Favorite Blog Monday

My Favorite Blog today is KIM WATSON.
Her post today shows you how to show appreciation to a teacher you love.
Don't get me wrong here,
I am not a  fan of most schools and most teachers.
(Gasp) did I just say that?!?
I think the system of schools in general is a good idea.
Learning on a schedule,
social setting
competitions
and a few more things.
When a school runs well there is nothing more valuable to a child's growth.
HOWEVER
The problem arises when a school is not willing to admit their weak spots
and consequently
YOUR child is the sacrifice.
I would say this is as serious as  incompetent doctors.
Who get sued all the time for malpractice.
I say we institute the same insurance to protect ourselves against some teachers.
We're talking lives here.
So when you do come across a teacher that is working hard to help your precious child
be the best they could be,
show appreciation.
(and I don't mean buying them a picture frame!)
If you go to My Favorite Blog 
you will see what I mean.
This girl is a fantastic scrapbooker.
You will get lots of great ideas from her.
Start with this one.
While we're on the subject of school
I found these two layouts done 6 years ago.
They are simple in design.
I would like to see a little more creativity in my work.
But I am thrilled to have recorded this.
For the memory.

My mind floods with little slingshots of memories.
So even if the layout is simple,
my reaction to  it
is anything but.

I love school pictures.

They represent time in a way that nothing else does.

Keep all the pictures even if your child doesn't like them.

(ooh, i look so dumb)

Put them away.

For later.

You'll be glad you did.

I am.

Favorite Blog Monday

Today is a great day for you 'wanna b' scrappers.
Today you can actually become a keeper of memories.
Today I will show you that anyone can do it.
No talent needed.
You can actually start right now.
How?
By clicking on MY FAVORITE BLOG!
This brilliant woman has figured out a way for anyone and everyone
to easily and beautifully start saving up precious moments never to be seen and felt again.
She has accomplished something no one else in her field has done.
By bringing scrapbooking to the 'little people'!
Take some  time and read all about it.
You will want the product immediately.
It can really change how you see the world.
You will begin to notice little things that add up to what we call LIFE... 
So here we are...Project Life.
For those of you who appreciate this wonderful find
drop me a line to thank me!

On another note
School starts this week.
My little granchild came out of bed a few nights ago and said
"mommy, can you call my teacher and ask her if school could start a few days early"!
First school photo.
There's nothing cuter than school photos.
It's a growth chart for you
to watch the changes later
like a fast forward video.

You can teach a student a lesson for a day; but if you can teach him to learn by creating curiosity, he will continue the learning process as long as he lives.
Clay P. Bedford

Favorite Blog Monday

Today I will introduce to you
a blog that will increase your scrapbooking talents.
This lady does fantastic work.
Her design is always balanced.
Her choice of colors, fresh and clean.
The best part for me:
she posts little tutorials along the way that improve your craft skills.
Her layouts are doable and interesting at the same time.
She is also a skilled photographer,
which makes her layouts even more wonderful.
Hopefully you will take some time to read her posts.
You will find little treasures along the way.
Techniques that look deceivingly complicated.
Explained in a clear pictorial.
So here you are....
MAGGIE HOLMES design
Enjoy!

This week I did a little more Sharpie magic.
It might not be wearable, unless you're 12.
But I think it's fun nonetheless!

Here is another layout using a Sharpie.
Script a word in pencil first on white card stock.
Practice on regular paper first.
Here I filled the word with beads
mimicking the heart which I took off a card.
I added a border and Voila!
(White background card stock always works best)

This is how I feel today...

Have a nice day!

Favorite Blog Monday

Memories light the corners of my mind...Misty water colored memories...Of the way we were...
Today I am hooking you up with a really cool blog.
Rarely do I find a blog that compels me to go through each post.
DEAR PHOTOGRAPH is one of those unique blogs.
It's one of a kind.

Taylor Jones, at just 22 years of age, was inspired to start his website Dear Photograph as he flipped through old family photos at his parents' kitchen table. When he came across an image of his brother sitting at that very same table, he lifted it up and snapped a picture of the picture. In a moment, the idea for DearPhotograph.com was born. After taking more photographs, Jones posted them on a website and asked people to submit their own renditions -- but he had no idea how overwhelming of a response he would get. In just six short weeks, millions of people had visited, hundreds had submitted, and Jones had created an internet phenomenon that captured the world's attention.

Here's an old picture that would be interesting to recreate.

My Aunt sent this picture to me.

I have no recollection of where or when this was taken.

Or what I was thinking about at that time.

There are plenty of people from my neighborhood that remember me this way

(though I do remember the outfit!)

