thoughts on Selfies...

OK I admit it... I sometimes like to take selfies.. Here is how it started.  I wanted to put on some lipstick and I for whatever reason I couldn't find my compact so I grabbed my phone and used the self-portrait like a mirror. Once my lipstick was on, I took a photo of my new hair cut and sent it to my hubby... and thus my selfie photo collection started.  SO today as my wonderful hubby was on the phone in the car, I was bored and took a few selfies.  I liked them so I thought to myself. Why?  OH I know one reason.. I have lost almost 33 pounds since March.. that helps.. but I realized that I don't have a lot of photos of ME because I am usually the one behind the lens.
So I decided (back all those months ago) to start taking more photos of myself.  I like self portraits, they let me be silly...

How about you.. when do you take self portraits? Do you always share them or like me do you have a little stash of them hidden away on your hard drive!

Here are a few of my favorite selfies

Sometimes they are with my hubby

Sometimes cause I'm bored

Some are sent to my brother

Some are cause I want to remember something special

Some cause my kids rock

Some cause I feel pretty that day

Doesn't happen all the time so if you feel pretty take two! 

Some cause I just got my hair done and want to show my hubby

But it all started because I needed to be sure my lipstick was straight! 

SO anyone else feel a scrapbook layout coming on... I sure do! 

Night! 

xoxoxo

e

Stitch Much??

So I HAVE been scrapbooking but I can't share those layouts with you just yet... sometimes that's how it goes!  I have been doing other stuff too!

So my mom and I went to a quilt show a few years ago and I found this beautiful quilt pattern that I wanted to make. For some reason I got it in my head that I wanted to cut it by hand, stitch it by hand AND quilt it by hand! LUCKY for me my mom said she would help.  Since we moved, I have been sewing a lot more.  I like to sew, I forget how much sometimes, but I really do love it.  I have dusted off my hand work and here is what I have been doing.

Cut with scissors, stitched by hand.
One of several I have done.   

My mom told me my stitches need to be small and tight.
I hope this passes her test!  :) 

So I will keep working on it. It has been my experience that when I have several projects going I am happiest.  They must be controlled and able to be put away but I love having hand work to do when I am not in the mood to bust out all the stops. So like I said before... many works of art make for a balanced mess.

Tonight I am crafting a character inventory for my Creative Writing Class. It is fun because I get to look up all kinds of interesting information.. LIKE did you know that there are several very expensive Irish Whiskey's.. yeah there are and if you want you can find out how they taste.. even if you don't drink! :) 

OK my friends thank you so much for stopping by and sharing life with me.  I love hearing from you! 

Be blessed and make a mess! 

e

ZEN again...

Me I have just started a new school semester, and that can be bumpy as it adds new stress to life.  Schedules change and we moved recently so I still have the rest of those boxes that seem to "loom" and you are positive that you put that stuff in that box away yet when you look in the box, there is more stuff!
I am sharing all that to say.. LIFE can be stressful!  Being creative is a great way to relieve stress. One of the things I LOVE to do when I am stressed and just need my brain to have time to recoup is Zenthangle.. or Zendoodle...

Here are a few of my Zens

Zenthangling is pretty easy you just kind of doodle in a shape, now there are a lot of doodle ideas for zenthangling and I find that they are very helpful if you need a little inspiration.  

Here are a few so grab several different pens with different tips and get to doodlin!

Thangle Patterns

Zenthangle.com


Get creative somehow everyday... remember many creative outlets makes for a balanced mess! ;)

Creative Words

I am taking a class this semester one that is NOT sign language but Creative Writing.  Many people know I love to write, but I guess until today I never thought about words as being a form of Creativity I can share.. They are. so today for my creative outlet I would like to share with you the words I chose as my "introduction" in my class.  The thing is this.  It had to be 300 words or less (by the other submissions I realized I may have been the only person to read that requirement)  I had to use two of these three words: choreographed, bone or seedy.  This was to be an Origin Story with a Super Hero theme... so here are my carefully crafted words... (Today I am working on a scene from a book I am writing, I will share it later..)

Fall 1991

The palm trees swayed gently in the Hawaiian breeze.  The sweet smell of the indigenous flowers infiltrated her senses.  It was a balmy day, almost sluggish leaving one wanting only to sit on the beach to enjoy a few manapua and a Coca-Cola. Erika Hayes had long planned for the events she now awaited. Nothing would rob her of this thing she dreamt of becoming since she was but a child.

