Love Note Pillows

I am thinking Valentines!  With 4 grandchildren, a husband and son-in-laws, sibling, etc. it's not too soon to start.   I found a really great idea for my grandchildren...love note pillows.  I have seen several ways to make them, but this is the easiest method and I can hardly wait.  Forget costly photo tranfer paper and printers!

These love note pillows are simple to make!  Sharpies.  Pillows.  Cloth to cover.  Sewing.   You can even buy a pillow already made and just recover it to make this go even faster.  No sewing machine?  No problem!  You can sew by hand.  That's what they did before the invention of sewing machines, right? 

http://daysofchalkandchocolate.blogspot.com/2012/01/love-note-pillows-and-question.html

QR codes and how you can use them.

     QR codes are square barcodes that smartphones and tablets can read. I'm sure you've seen them around. A QR code can contain information ranging from a website address or app download link to a calendar event or simply plain text. Once scanned, the information will show up on the person's phone.
     So? How can the average person use them? Put them on invites and include a Google map link or on shipping boxes when moving, listing what exactly is in them. You can even include videos onto Christmas cards.
     Simply create them on your computer using sites like QRStuff.com and Kayway . Just enter the information and you have an instant QR code. You can download it as an image, print it or email it for free.

     You make them simple or add color and images. Once you've created a code, you can download it as an image file, print out and use it.  

     Are you ready? Take a picture of this with your smartphone camera or android tablet camera and see what this qr code says. Let me know what you think.

New Year's Resolutions for Creative People

1. Set aside time to do something creative or inspiring. Read a book on your interests, go to a craft show or museum, experiment with a new medium.

2. Journal faithfully at least three times a week to record a sketch, drawing, your thoughts, or new ideas. Go a step further and make your own journal or remake a composition tablet.

3. Set aside at least half an hour a week to work on your creative interests or develop an idea further.

4. Break from the norm and regularly do something differently, try a different method or way. Try doing a project with someone instead of just by yourself.

5. Work creatively in different locations or find different sources for inspiration. Move from inside and go outside. Try going to an art museum and sketch some ideas down. Look at some commercial ads for inspiration.

6. Treat yourself to an item to use creatively tha you always felt was too extravagant.

7. Share your creativity with others by offering tips, teach or attend a class, join a related association. Have the courage to show others your work.

An article by Darla McCammon in the Warsaw Times Union served as the inspiration for this.

Jusr relaxing tonight.

Just finished watching The Help with Mike.  Judging from his laughter, he enjoyed it as much as I did the first time.  Great movie if you haven't seen it. Wonderful moral story.

Tomorrow I'll be working on my presentation in INDY on New Year's resolutions for membership.

Has it been this long?

Wow. Time sure seems to fly, doesn't it. I have been so busy with vacations, holidays, and work that I put this on the back burner. For some reason the grandkids seem to take most of my attention when they are around. Probably because I love them so much and enjoy the limited time with them. They are my focus when they visit or we visit them.

We had a great summer time with them and went camping which was an event in itself. Who knew we would pick a date that would coincide with a deluge of rain. Whew! I was soaking wet by morning even though we were in a tent. Fortunately, there were times that it didn't rain and I have memories of roasting marshmallows and boating on the lake. Not to mention Mike putting too much water in the pancake mix and we had to go to the camp store and buy food. Trust me, they are not known for their inexpensive prices.

Then came the holidays! We spent Thanksgiving with our son who had just relocated back to Wilmington, NC. We had a great time walking the historic downtown and seeing the Cotton Exchange. I was surprised how many families ate at Cracker Barrel! We had a wait of one hour and there were about 50 people standing or sitting on the "porch". Plus, the store was full! What an experience.

Christmas found us in Orlando with our oldest grandsons and daughter. This year the weather was wonderful. No winter coats, gloves, or hats were needed this year! We visited Dinosaur World with its life-sized dinosaurs and the new Lego Land. I would highly recommend both. What they were able to do with legos was amazing and they are adding a water park for this summer. Wheee!

Mike and I decided to do something for us this year and chose to go to St. Augustine. We had visited there over 20 years ago and remembered a quaint downtown. Whoa! Things have changed. Very commercial. We took the boys and visited the fort and a pirates museum. It was a great time. We decided to pass on the $4.95 per scoop ice cream and ate at a hole-in-the-wall Mexican place. Muy bien!

I'm now back in coooooold Indiana and wishing for the Florida sun. So what are doing?

Christmas in Orlando

The smell of the freshly cooked turkey and the sight of all the goodies makes my mouth water. We are trying a new dessert tries at Sweet Tomatoes...sweet potatoes with apples. Looks good doesn't it? Hmmmm...discovered that i can only upload at the same time as posting using the android app. Will post the photo separately.

A unique "weigh" to anchor tablecloths

Found a great way to anchor tablecloths...use fresh apples. Use an awl to pierce a channel through two apples from top to bottom. Thread twine through the channels, from the top of one to the bottom of the other.  Use just enough twine to stretch across the table and hang over the edge about 6-8 inches. Tie a two inch twig to the ends of the twine to keep the apples from sliding off.