Fall is in the air! Even though it is still August, fall is not far away now. The mornings are getting crisp and cool, and the days are getting shorter. Fall renews my spirit and creative energies. I don’t much care for hot weather anymore. Give me a sunny day with pleasant cool breezes any time.

  So, having said that, holiday swaps are just beginning! I’ve posted a photo of my beginnings for a Halloween itty bitty book. This was a proud first for me. I’ve finally taken the time to play with my photo software and some digital scrapbooking downloads to get the effects I’m going for. My Halloween page is a combo of vintage family photo imposed on a piece of Halloween fabric, then adding a digital photo frame.  Isn’t technology a wonderful thing- at least when it works! Now all I need to do is print these little pages out and embellish away.

  Next up is a Christmas itty book, and a stocking swap. Oh, how I love Christmas! Having been born in the merry month of December, and only a week away from the big day, this is my month to enjoy. But, it will have to wait a little longer. September brings good things this year. I have made plans to attend SAW (Squam Art Workshops) and take a fabulous workshop from Nina Bagley, an artist whose work I have admired for some time. http://ornamental.typepad.com/   

Days are now spent dreaming of this class, and gathering way more supplies than I can possibly use in 3 days time!

  In preparation, I have also found a wonderful new place to spend my money! http://www.beaducation.com/classes/?p=home 

Since I’ve worked in a machine shop for almost 30yrs – a very scary thought that I have been around long enough to claim that! – working with jewelry just seems like a natural progression for me. So, along with metal working and bookmaking, I anticipate a wonderful outcome for this workshop! I could probably do this work all on my own, but how delicious to be working with a group of inspired women and be intoxicated with their energy! Instead of working on quilts right now, I’m playing endlessly with jewelry findings, beads, found objects, and figuring out how best to age and colorize my book pages, that are actually matte board.

  So, in my quest for a few supplies yesterday, I came across a book, new to me, that just screams for my attention. http://www.susanlenartkazmer.net/ 

Finding time to devour this book and work some of it’s magic is going to be another challenge.

  At times it seems I’m a little scattered and unfocused. But, truth be known, there is a method to my madness. I feel like I’m making up for lost time somehow, and need to learn these techniques, make them my own and run, no fly with them.

  So, stick around for the journey…

“No matter how outrageous or extravagant your dream may be, today’s the day to tell someone exactly what it is-because that’s the first step in making any dream come true.” -taken from my daily calendar, “Getting In Touch With Your Inner Bitch”