A Very Special Crop !

Last Saturday, I attended Kristy's regular monthly Crop at the Jameson Hotel in Carmel. After many months and many crops, Baby Dane Finley Taylor was finally born 6 weeks ago. For those of you who haven't seen him yet, here he is at the Crop with Kristy. He was so good, and we all got to hold him!!! Daddy picked him up later in the day so that Mama Kristy could get some Mommy cropping time in. For those of us who attend Kristy's Crops, it will be fun to watch him grow!!! Congratulations to Mom and Dad and Big Brother, Myles and Big Sister, Elliot.

Kristy and Baby Dane

Kristy's Husband, Seth, and Baby Dane

Almost Completed May Day Party Favors!

Another day at Cord Camera today! Janet and I began the process of tying the little ribbon handles onto our May Day Tea Favors......after punching out 480 little holes, that is !!!). We both brought some home to work on tonight, since now everything is coordinated and ready to add that finishing touch. Tomorrow another "crew" will insert the little floral sugar cubes into our cones, tucked inside tuille and tied with a whispy barely seen white ribbon...(so as not to conflict with the color schemes of our ribbons). Lots of planning...lots of labor...but very easy and LOTS OF FUN!!! Janet loved the project so much that she plans to make 50 or so for an upcoming Church event. I just love it when a project is so successful that someone else repeats it!!! Debbie Dutchess started all of this when she taught us how to make the little Valentines Day cone with the Big Shot....Thanks Debbie! Sharing ideas is so great! I'm not attending the Tea on Friday, but I'm sure that someone will get photos of our favors sitting atop the beautiful plate chargers at Serendipity. I'll post the finished product photos when i get some !!! Thanks to all who inspired me and who helped me accomplish this project! I'd do it again in a heartbeat !!!

Some of the many color schemes...(the colors are much softer in person!)

One of my favorites...I think I've come to realize that I love bold colors....(to look at, not to wear!)

My favorite combination!

another one of my favorite combinations.......

This is the sweetest one in person...really delicate and just darling....

Historical Society May Day Tea Favors

Today I met with two great gals from the Historical Society to begin to assemble the favors for the "Grand May Day Tea", which is being held this Friday at Serendipity in Carmel. Betty E., Janet R. and I met at Cord Camera (...where Vicki originally helped me pick out all of the supplies...!!!), and we began to assemble the little May day cones, into which little pastel sugar cubes will be placed, and set at each place setting. What fun we had !!! We made a great team!!! I had pre-cut all of the scalloped circles and flowers, and had them and their coordinated button flower centers and flowers organized and ready to go. While I stapled, Betty and Janet cut little ribbon handles and glue-dotted button flower centers and then the little flowers onto the cones. Tomorrow we'll tie all of the pretty coordinated ribbon handles onto the cones. They really are darling and will be really sweet little favors for May Day sitting on the Charger plates at Serendipity. We made 240 of them.......80 for each seating....a Luncheon Tea, a mid-Afternoon Tea, and a High Tea later in the afternoon. Will post photos of our completed project tomorrow. Thanks to Betty and Janet and Vicki at Cord Camera for all of your help. What a fun project to design and to work on!!!

Coordinated packets....ready to begin!

Betty and Janet.....ready to work!

Betty E., the hardest worker that I know! We were partners in preparing the Historical Society's home Tour Patrons' Dinner for many, many years!

Janet R. ....who worked all morning at her Church on another project, and still smiled all afternoon while cutting and glue dotting !!!

A job well done! They look great!

Prime Life "Creative Productions" Group

Today we began a new group at Prime Life Enrichment Center called "Creative Productions".
For members at Prime Life, it is a FREE group that will meet on the 4th Friday of every month from 11-3:30.
The goal is for members to bring and work on, and perhaps FINALLY COMPLETE, some projects that they might be working on ....... scrapbooking, card-making, quilting, painting, etc., etc. I am the facilitator, which means that I get to go have FUN on the 4th Friday of every month with some great and talented ladies, and get to share ideas and to maybe learn new things !!! Today I worked on the Historical Society May Day favors......and, yes Liba, I even used my Cricut (....see enclosed photo!!!)!!! My Scrapbook ladies, Harlene and Marie, worked on scrapbook pages. They're both GREAT card makers, and I'm sure that I'll steal ideas from them as they work on cards !!! We hope to build up our little group. If you're over 55 and need a great place to exercise and to walk the track and to maybe take some special fitness and/or educational classes....Prime Life is the place to join....all for $45.00 a quarter. That includes unlimited use of the gym and track, and minimal charges for the classes, which range from computers to cooking to Pilates !!! Now, all I need to use more is the EXERCISE part !!!

Harlene and Marie

Photo of my Cricut in USE... (for Liba to see!!!)

Historical Society May Day Tea invitations & the beginnings of May Day favors

Treasure Island at Beef and Boards...highly recommended by me!!!

My Busy and creative week !

