tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64452787474190899122024-03-12T17:28:56.026-07:00Best Friends Are Best.Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00179334264903259119noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6445278747419089912.post-32667521677928407452017-10-17T22:09:00.001-07:002017-10-17T22:45:45.941-07:00Never Say Never!<span style="color: red;"><span style="background-color: #93c47d;">Four years! Where have I been? So many places and so much life has been lived. A good friend told me, "All excuses are final!" Since then I have been unable to invent one. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="background-color: #93c47d;">So, no excuses, I'm so excited to be back and I hope some of you are glad that we meet again!</span></span><br />
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Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00179334264903259119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6445278747419089912.post-26798124860400442542010-08-27T20:42:00.000-07:002010-08-28T18:22:10.843-07:00Honey, I'm home.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ajNbM0aYcMc/THh55m-vWAI/AAAAAAAAATQ/6uJcfueP11s/s1600/SAM_0117-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ajNbM0aYcMc/THh55m-vWAI/AAAAAAAAATQ/6uJcfueP11s/s320/SAM_0117-1.JPG" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ajNbM0aYcMc/THh42Vl6FwI/AAAAAAAAATI/YMiymCXe3To/s1600/SAM_0118-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: #a2c4c9; clear: right; color: #073763; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ajNbM0aYcMc/THh42Vl6FwI/AAAAAAAAATI/YMiymCXe3To/s320/SAM_0118-1.JPG" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ajNbM0aYcMc/THh60FkrlMI/AAAAAAAAATY/dlUB1ErpBLI/s1600/SAM_0120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: #a2c4c9; clear: left; color: #073763; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ajNbM0aYcMc/THh60FkrlMI/AAAAAAAAATY/dlUB1ErpBLI/s320/SAM_0120.JPG" /></a><u style="background-color: #9fc5e8; color: #073763;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Wow, I've been away a long time and I wasn't even on vacation. Like many of you I've been busy with the joy that can only be found in preparing for "back-to-school". Colored pencils have given way for ink cartridges, yellow pads for copy paper and back-packs for messenger bags. My baby, 19 year old Victoria, , is moving to her very first apartment. She is excited and we are all excited for her. For the first time she would rather shop for home decor than clothes and she dared to utter the words Martha Stewart. We are enjoying the hunt for used furniture on Craig's list and she's discovered the magic of over-time at her job. In the midst of all this activity I've tried to carve out the time required to complete my Alice in Wonderland Apron for the Hot Mama Apron Swap. I had ordered my fabric and, of course, I miscalculated. Actually, I didn't calculate at all. As is typical of me I just looked on line, chose a couple of prints that I liked and ordered willy-nilly. I didn't have a pattern in mind and in the end decided on an original design. Nevertheless, with the closest fabric store 30 miles away, I chose to do creative design work. I'm pretty sure I took out more seams than I sewed and I had to dye my own trim, but in the end I was very happy and I hope my partner, Kathy Fuller, is as well. In addition we were to include three additional items. I selected: 1) A mint-condition 45 RPM of Neil Sedaka's Alice in Wonderland 2) darling miniature cake candle for the tea party 3) AIW Hot Pad 4) Vintage Hankie 5) ribboned ring of skeleton keys. I hope this reaches Kathy quickly and brings her the same joy I had creating it. Have a great tea party Alice!</i> </span></u></div>Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00179334264903259119noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6445278747419089912.post-77879878819332410802010-07-27T14:49:00.000-07:002010-07-27T14:49:09.526-07:00I Built Them Myself<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ajNbM0aYcMc/TE9KqQ-oYCI/AAAAAAAAAR0/EiZbCVt-HLg/s1600/SAM_0021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ajNbM0aYcMc/TE9KqQ-oYCI/AAAAAAAAAR0/EiZbCVt-HLg/s320/SAM_0021.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> <i><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"> This isn't my lawn furniture but, rather, my garden furniture. I find it quite charming and I actually take pride in it. I built both the bench and the chair with lumber salvaged from the fallen barn of a friend. On the bench is a galvanized double bucket with a single handle in the center, a gift from my best friend Renee', and, of course, the birdhouse on the chair is from other girlfriends. </span></i><br />
