Why, Hello

Detail of stamping and cocktail umbrella.

Why, hello. It's been awhile. My internet has been down, but after two hours (TWO HOURS) on the phone, conversations with FIVE different AT&T U-Verse representatives, and two PREVIOUS phone calls, I'm back online. Thank goodness! It's one thing if I choose not to write for a couple of weeks, but it seems like I have tons to share when I can't easily update my blog.

To while away the time, I have been employing both used envelopes and those handy dandy reply envelopes that come with bills and credit card offers as blank canvases for revamped envelopes. I love to write letters, but I know I do not put nearly enough effort into that art. The good news - my internet break allowed for a little extra play time.

See below for a sampling of my attempt to add a little homemade happiness to my friends' days:

This friend had a bad week at work -

Front & Back, with address marked out to protect the guilty. Materials: old piece of lined paper, letter stamps/stamp pad, part of a cocktail umbrella, scrapbooking paper, pencil and glue.

Detail of doodled flowers.

 And this friend had some health concerns -

Detail of penned note and bird.

Front & Back, with space for an address insert. Materials: notebook paper, wrapping paper, ink pen, scrapbook paper, and glue.

Detail of cut paper.

While a letter can't make up for a bad work week or health problems, it can bring a moment of joy to an otherwise rotten situation. What do you do (handmade objects or otherwise) to brighten your friends' days?

Glad to back,

Alison :)

Project Me: Getting Better...

The only Project Me topic I've been focused on this week is getting better. I have felt puny since I developed a cough and congestion last Thursday. Since then, I've spent the majority of my time in bed, or, now that I am back to work and feeling somewhat better, on the couch in the prone position. From that position, I have had a lot of time to contemplate my living room. See below for a few of my favorite views from the couch:

Row 1: The television (Criminal Minds tonight), of course, along with my new mantel tableau, which includes two vessels handmade by me, a framed print that once belonged to my grandma, a segmented box from my grandma's house, random natural objects, and what I choose to refer to as my "mantel clock."

Row 2: 1) My most favorite garage sale find ever - a green Frankoma shell vessel. This baby became mine for the high price of $2.00 and kicked off a love affair that's still going strong; a wooden vase hand-turned by me; Memory Box, a printer's drawer customized by me; garage sale pillows; and vintage radiator native to my apartment. 2) A red purse beside a woven basket under the coffee table I borrowed from my grandma years ago.

Row 3: 1) Just a few of my books accompanied by framed photos of my family and me, a ceramic bowl filled with a variety of seed pods, a shoe sole, and a silver spray painted replica of The Thinker. Kitschy, no?; 2) The gorgeous light fixture came with my apartment. I wish I could take it with me when I move. 3) The door to my porch with feathers originally featured here.

What objects in your own home do you admire on a regular basis? I would love to take a peek!

I hope you are all having a lovely Thursday night,

Alison :)

On Mother's Day

Grandma's brownies. One of our favorite treats.

 For Mother’s Day, we met up at my mom and dad’s house. “We” included two aunts, one uncle,  three cousins, one sister, one brother, one mom, one dad and one little ol’ me. It was quite the Mother’s Day crowd. Normally, my brother, sister and I either cook for my mom or take her out to eat. This year, we decided to have a big cookout with the family. We grilled hamburgers and hot dogs and had baked beans and salad with all the fixings (including chopped beets and feta cheese, YUM!) on the side. For dessert, my uncle made delicious strawberry shortcakes, and I made classic brownies. I used my grandma’s secret recipe. This Mother’s Day was the first one spent without her, so we wanted to make something in her honor. We miss her so much! I should have made her famous peach cobbler! Too bad I just thought of that now. I gotta get cracking if I ever want to cook as well as she did!

 

The little house I made for my mom. It took a long time to locate just the

right magazine pages (i.e. green and red ones that matched Mom's living room).

My brother, sister and I gave my mom a garden stone and a gift certificate to a local mani-pedi place. I also made a handmade card and a little house of paperboard and cut paper  from magazines for my mom. I am really pleased with the results, although the cell phone photos don’t do it justice. I really need to upgrade my digital camera.

We had a really pleasant afternoon and evening. I feel so happy when I am spending time with my family. I am truly thankful for them. Even though it was the one day on the calendar when moms are encouraged to relax, Mom orchestrated the whole event.

I hope all you moms out there had a wonderful Mother’s Day!