pamgarrison

some recent art journaling

 

Just some mostly recently done pages, or some actually still being played on (not finished in other words). Wanted to give you an e-course update too. I've taken a break from the creating of the ecourse over the holiday and been spending time with my family since my daughter is home from school. When she returns to school, I'll return to pushing hard on making headway so that we can have it up and running soon. We're going for quality and a content rich, thorough class, and frankly, these things take time...I promise it will be worth the wait! Happy New Year's Eve!! xo

 

one little word • 2014

Lately, with the new year approaching, I've been thinking about what my word for the year will be. What do I want to consider when making decisions? What do I want to have more of in my life, what feeling, what concept as a whole do I want to feel I'm heading in the direction of? 

 

Succeed: achieve the desired aim or result

synonyms: triumph, achieve success, be successful, do well, flourish, thrive

informal synonyms: make it, make the grade, be successful, turn out well, be effective

success: the accomplishment of an aim or purpose

synonyms: favorable outcome, successfulness, truimph

I'm asking myself what succeeding looks like in my life. (I love that "turn out well" informal synonym above ;)) What changes do I need to make in priorities, thought patterns, scheduling, habits, etc. Where am I already succeeding? Where am I feeling the most pressure, stress, guilt over not? Lots of thoughts swirling...family, marriage, motherhood, spiritual, physical, finances, work, play, and on it goes.  

Of course, I could have chosen any number of words that would fit the bill, succeed seemed to cover it. As I wrote before, I want to live all-in, to step up my game and feel better about the life I'm creating by the choices I'm making in action and thought. What will lead to more success in my life? When making decisions I want to ask:

 I started participating in Ali's One Little Word last year, choosing order as my word. In truth, I didn't really go all-in with it, (and I am disappointed in that. Whatever, what's done is done, I'm moving on, and choosing to do differently this year.) I am going to do the class exercises this year, all the way through. Even still, I did make progress last year, it just takes longer than I thought to right this ship, big changes can and will still be made. I want one of those "that was such an amazingly good year" years. Honestly, I can't remember the last time I felt that way, which tells me there is something wrong with my thinking right there! Like I said, I believe big changes can and will be made.

Here are some things I plan to use as tools to help me succeed:

• ali's class ($5.00 off until tomorrow)

• the free download goals kit here (you'll have to scroll a bit to find link to download)

• this kit

• free calendar & to do list here

 

How about you? What does success look like for you? Are you choosing a word for 2014? Any tools you're using and recommend? More info on the One Little Word movement here. 

 

HERE'S TO SUCCEEDING IN 2014!!! 

 

project life • 2014 plan

So, Project Life®...what is it? I found this definition:

That definition was found  here  (by someone who's PL I like very very much I might add). If you want the official scoop, you can learn lots more at the website here.

For me, it's the first ever scrapbooking, memory keeping, documenting, (whatever word you want to use) of our daily lives I've done ever. It was easy (of course, you can complicate it if you want, and for awhile there I did), and creatively fun, and totally rewarding now that the year is almost over and I have 2 albums full of weekly spreads to look through and relive our past year. The kids especially love it, and that makes my mama's heart burst a little. There are so many things I beat myself up for doing or not doing, it's nice to have something to pat myself on the back for. I'm totally doing it again this year. I've learned a ton and will definitely be changing it up for myself, but wanted to share the prep I'm starting for 2014 and thoughts from a "newbie" in case any of you out there are at all interested in joining in. Of course, it's not for everybody, but it's one of those things that is so malleable that it could be, if you're interested. 

I'm in for 2014 and have started prepping my album. Here's my first go at a title page:

I just used ink on cardstock that I cut to size. I had lots of fun the other day making monthly dividers too, using these dividers and this ink and brush. Bringing a little of my own creativity to my album:

Here's what I think are the basic needs: 

•an album. (not shown) last year i used 2 12x12 d-ring albums, and plan on doing the same for this year. this year i ordered two of these albums becuase I wanted only white. I love white, but also, I didn't want to be influenced by any other color peeking through on the borders every week. (for a visual example of what I mean, you can see my December Daily album here, the red of the binding definitely impacted my choices or sometimes interferred with my choices when all was said and done with a spread and it was placed in the album- you can't see the spread without seeing the red binding). some people choose to do one 12x12 album with monthly spreads, some choose a smaller size like this album. 

•page protectors. this system is built around the simplicity of sticking photos, notes, and the stuff of life into pockets, or "page protectors". they come in all sizes with all different size and layout of pockets. this year i ordered these three for the year: a set of format A for most of the 52 weeks, a variety box for the random need that pops up, an envelpe set for cards and notes that we give each other/receive throughout the year.

