The storybeader's journal

Almost Wordless Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (storybeader) — Wed, 30 May 2012 06:08:00 +0000

This photo was taken on the last bridge (Accademia) that goes across the Grand Canal before you reach Saint Mark Basin. Looking east. The dome that you can see in the distance is the Basilica Di Santa Maria della Salute. There's a larger tour boat just going under the bridge. Beautiful, yes?

posted from Bloggeroid

Traveling with an android

noreply@blogger.com (storybeader) — Sun, 27 May 2012 16:27:00 +0000

I started this trip using the app Blogger but as you noticed, photos were sideways if I didn't use my nephew's laptop. I switched to another app called Bloggeroid halfway through the trip, which at least made the photo look ok! Since I haven't learned my html, this was a blessing.

We stayed in the Hill Country in Tuscany. One day, I went up to the top of the hill with my phone

posted from Bloggeroid

Bolzano in the Italian Alps

noreply@blogger.com (storybeader) — Sun, 27 May 2012 13:59:00 +0000

There isn't much open since it's Sunday and a three day holiday but we did go to the Museum Archeologich de Sudtriol to see the special (temporary) exhibition on the Iceman.

He was found in the Alps close to here (Bolzano or Bozen, depending on your language). The Iceman is 5000 years old and called an Otzi!

Everyone speaks either Italian or German here. We are very close to Austria. Tomorrow we are heading the long way around to Venice so we can see the mountains a little more.

posted from Bloggeroid

Art journaling - travel journal

noreply@blogger.com (storybeader) — Wed, 23 May 2012 13:00:00 +0000

I decided at the last moment to take to Italy with me this small 3" x 3" journal I received from my mom. We are trying to travel light, and my daily art journal is very bulky. This way, I can whip this little watercolor book out, and write or paint anywhere!

This is where we stayed in Rome, Hotel Teatro Pace. We were on the second floor, and had to walk up this winding staircase. Great fun!

Wordlessly Wednesday - Tuscan rainbow

noreply@blogger.com (storybeader) — Wed, 23 May 2012 06:48:00 +0000

Cortona and the Annunciation

noreply@blogger.com (storybeader) — Tue, 22 May 2012 07:20:00 +0000

Yesterday we drove to Cortona. Jill and Stefana wanted to see Fra Angelico's Annunciation at the Diocesan Museum. "In this scene, Mary says "Yes," consenting to bear God's son."

I wasn't able to take any photos inside, but here's my admission ticket.

Everything was so beautiful and the colors were just fantastic. Amazing that they were so bright. They were talking about the artwork being cleaned. There were also vestments from the 16th centuries, with gold threads.

It was lots of fun walking around the little village. We ate at a great restaurant called Locanda al Pozzo Antico. I have to remember to write something on their website.

On our way home, we stopped and bought groceries. Had a small dinner. Off to Siena tomorrow - it's midway between here and Florence.

Saturday Link List - traveling abroad

noreply@blogger.com (storybeader) — Sat, 19 May 2012 21:18:00 +0000

I'm in Italy now, and only using my Samsung Galaxy Note for getting on the internet. It's actually to hard to blog with. If I do post anything in the next few Saturdays, the format might look a little different, but hopefully everything will upload as planned.

So let me give you some travel tips. Before you go anywhere abroad, get a travel book. One of my blogging friends in Italy recommended Rick Steves. You've might have heard him speak on American public radio or seen him on tv travel shows. I went to Amazon and got his travel book on Italy - 2012! It gave me lots of hints - like what to bring and best places to go. I also have an app for my phone, that's called Rick Steves' Audio Europe, which is free. He talks about it in his books, if you're interested. Pretty neat!

One recommendation I have: travel light. You can always wash clothes in the sink. If you carry your luggage with you, you won't have to worry about anything getting lost... hopefully. Here's a site I found that can be helpful to any person flying in the US.

We'll be staying in the hill country in central Italy, and using a villa (i.e. a large house) as our homebase. It's too bad that the four of us are traveling by car - the mass transportation in Europe is great and easy to use. I believe at the end of our trip, since we plan to go to Venice, we'll take a train from there back down to Rome. I love the trains, so this will be a treat for me!

