A Big Dill

 

Today we had a reception for a special couple at church. They've been very active in ministry for years, and they are officially retiring and moving up north. WAY up north, all the way to the Upper Peninsula. It takes a special person to embrace a climate where half the year is snow and wintry weather!

This couple also heads up our church's pickle ball, so we will really be in a "pickle" without them.

I was in charge of the Sunday Fellowship food this morning, so I made these food label cards for the table.

And then I made this sign for the table, too.

The card uses Catherine Pooler stamps and dies, paired with a sentiment stamp from my stash.

Thanking God for the special people in our lives today!

PB Daisies

 

This Flower of the Month kit from Penny Black was a must have last month, and I finally got a chance to play with it. Yes, I loved the daisies. But truthfully, it was that lacy border that called my name.

Here's a great tip from Penny Black's Jill Foster. To give frame die cuts like the one above a little more sturdy heft and substance, glue two together.

And here's my tip. If you get a little messy gluing those butterflies, just cover them with a little Wink of Stella.

My sweet yellow daisies are almost ready to bloom. We're expecting a heat wave this weekend, so I'm sure lots of things will be growing rapidly.

Summer Music Smiles

 

Summer music outdoors. Is there anything more lovely?

Our town has begun the weekly Salty Summer Sounds concerts downtown, where people can bring a  camp chair or grab a café table and enjoy a free concert. It's fun.

My dulcimer group has begun meeting outdoors, too. We've been having some gigs and workshops under the gazebo in downtown Chelsea in the afternoons. Passersby often stop to hear us play, and they applaud our efforts.

Yesterday, we combined mountain dulcimers with hammered dulcimers. It was a great sound.

It's such a pretty setting, too.

Do you see that sheet of smiley stickers? I put these on my sheet music to remind myself to smile while I'm playing. Sometimes, we're concentrating so hard on the notes that we're frowning as we're thinking it through. Listeners would rather see us smiling, and it makes it look like we're having fun, which we are.

I'm playing tomorrow evening with my trio called The String Sisters for Chelsea Historic Museum's open house. Should  be fun...smile!

Summer Reading

 

It feels like summer has finally arrived. Officially, it begins this Saturday. Unofficially, it seems to arrive some time after Memorial Day, or whenever the weather finally cooperates.

I start thinking about my summer reading list this time of year. And let me tell you, I have a big stack.

I've been very intentional about my reading this year, fitting it in whenever I can. I'm adding a lot of new-to-me authors and genres, too. Fiction and non-fiction. I've also been cleaning out my own shelves, and adding new titles from thrift shops when I find them.

To motivate myself, I signed up for the summer reading program at the library. They are using the Read Squared program that lets you track your reading, add reviews, and earn prizes.

I'm adding my library reads, and also the titles I'm pulling from my own shelves.

I have an ambitious pile.

Do you have any books to recommend to my pile?

Relaxing on Father's Day

 

I made a Jemma-inspired card for my husband for Father's Day. This dog stamp from Penny Black looks so much like our girl.

I paired it with the ENJOY die cut and Enjoy builder stamp set from Penny Black, then used the Call Me Ray background stamp from Catherine Pooler as the backdrop.

Jemma loves to sleep in the sunshine. And sometimes, I catch my husband napping on the chaise lounge right beside her.

Hope your day is relaxing, too!

The Wobbles

 

The wobbles. I always forget to use them, but they add so much fun and whimsy to a card.

I received this card recently from friend Holly Smith in the Espresso Yourself coffee card swap group. I thought it was so perfect. The colors, the design, and that funny sentiment.

And of course, the interactive element of the wobble.

Note to self: make a wobble card this week!

Happy Friday, café friends!

Sweet Bee

 

Here's another set of stamps and stencils that I purchased during last year's Inventory Blowout Sale at Concord and 9th.

Sweet Bee!

And guess what? It's part of this year's sale that is happening right now!

I made some bright and cheery backgrounds, and paired with some flower and bee die cuts.

The sale runs until the 16th. Items are 20%-70% off. Great deals!