My Letterman ~ John Patrick Cline

I met him my first year in high school, and he is still a part of my daily life. When I put together my Omega Project he was one of my "Fab 6". Late night walks on Mt. Tabor in the snow, Raggedy Ann dolls, Dad Floyd, a 56 Chevy and secrets.



Thank you JP for the present today ~ I am putting it (and you) in reserve.

Pay It Forward

At the start of the new year, my niece Lindsay posted this on Facebook:

Pay it Forward 2012: I promise to send something handmade to the first 5 people who leave a comment here.

The rules:
1. You must send me your address at some point in the next 11.5 months.
2. You must post this on your page and send something YOU make to the first 5 people who comment on your status. This item MUST be handmade by you, ............and it MUST be sent sometime in 2012.

I copied and pasted it onto my Facebook and by the end of the day there were 13 peeps that had left a comment.

I decided to make necklaces,




valentine tags,



a couple of my new moo cards,



and a mail art envelope to let each know how marvelous they truly are.





Such a fun, fun way to start off 2012 with a little art and a reminder to always try to Pay It Forward!

She Gets Me

On Christmas morning I unwrapped my gift from Kristi. The words were brief and simple. "My gift to you is time spent with me ~ along with snacks and art!"

The date was set, but I still had no idea as to what and where I was going. She picked me up and as we drove many thoughts and guesses were racing through my head.

We arrived at a two story building and she brought out a very large picnic basket.

We were at The Loaded Brush for a night of art and wonderful snacks. The basket was filled with the best cheeses and breads, fruit and wine.




For the next two hours, Kristi and I would be guided by Aaron in painting our masterpieces of Mt. Hood along with ten other artists.












My masterpiece is complete and I am in love with it. But I have to say that I am in "bigger" love with that little girl carrying a basket full of my favorites and knowing what makes a perfect date night for me.

Thanks for always "getting" me Kristi Bryan....

A Tea Party With Penguins

When I first retired in 2007, the very first classes I started taking at collage were card making classes among various others (yes, the infamous itty bitties taught by Dayna Collins). In those classes I was blessed to meet a lady with the most infectious laugh and love for life. Her name is Tawny and we always seem to bump into each other around town throughout the years.

One of our last bumps last year lead to an invite from her to a summer tea party at her home. (When I had bumped into her that time she asked for my address. I went to give her my email or facebook and she quickly told me that she only does snail mail....pitter pat went my heart....how cool is that?) The party's consist of a theme, a collaborative mix of foods from the guests, a craft, a white elephant exchange and of course...tea!

A couple of week ago I received a snail mail invite for another tea party for January 1st from Tawny and her friend Robin. I quickly RSVP and ask if it would be okay if I brought a friend. "Of course, we love friends!", so I called Gina to see if she would like to attend.

This party's theme was "animal", real or fictitious. I asked Gina if she would like to be a penguin with me (without our harmonica's!).



Robin's home is a collectors delight....




The food was the yummiest....



The craft was beaded bookmarks....



Tawny's costume was spectacular....




As were everyone else's....






And the white elephant coming home with me (which I secretly adore)....



Such a great afternoon, welcoming the first day of the new year, spent with 26 gorgeous funny ladies. And next summer's tea party theme is......PROM! Seven months to find that all so perfect dress ~ I am giddy with delight!

A Book About Death

In November I received a message from Michael Harford. In it he said that if I was up in the Seattle area to stop in and see the exhibition A Book About Death at the Quetzalcoatl Gallery. I soon found out that in addition to his wonderful submission; there were also submissions by others that I knew.

A wonderful train ride up (now one of my 8 favorite loves of 2011), plus one taxi ride and we were at the gallery. The gracious Kathleen McHugh and Al met us at the door and introduced us to the owner Almendra Sandoval.

And soon we were in, seeing all the great submissions of Michael, Kathleen, Sonja, Nikki, Michele and Lorenzo and all of the others.....













I leave knowing that I have met a kindred spirit in Kathleen. And leaving I also know that I will be visiting my two favorite stores in Seattle before climbing back on the train to Portland....



sitting next to a very handsome man, drinking white wine and eating the best dang mac 'n cheese!



Thank you Michael for suggesting that trip up to Seattle and thank you Kathleen for being so welcoming.

Back home I receive in the mail a fantastic Christmas CD from Michael along with his and Lisa's art books to add too, which I will do after the first of the New Year.




2012 is going to be a fantabulous year!!!!