 In her own mind she questioned, “Could today be the day? The day I finally …”, It happened suddenly, ridiculously abrupt. She had anticipated, longed for, and desired this moment to come but the pain rushed upon her ripping through her, so intense it screamed out from the very marrow of her bones. She stifled the moans.   The metamorphosis had begun.  Slowly the waves of agony pushed at her, and in a moment it had transpired.   The changes in her body seemed choreographed like this was a natural event, as if any person would be able to achieve this highest of calling.  Her ability to shape-shift had come to completion. Erika had forever changed; she felt the eyes forming in the back of her head, the uncanny ability to hear all things spoken and implied. Erika knew the pain was worth the reward.  She knew her plan was coming full circle, and the world would never be the same.

 In the days that followed her initial transformation she noticed her abilities had become keen, she was able to complete many tasks simultaneously more than that of a “normal” person.  She was able to function completely with no sleep.  She could distinguish the sounds of need, hunger, and discomfort from just a whimper.  Erika realized she had truly become a super mom. 

Tonight I am hoping to work on some layouts so perhaps I will have something scrapbooky for you tomorrow. I have class tonight but it's my Friday.. (of sorts, I still have my online classes!)

Blessings
e

New Studio..

This blog is a celebration of "NEW"  I am trying to not just focus on scrapbooking but all the interesting things I like to dabble in, from paper crafting to wordsmithing, I am getting crafty and loving every minute of it.  

I recently moved...and I can finally say I feel like my new space is near completion.  I love that everything has a place and that I am very comfy in my space.  This is my favorite place in the world because it is in a place I can get great natural light, see out the windows to a beautiful park across the street, and of course I can create.  

Today I wanted to share my space with you. There is stuff to do to add the finishing touches, but I don't want to wait any longer to share.  I would like to point out that the desk... is cleverly placed filing cabinets which nicely double for storage! 

 

TAKEN FROM THE TOP OF THE STAIRS NEAR MY BEDROOM DOOR

FROM THE HALLWAY LEADING TO THE KIDS BEDROOM

WORK SPACE.. SO HAPPY SO MUCH SPACE TO SPREAD OUT WHILE I AM WORKING IT ALSO IS THE PERFECT HEIGHT FOR CUTTING FABRIC!  SUCH A BLESSING ON MY BACK!

This is only a quick look.  I can tell you it was a great time putting this together.. if you look in the upper right hand corner of the second and third shots you can clearly see my Project Life collection is a little out of control!   

Thank for sharing my space with me-- you are welcome anytime! 

Blessings

e

I have class tonight so I am not sure what I will have time to get crafty with tonight :) but I will come up with something I am sure!

Quilt in a day!

Completed Quilt Top! 

Remember yesterday when I said I would be doing lots of crafty things?  Well Yesterday I made the quilt top from the Super Simple Quilts book and YES it was very simple in fact I completed the entire quilt top in only a few hours from first cut to final stitch.  I still need to add borders (which I need to go buy the fabric).  The top was very quick and I think it came out pretty cute!  I will add the process below for you... bare with me. there are a lot of photos!

Cutting the fabric for the strips.
Remember it is important to use a nice
sharp blade and use the ruler
correctly (Thanks Mom!)

Start stitching, I used the
chain stitching method which was
perfect for this quilt 

All of Block A complete

Strips are done

Begin making strips of blocks!
This is the fun part! 

ALWAYS mark your blocks
before you  start assembling!

So that is what I did yesterday.  I am going to buy the border fabric today. This was a lap size, so it is not really for a bed, but great for when you are watching TV or when you just want to experiment with a pattern.

OK I will try and do a little something tonight for you, but it was a busy day today-- When I have the quilt completed, borders, back and binding I will post it!  

Have a great weekend

Keep Crafting! 

Blessings

e

HAPPY Saturday!

Good Morning Sunshine!
Yup it is another HOT day here in Phoenix!  We may make it over the 110 mark, so what does a girl do when she can't go outside to enjoy the summer sun... she stays in and gets crafty!

Today's Layout is brought to you by CSI Case 85 challenge which I will be doing again later as I do NOT like this layout.  HOWEVER, to be fair, I am just getting my mojo back.  This layout started out sooo much better in my head.  The printable downloads for this case file are adorable and I had a hard time picking which I wanted to use so my solution was to use a bunch of them! OH and did I mention they have pattern papers as well!  Yes they do and as I sat playing last night I realized that every time I play a CSI challenge it's like getting a new pack of goodies to play with every new case.  OK enough stalling here is the layout I made

Sedona Sunset - by Erika Hayes
CSI Case #85

SO to make up for the layout I don't like I have one that I do like... it is of my beloved Grandfurpuppy Akea. The title of this layout is about as true a statement that has ever been made...even people that say "generally I don't like dogs... but he is so sweet"  I am 110% sure it is those eyes. How he ever ended up in a shelter I will never know! I am sooooo blessed that my daughter rescued him, he is just Mr. Personality rolled up in cuteness...