This next layout is very dear to me.

I even remember the cloths I wore in this layout.

My mother made the skirt for me.

I always loved fashion.

My pony, perfectly combed, with a matching ribbon.

A necklace.

And of course, sunglasses.

Was I cool or what?!?

I used a page in a book that says Smile - Taking pictures.

For me, this layout represents a moment in time when I could imagine my mother taking this picture...

thinking about how cute her children looked...

Wanting to hold on to that memory...

I love all the paper layering and brads...

Here I was really little.
I chose to use lots of paint and ink.
I was inspired by a mixed media book of layouts.
It was my first try at it and I love the symbolism behind some of the ideas.
There is no right way to do this.
Only your way!

Favorite Blog Monday

I started this blog as a way of recording my scrapbboking.

In the hope that I could improve and grow in technique and creativity.

This week I bring to you a wonderful scrapper.

She is creative, and what I envy most

she is able to make her ideas doable.

There is alot to learn from her

and she is more than willing to share.

That is the kind of person I like.

Because The More You Share The More You Have!

So check this out, Purple Mailbox.

If you are ready to be adventurous in your art

and you are ready to absorb and learn

THIS  is the girl for you.

Meanwhile...

here's some progress on the sweater I'm making.

I will probably always think about the Olympics when I see this sweater...

And while you're already here visiting

let me direct you to read this.

Let me know your thoughts on that. 

Please!

Just takes a little minute.

Come on!

Favorite Blog Monday

I have to tell you all about my friend Louise Nelsen.
I am a huuuuuge fan of hers, are as many others.
She has been entertaining my creative spirit since I discovered her work.
Occasionally I send her an e-mail gushing about her uniqueness.
I always leave a comment on her posts because I need to say something other than wow!
The point here is, the other day I wrote her an e-mail explaining  (complaining!) that
as much as I am dieing to buy the new Australian scrapbooking magazine
(she is a part of their team)
it's a lot more expensive here in the states.
And much to my surprise
SHE SENT ME 3 MAGAZINES IN THE MAIL!!!

I am beyond touched that a woman across the world,
would not only send me 3 complimentary magazines,
but pay $24.00 for postage too!
Is that goodness in it's purest form or what?
The Australians are quite a sophisticated group of scrapbookers.
I have alot to learn from them.
As a beginner I made this next layout.

When you check out my buddy Lousie go through as many posts as you can.
She manages to say alot with only a few words on each layout.
Her scrapbooking is a combination of an artist and a memory maker.
She keeps it fresh.
She never copies anyone's style.
She is her own person
with her own unique perspective.

Favorite Blog Monday

I love interesting blogs.
This week I am sharing a really cool blog with you all.

about the blogger...

There is one moment, in the first few seconds, when you look at a piece of art and know that you love it. It’s the moment when, if you’re an artist yourself, you look at it and feel a rush of uplifting inspiration… and total soul-crushing jealousy all at the same time. It’s when you walk away thinking, “Damn, I wish I thought of that.”

I wish I could have gone to art school.
In my little fantasy I can see myself exploring possibilities I don't even know exist.
So when I found this blog I was fascinated.
Expressions of art/craft in more ways than I can count.
I love the way the blogger describes her 'jealousy'
Hence the name 'The Jealous Curator'.
If you choose to take the time to go through her posts you too will be amazed.
There is no end to art.

“Everyone is born creative; everyone is given a box of crayons in kindergarten. Then when you hit puberty they take the crayons away and replace them with dry, uninspiring books on algebra, history, etc. Being suddenly hit years later with the 'creative bug' is just a wee voice telling you, 'I'd like my crayons back, please.” ― Hugh MacLeod, Ignore Everybody: and 39 Other Keys to Creativity

I remember doing this layout.

I felt a little like an artist because I used paint. 

Ha! 

Shows you what I knew...

Still, besides the memory of these two teenagers and the memory of Rochelle taking these pictures

I have the memory of feeling artistic for a minute!

That's what counts more than anything for me.

Here is another one.

I did this years ago. 

When I was ignorant enough to think I was making art.

Then again, who's to say I wasn't...

I was so proud of my ability to create these flowers with paper and paint.

And my beloved Sharpee.

What I'm saying to you is, if you feel like an artist, then you are.

Go ahead and look at My Favorite Blog Monday post here.

You might discover you are an artist too!

