Day 215

This is the last of the cigar boxes I altered. This one has an unattached lid and is really too small to have a decent-size pocket...so I made this insert. You could put in jewelry, doo-dads, $20 gold pieces.

Really terrible pictures...I should take them again...but I probably won't.

Day 214

This is what I've been working on for the last couple of days. Found a basket full of wooden cigar boxes at a garage sale...$5...and had an old picture of altering them this way...making an inset for the lid that has two pockets. Something new for the August French Nest.

This one fits into the back-to-school theme.

Day 203 – 213

I just have to accept it…I’m a blogger who blogs occasionally. I avidly follow several people who blog almost every day…and they put on lots of pictures…and they have families and lots of other things going on in their lives. I admire them all…but it’s just not me.

I’ve been working on some new items for the August French Nest. It will be just before school starts so using that as a theme. I’ve made lunch box notes, notepads and notebooks and I’m going to try a calendar. Pictures soon.

Also have modified three wooden cigar boxes with paper and ribbon…I like them…we’ll see if anyone else does. My 365 pictures have all been of Fort Collins homes this week.

This is a church. It's for sale and I'd LOVE to buy it and open a wedding business. It would be such a great place for weddings.

Day 201-202

The calm after the storm...the three or four days after the Market are very mellow. The next one seems a loooooooooong time away...of course, it isn't....and I try to catch up on everything I let slide in the frantic runup to the show.

Continuing with my 365 pictures project, I've decided I need a theme each week...or at least some weeks...to keep my interest up. Old Town Fort Collins has some gorgeous old homes so that's the theme this week.

Day 199 - 200

Today was the July French Nest Market...ohmigosh...soooooooooooooo hot!!! Still, lots of people came out. I did fairly well...sold some cards, lots of Post-it note holders and a couple of notepads.

This is my brand new card display unit conceived by Michele and built by Matt, Michele and I. It worked really well and lots more people stopped to look because it was such a cool display.

I also try to sell some of the "finds" from garage sales/auctions. Today I sold the oval mirror and the little seed box on the table. I thought for sure someone would buy the cradle with the new mattress and pillow but, nope!

Day 196 to 198

Posting to this blog almost got away from me again...what to do??? Sitting down at the computer is the last thing I do before bed, and sometimes I'm just too tired to think about what pictures to post and what to say. And this is the last couple days before the next French Nest Market so, of course, I'm REALLY busy.

These are two of the new cards. I'm hoping cards with the look of summer will be popoular.

In addition to my paper goodies, I also sell vintage treasures I find at garage sales/auctions if I can fix them up and make a profit. One of my finds was an old suitcase. And although I know most people display old suitcases closed and stacked up, I'm hoping someone will be interested in buying one to display open. I decoupaged the inside top and bottom with travel stuff. It looks pretty cool in person...the picture's not great.

Day 173 - 195

Blackout!!! Somehow I got away from writing here and every time I thought about getting back to it, I was too discouraged by how much there was to make up. So, I'm not going to make it up...I'm just going to start from here and go forward. I do have a few more of the Spain/Paris pictures. This is Monet's garden.

Day 168-172

Yesterday was the French Nest Market…really had a good time and sold $140 worth of things…some vintage, some paper products. It’s really encouraging to hear all the positive remarks people make about the cards, et etc…however, I told Michele from now on anyone who says, “That’s adorable” more than twice has to buy it!

Lots more pictures of the family in Spain. Here’s Emma waiting for the high-speed train to Sevilla.

Churros and chocolate sauce for breakfast.

More waiting for trains.

Abby on the balcony of their apartment in Sitges…what a view!

Building sandcastles on the Mediterranean shore.

Day 167

I said I'd start posting some of my cards, so here are four I made to sell this weekend at the French Nest Market. It's close enough to the 4th that I think these may be popular.

Day 161-166

Drove with Matt and family to DIA for their month-long vacation in Spain. I went so I could bring their car back to Fort Collins. Here they are packed and ready to go.

This is in Madrid...and the best thing about the picture is Matt's expression.

Abby in front of some famous building...no clue what it is.

