Today I took my car to the shop for new brake light bulbs, and got to talking to an older gentleman who was sitting outside. He calls himself the Duke of Pearl: he sources and sells mother-of-pearl and abalone inlay material for banjos and other instruments! He used to build banjos, too, and plays bluegrass with a band. I grew up listening to bluegrass, which my older brother and a couple of my sisters also played. Neat!

Today I spent hours working on designing a logo with Vistaprint’s new logo-maker service. I also made this little mug mat with the leftover scrap from making one of the pouches yesterday. EnJoy!

Green Fern Mug Mat

In just about 3 weeks, I’ll be half-way through this year-long challenge! Good for me!

Today i was quite productive, for a change. I was inspired by Pam of The Paper Outpost to make some pouches from paper bags covered with fabric. Yesterday I made the plaid silk one; the fabric got rather wrinkled in the process, and did not come out evenly aligned. Thankfully I fixed that with an added trim! Today I made 2 other pouches from different-sized bags that are a bit sturdier than the first one I used. Easy and quick to make!

The  bags are very strong and won’t rip. They have a gusset at the bottom and can hold paper scraps from one’s project, greeting cards, a small journal, or anything else you need to store. Great for gift-giving! EnJoy!

Paper and Fabric Pouch Silk Plaid

Paper and Fabric Pouch Green Checks

Paper and Fabric Pouch Ferns and Stars

Today I cut a paper bag down to make a paper and fabric pouch (which I’ll post tomorrow), then I used the bottom of the bag to make this paper tray. I folded the top edges of the bag inside, along the existing crease, and covered it with more of these gray papers that my friend brought me yesterday. It is not very squared at the corners, so I covered those with strips of pink ribbon. EnJoy!

Love Paper Bag Tray

What a lovely day! I had a phone conversation with one friend early afternoon, and another friend came to visit a couple of hours later! She and I shared fresh tomato, cucumber, and avocado slices and pecans, sprinkled with chopped basil and dipped in fig balsamic vinegar.  I made lemonade with honey and we had home made chocolate-almond butter bark for dessert. Yum! Plus the weather has cooled off a little bit, for a couple of days anyhow.

My friend brought me a few items to use in my art, including a bunch of magazines and a partly used pad of papers, some of which I used to create this cute little journal. I was inspired by Natasa of Treasure Books, and while mine took longer than 15 minutes to put together, it was still fairly quick to make this. The collage on the front is various scraps of fabric that I sewed together, then glued the whole to the journal cover. The butterfly was a single earring from my art stash; I cut off the post and adhered with e6000 glue. I only put a few page into the signature this time; I may decide to add some envelopes and cards in the pockets for more writing space. EnJoy!

Dotted Swiss Journal

Dotted Swiss Journal 2

Dotted Swiss Journal 3

Dotted Swiss Journal 4

Dotted Swiss Journal 5

Nothing new created today–and I watched a couple of videos and got inspired to create something new in the next couple of days!

Meantime, here is a beautiful hat I knitted some years ago; aren’t these colors gorgeous? EnJoy!

Lacey Blue Hat

A disgustingly hot day today, ugh! It was 81º at 9:15 pm and is still not much cooler at 10:45 pm. Not a good day for creativity! Not good for much of anything else, either, apart from spending way too much time on the internet. Oh, well.

Enjoy this cute hat pincushion that I made at an earlier date!

Blue Floral Pincusion Hat

Today I went to visit a friend who lives in a gorgeous Victorian home, with beautiful wallpapers and lovely antique furniture. She is a long-time quilter and seamstress (she does repairs and alterations for clients), so I got to view many of her amazing quilts: just stunning! We had lunch and good conversation and I want to move in to her house! It’s what my dream home looks like. Ah, for one like that of my own.

Another blazingly hot and rather muggy day, icky. I look forward to somewhat cooler temps by next Tuesday…Meantime, I’m very grateful to have AC. Now if only I had a unit in my bedroom, too, to cool it down for sleep!

I did not create anything new today, though I drank in all the beauty and artspiration at my friend’s home. Here is another lovely birdhouse that I made some time ago. EnJoy!

Pink Floral Birdhouse

Pink Floral Birdhouse 2

Alas, the Debt Shredder sale I was hoping for this morning got delayed, so I’m scrambling for more income now.

Very muggy and hot today, not comfortable outdoors until this evening. Still hot and muggy inside, though. Ugh. I am loathe to use my AC, even though it would help. I aim to only use it on the hottest days.

This afternoon I made this nice little book page pouch, inspired by Natasa of Treasure Books. The pocket inside is made from a clear bag that some stickers came in, so it’s not really visible in the photos. The pouch holds one of my tea bag charms; it would also be a great place for beads, buttons, or other trinkets to make a nice gift. EnJoy!

Book Page Pouch and Tea Charm

Book Page Pouch and Tea Charm 2

Book Page Pouch and Tea Charm 3

Finally got my car repaired for what I hope is the last time! The power steering pump, which was replaced twice already, has been replaced with a different (and hopefully better) brand, so I’m praying it lasts a good number of years! Now all I need are new brake lights on one side and I’m good to go.

Today was overcast–and there was a little bit of rain in Grass Valley, though not in Nevada City where I live–so my house didn’t get as hot inside. At least not until I turned on the oven to roast some chicken thighs! Hopefully it’ll cool down again quickly.

Another fallow day for creativity, so here is a sweet little bird house I made from a cracker box covered with pretty paper. The roof opens so one could put a gift or some cookies or something inside. I don’t think I’ve ever shared this before. EnJoy!

Blue and Yellow Birdhouse

Blue and Yellow Birdhouse 2

I began my day with a 9 am meeting! The couple I’m working with were impressed by how much Debt Shredder could save them as they get out of debt–over 92K!–and shows that they could be debt-free in just 6 years, rather than 26. Wow! We’re meeting again Wednesday so they can think it over and make their purchase. Yay!

I made this fun little tag from a section of a tissue paper box covered with “Imagine” papers from Graphic 45. It has some tags for writing on or for using in another project. EnJoy!

Imagination Tag

Imagination Tag 2

Imagination Tag 3