LB Break from Packing - Before Travel Tuesday

GROW YOUR BLOG AND GIVEAWAY

Jan 24th POST PLEASE... THANKS BUNCHES.

     I actually set up my sewing machine and cleared an area to finish Terri's Lacebook Page to mail off Monday morning... whew! Here are some photos, if you are interested in perusing them.
     Included is the space I will be unpacking and organizing when I return the middle of March. I am excited and will look forward to getting it done and showcasing some of my creative treasures to share with everyone.
     Hugs and love, Karen

GROW YOUR BLOG 2014 w/Giveway

     "Grow Your Blog" last year with Vicki at "2-Bags Full" was such a wonderful event and more than doubled my blogging community with her generous and loving spirit in hosting these events and the Pink Scarf Project; I met fabulous new friends and exchanged lots of ideas from jewelry tips and tricks, classes, photography know how, and book making ideas, to new patterns to knit. 

     My name is Karen and I live in Kenai, Alaska. You can read a bit about me in the sidebar. The biggest life change for me this year was "moving my home," twice. And, literally within the last six months, I have moved to/from Anchorage, making it two full uHaul moments. I have the "packers blues" and a sore sciatic nerve to prove it. The last move was five days ago. 

     I am now at the Kenai Senior Center Housing (Vintage Pointe Manor) and I know that I am going to enjoy it. Below is a photo from one of my favorite places in the complex - I call it the "sunroom" and it is just a few steps from my apartment door. My day began with a cup of tea while waiting for the sun to rise.

iPhone5 capture about 930am this morning!

     GIVEAWAY - The "good" news. I will be giving away one of my handmade "journals" to one of you who leaves a comment - not sure yet if it will be a coptic, buttonhole, beaded spine, wrap around, or whatever-type-binding - I haven't unpacked all my books! So, it will be a surprise. Please know that you do not have to be a blogger or have a blog, anyone can enter. If you don't have a blog with your information, please leave a means of communication in your comment.

     The "not quite as good" news. Gift delay... Tuesday (three days from now) I leave for a trip to Canada to visit and support my sister while she receives medical treatments in Vancouver, BC. I will do the random drawing on February 15th (in Canada), post the winner and send my gift between March 8-16 upon my return to Alaska. This also means that I will not be at my computer, but I will try to visit as many blogs as possible with my iPad, and finish up if need be when I return home. I appreciate your patience with this longer time frame and delay of gift. 

     My followers are important to me and I hope that some of you visiting for the first time will consider being "new followers" to my blog. My recent creative efforts have focused on lacebooks, mixed media books, and knitting - I didn't get to take as many photos or make jewelry as I would have liked this year. Hoping this next year will find me doing more in my "studio" (which is the livingroom of my apartment), getting outside with my camera to show you "my Alaska", and blogging more. (PS - check out my Flickr photos...)

Thank you for stopping by and may you have a beautiful blessed 2014.

Packing Again

     The photo says it all and what I have been doing for several weeks. Just hoping my neck/back hold up for the move - I will downsize and unpack rather slowly since Feb 8 - March 8 will be spent in Canada with Nadine and Owen. 
     A quick "retreat" planned a year ago with Lacebook Collaborative friends in Palm Springs (Jan 29-Feb 2) and a side trip to Sun City to see MRE retirees will provide a little warmth and sun to my bones!

2014 Greetings

Christmas Blessings

"This Christmas, I renew my trust in

God's goodness, compassion, and providence."

Blessings to All my Dear Dear Family and Friends for

a New Year of Peace, Love, and Prosperity.

'PAGES' - My Red Page Spread

     Very lovely six page spread in "Pages" - a publication of Cloth Paper Scissors. When Catherine sent us the Email a few days ago (previous post, one back), I wondered which page they chose of my submissions to Catherine. It turns out that my "red page spread" was highlighted; however, the name under the photo is incorrect, though you are able to see my signature on the page (I hope) - haven't seen the hard copy yet.
     The red page was a fun one to do and one of my favorites; we had nine participants for that particular book. Thought you might like to see some of the prep work (since I have photos, of course - LOL). With 15 different squares and the mylar/transparency, there was a little more work; and, made use of my photography skills, too.
      Thanks to Catherine for all her hard work in hosting the collaborative over the five year process, submitting the books for publication; and to the other contributors and especially to my sister who also participated and invited me to the group. 

LB Pages for Sox

     Lacebook Pages done for Socrates (Sox) and on their way to Teri (NY) for the next additions. 
     Sox's theme for the Renaissance Italy LB is "Bronzino." There's a bit of info on the first photo. Enjoy!

"Pages" Winter 2014 - CPS

     Catherine Anderson, Catherine Anderson Studios, North Carolina, just sent out a message via Facebook that some of her/our entries to the Color Journal Collaborative have been published in the Winter 2014 "Pages" edition from Cloth Paper Scissors. 
     I am excited and looking forward to seeing the pages the editors chose for publication.
     When my sister Nadine had an acute pancreas attack in late 2007, I accepted the invite to "play" with the group - doing eight books (creating original pages for each participant) from November 2007 through November 2011. I was unable to participate in the last three books of 2011-2012 (brown, cream, and grey). The group has since moved on to a new "same page" journal.
     Shown below is a photo of the eight books I participated in (all in the "green" bag from that color project) and the photo Catherine sent out today...
     Catherine would send the "invite," collect the original pages, construct the books, and return them back to us. We covered costs for some materials and shipping; truly, Catherine is such an inspiration and gracious hostess in giving her time to this and other collaboratives. 
     I never entertained the thought of having something I created in a publication, so this is totally unexpected and very fun.