The longest Valentine's Day post ever!

I really wanted to share this super cute knitted dishcloth with a heart pattern. I can't take any credit for this. If you would like to make one, you can find the free pattern here: http://krisknits.blogspot.com/2008/01/valentine-surprise.html This was so fun to make and it was really easy. I wanted to make a few more for gifts but ran out of time; so a few lucky folks may be getting these later.

These are the little Valentine's Day packets I made. I can't take full credit for this "waterfall" card. The directions for a Halloween version that inspired it can be found here: http://beeswaxrubberstamps.com/Waterfall%20Card.pdf After I finished the card, I decided to include an ATC inside and then I made these little felt envelopes and tied them with pretty ribbon. I think they turned out really nice.

Creativity update

I've been working on the coolest cards and little extras for Valentine's Day! The only problem is that I don't know where to stop. One idea just keeps leading to another and most of them are turning out pretty cool. Well, except for the one idea of putting boucle yarn in a bottlecap and pouring "realistic water" over it and letting it dry. No, it does not look like yarn under glass; it looks like wet yarn underwater or strawberry jam or blood and guts in there. Not cool at all, but everything else is.

Ooh, ooh, ooh I can't wait to show you!

I'm also going through knitting withdrawal. I wanted to finish reading "Thunderstruck" (the novel, not the AC/DC song) and I did that (It got better about half way through and was really pretty good.), so now I can knit again, goody! In my quest to "use what I've got" in regards to art supplies; I'm knitting this cute washcloth with hearts on it. I'm using some of the "Sugar & Cream" yarn that was gifted to me. (Thanks again Marylynn!)

So many ideas, so little time...

Oh, and this picture is an ATC I made last year when I decided I was going to make one a day. It is oil pastel and if you don't know, ATCs are 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 size pieces of art that are traded and I just got back into trading them on http://www.atcsforall.com/ (same username there: KayakChickee)

Results from the Creativity Weekend

I got together with my friend Kimberly this past Saturday. We went shopping for supplies and then spent the afternoon making cards. We had a ball! Now I don't need to buy any more supplies for card making for a very long time. Well, maybe some more ink pads, but other than that...

I was just reading a blog about this girl who wasn't going to buy any art supplies this year. The exception was that she was going to budget $24 for the year just in case she ran out of something, that's $2 per month for art supplies. I know I could easily do the same thing and I probably should. Maybe I will.

NOTE: The address for the blog I refer to above is: www.futuregirl.com

Flashdance style at Church

I wore my newly finished leg warmers to church this past Sunday with a dress I've had for years. The dress is long, made of rayon (I think) so it's kind of full and drapy, it has long sleeves, and it exactly matches the bright blue/purple color in these leg warmers. You could only see them at the ankles, but they kept my legs nice and warm to and from church and to the grocery store afterwards. Yeah! I love them. They were knit with Noro Kureyon yarn.

Creativity weekend!

I'm looking forward to a creative weekend starting tomorrow with my friend Kimberly. We are getting together and making cards and maybe ATCs and who knows what else. We both have huge stashes of stuff. It's going to be so much fun!!! I'm hoping to post all that we do from this weekend on Monday and maybe by then I'll have the Noro knitted leg warmers all sewn up and have them photographed and ready to post too.

Church Plant "window"

I painted this to help illustrate levels of involvement from congregation members in the new church plant.

A Hat for Bob.

This hat for Bob has been done for quite some time now, but I just got around to posting a picture of it. It turned out pretty good and best of all he loves it (even though he isn't smiling in this photo)! Says it's the only hat he has ever had that is a little loose or at least not so tight as most hats are for him. It'a lot thicker and softer than it looks too. I've got about three skeins of this yarn left. Not sure what they will become.

Meditation Knitting.

The green mittens are DONE! So, that means, time to start three new projects all at once! Last night I cast one for the leg warmers I want to do for myself, a hat for Bob and a hat for myself. I knit the last pair of leg warmers for a gift swap and have knit two pair of wristlets that have also been gifted away. So, the leg warmers could be just that or wristlets. We'll see what size they turn out to be.

I have been really getting to enjoy knitting and actually find it quite relaxing. I keep the patterns simple and the projects small and I'm sure that's part of it.

