January, 2025 and a new calendar

 

My dear friend RO! fessed up that she sent me the calendar I will be using for the next 18 months.

I have a new calendar.  It is LARGE.  Too large for the scanner, so I will need to photograph it each month.  In keeping with Art Journal Journey, our host and co-administrator Mia of Craftartista has chosen Dots as her theme.  You can see I've added dots to the page.  We also have a holiday this month, which is MLK Jr Day.  It is one of our official federal holidays every year.

 

Thank you for visiting today.  I appreciate it more than you know.

 

T Stands For Spice Merchant at Christmas

 

I had planned to open gifts and cards everyone sent, but due to my left arm not able to open anything right now, I am waiting til next week. Instead, we will visit The Spice Merchant right before Christmas.

I was surprised that the Christmas mugs were reduced to 1/2 price, but it appears to be the perfect time to do so.  I love that there is a place to store your used tea bag in this one.

Santa's mug also holds a used tea bag.

I fear I got a bit redundant as I uploaded these to the blog.  Love that cute elf.

Now it's your turn to share your drink related post.   Any post is acceptable as long as you can relate it, in some way, back to a drink.  Think postcard, movie, fine art, poster art, sketches, digital, hybrid, or traditional art, unique teapots, your garden, or take us with you as you go out and about.   Photos do not have to be taken on Tuesday, but you must link below (direct links only, please) to ensure Bleubeard, the "T" gang, and I visit.  Or drop by to say hello and consider joining us for this weekly event this week or in the future.  We'd love to have you.  

 

 

I apologize I didn't include the link last week.

 

We got SNOW

 

Wichita, Kansas (USA) got snow Thursday night and Friday morning.

I heard on one of the local TV stations that each home owner (that would be me) was responsible for clearing snow from their sidewalks and could be fined if they didn't and someone got hurt.

The "official" amount was 5.9 inches (1.798 meters) recorded at the airport.  I ask who lives at the airport?

I had both ice and snow to deal with.

I finally had to remove my sling and shovel with both hands.  It took over 4 hours to shovel which I "guess-timate" is about 10 feet of sidewalk.  I had to stop every foot or so and go inside to warm myself.  Lots of hot coffee helped.  These photos were taken this morning.  I was too shaky and in pain to take them yesterday afternoon.

Thanks for dropping by today.  I will visit as time permits.  Right now, I have a hot pack on my left arm, but at least the city can't fine me!

 

T Stands For 2024 T Tuesday in review

 

T Tuesday year in review:

January, 2024

   Back in January, I took my friend Scott to Collage Hill Deli.  Scott had coffee and I chose water with lemon.  I ordered appetizers for both of us, and before we could finish them, our main meal came.  I ordered the Mediterranean vegan delight and the fattoush salad.  Scott ordered a Bierock Pie and tomato soup with cheese.

February, 2024

  February found me back at The Spice Merchant where I chose to show Torani syrups and various chai instant drinks.

March, 2024

For Sally's birthday, I took her to her favorite place which is China Inn.

  It seems we always order the same thing, one of the most expensive meals on the menu.  We both had water, mine was with lemon.

April, 2024

  For my bEARTHday, my foodie friend Sally took me to Golden Corral where I pigged out on carrot cake.  Not quite as good as my grandmother always made for my birthday, but acceptable at least.

  Sally is pigging out on fresh fruit and I am drinking ice water with lemon.  For me it's cake first!!!

May, 2024

  It seems I spent every T Tuesday sharing mugs I found at The Spice Merchant. 

     Here, Mom and Dad get equal billing.

June, 2024

  I treated my friends Sally and Joseph to Kababs, a traditional Indian restaurant. 

July, 2024

  T Stands For Breakfast Buffet with my foodie friend Sally.  I went straight for the fruit and cinnamon roll, while Sally went for scrambled eggs and pancakes.  Drinks were included, so I started with a lemonade and finished with coffee and half and half.  As always, Sally had water, which I failed to include in the photos.

AND

  T Stands For Tuesday turned 11 on July 16.

August, 2024

  I shocked everyone when I wrote T Stands for New Home.  Of course, I wasn't planning to move.  I was simply showing the treadle sewing machine my grandmother used until she died.  Even though I bought her an electric sewing machine, she refused to use it.  Here I'm sharing a box of real orange juice for T.

September, 2024

   September is the month my late blooming wild sunflowers come to life.  I always pick a few and showcase them for T Tuesday.

October, 2024

  This is the Halloween card Elle sent.  I love that the post office didn't obliterate the stamp that hadn't been cancelled.

November, 2024

  November was all about the tea that Iris sent me.  I shared four different Cupper brand teas she sent me.

December, 2024

  December was all about my grandmother's dishes, cups, and saucers.

January, 2025

I am so blessed to have received so many wonderful cards and gifts for Christmas, including this box from Mia.  I also got a card from Elle and a postcard from Lisca and Ronnie that I put somewhere for safe keeping and now I can't find where that is!  When I find them, I will share everything with each of you.