•a camera. i believe it's totally possible to do this project without a great camera. i'd say about 90% of my last years' album was done with my iphone (which is a 4S)- or maybe an iphone 4S is a great camera (i happen to think it's quite good, and imagine that the 5 is super, my thought is that the 4S is comperable to a good point and shoot, but of course, i don't really have any expertise here, just giving you my opinion.) now, all that said, i think (still mulling it over) that i want to focus on loving my photos more this year which means taking more with my "big camera" as i call it. (i'm mulling because maybe i don't, maybe i want this project to still be quick and dirty and free and fun and iphone snaps are more in alignment with that)

•a method for printing photos. this was huge for me this past year. up until starting PL in 2013, i had hardly printed any of the thousands of images since going digital. the project forced me to just get over it and find a way to get comfortable with printing. after the photoprinter that came free with my macbook years ago died, i bought this printer and LOVE it. I think the photos it prints are beautiful. now, here are some other options i know other people find successful in the PL world: outsourcing your photo printing at places like costco or persnickityprints, or others rave about this printer or this one, dedicated 4x6 printers. if you do choose to print at home, i recommend stocking up on ink replacement cartridges and photo paper (i like semigloss). 

after you have the above handled, you're really set to begin, some other optional items that I use regularly are:

•a tiny stapler. •a corner rounder (sometimes i use, sometimes i don't, i don't know why) •a tape runner. • a core kit for this year i bought this one (as seen in the photo above, however, last year i went without an official "core kit", using hand-me-down cards and the cards from the studiocalico PL kit (love that kit every month, cute stuff!), so you totally don't need one to do it. •sharp scissors- i happen to love these, and not just because they are white, but it helps ;)- they're big and super sharp. •a paper cutter- i tried using an inexpensive one, cutting by hand, and a vintage one at first, then mid year broke down and bought this pricey one. it has been worth every penny. cuts like butter! •pen that writes on photos- i like these for the variety and the way they perform on glossy to semi to matte paper surfaces. 

Of course, there are tons of other things you could get if you wanted to, but those are the basics as I see them. Just for fun, you could download these super cute quote cards that Elise kindly made into a free downloadable after using them in her 2012 PL.

Love them. I didn't use them last year, but think I might this year. I love quotes and the message could potentially really tie a spread together. Go here to download them. While you are over there, you might want to see her super cute and clever title page for PL 2014 and her plan of attacking it here. 

Other than getting my monthly dividers and title page started, I've been putting post-its in the page protectors to mark the dates. 

I found it helpful to do that last year. You can see, I'm still using them, even as the week fills in:

So, here's the thing, I think that the photos in the pockets (and the occasional drawing, note, school project etc.) are what my kids and I will treasure for years to come. (of course, it doesn't matter that it's in a pocket. Any album, any printed book, any way I got the pictures from the computer onto something tangible is what matters, the pocket system just made it easy enough that I actually did it, and kept with it on a regular basis.) If I didn't have children, I'd totally be doing it as well, as my own personally diary of my own life and adventures, like a personal, paper version of the blog I suppose. As a matter of fact, I'm going to do that in some format for my creative pursuits this year. Still working out the details in my head on that one. Getting the story told, whether it's mine, or ours, that's the deepest motivator for me. The pretty papers, embellishments, design aspects are things that make the project fun for me to do, and pleasing esthetically to me, so they really aren't needed, but if they inspire me to do it, who cares?!? No one, so I allow myself the freedom to play as I choose. And, it's been a gift to me and here's why: I see our everday life a little differently. I notice more. I try to seek out some good, I'm seeing the magic in the mundane, and it's motivating me to capture and even at times create moments with meaning.  So, there you have it, my thoughts on Project Life, for what they're worth, being a first timer and all ;). 

and another anthro inspired felt garland

If you've read this blog for nearly any length of time, you know I love garlands, and felt, and Anthro, (remember this one from a few years ago?)...and when they all come together in a new craft diy, I can't help but share. It may be a little late for this holiday season, I'm putting mine away today, but hey, you can get a major head start on next year's holiday season! Of course, depending on the colors you choose, it could be appropriate all throughout the year too. Here's how I made my version of this Anthropologie garland:

I grabbed my pile of felt scraps to begin. I have always loved felt, especially wool felt, and  have bought it through the years at flea markets, thrift stores and fabric stores. I also bought some wool blend from Heather Bailey and love it, her colors are really great. I started cutting it by hand, but soon realized that was going to be a long, arduous process, so I switched to a new plan:

 

Out came my rotary cutter and self healing matt and a ruler that has my little brother's name scrawled in 8 year old penmanship on the back (I treasure it). 