Wait for photos in the coming days!

BBArtisans Giveaway featuring N. Fallon Design Studio

noreply@blogger.com (storybeader) — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:00:00 +0000

What a great idea for a giveaway at the BBArtisans team blog: a gift certificate from an Etsy shop. Nancy is the host and she has some absolutely beautiful items that I would love to have. And with $50 - you can really do some serious shopping!

Coin Purses from N. Fallon Design Studio

I've always enjoyed the coin purses Nancy makes; one of those would definitely fit me and my purse. And what a variety of designs and colors! I've been thinking, I could get one for myself and one for my mom, and still have money left over...

Knit Heart Pins

A knit heart brooch is be a perfect little gift. I bought one for my mom as a Mother's Day gift. Don't worry, there's more available. And it comes with free shipping. A very popular item from a savvy Etsy seller!

Rainbow Wristlet and Night Sky Wristlet

Another favorite item of mine are Nancy's wristlets. Whether you want something carefree or a little more refined, you'll find it here. These are perfect for going out to eat, or for traveling in a busy airport. I've been taking a lot of walks lately, and a wristlet is the perfect size for carrying my wallet, keys and phone.

A favorite knit tote

If you feel like using your gift certificate as a "down payment" on a more expensive item, that's doable too. Just imagine what a chunk of cash $50 would take out of this elegant wool tote bag! It has a zippered closure, something I always look for in a bag. Isn't this just fantastic?

So, have a convinced you that you should try your luck at the BBArtisans Giveaway? What harm can it do? All you have to do is visit Nancy's shop and comment on the BBArtisans team blog. There are multiple chances to comment too. Go over to team blog to read the easy instructions. The contest is open worldwide and the drawing takes place May 20, 2012 at 11am central.

BBArtisans team treasuries

noreply@blogger.com (storybeader) — Sun, 13 May 2012 13:47:00 +0000

One of my new teammates, Heather from iHartFelt, included me in a treasury she curated last week. Thanks, Heather! Me, the multi-tasker that I (like to think I) am, now had a good reason to go by and visit her shop. And what a surprise that was! She had the most adorable little plushes, with the cutest expressions. Whether you're looking for birds or animals, food or superheros, there's something here you'll enjoy.

I couldn't leave iHartFelt without telling you about the mobiles I saw. At this time, there are two in Heather's shop, specifically for baby cribs. I don't know any babies off-hand, but I think these would be adorable handing from one of my ceilings! She also has some owls that hang from small loops of thread. It looks like you can choose your own colors, with any of these plushes, to match your decorations. What a great idea!

The other curator this week was Kathy from tapestry316. This first treasury was called RED!, Guess what? The same pair of black and white (and red) paper earrings were in both treasuries - maybe these two treasuries will connect with different people in the Etsy community! Kathy paints beautiful watercolors, drawn from the animals who live with her in the Arizona countryside. Once in a while, she'll paint a cute scene out of her head, like this Mouse House. Pretty nice pad eh?

Here second treasury was a colorful one. Gosh, two in one week - she's been busy! I definitely have Spring Fever!

Saturday Link List - Nature in Art

noreply@blogger.com (storybeader) — Sat, 12 May 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Many of the nature in art sites I've found are filled with activities for parents to do with their kids, or teachers with their students. But I don't see anything wrong with adults trying out some of these projects, or looking at the resources.

Martha Stewart's Back to Kids' Nature Craft is a great place to visit and find many artistic projects with nature as a theme, like this fabric bracelet (left). Whether you enjoy hunting for seashells or going on nature walks, you'll find something fun to do on the weekend or holiday with Martha!

Here's an easy way to make an attractive window box herb garden for your kitchen. There's not a lot of expensive supplies, and you may have some of the items needed around the house already. I think adding your own personality to this little wooden box would be fun. A great idea for the cook in the family.

If you're a serious artist and are interested in promoting nature art and conservation, you might want to stop by the Artists for Conservation (AFC) homepage. They're an international non-profit group of nature artists. There's a steep annual membership, but the benefits outweigh the costs if you're an active member. Their Annual Exhibition this year is at Grouse Mountain, Vancouver from October 12 through the 21st. Check it out.