<div style="color: #351c75; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><i> I built these pieces some time back so they're a little rickety but still, when I am in my garden, I am both<span class="spaced"> in the company of friends and</span> proud of my simple achievement.</i></div>Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00179334264903259119noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6445278747419089912.post-7798576670049087392010-07-23T22:32:00.000-07:002010-07-24T01:14:50.029-07:00The weeds faded in the beauty.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ajNbM0aYcMc/TEpzrQbZ8TI/AAAAAAAAARE/4xytB-LDQCI/s1600/SAM_0101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ajNbM0aYcMc/TEpzrQbZ8TI/AAAAAAAAARE/4xytB-LDQCI/s320/SAM_0101.JPG" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><i></i></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><i> Up near the Idaho border is a nice small town named Spokane. It's Eastern Washington's answer to Seattle, without suburbs and everything their 3 million people bring with them.</i></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><i> Nevertheless, business took me there today and just across the street from my meeting was this charming home. I'm crazy for a picket fence and when combined with flowers my heart skips a beat.</i></span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ajNbM0aYcMc/TEp2xM9bVaI/AAAAAAAAARM/16CJX6PHAOg/s1600/SAM_0103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ajNbM0aYcMc/TEp2xM9bVaI/AAAAAAAAARM/16CJX6PHAOg/s320/SAM_0103.JPG" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><i> I walked closer as I fumbled around in my purse searching for my camera in an effort to take a few snapshots. I will keep these images with others to daydream over on quiet afternoons. </i></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><i> The closer I got to the garden the more apparent it was how neglected it had become. Still, as I stood there with the setting sun streaming through, the beauty of the garden caused the weeds to somehow disappear.</i></span></span></span>Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00179334264903259119noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6445278747419089912.post-77863216572199302762010-07-22T22:43:00.000-07:002010-07-22T22:43:08.595-07:00From Me to You.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ajNbM0aYcMc/TEkdi2hgIzI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/VlPbgGU4Ftk/s1600/SAM_0025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ajNbM0aYcMc/TEkdi2hgIzI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/VlPbgGU4Ftk/s400/SAM_0025.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: small;"> This is a little piece of my summer. I live in a small farming community in Southeastern WA, far away from Seattle, rain, crowds and, unfortunately shopping. My county has only three towns and I live in the largest one with around 6000 residents and 50 miles from our county seat. </span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: small;"> I'm not much of an outdoor girl but in the spring I like to get out and plant a few flowers. This is my floral birdhouse, a birthday gift from friends a few years ago. To assemble, I pound big 16 penny nails into the roof-top. I remove bedding plants from their plastic containers and firmly push root side down onto the nails. Turn plants at different angles beginning at the top standing up, gradually turning sideways until hanging varieties are facing downward. After they feel secure, cover all exposed area with natural Spanish moss, this will enable the plants to both hold moisture longer between watering and prevent soil from eroding. </span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: small;"> I usually plant two varieties of birdhouses. The other style is deeper in the bottom and the flowers are planted around the base rather than on the roof. I use the exact same method, focusing more on the hanging variety flowers. This one I hang in my tree. Particularly the roof style wouldn't require a special birdhouse, nearly anyone would work. But, if you decide to create one of your own, they require more flowers that you might think. So, save yourself an extra trip to the store and buy more rather than less, or just count off spaces on your birdhouse roof and it will give you a good idea. </span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Have a summer flower kind of day.</span></span></span>Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00179334264903259119noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6445278747419089912.post-883237923497413462010-07-21T12:24:00.000-07:002010-07-22T10:20:35.340-07:00Happy Birthday"Lucy"<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ajNbM0aYcMc/TEctrly9NHI/AAAAAAAAAOE/cjs6ya6jwsE/s1600/SAM_0105.