Craft With May

I’ve been fighting off a cold of some sort – and it’s really been a pain more than anything. My energy is zapped, my throat hurts so bad, I’m all achy and miserable… it just stinks. My brain continues to function normally – except at an extremely SLOW pace.

I have a point here, and it’s not self pity.

There have  been a few comforting things over the last few days, and I thought I’d share. Perhaps they’ll bring you comfort, or perhaps they’d make good gift ideas for someone you know. After all – holidays are coming quick!

So I just finally finished this book:

On the one hand, I really liked the writing and the story overall. That there was consequence, that she messed up, that it wasn’t peachy perfect. Yet the other part of me kind of thinks it’s s snob book. What I mean is – the authors write about this girl who thinks that she is not smart but in reality the only argument is that she’s dyslexic and didn’t go to college. She seems pretty dang intelligent to me. Oh, and then there’s all the unsaid stuff and it felt like one of those annoying lit class or book club books where you’re supposed to discuss and find symbolism and… (zzzzzzzzz). But what do I know – maybe that’s a good thing? If I had to grade it I’d probably give it a B- I liked all the animals and nature stuff.

Next let’s talk tea. If I have my choice I’d take Harney & Sons or Mighty Leaf tea. My #1 favorite is their chamomile citrus tea.

Isn’t it pretty? It comes in silky little bags and is awesome. I’ve given a box of it to 3 different people and they all loved it – as tea and as an indulgent winter gift. Now, when I’m chugging mugs ‘o tea like today I resort to cheap stuff – whatever’s on sale in chamomile. But as a special tea time treat? The Mighty Leaf is fantastic – a single bag will totally do a whole teapot like this one-

This is my Fleur de Lys teapot from Anthropologie. I’ve NEEDED a new teapot for daily use, and this one is so me. So pretty and I just adore it. I’m glad I found it down in Berkeley on Wednesday (aka day I got sick!)

Cindy Gerard is my romantic suspense #1. She writes creeeeeeepy bad guys and tough chick heroines and I’m totally on edge the whole time. This wasn’t my favorite – but still kept me resting & occupied while I sipped tea all day today.

It’s much too long of a story – but I’m buying some wood grain fabric (this one from E-quilter for SURE) to do some sewing stuff.

http://www.equilter.com/cgi-bin/webc.cgi/st_prod.html?p_prodid=117651&sid=31U9Hz2ECAHyAbH-18109095013.73

Finally after reading THIS article by Meg Cabot I’m going to check out the Betsy-Tacy books. I could justify this by saying I’m scoping out for my daughter’s future enjoyment, but I won’t. I am curious as a reader and I don’t remember these but it seems like I would have read them.

Do you have any feel-good books or ideas this fine fall day? Do share – especially if it’s books. I’ll be here resting & doing my part to get better so that my eyes will open up wide enough to be crafty once again!

~ May

Finally I’ve gotten around to finishing the proposal, part deux. Part 1 can be found here. I hope you enjoy…

As the weeks rolled by after the Disneyland trip I found myself getting more irritated, annoyed, and worst of all insecure. I was irritated with myself for being so single mindedly obsessed with becoming Mrs. Flaum. I was also feeling incredibly unsure of myself and of J’s feelings about the whole deal. Perhaps he didn’t want forever? Was he changing his mind about it? What was going on?

In November we tried going ring shopping. I say “tried” because sales people are so awkward by nature and it was not a fun experience since I wanted to try out every ring and possibility, and J isn’t that patient a shopper.

Wanting a ring neither too big, too expensive, or too common I decided to try it on my own and I found it one day on my lunch break down at the local mall. The next day I brought J with me to check it out, and he agreed it was perfect. For me, for everything. I got myself sized by the jeweler who made notes about what I wanted and we left – ring un-purchased.

Looking back I’d love to say that at this point I chilled out and enjoyed life. The truth? Well the truth is I don’t even remember much about that holiday season because I was a crazy woman. Girfriend-zilla, if you will. Angry huffs, irritated thoughts, lip biting, stink eyeing, fight starting… yeah I was kind of a total monster. I did know I was being this way too – I just couldn’t stop it. I don’t do well with surprises I know are coming and I don’t do well with waiting for big things to happen. Over this, I had no control and it made me ber-zonkers.

