No Peeking!

Finished cards for 2007. I'm very pleased with them. Even when there are mistakes with Gocco printing, I still like the outcome. This year, the green is not quite aligned with the other two colors but it still works. I really love that Gocco printer. I first saw it in an art class with Clayton Brothers about 3 years ago. I told my honey about it and next thing you know he had purchased one. How did he know I would love it so much? Come to think of it, he was the one who suggested we buy a nice sewing machine with some wedding money (I had never sewn anything). How did he know? I think he knows me better than me!

Favorite Traditions

This weekend I spent much of my time working on Christmas cards. First I sketched the idea and scanned it in. Then I used Illustrator to edit and separate the colors for printing on my Gocco Printer. This is the first print layer of three. I've been making holiday cards since I was a teenager, first for my parents and now for my family. There have been years here and there when I haven't done it and had to gasp! buy cards. Making cards is one of my favorite traditions of the holidays.

I saw a product display at a store yesterday that said "Inhale. Exhale. Repeat." It was a display for incense and incense accoutrements but it seemed to be implying that the shopper must be stressed and having trouble relaxing. I think we mostly create our own stress at this time of year. Self-imposed stress. Making cards is my self-imposed stress. But I really like to do it. Maybe I should start a little earlier next year though.

Thanks and Pay It Forward

I have so many things I want to post, mostly knitting, but I am refraining because they are gifts and I'd like the recipients to be surprised. So instead I'm going to post some things that have been given to me (us) to say thanks. A while back I responded to a fellow blogger, Creative Kismet, and she sent me this wonderful package of fun things, simply for responding to her blog. Thanks Regina, for my first blogger gift!

Second, my mother-in-law, also known as Grandma Julie, sent this wonderful Advent Calendar for the girls this year. I have been coveting hers for years and had considered making something myself, but it's down at number 36 on the list of things to make. So, I was very excited and pleased that she made one for us.
Next, for my birthday recently, I got together with my local friends for a night of handwork (sewing, knitting, whatever...) and received these very nice handmade gifts. Gift bags for Christmas presents and a needle book. Thanks everyone!
Finally, I signed up to participate in Creative Kismet's Pay It Forward game, also a while back. Then I hesitated a bit, thinking, wait a minute, how is this going to work? No one reads my blog!! But what the heck, I'm going to try it anyway. Here's how it works...

“I will send a (small) handmade gift to the first 5 people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange. I don’t know what that gift will be yet and you may not receive it tomorrow or next week, but you will receive it within 365 days, that is my promise! The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog.“

So, this should be fun. I have no idea what I'll make yet, but if you're out there wanting to join in some blog exchanging fun, here's your chance!