December activity

It's been a LONG time since my last entry. I've just been so addicted to the rapid release of Facebook; but I really miss blogging, so here it is.

The right mitten to match the left that I started ages ago is almost done (see photo above). Gotta finish that before I start ANYTHING else. I hate unfinished projects! It may be done today at lunch or tonight at Jarod's Tae Kwon Do lesson.

On the subject of Jarod and Tae Kwon Do. Jarod will test on January 10 to be accepted to Black Belt camp classes at Chan's Martial Arts. He will then be taking Black Belt classes twice a week in addition to his regular twice a week class; that will make four classes a week! I'll keep you posted on this.

The Christmas cards are out and the presents are wrapped. Never did any projects out of that Christmas magazine; though I suppose there is still time. I may have to look that over tonight (yes, after the mitten knitting). There were some darling Candy Cane holders that I wanted to make. Still have four or five of the fabric hearts left that I may give out as small gifts. Not sure if I like them well enough anymore to gift them to anyone.

(Hanna, Don't read this next part if you haven't received and opened my gift.)

Finished the knitted leg warmers for the Free People swap. They turned out super cute! Gonna have to make myself a pair; just cast on five stitches for one of them this morning. I'm going to knit both at once again; that worked out really good. You don't get one done and then still have to knit the other. I want to knit one or two more pairs of wristlets; one for me one for a friend. I want to add thumbs to at least one of them; so the fit will have to be more exact. Ooh ooh ooh and I still want to knit that shawl out of Noro Silk Garden. Yes, even with my stash I may have to buy some more yarn. Online though, since the local store that sells Noro is staffed with screamin' meanies.

Got a commission yesterday to paint three dalmations for someone I did a dog painting for several years ago (See "Dusty" above.). But I really have to clean up my studio in preparation for that. Not sure when I'll get the photos to start. Does God have to speak so loudly to me sometimes?

Christmas tags.

These are tags for Christmas that I did for a swap. I really like how they turned out. I had to make 11 of each; 22 total. I should do a few extra before I bring them away, in case I want some for myself.

Here is a taste of what I'm working on...

Return of the "Queen of the Office"

I've called myself the "Queen of the Office" on and off over the years; but this is the first time the "Queen" has had a crown. I made it in response to a challenge on Suzi Blu's website. It's not the kind of art I usually make; but it was fun to do something in mixed media again. My criteria for mixed media is that I have all the stuff in the house and that I don't have to spend a dime on it. A couple of years ago my friend Jean thought it would be a good idea to make artist's tiaras with wire and beads and such. This isn't quite that; but now that I've done one, I may need to do more.

The Big Bang Theory

I'm guessing that this isn't going to be as funny as it was seeing it on TV; but this is Sheldon attempting to smile like he means it. I love this show! It's "laugh out loud" funny.

Pretty Cupcake Girl...

I did a few watercolor paintings/sketches while in Asheville, NC this past week. The other two are on my "other" blog; so if you want to see them you'll have to look there. :) Yes, that is my way of getting you to check out my "other" blog.

I had wanted to do a "pretty" girl like the ones that Suzi Blu does and this is my first attempt. I plan on doing the background, doing some layering, and adding something in the banner she is holding.

Let me know what you think. This was something fun to do aside from the "serious" landscape paintings I usually do.

Knitted Wristlets

WOW! I know what you are thinking; two posts in one day! But I have been the uber creative, busy girl this weekend. I painted the pumpkins in the previous post, filled my window boxes with fake flowers (Which I won't probably show you because they are, well, fake.), and knitted these "wristlets". I love this yarn.

A very generous co-worker friend gifted me with tons of beautiful yarn that I'm sure I would never have bought myself because I'm too cheap to spend that much on yarn. This stuff is gorgeous!

The wristlets here were knitted with Noro, Silk Garden. The yarn in made in Japan and is beautiful. It self strips and each skein contains many colors. These were done with one skein and look at the variety of color. Amazing stuff.

I have one more skein that I'm going to make a hat from. I also have at least two skeins from Noro of Kureyon. I'm really going to have to take a knitting class. I don't have enough skill to get through all of this.

(Thank you Marylynn!)

Pumpkin painting

Just thought I'd share my efforts in pumpkin painting this weekend. I painted the top two for a friend's children and the bottom one for my son; a Spartan fan. I thought they turned out nice.

