tHe bIG reVeAL

My muse

I must admit that I am a bit obsessed with Shelley, my 7 month old puppy.  She's cute, reaaaaallllyyy cute and really naughty too.  I took a few pictures of her, and I've been making her the subject of a few layouts lately.  Like this one.   I'm way into the Sassafras Lass paper right now.  It is so fun, and spring-y and I love the bright fun colors! They work perfectly with dog layouts.  See, I know there are a ton of dog papers, stickers and embellishments out there, but I rarely use dog stuff on my dog layouts.  Do you use collections intended for other events on your everyday layouts?  Link me up, I would love to see.

I hope everyone had a nice long holiday weekend and got a chance to spend time with their family!
Peace,

Jacquie

National Scrapbook Day

 I would have liked to have gotten more layouts done lately, but it hasn't been in the cards for me.  I ended up having mouth surgery this past week, which was not in my plans.  And, now I have been in pain every day since then.  Pain does not make me feel very creative.  I did make this layout of a picture that my dad emailed me awhile back.  This is my sister and I, she was 1, I was maybe 3.  Clearly this is probably the only time you will ever see a picture of me in a bathing suit on my blog. :-)   One little technique I did on this layout...I used an ink pad to color the fabric thickers.

More later,

Jacquie

Some kit work

If there is one thing that I indulge myself with every month, it is the amazing Studio Calico kit.  I'm on a budget like everyone else.  But the Studio Calico kit is a terrific value.  I get everything I need to make  several, well coordinated layouts as well as a few cards.  April and Scarlet also have their own exclusive papers and stamps included in every kit now. I highly recommend them! I made these layouts with their Garment District and Bibliography kits.isn't that little mini tree adorable?

   

Happy Easter

Happy Easter!  He has risen!  

I spent a very quiet day today.  Troy had to work.  At the last minute, I decided that I was going to make an Easter dinner anyway.  So, the only store open was Walmart...and that is where I went.  Walmart is always sort of an adventure for me.  I don't particularly like to shop there because it seems like is is super busy, and there are never enough checkout lanes open.  Well, today, since it was the only place open, it was sort of crazy.  But I did manage to make a nice little ham dinner, and antipasto salad, and of course a nice bottle of wine.  Oh, and Peeps too.  

Happy Easter!  

moving on.

  I was asked to be the Guest Designer for March for Dream Street papers.  I love their new release, and it is so exciting that they also have rubons now.    

I had a nice relaxing weekend.  On Friday, Diane and I went to Waco for a day of classes taught by Kelly Goree from Basic Grey.  Kelly is the sweetest lady.  She was a lot of fun and a first class teacher.  It was really a ton of fun.  I also met up with Steph, Reyanna, Liz and Aimee (sara hee hee).  They made us laugh and laugh with their silliness.   I did not get my projects done, mostly becauase I just talk too much.  LOL!!

I also want to thank everyone for their lovely words of comfort at the loss of Austin.  It sure seems so different without him around here. 

Peace,

Jacquie

Good night, little buddy.

Austin - Ch. Eldamar's Ashwyn Discovery 3/4/94-3/28/ 09



I named Austin after the space shuttle, Discovery. Yesterday, the Discovery,
safely made it home after its final voyage before retiring. In some way that
feels significant to me, because last night Austin, my best little buddy, went
to the Rainbow Bridge.



Ever since Austin started to be a really old dog, I tried to prepare myself for
the fact that I would not have him with me some day. I tried to reason in my
head that he has had a long and wonderful life and that when he was not with me
anymore, that I would be ok.



That day has come.



Up to this point, I'd written lovely and eloquent eulogies in my head for a dog
that has meant so much to me and many others. And right now, those words fail
me because the pain is too great.