Here's an interesting book I found while "window-shopping" at Blick's online store called Earth, Sea, Sun, and Sky by Barbara Stieff. It's especially geared towards the young reader. Anyone can take these ideas and transform them into their own. If you have children and are looking for creative projects, this book looks to be a good guide.

It is amazing how many Etsy artisans are inspired by nature. Members are recyclers, nature lovers and naturalists. Here are a listing of 129 different teams. The smallest ones have only one member; the largest, over 900. If you're an Etsy member and you enjoy nature, join a nature team and meet some like-minded people. I picked out nine that looked really neat!

Short-term goals for May

noreply@blogger.com (storybeader) — Tue, 08 May 2012 11:30:00 +0000

Since I'll be going away in about a week, I’ve be thinking of altering my goals for the month of May. There are some things to keep in mind, while traveling with the family. I want to be a good companion for my mom and be patient with everyone else. But that’s not too difficult to do, since I love them all so dearly. Here's my plan:

1) Keep in contact with home.

DH and I will have to spend more time writing emails than talking on the phone while I'm away (we both couldn’t afford for go overseas). I've been thinking of writing two short posts a week, to let everyone know what’s going on. I just bought a global add-on package with 125 MB of data, but that will be deleted quickly unless I can find a lot of Wi-Fi hot spots. I did find an app (called WiFi Finder) to help me look.

2) Spend my down time relaxing and reading.

It looks like this is a good chance to get some extra reading done. I put The Silence of Trees by Valya Dudycz Lupescu on my smart phone through an Amazon Kindle app. And I just learned about a travel app, put together by Rick Steves, the author of my book on Italy. I figured everyone I’m traveling with will have books; I'll go high tech! Unfortunately, I'll be missing a good discussion with my book club; our book-of-the-month is Talking About Detective Fiction by P.D. James. I plan to read my book, stay in touch with everyone though our email "loop" and write a book review.

3) Take lots of pictures and record my adventures.

I plan to be a photographer this month, and take lots of photos. Also I want to write in my art journal and record where we've been. I know I’ll forget names! I didn't start out well - keep forgetting the camera when Buster and I go for walks around the pond. I have his retractable leash - trying to get used to it. He likes to jump into the water after the ducks, but can't go too far. Above is a little journal entry of the event. I also want to take some videos while I'm away; something I haven't done before. Think I'll use my camera and not my phone!

BBArtisans Team Treasuries

noreply@blogger.com (storybeader) — Sun, 06 May 2012 12:38:00 +0000

It's been about a week since these two curators put together their Etsy treasuries. They both invoked a special emotion for me, one dealing with giving, the other receiving. Does that sound strange enough? This is what I mean:

I thought Sharla's light-hearted treasury had everything to do with animals, until yesterday, when I took the time to look at it and see what she was saying.

"There are so many wonderful people on Etsy and I'm honored to know these special ladies! They've all made me smile in one way or another so help me say thanks by visiting their fabulous shops!"

Sharla always makes me smile, sometimes break out laughing, when I read her blog. And whenever I think of animals now, I am reminded of her. Like these kitty earrings she made. Thank you, Sharla, you are a dear friend.

Then again, yesterday, I took the time to go into Linda's shop, to find a special item to match her treasury. Maybe Mom would enjoy something from Linda's Judaica Earrings Jewelry section? But no, I didn't think so; she never wears fancy earrings. As I looked through the necklaces, I saw the beautiful sodalite necklace and earring set she made. How perfectly it reminded me of my mother, and how dear she is to me.

Saturday Link List - in celebration of nurses

noreply@blogger.com (storybeader) — Sat, 05 May 2012 15:05:00 +0000

Do you know any nurses? Well, if you do, get ready to pamper them this coming week. Nurses Day, celebrated in the U.S. on May 6th, is traced back to 1953 and Dorothy Sutherland, an official with the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. She sent a proposal to President Eisenhower to proclaim a "Nurse Day" in October for that year. A day was set aside the following year, but the proclamation was never made.

Where did Florence Nightingale get her name?