Everybody Loves Him - By Erika Hayes

OK so today I am cutting a quilt.  I will have some photos for you tomorrow!  This quilt is SUPER simple.  In fact the name of the book I got the pattern from is called Super Simple Quilts by Alex Anderson and Liz Aneloski.

Sneak Peek at the fabric:

NOT Colors one would expect from me.  That's okay.. sometimes it is fun to step out of what is expected into something else that you may find you just LOVE!

Quick Note: While scrapbooking is my first and primary love in crafting, I am a crafter, I do all kinds of stuff and this blog is dedicated to that-- making stuff... so when I make stuff I will share it here. Check labels if you want to find something faster! 

Have a Rockin' Good Weekend! 

Craft your he{art}s out! 

Blessings 

e

A must for all CRAFTERS!

The Silhouette Cameo- A Crafter's MUST! 

If you don't know by now, let me assure you my love for my Silhouette rivals that my love of chocolate.  Of course you should know my love of chocolate is a bit out of control thus my love for my Silhouette falls neatly into the category of unhealthy.

As previously mentioned, I am getting back in my scrappy mode-- although there shall be quiltin' going on for sure in the next few days!  Last night I pulled out my latest Studio Calico Kit and decided to get a layout done.  I must tell a truth here... sometimes it is hard for me to just get started!  A kit is always a fast way to get your mojo movin'  if the challenge blog challenge is already done that is ;)

I created this layout of my amazing daughter whom will ALWAYS give you a goofy look if you ASK her to smile.. now if you just take a photo she will look at you and give you a lovely smile-- just never ask her... or even say "smile!"  Almost all the product used here was from my August Studio Calico Kit.  As I was constructing this layout I had a little spot that was well "naked"  so here is where my Silhouette Cameo came to the rescue AGAIN!  I needed just a little something, all my embellishments were truthfully overwhelming, taking too much of the eye!  So I decided to check my cut library and found these cute borders (look under the LOVE THIS) that I sized to fit in the space I needed added a little mist (Mister Huey from Studio Calico Sunshine and Piglet)  and created the perfectly sized, perfect embellishment to put the attention on the photo and not take away from the photo.  So sometimes my Silhouette is for a BIG project, other times I will use it when I need a little touch of something to give the project a finished look.  With my Silhouette I always have the perfect embellishment in the perfect color.

Never Say Smile - by Erika Hayes
Studio Calico August Kit

Well that is what I have for you today my friends! Have a great day!

Moved from Typepad...

It all started with blogger and now the prodigal has returned... I am excited to get started on my first post.

First let's talk about Summer Photos.. anyone take photos from the car?  I am so bad, I do this all the time.  My challenge over then next week is to create a layout using my "scenery" from the car photos. I hope that challenge will not prove to be too daunting.  I am in a very creative mood as I got my new Kit from Studio Calico this week and due to being super busy at work have not been able to play yet!  I have been mulling over what I want to create and I have some ideas...

Next, Challenge Blogs.. love em' hate em' whats the verdict?  Well I think I might love them and hate them.  I am trying to re-ignite my scrapping.  I took a little break as life just simply was overwhelming this year. You know it's okay to do that.  It doesn't mean you can never scrap again if you stop for a spell.  I know I have done that several times, and when I come back to it I am stronger as a person and willing to try new things.  I must say, I don't completely stop I will make a card or a layout or two and continue my Project Life.  I just mean I am not trying to daily get in my space and create.  I decided with all the great challenge blogs out there I should be taking advantage of the talented folks that put out the challenge for me.  This week I took part in the CSI challenge (case# 84).  Here is the layout I completed

A New View  -  Created for the CSI Case # 84 - By Erika Hayes

I am not really THRILLED with this layout, but I don't hate it.  I guess that is all part of the creative process.  "They can't all be your favorites" my husband often reminds me.  While its not a bad layout, it just seems a little forced.  Here's why.. this one challenge included a sketch, that sketch was not conducive to my style.  While trying to include elements from the sketch I struggled a bit. ON the GOOD side, when one stretches oneself to try new "styles" we learn new things not only about a different style but about ourselves.  So the lesson for today... pick a challenge blog that features layouts that are outside your personal style and complete the challenge. I am a clean scrapper no doubt, CSI seems to swing more shabby. You don't have to post it in the challenge, but do complete it and keep track of what you have learned.  THINK through your design process, learn something new about yourself.

Good luck!