A New Chapter

This photo that Hilery took last week when she was here visiting, helping and having fun with me is so charming. It was taken on Hay Street in the downtown historic district of my new hometown, Fayetteville, NC. After almost four months here, I'm finally starting to feel a little bit settled (thanks to my daughter's help). I'm so content and happy with the huge change we decided to make in our lives by moving from the midwest to the south.

Halloween ATC's

Mom just left after what will probably be her last visit to Wichita. We found some time to create in my craft room. Fall always makes me anxious to get out my Halloween goodies, and Mom was wanting a refresher course in a couple of transfer techniques. We made some packing tape transfers as well as a couple of gel medium transfers then turned them into ATC's. The top five are hers and the the bottom 7 are mine. There were a couple of additional cards that didn't make it into the photo. We 'copied' each others ideas a time or two, but they still managed to look like 'our own' style. It was alot of fun and the next time we get together will be in a totally new space in our new home in North Carolina!

Picture Our New House Here

After looking at SO many houses I was dizzy, we couldn't decide on anything that we thought would work for us. This pretty lot was already 'cleared' (we don't do that in KS!). It's in a lovely gated golf community and we'll build a small home here and ultimately buy a great beach house too... at least I hope so!

Riding the Waves

We just got back from house hunting in N.C. We were delighted to discover that dogs aren't banned from the beach! During the off-season they can go out any time, day or night. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, they are allowed after 5:00 p.m. and before 8:00 a.m. We spent several days at Holden Beach and walked the dogs each evening, and on our last morning took them out and watched the sunrise. This photo isn't in perfect focus, but I love how Susie's head is just barely poking out of the wave as she swims toward shore.

North Carolina Bound

I took some photos of a few different North Carolina beaches when we were out in May...... I went for a job interview, was offered a position, and after alot of agonizing over the pros and cons decided to take a chance and go for it! It is just beautiful there, and we only saw the smallest fraction of what the state has to offer. We're making plans and preparing to pack up and leave the town we've lived in for over twenty years. Here's to embracing change, no matter how old I get!

Childhood Pet

My entry for the collaberative book that Mom, Hilery and I have been working on for some time now. We take turns choosing the theme and this time Hilery chose "Childhood Pets". This is Ringo, my first dog, a collie mix who came to live with us when I was about 7. He lived until well after I had married and moved away from home. He was my best buddy for all those years and helped me through those difficult "teenage" times. I don't remember ever NOT wanting a dog and still today, my fur babies remain one of the most important things in my life.

"Bird" Book Project

This great little altered book is one I made in a class taught by a very talented local lady, Jo McQueen. She has recently been teaching at some larger national events and has her own line of rubber stamps and collage items called The Queen's Dresser Drawers. You can check out some of her items here: http://www.thequeensdresserdrawers.com/ I haven't been feeling very creative lately, and this is just what the Dr. ordered. Hopefully, I can get back into the spirit again. The covers of the book are a gutted vintage book. We made the pages individually and finally bound it with fabric strips and grommets. The sticks are from my friend Karen's yard.