From Florence, Italy of course!

It wasn't until January 1974 that the International Council of Nurses (ICN) proclaimed May 12th as "International Nurse Day" (the day was chosen to commenorate Florence Nightingale's birthday).

In 1982, the American Nurses Association Board of Directors formally acknowledged May 6th as "National Nurses Day" in the United States. (It was only then that) the U.S. Congress affirmed a joint resolution designating the day as "National Recognition Day for Nurses." Visit the American Nurses Association's website at www.nursingworld.org where they talk about careers, workplace safety and membership benefits.

you can download this wallpaper for your computer to honor s nurse.

If you're a nurse in school, May 8th is your day. The Honor Society of Nursing (Sigma Theta Tau International) was founded by six nurses in 1922 at the Indiana University Training School for Nurses (they later became incorporated in 1985). The organizational mission is "to support the learning, knowledge and professional development of nurses committed to making a difference in health worldwide." That's nice! Here's their website.

For those living in the United Kingdom or planning a trip there anytime soon, don't miss the Florence Nightingale Museum, located in London. The museum follows Florence's life as a nurse, and looks at the history of nursing. There is a beautiful statue of Florence Nightingale at Waterloo Place (London).

Another statute can be found outside the Derbyshire Royal Infirmary Hospital, where the Nightingale family settled on their return to England (from Italy). On May 12th, a procession of nurses with be led by women in period dress. It begins at St. Peter's Church in St. Peter's Churchyard, Derby. You can see the stained glass window there, featuring an image of Florence, which was moved from the Derbyshire Royal Infirmary chapel following its closure. The parade concludes at the Derby Cathedral. There will also be an exhibition in the Florence Nightingale Memorial Hall, in Holloway, near Matlock on the same day.

Looking for a handmade gift for your special nurse. Here are a few ideas:

Karen from PINSwithPERSONALITY

from DuneyBugDesigns

Judy from ImGlassyEyed

Jamie from PaisleyMaizie

AlphabeThursday - X marks the spot

noreply@blogger.com (storybeader) — Thu, 03 May 2012 11:30:00 +0000

Not too many words begin with the letter X, so this week's AlphabeThursday will be interesting to see what people pick. I like the letter X all by itself.

The first thing that comes to mind when I think of Xs, is X marks the spot.

A friend gave me a box of magazines a month ago, so I decided to look for a designer chest to put under my X, like a treasure. And wouldn't you know it - I found one in House Beautiful! The trunk I found reminds me of luggage that would have been taken on a ocean voyage, at the beginning of the century. The 20th century!

I wasn't sure if it would fit on my pages, but it did.

And I was going to draw a big X across the page, when I remembered a stamp I had started a few weeks ago. So I finished my carving of a pencil and used that straight line, over and over again, to make an X.

What would be in your treasure chest?

To visit other Letter X posts this week,
come to Ms. Jenny's blog, ...off on my tangent...

Month in Photographs - April

noreply@blogger.com (storybeader) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 11:30:00 +0000

Does it look to be a busy month? It sure was. I guess many of you know by now that I got a new phone - a Galaxy Note (#8). Yes, I'm in heaven! I'm learning all about it and trying to teach others too (see my Saturday Link List - life with a smart phone). The weather has been damp here in southwest Oklahoma this month. The lily pond at my museum (#6) is in full bloom. So are the flowers in the front yard (#7). DH planted a hibiscus (#3) and pulled out of the ground the giant redbud tree (#9) that died two winters ago. Very hard wood. I've been busy on the computer with my art journaling class (Tina the Techie - #1 and Art is Joy - #10); with my favorite linky meme, AlphabeThursday (The Tiger's Wife - #5 and U is for Umbrella - #2); and with my BBArtisans team (#4) . Our team challenge this month was to create a project that called to mind the senses during Spring. I made myself a butterfly & paper necklace to hold my glasses. In a few weeks, I'll be going to Italy! After that, maybe I can relax!

Two week treasury round-up - the end of April

noreply@blogger.com (storybeader) — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 12:33:00 +0000

The end of the month means lots of Etsy treasuries from the BBArtisans team. That's one of our team requirements: putting together at least one team treasury! Have I piqued your interest? The BBArtisans are accepting new applications right now!

