces of that collection in 12x12, it became the exclusive paper to the book, and helped keep a cohesive feel for me.
The format of the book follows a pattern of patterned paper on the left side that included embellishment and journaling from the pdf prompts, and the right side held at least 6 2x2 photos in a grid. This book holds at least 56 photos! Sounds excessive, but when they are 2x2 they fit very well and do not feel overwhelming. The photos are backed by upcycled manila folder cardstock. Like you, I have a stash of old, used folders, and I thought the shade of the manila worked great with the fabulous collage work of the Lille paper. Sometimes I kept the tab cut included in the shape of that page, sometimes I even kept the little wrinkles and smudges that came with the recycled cardstock. I just enjoyed how it came together.
I will post the rest of the book tomorrow. I hope this inspires inventory in your life. While Trish's project kit has been long sold out, you can make one on your own of your own style.
~j

what a week!

sometimes i'm not sure if i am glad the week is over...
or simply wonder where the week went.
sometimes my weeks are non-stop caring for the little mr. and journeying with the older ones in their academic quest, that i am not even sure i stopped long enough to breathe.
sometimes the weeks are more creative...
sometimes they are simply work.
and i know that i am not alone.
some people i know think me odd to take the time i do to write, create, photograph, and try to remember what it was i just lived.
some people i know understand how important it is to me to have this creative outreach, although it is squeezed into a severely crazy life.
so today i leave this week with just a few more layouts from WIP from this months gallery.
layouts that celebrate just what i wrote above...they celebrate the life i and my family just led and allow us to remember and reflect and renew where we are now.

this spread includes photos from the beginning of the fall. my daughter in the last year of this particular section of her awana club. my husband who is the director of that club. and a fun 'team color' night.
this spread of photos will remind me forever of this time of life. of their relationship together. of a journey together. of their love for the goofy.

this spread here is precious to me already. these older girls and their daddy on a special father daughter evening devoted to their relationship and building meaningful relationships. soon i will look back on this and wonder where my little girls have gone to...as time slips by and they become young women.

thank you for letting me share today.
i encourage you to take time to remember, reflect, and renew in a creative and meaningful way this weekend.

little guy

They say it's the first born that gets all the photographic attention...I am thinking mr. sawyer is winning in this category, however. I know I photograph him E.V.E.R.Y.D.A.Y. It's a bit on an addiction. With his being so much younger than the other kiddos in this clan, all his baby-ness is magnified by their joy and pleasure in him. Every little new thing delights the rest of the gang, and we celebrate him as an entire family, more so than when they were little, and Mr. Pate and I were celebrating their feats. It is more than I was expecting of this one to say the least.
One way in which to enjoy all his photogenic goodness is to start cranking out a few mini albums. The girls,especially, love to have them, and of course I love the therapeutic creativity in putting them together.

Hoping you have a little time in your day for some creativity. Take time to make something beautiful today.

all supplies March Work In Progress.

six months and sweet!

life is not dull.
and life with mr. sawyer is moving at a clipping pace.
he is more pushing 7 months than when this photo was taken last month.
he is as healthy as he can be, and i am grateful.
he will balance himself in the sitting position when helped.
he is always rolling over.
he has started eating real cereal. the girls are ever so helpful with this addition to our schedule.
he officially is the owner of two front teeth.
he is the happiest sweetest little guy.
i can't believe we are on the other side of six months!

I love the screen mode in photoshop elements.
I almost always edit my everyday photos this way:
duplicate a layer
screen mode that layer
add a photo effect of 'tint sepia' in a third layer
sometimes i will even add the distort glow as well
i need to graduate to more advanced photo software...but i am still so happy with pse.

have a productive day!

free floating banner

Today I am guest posting over here.
Talking about free floating banners and using them in photo projects and and cards.
Like mine here.
Hope you'll stop by!

embrace the camera

Back to Thursday's embrace.
Embrace the camera with yourself and a loved one.
Well, it's easy to embrace him.
So I handed the camera over the the oldest daughter and she was all good with that.
And then she shot away.
We were getting ready to go 'goofin'.
Do you ever go 'goofin'?
It's what my parents called it when we would take off to go do this and that.
A funny term.
My kids think it's funny.
I think it's funny we have adopted into our family and now everyone just knows what it means.
But I digress.
Embracing the camera. And my little, sweet, happy guy!

Remember this inspiration board from the other day?

Well this is what it became::

A 12x6 layout. An unusual size for me. But a fun size to change things up with. All supplies are still March WIP.
Sold out, but you can drool if you wanna.
And oh how this little guy is just more adorable and adorable every. single. day. He has his first little toofer. And the second is on it's way.
Happy to embrace him every day of the week.

Have a lovely Thursday.