Fringe...

Again, I'm getting a little slow with "popular culture". I just watched that new show "Fringe" this past week. I thought I'd only missed the first episode; but it looks like I missed the first two. It was the only thing on and my husband said, "Let's watch it." I said, "It's going to be just like "Lost", where you get hooked and after a few seasons, you're bored because it just goes on and on with no end in sight." (I'll watch it, but I'm not going to LIKE it!) But, I watch it and of course, end up hooked and loving it. What do these creators, producers, and writers know about me (and lots of other people) that hook us so fast to these new shows? So, now I'm busy trying to watch the first two episodes so that I can catch up on what's going on. Much more like X-files than Lost, but if you like them; you'll like Fringe.

Dearly Devoted Dexter

So I'm a little slow on the uptake. I heard last TV season about the show "Dexter"; watched a few minutes, but was so disturbed by the premiss of the show that I just couldn't watch it. Also, it was on, WAY TOO late; Sunday at 10:00 p.m.

Fast forward... I was learning how to download books from the library and came across "Dearly Devoted Dexter". Now, I knew that the series was based on these books and I'm really one to "see for myself"; so to make a long story short; I downloaded the book and started to read it.

I'm still not sure how I feel about a serial killer as the "hero" of a story; but I am really enjoying this book. I found out that this one is the second in the series; so when I'm done I'll have to read the first book. I guess you could best describe it as "dark humor" because it is "dark", but it's also really, really funny.

I'm not sure if I will be watching the TV series or not, probably not if it's on at 10:00 p.m. again, but if you are looking for something different to read, a quilty pleasure, I would recommend this one.

NOTE: I just got done reading the book and even though I thought while reading it I was going to read the others... I don't think I will because towards the end there was part of the story line that was really kind of disturbing.

15.6 total lost!

I really worked the FLEX plan last week and was rewarded with a 1.2 pound loss. That's 15.6 pounds total loss. I'm now under 140. I'm sure you can do the math to see where I started. I'm only 5'2"! Now, I just need to do it again and again. I notice the difference and am so happy I joined. My husband said he was proud of me last night for losing this weight. I said, I just wanted to be able to wear the clothes in my closet and that's really the truth.

Check out the link to the right for the website "Fabulously 40". Lots of neat articles.

Here it is!

I think I mentioned awhile back that my new watercolor painting was going to be of a scene at Peggy's Cove in Nova Scotia; but I ended up doing this one first, which I believe is "Woods Island" on Prince Edward Island. I know for sure it's Prince Edward Island and it's right by where the ferry docks, but I'm not 100% sure of the name of the place, that just sticks in my head.

14.4 lost so far...

I only lost .4 this past week, but it's better than a gain right? I didn't deserve it though, I ate above my points and more than all of my weekly points allowance. That's embarassing! I'm definitely going to do better this week. I only used 2 of my weekly points allowance yesterday. I just feel like I'm going to have a good loss next weigh in. It's hard to change your way of eating. It really is. Even after some success, it's still hard to stick with it.

Oh, and I still have to post that new watercolor painting...

Two pounds this week!

I thought for sure, without a doubt, that I'd gained (or at the very least maintained) this week. I weighed myself on the scale a couple of times this week and either saw a gain or a maintain, But guess what? I lost two more pounds! That makes 14 pounds total in nine weeks or Weight Watchers.

Does Weight Watchers work? YES, IT DOES! I heard on NPR on my way back to work about online scams involving drugs, weight loss and other remedies and they mentioned that truely the simpliest way to lose weight is to "eat less and exercise more". I would add that for most people it would be "eat A LOT less and exercise A LOT more".

Portions are so out of control that we really have no idea, until we start physically measuring, what a portion size really is. It shocked me! It's no secret either; it's right on the back on the box, can, carton, or package. We just refuse to read it. I'll get off my soap box now! I'm not the expert here. I'm just so motivated by my success that I want to share it.

September Card swap

The theme for this month's card swap was "circles" and I have this wonderful set from Stampin' Up that I love. It's just so versatile! I believe the colors I used for this were; River Rock, Soft Sky, and Groovy Guava from 2007's "In Color" colors. Correct me if I'm wrong. I left the white area blank to fill in with whatever greeting I need later and the card opens vertically. If I get a better picture, I'll repost that.

