CGM Podcast Episode #71: A Little Scared of Disney

Listen to the episode here

Show Notes 

Life Update:

• Christmas shenanigans
• Parental Thoughts & Concerns about Christmas
• I'm now a little scared of Disney

Picture of the "box" I mention in the podcast

F.O.'s and WIPs:

• Finished: Barley Hat in Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Superwash - Solstice Heather (sorry no pics)
• Cast on 2nd sock, using Knitting Blooms tutorials for Toe Up socks. 
• Made 3 lined drawstring bags. Blogged about them here.
• Art Journaling and making art on canvas. Blogged about this here and here.

Classic Movie:

Remember the Night 

with Barbara Stanwyck and Fred McMurray

My Top 5 Books of 2014:

• The Martian by Andy Weir
• Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare
• Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
• David & Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell
• Steal Like an Artist and Show Your Work by Austin Kleon

Thanks for listening and Happy New Year!

CGM

Art Journal Page: Checkin' It Twice

Wishing you a joyful  Christmas!

CGM

Crunch Time

Santa needs to lend me an elf to help wrap presents, because I'm so unmotivated to get the job done right now. And it's crunch time today since the kiddos will be home starting tomorrow.

Of course I had to squeeze in a little procrastination sewing over the weekend to make these 2 knitting bags:

 Pattern: Lined Drawstring Bag by Jeni Baker of In Color Order blog

I made these after sewing my mother-in-law a bag for Christmas out of Flea Market Fancy fabric (I forgot to take a pic before wrapping it up, sorry!) and was reminded what an easy pattern this was. I had the Grinch and Peanuts Christmas fabric on hand from a previous season. 

We've been having lots of holiday fun around here. Tree and house decorating, gingerbread house making, winter lights viewing, recitals, parties, shopping, teacher gifts, and more.

And oh yeah, after all this fun and games, both girls have birthdays within a month of Christmas.... not a darned thing planned yet and supposedly it's going to be a "Frozen/Elsa/Anna/Olaf/Rapunzel" extravaganza for a certain almost 4 year old. Ha!  

Can you blame me for almost weeping with happiness when the day spa squeezed me in for a massage next Tuesday?

Hope you are having lots of fun this holiday season...or at least holding it all together until the 26th!

CGM

PS - I wasn't kidding about the loaner elf Santa!

From Art Journal to Canvas: Christmas Trees

I recently took this art journal page:

 All is Calm art journal page, blogged here.

and made two 9" x 12" canvases from it:

Here are a few close-ups:

The only difference I made with these trees on canvas is that I used a larger snowflake stencil than in the art journal. You can't see it well in the photos but the Aleene's Glitter Snow really shimmers on these canvases, and I love that effect along with the texture it adds.

I'm not sure if I'll have time to translate this art journal page into fabric before the year ends, but I'm enjoying the colors and process so much, I may just keep a little Christmas going into the New Year!

CGM

What We're Reading This Month

Me:

Waistcoats & Weaponry by Gail Carriger

Dirty Rowdy Thing by Christina Lauren

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

(on sale 2/3/15, I am reading an advance copy)

Sam (age 7):

Samantha's Surprise (American Girl) 

Lego Friends: New Girl in Town

Maddy (age 3):

Bear Stays Up for Christmas by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman

(Both girls love the Bear series, this one is a particular fave!)

 Llama Llama Holiday Drama by Anna Dewdney

(I'll buy anything Anna Dewdney writes and illustrates. This series is excellent for preschoolers)

What are you reading this month?

CGM

Art Journal Page: All is Calm, All is Bright

We are in Christmas movie watching mode around here, and this classic is on quite a bit:

A Charlie Brown Christmas - Charles Shutlz

Taking a little inspiration from the colorful Christmas tree lot, I made this page in my art journal:

I used aqua, purple, and pink acrylic paint on top of various scrapbook papers and white doilies for the background. The snow (groundcover and snowflakes) was made using Aleene's Glitter Snow paste. I love how it added texture and a pale sheen to the page.