As you can see, the pieces cut are imperfect, and about 1/2 and inch wide and a little over 2 inches tall. I cut the tails on some but didn't end up using them for this garland. 

I wish I could tell you how many I cut, but I truly, have no idea. I just used scraps and small pieces and called it good. You can always cut and add more to your garland at any point. 

I used an embroidery needle and some DMC "coton perle" to stitch the garland together. I decided to pinch the strip of felt together with my fingers and went through the felt in 2 points that way. 

It looks like this after the first go through.

I then went back through, going close to, but not through the first stitch, and going the opposite direction as the first stitch was made. 

That way, when you pull it taught, you get a nice pinched effect. 

Now, at this point, if you wanted to, you could come back up from the center of the pinched piece, but I didn't, I wanted the sort of off-centered, gathered look, so instead: 

I just pulled the thread up from the side where it came out after the second pass through, and started with a new piece:

After doing that about 500 times (really, I have no idea how many, but the thought did come to me that if I was able to find one at Anthro after the holiday on sale, it might be a better use of time, haha), I had a sweet garland. 

When I asked my daughter to hold it for a photo today, she couldn't resist using it as a boa...it does remind me of that...

But we're going to stick with it as a garland around here. Elise had a different diy inspired by the same Anthro garland, you can see hers here. Let me know if you make one, I'd love to see! Happy end to the holidays!!! 

field trip • irvine farmers market

 

We went to the Irvine Farmer's Market this morning on a little family field trip. It was small, but lots of fresh veggies and fruit and a few other goodies to be had at what seemed to be reasonable prices. I always love having my camera at a farmer's market or fruit stand. I would have liked a little more time to take it in...but the family doesn't enjoy my having my camera at a farmer's market as much as I do ;).

Happy Saturday! 

 

december may be fast, but it's festive too

Like I said in the last post, December is whizzing by...but, I was thinking, it's full of fun and festive and merriment. I suppose if it wasn't so fun, it wouldn't feel like hours go by in minutes (well, maybe anyway...). Here's some more fun in the works around here: 

I have always loved honeycomb...the older the better usually, but this year, Ikea had sets of honeycomb ornaments and I could not resist. Just a couple days ago I also couldn't resist messing with them a little. Not that they aren't perfectly fabulous as they come (round balls), but I took a pair of scissors to them and started shaping them a little like ornaments. (You can also buy honeycomb sheets on amazon.)

Always a good day when a Harry & David package arrives on your doorstep!

I truly love packaging and the details. This "gift" was cut from a Target PaperChase line of gift tags (couldn't find link) and is now being used in my December Daily. 

Even better than Harry & David are roses...well, to me, anyway! Never heard of "Passion Roses" but love the tag and their "live life with Passion" motto.

I mentioned I had a few more crafting ideas percolating...and this wasn't one of them. Not what I was thinking at all, haha, we'll see where it goes. 

Oh gold...you've really come on strong this year and "struck gold" and are experiencing quite the trend! ;) I have a renewed appreciation for you. 

But trends come and go, we'll always be fans of traditional and vintage Christmas around here too. 

It's Friday, December 20th, for sure we'll be doing at least 3 of these things on our favorites list today. Here's to celebrating whatever you celebrate, in whatever way you want to. Like I said, it's Friday...I'm a fan, and am betting you are too!

 

slow down december!

Well hello there! I can.not.believe that it's the 18th of December! Can you?!?! I must be getting older, because with each passing day the calendar pages seem to be flying off with increasing speed. That shot above was taken while on a plane heading from San Fransisco to Oregon last week. Can you see the Golden Gate bridge? I was assisting Heather on one of her styling assignments. It's always fun to lend a helping hand, and see fabulous houses up close and personal, but leaving home in December is hard for me, I get back and feel behind behind behind! I took some shots of what's going on around here today to get back on the blogging bandwagon:

Late last night I made some of Rachel's  Himmeli ornaments using straws I bought at Target. Rachel is such a cutie and her DIYs are excellent, this one is no exception. 

'

I'm working on a tutorial myself for this Anthro inspired garland. Should have it up in the next day or so for those of you that love to craft over the holidays like I do. There are two other craft ideas that I can't stop thinking about pursuing too...hoping to make some time to see them come to fruition!

Before I left for work, I was on a roll with my December Daily. If you want to see more shots you can see my full book with close ups here. I've been working on catching back up:

While I was away my daughter texted me this shot- I've yet to get out and do any looking or shopping, but had I been with her, I sure would have been tempted to shop for some gifts...for myself! 