After Christmas (I knew he’d NEVER propose on a holiday- we’d discussed that before) he asked me to start putting together information and such on a Disneyworld trip about a year off. Universal Orlando too – a big trip. I started looking into stuff and gathering information and I showed him what I had one day and asked him about budgeting and if such a big trip was a good idea just for fun.

He said it was to be our honeymoon. Now – you might be thinking I was excited. I was not. I threw my binder of research. I snarled, glared, yelled, arm waved… I was girl angry. I mean – we’re not engaged, the ring I want is still down at the store (yes, I peeked. often.) and he’s asking me to plan the honeymoon? WHAT!?!?!?!?! I reminded him that he did so not have a fiancée, and that perhaps he’d like to get one before hiring a travel agent (me) to book a honeymoon.

Then one day in late January I was watching one of my favorite old movies on TCM – Calamity Jane. When it got to the scene where Wild Bill smacks Calamity (aka Doris Day) and tells her that she’s “female thinkin’. Pure snarlin’, green eyed, female thinkin'”  and shakes his head in disgust it hit me.

I was being an idiot. I didn’t truly have doubt about J’s feelings, that we would go to the married place of life, have a family, or any of that. Not really. I was just hung up on this whole making it official thing. I was being a totally ridiculous woman and I needed to chill the heck out. Finally, finally I got myself back together.

*********

We don’t ever celebrate Valentine’s Day in big showy ways, and we never go out to dinner on 2.14 either. Instead we go out to dinner at some point before or after – depending on how the schedule falls for J’s work. In 2001 Jason suggested we go out on the 13th to a steak house in San Francisco called Harris. Being a lover of steak, and excited to try this place I agreed it was a good plan. I’m not going to lie here – the thought crossed my mind that he might ask me THE question at dinner.

At a table for two over salads and appetizers, perfectly prepared steaks, a luscious dessert, and perfect atmosphere we chatted and enjoyed a perfect dining experience. The classic steak house leather and dark colors decor was just a touch more elegant, a bit more refined here and I loved it. It was a great night, and perfect pre-Valentine celebration.

Riding back home in J’s truck I was totally blissed out on amazing food, a great experience, and the twinkling lights as we left San Francisco in the rear view mirror to head north back home. It was a clear night, as winter so often is here and any fog was sparse. Coming off of the Golden Gate bridge J turned into the vista point – I assumed he needed to pee. When he parked he said that he’d just wanted to stop for a moment and enjoy the clear night and view of the city. 

Great idea.

I love that vista point and looking at the iconic bridge with the city twinkling and sparkling behind it, in full view thanks to great (if frigid) weather was perfect. I got out of the car and went over to the stone wall to stand in silence and enjoy. Breathing the cold air in through my nose, watching tourists and locals alike enjoy a moment, and feeling totally content with the moment – I was happy.

 Then J dropped to one knee. 

To this day I look back and try to figure out how I didn’t figure it out, how I didn’t know it was coming at that moment and I just can’t explain. I had been so jumpy and watching for it for so many months, I guess I finally forgot to be on look out.

With the cold air swirling and lights twinkling, there at the Golden Gate vista point he asked me to marry him and I said yes. We kissed, we hugged, and about one minute later J whispered to me “now let’s go get back in the truck, lock it, and drive on back home. It’s late and there are some shady characters lurking. I’d rather not get jacked for your ring.”

That’s us – romantic and memorable, but always practical.

photo @ Epoct 2.02

Christy of Scarlet Lime e-mailed me last night with this image:

who wouldn’t want this kit? 

Guess what? YOU could have this kit if you just leave a comment here. That’s right, she’s given me one of these beauties to gift to one of you just because I’m a new team member. Sweet, no?

Leave a comment – and I’ll draw a winner Tuesday the 6th…

Do you remember when Jake Ryan shows up and waves to Samantha? How she turned to look and verify he meant her, and he whispers “yeah you.” I’m ready to share a recent moment that felt like this.

(ps – if you don’t know Jake Ryan, RUN and rent 16 candles. Or come over. We can watch it together as I’m ALWAYS available for a viewing of this film.)

Ok so my story. It’s just over a week ago and I’m doing my morning e-mail checking, responding, etc. I see an e-mail from Christy at Scarlet Lime which isn’t too odd considering one of her kits is featured in my upcoming class and I click on it.

