My Life in Pictures

Leslie's Green

Leslie picked the color "green" for our round robin.  Her book is already beautiful. I knew I wanted to do something a little different. I have a stack of old photo holders I have been wanting to alter.  I picked one out that would fit in her book, added an old photo ofmy grandparents and began to play. I used papers, napkins, a paper doily, a leaf skeleton, velvet leaves, cheesecloth, inks and paints. I added a piece of mica over the photo and a piece of mica on the bottom left hand side of the spread. I tied the photo holder shut with some of my hand dyed silk ribbon. 

 

The photo holder is on the right hand side of this spread. The quote reads, " There is nothing more important in life than to love and to be loved ".

 

This picture shows the photo holder open.

This is Max

     

"Ring Around the Rosie

A Pocket full of Posies." That is the theme of Robin's pocketfull book for the round robin I am in.  I love flowers, so this one was fun for me. We are to make treasures to tuck in the pockets on the pages. I made her a magnet "flower power doll" on a canning jar lid. She has velvet leaves for legs. Also tucked inside the pocket is a cutout of a little girl mounted on wood. I embellished her with rub ons and gave her some color with Color Box ink pads. She is a paper Whimsy image. She also has a crown and some metal wings. Another treasure for Robin's pocket is a tag with my own hand dyed silk ribbon.  This is the last book I have to work in. The next book that arrives at my home will be mine. I can't wait to see it. My theme is "Fly".

Here are some pictures of my work for Robin.

Page before the treasure's are tucked in.  

Treasures for Robin.

 

One side of the tag.

 

Other side of tag.

 

Completed page with treasures.

Thanks Toni

 

Thanks Toni. I am honored you choose me.

Red Shirt

 

 

Red Shirt         If the red shirt thing is new to you, read below how it went for a man...   Last week, while traveling to  Chicago on business, I noticed a Marine sergeant traveling with a folded flag, but did not put two and two together.    After we boarded our flight, I turned to the sergeant, who'd been invited to sit in First Class (across from me), and inquired if he was heading home.     No, he responded.    Heading out I asked?    No. I'm escorting a soldier home.    Going to pick him up?    No. He is with me right now. He was killed in Iraq , I'm taking him home to his family.    The realization of what he had been asked to do hit me like a punch to the gut. It was an honor for him. He told me that, although he didn't know the soldier, he had delivered the news of his passing to the soldier's family and felt as if he knew them after many conversations in so few days.    I turned back to him, extended my hand, and said, Thank you. Thank you for doing what you do so my family and I can do what we do.      Upon landing in Chicago , the pilot stopped short of the gate and made the following announcement over the intercom.    'Ladies!  and gentlemen, I would like to note that we have had the honor of having Sergeant Steeley of the United States Marine Corps join us on this flight. He is escorting a fallen comrade back home to his family. I ask that you please remain in your seats when we open the forward door to allow Sergeant Steeley to deplane and receive his fellow soldier.. We will then turn off the seat belt sign.'    Without a sound, all went as requested. I noticed the sergeant saluting the casket as it was brought off the plane, and his action made me realize that I am proud to be an American.    So here's a public Thank You to our military Men and Women for what you do so we can live the way we do.    Red Fridays.    Very soon, you will see a great many people wearing Red every Friday. The reason? Americans who support our troops used to be called the 'silent majority.' We are no longer silent, and are voicing our love for God, country and home in record breaking numbers. We are not organized, boisterous or overbearing.    Many Americans, like you, me and all our friends, simply want to recognize that the vast majority of American's supports our troops. Our idea of showing solidarity and support for our troops with dignity and respect starts this Friday -- and continues each and every Friday until the troops all come home, sending a deafening message that .. every red-blooded American who supports our men and women afar, will wear something red.      By word of mouth, press, TV -- let's make the   United States on every Friday a sea of red much like a homecoming football game in the bleachers. If every one of us who loves this country will share this with acquaintances, coworkers , friends, and family, it will not be long before the   USA is covered in  RED  and it will let our troops know the once 'silent' majority is on their side more than ever, certainly more than the media lets on..    The first thing a soldier says when asked 'What can we do to make things better for you?' is 'We need your support and your prayers.' Let's get the word out and lead with class and dignity, by example, and wear something red every Friday.

Rocker

One of my many cats.

   

A Walk on the Wild Side

I stumbled across this grouping of mushrooms in my yard. I had to snap a few pictures.

          

Ovarian Cancer and Those That Care

 

Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death from gynecologic cancers in the United States and is the fifth leading cause of cancer death among U.S. women. The American Cancer Society estimates that 21,650 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer in the U.S. in 2008 and about 15,520 women will die from the disease. It is an insidious disease that can strike without warning or cause.

The symptoms of ovarian cancer are often vague and subtle, making it difficult to diagnose. There is no effective screening test for ovarian cancer but there are tests which can detect ovarian cancer when patients are at high risk or have early symptoms. In spite of this patients are usually diagnosed in advanced stages and only 45% survive longer than five years. Only 19% of cases are caught before the cancer has spread beyond the ovary to the pelvic region. However, when ovarian cancer is detected and treated early on, the five-year survival rate is greater than 92%.

Until we have better early detection tools, all women should be educated about the disease so they can achieve early diagnosis and successful treatment. A woman's lifetime risk of ovarian cancer is 1 in 67. Listen to your body. Do not ignore symptoms.

Signs & Symptoms

• Vague but persistent and unexplained gastrointestinal complaints such as gas, nausea, and indigestion
• Abdominal bloating, pelvic and/or abdominal pain, and/or feeling of fullness
• Unexplained change in bowel habits (constipation or diarrhea)
• Unexplained weight gain or loss
• Frequency and/or urgency of urination
• Unusual fatigue• Shortness of breath
• New and unexplained abnormal postmenopausal vaginal bleeding

Find out more: http://www.ocrf. org

Men and women, from all over the country, have put their love and talents into making a charm or decorating a tie for a doll that will be auctioned off to raise money for this cause. 

Please take a look at these amaizng creations,  http://projecttiesthatbind.blogspot.com/

 

Holidays & Celebrations

I received a copy of this Somerset publication in the mail yesterday. To my surprise and excitement, my Halloween Candy Bucket made the issue. You can see it on page 113.

Tennessee Blooms