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ajNbM0aYcMc/TEctrly9NHI/AAAAAAAAAOE/cjs6ya6jwsE/s320/SAM_0105.JPG" style="clear: both; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #9fc5e8;"><span style="background-color: #9fc5e8;"><span style="background-color: white;">In honor of her 46th birthday I want to introduce my baby sister, Patty. She's Lucy & I'm Ethyl and in this snapshot we are at Disneyland, about six months ago. It's a "We took it ourselves snapshot", the type where you hold the camera out as far as you can and hope that you're both in the frame. This generally takes us about three tries. </span></span></span></span></i></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #9fc5e8;"><span style="background-color: #9fc5e8;"><span style="background-color: white;">Patty works for Alaska Air and a funny thing happened on our way to Orange County. We were actually going to San Francisco. But Frisco was fogged in and the planes to Frisco were backed-up leaving us, literally, 45 seconds to decide whether to wait for a plane to Frisco or to book for Orange County. Patty had never been to Disneyland and we cracked under the pressure. Okay, it wasn't that dramatic. It was more like: "What do you think?'' "I don't know, what do you think?" "Well. hurry up, we have 45 seconds to decide." "OK, Look out Mickey Mouse, here we come" So, actually, it was quite easy. Who wants to hang around an airport when you can just walk onto a plane---free?</span></span></span></span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="background-color: white;">Moving on....The reason we lovingly refer to Patty as </span>Lucy is she frequently has some sort of scheme up her sleeve and I, foolishly, am always dragged into them. Hence, I have been appropriately dubbed Ethyl. One of Patty's favorite expressions is, "You got some splainin' to do." and, of course, any fan of the old <b>I Love Lucy</b> shows knows that Ricky usually ended up saying that to Lucy at some point during the program.</i></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br />
</i></span> </div><div style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>That was great for Ricky and Lucy but when Patty cooks up a scheme it usually begins with, "You can't get arrested for this." Any sane person would run, particularly since she is not a lawyer, but faithful Ethyl is there for her every time. That's why she's the baby sister and I'm the...I'm the, well, you know what I am and foolish just doesn't cover it. But next time Lucy calls and says, "I need your help.", I'll put on my ever-faithful Ethyl hat, get into my blue Buick and be there for her. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i>I hope she's right about that pesky little jail thing because I've been too close a time or two. Smile. </i></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br />
</i></span> </div><div style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Happy Birthday Patty. Let's make it to 50 without jail-time. Smile.</i></span></div><div style="color: blue;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img align="middle" alt="Posted by Picasa" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" style="-moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; -moz-background-origin: padding; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; border: 0px none; padding: 0px;" /></a></div></div><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img align="middle" alt="Posted by Picasa" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" style="-moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; -moz-background-origin: padding; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; border: 0px none; padding: 0px;" /> </a></div>Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00179334264903259119noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6445278747419089912.post-54234203487052047702010-07-20T14:11:00.000-07:002010-07-20T18:44:41.824-07:00Paper or Plastic?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ajNbM0aYcMc/TEXvoNby8sI/AAAAAAAAAMo/KRWbTL_QHQI/s1600/SAM_0469.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ajNbM0aYcMc/TEXvoNby8sI/AAAAAAAAAMo/KRWbTL_QHQI/s200/SAM_0469.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><i style="color: #783f04;">I signed up for the paper bag swap--my first swap--with gr<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"></span>eat excitement<span style="background-color: #bf9000;"></span>. I tried to think of something new, marvelous, amazing. Then, I went with an old favorite: a lunch bag scrapbook. My partner was Sherry, designer of those darling maiden dresses. The one thing I knew about Sherry was she liked Cowboys and I had a too-cute sheet of cowboy paper I'd been saving for a special occasion. <span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"></span></i><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ajNbM0aYcMc/TEX7sA6w4aI/AAAAAAAAAMw/CkWXrPAJQqc/s1600/SAM_0479.