Friday, December 23, 2016

Friday Smiles 200


Some of you may have noticed that I jumped the gun last week and waited patiently for Annie at A Stitch in Time to share her post and linky link.  I later learned she was on hiatus, so I'm going to share it again.  However, I have another smile I want to share first, so if you saw the post from last week, just skip the latter part of this post.


Many of you have seen this visual journal I created for a sick friend to take to chemotherapy.  For those of you who have not seen it, I sun dyed the fabric, both outside and inside, sewed it together, added two signatures of 96 pages, and glued on a key.

However, I realized the key as the sole piece to hold the journal in place was not going to work, so I removed the key and added a button underneath it.  It works so much better this way.

When I took it to her, she was not just pleased but stunned.  She said NO ONE had ever created anything that intense and time consuming before.  When I told her I picked each page so she could doodle and create her own images on it, and I wanted her to be able to use it during her chemo treatments, she said "It's my KEYMO journal."  I laughed so hard, I could barely stop.

For those of you who didn't see last week's 200th Friday Smiles, I've recreated it in its entirety:

To change the subject completely, as I was cleaning my office, I found this from 2008.

I thought it was so unique, and it put a smile on my face.  Since it's been awhile since I've joined Annie (aka Wipso) at A Stitch in Time, I thought it was time I joined in again.

I'm calling this "The Cost."


Since these are 2008 prices,




I can only imagine what that cost is today.


I had to smile about the caveat.  After having a drummer live in my basement for a few years, I can definitely appreciate the earplugs!

That's when I decided to go to PNC to see if I could find the latest CPI.



It seems to have gone up considerably since 2008.

If you want to see some incredible images of each gift (these are simply STUNNING) and incredibly clever, you should click on the link above.  I especially enjoyed the image of the six geese-a-laying.  And if you like those images and love coloring, you can download your own coloring book to, as PNC explains "produce your own beautiful interpretation" of these truly gorgeous images.





However, if you want to see the TRUE COST of all 364 gifts (due to repetition), this is how it plays out.

Thanks for visiting today.  I hope you enjoyed learning how I created the trees for my latest tip-ins using a masterboard background technique  reading what my friend said when she learned why I created her new KEYMO journal.  And please don't forget to visit Annie at A Stitch in Time, where a smile is always the best way to start the weekend.  You'll smile at every link you see there, too.

Welcome home, Annie!

15 thoughtful remarks:

chrissie said...

A great name for the journal you made and such a wonderful idea Elizabeth.

Enjoyed reading the rerun of the pother part of the post as well.Always something I miss the forst time around

Love Chrissie xx

Robyn Oliver said...

Happy Friday Elizabeth, what a fantastic journal for your friend, and she loves it. Hope you have a wonderful Christmas and all the very best for 2017 hugs Robyn

froebelsternchen said...

I love this journal as much as your friend! Just great!

Wishing you and the boys the most wonderful festive season!!
oxo Susi

Özge Başağaç said...

This journal is a very thoughtful gift. And it is a beautifully made one, too.I hope all goes well for your friend.Have a great Christmas :)

Lisca said...

What a lovely gift for your friend, and I like the name too: key-mo journal. I can well imagine she loves it!
I really had a giggle at the cost of Christmas in song. So funny. I belong to an Intercambio group, that consists of Spanish wanting to improve their English language skill and foreigners, wanting to hone their Spanish. The English speaking part of the group did the Partridge in a Pear Tree with all the actions. Hilarious! Then we had to explain the song of course. We had a hoot of a time.
Have a schplendid festive season,
Hugs,
Lisca

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

Hi Elizabeth, love the journal. Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and an even better New Year with lots more smiles of course!.
Angela xXx

Neet said...

Could not let the Christmas Season go by without popping in to see you and your two cats, especially Bleubeard who I feel I almost know personally. Strange when you are so far away. Guess, such is the power of the internet.
Well, lovely work as always and a smile at the play on the word Keymo.
Wishing you and the cats all the best for the Christmas Season and wishing you all Very Happy New Year.
`Hugs, Neet xxx

Shaz in Oz.CalligraphyCards said...

Hi Elizabeth a great post, loved the keymo journal and how wonderful that your friend was so thrilled. Love the cost of true love in 2009 and today too, not including earlugs 😄
Happy Smiles Day!!!
Blessings of our Lord upon you as we remember Jesus' birthday and a healthy 2017.
Shaz in Oz.x

{Calligraphy Cards - Shaz in Oz}

Annie said...

Thanks for linking up your smiles and for your lovely comments. I feel so blessed to always be able to find something to smile about each week even when life throws its challenges at us....and we've had rather a lot lately. Focusing on the happy moments certainly helps.
Wishing you a happy, peaceful Christmas and here's hoping we have lots of smiles to share in 2017.
Hugs,
Annie x

CJ Kennedy said...

What a wonderful gift you made for your friend. I love the pun, Key-mo. That didn't occur to me. The key closure reminds me of the diaries from th 60s and 70s that locked with a little key.

Gaby Bee said...

Your 'Keymo Journal' is really smashing! What a wonderful gift for your friend, Elizabeth! I'm not surprised that she loves it :)

Sending warm wishes to you for a wonderful Christmas, and much health and happiness for 2017.

Gaby xoxo

Sami said...

What a beautiful and thoughtful gift for your friend and of course I love the name she gave it. Hopefully she will get better with treatment and have a better 2017!
Wishing you and your family a wonderful Christmas and a healthy New Year!!

Meggymay said...

I love the name your friend gave to her journal, it was a wonderful gift that you made, I hope all goes well for her with her recovery.
In case I don't get a chance to call in again.
I hope you have a wonderful Christmas weekend.
Yvonne xx

Jeanie said...

I can't imagine any bigger reaction than the one you had for your journal. I know that was a tough project at times and I just love that you got to see the joy.

Speaking of joy, thank you so much for all you visits and comments. I'd email my replies in person if I could. Your comments always are insightful and interesting and make me smile and I'm so glad I discovered your blog in 2016. I look forward to many more back-and-forth visits next year.

Meanwhile, I hope you got to the bathroom (it's been a challenge for me, too, and never TMI!) and that you have a wonderful holiday!

Much joy to you!
j

mamapez5 said...

Your journal was a wonderful and thoughtful gift for your dear friend.
I had to laugh at the twelve days of Christmas piece. We have just sung a quite involved version of it with our choir, and our musical director asked the audience to 'count the feet' while we sang. I believe there is over 600 of them!
I too was caught out by Annie last week, but she is back now of course.
Enjoy the rest of the week. Kate x