Someone also sent me a calendar and I have no idea who.  There was no name or note inside the package which came from Amazon, but it was addressed to Bleubeard and Elizabeth, so I know it didn't come from Sally or one of my no name no photos friends.  Let me know if YOU sent it, please.

 

I'm also saving this final bottle of eggnog until I find the other things I lost.  I bought four different types of eggnog this year and this is the last I will try.

And finally, we got snow, but it is on top of a layer of ice.  You can see the ice on the mailbox.  The entire city had pretty much ground to a halt.

 

Second on the 2nd: Dots

 

As most of you know, I like my Second Look to somehow reflect what our current host at Art Journal Journey is featuring.  That means, since Mia has chosen Dots, I chose something I hope fits. 

Back in March, 2010, as part of my OWOH (One World One Heart) giveaway, I offered the piece below. Several people asked me how I made the flowers.


Unfortunately, they are not nearly as pretty in this scan as they are once they are fluffed. Since I had several requests for these, and since it's been awhile since I've actually done a tutorial on my blog, here is how I made them. Although they are easy, they are time consuming. Of course, you can't make just one, either, and I got a bit carried away making them.


Supplies (from top left, clockwise):
Deli paper (I used Kabinet Wax brand by Dixie from Sam's Club)
UHU glue (or any clear liquid glue)
Fluid acrylics (colors of your choice)
Inexpensive craft paint (colors of your choice)
Sharpie pens (various colors)
Craft sheet, or some way to protect your work surface)
Scissors (not shown)
Credit card or paint brush (not shown)


Lay down at least three coordinated colors of paint directly onto your deli paper. Be sure your paper is on your craft sheet. Using either a credit card (my tool of choice) or a foam or bristle brush, completely cover one side of the deli paper with paint. Spread some areas with single colors, others by mixing your colors.


Allow to dry. Don't get too concerned if you have a bare spot or two on your paper. It will never show in the final piece.


Continue making papers with various complimentary colors until you have several sheets completed. Make sure there is a distinct difference in the final pages, even though you use the same paints.


Audition your pen or marker colors and pick a few that compliment or go well with your color scheme.


Write your favorite word or words. I even wrote a few tips I wanted to share. Here are some of the things I wrote.

You can scribble all over the page with words of inspiration and affection because the words get cut around and no one will know for sure what they are or what they read. If your paint colors are dark, you will need to use black or white ink. If the words or sentences don't make sense, it doesn't matter. Use coordinating colors and keep within the same color family. You will want the best looking or least discernible words for the top layer. If you don't like your handwriting, try griping your marker like a child does or use your non-dominant hand.

Write words of inspiration or a favorite sentiment in other colors between the darker words.


Once your pages are finished, grab your favorite scissors and at least four sheets of paper.


Stack them and begin cutting circles. Keep your pages together to maximize the number of circles you can get from one stack. Alternately, use decorative scissors to cut your circles.


Cut an equal number of large, medium, and small circles. You can make your flowers with four or five petals, but I thought three was a good number.


Since you don't want all your flower petals the same color, leave the largest stack as is. Take the top circle from the middle stack and place it on the bottom.


Take two circles from the smallest stack and place them on the bottom of that stack.


Take the top circle from each stack and place them together, with the smallest circle on top.

Place a small amount of clear liquid glue in the center of each circle. For this project, I do NOT recommend white glue (Elmer's or equivalent) or glue stick. White glue is too wet and will tear the deli paper, and glue stick doesn't have enough surface area for good coverage.


Grab the assembly in the center, then gather and twist until you have the shape you desire.


This is how they will look on the back after they have been pinched and twisted. Hold the flower a few seconds to make sure the glue has started to set.


You now have one completed flower. If you don't like the way it is laying, you can always twist and smoosh some more. Be sure your "petals" are separated, too. Now go make more.


When finished, you will have some darling flowers for assemblages. You can also use them in a wreath, add a piece of wire to the twisted area and turn them into a stunning bouquet, or use them to decorate a package or gift tag. I don't suggest using them in an altered book or in any art where they will have to lay flat. They will flatten, like they did on my scanner (see first photo, this post) and you will be refluffing them a lot. They really look best when they are allowed to be themselves.

You can add anything in the center, including a button, glitter, tiny beads, pony beads (what better way to use them up), or leave the center as is.

These took a long time to make, and I stopped after 14 due to time constraints. Although I love deli paper because of its softness, ease of use, and the way it handles, you can shorten the time it takes to make them by beginning with lightweight patterned scrapbook paper, book pages (just make sure the pages aren't brittle), or maps. I hope you have fun with these, and make a few.  Once this post goes live, you can find it on my tutorial page.

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Now it's time to share your own Second on the 2nd.  The rules are quite simple and everyone is welcome to join the fun look back.  All you have to do is bring back a post that you are especially proud of, or perhaps one you shared before anyone knew your blog existed.  Any post, any genre, any artistic endeavor is acceptable, as long as it's been published sometime in the past.  Then link below (direct links only, please) and Bleubeard and I, along with other Second on the 2nd friends, will be by to visit.  The link will be live until 4 p.m. next Tuesday, but it is best to share it on the 2nd.