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ajNbM0aYcMc/TEX7sA6w4aI/AAAAAAAAAMw/CkWXrPAJQqc/s200/SAM_0479.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><i><span style="color: #783f04;">I started with the cowboy paper on the cover. I have a fun technique which is to spell my titles, in this case "giddy-up", in at least 1" letters. I then cover the lettering with FOIL Electrical Tape (I buy it at Wal-Mart $3-$5). I use a stylus to outline the letters and in this case I drew a lasso around the outside. At this point I rub over it with dark ink and wipe it off with a tissue to leave shading in the grooves left behind by the stylus. On the inside I did a variety of pages including fabric covered and a pull-out page which can be a bit tricky. I have a darling little rubber stamp that reads "photo here" which I confess to overusing! </span></i><br />
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<i><span style="color: #783f04;">But, as always, my favorite is what I consider my signature page. A manila envelope accordion page with co-ordinating tags. It looks amazing (I think), but is really quite simple. </span></i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ajNbM0aYcMc/TEYN75UQaNI/AAAAAAAAAM4/9l47tY7siL4/s1600/SAM_0484.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ajNbM0aYcMc/TEYN75UQaNI/AAAAAAAAAM4/9l47tY7siL4/s320/SAM_0484.JPG" /></a></div><i><span style="color: #783f04;">I begin with 5 or 7, always an odd number, of small manila envelopes. Decorate with rubber stamps, inking, glitter or nothing at all. Cut tops evenly creating five matching "pockets". For a cute effect trim each successive pocket 1/4 inch shorter than the one before it. Now you are ready to glue them together. Glue each to the other securely down the center allowing room on the sides for "flex". Finally, securely adhere the outside envelopes to opposite pages tucking the bottom deep into the "bind". You are now ready to add your decorated tags remembering to trim each one to match the co-ordinating pocket. The tags are fun for photos, quotes, show tickets or any memory you would like to tuck inside.</span></i><br />
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<i><span style="color: #783f04;">I've used this technique many times, always with a different spin on it, usually in altered books and I am always happy with the results. If you don't have access to or simply can't afford the envelopes (which can be kinda spendy!), it is also effective to make mock envelopes from paper. I have used this technique as well with equally good results.</span></i>Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00179334264903259119noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6445278747419089912.post-18870274517340229262010-07-19T15:29:00.000-07:002010-07-21T13:34:55.389-07:00Swap-so-Sweet<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fce5cd; color: #741b47; font-size: small;"><i>I was the luckiest girl in the Whimsical Jar Swap. Hosted by .<img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ajNbM0aYcMc/TES_hcdWh2I/AAAAAAAAAMY/bQqurpR4B_w/s200/SAM_0096.JPG" width="200" /><a href="http://jessicarodarte.blogspot.com./">jessicarodarte.blogspot.com.</a> a totally talented artist and mom to three young children. The sweet jar on top was created by Melinda in Utah, <a href="http://melindasfabricfancies.blogspot.com/">melindasfabricfancies.blogspot.com</a> It was filled with buttons & bells, pearls. tags, feathers, strings & ribbons. Too many goodies to mention, and best of all pink glitter. Smile. </i></span></div><div style="background-color: #fce5cd; color: #741b47;"><a href="http://melindasfabricfancies.blogspot.com/"><br />
</a></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: #fce5cd; clear: both; color: #741b47; text-align: center;"><a class="cssButton" href="javascript:void(0)" id="publishButton" onclick="if (this.className.indexOf("ubtn-disabled") == -1) {var e = document['postingForm'].publish;(e.length) ? e[0].click() : e.click(); if (window.event) window.event.cancelBubble = true; return false;}" target=""></a></div><div class="cssButtonOuter" style="background-color: #fce5cd; color: #741b47;"><div class="cssButtonMiddle"><div class="cssButtonInner"><a class="cssButton" href="javascript:void(0)" id="publishButton" onclick="if (this.className.indexOf("ubtn-disabled") == -1) {var e = document['postingForm'].publish;(e.length) ? e[0].click() : e.click(); if (window.event) window.event.cancelBubble = true; return false;}" target="">Publish Post</a></div></div></div><div style="background-color: #fce5cd; color: #741b47;"><i> <img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ajNbM0aYcMc/TETFY0AIvWI/AAAAAAAAAMg/G92v8l_AWM0/s200/SAM_0099.JPG" width="200" /><span style="font-size: small;">Deb, super talented gal from </span></i></div><div style="background-color: #fce5cd; color: #741b47;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://garagesalegal.blogspot.com/">garagesalegal.blogspot.com</a>, was my second swap. She sent a fun square jar with puzzle pieces on the front and quilling on top! Quilling is nearly a lost art. It was also brimming over with goodies including a matchbox drawer filled with tiny-goodies! a tiny perfume bottle! a prism! and a giant box filled with lemonheads which went very quickly.</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: #fce5cd; clear: both; color: #741b47; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Thanks so much to both of you!</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00179334264903259119noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6445278747419089912.post-28609235573095593532010-07-17T14:54:00.000-07:002010-07-18T10:52:17.738-07:00Pretty Maidens All in a Row<div style="color: #741b47;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ajNbM0aYcMc/TEM_G_brhqI/AAAAAAAAALw/Ro3XWjf3wSI/s1600/SAM_0092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ajNbM0aYcMc/TEM_G_brhqI/AAAAAAAAALw/Ro3XWjf3wSI/s320/SAM_0092.JPG" /></a></div><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><i><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span></b>ren't these dresses sweet as can be? There is a whole line of them, six in all. The best part? They were just a a little of what came in t</i></span></span><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><i>he paper bag swap hosted by Jessica at jessicarodarte.blogspot.com I had a fab partner from New York, Sherry, and she sent me a whole box of amazing things. In a day or two I'll share what I sent in return. I've had Sherry, ificouldsetmysoulfree.blogspot.com , for a swap partner before and she always does awesome art.</i></span></span></div>Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00179334264903259119noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6445278747419089912.post-52202377997180623532010-07-17T00:19:00.000-07:002010-07-18T18:55:15.297-07:00Happy to be in the Land of Blogspot!<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">For my 4 or 5 followers that may of thought there is something odd about my blog, there is.<br />
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My sight is a little quirky today because I cut and pasted it from another blog-sight. That is why my pictures are a little out-of-whack, as well as my writing, and you are unable to tap into the comments etc. However, after "Around the World in a Lot of Days" my posts are new. Wish me luck, I'll try and get this cleaned up and I'm happy to be out of wordpress and into blogspot.<br />
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My address is pretty much the same: http://bestfriendsarebest.blogspot.com<br />
<br />
We'll be seeing you, Bridget<br />
</span></span></span>Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00179334264903259119noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6445278747419089912.post-74657467935062663912010-07-16T22:35:00.000-07:002010-07-19T18:22:58.888-07:00<div class="post-135 post type-post hentry category-me-mine-my-art" id="post-135"><h2 class="entry-title"><a href="http://bestfriendsarebest.wordpress.com/2010/07/16/135/" rel="bookmark" title="Permalink to Around the World in a Lot of Days">Around the World in a Lot of Days</a></h2><div class="entry-meta"><span class="meta-prep meta-prep-author">Posted on</span> <a href="http://bestfriendsarebest.wordpress.com/2010/07/16/135/" rel="bookmark" title="7:53 pm"><span class="entry-date">July 16, 2010</span></a> <span class="meta-sep">by</span> <span class="author vcard"><a class="url fn n" href="http://bestfriendsarebest.wordpress.com/author/bestfriendsarebest/" title="View all posts by bestfriendsarebest">bestfriendsarebest</a></span> </div><div class="entry-content"><div class="snap_preview"><a href="http://bestfriendsarebest.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/img_1504-copy-11.jpg"><span style="color: blue;"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-147" height="225" src="http://bestfriendsarebest.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/img_1504-copy-11.jpg?w=300&h=225" title="IMG_1504 - Copy-1" width="300" /><span style="color: blue;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: #3366ff;">This is Anna and me after the performance of Wicked in LA. This little sweetie between us was in a starring role because the original star had fallen ill. Boy, was she excited. As an understudy I don’t think she imagined her day would come. Sort of like being runner-up to Miss America. “And if anything should happen that she is unable to perform………..like we find out she’s a porn star and not a </span><span style="color: blue;">virgin” LOL</span></span></span></span></a><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;">Back to my regularly scheduled program….</span></span><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"> </span><br />
