live . craft . learn

support & love

this sweet girl, ellenor, is the daughter of kirsty wiseman, one of the sweetest and most loving mommy's i've been privileged to get to know through SIStv, and they need our help. the following info was borrowed straight from ellenor's donation site {here} where you can go to learn more and help them to hopefully get more answers about ellie's health here in the states.

For those who are not familiar with Ellie's story, allow us to recap. Since Belle was 3 months old there has been many studies to try and understand why, at first, she was failing to thrive. All the time new problems presented themselves - mainly her gait and low muscle tone. Ellie also has poor vision with photo phobia, poor fine motor skills, lower limb muscle wastage and currently nestles on the 0.02 percentile. She is 120cm high and weigh around 2 stones 8 lbs (36lbs). And whilst she is a happy little soul she does require the use of a stroller and electric wheelchair to assist her on getting out and about. She is not yet independent - she still requires adult guidance in her life.

In 12 years, according to the NHS, we have "exhausted all avenues". But we will not give up, no matter what the professionals advise. Our dream is for Belle to walk independently without strollers or chairs, without excruciatingly painful shoes, understand her underlying problems and have confidence that she can manage on her own should she wish to leave home. At this stage in her life - none of things are solvable because she has no diagnosis or any form of support. We hope me might have yours :)

i've donated and the wiseman's would appreciate any support you can offer. even if all you can send is a small amount we all know that even the littlest bits can add up to make a huge difference.

also... thank you to all of you for the love, support, emails and calls regarding ben. we're home now and he's feeling better everyday.

xoxo

just popping in quickly ...

because i've been in the hospital with my little boy who has pneumonia. he's doing incredibly better but the last 48 hours have been such a whirlwind of craziness... er in los angeles. last minute flight friday night with my two littles {mike had to drive home alone yesterday}. scary 3 hour rental car drive home at 10pm from oakland during storm {should have only taken 1 hour}. er yesterday and as i stated, a 3 year old with pneumonia. icky sickies.

he's a ton better tonight but say a little prayer {big ones are good too!} and for those of you who have emailed i'll get back to you as soon as i can.

xoxo

today

i've been working on a altered page tutorial for sis which should be up within an hour or so it's up!! {{here}}, you all know how i love altering books. however, working in this style is a different direction for me, a bit more vintage and back to the basics of what i love, which is good and quite what my heart has been needing because i've been feeling quite uninspired lately. i haven't really been too happy about the last few los i've made {which is why i won't be posting them, ever} and it feels really good to just play and create and enjoy the process.

this pic shows my pages about 3/4 of the way through, there are lots and lots of layers, and amazing amount of personal journaling that has been painted over and over and over. plus, some major play with gesso, gel medium, white and parchment hued paints as well as some of my most favorite pattern papers... that polka dot october afternoon, called wonderfully enough blue ribbon quilt, and the opposite of that paper is my other most favorite oa design of theirs, the chocolate brown wallpaper. yum!

and this. this is what the bean does when i give her my old anthropologie catalog. i think i need to take a few tips from her... i'm adoring that sparkle rhinestone border. man, i love my girl.

papercuts

i've been really attracted to papercuts over the last few weeks, these two images are from peter callesen who is amazing!! i love how the images develop from a traditional silhouette into these amazing 3d works. alive, but dead {above} is my absolute favorite of his but fall {shown below} wins a very tight second place ribbon. can you believe it's simply paper and paste? unbelieveable. i would adore seeing these in person.

then, i saw that amy made a few for christmas presents that are beautiful. but here are a few more that i love and adore...

yuken teruya

emma van leest

georgia russell

be still my altered book loving heart. *sigh*

a productive sunday

i spent the afternoon making things some new things for my etsy shop yesterday. this cute magnetic board and the altered xO/oX bingo books shown below. the books are stuffed with some amazing vintage and other found papers as well as hambly, jenni bowlin, daisy d's, basic grey and those uber cute glass glitter letters on the front.

i only have two each of these books... plus the one i'm keeping for myself. you didn't think i'd make these and not keep one did you??!?

happy monday!
xoxo

my crazy 8's

yesterday my sweet friend lisa came over with her dughter frankie and we scrapped while the kids...

played my little pony
ran around like little beasts
completely destroyed maddies bedroom {why didn't i take a pic??}
tried to "ride" maddies round dress up organizer
wore every piece of maddies dress up clothes possible
ate pizza and blew bubbles in their milk {ick!}
watched sleeping beauty
cried when frankie was gone {at 9pm}.

all in all it was a very productive and fun afternoon!

and, i haven't done one of these for a while and was tagged last week by my sweet friend raesha.

