tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32759572490140858002024-03-15T18:10:03.413-07:00Just By JosephineHandmade everything for anything...justbyjohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18164438305312333876noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275957249014085800.post-44662522185850466552013-08-04T19:00:00.000-07:002013-08-04T19:03:51.752-07:00My... BabySo I got a Baby.<br />
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Anyone who knows me is probably very confused right now. How does the college aged girl who has never even had a boyfriend have a baby? Easy, I bought one.<br />
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It was an investment, but so far I love having it around. Still thinking about names though and haven't decided about the gender. Haven't decided the gender? Oh yeah, it's not actually... human.<br />
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So pretty much every photographer I have ever met has referred to their camera as their baby. The first time I heard that I simply thought it was strange. The second and third times I questioned the photographers sanity due to their attachment to an inanimate object. Following occasions I began to think there was some strange cult... like those moms who buy life-like baby dolls and pretend they are real. Now I've joined their ranks (the photographers ranks I mean, not the weird moms.)<br />
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Well, I've mostly joined. I haven't referred to my new Nikon D3100 as my baby... yet. I haven't created a scrapbook of its first stuttering steps in ISO and aperture. And I <em>certainly</em> haven't lovingly cradled it in my arms, crying tears of joy, as I imagine our long future together, which will probably include Doctor Who and bacon, and feeling overwhelmed by the fact that I can have such a true and steady friend who will simply capture the memories instead of insisting that I share the bacon too. Certainly nothing like that.<br />
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I will tell you that I have never been so excited when waiting for a package. I don't know how many times I plugged in my tracking number to see where it was at. When the doorbell rang the only thing that could have made me happier was if I saw the current Doctor standing there with the TARDIS perched in one of the front yard trees. Unwrapping it was sort of like Christmas on steroids. Taking my first Photo Adventure was great fun. <br />
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And it was during that adventure when I got the first inkling of why photographers might refer to their camera as their baby. And not just cause you want to hold it close to your heart... but because when you do, it's heavy. Seriously. How do these photographers do it? I lugged my camera bag all over campus and when I got home I felt like I had not just a baby strapped across my shoulders, but more like a very small hippo. And the camera is so heavy around my neck. This could be just me, because sometimes even just wearing lightweight necklaces gives me headaches, but my neck is always sore after carrying my camera around. I really wanted to have this camera for if I study abroad, but now I'm wondering if I'm that committed. I guess I'll just have to keep practicing and maybe hope that love will lift the weight from my shoulders. Till then, I can see how "baby" is an adequate description.<br />
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The photo below is from my first Photo Adventure, and is of a yellow hibiscus. Not a perfect photo, but pretty good for the first hour of use I'd say!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/justbyjo/9441196128/" title="yellow hibiscus by justbyjo, on Flickr"><img alt="yellow hibiscus" height="427" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3823/9441196128_999f2a9d65_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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Oh yeah, I'm thinking about Mildred. Opinions?justbyjohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18164438305312333876noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275957249014085800.post-80032095919370339242013-05-29T11:00:00.001-07:002013-05-29T11:02:16.244-07:00Obsession... Oh My!I used to be obsessed. I mean, knock-down drag out in love. You know how some girls are all "Team Edward!" "Team Jacob!" "Team Anything Hot and Popular!!!" Yeah, well, when I was 10 I was like "Team I Freaking Love Books!" and "Team What Is Twilight?" and "Team I Love The Wizard of Oz!"<br />
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Yep, the Wizard of Oz. I was into guys made of metal before Iron Man made them cool. I liked green people before the Hulk made them awesome. I liked people without brains before Bella made them... oh wait, no, she didn't really give anything a good name. Anyways, while other kids shuddered at the sight of a flying monkey I was like "ermergerd rubyr slerperrrs!" And not because I was particularly fond of shoes.<br />
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I had this calendar with pictures from the movie and my mom and I cut it up and laminated it and then hung them all over my room and painted the walls and furniture to match. I had a Glinda bank, a Wizard of Oz clock, and Oz themed fabric. I collected all the books and movies. Wait - books and movies? Plural? Oh yeah - it didn't stop with The Wizard of Oz. You've got Ozma of Oz, Rinkitink in Oz, The Road to Oz and a whole host of others. Plus the books other authors wrote when L. Frank Baum died - including some by his illustrator and also his son.<br />
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I like to think I've gotten out of the Oz obsession phase and have moved on to other things like Harry Potter and Doctor Who. But I admit I still like it. In fact, just naming off some of those old books really makes me want to re-read them. However, perhaps the reason I know the phase is over is because I found The Wizard of Oz shoved under my bed a few days ago and it looked so sad and lonely I just couldn't bear to shove it back under... so I cut it up and made it into some cards.<br />
