A Short Video of some Motifs/Techniques Learned in the Free Courses!
Today, I've been "playing" some more with Illustrator. It is fun, and frustrating...at the same time! This border is sized to print all on a standard sheet of printing paper, but you can enlarge it or reduce it from there of course. 
I do not know who originally wrote this...but got it from my pal Eileene; I liked it so much...thought y'all might too!
"Jennifer's wedding day was fast approaching. Nothing could dampen her excitement - not even her parents nasty divorce.
Her mother had found the PERFECT dress to wear, and would be the best-dressed mother-of-the-bride ever!
A week later, Jennifer was horrified to learn that her father's new young wife had bought the exact same dress as her mother!
Jennifer asked her father's new young wife to exchange it, but she refused. Absolutely not! I look like a million bucks in this dress, and I'm wearing it, she replied.
Jennifer told her mother who graciously said, "Never mind sweetheart, I'll get another dress. After all, it's your special day."
A few days later, they went shopping, and did find another gorgeous dress for her mother.
When they stopped for lunch, Jennifer asked her mother, "Aren't you going to return the other dress? You really don't have another occasion where you could wear it."
Her mother just smiled and replied, "Of course I do dear...I'm wearing it to the rehearsal dinner the night BEFORE the wedding.
NOW I ASK YOU, IS THERE A WOMAN OUT THERE THAT WOULDN'T ENJOY THIS STORY?
Women are like phones: They like to be held, talked to, and touched often. But push the wrong button and you're disconnected!
Women are Angels. And when someone breaks our wings...we simply continue to fly...on a broomstick.We're flexible like that!
(Thanks Eileen, this was a really good one!)
Last night, was my test night for sleep aphea. I already had this done about 15 years ago, and know that I do have that condition...but I didn't do anything about it at the time. Now, I just can't ignore it any longer. I'm tired all the time.
And, I was right...I'm not resting at all when I sleep.Last night, I was hooked to about 15-20 sensors that were "stuck" to my body in various place to measure my breathing, my brain waves, whether I kick my legs, etc. There was a clip on my finger to monitor my oxygen levels and a tubing strapped to my face with nodes in my nose and mouth to measure my breathing.
It's a wonder that I could even get to sleep...but after settling in, it was possible after about 45 minutes. They wanted me to sleep on my back if possible...but that was not happening...as I have slept on my side for decades. I tried, really, I did...but after about 20 minutes...gave up and rolled to my side. Was asleep in about 15 minutes after that.Woke up twice during the night...or so I thought.But, being "fully awake" and being just "awake" is two different things.My brain can wake up...without me being fully awake. And, apparently...when your brain is awake...that means you are not resting. Okay, that makes sense to me.Why would your brain "wake up" when you are asleep? Well...mostly...because you stop breathing. And the brain wakes up, mentally slaps you around...so that you start breathing again. Okay, that might also explain why I'm so tired and achy in the morning...all that "slapping around".Bottom line...my brain woke up "69 times an hour", and I stopped breathing "46 times an hour", and my oxygen level dropped below 89% for about 58% of an hour...as the lowest it dropped to 70% level.Yep, I'm not getting any rest!So, I go back to the Sleep Center on the 30th of July...to be fitted for my CPAP machine.
This handy little scientific breakthrough will push air into my throat/nose...keeping my throat from closing and me from stopping to breath. It is intended to keep you sleeping and resting longer. That's after you get used to having something strapped to your face pushing air down your throat. I'm not looking forward to the new "addition" but it is needed, and I'm praying that I'll be able to tolerate it...and that it will help.Will keep y'all posted along the process.
Right now...I've got to go wash the "goo" out of my hair...this is the stuff that holds the little "sensors" in place on my head...and feels like Silly Putty or Slime. Yuck!
There was a window full of ripe tomatoes this morning, so I managed to get two more quarts of tomatoe juice canned...and have a glass full left over.Check out the tutorial for canning tomatoes if you missed it.
I'm working on a cover for My Crazy Ideas Sketchbook, and thought you might enjoy doing the same for a journal or sketchbook of yours.Here is the layout of the front cover that I'm using.
Trace the lines of the design (not the numbers) on to a piece of white muslin, linen, or other favorite fabric to create the embroidery. Resize the layout to fit your own journal size front.
Trace the embroidery design into the pattern area "1". Place the design a little below the "center"... (Mine is a little too high).You will use the drawn lines to help align fabric pieces one-at-a-time to complete the crazy style patchwork. Work in order of the numbered pieces (start with "1", then "2", etc). Note: these are not the "stitching lines", these are the "alignment lines".
I like to use left-over strips of fabric...but you can just cut several from a few fat quarters. Make them different heights, using the pattern guide to determine just high.
Align fabric edge with pencil line, pin, and stitch...
Fold up and Press, Fold Excess Back at Next Alignment Pencil Line,
Trim to match the next alignment line,
Repeat until you have worked all of the pieces, in order of their number.Place the front in your embroidery hoop, and complete your stitching.
.In Part 2...we'll work on some seam stitching, and create the journal cover.
My journal is full of ideas for organizational tools, I just can't get the samples and class instructions written as fast as I want. But, it's good to be feeling "excited" again about stitching, and not as tired as I have been lately.
Here is a tote that I just finished sewing, and am working on the directions for.
It has loads of pockets, including one large one in the back that will hold a hoop, and a medium on that is large enough for a large book, large rotary cutter, and pencil/pen/crochet hook in the sectioned off parts.
The inside also has multiple pockets, as well as the sides.One side has rings to hold "clip on" items...that are not created yet, but are in my Crazy Ideas Journal so I don't forget. Wish I had enough energy and time to do all that my brain can think up!If you are interested in the Rose & Lilac Collection of organizational items, you can obtain the pattern as part of the class instruction over at Maureen's Vintage Acquisitions...just click on her link to Anytime Classes.The cost of the class is about what a sewing pattern costs these days...as I'm keeping them really affordable.They are so easy, I don't expect to be doing a lot of "work" to provide extra instructions...but, will of course if a students needs any help.Hugs!
Check out this report from the Federal Bureau of Investigation... "Six Estonian nationals have been arrested and
charged with running a sophisticated Internet fraud ring that infected
millions of computers worldwide with a virus and enabled the thieves to
manipulate the multi-billion-dollar Internet advertising industry. Users
of infected machines were unaware that their computers had been
compromised—or that the malicious software rendered their machines
vulnerable to a host of other viruses." Read more about this on the FBI website at this link:http://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/2011/november/malware_110911 Check you computer to see if it is infected by clicking on the link in this FBI table for your country:https://forms.fbi.gov/check-to-see-if-your-computer-is-using-rogue-DNS
For those in the United States, here is the link:http://www.dns-ok.us/
When you go to the site, you will see a graphic image. If your image comes up with a green background, your computer is recognizing DNS IP Addresses correctly, if the background is red...you need to clean your computer.Check and clean your computer by Monday, 9 July which is the day that the virus activates if your system is infected.
Just trying to get the word out.Hugs,
