Making the most of every day

February's postcards: addressed and stamped

What happened to February . . . one minute it was the 1st and now the month is almost over! Even with an extra day this month seems WAY too short. With my good intentions of sending out tons of Valentine's postcards fallen by the wayside (I sent five), I managed to get 14 end-of-the month cards made. On my way home from the studio I'll stop by the corner mailbox and drop them in . . . just in time.

snowshoeing at Lake Easton State Park

For being such a short month (I know that it's only one or two days shorter) I managed to cram lots of activities into February (including work). Snowshoeing for the first time was fun and we (my sweetheart and I) plan to do it again. Saw two fabulous exhibits at the Portland Art Museum: Rothko and John Frame and while there visited Cargo (one of my favorite Portland stores). Spent several days at the beach with my book club gal pals . . .

thinking of buying this Chinese buffet at Cargo, just have to figure out

how to get it home to Seattle

lovely hellebores in Manzanita

flotsam or jetsam?

Neakanie Mountain

Miss Winnie discovers a new hiding spot

Still managed to find plenty of "kitten time" during the month. Every day she makes me laugh!

Working alone - Valentines for my pals

Japanese paper tape is a favorite collage material

The annual Valentine's Making Afternoon at my friend Susan's house is an event where I contribute supplies (papers, rubber stamps, glitter glue, envelopes, ribbon) for her guests, but rarely attend. My excuse has always been that since I make stuff for a living, it's not "fun" to do the same at a party (when I've just finished working on 100+ invites, more production of anything is definitely not appealing).

scalloped pinking shears add a special touch to any edge

Today while I was sewing and collaging my Valentines it hit me – I like being alone. In the quiet of the studio I make choices and experiment. It's just me and the materials (and sometimes NPR or a pod cast). Until Miss Winnie, our Balinese kitten, jumps on the table and asks for a little love - but then that's what Valentine's Day is all about isn't it?

Miss Winnie in the sun at the studio after tiring day of making Valentines

in my opinion there can never be too many polka dots

Ipad drawing # 16 - DrawFree app, sandy footprints

More sketchbook pages to check out

pages 25 & 26, you've got the winning ticket

Lovely weekend spent with family and friends - good food and wine, great conversations and a little shopping at REI. Back to work and schedules on Monday. How'd you spend your weekend?

pages 7 & 8, a stitch in time saves nine

pages 17 & 18, yellow dots and embroidery

Ipad drawing # 15 - DrawFree app

inspiration from the beach

Taking the challenge: February Instagram Pix

Ipad drawing # 14 - Brushes app

inspired by the round vases at Rejuvenation

Instgram Photo - February 2: Words

don't remember where I saw this phrase, but I've embroidered it

several times and was reminded of it's poignant meaning

when I purchased this photo at a Paris flea market

Saw this challenge and couldn't resist – it combines two of my current obsessions - taking photos with my Iphone (what can I say, I'm addicted) and using the Instagram app. This clever idea, concocted by Chantelle, an Australian blogger and social media editor, has hooked several of my Facebook pals. Looking forward to 27 more days of photo fun, what could be better? Come and play along!

Instgram Photo - February 1: Your view today

shopping yesterday - love these numbered stools - also took a pix of # 25

Looking for lighting - Finding much more

Colorful Bauer pottery, using the original molds

Have you been to Rejuvenation or seen their on-line catalog? Robin (sister-in-law & partner-in-crime) introduced me to the Portland store when we first moved back to the West Coast and I've been a fan ever since. Their featured products - original and authentic reproductions of period lighting - are so wonderful that I knew I'd find the perfect fixtures for our dining room.

Our living/kitchen/dining room has exposed beams and this industrial fixture (in red of course) will not only look way cool, but also give us much needed illumination. We're going with a wire cord instead of the rod. Still have to measure the space to see whether two or three lights will work best.

classic - reminds me of my grandma May's kitchen

I'd forgotten that they also carry other wonderful items and of course had to snap a few pix. After I'd settled on the my lights, here's what else caught my eye . . .

loved these pots - the colors and the smooth surfaces

they had this fan labeled as 'steampunk'

chicken-wire lamps, huge glowing globes of light and whimsy

this arrow kept blinking on and off

Ipad drawing #13, DrawFree app