tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58957765170141017722024-02-24T14:58:53.179-07:00Ivory Blush RosesCrazy Quilting, Hand Stitching, and occasionally a bit about home and garden, art, travel, and life!Lisa Bonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16954398440820019953noreply@blogger.comBlogger926125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5895776517014101772.post-80341867305220324792024-02-23T17:52:00.005-07:002024-02-23T17:52:46.652-07:00Bits & Pieces<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/53548220503/in/dateposted-public/" title="Slow Stitching"><img alt="Slow Stitching" height="360" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53548220503_6e2453bf3f_4k.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<p>I've been stitching on a few things that I'm not filming for the YouTube channel. One is a boro or kantha stitched purse. Slow stitching like this is lovely and meditative and I let it guide me as I go. I'm especially happy with those green leaves on linen! </p><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/53548220548/in/dateposted-public/" title="Slow Stitching"><img alt="Slow Stitching" height="360" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53548220548_eb84ace0dc_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<p>I've also been playing around with making some tiny wonky log cabin blocks. They are great for using up narrow scraps of fabric that might otherwise go unused! </p><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/53548364394/in/dateposted-public/" title="Spun Cotton Critters"><img alt="Spun Cotton Critters" height="360" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53548364394_bf2193a776_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<p>Learning to make tiny spun cotton critters and strawberries has been so much fun! I've loved little cute critters for my entire life,</p><p><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/53547191682/in/dateposted-public/" title="Spun Cotton critters"><img alt="Spun Cotton critters" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53547191682_7ee4f43558_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
And dressing some of them up in wee scraps of fabric and lace is so much fun! Who could resist such a cutie?!</p><p><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/53547191917/in/dateposted-public/" title="Spun Cotton critters"><img alt="Spun Cotton critters" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53547191917_f05f420e3f_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
The trick is keeping them away from the kitties, who seem to think that they are perfect kitty toys! </p><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/53547191892/in/dateposted-public/" title="Autumn Bell Pull"><img alt="Autumn Bell Pull" height="512" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53547191892_85e8fca657_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script> <div>I finally finished the Autumn Bell Pull that began as a DYB Round Robin back in 2010! </div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/53548067521/in/dateposted-public/" title="Autumn Bell Pull"><img alt="Autumn Bell Pull" height="800" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53548067521_3be9c6f4d9_c.jpg" width="254" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script> </div><div style="text-align: left;">It's hard to take a photo that's easy to post when it's a long bell pull! There should be a couple of videos showing the finish of this on my YouTube channel in the near future!</div><p>Speaking of which, when I started my YouTube channel in 2018, I never dreamed I would gain more than a couple thousand followers. But in December 2023, my channel reached 5,000 subscribers and as of today it was at 5400! I love that so many people are interested in crazy quilting and patient enough to follow along with my videos! </p><p>I have no training in videography, or in video editing. But I've tried things and learned as I've gone. What a journey it is, and I'm excited to see where it will lead! </p><p>I'm so grateful to those of you who have been checking in to see if I've posted anything new lately and to those of you who come back for the tutorials or simply for inspiration! </p><p>I'm also pleased to let you know that I will be teaching two crazy quilt class series for Sew Downtown in Greeley, Colorado in this year! There is one in progress right now, but there is another one coming up in May. <a href="https://sewdowntown.com/collections/classes/products/hand-embellished-crazy-quilting-2-22-2-29-3-7-24-1-00-4-00" target="_blank">Check the course listing on Sew Downtown's website</a> if you are interested in registering for in person classes! Note that these are geared towards beginners, though some of the experienced folks who have taken it tell me they learned new things! </p><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/53548503710/in/dateposted-public/" title="Paperwhites"><img alt="Paperwhites" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53548503710_3af6c2ee47_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><p>I've had paper whites blooming for a couple of months. They bring such joy on cold wintry days. I loved how this one reached for the sun around the kitchen cabinet! </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div>Lisa Bonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16954398440820019953noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5895776517014101772.post-33241378426713157172023-12-29T17:00:00.001-07:002023-12-29T17:00:08.190-07:00Looking Back: What I Stitched and Painted in 2023<p> Every year, I love to take a look back near the end of December at what I accomplished in that year. This year is no exception. I started the year off with lots of painting, that gradually morphed into lots of stitching! </p><p>In mid-January, I started a painting challenge to paint every day for a month. I didn't quite make it, but I did have fun painting about 18 small oil paint studies on Kraft paper. I really enjoyed this exercise and it was fun to simply play with paint and to not be so concerned about creating a finished painting every day. I definitely have a few favorites in this group; the first bunny, the daffodils, and the painting of kitty Mushu looking out the window! <a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/53429900325/in/dateposted-public/" title="2023 LisaPBoni-Art Challenge"><img alt="2023 LisaPBoni-Art Challenge" height="476" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53429900325_bff7f95388_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p></p><p>I painted a watercolor header every month for my journal, something I've been doing since 2021. I choose a 2 ½" x 7" format as it fit the page well, yet allowed me room on the journal page for other information I wanted to include. For reference, I used photos I had taken through the years and made sure to choose ones from the month I was painting for. I really love seeing them all together like this! Now to decide what theme I want to use for 2024! I'm thinking flowers or gardens...<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/53429331636/in/dateposted-public/" title="2023 Journal Heading Watercolors - 1"><img alt="2023 Journal Heading Watercolors - 1" height="360" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53429331636_fb951736d8_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p>During the warmer months of the year, I make regular trips to the mountains. Sometimes I hike, but a lot of the time, I find a place where I can sit and paint and take in the silence of being outdoors in nature to renew my spirits. I managed to finish two sketchbooks this past summer that had been only partially filled in previous years! I posted a video of one of them on my YouTube channel here: <a href="https://youtu.be/oN4joZHcGTk" target="_blank">Sketchbook Tour</a><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/53429968880/in/dateposted-public/" title="Sketchbook Tour!"><img alt="Sketchbook Tour!" height="360" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53429968880_9034868989_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><p>As the year moved on into autumn, I found my focus shifting back to crazy quilting after a long hiatus. The crazy quilting videos always performed the best on my YouTube channel, so I decided to focus on those by doing a "Stitching Rambles" series of videos. I suppose they are more of a stitching vlog rather than a full on project or tutorial video, and that makes them a little bit easier to edit, which means I can turn them out a little quicker. <a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/53429968870/in/dateposted-public/" title="STITCHING RAMBLES"><img alt="STITCHING RAMBLES" height="360" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53429968870_f745808a47_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p><i><span style="color: #38761d;">FYI, I'm going to be doing a Q&A in January to celebrate reaching 5,000 subscribers! Leave your questions for me to answer in the comments below!</span></i></p><div>My first project was to finish the Autumn Runner that I had won in a CQ exchange back in (2015?). I had begun a stitching challenge with Valerie Bothell on Facebook in her Joyful Embellishments group. But after a handful of seams, life intervened, and I never finished it. It turned out to be a great return to crazy quilting and I filmed several videos of it throughout the fall. I'm really happy with how it turned out! </div><div><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/53429633653/in/dateposted-public/" title="2023 LisaPBoni-Autumn Runner"><img alt="2023 LisaPBoni-Autumn Runner" height="360" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53429633653_f28ca8afa7_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><p><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p>My next project was to finish a round robin project begun way back in 2011! I had one block to stitch and a few changes to make on a couple of the blocks so they all went together a bit better. I've finished this one, but the last couple of videos will show in January, so I'm not going to give too much away here! <a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/53429613938/in/dateposted-public/" title="2023 LisaPBoni-AutumnBellPull RR"><img alt="2023 LisaPBoni-AutumnBellPull RR" height="345" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53429613938_06f6c10008_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p>Next up was a crazy quilted Christmas Tree. I purchased a kit for this wool tree at a quilt shop in 2015 while in the Kansas City area for a retreat. I pieced the wool tree together shortly after that, but I wasn't thrilled with the suggested seams and so I set it aside as I wasn't sure how I wanted to resolve it. Then I found some pretty white star beads and I knew immediately what I wanted to do! So this has been the December Stitching Rambles project, though I'm not going to get it done by the end of the year, so it may also be a January finish! <a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/53429776599/in/dateposted-public/" title="2023 LisaPBoni-Wool Christmas Tree"><img alt="2023 LisaPBoni-Wool Christmas Tree" height="360" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53429776599_a65e1d27c2_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><p>There have been a couple of other stitching projects in the works as well. One is a project I've been working on for a couple of years. When I was downsizing my stitching and craft supplies, I found a bag of projects of my mother's that I kept after she passed away. One of those was a Cathedral Window project. I've been working on it in bits and pieces and it is nearing completion. There will be a video about it once it is complete! <a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/53429461296/in/dateposted-public/" title="2023 LisaPBoni-Catherdral Window WIP"><img alt="2023 LisaPBoni-Catherdral Window WIP" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53429461296_25e3d97954_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p>The other one is a mixed crazy quilting/English paper piecing project I started about 5 years ago. I had done most of it, but then gotten stuck when I couldn't figure out what it needed next. While taking inventory of all my projects recently, I came across it, laid it out on the table, and instantly saw what it needed. So I've been working on it in the background. There will be a video on it as well once it is finished. <a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/53428534432/in/dateposted-public/" title="2023 LisaPBoni-Black Pearl WIP"><img alt="2023 LisaPBoni-Black Pearl WIP" height="382" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53428534432_672ba42fdb_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p>In addition to art and stitching, I spent a lot of time in the garden and added some new beds this past year! I may share a separate post on that at some point. I'm sure there are many other things I missed, but those are some of the major accomplishments this year! <a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/53429676046/in/dateposted-public/" title="2023 garden"><img alt="2023 garden" height="360" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53429676046_ea2ba89c50_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/53429614443/in/dateposted-public/" title="2023 LisaPBoni-2"><img alt="2023 LisaPBoni-2" height="461" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53429614443_103bb40b08_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div>The kitties (my constant companions), and I wish you a Happy and Blessed New Year! </div>Lisa Bonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16954398440820019953noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5895776517014101772.post-78055177250357048492023-01-19T14:39:00.002-07:002023-01-19T16:07:04.155-07:00Starting a Painting Challenge! <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ-zVBP9OfjUso5If65S3gLhj29Jj5yAVvMVt9lHpUGMRsAtovtVwyr21QEAPDgSW_wpnOxqSaG3RDFHjA-8cD0m9kHtqQFgjEkKSWyCU-Ou48n-VdZorAi9Fr52f4fqb7wsIxCGIfLXJdEDN4OYzvL0ZHLHk9QLybjBBjXVpNhmmMkLx5fFCy0xxF/s3470/2023.01.19Post-4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2602" data-original-width="3470" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ-zVBP9OfjUso5If65S3gLhj29Jj5yAVvMVt9lHpUGMRsAtovtVwyr21QEAPDgSW_wpnOxqSaG3RDFHjA-8cD0m9kHtqQFgjEkKSWyCU-Ou48n-VdZorAi9Fr52f4fqb7wsIxCGIfLXJdEDN4OYzvL0ZHLHk9QLybjBBjXVpNhmmMkLx5fFCy0xxF/w640-h480/2023.01.19Post-4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> It's my birthday week and for me, that's really the start of my new year. I wanted to get back to oil painting this year, and wanted to do a monthlong challenge to get me going. But I wasn't ready to do so on January 1st when most of the challenges start. So I decided to do my own, starting now! <div><br /></div><div>I was hugely inspired by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/michellewoodersonart" target="_blank">@michellewoodersonart</a> and her limited palette on kraft paper challenge. She was getting amazing results with her unusual palette of Transparent Yellow Oxide, Rose Madder, and Cerulean Blue, so I wanted to try using something similar. Michelle is uses Michael Harding Oil Paints, but I work only in Winsor & Newton Artisan Water Mixable Paints, so I had to change the colors to suit that. I ended up with Raw Sienna, Permanent Rose, Cerulean Blue, and Titanium White. I'm also trying to limit my supplies to just 2 or 3 brushes, a palette knife, a mechanical pencil, a Micron Pen, a jar of water, and a stack of kraft-paper card stock cut to 5 ½" x 8 ½". Plus either baby wipes and/or paper towel. My plan is to paint daily January 18 through February 18 for just 30 minutes a day! </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGv5DAAUnTXXFcptzOPjQyZ83J1pH38gs0lnbw3xPGxtdqwdMnfQjb41OmeWI6sPVpDOltx6Unf_jaA27eHusRw-6TdgwbIUf0CVMaqoUTQHJVdNqy82KJkXCWnVjwD05vGLEMJ4VM7gvCrmIzGqIx96DhXEsb_9uKzgHd7-wsmEns8MtESSY1scmH/s2580/2023.01.19Post-5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2580" data-original-width="1666" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGv5DAAUnTXXFcptzOPjQyZ83J1pH38gs0lnbw3xPGxtdqwdMnfQjb41OmeWI6sPVpDOltx6Unf_jaA27eHusRw-6TdgwbIUf0CVMaqoUTQHJVdNqy82KJkXCWnVjwD05vGLEMJ4VM7gvCrmIzGqIx96DhXEsb_9uKzgHd7-wsmEns8MtESSY1scmH/w414-h640/2023.01.19Post-5.jpg" width="414" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here is my pre-challenge trial of the palette. You can see that I also tried using a cadmium yellow pale, but it was brighter than I wanted, so I ended up using the Raw Sienna, which though technically a "red", actually reads as a dark transparent yellow, very similar to the yellow oxide that Michelle used. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSyTXCpYKjH8ZqCx1dv69MJkGZPXyJTcznaps-sUgd0K5M5Og4vJtyC_sj34x3Qj4VjaJ1zmyaLuJdH-t4jTGOim9RxoKxREhlfDg-YD4DhQBRiCBf5_yChGHek85HTEz79WqZ8nsT-2bhY925Wk1SZGLqad7DN8T7OLNtin4Om24OxBNDVZrzj9YZ/s3805/2023.01.19Post-6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3805" data-original-width="2479" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSyTXCpYKjH8ZqCx1dv69MJkGZPXyJTcznaps-sUgd0K5M5Og4vJtyC_sj34x3Qj4VjaJ1zmyaLuJdH-t4jTGOim9RxoKxREhlfDg-YD4DhQBRiCBf5_yChGHek85HTEz79WqZ8nsT-2bhY925Wk1SZGLqad7DN8T7OLNtin4Om24OxBNDVZrzj9YZ/w416-h640/2023.01.19Post-6.jpg" width="416" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">Day 1! I painted my special bunny sitting on the windowsill! After our house fire in 1999, I reached out to "The Herb Farm" in Washington State (no longer in business) as I had previously purchased one of their Sleep Bunnies with an herb pouch to facilitate sleep. They also had experienced a fire and lost their main building. I wanted bunnies for me and my kids to help us overcome the trauma of our fire. They had already stopped making these, but graciously were able to find 4 of them to send to us. They really helped us, and have been among our favorites ever since. Mine now lives in my office on the shelf near my desk. So happy with how this little portrait sketch turned out! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi90k_IkuImV_FavGBcLoTsxuYgRlFoRaFpNPyZV3rNWQjGZCaufodZHUEMS8SjTFIHDmM3Je6wcoVcjXdhJoRR4oM0nX77Az1nvRiBpArYYK-8TSfaOOU-z3ZQlM8znnIjQFdXzLN9h3Y8-JffYJ3p6Ems3NjYRgsGAbIvWoWTZUc0-dRS1IfLA-ye/s3846/2023.01.19Post-8.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3846" data-original-width="2508" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi90k_IkuImV_FavGBcLoTsxuYgRlFoRaFpNPyZV3rNWQjGZCaufodZHUEMS8SjTFIHDmM3Je6wcoVcjXdhJoRR4oM0nX77Az1nvRiBpArYYK-8TSfaOOU-z3ZQlM8znnIjQFdXzLN9h3Y8-JffYJ3p6Ems3NjYRgsGAbIvWoWTZUc0-dRS1IfLA-ye/w418-h640/2023.01.19Post-8.jpg" width="418" /></a></div>Day 2 - I painted the pot of faux snowdrops that had been my Mom's. I've always loved spring flowers and tried to plant snowdrops so many times. I've only ever gotten one of them to grow and bloom. I keep this pot in my office where it brings me joy! I find I really struggle painting flowers, which is so frustrating as they are what I'd love to paint more than anything! I get bogged down in all the detail and how to translate it. It makes me miss obvious things, like getting the shape of the pot correct. Oh well! I had fun and am reasonable happy with the result, though it did take me nearly an hour! </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIocXaKD2RfKiXgX0x0zfnOqFZub-LOBT9RJ0c2j0YTRCuxTocyReUJ4S6XlYwvFXLQtHOFmoqIjqELgtLtMzYWtoYK-bOachqdwb8hiFCMPjMB5w2sEW8LxryMlLe-HpsdWBBBy7pQao98iPz19pl8UFjm3xCRiVAlxaqlVCvnEXvdZ_LVKuW65V4/s3386/2023.01.19Post-7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3386" height="572" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIocXaKD2RfKiXgX0x0zfnOqFZub-LOBT9RJ0c2j0YTRCuxTocyReUJ4S6XlYwvFXLQtHOFmoqIjqELgtLtMzYWtoYK-bOachqdwb8hiFCMPjMB5w2sEW8LxryMlLe-HpsdWBBBy7pQao98iPz19pl8UFjm3xCRiVAlxaqlVCvnEXvdZ_LVKuW65V4/w640-h572/2023.01.19Post-7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Little Finn (not so little anymore, but I still call him "Little") loves keeping me company in the office, though usually he is on the desk in my arms while I'm at the computer. But thankfully he was content in the nest while I painted! <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwRLr2yg8ffD0VeZTF_YRzKffRg3V_DLYKY2CymsEjJc8zM_tK_7sMpdfpQT922i6_Gekj_7I9IbI9u8KL0LW6g9fyPZLv4Lsr67pAi90godMpbEh-ToYWZieTZlrUZtzkRIu6PLK6WpvuV8cCZoJifjGqn-go6OEXxmXO2VFXkL0y2imvcnxUWvtj/s4032/2023.01.19Post-3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwRLr2yg8ffD0VeZTF_YRzKffRg3V_DLYKY2CymsEjJc8zM_tK_7sMpdfpQT922i6_Gekj_7I9IbI9u8KL0LW6g9fyPZLv4Lsr67pAi90godMpbEh-ToYWZieTZlrUZtzkRIu6PLK6WpvuV8cCZoJifjGqn-go6OEXxmXO2VFXkL0y2imvcnxUWvtj/w640-h480/2023.01.19Post-3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Other happenings this week included painting gold edges on a big box of inches that I'm going to use to make cards with! </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMXc2rcsi590oWefGEtSXyPfaL5RzcBUJzDduasbX08kZ-4MvY0LpQJPsUQ9IFZ0gZ-U85qnR426diWW8aKx_wTE_8Oc6TtAGQowLTX941qBdjiNXJKpr9MmQPMQeVCfuNyX6blZgQWU-vhhx5CUPrg-x12Ihsgm8UqdW97fnmwU15PahpYiEm8PR4/s4032/2023.01.19Post-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMXc2rcsi590oWefGEtSXyPfaL5RzcBUJzDduasbX08kZ-4MvY0LpQJPsUQ9IFZ0gZ-U85qnR426diWW8aKx_wTE_8Oc6TtAGQowLTX941qBdjiNXJKpr9MmQPMQeVCfuNyX6blZgQWU-vhhx5CUPrg-x12Ihsgm8UqdW97fnmwU15PahpYiEm8PR4/w480-h640/2023.01.19Post-2.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>I also finally got all the Christmas decor packed up and ready to go up to my middle son's shed once the weather clears. I had placed all the little trees I had around the house on top of the china cabinet to get them out of the way until I could figure out how to package them up. I really loved this little forest and was a bit sad to pack them away in a big box. I suspect this little forest will make an appearance in my Christmas decor next season! </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3C6fm2iT6jOe7g3l1dHzYkgelB6q48IhxJllTY6glbQhvzEokdIcmrz79r-woDP3qvXHWYixJwAFOVb5YBHxO_fm1RbnlU9JGIH1dfzxgiM9UgFIyTDRNl6NFLuilOC94HfN5msQ9V7CRzYv8uaDpI1rz4-A0WC4Y0qA9x9Zy4dYKmcERMf4aJnS3/s1440/DB75D737-4B9F-4918-AA69-4E89A4BD663F.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1082" data-original-width="1440" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3C6fm2iT6jOe7g3l1dHzYkgelB6q48IhxJllTY6glbQhvzEokdIcmrz79r-woDP3qvXHWYixJwAFOVb5YBHxO_fm1RbnlU9JGIH1dfzxgiM9UgFIyTDRNl6NFLuilOC94HfN5msQ9V7CRzYv8uaDpI1rz4-A0WC4Y0qA9x9Zy4dYKmcERMf4aJnS3/w640-h480/DB75D737-4B9F-4918-AA69-4E89A4BD663F.