I did get outside to catch this glorious sunset the other day though:

And then, there's these that need placing on the tree:

Here's to slowing down December, one moment at a time...or giving it my best shot! xo

 

spain blurbed

I made my first Blurb book and I am head over heels in love with it! 

After seeing Mary Ann's delicious stack of growing Blurb books, I couldn't resist. It's going to be a Christmas present for my husband. Well, of course, between you and me, it's one of those gifts for the family that sure is a gift to myself as well, gotta be honest ;).

I went with the 7x7 hardcover book with full bleed photos. I ended up with 178 pages and chose one of the upgraded papers, not sure which one anymore. It really wasn't too hard or time consuming, and becuase it was on special, cost about $75.00 including tax and shipping. Not bad for a family keepsake. Here are some of the pages:

Oh, just posting it here makes me want to go and look at it again! I even included a photo once home of the treasures we brought back with us, and my travel journal in process (spread shown above). I think I'll write on some of the pages like Mary Ann has done, I like that personal addition. Maybe I'll get the family to do some jotting of notes as well, that'd be fun, to have their writing in it. Now all I can think about is all the other books I want to make. One wth my journal pages, one about our last house, one about this house, one for the year encapsulated...and on the list goes. Blurb books are my new favorite gift, and I can not wait to give it in 14 days!!! (oh man, 14 days?!?...so not ready!...off to work I go!!)

 

field trip: a home in laguna

Yesterday, I spent the day staring out this very window as much as possible while still doing other tasks I was there to do. A designer friend needed help with a holiday decor install at a client's home, and knowing my love for houses and holiday decorating both, invited me to assist. Two words: house envy. I mean, seriously? those views! But it had so much more than amazing views, it was understated in size, full of character and authentic age and style. I thought you'd enjoy some photos:

Ready to move in? That's what I thought. Me too...

 

charlotte's quilt finished!

I've finally finished the long ago started gift for my dear friend, Charlotte. It's a lap quilt, sized just right for her to sit in her cozy home stitching something...that's how I'm picturing it anyway ;). It's a crazy quilt of sorts, made up without a pattern, just a mix up of her fabrics and some vintage bits and pieces mixed in. 

I even included the selvage edge, having her name on it and all...

I did some hand stitching...

...and machine stitching both.

As you can tell, it's not about perfect, but instead the charm of handmade. 

Learning how to make and stitch on a proper binding wasn't hard with computer tutorials. 

Isn't that label cute? I got it here. It's stitched onto the back (fabric was from JoAnn's...I didn't have enough yardage of her fabric, but I think it matches nicely.) Here's the quilt all finished:

And after giving it a fresh wash and tumble dry, it's on it's way to it's new home, just in time for winter lap warming!

 

december daily 2013 | days 1 & 2

I really love this project, December Daily. This is my second year and I feel more focused on what I want out of it, why I'm doing it. As Ali says, it's about getting intentional with the holiday season and this year I'm aligned with that in spirit. I'm not sure how to describe the difference I'm feeling in my approach compared to last year, but there is one, haha. Anyway, Here are my first two days:

I got frustrated with the little wooden pieces moving all about and getting stuck on each other, so I trapped them in smaller pockets by stitching on the machine. Take that little wooden troublemakers! 

You know I have to tuck a little vintage in here and there! 

 

Anyone out there doing it too? I'd love to see your pages, leave a link in the comments if you care to share.

Happy December 3!

 

around here

Checking in with a currently-around-here report, photo essay style. I'm regrouping this first Monday morning of December and have big plans for a full week of getting.things.done! Wearing festive sweater and all. As a matter of fact, my entire outfit is from Target...not sure if that's a good or bad thing, but I have to tell you these Denizen dark jeans I bought there are one of my favorite wardrobe staples. I give them two thumbs up! (No affiliation whatsoever.)

 There's  a little mending of a holiday sampler from last year in progress...

and Fall decor is being gathered and put away. Although Thanksgiving was later this year, it felt like a short, but sweet, fall season. Kinda wish it would have stuck around a little longer. 

When pulling the doilies off the pumpkin I'd covered, I realized that I now have some lace bowls...I've seen them before on pinterest and other sites, now I'm yearning to make one intentionally. All I used was ModPodge. Easy peasy. 

Haven't gotten out the holiday decor yet, but trying to gather up the items I've found here or there during this past year, like these above found in Kansas while there for Whatever Craft Weekend. (If only I would tuck all finds in the same place, it'd make it so much easier to remember where I put them!)