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Okay, I left you guys some room to gasp and freak out for a moment. I promise you I love books. And I promise I still love the Wizard of Oz. But I hate books that just sit under my bed so lonely. Plus, it's not like it was my only copy! And, I also figured some of the pages would feel much more loved when they were in the hands of a soldier overseas. I used the pages to decorate the front of AnyHero Mail, that is, letters of encouragement for our American hero's. The cards will then be donated to <a href="http://operationwritehome.org/" target="_blank">Operation Write Home</a> which will mail them to hero's who don't get much mail.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/justbyjo/8881284346/" title="Wizard of Oz brown by justbyjo, on Flickr"><img alt="Wizard of Oz brown" height="640" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3751/8881284346_58241f76be_z.jpg" width="480" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/justbyjo/8880666009/" title="Wizard of Oz pink by justbyjo, on Flickr"><img alt="Wizard of Oz pink" height="480" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3699/8880666009_b0b4c7410d_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/justbyjo/8880666113/" title="Wizard of Oz red by justbyjo, on Flickr"><img alt="Wizard of Oz red" height="640" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2818/8880666113_3b8246ce1b_z.jpg" width="480" /></a>
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This card-making technique is so easy and... I don't know, I guess I just love books even if they are cut up into pieces. I'm sort of hooked and can't stop making them! I think half of my motivation to write letters is just to make these cards at this point. Seriously, I freaking love making these cards! And the quotes are sometimes so perfect and... shoot.</div>
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I'm obsessed.<br />
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Again.justbyjohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18164438305312333876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275957249014085800.post-55684386640161269202013-05-16T15:43:00.000-07:002013-05-16T16:47:32.569-07:00Whew!I think the title describes it all. Whew is right! It's been a crazy semester at college. I don't ever actually remember breathing, but I must have since I'm still here. I don't think I remember sleeping either. Maybe I did. I definitely ate though - some of my best friendships were formed through food. That is, if bacon can even be classified as simply a food... I'm thinking it deserves a title closer to Life-Giving-Substance-That-Tastes-Like-Heaven-In-A-Frying-Pan. So yes, I definitely remember eating bacon. And baking cookies. And making crepes. Not sure about the vegetables though... I think I probably ate them at some point. Hm.<br />
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So, yeah, a crazy semester in which breathing, sleeping, and eating healthy was forsaken! But, really, what else are college memories made of? I certainly did homework somewhere in there and did amazing in all my classes (that's not bragging if the grades back me up haha), but I won't be telling my kids about that great afternoon I spent working on an English paper. Although I might tell them about the time I spent an hour in a "study group" for history which deteriorated to making voices like Yoda and Tinkerbell. Yeah, I think they might enjoy that one... especially if I include the sound effects.<br />
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You know what else I didn't do a lot of in college? Crafting. Seriously, I've missed my ATG tape gun. A lot. That's probably something really weird for a college kid to miss... I mean, imagine the conversations that could take place:<br />
RANDOM ADULT FRIEND OF PARENTS: So what do you like best about being home?<br />
ME: ...I get to use my tape gun?<br />
ADULT: I think the stress got to her.<br />
But, in all seriousness, I really have enjoyed crafting again. And taking some time to write letters! I'm still making cards to donate to Operation Write Home, and I'm still writing letters to heroes to send to OWH. I wrote a bunch through my year at college and now it's time to mail them off. I probably should have done that more regularly throughout the school year but... well, like I said, breathing, sleeping, healthy eating wasn't happening, let alone mailing off packages.<br />
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To start the summer crafting marathon off right, I've posted a picture of one of the cards I made recently! Rather simple design, which I like, and the teal blue color is one of my most absolute favorites in the world. I mean, if I <em>had</em> to choose a favorite color that would probably be it. But I'd feel bad for all the pretty colors I left out.<br />
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Anyways - I can't promise to post here regularly throughout the summer. Promises, promises... easily made, not so easily kept. But, I am in a writing <em>and</em> a crafting mood, so I figure posting may kill two birds with one stone (although I really don't advocate killing birds and my aim is so bad I would probably end up hitting some rabid animal hiding in the bush which would come out to chase me. Oh, and I don't run, so I guess I'm doomed. Yeah, let's stay away from killing birds with stones. The consequences could be terrible.)<br />
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So - happy summer, happy crafting, happy eating-sleeping-breathing on a semi-regular basis!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/justbyjo/8745805702/" title="teal and yellow origami flower by justbyjo, on Flickr"><img alt="teal and yellow origami flower" height="480" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7302/8745805702_ff7d60bfac_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
justbyjohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18164438305312333876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275957249014085800.post-48651808777818921552013-04-05T02:11:00.000-07:002013-04-05T02:11:03.535-07:00All<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em>Jesus paid it all<o:p></o:p></em></strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">All of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The little white lie you told your parents, the gossip you spread, the time you ignored a person in need, the impure thoughts, the malicious actions… everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And not just for you – for everyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every single person living on the earth today, their sins were all paid for by Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The irritating person who likes you more than you like them, the pastor who isn’t perfect, the prisoner who raped, murdered, and stole.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Christ</span> came to pay for all of the sins of all the people, past, present, and future.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">He really paid for them too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes when one thinks of the word “paid” a simple transaction comes to mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We think of Jesus coming to earth and chillin’ down here for a while before deciding it was probably time to trade in his life for the forgiveness of sins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it wasn’t that painless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus really paid for our sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He didn’t just trade his life in as if he were exchanging an old car for a new one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, he paid for all sin for all people with all of himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He lost everything, not just his life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stripped nearly naked and ridiculed, he sacrificed his dignity for our sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whipped until his flesh was filled with long gouges pouring blood, Jesus paid for our sin with his comfort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The entire time his mother watched.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The woman who had rocked him to sleep as a baby, who had raised him into a young man, who had watched him work as a carpenter, was forced to look on from the sidelines as her son was tortured in a manner that must have made her sick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was hard enough for her, but Jesus knew she watched his suffering and he had to give up his peace of mind that his own family could be spared the horror of seeing him in his current condition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus paid everything he had in the most terrible manner possible for all the sin of all the people.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em><strong>All to him I owe<o:p></o:p></strong></em></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">All of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everything. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">my</i> sin he suffered for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The thing is, I should have been in his place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, with all I have done to hurt Him, Jesus probably should have been the one driving nails through my hands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead, he took my place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t just stand on the sidelines weeping in gratitude though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I held the whip in my hand and beat him repeatedly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I shoved a makeshift crown constructed of thorns on his brow so hard it punctured his skin and caused little rivelets of blood to trickle down his face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mocked him when he fell and the cross nearly crushed him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it was my left hand which held the nail steady as I raised the mallet in my right.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Christ did this for me without complaint.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He did it knowing I would continue to whip and mock him with each sin I committed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He paid for it knowing I might not even accept him as my Savior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For this perfect, unconditional love, I owe him everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just as he didn’t only give up his life, so I can’t just give him mine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I must give up my dignity, comfort, wants, time, money, talents… everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Without Him I would be without it anyways, as I would have been the one hanging from that cross.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em><strong>Sin had left a crimson stain</strong></em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Without Jesus I would be wearing red.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps even more than that – without Jesus I would <em>be</em> red.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sin would be my identity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The thing is, stains hard to hide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure, you can try to cover them up for a while, but soon enough you’ll get another somewhere else and the more you accumulate the more difficult it is to hide them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And with sin, they all leave the same crimson mark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not like a white lie is a little faded pink pin prick near the hem and adultery is a large blood red blot on the shoulder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, all are the same and are equally obvious to God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only are they hard to hide, but they are also hard to wash out.