Favorite Blog Monday

Today I will be sharing with you an unusual blog.
As soon as I read what it was about I was intrigued.
If you want to know what I did yesterday for most of the day, this was it!
I went through every single post.
I watched almost all the video clips.
I was mesmerised.
Here was a young guy who was captivated by the people the world mostly pushes aside.
But they refuse to let themselves be ignored.
And you will see why.
After reading this fabulous, funny, inspiring blog you too will see them differently.
And you might see yourself differently too.
I know I did.
I am inspired even more now to be the person I want to be.
No matter what my age.
In our wonderful Jewish religion we are taught to respect our elders.
They have wisdom and life experience that needs to be treated with reverence.
But not until I saw this blog did I realize that they have YOUTH to share too.
Read it here -  Advancedstyle.blogspot.com .

I am lucky to have a Mother who has taught me how to age with great style.
She was a gorgeous young woman.
Now she is a handsome older lady.
Aging gracefully and beautifully she takes great pride in her appearance.
I am sure if Ari Seth Cohen would see my mother in the streets of Manhattan
he would take her picture!

Here is a layout from my daughter's heritage scrapbook.
You can see how magnificent my mother was.
I purposely kept the layout fresh.
I did not want the aged look of ink and dyes.
I used a lace doily for the background.
A simple and inexpensive way to add character.

This next layout is one of my favorites.
I love that we are all dressed up looking quite fabulous.
The linen napkin in the background is from one of my fancy tablecloths.
It was a fun challenge to let my imagination inspire me to ink, stamp and use rubons.

Now you can go ahead and read my Favorite Blog Monday here.
Make sure you have enough time.
You will want to read every word.

Favorite Blog Monday

When I was a little girl summer meant going to 'the country'.
That means packing up the car with lots of 'stuff'.
Sitting in the heat with open windows , waiting for my father as five minutes turned in to an hour.
Eating sandwiches along the way.
And my mother keeping a watchful eye on my father's driving.
It was very different in the old days.
The country meant outdoors.
Bug strips dangling from the ceiling in every room. (all three of them).
Mosquito spray.
We kept ourselves busy.
Picking fresh blueberries.
Swimming.
And for me - Knitting.
I learnt how to knit in those lazy summer months.
I don't remember using any patterns.
Somehow I figured out how to make little dresses for my barbie doll.
Today there are books for that . Like this one.
These days there is so much information for anyone who wants to learn.
What amazes me is that most kids I know are not interested in sitting still and learning the value of creating
s-l-o-w-l-y...
How lucky I am to have grown up before computers took hostage of me.
I could have knit an entire house cover in the time I sit here in fascination at the constant evolving world.
But in the old days my own little world was evolving.
And as much as I am thankful for the excitement of seeing new ideas every day...
I am most grateful that I was born in a time when ideas took more time to formulate.
Which brings me to My Favorite Monday Blog today.
This time I will introduce you to a knitting site.
What I love about this site is that although they sell the yarn for their projects, the patterns are free.
For anyone to use.
You will most definitely find something that you will want to make.
And if you don't know how to knit, you will be inspired to learn.
So go check it out.
PICKLES
You will love it!
 Meanwhile here are some old pieces I made.
They are stained and yellow.
But it's hard to throw out.
The kids could always use it for their dolls.
Me - I use it for memories....
It's like my scrapbooks.
Maybe I'll write on it.
Hmmmm.... now that's an interesting idea!

I must have washed it and it shrank.
Here is Chanale wearing it at 7-8 years old.
Now it's the size of a little doll!

I remember making these.
A top for Chanale.
A dress for Shlam.
I'm sure I have pictures of them wearing it.
I remember how proud I was of my own design.
So I hope you are inspired to make something.
Start out small.
Know that it's practice, practice, practice.
It's only time.
Take your time.
It's worth it.

Favorie Blog Monday

I am always intrigued when talent shows itself in the most unexpected way.
I am even more impressed when one turns that in to a business!
This lady does just that.
She is one of a kind.
I have never seen this art done anywhere else.
She continues to impress by her new ideas.
She takes a simple piece of driftwood and turns it into fun art.
Just amazing.
Check out her blog here.
AND please take a second - one second - to let me know how you like it!

Here is my own little project.
I found a wood frame.
Used tissue paper, music paper, ink, gold embossing, and my favorite - crocheted flowers.
It was fun to do.
Try it.
Don't be afraid.
“Make the most of yourself....for that is all there is of you.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson

Favorite blog Monday

The summer has started.
How would I know that?
I live in Miami and the weather doesn't change much.
Instead it rains.
And rains.
That's how I know it's summer.
I remember well when my children were young.
Summer meant lots of time to entertain the little ones.
Now that I've passed that phase I still can't help but miss it.
Not in reality, in theory!
Which brings me to my favorite blog this week.
I used to buy many arts and crafts book looking for ideas to do with my kids.
Now all you need to do is check out THIS BLOG.
Creativity oozes out of this lady big time.
Such fantastic, creative and most important, easy ideas you can do with your kids.
Her instructions are clear.
Her photos are clear.
Her ideas are fun.
Check it out.
Take a minute.
Let me know.
(I always say that and I'm still waiting for a few responses!)