</span></span></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://bestfriendsarebest.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/sam_0090.jpg"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-132" height="225" src="http://bestfriendsarebest.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/sam_0090.jpg?w=300&h=225" title="SAM_0090" width="300" /></a><a href="http://bestfriendsarebest.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/sam_0091.jpg"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-133" height="225" src="http://bestfriendsarebest.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/sam_0091.jpg?w=300&h=225" title="SAM_0091" width="300" /></a> Anna Marie is my world traveler and my oldest daughter. Her restless feet have seen five continents in her 26 short years, four in the last two years alone. But growing up in a tiny farming town that is nearly 80 % Hispanic the first country she hit was Mexico. She does a lot of scrap-booking, however I love to scrapbook too so, at times, I have taken it upon myself to preserve her memories. Her work is not as refined as mine but she is amazing when she journals which, definitely, trumps meticulous.</div><div style="text-align: right;">I wanted to show(off) the first two pages of her Mexico trip. I first drew an outline of Mexico. That was a trick for me as I always say Geography wasn’t my major and my husband adds, “Honey, Geography wasn’t even your minor.” LOL (bunny trail) My sister works for Alaska Air and when I asked her if they flew to St.Louis she, with all sincerity asked, “Is that a state?” She’s been with AA for three years! But I fly at a discount so who cares if she doesn’t know her states. Back to the page…I cut my pics into one inch squares for a mosaic and on the second page used a background of floral velum. As you can see, I inserted a star with a photo of Anna into the area that she lived. I used full photos to fill the country and random partial photos to fill in areas around the border. I used floral letters to pinpoint and spell the name of the city where she lived which I had to re-spell three times because, quite apparently, I’m an idiot. I won’t even try to spell it here. it was in Southern Mexico. She also went to Guatemala. Did I mention that my Anna travels alone? <a href="http://bestfriendsarebest.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/photo_4673721-e1279304650714.jpg"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-144" height="497" src="http://bestfriendsarebest.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/photo_4673721-e1279304650714.jpg?w=189&h=497" title="Photo_467372[1]" width="189" /> This is the only time I live through my child. A few years ago my husband, a friend and I decided we would run the Portland Marathon. We paid our dues (actually I think my friend paid our dues), we bought our shirts (actually I think my friend bought our shirts), we bought our pins (actually I think my friend bought our pins) and we all started training. Then one of us got injured (actually it was my friend that got injured). My husband and I went back to doing nothing, my friend kept swimming and none of us even watched the marathon on TV. But the next year my daughter ran the Portland Marathon. Good enough for me. Same DNA.<br />
</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">What more can I say, Anna travels and runs and I scrapbook, but I’m dang good at it!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: magenta;">Thanks for visiting, hope to see you again. Bridget<br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div></div></div><div class="entry-utility"><span class="cat-links"> <span class="entry-utility-prep entry-utility-prep-cat-links">Posted in</span> <a href="http://en.wordpress.com/tag/me-mine-my-art/" rel="category tag" title="View all posts in Me, Mine & My Art">Me, Mine & My Art</a> </span> <span class="meta-sep">|</span> <span class="comments-link"><a href="http://bestfriendsarebest.wordpress.com/2010/07/16/135/#respond" title="Comment on Around the World in a Lot of Days">Leave a comment</a></span> <span class="meta-sep">|</span> <span class="edit-link"><a class="post-edit-link" href="http://bestfriendsarebest.