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I finished the mug mat! Watch for a video coming this weekend on how I made it! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDU1LKM1TmUkZVU8jN1LovbNd0sRxwKMG4O1pRk8jEpMYWHkTVtJG2BBeF46iTsWp3F4sYSvGhc-aT7CBHWKqGqomNVhMD3BMm9XlJzDT21qgwQDNz0xcsy9N7rx2c6eofR1aYCH_OW5DvNLq6s20XBd0xTefw6xJ6ZwRfysU-5CGQYwwoHoGeJoni/s4032/2023.01.19Post-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDU1LKM1TmUkZVU8jN1LovbNd0sRxwKMG4O1pRk8jEpMYWHkTVtJG2BBeF46iTsWp3F4sYSvGhc-aT7CBHWKqGqomNVhMD3BMm9XlJzDT21qgwQDNz0xcsy9N7rx2c6eofR1aYCH_OW5DvNLq6s20XBd0xTefw6xJ6ZwRfysU-5CGQYwwoHoGeJoni/w640-h360/2023.01.19Post-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>So glad to have this done and so pleased with how it turned out! It goes perfectly in my sewing corner! </div><div><br /></div><div>If you are interested in owning any of my paintings, follow me on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/lisapboni" target="_blank">instagram</a>. I'll be posting a number of my small works for sale in a week or so! </div>Lisa Bonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16954398440820019953noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5895776517014101772.post-86494904342810032652023-01-08T14:34:00.002-07:002023-01-08T14:34:18.890-07:00Hello Again! Stitching Resumes! <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiOKKkE-z-VYueS4bzcRHzVeTJrxAO3usd_ac8245Fn7tCxgxv75s8DGBzLGH3Ysg8aWXIbCLxrHuJT_8bo1VhIzGZMnsFv7BHtup54rZJWqemFfyAA27zxeox_IX10roIEtIrdCntCnCMedWlPjR398kyrQ0H6QtEj5p8K7EOXN9FLox_7VtfMSHM/s4032/IMG_2375-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiOKKkE-z-VYueS4bzcRHzVeTJrxAO3usd_ac8245Fn7tCxgxv75s8DGBzLGH3Ysg8aWXIbCLxrHuJT_8bo1VhIzGZMnsFv7BHtup54rZJWqemFfyAA27zxeox_IX10roIEtIrdCntCnCMedWlPjR398kyrQ0H6QtEj5p8K7EOXN9FLox_7VtfMSHM/w640-h480/IMG_2375-4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> Happy New Year! I'm finally getting back to stitching after a long hiatus. Though I've done a tiny bit here and there, it's really been a couple years since I've stitched regularly. I'm currently working on a new mug mat for my sewing table. <p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfO29uC5e1eBj3q0HgweY8WT-tfC-0Q0FNplr0PYY0QZxGuQPb4c8pa9KKzH-I1p53WSBzO8mAxBJMKsaY60j0zxv6c6H1kspTC14K_mf0KSf8SBT_1yKTawyMClc0879We58HLprIYgQZMK9axxlcz97tLuyn0Lv03LUZ8rURhBPH-txaz2Ekxx5s/s3003/IMG_1942-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2184" data-original-width="3003" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfO29uC5e1eBj3q0HgweY8WT-tfC-0Q0FNplr0PYY0QZxGuQPb4c8pa9KKzH-I1p53WSBzO8mAxBJMKsaY60j0zxv6c6H1kspTC14K_mf0KSf8SBT_1yKTawyMClc0879We58HLprIYgQZMK9axxlcz97tLuyn0Lv03LUZ8rURhBPH-txaz2Ekxx5s/w640-h466/IMG_1942-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Speaking of sewing tables, I recently got a new one! It's very similar to one I had, but got rid of in a fit of downsizing. I'd been stitching on a smaller desk, but found it frustrating for numerous reasons. And not having my favorite stitching table for the past 5 years, has impacted my stitching, and truthfully, kept me from it. How delighted I was to find a near match (except that this is a slightly sturdier model with a wooden top instead of painted) at a regional antique mall for a great price! And I had received a generous gift earlier that same day that allowed me to bring it home! </div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbzoviFBfcyswH9ikVh6GedS885XzQG2p9NpZQOTve2hGMRXs4ziOu6GSEUjr5z2ZEPKY5t2tkOIfwJrYIWMts3LhfxDnOYGFm6fRkMTcPuS9UwQ_Y0OMD17KLj5s9fw3pkFct73C-MRIhiKh6UZC11WCg2LtVVfNp6uiMap1_KqvC97Eyy7CIWkAp/s4272/2014.11.24Studio-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4272" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbzoviFBfcyswH9ikVh6GedS885XzQG2p9NpZQOTve2hGMRXs4ziOu6GSEUjr5z2ZEPKY5t2tkOIfwJrYIWMts3LhfxDnOYGFm6fRkMTcPuS9UwQ_Y0OMD17KLj5s9fw3pkFct73C-MRIhiKh6UZC11WCg2LtVVfNp6uiMap1_KqvC97Eyy7CIWkAp/w640-h426/2014.11.24Studio-8.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>This is the table I had gotten rid of. Here, covered in SO much stuff from a stitching project back in 2014. Embarrassing! Truly, it received so much use and nearly all my crazy quilt projects were stitched at this table. I knew I shouldn't get rid of it when I did, but I was determined to have less stuff and having two tables seemed too much, especially since everything I had was going into storage at the time. But I've regretted it every day since. Now, I don't have to regret any longer! <div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://youtu.be/IjD-fduuNAQ" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="3095" data-original-width="2505" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYCcTtQuipZc0IcYhZJl46ANvulgDKosG2yU3nZb7tq1GOHOKE-aGmy9enim9UYov_ZZxfKaBcbuXgYwypivp1QwJD5kfRYm2KCnm_AsKPWC1bYTARPmJxQdAjPzrBffysnDGF5DBQqb11N__hSejxlz5fCKHUA_GGQALiv_cn5AE5TeME4D7zx4L5/w518-h640/IMG_2060.jpeg" width="518" /></a></div><br /><div>After 6 ½ years, I completed my <a href="https://youtu.be/IjD-fduuNAQ" target="_blank">"O Holy Night"</a> piece! I filmed the finishing of it, which you can find on my YouTube Channel! I'd love if you'd take a look, subscribe to my channel, and leave a comment there! I'm hoping to do a lot more crazy quilting and stitching on the channel this year. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://youtu.be/SlA_OfrxCDg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="2151" data-original-width="3824" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGRxp-5XxP3746BsJvtl4mq705TXb0Uxm0ihpfA5bHRVo97GyYXc1DZlhIp4nKc-aRvEo7ifIlzjXzGBdb2mFZKTIOnlsXisAsThz5kJXGtg-_Dl8j9XwksxAERouj4VO7LsNz7DM8owXDMVrR5_W_of1LICSxYmVEgUzq3NvQV_zLRXt10cgJs9Yb/w640-h360/IMG_1962.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>I also published a video on the making of my crazy quilted stocking! Link here: <a href="https://youtu.be/SlA_OfrxCDg" target="_blank">CQ Stocking</a>. I thought I was done making stockings, but another grandson was born this fall, so there's another one to make! <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLuouZQ3X-NE836mbt-e3CxylN60CzFtQM-VDCBBPlrUhd5w9hNa8hjKfH2AbPSn2Dj-Q0-QjwRV762ewSm8eRHbK10xI3sEvhKKckAerZsX2cYa0sEY-YKBxI2PCf651OfMossS_ipCJlcr1bjYEXiLAXsKxcAigFhlKeZt4fxZcs26n_EJqgcZAn/s3686/IMG_2430.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2073" data-original-width="3686" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLuouZQ3X-NE836mbt-e3CxylN60CzFtQM-VDCBBPlrUhd5w9hNa8hjKfH2AbPSn2Dj-Q0-QjwRV762ewSm8eRHbK10xI3sEvhKKckAerZsX2cYa0sEY-YKBxI2PCf651OfMossS_ipCJlcr1bjYEXiLAXsKxcAigFhlKeZt4fxZcs26n_EJqgcZAn/w640-h360/IMG_2430.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">I started off the new year with a presentation of my crazy quilting at <a href="https://sewdowntown.com" target="_blank">Sew Downtown</a> in Greeley, Colorado! I had demo'd and taught a class there a long time ago... maybe 7 or 8 years ago! So delightful to be asked back! There is going to be a class series starting in mid-March! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj34OXmeP-nbPkuWK5Z-OHt11D1ukVOwA56gLrWV9OYR8aIJyrzV6yikpVXOtFf4knsiTz8g3l18gpcS1QAUnOdsz_VGDOuhS4PBSmkY_NcVcKwoQ-5JR3ZCmMeVgbW46rrbSrZ_vdvE5ByrnWBwvfE1SIfHXPUC_5CVKS5i9ijTJVp-GOBFDCSkkqp/s4032/IMG_2433.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj34OXmeP-nbPkuWK5Z-OHt11D1ukVOwA56gLrWV9OYR8aIJyrzV6yikpVXOtFf4knsiTz8g3l18gpcS1QAUnOdsz_VGDOuhS4PBSmkY_NcVcKwoQ-5JR3ZCmMeVgbW46rrbSrZ_vdvE5ByrnWBwvfE1SIfHXPUC_5CVKS5i9ijTJVp-GOBFDCSkkqp/w640-h480/IMG_2433.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I've been enjoying some gorgeous amaryllis blooms in my kitchen! I'm loving this white one! Having blooming flowers in the midst of winter brings me so much joy! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">See you soon! </div>Lisa Bonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16954398440820019953noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5895776517014101772.post-38521074448882996062022-03-28T15:21:00.000-06:002022-03-28T15:21:12.921-06:00March Activities<div style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51967280256/in/dateposted-public/" title="Hyacinth & Primroses"><img alt="Hyacinth & Primroses" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51967280256_bf998db9d5_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script> </div><div style="text-align: center;">March has been one of those months that feels like I haven't gotten much done. But as I discovered while writing this blog post, there's been more than I realized! I've had flowers blooming all month, most from bulbs that I have forced. It has been a steady progression of hyacinths, the last of the paper whites, and a few supplements from the garden center such as these lovely primroses! They start off white and turn pink as they age. So pretty and a perfect pick me up on the gloomy days of late winter. </div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51967280901/in/dateposted-public/" title="2022 Journal set up #2"><img alt="2022 Journal set up #2" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51967280901_326e3fd35a_z.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I filled all the pages of my last journal and needed to begin a new book. That meant I needed to do another yearly setup for the new book as I didn't want to have to jump between books for the rest of the year. For the watercolor, I had done a study of a favorite Beatrix Potter painting and it was a perfect way to start this journal off. I choose a new focus verse, still focused on trusting in God, as I feel that with all the things going on in my life, I need to keep my focus there. No matter what happens in life, good, bad, or just plain difficult, God is still God and deserving of our praise. It is God who helps me, and as the creator of all we know, he is more than capable of providing the help we need. I just need to remember that. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="March-15" height="425" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51967279641_74a792cc3c_z.jpg" width="640" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">For the month of March, I did a watercolor of the primroses. I struggle painting flowers, which is frustrating, as they are what I want to paint more than anything. I was fairly happy with this one. The layout of my monthly journals has been working really well for me, so I didn't really make many changes. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51967340833/in/dateposted-public/" title="Lisa new brace"><img alt="Lisa new brace" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51967340833_6c7f9883bf_z.jpg" width="480" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script> </div><div style="text-align: center;">One of the great things that happened this month is that I graduated from the heavy, uncomfortable cast to a brace that I can remove to do PT exercises and shower! I'm still not supposed to pick up anything heavier than a coffee cup until mid April. Since the muscles are pretty cramped and weak from being in a cast for 2 months, that hasn't been too hard, though this past week, I've probably done a little more than I should. So grateful to be healing, albeit slowly. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51967836640/in/dateposted-public/" title="Kitties with Mouse #4"><img alt="Kitties with Mouse #4" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51967836640_e8be2a8462_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script> </div><div style="text-align: center;">The kitties have had some adventures. We suddenly developed a mouse problem. Mushu has caught four mice this month. One didn't survive the attack, but the other three have been released to the farm fields to the east of our neighborhood. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51967338373/in/dateposted-public/" title="Mouse #3"><img alt="Mouse #3" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51967338373_3f13950240_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script> </div><div style="text-align: center;">They sure are cute little beasties! But I don't want them in my pantry or stockpiling the dry cat food under the washing machine! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51967836935/in/dateposted-public/" title="Kitties new nest tree"><img alt="Kitties new nest tree" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51967836935_a1e260f430_z.jpg" width="480" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script> </div><div style="text-align: center;">The kitties also got a new kitty tree with multiple nests. Now they each have a place to sleep or to watch the birds from and don't have to fight over a lone nest. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51966273502/in/dateposted-public/" title="Paint a long #1"><img alt="Paint a long #1" height="479" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51966273502_f931753fc4_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Mid month, I participated in Plein Air Live for the third time. It was a pleasant surprise because I had completely forgotten that I had signed up and paid for it at the end of the last one, until I received an e-mail giving me instructions for how to log in to it! This was from the first paint-a-long. I worked in watercolor because I still can't paint in oils as I use both hands quite a lot. With watercolor, I've figured out how to do it one handed. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51967838185/in/dateposted-public/" title="Paint a long #2"><img alt="Paint a long #2" height="479" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51967838185_8ab12a25dc_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script> </div><div style="text-align: center;">This is my work from the second paint-a-long. These are both about 5"x7" on 6"x8" paper. Watch for information on an upcoming art sale I hope to hold soon to raise money to pay my medical bills from breaking my arm. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51967282856/in/dateposted-public/" title="Garden & Shed Before"><img alt="Garden & Shed Before" height="353" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51967282856_24aca1c77a_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script> </div><div style="text-align: center;">The biggest accomplishment of the month has to do with the garden shed! I've been wanting to move it ever since I moved in. This photo was taken last fall when I was working on my new garden bed. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51967559784/in/dateposted-public/" title="Office window before"><img alt="Office window before" height="456" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51967559784_08735dd071_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script> </div><div style="text-align: center;">The reason I wanted to move the shed is this. It completely blocked the view from my office window, and the only west facing window in my home. Not very nice to look at. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51967563689/in/dateposted-public/" title="Shed interior before"><img alt="Shed interior before" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51967563689_8858a4ba28_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script> </div><div style="text-align: center;">The inside of the shed has been a dark hole. Last summer, I got half of the inside painted white, but it had so much stuff in it, that I never got around to cleaning it a out a second time so I could paint the other half. Since I don't have a garage, it is the repository for anything that doesn't fit in my little house. What a mess! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51967281416/in/dateposted-public/" title="edging removed and folded"><img alt="edging removed and folded" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51967281416_53e5061d91_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script> </div><div style="text-align: center;">To prepare for moving the shed, I pulled up all the metal garden edging - that wasn't doing much of anything except making it hard to mow. I was able to fold it in half and flatten it by stepping on it, to make it more manageable to take to recycle.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51967281711/in/dateposted-public/" title="Edging stakes removed"><img alt="Edging stakes removed" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51967281711_71fd18c9af_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script> </div><div style="text-align: center;">The edging was held down with 12" long staples. It was challenge doing all of this one handed, but I managed! Took me four hours to pull up three 8 foot long sections and all those staples. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51967278021/in/dateposted-public/" title="Shed just moved"><img alt="Shed just moved" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51967278021_1e20a84161_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script> </div><div style="text-align: center;">My wonderful neighbor moved the shed for me, almost single handedly in about 45 minutes. Another neighbor chipped in for some last minute adjustments. What a difference! I love having it far enough back to see out of the office window! Those logs are what he rolled it back with. He used a floor car jack to lift it and slide the logs under. I filmed the whole process and hope to get a YouTube video up soon. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51966275387/in/dateposted-public/" title="Shed interior after"><img alt="Shed interior after" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51966275387_3353027874_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Since the shed was emptied out to facilitate the move <i>(Huge thank you to Gary, David, Stephen, and Amanda for helping me move all the stuff I was not able to lift!)</i>, I took advantage and finished painting the interior (also one handed!). So much brighter now. Before putting everything back in, I took time to go through stuff and downsize and reorganize everything. There is a pretty good pile of stuff to get rid of, plus some stuff that went into the garbage bin. Now to keep from cluttering it up all over again!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51967560204/in/dateposted-public/" title="Office window after"><img alt="Office window after" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51967560204_bc0a0731c4_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script> </div><div style="text-align: center;">The best part is now having this view from my office window! Can't wait to get the next garden bed put in and to finish the arbor! What a lovely view I'll have of my garden now! The office is so much brighter now that it's not blocked by the shed! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51967277606/in/dateposted-public/" title="Mug Mat"><img alt="Mug Mat" height="360" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51967277606_2d25c94632_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script> </div><div style="text-align: center;">I've been working hard on the next round of YouTube videos. Watch for a flurry of them coming over the next few weeks. Here are a few of the upcoming topics:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><ul><li>Sewing Birds</li><li>Faux Paper Pieced Mug Mat (shown above)</li><li>Moving the Shed</li></ul>And many more to come. I've got so much material filmed that I need to edit. I'm hampered by an older laptop that doesn't have the best capacity for editing, so it takes me a while. I'm also switching editing programs and have had a bit of a learning curve with that, but the new program can do so much more that I'm excited to be able to use in my videos! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51967837115/in/dateposted-public/" title="Carol Sarchet"><img alt="Carol Sarchet" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51967837115_376a82e681_z.jpg" width="450" /></a></div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><p style="text-align: center;">Perhaps the video I'm most excited about is a talk with Carol Sarchet! She's a wonderfully creative textile artist who I find incredibly inspiring. We had a lovely day filming and chatting about her work and process this past week, and I can't wait to share it! </p><p style="text-align: center;">One last note! I'm so thrilled that my YouTube channel, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/IvoryBlushRoses" style="color: #954f72; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: left;">https://www.youtube.com/c/IvoryBlushRoses</a>, continues to grow with well over 3,000 subscribers and that I was able to get it monetized this past month! This will help to support me a little and allow me to keep creating more videos. </p><p style="text-align: center;">You can also support me by visiting one of my Amazon links in the tab above for my favorite CQ supplies and books before shopping on Amazon. This allows me to receive a small commission at no extra cost to you, just for having pointed you towards Amazon. This works even if you don't purchase any of the items I have linked above but purchase something else instead. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Another way to support me is to buy me a cup of tea through the link at the top of the side column. Watch for a Patreon site coming in the future which will allow you to support me and my work on a monthly basis! I hope to have that up and running sometime in April. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Thank you all so much for your ongoing support over the years - it truly means the world to me! </p>Lisa Bonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16954398440820019953noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5895776517014101772.post-10011277337846450662022-02-12T12:58:00.002-07:002022-02-12T12:59:26.294-07:00January into February Happenings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51872596003/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Jan Post-3"><img alt="Jan Post-3" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51872596003_66017498f9_z.jpg" width="484" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif">What an interesting start to the year! The first thing I did was to complete the 2022 annual pages for my journal and the January page. I was so happy with my floral theme for 2021 but I wanted to do something a little bit different for 2022 so my annual page I chose Psalm 100 to focus on rather than a specific word.