Just had to share...

Those of you who have suffered through my blog over the years know that there is a great big, huge actually, very old magnolia tree that lives in the front yard.  And you know that I love that tree.  You can read all the Tennessee Williams plays you want, and you can hear about the magnificent magnolia trees we have here in the south, but until you have spent sultry summer nights in close proximity to a huge, old, southern magnolia that is heavy with blooms, lightening bugs floating all around you, a full moon rising against the deep, brilliant dark blue of the night sky, you can't truly appreciate their graceful beauty.

I awoke too early once again this morning, long before dawn, which happens around here just a bit after 6:00 am, and, since I am on this long weekend, I willed myself to lie there in bed and at least try to sleep until sunrise.  It sorta worked, and I dozed in and out until I saw the sun begin to lighten the sky and the birds were deep in their morning songs.

Rolling over and stretching I was thinking about how much I love these late spring mornings when I have absolutely nothing I must do until lunch, when, looking out the open window (yeah, I know I really should close those curtains) I spotted it...

The first bloom of the season.  Here it is at 6:15 am, in all its glory. A bit smaller than the blooms later in the season will be (some of them will be as large as a dinner plate), the petals dimpled and a little less graceful than they will be later in the season, but the first to burst it's bond of the bud and herald the blooming season.

And this is the same bloom at 3:00 in the afternoon.  It's been very cool here and quite overcast, so it didn't open as much as it might have.  You can see, especially in the petal on the right, that it's already starting to darken.  I think that may be part of the magic of these blossoms, they're short lived, just a day or so, but so very, very fragrant.  A little lemony, a little like jasmine, sweet but not cloying.  The quintessential scent of summer for me.  The scent draws the bees and, even though magnolias don't depend on bees for pollination, they will play among the blooms.

Magnolia blooms... and in another month or so, fire flies... ahhhh, summer...

Good news Friday...

So, since it's a long weekend I decided I'd make it a bit longer and take today off.  Not that I'm doing anything spectacular... but, really, that's the point... to do nothing.  Normally I watch very little tv, but last night I decided to roll through the channels to see if anything was on.  I ran across Betty White's Off Their Rockers.  Oh my gosh, I haven't laughed so hard in I don't know when... It's much like the old Candid Camera (shows my age huh?) only with old folks asking random stranger some very inappropriate questions and exhibiting some very inappropriate behaviors... cracked me up.

BUT, what I'm really here to share with you guys are a couple of commercials that aired. Now, just because I am sharing these with you does not mean I endorse the product. And, just in case you don't watch much tv, or haven't seen these air yet, I really felt compelled to share.  While it "technically" isn't good news... it may well make you smile...







I'm not a fan of Italian dressing, but I could become one...I need to run to the grocery store, you guys have a great Friday.

Now that you have a little book...

I know everyone wants to know who the doodles go to, but before we get to that, let's chat about the mini book just a bit more...  The obvious question is, once you've created one, what do you put in it?  Well...

A wee bit ago our office began turning into an art gallery.  The artist is little Miss Vivian.  Her mom works with us, and Miss Vivian has been sweet enough to share her art with us.  Vivian is five by the way, and quite creative.

Birds flew in...

And very happy unicorns have made an appearance...

Not just any robot, but little Tea Cup came to hang out...

 

And one day, this piece of art showed up on my door.  I don't know about you guys, but I think it could hang in a museum.  Of course, being allowed to share in such amazing art, I felt I needed to write a thank you note.  I wrote Vivs a thank you note in the form of one of the mini books. Of course, being that she's such a creative little girl I thought she might like to make some books too, so I sent the instructions home with her mom.

 Shortly after I got this from Vivian... How cool is this?  I mean, seriously...

Vivian wrote a book for me... and would you check out the really cute bows in the kitty's ears!

So, I thought I should at least repay her favor in kind, and I made a book for Vivian.

The eight pages are just perfect for writing a little book that is absolutely, perfectly, kid sized.

You can make it bright and colorful...