Then I blink. I turn and look behind me. I check side to side and re-verify I’m in my own e-mail account…

she asked me to join the Scarlet Lime team, as Zoolander would say- “for serious”.  I  was a guest designer for them one year ago and LOVED the experience – and now I get to be on the team. I think I had a dignified response, but the one said aloud here in the bat cave was more like “SHUT UP! WOO HOO! YEAH!” Ok, and there might have been a little (big) dance too.

I’m just keepin’ it real y’all. I’m thrilled, honored to be asked, and happy to bring you my debut offerings:

 

You’ve got to see this one in person to really get it. I hand cut the heart with pinking shears then adhered to background paper and turned over paper edge to expose the pink.

To keep it down I machine stitched. My tip- keep tearing the paper as you go around to make it work better.

The brown pearls are slam-a-lamin cute. I didn’t realize I’d become addicted to them.

Oh and that tulle. What a pain. What I mean is this – to get those pearls & buttons to hold it down into place required a lot of liquid adhesive, heavy things to hold them down while they dried, and patience. Lots of that.

Once it was all dry though? Oh I’m in love. I want to do this again & again.

My second page with main kit…

I call this one “olde school while on phone at 2am”. See this was the first page I made with this kit and my bean was tweaked. I kept getting locked up thinking about how my pages would be lined up each month by the legendary Valerie Salmon & Greta Hammond (not to mention the other new designers!) So instead of focusing on my page I waited until it was LATE. I worked hard on Big Picture stuff and then started chatting with my dear cousin around midnight. As we talked on the phone I fiddled with products and by the time I hung up this page had appeared on my desk. I remember when teaching students in classes to fold over the paper (to reveal both patterns) was considered a huge revelation in scrapbooking. To show both sides… whoa. I made more class pages with folded over corners like the one in bottom left than anything else that year.  At 2am I wasn’t sure how I felt about the page, but when I came back the next morning? Yes. I definitely like what I did. Phew!

FYI- trying middle of night creating is not for faint of heart. Sometimes the results will be hideous. embarrassingly so. But that’s how you get to the good stuff – let yourself be ok with creating ugly stuff too.

Now onto the project kit-

I love this kit. Pink + brown + orange was sooo good to me. These photos have made me crazy from their cuteness (check that pointed fat little foot!) for weeks now, but I’ve been working with class stuff that had no room for dress up pics. Then when I spied that lace trim made just for me I knew what to do.

I grabbed that brown paper, added that lace between the two photos and worked around that. Seriously – I knew exactly that I just wanted those 2 pics + lace and whatever else worked out would be fine by me. I hand wrote (backwards) the title on patterned paper and cut it out with my trusty micro tip scissors.

Outside thread, adhesive, and tools I used nothing outside the kits. NOT EVEN CARDSTOCK with all these pages. Are you shocked? I sure was.

This was fun too – and Christy sure does pack her kits with good trims.

I crimped that pink paper, like, totally. Crimping feels “so 2000 and late”  if you know what I mean but in a good way. I loved how that paper looked crimped up.

See that plastic circle? That’s one part of one of the round beads in the project kit. I got crazy and tried to bust one apart to see if I could use parts. When I did, I found out it’s just rings of dotted edges (like this) put together. I totally had a mad scientist doing crazy crafting in my volcano lair over that. FUN.

Well that’s it from me for today – but of course now on the 1st of each month you’ll be seeing more of me + Scarlet Lime. I’m VERY excited, can you tell?

You can see all our rookie/debut pages + the work of the always fabulous Great & Valerie (and guest designer Erin) over at www.scarletlime.com.

I’m loving on both these kits so much!! Ok, but now I really do have to go finish my Big Picture work. (I know, I know I keep saying that!)

Studio Calico has some peeks of my kit class up right now with their new kit Yearbook. http://studiocalico.blogspot.com/ 

Also, you so didn’t see this.

It’s not a peek from the final bonus handout in the final week of class. Nope. You didn’t see it here. Now I’m back to finishing up that handout. Yep – in the next 2 days or so I’ll be totally finished with class content… So loving it. I’ll do a layout count when I’m done. It’s over 50 for sure…

If you’re looking for more class info you can get it here – http://www.bigpicturescrapbooking.com/adventureskits.php and also check here on my blog in “big picture classes” category posts.

Winner of the big Fiskars prize: Elizabeth Williams (e-mail me mflaum (at) comcast . net to claim!) Related – if you’re waiting on happy mail… it’s going out tomorrow!

new fun prize is coming: 10.2

be good. I’ll be here crafting…