On to Market but first...Help for Hurricane Sandy victims

I want to start off to say that International Quilt Market is by for the most incredible experience that any sewer can have bar none!  To be surrounded by people that have the love of fabric and sewing, that get your little oooooooo's and ahhhhhhh's over the newest fabrics line and thread colors is very wonderful. I hope that every gets at least one chance to experience this nirvana of the sewing world!

This Market was a bit different than the one I was able to attend with my dearest Sara and Laurie Tigner. This Market had many east coasters not only trying to do normal business but also trying to get home, change flights, make last minute hotel reservations and worrying about family members. Hurricane Sandy made this Market a little more difficult.  I have to say, I was AMAZED at all the kindness that was offered to me when I was to stay in Houston...this is the NUMBER ONE reason I LOVE the quilting community...we are family...other quilters treat you as family...MANY thanks to all those that were so kind!

There were many that had to extend their stay in Houston but one lady, Victoria Findlay Wolfe, was already jumping into action, even while her own hame and family in NYC was preparing for the worst,  organizing a quilt drive to provide comfort to those who have lost so much. I hope you will consider donating a quilt to this very worthy project!  Victoria has teamed up with Luana at equilter to organize a quilt drive.

Please read this post to find out how you can help

Thank you!

*WINNER*

The winner of my Heidi Swapp (mo)tography class is

Karen Searle thats you! Please contact me at my email address in my sidebar so I can get your information to Heidi ASAP!

 

LIM: Friendship in Pink

This week's challenge at the Less Is More challenge is "pink" which seemed perfect for a card for a very sick friend.

I've known this lady for 48 years(!) and in all of those years, I would have to say that she is the most deeply happy person that I know - even through trials that most of us could not imagine.  She is currently in hospice, yet still full of joy.  Just talking with her reminds me that I often need to look deeper than I do for the joys in my own life.  So I dug back through my stamp stash - at least a decade back - and found the perfect stamp...


The pink button is another happy find.  I saw this card and fell in love with the button treatment (you can be sure that I will be blatantly copying Danielle's total button/twine treatment on a future holiday card!).  The wonderful red chevron button comes from this Etsy shop.  It's such a fun place to browse and buy!!  Among others, I got a package of six sunburst buttons - one of which is pink and the perfect happy accent to this card!
Marching band update - my son's high school marching band made it through state quarterfinals yesterday.  This afternoon is semifinals - you need to get through semis in the top 8 to make it to finals.  His band is currently 10th in the state - so it is possible, but not likely, that they will make finals.  Keep your fingers crossed at 1:15 mountain time today!  Here he is during his six-note solo in full uniform. (He's the one that seems to be facing the wrong way!)
They are marching in the stadium at the Air Force Academy which is a gorgeous place.  However, I was wishing that the Air Force would stop the planes overhead so I could hear the bands!!!??? 

• Stamps: A Country Welcome
• Paper: Stampin' Up Melon Mambo
• Ink: black
• Accessories: A Flair for Buttons button, May Arts sheer ribbon, EK Success corner rounder

Got Merry??

This is my second post today.  If you are here

for TAWS BE Inspired, it's just a post away!

I put this together for this week's CASology challenge: sugar, using the current Fab Friday sketch challenge.

I do love sugary things.  Halloween is a favorite because my children get their candy, eat all of the chocolate and leave the sugary treats for me - Smarties, Starbursts and Skittles are the best!!  I also love all things baked - gingerbread cookies are high on the list.  I like chocolate but candy and cookies are my faves!!
Besides the gingerbread man, I also "sugared" the Gumball Green cardstock with a spritz of adhesive and a lot of glitter!

It's a busy weekend in my family - it's the state marching band competition.  I dropped my son at the high school in the pitch dark this morning.  They started with pancake breakfast, then they are rehearsing all morning before heading to the beautiful campus of the Air Force Academy for the preliminary competition.  They have a pretty darn good chance of making it to finals tomorrow - fingers crossed.  I'm pretty proud right now - so you have to suffer through a few pictures of their Halloween rehearsal!!  (It's a rehearsal so no uniforms.)