Don't forget to takes pictures of your children's crafts.
When Chayale was younger she sat in her room for hours writing and illustrating this cartoon.
I was blown away when I saw what she could do all on her own.

Our children have so much potential.
It doesn't only have to be in arts and crafts.
Whatever it is, take a picture.
Do they hug the best?
Take a picture.
Do they yell the loudest?
Take a picture!
You get the picture!!!
Meanwhile go check out my favorite blog.
You can thank me later.

Favorite blog Monday

My favorite blog today is one I've been going to every few day for a couple of years now.
Especially on Wednesday when this fantastic lady creates a page in her journal on video.
I love watching her creative process.
I always learn something new.
She starts off with an empty page and her ideas just flow.
Although I don't know anything about being a professional artist
I still can appreciate what this talented lady inspires me to do.
As she talks her way through the process you too will be inspired.
Take a minute and visit my 'friend' Donna .
You will be so glad you did.
Let me know if you love her blog as much as I do.
I'll be waiting!

And before I go I want to give a shout out to my girl.
I am continuously amazed by her strength.
I am not surprised by her growth.
I am so proud of her.
It's a beautiful thing to watch your child find her true colors.

Love you Shlam...

Favorite blog Monday...

Summer has definitely begun here in Miami.

You're probably wondering how I can tell the difference.

Yes, it is always warm/hot here.

I actually love this tropical weather.

Although sometimes  I miss watching the leaves change colors.

Once in a while I wish we had seasons.

Just to be able to look forward to a sunny day.

And then I catch myself and realize that there is a deep appreciation that mostly every day is a sunny day.

I can still look forward to the morning sun streaming through my window most every single day.

I can anticipate the cooler 'winter months' with renewed energy.

I am even looking forward to the summer months where the heat makes you lazy.

When the water is warm enough to swim at any time of the day and night.

Now let's get back to the subject at hand.

Monday favorite blog choice!

Today I am choosing a favorite blog that I love for several reasons.

Stacy Cohen does the kind of scrapbooking  I envy.

A creative perfectionist.

An oxymoron in my book.

I am always envious of beautiful perfection.

She makes layouts that are stunning to look at.

She is definitely one of my favorites.

Check it out!

Let me know what you think.

PLEASE!

Favorite blog Monday

We had a long holiday weekend.

Friends and food, rest and prayer...

No better way to heal yourself.

Inside and out.

Mental overload is not  a productive way to live.
Having too much on your mind can overwhelm you
prevent you from being effective with your work,
and enjoying the moment
Having a clear mind can really help you focus on what matters – in your work and life.
Creative sparks rarely come to us when we are thinking hard about something.
When you look at where insights come from,
they come from where we least expect them.
They only arrive after we stop looking at them.
I feel blessed that we are given this opportunity that forces us to stop.
Feeling refreshed I am now ready to reveal my second favorite blog post.
This blog satisfies me on many levels.
Her profile reads:
rachel awes works as a licensed psychologist + art playgroundist + she likes to affirm the beauty + strength in the real stories in people
I think when you check her out you too will be fascinated.
Please let me know how much you enjoy her works of art.
Her unique way of expression is something that I admire.
I am still looking for a way to define myself and I always admire those who do!
I love that you can 'recognize' her work.
So check her out here!

Favorite blog Monday

Favorite blogs for me are like my favorite friends.
I never compare them.
I need different ones for different reasons.
Depending on my mood I reach for one...
Each one inspires me to be better in their own unique way.
I feel lucky to have them in my life.
Friends and blogs.
Sometimes they merge into one.
I will be sharing my favorites with you in no particular order.
The very first blog I will be connecting you today is one I turn to for a happy feeling.
Through her blog she has given me the opportunity to experiment a little more than I am used to.
I purchased one of her classes and I am loving it.
This lady has what it takes to stand out.
Every day is lived in color.
Even a simple post of her posing is beautiful to look at.
I hope you take the time to look through her blog.
You will most likely learn something.
At the very least you will feel good all over!
Without further ado........

My Beautiful  Blog Inspiration....Alisa Burke

Enjoy.
I hope you will let me know by your comments if you love it like I do....