Now they're in Seville. Unfortunately the first day was a rainy one so they went to a flamenco dance theater for some indoor activities. The girls drew their impressions of a dancer.

Day 155-160

Things don't change much around here. Making cards...which I need to start posting here...working for the census, volunteering at Matthews House, reading...that's about it.

These are bags I made for Emma and Abby for their plane trip to Spain. I saw the idea somewhere on the web...they were very easy to make and I'm thinking they will work well. You put six ziploc bags into a gift bag, cut the bottom of the gift bag off so it's only as long as the ziplocs. They tape or sew the ziplocs in, seal up the bottom and fill it with goodies.

I went to a garage sale out in farm country so took these two pictures as part of my 365 project.

Day 154

What did I do today??? Slept late, took myself out to breakfast at a new restaurant in Old Town, made a few cards, made peanut butter cookies and egg salad sandwiches as snacks for Michele, Jessica and Brittney on their trip to California tomorrow. Jess is moving to Southern California to continue with college, Brit is stopping in Vegas to see a friend and Michele is going along as the adult in the car.

Love this picture with the wood and flowers...wish my front yard looked like this.

Day 152-153

This is my first try at writing my blog with Windows Live Writer.  It’s supposed to be the the cat’s meow for writing blogs.  We’ll see. 

Timers…I recommend them because they show you how much you can get done in a small amount of time.  I set mine for 30 minutes, work on something, then go work on something else for 30 minutes.  At the end of the day I’ve accomplished a lot more.

Walking around on my Census job I’ve noticed some gorgeous flowers…like these…

and these…

I took Emma and Abby with me on my photo-taking expedition…they really were all into it.

Day 151

One of the many veterans we honor today...sadly, most of us don't show enough appreciation for the sacrifices that have been made for us...and that includes me. I'm going to check into how I might do a better job...I'll let you know.

Day 150

First an update on turning Dollar Store party hats into Victorian flower cones...nope...not going to happen. I tried several times but could not get one that looked good...scratch that project.

Once in awhile I get a little down...not selling enough cards, no one is buying my stuff on Etsy...you know. And then I'll see or read a story that puts me in my place. This morning on CBS Sunday Morning...a favorite of mine...they had two VERY meaningful stories. The first was about a young man who lost all four of his limbs in Afghanistan...both his arms and both his legs...can you even begin to imagine?...and yet he's happy to have survived, is seemingly pretty positive and looking forward to living a full life. The other was about a family who puts out about 1500 American flags at six cemetaries near them for Memorial Day. It's been a tradition in their family since World War II!!! And what did I get from that? (1) To shut my mouth and quit complaning about my miniscule problems, and (2) that I need to do more to help others.

My picture for today is my backyard art. I love how it looks in the weeds...and now I need to go out and mow those weeds.

Day 149

Back to Census work today...knocking on more doors...asking more questions. And checking on my Etsy store to see how successful the kits were...not very. No sales yet...but I'm hopeful...they'll sell eventually, won't they?

Today's picture...I delivered these chocolate chip cookies to a couple of apartment managers who were VERY helpful in getting my Census sheets filled out.

Day 148

At last...my first kits are ready for Etsy. Very excited...very anxious...very hopeful. Here are three examples of cards you can make with the kit contents.

First, cut the center out of the doily, then fanfold the rest. Now lay it on your card and put one of the dipsy-doodles in the center. Now you can add whatever else appeals to you to finish your card. Dipsy-doodle...the handmade embellishments in the kit.

This card uses the crocheted square, the vintage graph paper and a piece of the lace. I also usedsome background paper, a stamp, some sponging on the graph paper edges, a small piece of ribbon and a BIG button...you can use your creativity to come up with something amazing.

This last sample uses another dipsy-doodle, the three paper flowers, another of the vintage paper sheets and some of the lace. I used white craft paint and dry-brushed the cardstock to create a shabby-chic-looking background. Stamp the image of your choice on the paper, lightly sponge the edges, add the embellishments. I mounted all the flowers with pop-dots for dimension.

Okay...your turn...and I'd LOVE to see your creations!