They have a patriotic show with serious moments then they rock out a little with Katy Perry's Firework!   (I always feel sorry for the homes next to the high school as they deal with the music...noise...of these rehearsals!)
Here's my guy - for about six notes of music he stands in front of the other 100 band members and plays a solo!!
After Halloween rehearsal, the parents set up a trunk-or-treat party for them (and siblings) - here's my guys!!  I understand Andrew's "musical" costume with the Lawrence Welk style accordion (although he had to ask me afterwards who this "Welk" guy is/was that all of the parents kept comparing him to.)  I cannot explain the tutu on Erik!

Have a great weekend - I may not be back again depending on today's results!!  If you think of it at 4 p.m. Mountain time - cross your fingers!!

• Stamps: Stampin' Up Got Treats
• Paper: Stampin' Up Real Red, Gumball Green
• Ink: Stampin' Up Soft Suede
• Accessories: Stampin' Up Apothecary Accents dies and dot embossing folder, Queen and Co Christmas twine, Martha Stewart Fine Crystal Glitter

BE Inspired with The Alley Way Stamps

It's the second week of the BE Inspired challenge at The Alley Way Stamps.  I wanted to remind you that there are great prizes (free stamp sets!!!) just for creating a card or other project with this for inspiration....

You do have to use something from The Alley Way Stamps on your project, but they make it easy - they have digital freebies.  (That's how I got hooked up with them - true story - downloaded a freebie and won a BE Inspired challenge!!!)  Check out their blog for complete details.

One of their new sets has a sailboat and I needed a baby boy card.  I also liked the pennants and the colors of the pennants in top corner of the inspiration photo.


I am also playing along with this week's Tuesday Morning Sketch:

• Stamps: The Alley Way Stamps Kid 'n Caboodle, Alphabet Soup
• Paper: Stampin' Up Crumb Cake, Daffodil CS and dsp, Pool Party CS and dsp
• Ink: Versamark, Memento black and Copics
• Accessories: Zing white embossing powder, My Favorite Things Fishtails dies, Martha Stewart Baker's Twine, Cuttlebug Anchors Aweigh embossing folder, EK Success border punch, Stampin' Up Pool Party ribbon

my studio

Today I wanted to share some photos from my studio. I am so lucky to have a room upstairs away from my little boys fingers and where on occasion I can leave an unfinished project out on my table. This is the view as you look from the door.

 

 Goodies stored in glass jars and saucers on my desk.

 

 My diecut machine, dies and embossing folders storage(from target).

MY friend Chantalle sewed this frilly seat cover for me...( BTW she has just started a new scrappy  blog if anyone wants to pop over and check her out)

 

 Expedit storage

I spray painted my type writer ...you guessed it YELLOW!( if anyone would like a mini tutorial on this I am happy to share)

My card storage

 My main Expedit storage

Paper storage

Some pretties...

 

Before I go only a few more days until I draw the winner of the FREE  Heidi Swapp class, see here to enter!

I Believe in You & Me: CAS(E) This Sketch!

It's our fourth week of CAS(E) this Sketch challenges!  It's going to be fun to see the variety of cards that you come up with for this one...

I wasn't particularly creative this week but it's the perfect card for my needs.  I had these great buttons in my stash AND it was my 23rd wedding anniversary.  The sketch had circles for the buttons, my husband doesn't like anything with bling (the one gem might be too much) - it all came together and he was THRILLED!



You have to check out the rest of the design team - then create your own card - I am really looking forward to seeing what each of you come up with!

• Stamps: WPlus9 Sweet Nothings
• Paper: Stampin' Up Basic Black, Real Red, Confetti Cream
• Ink: black
• Accessories: Cosmo Cricket Elements Natural Buttons, Cuttlebug border embossing, misc heart gem