I really don't know the best way to sum up the last 15 years that we have had
this amazing creature in our lives. Austin was well known for his mischevious
ways, his trash raiding, and counter surfing. But the most endearing trait
Austin had was his love of all living things. He embraced life in such a way
that we could all learn from. He loved children, he loved puppies, he loved
every one he met, even if they did not feel the same way about him. Just
yesterday morning, a puppy owner of mine came by to get her puppy groomed. Her
quadruplet 5 year old girls got to meet Austin and pet him. His tail wagged and
he was happy...even though the chaos was a bit much for some, he reveled in it.



And that is the thing that I thought about all night last night, that Austin
contributed in a small way to the betterment of the breed, that his temperament
made it possible for me to let his puppies, and grandpuppies go live with small
children, and make them happy.



Even though he is not by my side anymore, I have his kids and grandkids all on
the couch with me as I write this and I comfort in that. He had a great life,
full of love, and treats. He was healthy and happy up until his last moments.



So, not the eloquent, beautiful tribute that I wanted to write...but my raw
feelings after a night of missing my best buddy.



Rest well dear Austin...you are at the bridge with Carly, Lady, Bandit, Nadine,
and Anita. Give them all a kiss from me.



Jacquie

Here are just a few of the layouts I made about my wonderful Austin, over the years...I miss him already.

  
 

  

 

   

Some vintage flair

 I was just playing around with some of the great scrappy stuff that I got for Christmas (I know, it's March LOL).  My sister gave me some Graphic 45 papers for a gift, and I am blown away by the saturated colors and beautiful vintage designs. You will also notice that I once again used my sewing machine!  I think I am hooked! 

Thanks for all the birthday wishes for Austin, and the good thoughts for my girl Crystal.  She is doing much better.

Peace,

Jacquie

Austin - by the Numbers

     

For the last 15 years I've been so blessed to have a wonderful and sweet dog in my life.  His name is Austin.  I'm feeling very meloncholy today as every year that we celebrate his birthday, I feel so happy, and yet a bit sad as well.  Time goes so fast....I can't believe he is 15.

He doesn't have an impressive show record for me to brag about.  But he has made me very happy.  So, here is my Austin - by the numbers.

473364000 days on earth (so far)

5475 days that I've loved him

9398478902875 Tail wags

1 well deserved championship

9 beautiful litters

25 champions

3 pounds of crab legs eaten

1,994 trips to the garbage cans (this is just an estimate)

16 loaves of bread stolen

2 lovely daughters in my home

314 babies kissed

1 whole pizza to himself

3 awesome grandkids in my home

2 times through obedience classes

4 calls to the Poison Control hotline

2 pots of spaghetti consumed

8316 miles of counters surfed

739 toys owned and loved

24879 kisses for Mom

and there is no number for how happy he has made us over the last 15 years.  He is my best friend.  Happy Birthday little buddy!  (yes, you will be getting a cake!)

Jacquie

 

PS - a few years ago, there was a birthday video made by a friend.  The link is on Youtube if you want to see it again. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OURh5uLDeYU

Drive by post

 I played around with the new Basic Grey Marrakech papers.  I put together this little layout that I had in my head and this line was perfect for this picture of my husband.  :-)  Had a lot happen the last few days....I won't go into the gory details, but my Crystal girl ate a bunch of string, and required major emergency surgery.  She's home and sleeping but very sore.  We were very worried about her....of course.     

My sewing machine is my friend again

  Having Mom here sewing curtains for me forced me to become reacquainted with my sewing machine.  Its a nice machine and it works well.  It isn't a new machine, and it is a hand me down from Mom, but it is in great shape and was always well cared for and loved my Mom. I love the look of machine stitching on my layouts and cards....LOVE it.  I always look at others and think how finished and pretty their stuff looks with some sewing on it.  This layout was a ton of fun to make.  I actually made the whole layout first, and then sewed on it later.  I just did some free form sewing...nothing too fancy.  Oh, and here is a little tip for sewing on your layouts.  Your bobbin thread does not need to match the top thread, unless it will be seen from the other side, so that makes it much simpler than winding a new bobbin for every thread color.  So go forth and sew!!

Peace,
Jacquie