Here are a few close-ups: 

 

I'm working on a few small canvases with these trees and similar palette...stay tuned!

CGM

CGM Podcast Episode #70: Don't Be Like Whitney

Listen to the episode here

Show Notes 

Life Update:

•  I share a silly (but funny) holiday work story about gift giving...and what not to do!

F.O.'s and WIPs:

• Hitchhiker shawlette
• Christmas "charm pack" Tablerunner
• Art journal pages - blog posts to come soon!

Classic Movie:

Holiday Affair with Robert Mitchum and Janet Leigh

(Please don't judge the movie by this terrible "Baby...." poster! It's really good, LOL.)

Book Review:

 Yes Please by Amy Poehler

Also mentioned:

• As Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust by Alan Bradley (on sale 1/6/15)
• Waistcoats and Weaponry by Gail Carriger
• Prudence (The Custard Protocol #1) by Gail Carriger (on sale 3/17/15)
• The Job (Fox and O'Hare #3) by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg
• Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
• The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion (on sale 12/30/14)
• The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

Thanks for listening and Happy Holidays!

CGM

 

There are so many good gift ideas out there for bookish people, I thought I'd share some of my favorites. It can be hard to pick the right book for someone, but if you know they like books in general you may see something below that will be as appreciated for your acknowledging their love of the written word vs. having agonized if they prefer Sci Fi to Romance (or both!). 

Many of these items are from indie makers/designers and I hope they'll forgive me for "lifting" some of their pics off Etsy or their site. I have made sure a link directly to their page is included with all of them. And don't forget - there's nothing wrong with treating yourself to a little something too!


"Read" mixed media drawing on dictionary page:

From Etsy Shop: Flying Shoes Art Studio

Can I count the ways how much I love this? You know I've been art journaling lately, and what an awesome way to express a love for a subject than directly on a dictionary page of that subject! These would look awesome framed and in a library or quiet space for reading.

Book Lovers Skirt:

From Etsy Shop: Rooby Lane

Super-cute book jewelry:

All of the above book jewelry is from Etsy shop: CuriosandCreations: The Little Library

Fancy spoon to stir your hot drink:

From Etsy shop: Spoon Tracker

 Buy a Book For Its Cover:

Anne of Green Gables set with artistic cover by Jacqui Oakley

I just love artist renderings of classic books. This set with cover illustrations by artist Jacqui Oakley belongs not just on a bookshelf, but displayed with pride on a coffee table or nightstand. You can find them at SourceBooks website.

Source Books also has more artistic covers for other L.M. Montgomery books, also by Jacqui Oakley:

Then there are these lovely Christmas classics:

Penguin Classics limited edition Christmas Classics collection

And this would make a beautiful stocking stuffer or White Elephant gift for a book club member:

Penguin Classics deluxe edition: Little Women

Wear Your Book Love:

From Out of Print Clothing.

From Out of Print Clothing

Vintage Book Cover Journals:

Journals above (and more) are available at Attic Journals. There is also a state list of independent shops where they are carried.

Book Purses:

Both purses (and more) are from Etsy shop: Novel Creations. I like that she offers different handle and clasp choices for these novelty bags.

 Tea with Literary Quotes:

 Bag Ladies Tea: Novel Tea

Games:

 Memory Challenge: Book Lovers Classics Edition

Since I have terrible short-term memory, I would stink at this. 

But I love the novelty of it!

 

 Scrabble: Book Lovers edition

I need to see if there's an app for this version!

Desk Calendar:

2015 Book Lover's Calendar

And I couldn't resist including these "classic" collections that will appeal to a wide number of book lovers out there, hence making the perfect gift!

Book Lust by Nancy Pearl

1001 Books For Every Mood by Hallie Ephron

So there are most of my favorite holiday gift ideas for the Book Nerd in your life! Hope you enjoy browsing them, and comment below on any others you have in mind.

Happy Shopping!

CGM