I'm going to start out giving thanks to all the curators kind enough to include something from my shop. I've looked in their shops and picked the handmade items I would have added, if I had my say! Come visit us and give some love to the curator's treasuries.

A Touch of Sun, from Kaili

Kaili (chockworkshOst) brightened up everyone day at the end of last week with a brilliant yellow treasury called "A Touch of Sun". I found a very wise fish in her shop to match!

Here kitty, kitty, kitty!, from Kathy

Then, last weekend, Kathy (tapestry316) pulled at all our heart-strings with an animal themed treasury called "Here kitty, kitty, kitty!" I found Oranges Bajoranges, the cool cat that she named the treasury after!

What Rhymes with Purple?, from Sarah

Sarah (Magnolia Surprise) began the week with a purple treasury called "What Rhymes with Purple?" I couldn't think of anything, and she didn't have any purple in her shop! But I found this set of eight flower scrubbies that looked awfully close. And they are so sweet!

Pretty in Pink, from Sheryl

One Monday, Sheryl (SherHastingsDesigns) started the work week off with a pretty pink treasury. I thought her little owl pattern #1 was a perfect match.

Pale Green & Gold, from Nancy

Nancy (NFallonDesignStudio) put together a fantastic pale green and gold treasury at the end of my work week. I think green has the greatest color combinations. This collection was especially nice with gold, something you don’t see all the time! I’ve always enjoyed Nancy’s change purses; here's a green and yellow one.

Saturday Link List - Life with a smart phone (my favorite apps)

noreply@blogger.com (storybeader) — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 08:08:00 +0000

Yes, DH and I finally gave in and bought smart phones. I was the lucky one and got a Galaxy Note. To me, it's more like a computer than a phone. And I love it. But it's another learning curve to beat. I'm sure others are in the same situation, so let me tell you how I'm doing. Hopefully, we can share information!

My phone came with a lot of apps already installed, just waiting for me to download.

My favorite has to be my email. I use it every day (all day) to keep in touch with my blogging buddies and online class. I can keep my husband company and answer my email at the same time. Multi-tasking! I love that it tells me if there's email waiting. So far, I've changed my signature, ring tone and screen view.

With the Galaxy Note comes an S pen. I didn't think I'd want to use it, but have found that I love writing instead of typing all the time. I'll write myself quick messages, then delete them when they're no longer necessary. I don't mind the size of the pen, but if you'd rather have a regular sized pen, you can get a Holder Kit to put around it. Google and Amazon sell them for about $30.00.

I never thought I'd get into digital books. That was before a friend told me I didn't need a Kindle to read books on my phone. What a thrill! Amazon gives you a free dictionary too, so you can find definitions while your reading. I tried it out! For example, because the word "lisovyk" (above) is not an English word, it's telling me there's no definition to be found. But Amazon gives me "more" and the chance to search the book, Wikipdia and the Web to get a better understanding (lisoyxk is a supernatural being in Slavic folklore). I love that you can leave the book "open" - you never loose your place; no bookmark needed!

I downloaded my first book for a whopping $5. This hardbound (only) book costs $28; I wouldn't have had to pay a thing, if I had an Amazon Prime account! I'm really considering going Prime; it includes access to a lending library (one book free per month) and free shipping for all your Amazon orders. But it does cost $79 / year (one month free trial). It may be worthwhile, particularly if you purchase large (and heavy) orders.

One of the first apps I put on my phone (free) was Dictionary, which is a little more advanced than a regular dictionary. If you don't want to type the word in, just press the microphone icon and speak it. It will also pronounce the word for you, whether you type it in or speak it. There's much more! An English and Spanish word of the day, a question of the day, and a map.

One of the apps I put on my phone is Remember the Milk. I wrote about it here on my blog after Rose (randomcreative) talked about it last year! It's a great tool if you have a lot of chores or tasks to remember. On your phone, the completed tasks get crossed off the list - a real sense of accomplishment!