Pepperberries are being collected on each walk...a wreath might be in order this year...

Christmas cards were ordered early this year and are in the house! Time to get to the addressing. Usually, I try to take a photo of my kids during the holiday season itself, which with a daughter away at college makes for short turnaround time (and a bit of stress). This year, I decided to use one of the photos taken while we were in Spain this summer. (I used Minted, as I have for the past 4 years, and am pleased with the quality again.) Every year at this time I realize that we just don't take photos of our family of four...gonna work on that this year...even one would be an improvement!

Lots of printing of photos and printables going on right now. One of the best things I did this year was get over my fear/dread/ignorance of printing at home. Cute printables were free from Cathy Zielske.  They'll be used in my December Daily™. Speaking of...

I've got my  Studio Calico December Daily kit  out and am tossing some of those treasures collected through the year in there to use as well. 

I'm also pleased to report that I did day one! I loved this photo from yesterday and tried to write on it in PS...wasn't totally successful (that program gets me every time- in a bad way...so much to learn), but still pleased that I tried and got it done. I plan on 2014 being to PS what 2013 was to home photo printing for me. ;)

Last night's remains of Project Life® found on the family room floor where I was futzing while watching The Good Wife...(still love that show). I snapped some "animals in their natural habitat" ;) shots yesterday while my daughter was getting ready to head back to college and my son was reading his assigned reading material. I wanted to get the photos in the book while it was all still fresh in my mind. I like it much better when I enjoy the process while feeling caught up. (It causes me take a lot more photos, participating in Project Life, and I like that, even the photos that won't make the book, like this one below. Real life captured.)

I'll be putting away the poker chips. I instagrammed over the holiday about how our latest family game has become poker, and how while it is fun, it is bittersweet, because I don't think of poker as a younger child's game. In other words, my kids are getting really old; yay! and boo! both, emphasis on the boo! 

And I'm going to photograph and wrap up the quilt I finally finished (photos to come!) and take it to the post with my etsy orders. (Speaking of which, thank you for those. I don't say it enough but really appreciate the orders!) 

Ok! Enough talking about what I'm working on and time to get back to work! Hope you're feeling hopeful about the week and off to a good start yourself!

 

december daily 2013

I'm going to be participating in the December Daily™ tradition of holiday memory keeping this year. It's a concept created by Ali Edwards that a great big group of people do as well; a documenting of your holiday season. I did it last year and really enjoyed it, and now that I've gotten so much more comfortable with printing photos, pocket pages etc. since participating in Project Life® documenting system, I'm betting I'll find #decdaily even more fun this year. Although you can do it any way you want to, I chose to buy the Ali Edwards/Studio Calico kit which includes a binder, the pocket pages and lots of products for filling the book. You certainly don't need to buy a kit to participate though, so if you're interested, don't let that throw you off. Seeing that tomorrow is December 1, I thought I'd share some of the foundation pages I've started. I plan on using these   somewhere throughout the month.

This first one was made by sewing a bunch of silver paper alphas to a pocket page that had been cut to size. The alphas were from the Target dollar spot. I bought three sets, so ran out of some letters, and had to cut up some extra letters to make do as you can see here:

It's not perfect, but much easier than another Target run...hoping to avoid that for the rest of December! Once I stitched them on with my sewing machine, I just slid that page right inside one of the pockets, easy peasy. (See picture at top of post for that visual.)

I did a similar thing with the gold glitter stickers ...didn't need any sewing to do that one! 

I do love the see-through nature of these pages. Getting peaks at the pretty that lies behind is fun. 

I think most of these cards and stickers here were part of the kit. I just painted some of those wooden embellishments before tucking them in. 

I found paint daubers to be supper easy to use for this. I used this brand, purchased previously for the colors, but any daubers would do, of course, use what you have! I just didn't feel like using acrylic paint with a brush and getting my fingers all painty at the time, those pieces are itty bitty, so the daubers made it possible to keep my fingers clean.

Love when pockets look as pretty from the back as from the front. Love that reindeer too. That was from a Kelly Purkey stamp set, (I think). I used this watermark pad with pink embossing powder. Getting crazy up in here! 

Some washi tape on cards is super easy prep for writing later.  

 

More washi tape with some alpha glitter stickers. I ran out of room for the stickers, so wrote the word season on with an embossing pen and used green embossing powder on it. 

I also made some journal cards for the pockets using this stylus on an ipad with the SketchBook Pro app. And that pretty much sums up all I've pre prepped for these next 25 days of documenting. You can see lots of other foundation page prep linked at the bottom of this post of Ali's. And, of course, I'll post more here as my book develops. Happy December!