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=135&action=edit" title="Edit Post">Edit</a></span> </div></div><div class="post-93 post type-post hentry category-me-mine-my-art" id="post-93"><h2 class="entry-title"><a href="http://bestfriendsarebest.wordpress.com/2010/07/15/93/" rel="bookmark" title="Permalink to My Best Girl & Her Necklace">My Best Girl & Her Necklace</a></h2><div class="entry-meta"><span class="meta-prep meta-prep-author">Posted on</span> <a href="http://bestfriendsarebest.wordpress.com/2010/07/15/93/" rel="bookmark" title="10:21 pm"><span class="entry-date">July 15, 2010</span></a> <span class="meta-sep">by</span> <span class="author vcard"><a class="url fn n" href="http://bestfriendsarebest.wordpress.com/author/bestfriendsarebest/" title="View all posts by bestfriendsarebest">bestfriendsarebest</a></span> </div><div class="entry-content"><div class="snap_preview">This is “my best girl”. My baby. Victoria. Today she and her big sister are going to look for her first apartment! Her sister has traveled the world and had many apartments. Actually Victoria lived part time with my niece last year traveling back and forth the 50 miles to college and back. This year she will be close to school while her sister, Anna, travels 45 miles to teach school. Anna normally teaches calculus but this year is challenged to bring middle school kids who have no basic math skills–even simple addition– up to WA State standards. Go Anna!<br />
<div class="wp-caption alignright" id="attachment_13" style="width: 446px;"><a href="http://bestfriendsarebest.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/img_0329.jpg"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-13" height="327" src="http://bestfriendsarebest.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/img_0329.jpg?w=436&h=327" title="My best girl." width="436" /></a><br />
<div class="wp-caption-text">Victoria's next step: College!</div></div><a href="http://bestfriendsarebest.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/sam_0089.jpg"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-95" height="214" src="http://bestfriendsarebest.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/sam_0089.jpg?w=285&h=214" title="necklace" width="285" /></a><a href="http://bestfriendsarebest.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/sam_0088.jpg"><img alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-94" height="225" src="http://bestfriendsarebest.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/sam_0088.jpg?w=300&h=225" title="SAM_0088" width="300" /></a>Victoria wanted me to re-create a necklace that she saw in a dress shop. I made her the one on the left. She was really pleased–she’s my gracious one–and the only one of my children who calls me mama. See why she’s my “best girl”? Anyway, she hung it on her rear view mirror and her friend, Miki,<br />
was crazy about it. So Miki sent some beads home with her and the only ribbon I had available was sheer silver. You guessed it. My daughter may be gracious, but she’s still eighteen and she wants one in the same colors as Miki. Miki had said to keep the left over beads and I have plenty left over along with more ribbon sooooo…….I suppose, since she’s my baby, and my best girl, while I’m sitting on the sofa, doing nothing anyway, I could make her another one. Maybe she’ll give me her first one. Isn’t that what mom’s always get, their children’s castoffs. We give the best to them and take what’s left. That’s why were Mom’s and hopefully we’re are teaching them to be selfless as well.<br />
I actually believe that is why I am not a grandma yet. I say that my children are, “Me, me, me, me, me. Oh, and what do I want.” LOL Actually, they are very generous with their Dad and I and each other, but a family of their own, not so much.<br />
Tomorrow, another day, another craft. Or another crisis, it’s always hard to tell.</div></div><div class="entry-utility"><span class="cat-links"> <span class="entry-utility-prep entry-utility-prep-cat-links">Posted in</span> <a href="http://en.wordpress.com/tag/me-mine-my-art/" rel="category tag" title="View all posts in Me, Mine & My Art">Me, Mine & My Art</a> </span> <span class="meta-sep">|</span> <span class="comments-link"><a href="http://bestfriendsarebest.wordpress.com/2010/07/15/93/#comments" title="Comment on My Best Girl & Her Necklace">1 Comment</a></span> <span class="meta-sep">|</span> <span class="edit-link"><a class="post-edit-link" href="http://bestfriendsarebest.