Another friend of mine introduced me to a great app, perfect for the traveling I'll be doing next month. It's called Google Translate, and it's free app through Google play (I hadn't realized that Translate is a free translation service on the internet). All you do is set the two languages you want (your language and the language you need) and speak into the phone.

It spells out the word or phrase in your language and you can attempt to speak it. Or you can press a button so the phone will speak for you. Most of the time, it will hear you correctly; just be sure to speak clearly.

What's your favorite app that you've added to your smart phone? I'd love to know!

JNOriginals - she's ba-a-a-c-k!

noreply@blogger.com (storybeader) — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 11:30:00 +0000

Judy becomes oh so very busy in the Spring with Iowa's Destination ImageNation, where she volunteers with students who work on solutions to challenges in a state tournament. She has a breather right now, before the Global Finals, and she's back with a vengeance.

The funny thing is, on Tuesday I was getting ready for my Sunday treasury appreciation, designing my blog post for the Etsy treasuries I found myself in. And I noticed myself being picked over and over and over again. What's going on! Judy was a curator gone wild! She placed me in three separate treasuries in one night. And I know for a fact that she was working on more!

So I thought, featuring her individually on Friday with some of the items I personally like from her shops would be a great way to show my appreciation. Now Judy has three very active shops. And each one is very different. So for each treasury, I picked a different shop to highlight.

Here's my thanks, Judy. We're glad to have you back and wish you the best in May when you go to Knoxville as an Appraiser for the Global Finals.

Around the Color Wheel in Pastels with crocket coasters from JNOriginals

Around the Color Wheel in Brights with a mini brag book from Mister PenQuin

This Fertile Earth with a Humpty Dumpty cross-stitch pattern

AlphabeThursday - W is for Week

noreply@blogger.com (storybeader) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 11:30:00 +0000

March 2012

I remember as a child, the weeks in school seemed to go by so slowly. We used to count the days, speak them aloud, and learn to spell their long names. I still count the weeks, but in a different way.

January 2012

Now I make my own calendars, and the boxes across the page are not always seven in a row! When I started my new art journal for 2012, the month of January fit on one page, and the days of the week descends down and not across. What would Ms. Jenny think!?

Some calendars begin with Monday on the left-hand side. If you schedule your blog posts using Blogger, you'll notice their calendar begins like that. I just hate that - it gets me all confused!

February 2012

If they can mixed up their week, so can I!

April 2012

Using calendars as art is a great way of getting into your journal every day. Maybe next month, I’ll mixed up my days within the month itself. Now that will be something completely different. Stay tuned!

Don't miss out visiting the other sites this WEEK, beginning with the Letter W. You can find a large list on Ms. Jenny's site, ...off on my tangent... Come visit our classroom!

Art Journaling, or art therapy?

noreply@blogger.com (storybeader) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 11:32:00 +0000

Moira asked us to practice our own form of art therapy last week, and create a page that reflected how we were feeling at the moment. I felt anxious. I guess it's because I'm going away and leaving my husband and ~~kids~~ dogs for close to three weeks.

"Don't know why I'm feeling so anxious.
I am going away in a few weeks, and it
will be a long time to be away from home..."

I wrote my word out with an orange coptic marker. Gosh, I couldn't even spell it right! Next I took some orange watercolor paint and let it drip down the page after I sprayed it with some water. Then some yellow paint and a bit of red. I wanted the paint to dry, and didn't have my hair dryer handy, so I took a baby wipe and spread the colors around a bit.

Opps, some blue got in there too! More anxiety {:-D

I added some strips of candy corn (from the Fall) and washi tape. Then glued down a tag that came off some clothing that was in our fire (another stressful time). The page was complete by writing how I was feeling. Does it make you feel anxious too?

Saturday Link List - Earth Day / Arbor Day

noreply@blogger.com (storybeader) — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 12:06:00 +0000

Earth Day and Arbor Day are this coming week. So I thought we all needed to go outside, plant a tree (or bush, like us) and enjoy the fresh air. In the United States, you can find the best tree to plant in your "neck of the woods" by going through your county's Extension Service.

Don't have the space to plant a tree right now? Did you know that for just $1, you can plant a new tree in one of America's national forests?