Since Easter, I've done so many fun and creative things!!! I taught my class at Prime Life. As you saw in a former post, this month's class was about the seasons. You'll see a photo of Marie, in my group, busily working on her layout. I also attended a Bracelet-Making Class at Prime Life, instructed by the owners of Artisan Masterpiece located on Main Street in Carmel. We actually had Aidan's Baby Shower at Artisan Masterpiece and I paid for everyone to make a special gift for him. In addition, guests brought traditional baby gifts, and we feasted on lots of food that I brought. The owners of Artisan Masterpiece are just absolutely wonderful and charming people. You can go to their shop and do jewelry, ceramics, etc. They also have boutique clothing and trendy kinds of gift items, and they ENCOURAGE you to schedule group events and parties with them. I can't recommend them enough!!! In addition to new creative ventures, I attended 2 days of Cropping at Cord Camera and our regular monthly 12 hour crop at the Residence Inn. ...and I'm still packed and ready for more cropping at Kristy's Crop at the Jameson this Saturday !!! (She still has spots left !!!). Throw in 2 kiddie birthday parties at Bounce places with Aidan. Dylan, Frank and Kelly, and my monthly Pet Paws and Celebrate classes at Cathi B's, and that about sums up my activities and projects since Easter. Fun! Fun !! FUN!!! We also took the kids to See Treasure Island at Beef and Boards the night before Easter. It was, by far, the most enjoyably play that I've seen EVER, including those I've seen on Broadway !!!! If you can, by all means, plan to go. The reviews are saying that this play is bound for Chicago and Broadway, and our very own Beef and Boards premiered it !!!...I'll post photos soon!

"My Life" class....Marie

our bracelet making class

completed bracelets....mine is the blue & white crystal with silver

Happy Easter! Happy Spring!! Photos of some of our Festivities...painting eggs, the Egg Hunt, and two very happy little boys!!!

Prime Life "Four Seasons" pages completed - journaling added for each season in appropiately different fonts to compliment each season

Prime Life "Four Seasons" pages, step 2.....add some scanned seasonal "stickers"

Clyde the naughty Beagle !!!

If you haven't already met (...or heard about him...)!!! ...this is Clyde, the naughtiest dog that we've EVER had !!! On March 15th he turned one. We've had Clyde since he was about 7 months old, given to us by neighbors who just couldn't keep him any more. They kept him in the yard day and night, and he was definitely not socialized when we first got him !!! He still chews furniture daily, and torments the other dogs and cats, and gets into actual fights with Auggie the toothless Daschund, but he is basically so lovable and smart and has the potential to (...someday, I hope)...be a really good boy !!! It's been a true test, but when I look at these photos of him, i know that no one else would be tolerant enough to care for or to keep Clyde .... he needs us. The photos don't reflect his real beauty...his yellow eyes. He's asleep on that chair right now, next to me while I'm on the computer...... maybe Clyde is finally growing up into a good boy. I really think that he thinks his name is, ....."no,no bad dog"!!! How peaceful it is when Clyde's asleep...kind of just like when Aidan's finally asleep !!!

Clyde...our naughtyBeagle is one !!!

My scrapbooking class at Prime Life Senior Center

Once a month, I teach a scrapbooking class at Prime Life Enrichment Center in Carmel entitled "My Life". I can't believe that this Friday's class will be the 16th month that I've done so !!! I volunteer my time and my students each pay me $3.00 for materials/suppplies, all of which I provide. Because of the low fee, I just scan and print out most of the embellishments, or computer generate them. And...sometimes a little flower here, a little little bling or ribbon there, and they have a simple 2 page layout about a particular part of their lives !!! My group is great, between the ages of mid-60's and my senior member who's about 85 !!! We're even now going to meet one Friday a month at Prime Life to crop or to work on card making or other independent crafts. This month's layout will become whatever they choose it to become. I'll probably just put appropriate journaling on mine, indicating seasonal family activties, with a few photos as appropriate. I's amazing what a scanner and printer and a few sheets of paper can do !!! I'll post my completed layout when done.

Prime Life "My Life" class pages - "The Four Seasons"

Next Project...300 little May Day Basket cones for the Carmel Clay Historical Society's May Day Tea, to be held at Serendipity on Rangeline Rd. in Carmel on May 1st. Each little basket will be similar to the boys' Teacher Easter party favors. Instead of being tied at the top, though, they'll have little May Day handles. Inside each will be tiny sugar cubes shaped like flowers, and will be placed on the charger at each place setting at the tea room as a party favor for guests. Such wonderful Spring colors. FYI Cord Camera has the packs of the Bazill that I'll use on special......100 sheets of assorted colors for $24.99. The Bazill Bling is $24.99 for 80 sheets of assorted colors. Great time to stock up!!! Great price for the "real" Bazill product !!! Will send photos when the May Basket favors are done.

Historical Society May Day Tea Favors

The Making of an Easter Bunny

Aidan's pre-school held it's annual "Spring Fling" this week. Among the activities was Bunny Face Painting. ....and these photos of Grandma's very own depraved little Easter bunny are too good not to share !!! Needles to say, a great scrapbook layout awaits !!!