BloomingPink

Just finished up a batch of Blueberry Citrus Conserves.  Wonderful lovely array of colors and smells. Conserve. I like that word.  It's both intriguing and sophisticated. Not understanding the difference between a "Conserve" and a "Preserve", I looked it up.  Lo and behold, it really is generally the same, except that a conserve often includes a variety of vegetables, nuts along with the fruit. I have decided I truly enjoy canning...with the right music, it is very relaxing... And produces something absolutely de-lish!

I cannot say enuf how much fun I have when Oliver is around. Here is a BW shot scan of the neg that I took in Dewey Beach. I found a beach that allows dogs, so next week when I have a few days off, we're venturing back there on at least one of the days to hang out and relax! Just me and the dogs! Lens Baby and my old Canon EOS.  Contrast correction in Photoshop. I'll be in the dark room next week and will see if I can achieve some similar results the "pure" way.

Enjoy the Ride I've been spending a few hours a week in the dark room developing.  This is one from a trip with my husband and dogs to a Hardwood supplier that sales exotic woods for fine wood working. Enjoy the Ride is the title. Dogs live a simple,fun-loving, everything is an adventure sort of life, don't they?

'Nuf Said. Happy 10th Anniversary, HB!

Pears 4 x 5 Large Format Rebecca Daniels 2012 Pears Linda Pastan Some say it was a pear Eve ate. Why else the shape of the womb, or of the cello Whose single song is grief for the parent tree? Why else the fruit itself tawny and sweet which your lover over breakfast lets go your pear- shaped breast to reach for? 

It's that time of year again.  All the new grads out there, happy to be done with school (most of all), while also thinking of the future and dreaming about all the possibilities. I remember.  High School graduation AND my college graduation. Dreams.  All of them. And that is what this card is all about.  We have several family members graduating this year...one of which is my DAUGHTER.  She has graduated from college!  I'm so proud of her.  If you didn't see a recent picture, here she is again!  Isn't she beautiful?! Dream to Be You can see all the new {ippity} sets being released tonight! NOW.  YAY.  I love this time every month.  New rubber is always a good thing. You can get all the new great sets at the Unity Stamp Company Website Click above to be taken to the company home page. If you haven't selected an {ippity} chick, you will need to select a chick to proceed to the pages for the...

I have had a super busy week, which is ridiculous considering that one day was a holiday while another day was a vacation day.  But when at work, it was 120%....and unfortunately, for the next few months, I don't see it easing much. But enough about all that, since in only a short bit, I'll be at it again. In the meantime, I have been fighting a creativity block, breaking through with a card that I'm happy to include in a swap I signed up for (and was late on).  I used the {ippity} set, Bloom and Simplify.   The sentiment was an itty bitty that I received just before the holiday weekend!   This next project was a little necklace that I made similar to the necklaces I highlighted in the {ippity} April release, HERE .  I am sending this little present to someone that I'm sure will be very surprised! And here is my beautiful daughter, Candace, modeling a scarf I weaved and gave to her.  It is the first project I've woven and I have t...

Spent some time over the last few days making several cards.  This card expresses a little of my excitement for the changes.  While I realize that summer is in the middle of June, for me, it's Memorial Day weekend...which is upon us! So, YAY for summer.  I so want to skip off to spend some much needed time outdoors soaking up the vitamin D, smelling the warm grass, and relishing in breezy sunshine (minus any trace of humidity, please). I love this pear image from the  New Season, New Wonder set.  I just kept adding little bits of color here and there until I was satisfied.....And then, threw in  Bloom & Simplify .   And even more texture and distressing. And layers.  It finally came together where I feel satisfied. Anyway, a few people are receiving these shortly.  I just love putting little surprises in the mail, don't you? What's even better?  Unity started a pre-Memorial sale and if you haven't gotten your hands on th...

I used "Live Half Full" (HERE) , the new {ippity} itty bitty that was part of the release this may.  Great for summer and living an optimistic and free life! Speaking of free, my daughter has been visiting and leaves to visit friends north of here today.  We had a great visit and took a few hours to relax at the beach yesterday afternoon.  It was a tad bit breezy and cool, but really jumped started my sense that summer really is almost here! Isn't she beautiful?

A quiet, misty morning walk in late March 2012. This little precious boy puts a smile on my face every time I look at him. I mean, really, who wouldn't smile like there's no tomorrow at this little guy?  I love him.  Every. Little. Thing. He almost (ALMOST) competes with my husband. My sweet husband with a similar expression.  What do YOU think?

Just a midweek post to show you a bit of what I have been up to. Friends restore a balance that cannot be matched.   I created this little gift for my very good friends who I do not get to see often enough.  Enclosed are some various tea blends that may help soothe the nerves, calm the spirit, or invigorate the senses! And I suppose if a dash of alcohol is added, it just might lighten the load, if only for a bit. Creating this was a snap with my Big Shot, punches, and new favorite cup stamp, new Unity {ippity} itty bitty, Java Friend . RahRah's minus Jean May 2012 Robin, Rebecca, Ginny, Joanne, Jenne Cheers to good friends!