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"> </span></p><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif" style="text-align: left;">Psalm 100 is all about praising God for who he is. This year, I want to focus on having a joyful attitude and a grateful heart. For the watercolor surround, I decided to do a year in trees and I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out. I'm not sure why, but I seem to have trees on my mind lately!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif" style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51873158945/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Jan Post-2"><img alt="Jan Post-2" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51873158945_6144639031_z.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif">For January, I had done a little sketch of the paperwhites that were blooming on my countertop and a pot of Ivy, and I decided to use this as the header illustration for my January page. For my verse for the month, I chose Psalm 28:7 which was a good transition between my focus in 2021 of “Trust” and showing my gratitude towards God in 2022. I used the same format that I used last year as I was really happy with it and it worked well all year.<o:p></o:p></span></p><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51872595408/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Jan Post-6"><img alt="Jan Post-6" height="375" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51872595408_08c9e6a274.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51873159190/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Jan Post-1"><img alt="Jan Post-1" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51873159190_93e3eec274_z.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Little Finn is growing! He's now almost 8 months old. He's just as lovable as he was when he came home with me. I love how he cuddles when I'm sitting at the computer and sometimes even when I'm stitching! He brings me his foil ball to toss for him all the time. Such a sweet boy!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51872595423/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Jan Post-5"><img alt="Jan Post-5" height="452" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51872595423_88b58a2ac5.jpg" width="260" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">If you read my recent blogpost, you know there was a tremendous wildfire here at the end of December. From the news footage we really thought that my childhood home had been lost to the flames. But incredibly, it turns out the house has survived when everything around it burned. We think that all those trees my dad planted helped to save it by blocking the embers from reaching the house. Amazing. I truly hope the family that lives there now is not suffering too much from survivor’s guilt, and that they had minimal smoke damage. You can see the house in the picture above still standing surrounded by trees while the houses that were nearby are just blackened foundations now.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51872514391/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Jan Post-7"><img alt="Jan Post-7" height="375" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51872514391_c07f160972.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">One of my year goals was to take a trip to England to visit the Victoria and Albert Museum otherwise known as the V&A Museum to see the Beatrix Potter exhibit that is showcasing her “Life in Nature”. They are exhibiting exquisite treasures such as the embroidered waistcoat that she drew for “The Tailor of Gloucester”. Oh, how I have wanted to see that coat in person! But I realized that financially this trip is not a possibility for me, so instead, I ordered the exhibition book and it arrived just in time for my birthday! What a treat to travel virtually and to also have a permanent record of this beautiful exhibition.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51872513781/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Jan Post-9"><img alt="Jan Post-9" height="375" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51872513781_a3ae68901c.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">A huge accomplishment was completing the first of our family photo books. While we were able to save many of our family photos from the house fire, we also lost a large number of them.</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Many of them are smoke stained or water damaged. I found a large number of the negatives and have scanned all of them, done a lot of photo editing and have started putting them into books.</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">It's so nice to finally make these photos that we nearly lost, available to every member of the family.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51871552087/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Jan Post-11"><img alt="Jan Post-11" height="500" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51871552087_dff2535d5c.jpg" width="375" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">The paperwhites have been blooming beautifully, but Mushu has been a bit mischievous and broke one of the stems off before it had a chance to bloom. I tucked it in a little Aqua bottle and enjoyed it next to my comfy chair. They bloom so quickly you can almost see it happening.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51872512971/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Jan Post-13"><img alt="Jan Post-13" height="500" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51872512971_c31544b225.jpg" width="375" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">The kitchen windowsill has been especially pretty as the geraniums that I had outside this summer are blooming amazingly inside! In fact, they are blooming better than they did outside! Mushu enjoys them too.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51871551342/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Jan Post-14"><img alt="Jan Post-14" height="281" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51871551342_9edc81defe.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">I decided that I needed to focus on painting more often, so I started a new personal art challenge to encourage myself to do a small piece of art every day if possible. I've been doing tiny index card sized watercolors. For reference I am using landscape photos on my iPad. I went back to the oldest photos on there and I'm working my way chronologically through them trying to create a painting out of even the questionable photos. So far, I'm having a lot of fun though I have not been able to paint as often as I would like as you'll see shortly.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51872589858/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Jan Post-31"><img alt="Jan Post-31" height="500" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51872589858_62bd03ca1c.jpg" width="379" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">For my birthday I went to the Denver Art Museum to see the “Whistler to Cassatt” exhibit American impressionists in Paris. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51873156060/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Jan Post-15"><img alt="Jan Post-15" height="375" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51873156060_35c45702dd.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script> <span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">It was a great way to spend my birthday!</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51873155815/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Jan Post-16"><img alt="Jan Post-16" height="500" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51873155815_a2ae9105cf.jpg" width="421" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">This portrait of Alexander Hamilton by Cecilia Beaux intrigued me because the figure is just a little bit out of focus, but the paint palette is in full focus and when you're standing in front of it, it almost pops out of the painting towards you.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51871550497/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Jan Post-17"><img alt="Jan Post-17" height="442" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51871550497_5a329bd382.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Another favorite was this grassy creek, "Wild Asters" by Dennis Miller Bunker, an artist that I was unfamiliar with.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51873155030/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Jan Post-20"><img alt="Jan Post-20" height="500" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51873155030_726a3822dd.jpg" width="351" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">I was thrilled that they had three paintings by one of my favorite American impressionists, Frank W Benson.</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51873155430/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Jan Post-18"><img alt="Jan Post-18" height="498" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51873155430_09b9f1e57c.jpg" width="500" /></a></div></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">He painted his family near the seashore wearing white or pale pink dresses in the majority of his paintings.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51872511431/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Jan Post-19"><img alt="Jan Post-19" height="375" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51872511431_12ff6da688.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">I think he paints light on white better than just about anyone else second only to John singer Sargent.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51872830169/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Jan Post-22"><img alt="Jan Post-22" height="394" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51872830169_0921b67c94.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">I've long wanted to see them in person, so this was a real treat.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51872830789/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Jan Post-24"><img alt="Jan Post-24" height="500" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51872830789_353f69f178.jpg" width="375" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">The day after my birthday Colorado had a rare freezing drizzle/ ice storm. The ice lingered for two days. On the second day I slipped on the ice while taking the trash out and broke my left arm. Thankfully my son Stephen works nearby, and he was able to take me to the ER where I was put in an enormous bulky cast. Oh my! I have a new deeply felt gratitude for having two hands. Having to do everything with one hand has been a real challenge. Thankfully my kids and friends have been enormously supportive and have helped me manage, despite the fact that I live by myself.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51872510096/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Jan Post-26"><img alt="Jan Post-26" height="375" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51872510096_2a6397c481.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Little Finn has been especially attentive and cuddly which has been so nice especially on the more difficult days.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51873154140/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Jan Post-25"><img alt="Jan Post-25" height="352" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51873154140_f54c2a85f3.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">I got to meet one of my new grand dogs! (I have three new ones!) Hopefully I'll get to meet the other two soon. Haley came to visit then got to meet Mushu! I think if they lived in the same home, they would become best buddies.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51872509596/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Jan Post-28"><img alt="Jan Post-28" height="500" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51872509596_c6ba1aa8c7.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Despite my broken arm, I have been able to paint occasionally. It definitely takes me longer! I did this cute little Bunny sitting in the garden at the end of January. I'm so happy with it!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51872829664/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Jan Post-29"><img alt="Jan Post-29" height="500" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51872829664_c4d315292b.jpg" width="401" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">I was trying to come up with a watercolor sketch for my February journal set up and decided to use the Bunny sketch. I love the way it turned out and as my sister said, this way, I'll get to enjoy it a lot for the month of February! A plus side of having a broken arm, is that my task list for February is smaller than it would be otherwise!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51872589903/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Jan Post-32"><img alt="Jan Post-32" height="500" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51872589903_8fbb59c1f4.jpg" width="371" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">We had a little excitement the other evening right before bedtime. The cats were intent upon the pantry. So I opened the door and started to clear out the bottom to see what they were after. Mushu pounced upon the mouse the moment it dared to show its whiskers! Good job Mushu! Having one eye hasn't slowed him down one bit! I will say that he wasn't at all happy that I took his bedtime snack away from him though.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">I'm in a smaller cast now thankfully, and it is making it easier to get dressed and do a few things though I still am unable to use that arm or hand. I still get pretty tired, but as my son pointed out my body is working pretty hard to heal right now but every day is getting better, and I am so grateful for that.</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">One last bit of news! I'm so happy to report that my YouTube channel continues to grow (over 3,000 subscribers!), and is now monetized, so it will hopefully provide a bit of supplemental income! Thank you so much to all of you who have watched, subscribed, commented, and liked the videos! It truly means the world to me! <o:p></o:p></span></p>Lisa Bonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16954398440820019953noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5895776517014101772.post-42261771792537618502022-01-10T21:47:00.002-07:002022-01-10T21:47:53.693-07:002021 in Retrospect<div style="text-align: justify;">At the end of each year, I like to take some time to look back. It helps me keep life in perspective. So often, the year passes so quickly and leaves me feeling as though I haven't achieved very much. Taking time to look over the past year helps me see that I really did accomplish a tremendous amount! Let's take a look! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51813580951/in/dateposted-public/" title="2021JournalCollage"><img alt="2021JournalCollage" height="360" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51813580951_c95cc08b33_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I've journaled for a long time, but this is the first year that I feel like my journal reflects who I am. It worked better for me than any other type of journalling that I have done, and I am continuing the same format into this year. I loved doing the watercolor headers for each month, choosing a focus Bible verse as well as listing out the primary tasks that I wanted to accomplish each month. I do think that this type of journal really helped me to accomplish many of my goals by keeping me focused. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Like many people do, I choose a word for the year, which was Trust. I felt like I needed to trust God that everything would work out. And as usual, when I put my trust in Him, it has! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51813581306/in/dateposted-public/" title="2021JournalAnnualPagesCollage"><img alt="2021JournalAnnualPagesCollage" height="360" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51813581306_79bd617d81_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I started the journal off with a 2021 page and a verse based on my focus word. I filled that journal up by the end of July, so I had to start a new one, and did another 2021 page and another focus verse. I didn't write quite as much in the last few months of the year, so I'm continuing 2022 in the same journal. I should get about 4 months in it, I think. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51813680558/in/dateposted-public/" title="2021OilPaintingCollage"><img alt="2021OilPaintingCollage" height="360" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51813680558_285c629840_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I really wanted to focus on painting this year. I did a number of small studies, as well as a couple of larger works. In the lower left, is a larger work based on the small study above it. I loved seeing my work progress through the year! My favorite painting is the bunny! I "need" to paint more bunnies! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51813577641/in/dateposted-public/" title="2021PleinAirCollage"><img alt="2021PleinAirCollage" height="360" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51813577641_0a53181e2b_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Nearly every week during the summer months, I spent a day in the mountains, most often in Rocky Mountain National Park. I always took my painting supplies along and was able to do so many plein air paintings, both in watercolor and oil paints. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51813678413/in/dateposted-public/" title="2021SketchbookCollage"><img alt="2021SketchbookCollage" height="360" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51813678413_22fc23723a_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I also did a fair amount drawing, sketching and watercolor painting at home as well as sketching out ideas for house plans, cards, paintings, and garden plans. I also swatched all of my watercolor supplies according to the palettes they were in. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51813686053/in/dateposted-public/" title="2021AccomplishmentsCollage"><img alt="2021AccomplishmentsCollage" height="360" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51813686053_ed9bda96b5_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As far as accomplishments go, I really did quite a lot this year! </div><div style="text-align: justify;">* I fixed my old wooden yarn swift, which had been broken for a long time </div><div style="text-align: justify;">*I moved my office into the guest room, and the guest room into the sewing (and now storage room) </div><div style="text-align: justify;">*I completed two books for my big 2018 trip to France (I still have England and the Netherlands to go).</div><div style="text-align: justify;">*I scanned several boxes of slides and lots of family photos</div><div style="text-align: justify;">*I got the RV repaired and then sold! </div><div style="text-align: justify;">*I published 4 issues of Crazy Quilt Magazine and made the decision to stop publishing</div><div style="text-align: justify;">*My son-in-law sanded the front porch for me and I painted the rails </div><div style="text-align: justify;">*I fixed the bathroom ceiling, where a skylight had been removed long before I moved in</div><div style="text-align: justify;">*I sewed a few little quilt mats to use on various pieces of furniture</div><div style="text-align: justify;">*My sister and I downsized the family genealogy archive from 34 boxes down to 13!!! Suddenly my storage locker is starting to look a empty-ish! </div><div style="text-align: justify;">*I finished a felted knit pouch I started several years ago</div><div style="text-align: justify;">*I made a little pincushion</div><div style="text-align: justify;">*I was able to get my garden bed built, installed, filled with dirt, and even got a few things planted! </div><div style="text-align: justify;">*I finished the last of the grandkid's stockings! </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Whew!!! <i>(And there were a few more that aren't shown, as I didn't necessarily take photos of everything!)</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51813582386/in/dateposted-public/" title="2021HouseHuntCollage"><img alt="2021HouseHuntCollage" height="360" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51813582386_942785f074_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<div style="text-align: justify;">In the spring, put my house up for sale and went house-hunting. I made several trips to western Iowa, eastern Nebraska and Kansas in hopes of finding a home in a less expensive area. I also did. few virtual tours. I even put in an offer on one of them. But in the long run, I realized that I did not want to be that far from my family and friends or move to a community where I didn't know anyone, so I took my house off the market and decided to stay put for the time being. Making this decision, does mean that I must go back to work very soon, which is something I am <u>very</u> anxious about.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51813927884/in/dateposted-public/" title="2021BestPhotosCollage"><img alt="2021BestPhotosCollage" height="360" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51813927884_fe28d5c11f_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Through the course of the year, I took a fair number of photographs. These are a few of the best ones. As you can tell, I love a good sky, green growing things, flowers, and lovely hoar frost! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51813583206/in/dateposted-public/" title="2021FamilyCollage"><img alt="2021FamilyCollage" height="360" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51813583206_13a86761de_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Some of my favorite memories in 2021 revolved around family! I got to attend birthdays for 3 of the grandchildren! My oldest son and his wife purchased a new home with some acreage, a long held dream for them! In June, we were able to get the entire family together for the first time in a year and a half! What joy to all be together! I loved being able to spend time with the grandkids! I get to watch them on a fairly regular basis, which sadly will come to an end when I go back to work. It was so lovely to see everyone at Christmas too! Unfortunately, everyone in the family came down with covid, either just before or just after Christmas (except me - Thank you vaccinations!) and gratefully, they were all mild cases. Everyone is now healthy again! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51813682043/in/dateposted-public/" title="2021KittiesCollage"><img alt="2021KittiesCollage" height="403" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51813682043_e5d26b44cb_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">Mushu is now 2 ½ years old and finally mellowing a little. We aren't having quite the traumatic/destructive episodes as we had in the first year of his being with me! He has more personality than almost any other cat I've every known. Definitely too smart for his own good (or mine!). In August, little Finn joined us! He is a delight and such a sweetie. He and Mushu have become good friends and having a playmate has been so good for Mushu! Finn is a lap cat, which Mushu is not. I love it! He often sits with me at the computer, or when I'm painting or drawing! Truly a sweet companion! </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">There wasn't much travel in 2021, other than the very quick trips I made to go house hunting. But in November, the kitties and I traveled to Tucson to spend Thanksgiving with my sister and her husband! Mushu isn't much of a traveller (you can see Finn comforting him after a panic attack in the collage above - middle row right), so he'll stay home from here on out, but Finn is a lovely traveler! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">So, though in some ways I found 2021 to be a more difficult year than 2020, it was a good year. I was able to accomplish a lot of the things that I wanted to, though I didn't get nearly as far as I had hoped to on the big photo/slide scanning project. Hopefully this year will see that task done! In all, now that I've had this opportunity to look back and evaluate, I'm really pleased with all that I was able to accomplish! </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">One last thing;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">** A follow-up note to my last post about the huge fires here in Colorado. 1084 residences were destroyed, 149 sustained significant damage. Incredibly, my childhood home survived </span>intact! It appears as though the hundreds of trees and shrubs that my Dad planted helped prevent embers from reaching the house, even though every single house around it was lost in the fires. So devastating for all. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Lisa Bonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16954398440820019953noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5895776517014101772.post-78041218486025446922021-12-31T15:23:00.001-07:002021-12-31T15:40:14.927-07:00Wind and Fire<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">December 31, 2021<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><br /></p><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51791180155/in/dateposted-public/" title="img125"><img alt="img125" height="424" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51791180155_299547952e_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><div><span style="font-family: Cambria; text-align: justify;">Our family moved to Boulder, Colorado in December 1965 for my Dad’s new job at NCAR. There wasn’t a house to be found as IBM had moved in six months ahead of us. My parents purchased a piece of land 7 miles east of Boulder on Davidson Mesa, overlooking the Colorado Front Range and Boulder valley. </span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;"><br /></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51791188585/in/dateposted-public/" title="img030"><img alt="img030" height="425" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51791188585_2dc0a7976e_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">When they built the house, it was the only one on the western grassy slope of Davidson Mesa. Others would slowly be built on neighboring lots over the following years and decades. <o:p></o:p></p><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51790813554/in/dateposted-public/" title="img155"><img alt="img155" height="424" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51790813554_963a9a4f6d_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">I remember walking the lots and trying to choose which one would be the best to build on. My folks wanted to be high enough to have unobstructed views of the mountains and of Boulder valley. As the house was being built, I remember my Mom, the daughter of a masonry contractor, pulling down the brick walls with her hands and telling the workers to build it right with the proper reinforcements and tie downs. The electrician who was having an ongoing feud with the general contractor for some reason, decided to wire the house in a crazy way as payback, which resulted in my Dad and I having to pigtail every outlet in the house and spend days trying to figure out which outlet and switch was on which breaker. We had to permanently label all the outlets and switches and a room might have been wired to as many as six different breakers. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51790444516/in/dateposted-public/" title="img026"><img alt="img026" height="425" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51790444516_76bc7236c0_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">We moved in on Halloween, 1966 amidst a snowstorm. Over 100 kids made their way up the muddy road and driveway to trick or treat that year! <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">In the first couple of years, we experienced torrential thunderstorms, which swelled the expansive soils around the house that then cracked the foundation. We had to have expensive drains dug and placed around the perimeter of the house to keep the home from being torn in two and to keep water out of the lower level. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEielG7kcj3wVRnwPBGGrrQMvEp9m99EIgla8DPJekrKwhKr2fIyWSFNUOpXh1H6yAe8UpLz7lL7mdvnSRQP0_MNoQDBlGl9_qi3dQVT_uKaC2a0lzkTZ9BPHeRm474lybFaqSw21r0F3nnQy5vdhSNRfam0ChoNsqFTuKzEmFvavWAwyraYFYTg8TPE=s2682" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2576" data-original-width="2682" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEielG7kcj3wVRnwPBGGrrQMvEp9m99EIgla8DPJekrKwhKr2fIyWSFNUOpXh1H6yAe8UpLz7lL7mdvnSRQP0_MNoQDBlGl9_qi3dQVT_uKaC2a0lzkTZ9BPHeRm474lybFaqSw21r0F3nnQy5vdhSNRfam0ChoNsqFTuKzEmFvavWAwyraYFYTg8TPE=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51790847189/in/dateposted-public/" style="text-align: left;" title="2009.05.30MommysGarden - 44"><img alt="2009.05.30MommysGarden - 44" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51790847189_da1e5e2660_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51791199095/in/dateposted-public/" title="2009.07.25MommyGardenHouse - 102"><img alt="2009.07.25MommyGardenHouse - 102" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51791199095_b722e9e501_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">My parents poured their blood sweat and tears into the home. They created gardens, planted trees and shrubs. They created an environment that the birds and beasts flocked to. They held parties and gatherings and loved sharing the beauty of their home with others. They hosted guests from all over the world and gave refuge to others when they needed a place to stay. Despite the house’s problems, it was a special place.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">Every winter, the winds would come – the Chinook, that swept down from the mountains, bringing warmth at first, followed by snow as the front moved through. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51790816799/in/dateposted-public/" title="1969.01.08HouseDamageDayAfter05"><img alt="1969.01.08HouseDamageDayAfter05" height="423" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51790816799_e897ce418d_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p>January 6, 1969, one of these windstorms came with winds of 130 mph or more, and with it, devastation. It took the roof of our home and the roof of one a couple of lots away. It cause two major fires, one on the side of Green Mountain near the Quarry, and the other at Boulder Airport, where it flipped planes, tore apart airplane hangers and burned the airport and planes leaving little behind. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51789498862/in/dateposted-public/" title="1969.01.08HouseDamageDayAfter02"><img alt="1969.01.08HouseDamageDayAfter02" height="426" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51789498862_3183da9a3d_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">It was a terrifying experience to have the windows explode outward over my head, to have my Dad slammed into the wall by flying closet doors, to see the 13 foot high wall of living room windows curling into the middle of the living room and to see gaping holes, where ceiling and roof once were; and later to watch the raging fires from the safety of a neighbor’s home throughout the rest of the night. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/4206393064/in/album-72157623050347530/" title="1999 Fire"><img alt="1999 Fire" height="458" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/4045/4206393064_31529d181d_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">Thirty years later, when I was in a home of my own, we experienced a house fire, two days before Christmas. The house and our belongings were a near total loss. We lost two kitties. But thankfully, my 4 kids had been spending the week with their dad and weren’t at home. I literally had the clothes on my back, my purse and my car. Everything else was gone. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">It was catastrophic and until it happens to you, the magnitude, while imagined, is not the same as the reality of it. The smell, the sounds, and the loss of a place where you feel safe and secure – it’s un-imaginably difficult. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">There were blessings too; such as the incredible support that we received from neighbors, the community, and from family, friends, and co-workers. They carried us through. We learned that our possessions were just “stuff” and mostly replaceable. We learned that what truly mattered were those we loved. We were alive. We were uninjured. We were together. And we could, and did, make a new home for ourselves. New kitties came into our lives, and more than enough stuff to fill a house. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51791192145/in/dateposted-public/" title="2004.12.20Wind Damaged Doors02"><img alt="2004.12.20Wind Damaged Doors02" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51791192145_1ed9c43592_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">My parents home was damaged by high winds again in 2004, when winds over 90 mph blew the double front doors right out of their frame. My dad and I caught them as they blew in and held them in place in 75-90 mph winds while my Mom found and brought us the wood, hammer and nails to secure them in place to prevent further damage. The framing around the door had to be rebuilt when the door was later replaced.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">Yesterday, on December 30, 2021, the two big disasters of my life melded together. Another ferocious windstorm barreled down, knocking over power lines, that then sparked wildfires in the grasslands at the western end of Davidson Mesa. The fire spread rapidly pushed by winds of 90 to 115 mph. As it raced towards the towns of Superior and Louisville on the south side of Davidson Mesa, emergency personnel went frantically to warn and evacuate people ahead of the firestorm. Miraculously, as of right now, there appear to be no missing people; that everyone may have gotten out - a true miracle. Over 35,000 people evacuated ahead of the flames. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">The town of Superior is virtually lost. Over 500 homes on the western side and the old town area are burned to the ground. The shopping center, including a Target, Costco, and many other shops, are gone. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">As evening wore on, the fire moved into other neighborhoods on the western side of Louisville. It moved across the top of Davidson Mesa down the northwestern slope where we had lived and on into the Paragon and Spanish Hills neighborhoods. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51791198680/in/dateposted-public/" title="2009.07.25MommyGardenHouse - 181"><img alt="2009.07.25MommyGardenHouse - 181" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51791198680_4035bb9fa3_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p>I watched the news clips, hoping for a glimpse of my childhood home. And then I saw it for just a few moments; that easily identifiable pattern of windows, unlike any other in the neighborhood, filled with the orange glow of fire. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">While this morning, it appears that a few houses may have survived; it also appears that nearly every home along that side of the mesa while I was growing up has burned. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51790888769/in/dateposted-public/" title="2009.11.17Alpenglo"><img alt="2009.11.17Alpenglo" height="162" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51790888769_140870ecaa_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">This fire takes with it so many memories. While I never wanted to live in that house again, because of how the wind impacts it on a regular basis (I’m truly terrified by high winds), I will miss knowing that it’s there. I won’t be able to take my grandchildren to show them the house that their great-grandparents built, lived in, and loved for 43 years. I will miss knowing that no one will sit and take in the sunrise glow on the mountains from that living room window, or the glorious sunsets over the mountains with Boulder’s twinkling lights in the valley below. They won’t be able to watch the birds at the feeder from the breakfast table as they enjoy their morning coffee anymore. The house will no longer be filled with the presence of so many family and friends, as I know the new owners also did.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51789560437/in/dateposted-public/" title="2006.08.09Heavenly Color 01"><img alt="2006.08.09Heavenly Color 01" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51789560437_f18c1c514c_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">My heart hurts for the thousands of people who have lost their homes, and those who also lost their pets. I <u><i>know</i></u> what they are experiencing this morning; losing everything they own in the blink of an eye; knowing they have literally thousands of decisions to make over then next few weeks and months as they rebuild their lives. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p></div><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51789564357/in/dateposted-public/" title="2006.08.14Indian Peaks 04"><img alt="2006.08.14Indian Peaks 04" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51789564357_c28365b6be_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><div>It is so hard to put into words all the things I am feeling about this tragedy in my home region of Boulder County, Colorado right now. All the disasters of my life seem rolled together in this new one. And while I am not directly impacted, it erased the areas of my growing up years. It has brought these earlier disasters back into sharp focus. The old anxieties have resurfaced as what was once familiar is now changed irrevocably. Life will go on, and the old home will live on in our memories and the photos that remain to us. And I'm enormously grateful that the loss of life appears to miraculously be zero as I write this. The things that are important, aren't our houses, the views, but the people who live within them, and those still remain! </div><div><span style="font-family: Cambria; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Cambria; text-align: justify;">I pray that all these people who have lost homes will once again find peace and joy, new homes, and that they cherish their loved ones and hold them close.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Cambria; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div>Lisa Bonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16954398440820019953noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5895776517014101772.post-80535887585325850572021-12-22T00:34:00.000-07:002021-12-22T00:34:20.282-07:00Vlogmas Day 19 - The Last Stocking!<iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/HYxk1xrPk88" style="background-image: url(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/HYxk1xrPk88/hqdefault.jpg);" width="480"></iframe><div><br /></div><div>A short video on making the last stocking for the grandkids! Enjoy! </div><div><br /></div><div>I've been having such fun creating "Vlogmas" videos nearly every day this month! It was a last minute whim to do, and I've really been enjoying it. Such fun to create simple little videos about how I'm preparing and celebrating the Christmas season this year! </div>Lisa Bonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16954398440820019953noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5895776517014101772.post-64589572312885049222021-12-08T16:41:00.006-07:002021-12-08T16:41:47.368-07:00Vlogmas Day 7<iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/Ua7yoKUUGTA" width="480"></iframe><div>I've been posting a video YouTube nearly every day this month! Enjoy! </div>Lisa Bonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16954398440820019953noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5895776517014101772.post-52103598822357694022021-07-25T15:53:00.007-06:002021-07-25T15:53:44.747-06:00June & July - Catching Up<p style="text-align: justify;"> I've been missing in action for the past couple of months. Thought I'd try to catch up just a little! <a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51335829485/in/dateposted-public/" title="2021.05.31JuneJournal.wm-4"><img alt="2021.05.31JuneJournal.wm-4" height="600" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51335829485_d4d4efcf66_c.jpg" width="800" /></a></p><p style="text-align: justify;">This is the header for June in my journal. I used a photo I had taken in England as a reference. I loved the mix of daisies and wild grasses that filled the orchards. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51334825721/in/dateposted-public/" title="2021.06.21GenealogyBeforewm-1"><img alt="2021.06.21GenealogyBeforewm-1" height="800" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51334825721_3f01b707fd_c.jpg" width="600" /></a></p><p style="text-align: justify;">One of the biggest tasks of June, was getting the family genealogy archive downsized to a more manageable level. In all, there were 34 boxes to go through. Daunting to say the least! </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51334826986/in/dateposted-public/" title="2021.06.27-30GenealpgyDownsizewm-1"><img alt="2021.06.27-30GenealpgyDownsizewm-1" height="600" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51334826986_7ab12838a3_c.jpg" width="800" /></a></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Thankfully, my sister came to help! We managed to pare those 34 boxes down to 13. Five of them hold the actual genealogy records and our Mom did a fabulous job of putting that together. One of these days, I'll get it scanned and hopefully be able to downsize those boxes into 4 or 5 books. Both my Mom and Dad did extensive writing about their lives and even before their deaths, I had been helping to compile their memoirs into a book format. I work on it here and there and hope to have my Dad's done in the near future. They each have 3 boxes of memoirs and memorabilia. And then I have 2 of things that I've kept over the years. We downsized my stuff too! So in all, just 13 boxes - much more manageable than 34! It took us a week! </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51334096612/in/dateposted-public/" title="2021.07.01EpicThunderstormwm-1"><img alt="2021.07.01EpicThunderstormwm-1" height="450" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51334096612_1d1be823d3_c.jpg" width="800" /></a></p><p style="text-align: justify;">The thunderclouds were amazing the day I took my sister back to the airport! This is the aftermath, which wasn't nearly as epic, but still beautiful none the less! We seem to be going from extreme to extreme. It's either rainy and cool for a week or overwhelmingly hot and exceptionally dry. I'm so grateful that we have had the rainy periods as it is easier to make it through the hot dry spells. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51335041088/in/dateposted-public/" title="2021.06.24JulyJournalwm-1"><img alt="2021.06.24JulyJournalwm-1" height="600" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51335041088_7270716c4e_c.jpg" width="800" /></a></p><p style="text-align: justify;">July's journal heading is a watercolor of mountain pines and aspen. Fitting as I've been trying to spend a day every week in the mountains! It's definitely my happy spot these days. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51334827781/in/dateposted-public/" title="2021.06.24JulyJournalwm-6"><img alt="2021.06.24JulyJournalwm-6" height="600" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51334827781_34d4111505_c.jpg" width="800" /></a></p><p style="text-align: justify;">I really love the watercolor tabs on my journal! July will finish off this one and I'll start a new one with August. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51310057708/in/dateposted-public/" title="2021.06.03RMNPbest-2"><img alt="2021.06.03RMNPbest-2" height="600" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51310057708_647b05ab83_c.jpg" width="800" /></a></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Some of my mountain visits start in the early hours of the morning, so that I can get up there just as the sun crests the horizon. Love these early mornings. This was in early June. The East Troublesome Fire spread through this valley and the ridge in the background. The meadows have recovered beautifully. The trees are struggling. Most of the ones you see as red will die before next summer if they haven't already. In places, there are still healthy trees, which are a joy to see! </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51309109822/in/dateposted-public/" title="2021.06.03RMNPpleinAir-1"><img alt="2021.06.03RMNPpleinAir-1" height="600" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51309109822_5dabd11dae_c.jpg" width="800" /></a></p><p style="text-align: justify;">I make a point of painting each and every visit I make to the mountains. On this visit I did an oil Plein air of Big Thompson Creek. Can you see the elk that was watching me from the bend in the river?! </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51310050993/in/dateposted-public/" title="2021.06.03RMNPpleinAir-2"><img alt="2021.06.03RMNPpleinAir-2" height="600" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51310050993_f288f9cc05_c.jpg" width="800" /></a></p><p style="text-align: justify;">It had been a while since I'd done a plein air oil painting. I got caught up in the excitement and forgot to do the things that help me create a more successful painting. I'm still happy with it though! For me, painting is mostly about the journey. In truth, I have little space left on my walls for more paintings. One of these days, I'm going to have to put some up for sale! </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51309169107/in/dateposted-public/" title="2021.06.10RMNPwm-1"><img alt="2021.06.10RMNPwm-1" height="508" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51309169107_e449b70c5f_c.jpg" width="800" /></a></p><p style="text-align: justify;">I loved those early mornings before the sun came up! June had some amazing sunrises! </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51309901491/in/dateposted-public/" title="2021.06.10RMNPwm-20"><img alt="2021.06.10RMNPwm-20" height="600" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51309901491_c37ded78f9_c.jpg" width="800" /></a></p><p style="text-align: justify;">On this day I hiked up to Alberta Falls in Rocky Mountain National Park. I scrambled down a steep slope and found a steady perch on a large rock where I did this watercolor plein air sketch! Such a gorgeous spot! I could have spent a lot more time there, but rocks aren't the most comfortable place to sit for long periods of time. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51309898511/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="2021.06.10RMNPwm-47"><img alt="2021.06.10RMNPwm-47" height="800" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51309898511_58d48cf8c2_c.jpg" width="519" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p style="text-align: justify;">I feel like I always struggle painting water, but I'm really happy with this one! Using a white gel pen helps me add highlights after the painting is done. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51310620754/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="2021.06.10RMNPwm-28"><img alt="2021.06.10RMNPwm-28" height="800" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51310620754_70112f0385_c.jpg" width="600" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Beautiful Albertal Falls! </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51311385148/in/dateposted-public/" title="2021.06.16BrainardWM-14"><img alt="2021.06.16BrainardWM-14" height="600" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51311385148_6923556918_c.jpg" width="800" /></a></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Another day I went to Brainard Lake. The Indian Peaks Wilderness is probably my favorite spot in Colorado. We spent countless hours here while I was growing up. My dad climbed most if not all those peaks in this view and led many hikes and climbs over the course of his life. I've been up a few of them too, especially Mount Audubon, the peak on the right. I've climbed it at least three times. Also the ridge to the left, which is mostly out of view in this photo. Niwot Ridge is the gateway to the peaks on the left. I'm not nearly as capable of intense hikes like these now, so I opted to take a slow walk around Brainard Lake in the foreground.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51312190735/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="2021.06.16BrainardWM-6"><img alt="2021.06.16BrainardWM-6" height="800" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51312190735_a16ac60ed1_c.jpg" width="600" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p style="text-align: justify;">I stopped along Mitchell Creek and did a sketch in gouache. It's an opaque form of watercolor and handles a little differently. The colors are more intense, so I was out of my comfort zone! But fun to try and I think I captured the feeling of the place. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51311912124/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="2021.06.16BrainardWM-7"><img alt="2021.06.16BrainardWM-7" height="800" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51311912124_5c25c65b24_c.jpg" width="542" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p style="text-align: justify;">The Marsh Marigolds and Globe Mallow were in bloom, so I was glad to be able to capture them in the sketch! </p><p style="text-align: justify;">There were lots of other things that happened in May, June and July - mostly house hunting in Iowa, Kansas, and Nebraska. I made 4 different trips to look at 12 houses. I made one offer - refused as they had what they hoped were better offers. I later heard that they fell through. So, for the time being I'm staying put and have taken my house off the market, but I do need to find a job in the near future. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSfRsBa9tUVIFjsvHCa6rABoL13QkXD1VxeGn7LxyFBaUsSnZHtzZUTuPxu29OVpzYr3OqDpTHHOLDlSGD7cmz6IeBUhkTrokwEsrtiGO8I9wbau_HwVXhgYGe2AX2acVi5x9Mq9pkT5Q/s2048/2021.06.25FamilyA+-+37.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSfRsBa9tUVIFjsvHCa6rABoL13QkXD1VxeGn7LxyFBaUsSnZHtzZUTuPxu29OVpzYr3OqDpTHHOLDlSGD7cmz6IeBUhkTrokwEsrtiGO8I9wbau_HwVXhgYGe2AX2acVi5x9Mq9pkT5Q/w640-h480/2021.06.25FamilyA+-+37.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>One of the happiest things to happen in June was getting the entire family together for the first time in 16 months! Love this photo of the grandkids with me! <div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6DjgIip9JPJmPopq3tTobTgphI9BJaSJN9z744OQ33bZLvWNTYChJjqWiskXqWDnfjH5aiJ7GdXS8HoHJLZCVXjNuFC8xVY_uPGz6JCZNrGCvlZzL4RG1F7FfNEgze2hRaMcxlsSxzDw/s2048/2021.06.25FamilyA+-+48.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6DjgIip9JPJmPopq3tTobTgphI9BJaSJN9z744OQ33bZLvWNTYChJjqWiskXqWDnfjH5aiJ7GdXS8HoHJLZCVXjNuFC8xVY_uPGz6JCZNrGCvlZzL4RG1F7FfNEgze2hRaMcxlsSxzDw/w640-h480/2021.06.25FamilyA+-+48.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">The whole family! We took these at a park near where I live. It was an overcast and damp day, but we were able to get our photos in between rainstorms! While I've been blessed to see each family group individually during this past Covid-impacted year, I dearly missed having my family all together. To finally be able to gather together was emotional and wonderful! Truly, it was the best gift I've had in a long, long time. </p><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51335829485/in/dateposted-public/" title="2021.05.31JuneJournal.wm-4"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></a></div>Lisa Bonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16954398440820019953noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5895776517014101772.post-36458959243215262132021-05-07T12:55:00.002-06:002021-05-07T12:55:19.017-06:00May Journal & May Issue of CQ Mag<div style="text-align: justify;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51163143962/in/dateposted-public/" title="2021.0502MayJournal-5"><img alt="2021.0502MayJournal-5" height="492" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51163143962_c7f4482a46_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Lilacs are the theme for May's journal! Lilacs are probably my favorite flower, especially when it comes to scent. All the more treasured due to their short bloom time! I was a little late getting this one set up, but managed to get it done on May 2nd. I played with a looser version of lilacs than I've painted previously. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51164912470/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="2021.0502MayJournal-3"><img alt="2021.0502MayJournal-3" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51164912470_0bcd6128c6_z.jpg" width="495" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div><div style="text-align: justify;">There have been lots of changes going on in my life for the past couple of weeks, and it is reflected in my task list. Notice all the packing! Well... things have changed again, and so that's going to get postponed if not cancelled for now. More on that in another post. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The RV repairs have hit some snags. We replaced the battery disconnect and the relay, which controls the flow of power from the batteries to the RV. But now, there is no power flowing to the relay, despite everything appearing to be intact. So, once again, we are at square one. I really need to get this fixed so I can get it sold. I'm not using it and it costs me money every month in insurance and it's taking up space at my good friends farm. Time to let it go, but it sure seems to be a struggle to get it ready to sell. I don't want to invest lots of money into it, but it does need a few basic things in running order. Sigh. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51163143217/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="2021.0502MayJournal-1"><img alt="2021.0502MayJournal-1" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51163143217_64c1ca97c4_z.jpg" width="486" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I changed the Covid tracking this month in anticipation of a possible move to either Nebraska or Iowa. Despite their lower populations, I discovered that their rates of infection and deaths are in the top 10 states in the USA for covid infections per million people. Colorado is 44th. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51163807791/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="2021.0502MayJournal-2"><img alt="2021.0502MayJournal-2" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51163807791_95f8f70bfa_z.jpg" width="515" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It has been good having a spending tracker. Helps me to see where my money is going. I was trying to do this on a spreadsheet on the computer, but I wasn't getting it filled out. With this, I'm able to put the receipts here and fill it in more consistently. It appears I spend money on the cat, on books for the kindle, and snacks. Need to work on the snacks and eliminate them! That would probably help my weight! I struggle with craving salty crunchy snacks. Goldfish crackers are my snack of choice. Carrots just don't have the same impact! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51163143892/in/dateposted-public/" title="2021.0502MayJournal-4"><img alt="2021.0502MayJournal-4" height="467" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51163143892_3c0dd9938e_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So, here it is the May spread. I may need to re-do the house hunt/pack portion to reflect how the month has already changed for me. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><div style="-moz-border-radius: 4px; -webkit-border-radius: 4px; background-color: #f6f6f6; border-bottom-left-radius: 4px; border-bottom-right-radius: 4px; border-top-left-radius: 4px; border-top-right-radius: 4px; border: 7px solid rgb(246, 246, 246); color: #383131; width: 615px;"><br /></div><div style="-moz-border-radius: 4px; -webkit-border-radius: 4px; background-color: #f6f6f6; border-bottom-left-radius: 4px; border-bottom-right-radius: 4px; border-top-left-radius: 4px; border-top-right-radius: 4px; border: 7px solid rgb(246, 246, 246); color: #383131; width: 615px;"><br /></div><div style="-moz-border-radius: 4px; -webkit-border-radius: 4px; background-color: #f6f6f6; border-bottom-left-radius: 4px; border-bottom-right-radius: 4px; border-top-left-radius: 4px; border-top-right-radius: 4px; border: 7px solid rgb(246, 246, 246); color: #383131; width: 615px;"> <a class="test_navToIssue" href="https://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/1974982?__r=106025"> <img alt="Crazy Quilt Magazine May 2021" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/storage2.magcloud.com/image/1db0cc5b7474dd4dbfdb22e6a82ac2e9.jpg" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin-right: 15px; width: 150px;" /> </a> <div style="float: left; width: 435px;"> <p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; margin: 4px 0px 0px;"> <span style="color: #383131; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px;">Crazy Quilt Magazine:</span> <a class="test_navToIssue" href="https://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/1974982?__r=106025" style="color: #0e467d; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">Crazy Quilt Magazine May 2021</a> </p> <p style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin: 9px 0px 0px;"> Crazy quilting, 2020 Challenge Project, Issue #3 </p> <p style="margin: 0px;"> <a class="test_navToIssue" href="https://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/1974982?__r=106025"> <img alt="Find out more on MagCloud" src="https://www.magcloud.com/resource/Image/medium_widget_foot" style="border: 0px; margin: 19px 0px 6px;" /> </a> </p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div></div><p>In other news, the May Issue of Crazy Quilt Magazine is out! Featuring the work of 8 crazy quilters and their 2020 challenge projects! Beautiful work! I hope you'll check it out! </p>Lisa Bonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16954398440820019953noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5895776517014101772.post-65345102429220555732021-04-19T15:18:00.004-06:002021-04-19T15:20:14.860-06:00Painting A Long with Plein Air Live 21<div style="text-align: justify;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51122950087/in/dateposted-public/" title="2021.04.15-18PAL21. - 3"><img alt="2021.04.15-18PAL21. - 3" height="454" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51122950087_770220af32_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It has been so wonderful to focus on painting this month. It's something I really miss when I'm not able to do it. This past week, I took part in "Plein Air Live". It's an online 3 day Plein air painting convention that Plein Air Magazine and Streamline Publishing has put on since it hasn't been able to their big in person conventions. I was originally scheduled to attend the convention in Denver last year, but due to the pandemic, it was cancelled. I was so glad when they put the convention online so I could attend anyway! Learned so much. So in the fall, I did Realism Live and then the convention was cancelled again this year, so once again they did Plein Air Live. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It is three intensive days of painting demonstrations, presentations, and each day ends with a "virtual Plein Air" paint along to a video that they provide. The painting above was done on day 3. I feel like I struggle with moving water, but I'm pretty happy with this little 7"x5" study. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51123517081/in/dateposted-public/" title="2021.04.15-18PAL21. - 2"><img alt="2021.04.15-18PAL21. - 2" height="450" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51123517081_5972f4efd8_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The paint-a-long on day 2 was this Newfoundland Bay. Think my time on each of these was around an hour total. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51123419018/in/dateposted-public/" title="Screen Shot 2021-04-18 at 9.57.07 AM"><img alt="Screen Shot 2021-04-18 at 9.57.07 AM" height="400" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51123419018_146f708022_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">What a delight to have them feature it the next morning in the day's intro! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51124312550/in/dateposted-public/" title="Screen Shot 2021-04-18 at 9.57.12 AM"><img alt="Screen Shot 2021-04-18 at 9.57.12 AM" height="400" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51124312550_6eecdb8513_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Eric Rhoads commented about the "very, very good brushwork"! What fun! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51124317535/in/dateposted-public/" title="2021.04.15-18PAL21. - 1"><img alt="2021.04.15-18PAL21. - 1" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51124317535_11a1485824_z.jpg" width="457" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">On Day 1, we painted this scene from the California Coast. I didn't catch the exact location, but I love the contrast of the yellow cliffs with the brilliant blue water. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">All of these are in the 5"x7" range, oil on Ampersand Gessoboard. Watch for a sale of my small oil works coming soon! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The May issue of Crazy Quilt Quarterly comes out in two weeks and I'm running behind on it, so no more painting until the issue is out! I have some big dental work coming later this week, which I'm not looking forward too, so I'll be juggling the magazine with that. Then, I'm looking at putting my home up for sale in May and moving, though I'm not sure just where yet. Lots of changes coming. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">#pleinairlive #pleinairlive2021 </span></div>Lisa Bonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16954398440820019953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5895776517014101772.post-54660228003913718012021-04-12T01:00:00.001-06:002021-04-12T01:00:00.193-06:00Organizing the Photo Archive<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">This is the first of two posts on working with photos and slides.<span> </span>In this first post, I cover how I organize our large archive of family photos dating back to the late 1800s up to the present day.<span> </span>In the next post, I will cover how I scan slides, as well as a little bit about scanning photos and how I organize those digital files and back everything up.<span> </span><span> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">These steps are what have worked well for my sister and I as we work our way through thousands (and thousands!) of photos.<span> </span>I’m sure there are other methods, but this is how we have done it. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><b>First Step</b><span style="font-weight: normal;">, start a calendar of important family dates. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p> </o:p><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51098181845/in/dateposted-public/" title="FamilyCalendar"><img alt="FamilyCalendar" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51098181845_d974e1ccfd_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">I did not start with a calendar, but as I progressed, I realized I needed to keep track of ‘what happened when’ and having it all in one place that I could refer to without having to open box after box was very helpful.<span> </span>Mine is created in Microsoft Word.<span> </span>If there is interest, I will add a post later about how I created this.<span> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">The calendar includes important dates such as births, deaths, marriages, and divorces.<span> </span>I also added the dates of holidays, house moves, trips, and other events to the calendar when I could.<span> </span>To find dates for the calendar, I used the dates found on photos and slides, in saved calendars (I had a few years of my Mom's calendars as well as several years of my own) and Christmas letters, etc.<span> My Mom kept most of the photos in dated albums, which at least got us to the correct year most of the time! As we went, we transferred those occasions to the calendar. </span>Now it is all in one place and I refer to this calendar all the time while sorting photos, as it is very helpful in dealing with unlabeled photos.<span> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><b>Step Two</b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> is sorting the photos. <o:p></o:p></span></p><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/31451272894/in/dateposted-public/" title="2017.01.13Delights14"><img alt="2017.01.13Delights14" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/629/31451272894_4d0d34fcc8_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">I sort the photos three times: first by decade, then I sort each decade by year, then each year by month.<span> </span>I write the (decade/year/or month) on a piece of copy paper and lay it out on the table or the floor depending on how large the pile of photos is.<span> </span>Then I place photos on the papers according to the photo labels (hopefully!) and if not labeled, using my best guess.<span> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span><br /></span></p><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Once I have finished the first sort by decade, I put each decade in a box or large envelope.<span> </span>I deal with one decade at a time.<span> </span>Otherwise, I find it gets too overwhelming.<span> </span>Then I sort each decade into years in the same fashion. Then each year gets put into a photo box marked with the year.<span> </span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></p><div class="separator"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51023892297/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="PhotoBlogPostb-2"><img alt="PhotoBlogPostb-2" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51023892297_0676da4cb9_z.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></p><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51023786476/in/dateposted-public/" title="PhotoBlogPostb-3"><img alt="PhotoBlogPostb-3" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51023786476_1dfd62942d_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">If more than one year is in a box, I add a ¼ page of copy paper labeled with the year that I can easily see.<span> </span>This paper tab is a good spot to write down the known large events such as trips, ages of children, what year they are in school, etc. This is how I kept track of things until I started the calendar. <span> </span><span> </span>While it might seem repetitive, I found it helpful to have both. Here is a diagram of how I quarter the sheet of paper. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51023886212/in/dateposted-public/" title="PhotoBlogPostb-7"><img alt="PhotoBlogPostb-7" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51023886212_0aa4a9e6d3_z.jpg" width="480" /></a></blockquote></blockquote><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Once the decade is sorted, I work on one year at a time.