It's very easy to personalize...

I even used the kitty that Vivian created, in the hot air balloon no less...

And I added my own little twist.

Now, how much fun would it be to write and illustrate little books back and forth with your own kids, or grand kids, nieces, nephews... and then bind a bunch of them together to save in one larger book for posterity?  And that's only one idea, you could make a mini journal, a mini mixed media piece... the sky really is the limit!

So, now that I've shared my little book with you, let's see who is getting in on the second chance for the doodles...

NanW tells me she loves second chances, and since I don't think I have seen Nan comment on the blog before, in hopes of her doing it a second (and more) time... 'cause you all know how much I love comments, she gets one.  Nan, email me with your mailing address by Saturday!

Note (added 5/23)... I just got an email from Nancy.  Turns out one of my doodles was what first drew her to the blog (and yes, as I said to her, that was, indeed, an intended pun).  But... in her words:

"I'm not sure how my blogger account got connected to Mama Elephant which is a stamp seller, I just enjoy looking at their products. I don't have my own blog (yet) but have thought about starting one as I love seeing what others are doing."

WHEN Nancy starts her blog I've asked her to let me know so I can let all of you know (no pressure there, right?)... but I have removed the link to the Mama Elephant site since Nancy isn't associated with it.

And, since I'm on the animal thing, and since "Chunky Monkey", aka Alison, said she'd love to give me her address... send it on in.  Just make sure it gets to me by Saturday!

I hope I don't have to go for a third chance!

A little book...

First let me say... I am one of the least technology savvy people on the planet.  Yes, I write an amazing blog filled with luscious photos, I have Pinterest boards, and I finally bought into the whole Facebook thingie, at least when it comes to the blog... but, as I commented on a recent post of Eileen's, I don't tweet... first off I cannot do that whole shorthand text thing, and second I just am far too verbose to keep my ramblings to 140 characters or less... (as though all of you didn't realize that already, eh?)

Anyway, Google has brought out this Google Plus, oops, Google+ thing... I really haven't taken the time to actually look into it as deeply as I should, but I did sorta set up an account and I did add the button over there on the side of my blog.  Yesterday when I logged on to read my email I noticed a red button by the area where I sign off.  Now, truthfully, I'd noticed it before, but had absolutely no idea what it was.  I did happen to notice just yesterday that the number there was growing.  Curious, I clicked on it to see that there are a few of you who have added me to your circles.  I am so, so sorry for not noticing that before and adding those of you into my circles as well... and I'll do that adding, just as soon as I figure out how...

Now, on to the fun stuff...  I made a book.  Not a big book, noooo... I made a teeny book.  Eight whole pages big.  Yup, and just about the size of a playing card.  How fun is that?  I'm sure lots of you know how to make this kind of mini book, but in case some of you are unfamiliar, I thought I'd share it with you.  You know, that way you can make a book too...

You need paper, scissors or X-acto knife, a bone folder (optional), and glue (also optional)... maybe even a machine and thread, but that will come later.

Step 1.  You need a piece of paper.  I know, who'd have thought, huh?  One piece of paper = one little book.  How cool is that?  This piece of paper is a 9" x 12" piece of 90 lb watercolor paper.  MUCH easier to fold than the 140 lb I usually use. 

Step 2.  Fold the piece of paper in half matching the long sides.  I used that piece of wood (came from an old cigar box) to crease it sharply. 

Step 3.  Open the paper up and fold it in half again, this time matching the short ends. 

Step 4.  Open the paper up again and set it in front of you so that the short sides are the left and right sides.  you should have a crease in the middle of your paper where you folded it earlier.  Bring the right side to the crease in the middle and then bring the left side to the middle. 

 

Open all of the folds and you should have a piece of paper that has one fold in the middle of the page running through the longest ends, and four folds running from side to side on the short ends.  Sorta like the drawing above.