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=93&action=edit" title="Edit Post">Edit</a></span> </div></div><div class="post-23 post type-post hentry category-me-mine-my-art" id="post-23"><h2 class="entry-title"><a href="http://bestfriendsarebest.wordpress.com/2010/07/15/best-friends-are-patient/" rel="bookmark" title="Permalink to altered books…and more">altered books…and more</a></h2><div class="entry-meta"><span class="meta-prep meta-prep-author">Posted on</span> <a href="http://bestfriendsarebest.wordpress.com/2010/07/15/best-friends-are-patient/" rel="bookmark" title="8:42 am"><span class="entry-date">July 15, 2010</span></a> <span class="meta-sep">by</span> <span class="author vcard"><a class="url fn n" href="http://bestfriendsarebest.wordpress.com/author/bestfriendsarebest/" title="View all posts by bestfriendsarebest">bestfriendsarebest</a></span> </div><div class="entry-content"><div class="snap_preview">I’m just getting warmed up to blogging and I’m still learning but I know my friends, both old and new , will be forgiving.<br />
<a class="wpGallery" href="http://bestfriendsarebest.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/cimg2025.jpg"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-31" height="300" src="http://bestfriendsarebest.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/cimg2025-e1279178541659.jpg?w=242&h=300" title="Me and my boy, this was taken quite recently at Alki Beach in West Seattle, a few blocks from his apartment." width="242" /></a><br />
First I want to say Happy Birthday to my First Born, my only son, Lyn. He will be turning 30 in two short days. July 17, 5:30 am. In celebration he is flying to Minnesota and from there he is taking a two week road trip through the mid-west: nine states, eleven baseball games, a few museums tossed in there and a flight home. I love my son more than anything but this is one road trip I’ll pass on. Take me to San Francisco.<br />
Today I want to share one of my favorite things, altered books.<br />
They are rather hard to photograph (maybe I’ll get better). For now I’m thrilled if I can get them from my camera to my blog. Forget about getting them in the right order or any semblance of order, for that matter. But you get it, right?……Wrong? Let me know. <a href="http://bestfriendsarebest.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/sam_00742.jpg"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-37" height="150" src="http://bestfriendsarebest.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/sam_00742-e1279181984632.jpg?w=112&h=150" title="Cover with a door knocker." width="112" /></a> <a href="http://bestfriendsarebest.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/sam_00832.jpg"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-38" height="112" src="http://bestfriendsarebest.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/sam_00832.jpg?w=150&h=112" width="150" /></a><br />
<div class="mceTemp"><br />
<dl class="wp-caption alignright"><dt class="wp-caption-dt">Altered books can be big or small, thick or thin. They’re magical, if you can dream it, they can take you there,</dt>
</dl><a href="http://bestfriendsarebest.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/sam_00841.jpg"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-35" height="112" src="http://bestfriendsarebest.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/sam_00841.jpg?w=150&h=112" title="I love the accordian pockets!" width="150" /></a><br />
<dl class="wp-caption alignright"><dt class="wp-caption-dt"><br />
</dt>
</dl></div>These treasures require a hard-bound book from a thrift store, a lotta glue, a little paint, vintage & hardware & a sprinkling of wishes & day dreams. It is the wishes and day dreams that truly make altered books a little magical.<a href="http://bestfriendsarebest.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/sam_0076.jpg"><img alt="" class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-25" height="190" src="http://bestfriendsarebest.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/sam_0076.jpg?w=145&h=190" title="I love Paris" width="145" /></a></div></div><div class="entry-utility"><span class="cat-links"> <span class="entry-utility-prep entry-utility-prep-cat-links">Posted in</span> <a href="http://en.wordpress.com/tag/me-mine-my-art/" rel="category tag" title="View all posts in Me, Mine & My Art">Me, Mine & My Art</a> </span> <span class="meta-sep">|</span> <span class="comments-link"><a href="http://bestfriendsarebest.wordpress.com/2010/07/15/best-friends-are-patient/#comments" title="Comment on altered books…and more">3 Comments</a></span> <span class="meta-sep">|</span> <span class="edit-link"><a class="post-edit-link" href="http://bestfriendsarebest.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=23&action=edit" title="Edit Post">Edit</a></span> </div></div>Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00179334264903259119noreply@blogger.com0