<span> </span>I do my best to sort chronologically into months.<span> </span>While this may not be a necessary step if you have few photos, for the large number that I am dealing with, I find it very helpful.<span> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><b>Step Three</b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> is labeling photos.<span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51097470306/in/dateposted-public/" title="2021.PhotoBlogPost - 1"><img alt="2021.PhotoBlogPost - 1" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51097470306_937e494bd8_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My sister and I have discarded many photos because we had no idea who the people in the photos were.<span> </span>An unlabeled photo is worthless if you don’t know who it is.<span> </span><span> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">As I put the sorted photos into the final boxes, I do my best to label them.</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"> </span></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Here is my formula for labeling.</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51023886337/in/dateposted-public/" title="PhotoBlogPostb-8"><img alt="PhotoBlogPostb-8" height="248" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51023886337_f2ee1c0369_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span>Use a photo safe archival pen, such as a <a href="<a target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B079X4P9P5/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B079X4P9P5&linkCode=as2&tag=ivoblurosrea-20&linkId=31d32eb0f647173e9a9da8a4f1b203ac">Pigma Micron PN Pens</a>" target="_blank">Pigma Micron Pen</a>.<span> </span>Pencil fades quickly, ball point and most other types of pen bleeds through and then fades or smears, and many modern inks are damaging to photos.<span> </span>I’ve tried the photo pencils, but they don’t write cleanly enough to be easily readable years from now and I found that they smudge, making it hard to read.<span> </span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span>Date the photo with year, month, and day if known</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span>I use this format, which I also use when scanning and saving photo files on the computer: 2021.02.13 (Year.Month.Day) This allows the photos to easily be sorted chronologically on the computer. </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span>Names, both first and last.<span> </span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span>Location</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span>Occasion </span></p></blockquote><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A photo label might look like this:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">19xx.xx.xx Lillian (Suzi) Fernandez, Princeton, NJ, High School Graduation<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When we sorted large groups of photos with the same subject, we sometimes labeled just a couple of photos and then clipped or banded the photos together. This saved time during the initial sort and downsize but still allows for accurate labeling in the future when there is more time. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Some additional tips and suggestions.</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->In going through 100s upon 100s of photos, it didn’t take long to figure out that we didn’t care about the photos of scenery, flowers, wildlife, etc.<span> </span>What we loved were the photos of people we knew and especially photos of them in their home, their yard/garden/farm/job, etc.<span> </span>We didn’t care about photos of their friends unless it included family members or the people we all knew.<span> </span>And truthfully, will your grandkids want that photo of your friend cluttering up their closet 50 years from now if you aren’t in it?<span> </span>We found we didn’t even care for photos of just their pets. Those photos are for the people who took them generally.<span> </span>We wanted to see the people.<span> </span>So, we discarded close to 2/3rds of the photos.<span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">The truth is that few of our “family” photos are spectacular.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">They are snapshots.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">They meant something to the people who took the photo.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Y</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">ears down the road when the stories that go with the photos are lost to time, the photos will have lost their meaning.</span> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Once in a great while, we kept a special scenery photo, but truthfully, not very often!</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Having said that, my Dad especially, was a pretty good photographer.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">He was able to tell a story through his photos.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">But he wasn’t professional and most of them do not really have “artistic” merit that would inspire his children, grandchildren, or even great grandchildren to print one of these photos to hang on their wall.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">For example; My Dad worked as a weather scientist for many years and became very interested in clouds.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Throughout his life he took hundreds of photos of clouds.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">They had meaning to him and we did keep a few to share this bit about him, but how many photos of clouds did we need to keep to demonstrate his love of clouds?</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">In the same way, my folks were avid birders and traveled all over the country and the world in search of birds.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">They took thousands of photos of birds – adequate enough to identify the bird and say, “I saw this bird and here’s proof”, but again, like the cloud photos, not good enough to say, “Wow!</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">That’s an amazing bird photo that I want to hang on my wall!” Same for flowers.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">I’ve kept a handful from each category to illustrate their memoirs, but I didn’t need a thousand photos of ducks to show their love of birds.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">We chose the best of the best.</span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><!--[if !supportLists]--></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -0.25in;">I also keep a box for undated photos that I cannot figure out.</span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -0.25in;">Most of the time, as I work through other photos, I find similar photos that help me determine a rough date, which is good enough for me.</span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Photo Storage</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><style class="WebKit-mso-list-quirks-style">
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</style></span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51023787211/in/dateposted-public/" title="PhotoBlogPostb-5"><img alt="PhotoBlogPostb-5" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51023787211_523dceee05_z.jpg" width="480" /></a></blockquote></blockquote><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I use photo boxes about the size of a shoebox to keep the photos in. They take up far less space than photo albums and it’s easier to sort and reorganize. The ones I currently like best are from Hobby Lobby (You'll find them near the scrapbooking materials). They have a nice finish inside, a metal label holder and a well-fitting lid. In the past I preferred the Michael’s boxes, but lately the quality has gone down significantly, and I returned the last batch I purchased and went to Hobby Lobby instead. I’ve found that most of the cardboard inserts provided in photo storage boxes are not high enough to be seen above the photos and too many of them are out of cheap cardboard that warps excessively making them worthless. I just recycle them. Instead, as noted above, I quarter a piece of copy paper, writing the year in bold on the upper left. Below it, I write any known events that year including the ages of people who are likely to be in those photos as it helps me date things and is very helpful if I don’t have the calendar list on the computer at hand. </span><o:p></o:p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51023058093/in/dateposted-public/" style="text-align: left;" title="PhotoBlogPostb-4"><img alt="PhotoBlogPostb-4" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51023058093_832835d2b1_z.jpg" width="518" /></a></p></blockquote></blockquote><p style="text-align: justify;">Once I have the photos in the box with dividers in place, I lay any larger photos on top. If there are photos larger than 5"x7", I place them in 12"x13" oversize boxes like those below. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51023057808/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;" title="PhotoBlogPostb-6"><img alt="PhotoBlogPostb-6" height="284" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51023057808_31088be00e_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">These are also handy for keeping larger documents like college diplomas, marriage licenses, etc. There aren't a lot of these large photos in my family, so I have one box dedicated to my Dad, one for my Mom, and one of general oversize photos for my kids and I. Then there is one empty box left in case I need it for something else. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">When we did our big sort, going through 18 moving boxes of photo albums; we worked one box at a time, one album at a time. One of us would focus on the calendar and labeling while the other removed photos. We threw nothing out until both of us had gone through to make sure there was nothing else to keep. Generally, we left the photos we were discarding in the album and only pulled out the ones we wanted to keep. Many of the albums had labels written on the album itself and when that happened, one read the label off while the other wrote it on the back of the photo. We managed to get through all 18 boxes in a week of steady work! I had also gone through 3 or 4 boxes of loose photos prior to this, so we incorporated all of those photos into this organization as well. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What a relief to have all those photos downsized to something more manageable. I'm looking at moving in a couple of months and I hope to fit all those photos into only 4 moving boxes now! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Next comes the task of completing the scanning of slides. Most of the photos my parents took from about 1960 to the late 1980s were in slide form. I'm pretty certain that we lost a box of slide carousels along the way somewhere as there are photos I remember having seen that we have not been able to find. I'm over halfway on scanning slides, but details of slide and photo scanning will wait for the next photo archive related post! </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51023057808/in/dateposted-public/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;" title="PhotoBlogPostb-6"><br /></a><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51023057808/in/dateposted-public/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;" title="PhotoBlogPostb-6"><br /></a><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51023058093/in/dateposted-public/" style="text-align: left;" title="PhotoBlogPostb-4"></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>Lisa Bonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16954398440820019953noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5895776517014101772.post-85327061199074131232021-04-10T15:20:00.002-06:002021-04-10T15:21:53.308-06:00Challenge Completed! 5 Days of Painting!<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Note: this post contains affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. </i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51107015752/in/dateposted-public/" title="2021.04.10AWLChallengeDay5.-2"><img alt="2021.04.10AWLChallengeDay5.-2" height="458" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51107015752_84d34e522b_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Today's painting is of a scene in Rocky Mountain National Park in the Kawuneechee Valley. It's the headwaters of the Colorado River. One of my favorite places in the park. It's changed a lot since I took this picture sometime about 10-15 years ago. First the pine beetles came in and ravaged the trees, and then this past summer, this area was burned in the huge fires here. One day it will regrow, but it won't look like this again in my lifetime. Loved painting this beautiful memory! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Like the other studies this week, I hope to do a much larger painting in the future of this scene. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51107015557/in/dateposted-public/" title="2021.04.10AWLChallengeDay5.-5"><img alt="2021.04.10AWLChallengeDay5.-5" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51107015557_ca67d8d940_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I did a value sketch, but I think I actually captured the values better in the painting for once! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51107593676/in/dateposted-public/" title="2021.04.10AWLChallengeDay5.-1"><img alt="2021.04.10AWLChallengeDay5.-1" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51107593676_cd3cdaf3ba_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This was at 20 minutes. I needed less than 10 minutes more to get the finished result I showed above. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51108367865/in/dateposted-public/" title="2021.04.10AWLChallengeDay5.-3"><img alt="2021.04.10AWLChallengeDay5.-3" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51108367865_6af0d4d4fc_z.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Here is the completed study with the reference photo (Modified as usual to simplify things and make it easier for me to paint and not get caught up in details). </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51107334924/in/dateposted-public/" title="2021.04.10AWLChallengeDay5.-6"><img alt="2021.04.10AWLChallengeDay5.-6" height="511" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51107334924_4462021ca2_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">In all, I was able to complete 6 paintings this week! All are 7"x5". The top three are on old canvas boards I had. I'm glad to say I've used all of them up that I had in this size - finally! The bottom three are on my favorite surface, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00E9EDT7Y/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00E9EDT7Y&linkCode=as2&tag=ivoblurosrea-20&linkId=a09107b58232dee55977bbbdf3221762" target="_blank">Ampersand Gessoboard</a>. I used <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000KNPCQE/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=ivoblurosrea-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B000KNPCQE&linkId=9e9ea4e8e0259d8282b9ec418e9ad338" target="_blank">Winsor & Newton Artisan Water Mixable oils</a> on these. They took a bit of getting used to, but I love not having to use solvents or oils in the painting process. For brushes, I order mine from <a href="https://www.rosemaryandco.com/oil-brushes?cat=142" target="_blank">Rosemary & Co Brushes</a> in England. I used Rosemary Shiraz in short flat #6 and a #2 filbert. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">At the end of this coming week, I'm participating in <a href="https://pleinairlive.com/2021-register" target="_blank">"Plein Air Live"</a>. I did it last year and learned so much! Hoping this year is just as good! </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">#ArtWorkLifeChallenge</span></div>Lisa Bonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16954398440820019953noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5895776517014101772.post-70917231238473740102021-04-09T15:02:00.005-06:002021-04-09T15:04:15.805-06:00Painting Challenge Day 4<div style="text-align: justify;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51105488609/in/dateposted-public/" title="2021.04.09AWLChallengeDay4. - 2"><img alt="2021.04.09AWLChallengeDay4. - 2" height="455" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51105488609_00dc500a90_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I chose another Colorado scene for today's challenge study. This is a spot on a walking path fairly close to home. Last summer, the girls (daughter and daughter in laws) went on a weekly walk together mid-pandemic. It was a wonderful chance to spend time together, masked and outdoors, after not having seen anyone for months. Along one area, the vista opened up to the south with a view through the trees of fields . I loved this spot and often stopped and took a photo. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51105488064/in/dateposted-public/" title="2021.04.09AWLChallengeDay4. - 5"><img alt="2021.04.09AWLChallengeDay4. - 5" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51105488064_f93fc4968f_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I started off with a value sketch. Which I promptly ignored as I started painting. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51105487899/in/dateposted-public/" title="2021.04.09AWLChallengeDay4. - 1"><img alt="2021.04.09AWLChallengeDay4. - 1" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51105487899_913dd7a046_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">At 20 minutes into the painting, everything was looking somewhat flat and "not right". So I revisited the value sketch and painted for another 10 minutes, resulting in the painting at the top. Much better! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51105747296/in/dateposted-public/" title="2021.04.09AWLChallengeDay4. - 4"><img alt="2021.04.09AWLChallengeDay4. - 4" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51105747296_7f0960041a_z.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Here's a look at the finished study along with the photo reference I painted from. I do see a few things that I could improve upon, but I'm pretty happy with this one and think I'll try to paint a larger version <span style="font-family: inherit;">in the future. </span></div><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Lessons learned today:
</span></span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 - trust your value sketch and stick to it!
</span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">2 - premixing paint really speeds things up! (I did some but not enough today and it slowed me down)
</span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">3 - Forget the clock and just have fun! Be surprised when the timer goes off!</span></p><p>#ArtWorkLivingChallenge</p>Lisa Bonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16954398440820019953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5895776517014101772.post-46798974141762839282021-04-08T14:55:00.001-06:002021-04-08T14:55:18.022-06:00Day 3 Painting Challenge<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51103554478/in/dateposted-public/" title="2021.04.08AWLChallengeDay3. - 2"><img alt="2021.04.08AWLChallengeDay3. - 2" height="462" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51103554478_35aae5ec97_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;">No painting yesterday as I had other obligations. Made a point of painting this morning. This scene was from a photo I took on a hike with my oldest son a number of years ago. It's a view of Long Lake with Niwot Ridge in the background in the mountains west of Boulder & Longmont. It's probably my favorite area in Colorado and sits just to the south of my other favorite area, Rocky Mountain National Park. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51103555223/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="2021.04.08AWLChallengeDay3. - 1"><img alt="2021.04.08AWLChallengeDay3. - 1" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51103555223_fff5f430fb_z.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span><span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: inherit;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); white-space: pre-wrap;">I spent 20 - 30 minutes on this - I lost track of the time as "the cat" upended my glass of water in the middle! In the past, I would have called this a "block in" and continued on. What I'm learning with these quick </span></span><span style="color: #050505;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); white-space: pre-wrap;">studies, is</span></span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: inherit;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); white-space: pre-wrap;"> that the colors are more vivid, the essence more heartfelt if I stop at this point. This is a groundbreaking revelation for me, as in the past I would have continued on and the colors would have become duller and the scene less emotional. (see the end of this post for an example) Now if I could just figure out how to bring this expressiveness into a larger studio piece</span></span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">! </span></span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As for other things I want to work on, I'd like to get better with those far distant colors so they recede into the background better. I may make that the focus of my next challenge. That will need to wait until later in the month as next week is turning out to be super busy and will finish with "Plein Air Live", an online intensive 3 day painting workshop. I loved doing it last year and learned so much! </div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51103392714/in/dateposted-public/" title="2021.04.08AWLChallengeDay3. - 3"><img alt="2021.04.08AWLChallengeDay3. - 3" height="546" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51103392714_ac3bfe9dee_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This is the value study I did for today's painting. These little sketches don't take long, but they make such a huge difference in my painting. </div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51103318441/in/dateposted-public/" title="2021.04.08AWLChallengeDay3. - 4"><img alt="2021.04.08AWLChallengeDay3. - 4" height="499" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51103318441_59808d00f6_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">Despite yesterday's obligations, I did make time to do a value sketch. I may do this painting tomorrow. Or I may stick to scenes from Colorado. This scene was an old vacant home in rural southwest Iowa that I fell in love with. I love the way the house is surrounded with bridal veil spirea bushes and the lilacs and trees in the yard. In some ways, it represents a "dream" home for me. I think I was too vested in the emotional reaction I have to this house to paint it yesterday, so I let those obligations be my excuse not to paint. So for now, I think I need to stick to less emotionally charge pieces. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51103451456/in/dateposted-public/" style="text-align: left;" title="2020.07.20RMNPPainting - 4"><img alt="2020.07.20RMNPPainting - 4" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51103451456_77c468a6a7_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Here's an example of what I was talking about earlier. This is a Plein air painting I did last summer in Rocky Mountain National Park. This rough block in has vibrant colors and really captured the essence of what drew me to this scene in the first place. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51103526929/in/dateposted-public/" style="text-align: left;" title="2020.07.20RMNPPainting - 22"><img alt="2020.07.20RMNPPainting - 22" height="317" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51103526929_4d50848117_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I spent another hour working on it and this is the finished result. I fell into a common trap with Plein air painting that we call "chasing the light". This is where a quick value study can help as well. This particular day got hazier as the sun rose higher in the sky and the light was less brilliant. As you can see, the painting got duller and the light that I had been drawn to changed. While I'm still happy with it as a painting, I wish I had been able to keep the immediacy of the block in. If I had it to do over again, I would have left the background untouched from the block in and worked harder at maintaining the foreground color. Lessons learned! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51103688423/in/dateposted-public/" style="text-align: left;" title="2020.08.13HomeUpdates - 6"><img alt="2020.08.13HomeUpdates - 6" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51103688423_efa6ce6087_z.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Despite it not turning out quite like I had hoped, I liked it well enough, that I did hang it on my wall along with two others I did last summer! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p> </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div>Lisa Bonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16954398440820019953noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5895776517014101772.post-43053830428488352702021-04-06T14:04:00.000-06:002021-04-06T14:04:48.362-06:00Painting Challenge, Day 2<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51099314161/in/dateposted-public/" title="2021.04.06AWLChallengeDay2. - 5"><img alt="2021.04.06AWLChallengeDay2. - 5" height="576" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51099314161_efea2293f7_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;">Started the day off with another "20 minute" painting for the 5 day challenge! Feels so good to pick up paint brushes again! I actually ended up doing two this morning as I wanted a second try to improve the color. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The original photo was taken north of Fort Collins, Colorado on the way up into the foothills. There is a line of sandstone bluffs that fronts the mountains and it was beautiful in the setting sun! A peaceful July evening! </div><div><br /></div><div><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51100121075/in/dateposted-public/" title="2021.04.06AWLChallengeDay2. - 6"><img alt="2021.04.06AWLChallengeDay2. - 6" height="530" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51100121075_296af884fe_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I started off with a value sketch. Even if I don't refer to it while painting, just having done it helps me get better values when I paint. It's even better if I do refer to it while painting! </div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51099411002/in/dateposted-public/" title="2021.04.06AWLChallengeDay2. - 1"><img alt="2021.04.06AWLChallengeDay2. - 1" height="453" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51099411002_75306015af_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div>This is the first try at 20 minutes. On the way, but still needed some work </div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51099314641/in/dateposted-public/" title="2021.04.06AWLChallengeDay2. - 3"><img alt="2021.04.06AWLChallengeDay2. - 3" height="450" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51099314641_c398480fd6_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div>I gave it another 5 minutes and this was the result! A good stopping point. These aren't finished paintings, but rather little studies. Looking for values, shapes, and colors. Seeing if I can capture the feeling of the original scene in paint. I was really happy with the foreground and line of sandstone bluffs in the distance. </div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51099396369/in/dateposted-public/" title="2021.04.06AWLChallengeDay2. - 2"><img alt="2021.04.06AWLChallengeDay2. - 2" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51099396369_9cded40972_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div>When I took this photo with the reference photo, I could see how poorly I captured the color in the clouds. Since it was one of the things that drew me to the scene, I decided to have another go at it. </div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51099410532/in/dateposted-public/" title="2021.04.06AWLChallengeDay2. - 4"><img alt="2021.04.06AWLChallengeDay2. - 4" height="457" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51099410532_54ed8a10d8_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div>Attempt #2. This was the result after 20 minutes. I did touch up just a couple of things, so total time was probably 22 minutes. Much happier with the color in the sky, but I didn't take as much time laying out the foreground and horizon line, so I'm not nearly as happy with that part of the painting. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'd be interested to know which version you like better! </div><div><br /></div><div>It's fun doing these little studies and they certainly point out why the Masters of painting did so many studies before tackling a large painting. They point out areas that need improvement and help one to "see" better. I definitely had better color in the first one, even though I didn't quite capture the sunset glow I was looking for. The second one has better cloud shadows and a touch more of that sunset glow, but the rest of the colors came out more muted. Both have their pluses and minuses! </div><div><br /></div><div>I'd like to do a larger painting of this one as well. Someday! Both studies are 7"x 5", Winsor Newton Artisan Oils on Canvas board. </div><div><br /></div><div>FYI, all these little studies are all for sale. $75.00 plus shipping and handling. Payment via PayPal. Let me know if you are interested! <br /><p><br /></p><p> </p></div>Lisa Bonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16954398440820019953noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5895776517014101772.post-76909468503465845092021-04-05T12:57:00.000-06:002021-04-05T12:57:12.743-06:00Easter & Getting Back to Painting<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51097833170/in/dateposted-public/" title="2021.04.02Primroses"><img alt="2021.04.02Primroses" height="457" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51097833170_c7932a0a59_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;">I purchased this little pot of primroses at the beginning of February and it has bloomed non-stop since! Such a joy to have blooms in the middle of winter that last into spring! </div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51097123932/in/dateposted-public/" title="2021.04.04Mushu"><img alt="2021.04.04Mushu" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51097123932_c32173cd92_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Mushu and I had a lovely Easter. My youngest son and his girlfriend and her son came for Easter dinner. We also had a lovely surprise visit from my daughter, SIL, and grandson! </div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51097123702/in/dateposted-public/" title="2021.04.04MushuDaffodils"><img alt="2021.04.04MushuDaffodils" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51097123702_3a732ca315_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Mushu has been a bit calmer the past few days! Thankfully! He's dearly loved but can be a real handful sometimes. He liked this perch to watch me preparing Easter dinner from. </div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51097119984/in/dateposted-public/" title="2021.04.05ARLChallenge01"><img alt="2021.04.05ARLChallenge01" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51097119984_366fcdd8be_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I haven't done any oil painting in at least 6 months. Maybe longer. I joined a painting challenge to help be get back into it. With all the upcoming changes, (packing, selling my home, finding a new home, and moving) I needed something to keep me from being overwhelmed. And since painting is probably my favorite pastime - yes, even above stitching! - it made sense to make time for it. </div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51097134132/in/dateposted-public/" title="2021.04.05ARLChallenge02"><img alt="2021.04.05ARLChallenge02" height="464" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51097134132_8e431a601a_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div>In this challenge, we do a small painting every day for 5 days. We start with a 30 minute time limit and the goal is to be down to 20 minutes by the end of the week. These aren't finished paintings, but really the rough block in. In a sketch like this, values, color, and shapes are established. This sketch can be used later while working on a much larger painting of the same subject matter. The hope is that these small sketches help one work out the problems. This is my 5"x7" painting at 20 minutes. </div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51097134802/in/dateposted-public/" title="2021.04.05ARLChallenge03"><img alt="2021.04.05ARLChallenge03" height="453" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51097134802_4ebbf0a332_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div>Here we are at 30 minutes. </div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51097040096/in/dateposted-public/" title="2021.04.05ARLChallenge04"><img alt="2021.04.05ARLChallenge04" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51097040096_dfe87ee99a_z.jpg" width="459" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><p style="text-align: justify;">This is the painting at 30 minutes with the reference photo. The photo is one that I took while at one of our local areas where I like to go and walk, paint, and photograph now and then - Walden Ponds in Boulder County, Colorado. On this evening, I was there at dusk and the light was gorgeous. Just a beautiful, still, peaceful evening. I hoped to capture that essence in this little sketch. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">FYI, I often take a reference photo and manipulate it to simplify it before using it as a painting reference. I find it helps to keep me from getting bogged down in too much detail.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Since I haven't really painted in months, I'm pretty happy with how this little sketch turned out, but I also see areas for improvement. First, it would have been better on a longer canvas instead of squashed into a smaller one. Second; I need to not be afraid of color. Look at those vivid turquoise blues in the distant mountains and their reflections in the water. Also the yellow in the sky on the left side. Third: Normally, I do a value sketch first and it can be really helpful in establishing the large shapes and their value (light and dark). I didn't do that on this one and it shows. I lost track of it and though I tried to get it back, it's hard to bring back the darks once it has been painted too light.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">I may try this one again tomorrow and aim for better color and value. If I get one I like, then I think I'm going to paint this one large. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Every place has it's own beauty, and I know that I'll find that wherever my new home ends up being. But it's bittersweet knowing that I'll be leaving this area that has been my home region for the better part of my life. I want to preserve some of these scenes and take them with me. So many memories. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> </p></div>Lisa Bonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16954398440820019953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5895776517014101772.post-40925242121469166062021-04-01T19:39:00.006-06:002021-04-01T19:39:59.554-06:00April Journal<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51089299023/in/dateposted-public/" title="2021.04.01BlogPost-4"><img alt="2021.04.01BlogPost-4" height="328" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51089299023_c708141026_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;">Violets are one of my top 3 favorite flowers! When I lived in Iowa, I loved the abundance of them coming up in the grass and made so many bouquets of them. I had to try my hand at some expressive watercolors and this is the result! So happy with this theme for April! </div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51088826409/in/dateposted-public/" title="2021.04.01BlogPost-3"><img alt="2021.04.01BlogPost-3" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51088826409_64aa80ff61_z.jpg" width="496" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The task list for the month is looking a bit different. You'll notice that instead of working on some landscaping projects I had intended to start working towards in March, the focus has shifted. Yes, it looks like I'm preparing to move once again. I thought I was going to settle here, but the costs of lot rent have risen far faster than anticipated and my funds have depleted a bit faster than I had hoped. The result is, that I am looking for a small home filled with light and character and a view towards nature and a place to garden, probably somewhere in the midwest. Your prayers as I embark upon this change would be deeply appreciated. </div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51088755471/in/dateposted-public/" title="2021.04.01BlogPost-5"><img alt="2021.04.01BlogPost-5" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51088755471_6fffcbf5cc_z.jpg" width="486" /></a></div><div>The tracker is much the same and I'm still tracking Covid numbers. </div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51089566470/in/dateposted-public/" title="2021.04.01BlogPost-6"><img alt="2021.04.01BlogPost-6" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51089566470_74155697a2_z.jpg" width="490" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I've added a new tracker page for expenses. I hope to keep track of everything I spend this month. Looking to make sure I'm not over spending in any particular area or to see where I need to make changes. </div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51089572550/in/dateposted-public/" title="2021.04.01BlogPost-8"><img alt="2021.04.01BlogPost-8" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51089572550_1d2c42d32d_z.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I actually did a bit of sewing this week. Some new masks for the grandkids. They'll be flying to see the other grandparents later this month and since the youngest is now 2, he needs to wear a mask. My granddaughter also wanted a some new masks for wearing to school. I made 9 altogether, which brings my total masks made to over 100. </div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51089572745/in/dateposted-public/" title="2021.04.01BlogPost-1"><img alt="2021.04.01BlogPost-1" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51089572745_0cdf86590f_z.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Kitty Mushu has been active this week and spent more of the week in trouble than not. He's taken to knocking plants off the windowsills and has chipped the kitchen sink, knocked lamps over, knocked water glasses over, gotten into the storage stuff and knocked down an enormous stack - it was quite the cascade and didn't make Mom-Cat very happy as you can imagine. He always has to be daring! </div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51088831979/in/dateposted-public/" title="2021.04.01BlogPost-7"><img alt="2021.04.01BlogPost-7" height="551" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51088831979_38814322ec_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But then he's all sweetness and innocence! Both lovable to the extreme and yet exasperating to the max! </div><div><br /></div>Lisa Bonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16954398440820019953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5895776517014101772.post-37455547787503552492021-03-10T16:13:00.001-07:002021-03-10T16:13:35.868-07:00March Journal Set Up<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51023933841/in/dateposted-public/" title="03JournalBlogPostc-1"><img alt="03JournalBlogPostc-1" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51023933841_808ff77523_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;">Here we are, a week and a half into March, and I'm just now sharing my March journal set up. Oops! I had so much fun playing with a shamrock/clover theme for the watercolor header for this month! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51023980781/in/dateposted-public/" title="03JournalBlogPostc-2"><img alt="03JournalBlogPostc-2" height="457" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51023980781_b0a5b508ed_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><div style="text-align: justify;">I was inspired in part by this photo I took last summer in Rocky Mountain National Park. We were picnicking at a lovely spot along side a stream and the grass was filled with clover blossoms. So pretty! I took quite a few photos and currently am using one of them as the background on my computer. A pot of shamrocks blooming on my kitchen window sill was the other inspiration. So happy with how it turned out! </div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51023920732/in/dateposted-public/" title="03JournalBlogPostb-1"><img alt="03JournalBlogPostb-1" height="442" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51023920732_841d7f84ec_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Having this lovely page to start the month has been so enjoyable. It lifts my spirits every time I see it. The verse I chose for this month departs from the theme of Trust that I had chosen for the year. For some reason, I felt that I needed to be reminded that no matter what, the Lord and maker of all is to be praised. As we've already encountered some difficult family issues this month, it's been a good reminder. </div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51023091338/in/dateposted-public/" title="03JournalBlogPostb-2"><img alt="03JournalBlogPostb-2" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51023091338_da88bfa504_z.jpg" width="474" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I changed the tracker slightly this month. Not huge changes, but focused on a couple of things I want to work on, such as drinking more water on a daily basis. I'm struggling with walking enough and trying hard to decrease my dependence on a daily dose of chocolate! I'm not so happy with the pink lines in this, so will likely go back to a green for future set-ups. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I'm pleased to say that I'm doing really well with decreasing my social media time. Most days, I'm well under 1 hour. Taking Facebook off my phone made an enormous difference and I'm pleased to say that I no longer pick my phone up so often just to see what is on Facebook. Now I have to go to the computer to check, and I only do that a few times a week. I do still have instagram on my phone, but I tend to scroll through it only when Im waiting for something somewhere other than home, or once in a while in the evenings. I also post about Mushu kitty's activities through Instagram to Facebook. </div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51023090853/in/dateposted-public/" title="03JournalBlogPostb-3"><img alt="03JournalBlogPostb-3" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51023090853_0537f954ef_z.jpg" width="473" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">My list of Focus tasks seems to be getting longer and more detailed. Some things have changed since I wrote up this list, so April's list will reflect some of that. There are changes coming... possibly a move for me, though it's something I'm still working through. I'm happy to say that I was able to pay off one debt already this month and significantly reduce another. I was also able to make progress on fixing my RV in preparation to sell. I'm hoping that with warmer weather, the repairs can move along a little faster, but we have to get through this mid-March snowstorm that is headed our way first! </div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/51023919107/in/dateposted-public/" title="03JournalBlogPostb-4"><img alt="03JournalBlogPostb-4" height="334" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51023919107_3600a80609_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I love having these little tabs in my journal. They make it easy to get to the tracker page every day. This set up has been working so well for me and I love that it is also pushing me to playing with my watercolors on a regular basis! Now that we are nearly to the middle of March, it's time to start thinking about the April set up! </div><div><br /></div>Lisa Bonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16954398440820019953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5895776517014101772.post-21341481605892773912021-02-21T00:00:00.063-07:002021-02-21T00:00:14.102-07:00Of Cats and Quilts<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/50963347533/in/dateposted-public/" title="CQ Doll Quilt-2"><img alt="CQ Doll Quilt-2" height="360" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50963347533_7aed98e101_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;">I finished this small doll quilt back in 2020 but never shared it. Since the video for it is now up, I wanted to write a blog post to go with it. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Photographing anything is more challenging with Mushu around! He always has to ham it up for the camera! I think this is my favorite photo of him as it aptly shows his personality! </div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/50964160197/in/dateposted-public/" title="CQ Doll Quilt-3"><img alt="CQ Doll Quilt-3" height="360" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50964160197_19cc23135c_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So here's what the quilt looks like. The blocks are 6" when finished, making the quilt 20-21" square. Perfect for a doll! Originally, I had wanted to make a lap quilt with these blocks, but I ran out of the bird fabric that was used as the focal fabric. And since it was from fabric my mom had, it was long out of date with little chance of finding more. </div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/50964160642/in/dateposted-public/" title="CQ Doll Quilt-1"><img alt="CQ Doll Quilt-1" height="360" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50964160642_838e04486f_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">For the back, I had hoped to use the yellow and pink floral fabric and do a self binding with it, but I didn't have enough. Instead I cut the required binding and used what I had left to add a strip down the center. The green and cream fabric is the same as used on the alternating blocks on the front. </div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/50963346718/in/dateposted-public/" title="CQ Doll Quilt-8"><img alt="CQ Doll Quilt-8" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50963346718_e32268b53f_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Knowing that I wanted this to be a functional quilt suitable for my grandchildren to cuddle with, I opted to use simple seam embroidery with no additional embellishments. All the blocks use the same basic assortment of stitches, but with a few variations. </div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/50964158962/in/dateposted-public/" title="CQ Doll Quilt-9"><img alt="CQ Doll Quilt-9" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50964158962_2ceb57f721_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div>It's amazing what just a handful of stitches can do! </div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/50964159692/in/dateposted-public/" title="CQ Doll Quilt-5"><img alt="CQ Doll Quilt-5" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50964159692_36c8dcdbc7_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It's always a challenge when stitching on brightly patterned prints to find the right contrast of color to help the stitches stand out. </div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/50964054991/in/dateposted-public/" title="CQ Doll Quilt-7"><img alt="CQ Doll Quilt-7" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50964054991_98ff29484e_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div>This is the block that I made for the "<a href="https://youtu.be/5ye-ymTx228" target="_blank">Basic Crazy Quilt Piecing by Hand</a>" and "<a href="https://youtu.be/UN60h7HEpLE" target="_blank">Basic Seam Stitching</a>" videos for my YouTube channel. These continue to be the most popular videos on my channel! </div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/50963346413/in/dateposted-public/" title="CQ Doll Quilt-6"><img alt="CQ Doll Quilt-6" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50963346413_3069c970a0_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div>I think Chickadees are my favorite birds, so this little one got an extra flourish with the detached chain seam that looks a little like flowers! </div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/50963346203/in/dateposted-public/" title="CQ Doll Quilt-4"><img alt="CQ Doll Quilt-4" height="360" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50963346203_b24f56de79_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div>Mushu hamming it up for the camera. "You didn't want a photo of that doll!" </div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/50964159052/in/dateposted-public/" title="CQ Doll Quilt-10"><img alt="CQ Doll Quilt-10" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50964159052_65470d9a04_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div><div>"Oh, come on, aren't I sweet? Wouldn't you rather pay attention to me?" I must admit that though he is incredibly exasperating when he's being bad; he has the best personality and is a lovable kitty! Thankfully, as he gets older, the mishaps get fewer (though seemingly bigger!) and further apart. </div><div><br /></div><div>You can find the YouTube video here:</div><a href="https://youtu.be/6plOOwwe3vs" target="_blank">CQ Doll Quilt</a>Lisa Bonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16954398440820019953noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5895776517014101772.post-8462234172045927362021-02-18T16:03:00.002-07:002021-02-18T16:04:02.695-07:002021 Update!<iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/Z1HMKRQMVIY" width="480"></iframe><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Not only am I blogging more regularly, I'm trying to get back to posting more often on my YouTube Channel! This latest video gives a quick update on what kept me from working on all those 2020 projects.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/50787667261/in/dateposted-public/" title="2020.06.15RMNP waterfall 01"><img alt="2020.06.15RMNP waterfall 01" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50787667261_bd82ae55ff_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Of course there were other things that kept me from stitching as well. Such as a pandemic. And the fact that I spent a lot of time oil painting! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I also spent every Monday from early June to early October in the mountains. What a blessing it was to have that weekly outing to Rocky Mountain National Park! It was rejuvenating and it also allowed me to spend some extra time with my daughter and youngest grandson as they went with me every other week! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/50786834128/in/dateposted-public/" title="2020.06.15BierstadtLakeHike wm 18"><img alt="2020.06.15BierstadtLakeHike wm 18" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50786834128_1d630cab23_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><div style="text-align: justify;">Me in my happy place! I had hiked from Bear Lake up to Bierstadt Lake and then back down. 3 ½ miles - not a terribly long hike, but with my difficult hip and knee, it was a real accomplishment! So happy to be spending time in nature and in the mountains, even on a cloudy day!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/50957655262/in/dateposted-public/" title="2020.07.20RMNPPainting - 8"><img alt="2020.07.20RMNPPainting - 8" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50957655262_e15c42d3cf_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;">Painting in the Kawuneche Valley. Sadly, the fires in October 2020 burned almost up to where I'm standing. The view will be very different. I'm so glad I took the time to stop and paint here and record it for posterity! </div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/50957655617/in/dateposted-public/" title="2020.07.06RMNP - 86"><img alt="2020.07.06RMNP - 86" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50957655617_f5cc731f96_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div>I painted just north of that area along the Colorado River. Thankfully, this area did not burn. </div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/50784440813/in/album-72157717651372196/" title="2020.04.03OilPainting - 9"><img alt="2020.04.03OilPainting - 9" height="481" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50784440813_780c1d0b99_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It was a good year for my painting skills! I felt like I grew leaps and bounds! Loved being able to take the time to expand my skills. In all, I think I did around 20 paintings from March through early autumn. Then I got side tracked by The Great Photo Project. </div>Lisa Bonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16954398440820019953noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5895776517014101772.post-10482433145269486372021-02-12T21:07:00.002-07:002021-02-12T21:07:47.370-07:00The Great Photo Project<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/50937506486/in/dateposted-public/" title="GreatPhotoProject-1"><img alt="GreatPhotoProject-1" height="360" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50937506486_422cf7e1b0_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;">Nope. I haven't done ANY stitching. Not for a long time. Nearly all my time and attention have been devoted to The Great Photo Project. This actually started shortly after my Mom passed away in 2012. I even blogged about it here: <a href="https://www.ivoryblushroses.com/2013/10/the-great-scanning-project.html">The Great Scanning Project</a>. It picked back up again this past summer when I decided to start organizing a box of unlabeled and undated photos. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/50936816878/in/dateposted-public/" style="text-align: left;" title="GreatPhotoProject-21"><img alt="GreatPhotoProject-21" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50936816878_9afbdc0c80_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I did some of this kind of sorting back when I started working on my Dad's memoir. It's really hard figuring out dates on photos when they are unlabeled. I at least attempted to sort my Dad's childhood photos into chronologic order. I covered the dining room table with sheets of paper with the years written on them. It helped. I used this same process when trying to figure out the order of more recent photos. It works fairly well, especially if you can find a dated one here or there. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I've been working on my Mom and Dad's memoirs for some time. My Dad's is nearly finished, except for photos. Most of those photos were in albums or on slides in the family archive stored in my temperature controlled storage locker. I knew it was going to be a huge job. So in October, my sister came to help for a week. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/50937505226/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="GreatPhotoProject-22"><img alt="GreatPhotoProject-22" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50937505226_d49fa6d3ff_z.jpg" width="419" /></a></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Here is the 10'x10' storage locker before we got started. It was at least ⅓ - ½ full of photo albums and genealogy research. All the boxes you see in this photo except the plastic tub are filled with the family archives. </div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/50937507181/in/dateposted-public/" title="GreatPhotoProject-5"><img alt="GreatPhotoProject-5" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50937507181_03854405cc_z.jpg" width="633" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I brought home as many of the boxes of photo albums as I could before my sister arrived. There were 2 very full car loads. This was all just photo albums. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/50937508626/in/dateposted-public/" title="GreatPhotoProject-6"><img alt="GreatPhotoProject-6" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50937508626_b52541ee01_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Before my sister came, I sorted and labeled several boxes of loose photos and made a plan. I had also scanned the better part of a box of really old family albums dating to the 1920s-50s. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Once my sister arrived, we moved into high gear! Here I am a day or two into the downsizing effort. As you can see, there are still lots and lots of boxes, plus a few that were out of sight in the living room. In all, we had 18 moving boxes and large plastic tubs filled with photo albums that covered 120 years. </div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/50937507581/in/dateposted-public/" title="GreatPhotoProject-8"><img alt="GreatPhotoProject-8" height="481" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50937507581_4d4c205ac9_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">My sister and I! Wow, this really was a project! Truly overwhelming at times! We took photos out of albums. We labeled photos. We organized by year. We threw out photos (lots and lots) of landscapes, scenery, flowers, clouds, people we didn't know. We made envelopes full of photos for family and friends that we did know and eventually, I'll get those sent off. We discarded 2 ½ large wheelie trash bins with now empty albums and pages, and all those unwanted photos. I started a family calendar to help us date photos and keep track of events. We wore out 2 pens and purchased more. We kept filling up photo boxes and bought more. </div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/50937618512/in/dateposted-public/" title="GreatPhotoProject-9"><img alt="GreatPhotoProject-9" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50937618512_ba9e6ccf6d_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div>Whew! Even the cat was tired! </div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/50937618057/in/dateposted-public/" title="GreatPhotoProject-10"><img alt="GreatPhotoProject-10" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50937618057_c55fc1ba00_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div>We were a little over halfway through when this photo was taken. </div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/50937507091/in/dateposted-public/" title="GreatPhotoProject-14"><img alt="GreatPhotoProject-14" height="360" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50937507091_ea3d2f3eb2_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In the end, we narrowed all those moving boxes of photo albums down to this. I continued to find more photos after my sister left, so now there are 20 boxes of photos, 6 boxes of negatives, and two larger boxes of oversized photos. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/50937615092/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="GreatPhotoProject-24"><img alt="GreatPhotoProject-24" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50937615092_d9829ac635_z.jpg" width="357" /></a></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The genealogy archive now fits a little more loosely on the storage locker shelves and there is room in the middle for other things. There are at least as many boxes of genealogy research as there were photos, plus I have a few more boxes at the house. Once my parents memoirs are completed, I hope to scan what the immediate family is interested in and make a family history book. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/50937506741/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="GreatPhotoProject-16"><img alt="GreatPhotoProject-16" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50937506741_04cc5f522c_z.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div><div style="text-align: justify;">After my sister left, I put the negatives in order and started scanning a number of them that had survived my house fire in 1999. A lot of the photos had not survived, so it was great fun to see some of those photos we hadn't seen in over 20 years again! </div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/50936816163/in/dateposted-public/" title="GreatPhotoProject-17"><img alt="GreatPhotoProject-17" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50936816163_a0c83baae3_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div>Of course, there were mishaps along the way - Thanks Mushu Kitty. Sigh. </div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/50937616337/in/dateposted-public/" title="GreatPhotoProject-18"><img alt="GreatPhotoProject-18" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50937616337_fb4edd927b_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Once the negatives were scanned, I got to scanning slides. I had done approximately half of the slides in 2013, but there are still 14 boxes to go. </div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/50936817373/in/dateposted-public/" title="GreatPhotoProject-19"><img alt="GreatPhotoProject-19" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50936817373_e0b55b64e5_z.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Now, most of the photo archive is neatly organized on this shelving unit in my new study. The shelves just to the left contain the negatives, more undated/unlabled photos, more slides to be scanned and some scrapbooks. Always more work! </div><div><br /></div><div><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/50936817193/in/dateposted-public/" title="GreatPhotoProject-20"><img alt="GreatPhotoProject-20" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50936817193_4aa544b2a3_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And after taking the month of January off to change rooms around, I'm finally back to scanning slides. I'm up to 1988. Only 11 more boxes of slide carousels and 3 enormous notebooks of slides to go. Then I can start looking at photos and deciding which of those need scanned and then maybe, at long last, I can finish my folks memoirs! Then I need to tackle the genealogy archive and a family history book. And once that happens, I might actually have time to stitch once again! One can hope! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I'm considering writing another post in the near future on some of the tips and tricks I've figured out when dealing with a large photo archive like this. Let me know in the comment section below if you would find this helpful and let me know if you have any specific questions! </div>Lisa Bonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16954398440820019953noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5895776517014101772.post-67851474462011142732021-02-03T18:43:00.002-07:002021-02-03T18:43:46.153-07:00February Journal Set-up<p><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/50895664298/in/dateposted-public/" title="2021.01.29Journal-3"><img alt="2021.01.29Journal-3" height="436" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50895664298_2ba7916b0f_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p style="text-align: justify;">A new month calls for a new layout in my Journal! Using the January set-up as my guide made this one easy and quick! I had more practice watercolors to cut up for the header, so I think I'll continue this theme throughout the year. This month, the watercolors are in shades of blue and green - one of my favorite color combinations! Using dot-grid paper, I created a little calendar for the month and listed out the important days. I choose a new focus verse for the month, one that came up in my devotions during January that spoke to me. </p><p><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/50896375421/in/dateposted-public/" title="2021.01.29Journal-2"><img alt="2021.01.29Journal-2" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50896375421_f441bd0552_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Overall, the layout is exactly the same as for January. I have the intro page with focus tasks listed and a page of items I want to track. With just these two pages to set up, it was quick! </p><p><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/50895663748/in/dateposted-public/" title="2021.01.29Journal-5"><img alt="2021.01.29Journal-5" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50895663748_1c465dbb92_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Many of the focus tasks are the same or are extensions from the January tasks. Debt payments are ongoing as is downsizing. Work on the magazine, doing blog posts and hopefully getting back to YouTube videos are also ongoing. From my yearly task list, I added a few things, such as dealing with more of the stuff in the storage locker, and house/yard stuff that needs done. I can't do much outside at this time of year, but I can get approvals now so that I'm not delayed once the weather improves. </p><p><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/50896493132/in/dateposted-public/" title="2021.01.29Journal-6"><img alt="2021.01.29Journal-6" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50896493132_3a7447114f_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p>The tracker worked really well in January and so I decided to continue with it, unchanged. There are a few items, such as not snacking on carbs and getting more exercise in that I'd like to improve upon. I found that tracking how much I was spending on food and other items helped to curb my spending, so I'll continue to track that. </p><p><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/50895664813/in/dateposted-public/" title="2021.01.29Journal-1"><img alt="2021.01.29Journal-1" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50895664813_ab885fd202_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p>So here's a look at how the January pages looked like at the end of the month. As usual, I've covered or blurred things that I'd rather not be public knowledge. </p><p><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivoryblushroses/50896374801/in/dateposted-public/" title="2021.01.29Journal-4"><img alt="2021.01.29Journal-4" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50896374801_52a029f67c_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p>I continued to journal every day for the entire month! Some entries are fairly short, while others take up a page or two. I started adding a gratitude or two at the beginning of every entry. Thinking about what you are grateful for is a lovely way to end each day. </p><p><br /></p><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>Lisa Bonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16954398440820019953noreply@blogger.com1