Step 5.  Make sure all the creases are sharp.  I usually fold and then drag that piece of wood over the fold to make sure it is sharp, then fold it the opposite way and crease sharply again.  Of course, a bone folder would do the same thing if you have one of those.

Step 6.  On that center fold that runs parallel to the long sides, cut two of the sections as shown above.

Step 7.  Fold the long sides meeting again and you should have a shape like above.

Step 8.  Push the right and left edges toward the middle and you get the formed book.

You can use glue on the inside to secure the pages, or not.  You can sew around them like I did... or not.

You can use any sort of paper, the instructions will remain the same, just the size of your book will change.  You can even use old book pages from other books to make new mini books.

Ohhhhh, the possibilities!!!  Mini books from old newspapers, junk mail flyers, notebook papers... You can even put several teeny books together to get a fat book.

But the best fun of all happens when you show a little one how to make a book... just wait until you see what happens then...

Second chances...

You guys remember the bribes... er, incentives... yeah, incentives, I bribed y'all with to vote in my highly unscientific poll regarding doodles????

Well, two of them went out yesterday... one to Victoria and one to Claudine, who, by the way seemed a tad excited to be getting one... just let me publicly state, I am not responsible for my readers who stalk their mail persons...

And see, I even blurred out her address so her mail person will have no warning.

They are getting doodles, I promise, but I have no idea which doodle is going where because I had already hidden them in envelopes just waiting to be addressed.  But, alas... I have not heard from two of the bribees, which means that the other two need good homes.

Who wants one? 

Leave a comment, and be sure to check back Thursday morning to see if you need to send me your mailing address...

Let's catch up on the mail art...

Last month I hosted a mail art exchange.  Had 11 brave souls promise to play along (one of them being me), so as a thank you I sent each of them (excluding me, I don't need another post card I've done) a post card I created.  If you haven't seen them they are all gathered right here on this page.

But, I know sometimes y'all have to get tired of my art, so let me share what the other good folks who participated sent...

This is what Victoria did...

And Gretchen created one for her partner...

And then, she was so sweet to send one to me too...

Cherie sent one out...

And so did Eileen...

 

Snap shared some beautiful art...

 Barbara gave her art a groovy feel...

Julie sent this...

And Deb created this...

I haven't received links or photos from the others who participated, but will share those if they send them to me...

So, what do y'all think... should we do this again?

Goodness, goodness...

First, I have to say a great big CONGRATS to my Bonus One... she's officially a graduate of graduate school!!!  WOOO HOOOO!!!  Then I have to say CONGRATS to my Big One, he starts a great new job tomorrow doing what he really wants to do!!!  YAY!!!  And, not to be outdone, my Little One is working on the stuff she has to finish for a promotion at work for her too!!!

Whew... that's a lot going on!  And, speaking of a lot going on, here's the crafty links for this week... check out how busy these folks have been making gorgeous stuff!

Cyndi, whose motto is "don't throw anything out", has proven she doesn't.  Check out what she's done with waxed paper...

Art quilt batting experiments
Have you ever mixed waxed paper with your quilt batting...?

Tammy has decided to treat herself...

  Breaking Out the Good Stuff
Why have fabulous yarn if you do not use it? Crafty Princess is treating herself for a change.

Eileen's got Father's Day in her sights...

  Father's Day Craft Tutorials
It's not too early to think about what you'll create for Dad or Grandpa. Father's Day is June 16th! 

And Sherri has some grad gifts on her mind...

Money Gifts
With Graduation coming up, one or more of these creative money projects would make a perfect gift for a special graduate.

 

AND, carrying on the money as a gift, how about folding it into a pegasus... over at Craftside they did just that...

 

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at our crafty world
This week at Craftside there are tutorials on how to fold a Pegasus out of a dollar bill, crochet a magic wand, and recipes for cocoa and green tea rubs.

 

 And Cherie has been creating art and adding her poetry...

 

  Art and Poetry
Cherie makes new pictures using her poetry. 

 

Me... this week I really didn't get much done creatively, but I am working on a few things to share... everyone have a great week!!!