"Get out of Jail FREE" card.

After last weeks total pig-a-thon, having chicken wings and pizza on Wednesday and Thursday, then going to the Taste of Saugatuck on Sunday... I still managed to lose .6 pound. For those WW folks, in the know, I do the FLEX plan, ate my 19 points a day, my 35 weekly points allowance, and 36 additional-totally-not-allowed points. I'm now down 12 pounds total. I promise I will be a much better WW girl this week. I think I used my "Get out of jail FREE" card at today's weigh in.

One Vision

I love this song for so many reasons!

I weighed in at Weight Watchers today and lost another 1.2 pounds; so that makes 11.4 lost so far!

A post it note...

Following a week's vacation where everything I learned at Weight Watchers was left behind on the dock in Charlevoix; I weighed in today and still managed to lose a little more than 1/2 a pound (.6 to be exact). That makes my total weight loss to date (drum roll please) 10.2 pounds! Yeah! We did do a lot of biking for exercise; so that must have helped.

Clever t-shirt clip...

Members of my family are into martial arts (not mixed martial arts though) and I'm into crafts; so I thought this was pretty funny. This website http://www.snorgtees.com/ has a lot of printed t-shirts and it's where I found this clip. I would love to have this shirt. Maybe someone will get it for me for my birthday? (Not so subtle hint!)

The Toy Museum

If you go to Beaver Island; you have got to go to the Toy Museum and Store! They are open daily from 11-4 and if you go at 11, they are packed! This is quite the place! The inside is packed with art supplies, jewelry supplies, old toy displays and then tons and tons of dime store plastic toys. I can't even begin to describe this. It's a definite must see, regardless of age and be sure to check out the huge supply of handmade buttons. I've got my "Obama Mama" one. They were out of the "Artists make terrible slaves" button that I was dying to have.

Leave it to Beaver

We just got back from a week on Beaver Island. Beaver Island is located in Lake Michigan about 25 miles north of Charlevoix; a two hour trip by ferry.

We rented a cottage and biked, for the most part, where we wanted to go. We did rent a Geo Tracker for a day. It was $50 for 24 hours and you needed to replace the gas; gas on the island was $5.49 a gallon.

It was a wonderfully relaxing week.

Oh, and I finished reading "Wicked" too. Great book! Definitely not for children. Has a few slow spots, but overall a great read.

A quick check in...

I dropped all of my paintings off at the RCA office in Grand Rapids this past Tuesday morning. Feels nice to have them out of my basement and up someplace where someone will see and maybe enjoy them. There were six large pieces and three small ones.

The scales at Weight Watchers yesterday said that I have lost one more pound. Not as great as I would like; but it's one more gone and after eating all that great food on Friday night, I should be thankful that it was a one pound loss.

We are getting ready for our vacation next week. I'm trying to do some "mental rehearsing" for what I'm going to eat while I'm there and how I'm going to get through two weeks until a weigh in and still have a loss. Appears I'm going to have to psych myself up...

Like I said, we are getting ready for our vacation next week. We have rented a cottage on Beaver Island. We will be taking the bikes. We all have paniers and will be loading them up with our clothes etc. We are also each taking a small backpack.

Check back on Monday, August 11. I'll be back to work and should have pictures and more up then.

Another good weigh in.

I had another good weigh in yesterday. I lost 2.8 pounds over the last week. I'm amazed that I've had three good losses in a row. Last time, they seemed to drop off to the 1/2 pound loss per week, right away after the first week. I am exercising a half hour on the treadmill every morning and recording my points online. I think I might be overestimating the points sometimes, but I'm not sure how to remedy that. Better to overestimate I think.

I stopped by my favorite coffee shop this morning. They were slow, so I asked for the caloric content of the chocolate syrup they use in the Mochas. This way, if I decide to have one on occasion, I can, and I know how many points to record (It's six points for a 16oz. "why bother" mocha, by the way.) and yes, I did order one. I had 3/4 cup of Cinnamon Life Cereal for two points earlier, so, that makes eight points for breakfast today. Maybe zero point soup for lunch and two points worth of those All Bran Garlic Herb crackers.

I know, I sound like I'm obsessing over this, and to begin with, I do. I love the Weight Watchers program because when you are doing the program IT WORKS! Maintence is a whole 'nother thang...

