Spartans!

So, last week I was making bow ties and fake money - this week I've moved up to fashioning Spartan costumes out of old drapes!  Why does my son always ask me for help at the last possible moment?  Oh wait, I remember - it is because he is 17 years old!!  Yesterday, I get a call from the costume store.  "Mom, we don't have enough money to buy costumes.  Do you have anything in your studio that you can use to make us some Spartan costumes?"  Hmmmmmm . . . . I have fallen asleep EVERY single time my boys have put that movie "300" on to watch.  I don't even know what a Spartan looks like, but "Yes", I answer, "I'm sure I have something that will work."  And here they are - using some old drapes that have never found a spot in our new home, some medallions made out of spray painted tupperware lids, my never-before-tried make-up artist skills (notice the "enhanced" six packs!) and a few other odds and ends, we thought they looked pretty good.  These boys just crack me up!

A little digi-scrapping

I'm taking an awesome typography class over at ReneePearson.com called TextFx. I have never taken a class by Tiffany Tillman before, but I have to say she is a wonderful instructor.  Her manner of teaching is very effective and I am enjoying myself immensely!   I have always been a font junkie and download fonts all the time to use in my projects.  This class takes fonts to the next level and really shows you how to use them properly and incorporate them into your scrapbooking.  It is a four week class and we are on week #3 - life got in my way last week though so I'm a little behind and still trying to finish up week #2.  Here is the project I just completed - Tiffany provided a template for us to try out our new skills.  The white background kind of gets lost here, but it looks great in real life!!



TextFx Class - Week #2



Boo!

Do you decorate for Halloween?  I usually don't , favoring a more generic fall theme.  I don't even really have all that many fall decorations.  My new door arrangement only made it to it's new home a couple of weeks ago.  And now that my boys are grown and doing their own thing for Halloween we don't have quite the same gusto for the trick or treat activities that we once did!  But, I do like to have some special treats on hand for my favorite little ghosts and goblins.  I love the wide-eyed look that the little ones have when you hand them a full size candy bar or box of candy.  So, I add a few extras to my buggy when I go to Target in anticipation of the holiday.  This weekend I realized that the kiddos will be trick-or-treating in just one short week - better get the boxes decorated and ready to go.  I made up a box topper using some digital supplies from Echo Park (these were a freebie, but you can see their awesome stuff here.)  Here's the sample - off to finish my stack!

Boo! Boxes

Dinner Time!

I used to love to cook.  I used to sit and read recipes books in my spare time.  I used to try out new dishes on my family on a regular basis.  Oh, those were the days!  I still enjoy cooking, but I often find that I don't take time to properly plan out my menus.  And then 5:00 pm rolls around and I'm wondering what the heck I'm going to put on the table for Hungry Hubby and the Bottomless Teenage Pit for dinner.  That is when I pull out my trusty Desperation Dinners cookbook.  It is truly a lifesaver.  The authors, Beverly Mills and Alicia Ross have put together a book that allows us harried women to put together a nice meal, quickly.  And, with ingredients that most of us have in our pantries.  If you are looking for a handy helper for your kitchen, I highly recommend this book.  You can find the book here.

On tonight's menu was a recipe from the Desperation Dinners cookbook - Chicken Marsala.  It turned out beautifully and we all enjoyed it.  I'm on a mission to try to organize recipes that we try and enjoy so that I can remember to make them again.  So, each time I use a recipe that gets the thumbs up from all who are around our table, I quickly add it to my recipe file that I've got on my computer.  And, I just found these really cute fillable and printable recipes cards here, which will make saving now and printing later a breeze!  Check it out - maybe you'll like them too!

A Mother's Work

Tonight my 17 year old son came in from working on his Senior Class Homecoming Float.  And along with him was a package of a million sheets of green paper and a request for 7 bow ties.  Now, it's Sunday evening at 8:00 pm and the Worleybird Studio has been put to rest for the night or so I thought!.  I have spent the last hour turning those million sheets of green paper (okay, it was really only 500 but it looked like a million!) into Monopoly money and fashioning 7 bow ties out of wide twill tape, hair ties, buttons and thread.  It's all I had to work with on short notice.  I think the money will look okay from a distance.  Let's hope that the 7 bow ties hold up to 7 teenage boys and their dancing and other shenanigans - they have to make it through the week and all the Homecoming activities and to the parade on Friday afternoon.  I'll share some photos next week and let you know how it goes!  Keep your fingers crossed. 



A mother's work is never done - right?



View from the Porch

We are having the most spectacular day here today in Northern California - the temps are perfect, the sun is shining and the colors are just beautiful.  Ahhhhhhh . . . just finished a cup of tea on my front porch.  I think I need some company - this is just too wonderful not to be shared.  Wanna join me?  Please come visit!

Yes, Mum - I was listening . . .

My Mum was a grand letter writer.  She often penned notes to her beloved friends and family all over the world.  Mum was a pen pal in the very best sense of the word.  She kept in touch through letters with people even when phone calls became inexpensive, and when email became the the accepted practice for communicating with almost everyone.  I, sadly, did not inherit that same talent.  I have been known to send out a family Christmas letter and I try my best to send birthday cards to my family.  But, I don't often write a full fledged letter.

My Dear Mum

 I can remember a time years ago when I sent my Mum a package via snail mail.  I had spoken to Mum and told her the package was on it's way.  When it arrived, she called me to say that she had received it - and made a point to tell me that she couldn't believe I had not included a note with it.  She said even a little scrap of paper with a "Love, Sharon" on it would have been better than no note at all.  Ever since then I have found it next to impossible to send anything in the mail without some sort of note. However, I just can't bring myself to write a note on a scrap of paper.  I love pretty little notecards.  I don't often want to say much, maybe just a "hi" or "hope you enjoy the enclosed" so I created some tiny little notecards just for that purpose.  These are perfect for a little gift enclosure or just to let someone know you love them or are thinking about them.

So, while you should not expect a letter from me anytime soon, don't be surprised if "a little note" shows up in your mailbox. ;)

Little Everyday Notes

Etsy Shop Additions

Happy Monday!   Just wanted to let y'all know that I've added a few of the note card sets to my Etsy shop.  These are fun to make and since I had a few extra boxes I thought I'd add them to the shop in case some of you are looking for a fun little gift item. 

Breast Cancer Awareness

Okay, girls - it's time once again for your annual Ta-Ta check up!.  If you are of an age to require a once a year squishing, then off you go.  If you are not yet ready for that pleasure, please remind your moms, your grandmoms, your aunts and your sisters to make their way to their local Squash Shop.  If you've already been this year - good for you!!  If not, PLEASE do not put it off another second.  Seriously, it is SO important - thank you for your kind attention - . . . carry on.