8 Passions in my life:
my children
my husband
making things with my hands
bonnie cashin
scrapbooking
thrift store shopping
being a good friend
keeping my heart open

8 Things to do before I die:
go back to norway
see the nile valley in person
finish my degree {only 12 units left}
design a line of fabric
learn how to snow ski
see my children become parents
leave a visual history of who i am for my children
become at peace with myself

8 things I often say:
dude!
seriously?
we do not play at the kitchen table
i need coffee
hon... can you make me a latte?
mmmmm.... {after said latte has been delivered}
do you know how much i love you? {to my littles}
xoxo {well... i usually type it actually}

8 books {and/or magazines} I’ve read recently:
eat pray love
collage discovery workshop
collage discovery workshop II
war and peace {again!}
pride & prejudice {for the 3,234,543,678 time}
marie claire idee
somerset memories
old martha stewart's

8 Songs that mean something to me:
peace train - cat stevens
secret oktober - duran duran
your head's too big - the ditty bops
i want you - elvis costello
valerie - amy winehouse
i hope - the dixie chicks
midnight train to georgia - gladys knight and the pips
a horse with no name - america {my mom & i used to sing this in the car when i was little, it was the first song i ever learned by heart}

8 Qualities I look for in a friend:
a smiling heart
honesty
truthfulness
compassion
strength
spontaneity
loyalty
a silly side

the last row said to tag 8 more people... but i've never been one to follow the rules completely. ;D so.. i tag anyone who wants to play, but make sure you leave me a little link so i can see your top 8.

happy sunday!
 

hey nor cal girls!!

i'm teaching a class at picture me perfect in fremont, california on february 16th from 3-5pm. the class is all about the random little moments that sometimes get lost during your daily routine. your favorite coffee from starbucks; the way your schedule changes slightly or majorly from day to day; the random family moments you would probably forget in 5 years.

i'll teach you how to make a canvas cover with simple hand stitching techniques as well as distressing with embossing powder and ink, stenciling with acrylic paint and creating your own journaling blocks with vintage materials and class kit scraps.

the class kits includes lots of vintage papers and bits as well yummy october afternoon, hambly, tinkering ink, american crafts and jenni bowlin. you can purchase the class online here {just click "kerry's class" on the 16th} or call the store directly {510.744.9583} for more information.

in other news project 2 is up for the soldering 101 class and i've really been enjoying the process as well as my students. it's been really nice to be able to experiment with some new ideas with soldering and i'm thinking of starting to put together monthly project kits. they'll include all the supplies needed to complete a project {except a basic soldering kit} as well as detailed directions which i think is very important.

i've also decided that next months class is going to be free. i think it's time i give something back to all of you who have been such wonderful friends and supporters this past year as i came into my own with this craft. i'm thinking a layering class but tell me what you are interested, i want this to be fun for you! and that includes all you lurkers! come on... say hi! i promise i won't decoupage you in paper and glue.... yet.

now i'm out of here. mike just got home and he's taking me out on the town. burgers, ice cream & movie. the prefect date night in my opinion.

happy friday!

this is what i do ...

to cheer myself up. i re-decorate. i move things. i'm a visual person and i need change. without it i get bored and uninspired and because of my recent doldrums i figured a little bit of this could do nothing but help.

my papa {grandfather} when he was a little boy. it was in a really horrid frame that i hated so yesterday afternoon i simply placed it under glass on a vintage wood block wallpaper stamp with some paper and ribbon.

little trinkets and my beloved vintage books. including a first edition anne of green gables that i found last month at my favorite local second hand shop.

my currently tiny but growing collection of Y's. what i really need is one of these.

the jar is from my travels in october to norway, the ribbon and fabric wrapped card is from becky. it's just a simple little collection made from very sentimental pieces that makes my heart very happy.

you can see snippets of the before here.

happy thursday!

being honest

the last few weeks have been a bit hard for me. i've felt a bit down, depressed and generally just sad. i think i've done a really good job of hiding it from everyone, even myself for far to long. maybe it's the post holiday blues. maybe it's because it's been stormy and overcast and raining since last friday or that i feel like i live in a state of constant chaos. maybe it's because to be completely honest i haven't been very good lately at taking care of myself or my home.

but there have been major bright spots filtering through the clouds. my f-girls giving me an amazing pep talk on sunday when i think i had the hardest day and then sweet gi calling and listening to all of my run down sad words at midnight. sunday was the day when i hit the bottom, and friends were there, like they always are. amazing women who are always there to lean on. to cry with. to get the things out that i usually hide behind a big smile because i think i have to. because i for some reason have always thought i had to be the smiling one. the always happy one. which is why i am sure when i crash, i crash hard. really, really hard.

but this. this collection "rainbow sushi" by sweet ashley, who i adore whole heartedly, helped me work out some of those blues in ways i didn't expect. it's funny sometimes to think about how much scrapbooking has helped me deal with the inner thoughts, the good and the not so good. so, i sat down last night, in front of the tv while dh was watching stargate atlantis and all his other manly dvr shows, and i scrapped. i scrapped for me. i scrapped my heart. i scrapped my love and my thoughts and reminded myself why i should be proud of me. you can see more here and here.

i have faith in my heart. i have a forever love. and lucky for me i still have an incredible amount of this collection left and a lot more to say about me right now. icky feelings and all.

the collection goes on sale tonight at midnight central in the boutique. but if you can't make that time and it sells out {which i have a feeling it will} a little bird told me there may be a little more on sale tomorrow at noon central, just for you girls who work and are good at getting to bed at a sensible hour.

xoxo

{overlooked}

that ashley is pure genius when it comes to the little details of the everyday. in her journaling. in her wisdom. in her heart. which makes me so excited to join her in overlooked. because i love the little details but sometimes it's just so crazy around here that i pass them by. forgotten. neglected.

but not today. this is my cup. itty bitty and catching all that wonderful espresso goodness before it goes into whatever other cup or travel mug i have that's clean. but this cup. this cup is golden. it's my first morning love.

i highly suggest if you haven't checked her challenge blog out that you do. now!

happy tuesday!
xoxo