Celebrity Collage by MyHeritage

I honestly don't think I look like any of these people. Maybe if I started with a better photo; this would've come out better. I didn't include the men that this thing says I look like. How incredibly wierd that was! You don't wanna know!

Something other than Weight Watchers

I made these eight cards yesterday for a monthly swap that I often take part in. The theme was "animals". When these swaps roll around, I tend to not have enough paper to make all the cards the same; so I used the "color combination" tool from http://www.scraptitude.com/colorcombo/ and came up with lots of different combinations with the paper I did have. It's so much fun to try these different combinations. I think we all tend to gravitate toward the same ones over and over.
I really enjoy participating in these monthly swaps. I like the challenge of working with a theme you didn't pick. If you have a chance, participate in a swap or try the color tool above.

Incredible disappointment...

My son's tae kwon do master was just arrested this past Wednesday night for allegedly soliciting murder. How do you explain that to a ten year old who was taught by this person twice a week for three years within tae kwon do to honor and respect people? We've told him the basics and that he won't be returning to the school, we aren't even sure at this point if it will ever re-open, and that we do not want him being taught by someone like this. Sounds trite to say that, "He seemed like a nice guy. He didn't seem like someone who would do something like that." We knew something about problems with his ex, but because of his reputation in the community, never would've expected this.

(Side note: When I drove past the school this past Saturday, it was still open. I don't know who is teaching, but we won't be back. We don't need to be financing this individual. It sure would be nice to get a letter or some communication from someone at the school; but he was almost a one man show, so I don't expect that will happen. It may or may not change things, but it would be a step in a positive direction. Our son attended there twice a week for three years! I know, I know, innocent until proven guilty, but if it walks like a duck...)

Book Club...

I just started reading the book "Wicked!" which is completely unlike anything I have ever read before. I'm not sure what to make of it yet. I' ve heard lots of people say that they liked how it started; but that they tired of it later on. So, we'll see how it goes. So far, I would say if you are easily offended, this is NOT the book for you to even start.

I just found the paperback I lost, "Back on Blossom Street". I couldn't bear the thought of having to buy it again.

I'm not sure what I'll bring on vacation. I'd like something light like the "Blossom Street" books, but I don't have much left to read on this one. So, if you have any recommendations, bring 'em on.

Another 1.8 pounds gone, gone, gone!

Honestly, I will talk about something OTHER than Weight Watchers. Really, I will.

I lost another 1.8 pounds this past week. Now my daily points allowance has been dropped from 22 to 19 and that is causing me a little anxiety; but I know the program works and I will do it. I just need a day to adjust to the change. I've been exercising EVERY day and feel guilty if I don't do it in the morning, then I have to do it in the evening. So that is a good change. My son spends that half hour in the morning with me in the basement. Me on the treadmill and him on the futon either playing video games or watching TV. The distraction and company help the time go faster.

Four! Count 'em! Four pounds lost!

I just wanted to record that I've lost four pounds this first week back at Weight Watchers! My friend lost 4.8 and I'm so proud of her! I am so motivated right now. I even "kicked it up a notch" ( I HATE that phrase!) and pushed myself on the treadmill this morning to walk faster and on more of an incline. The other thing I'm going to do to help my motivation is to have a picture posted someplace that I always look at of me at my heaviest and me when I lost all the weight last time.

Yes, I will blog about something other than WW, honest.

Weight Watchers

Oops, (and) I (had to do) did it again!

I re-joined Weight Watchers after a four year absense and regaining all, plus two, pounds I lost five years ago. It's a great program. It worked for me before and I'm certain it will work for me again. I'm 154.4 pounds today and my goal is still set at 131 pounds. I'd love to be less than that and I really didn't want to have a goal, but since I'm a Lifetime Member, I think it's automatically set at whatever you first set it at. That screwed me up last time! I reached the goal, gave up and eventually it all came back. Hopefully, I've learned my lesson there. Again, I've joined with a friend.

I don't want to be this heavy anymore. I want to remember how I felt at this weight. I want to feel comfortable wearing anything in my closet; not just the elastic waist stretch pants. I want to wear the blue pants that are in my closet. I want my lower back and hips not to hurt anymore when I get up in the morning. I want more energy. I want ...