July 2011 Rebecca Daniels, Montana I find flowers, especially daisies, calming and invigorating at the same time.  Summer awaits.  It is beckoning and the little girl inside me cannot wait.

My pretty little girl had surgery last Thursday.  Pretty standard stuff (spay), but EEK...I just can't imagine having my abdomen cut into (hasn't happened to me yet!). After feeling sore and pinched all weekend, she is finally starting to feel free and rambunctious again.  Ventured out this morning in the misty rain for a short 1 mile walk, I could tell that she was happy that her routine was being restored to normal.

I don't know about you, but I need something to celebrate this week.  Work has been quite the  challenge   adventure. So, to continue my goal of ever increasing bliss (yes, it's a stretch goal), I just stayed focused on the things that I enjoy. One of which is creating beautiful things.   And, of course, we all know that Unity stamps makes creating beautiful things so much easier.  If you haven't seen their release this week, go check it out.  It's pretty amazing and I'm going to be finding myself pretty broke and eating lots of Ramen and $1 pasta next week! The card above is using an {ippity} set that is releasing tonight!  Among several others....Like, right now! Courage is my strength I want to digress a little and talk about this release and what it means to me...and what it means to the stamp artist.  This release is focused on strength and courage and living life to the fullest.  The artist, Dana Car...

Another good day. Friday. FWF....ah, YAY.  We have our 10 mile run this Sunday.  Psyched.  Ready.  Just not ready for the 4 AM wake up call we'll have to get to the start on time. It's a big race.  10,000 or so folks, I think.  I'll be out there, a sweating slow moving pebble amongst all the color and speed.  In Pink...listening to Pink, and probably singing horribly, but happily.   Oh, but back to the photos.  This is my darling husband's birthday card.  We celebrated last evening with cake, steak, and asparagas (but not in that order). Moses could make a card faster with a pick and rock than I can, I think.  I mean, he did come up with all those commandments in a short bit, yes?  I believe I had Unity stamps and craft materials scattered everywhere before this little gem of  a card came together.  By looking at it, you'd think it was an easy one.  No.  For me, never.  I fret over eve...

Due to all the comments requesting information on how to create the honeycomb background, I created a tutorial for it that you can find HERE . Enjoy!

So glad the weekend is here!  Two reasons, my husband is home from travels and my work was exhausting this week. I like it when he's home. Sentimentality aside, this {ippity} itty bitty is such a cute set.  You can get it HERE And... Fit just what I wanted to say. 'Nuf said....

This day, made only for umbrellas, boots, and determined spirits....was spent taking miserable pups out for their business and putting this lovely tree in the guest room. My sweet husband, determined to convince himself that in 2 weeks a 10 mile run is a simple matter, actually RAN/WALKED 8 miles in white clay creek during the miserable downpour.  I remained content, making peroges from scratch and sipping a pinot noir.  (In other words, I wimped out).  Since I ran 10 miles during the heat wave last week, I am confident that I will easily conquer the Broad Street Run. (She states this openly with confidence as it is the only way to convince her heart).

I created this little treat holder for my boss, because today, she is buying everyone lunch.  It's her way to get us to come into the office every once in a while so she can see our faces!  I figured if she was going to buy my salad, I thought she might enjoy a little snack! This was a super quick project.  For the front, I used, " how YOU doin ".  I love that set, because I am finding it really quite versatile...and it's super cute! Don't you agree? One thing really neat about it, is that it is double sided and has two pockets!  So, on the flip side, I added a little note!  It's using the set, " The Simple Things ".  Also another wonderful {ippity} classic! I have a new project on my needles that I am anxious to finish.  This yarn is spectacular, isn't it? And don't you just love the background?  All my stamping off makes for a pretty cool backdrop for the project.

Today is the day!  Another wonderful release from Unity, which, of course, includes some wonderful {ippity}stamps!  This {ippity} release features the wonderful artist we all know and love, Angie Blom! I simply fell in love with all the stamps in this release.  I think you will too! Here are a few close-up shots of the various projects I created and wanted to show you tonight: Earrings Sparkly Heart Necklace I showed a little sneak peak of one of the necklaces earlier, but included a few more pictures to show you what I did using the set, " Let your Heart Take Flight ".   I've mentioned my other passions from time to time, and jewelry is a big one.  And I'm always thrilled when I can combine my love of stamping with jewelry.  As soon as I saw the heart with wings, I knew PRECISELY what I wanted to do with it.  So, the evening it arrived, I pulled out a few of my jewelry supplies and started playing.  The charms w...