You can get involved in the Arbor Day Foundation by volunteering and helping your neighbors plant trees. Visit the Volunteer Center online and see what's thriving in your community. And for the future, keep in touch with what's going on through their Facebook page.

But don't stop there! Another positive step you can take is to recycle.

I came upon this fabulous site, called earth911. Not only are they a directory for the usual recycled materials, but you can find where to get rid of other materials safety in your neighborhood, such as paint and computers.

Considering what to do this Sunday for Earth Day? Have a picnic in the park. The Nature Conservancy is trying to set a Guinness record for the world's largest picnic. They and their partners worldwide are hosting Picnic for the Planet. Join in!

Let me leave you with a new site I've found, called thinkcrafts.com. You might be familiar with it but I think it's new to me. A good friend from Portland, Oregon is their Recycled Crafts Contributor: Anitra Cameron. Here's what they're doing to honor Earth Day.

BBArtisans April Challenge -Spring Sense

noreply@blogger.com (storybeader) — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 11:30:00 +0000

This month, Margaret wants us to use all our senses for our BBArtisans challenge:

"Create a project that calls to mind how one or all the senses respond to this new time of year."

For me, if I'm going to be outside, it sure is handy to attach my glasses to a necklace, so I won't drop them when my hands are full of books, towels and other things. I've been wanting to make more new eyeglasses holders anyway and decided to take some beads out of my shop for the first one.

This strand is perfect for the spring. And I love that the paper is Italian. Just in time for going to Italy.

A few friends have been asking me what happened to all the eyeglasses holders I made. Well they sold! So it's my plan to make some more (making more beads was part of my short term goals for the month!)

Almost Wordless Wednesday - Hibiscus

noreply@blogger.com (storybeader) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 11:30:00 +0000

DH planting hibiscus in front.
We used to have a fruit tree in that spot, but it died in the ice storms.

Art Journaling - Tina the Techie

noreply@blogger.com (storybeader) — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 11:30:00 +0000

Here's a new technique I learned in my art journaling class. I completely covered the surface of my two page spread (though I only used one side when I started drawing).

I put down an oval for the face, and only then did I paint in the features. Usually, I start with the eyes, as I see every artist teach.

Next I clothed my portrait a bit, and wrote how I was feeling at the moment:

"Now that I have the Galaxy Note, I can find anything; just like the yellow pages!"

Two weeks of Etsy Treasuries in April

noreply@blogger.com (storybeader) — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 15:19:00 +0000

Here is another double week's worth of ♥appreciation♥, thanking all the curators kind enough to place my item in their treasury. I've looked in their shops and picked the handmade items I would have added, if I had the chance! Come visit their shops and give some love to their treasuries.

All Squared Up - ponderosaquilter

April 2 - All Squared Up from ponderosaquilter - AWE team's First Friday Art Walk.

Not only does ponderosaquilter make quilts, but also beautiful bags and home decor items. This bright orange tote reminds me of the beach, and would be perfect to carry a towel and book.

A Day at the Zoo - NFallonDesignStudio

April 3 - A Day at the Zoo - from Nancy and NFallonDesignStudio

Not only does Nancy knit; she paints too. Have you seen this adorable watercolor print by her? It is a part of a series from her sketchbook. Great idea!

Songs of Spring - SplendidLittleStars

April 9 - Songs of Spring by Margaret from SplendidLittleStars

When does Margaret look at Spring? I think all the time with her bright tie dyes and hand painted fabrics. Here's a set of washcloths that are hand dyed and painted on both sides. Never a dull moment!

All American Mom - HoneyFromTheBee

April 10 - All American Mom by Janet from HoneyFromTheBee

Janet's getting people ready for Mother's Day! Is it almost May already? I had a hard time choosing something for my mom from her shop, until I saw the ocean jasper necklace - I think that looks most like what my mom would wear: classic and artsy!

Rock April With Lime - Random Creative

April 11 - Rock April With Lime by Rose from Random Creative

Looking for accessories to match an outfit? Go no further than Rose's shop! She has over 200 bracelets and earrings of various colors - you're sure to find a match! Like this lime button charm bracelet with silver jump rings.