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em><strong>But he washed it white as snow<o:p></o:p></strong></em></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here’s what I find interesting – Jesus washed out blood with blood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The blood we have on our hands from all manner of sins, he cleanses it off with his own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It doesn’t make sense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was baptized into His death and subsequent resurrection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was baptized into his suffering, His pain, his blood, and then resurrected with His triumph.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Through water and blood I am made as white and as pure as snow.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The idea of being washed also evokes the image of Jesus washing his disciple’s feet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This simple act of service is reminiscent of his entire ministry and the sacrifice of his death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His whole life seemed to be about washing – washing others with love, washing them physically in acts of service, and washing away their sins with his blood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a reminder that if we want to imitate Him then we must wash others with love and service in any way we can.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Since Jesus paid for all the sin of all the people with all he had, I owe him all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I must ask for His help in making Him my all so He may use me to reach all I meet, even if in the smallest way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lord, you paid it all, and I owe all to you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be my all.</span>justbyjohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18164438305312333876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275957249014085800.post-57580005625180810442012-07-27T10:19:00.000-07:002012-07-27T10:19:28.031-07:00One of My Nicest Thoughts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This is one of the handmade cards I made for <a href="http://operationwritehome.org/" target="_blank">Operation Write Home.</a> I folded an origami heart from a book page and then used a stamp set for the sentiment.</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/justbyjo/7473239806/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="P1160708 by justbyjo, on Flickr"><img alt="P1160708" height="480" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8147/7473239806_91bb898722_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/justbyjo/7473289830/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="P1160712 by justbyjo, on Flickr"><img alt="P1160712" height="480" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7271/7473289830_8ba797f94d_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>justbyjohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18164438305312333876noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275957249014085800.post-80944568963562499132012-07-17T10:10:00.000-07:002012-07-17T10:17:44.431-07:00I Have Returned<br />
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I’m back!</div>
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Sorta.</div>
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Kinda…</div>
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Maybe!</div>
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I’ll explain… sorta… kinda… maybe!</div>
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Okay, I’m done with the sorta, kindas, and maybes (kinda… sorta… maybe… nooo stop it fingers! Y u no type right?) …See? Reason #73 I should never write when I’m tired, hungry, or hopped up on sugar. And I’m not even tired or hyper right now, just really hungry.</div>
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ANYWAYS. To the point. I’m back. Just not in the same way was before!</div>
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I’ve been in some scary places the past few months. To the State of <st1:state w:st="on">Waiting</st1:state> for Some Exciting Things To Happen. To the Land of Creating a New Blog and a journey to Discovering a New Blog Does Not Mean One Automatically Creates Brilliant Posts. I’ve been to Infinity! And Beyond!</div>
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Yes, I did create a new blog. One of the reasons was because this one was connected to my Etsy store. Not only was my Etsy site failing miserably, I hate selling things (I mean, apart from souls… kidding, kidding – I’m a ginger, I don’t have one.) I guess one of the reasons I hate selling things is because I hate having things sold to me. If I want to buy something, I’ll buy it, if not, well, I hardly doubt you can convince me. It was really hard for me to try to recruit people to buy things from my shop, and I felt like all my posts here had to relate to what I was trying to sell, you know, to build a fan base or something like that... and somehow I didn't think book reviews and life rants fit into that.</div>
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Of course, when I got my new blog I discovered a few things. 1) A new name does not necessarily mean I got new (more regular, witty, and interesting) posting habits. 2) I really love the custom template I’ve made here (what? I like pretty things!) 3) I still need a <i>reason</i> to post. And the reason for having a blog is everything.</div>
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Recently I had an epiphany while writing (a whole ‘nother post there), but the basic premise was this: I have to write because I love to write. I decided the same was true for blogging. I have to blog because I love to do it. I can’t blog to sell things (goes against my personality), I can’t blog to inform other people (because, then I’m just another informative blog in a sea of millions), and I can’t blog to aid my future career (because, well, I don’t exactly know what that will be. And I’m sure this is nowhere near professional enough. I mean, just look at that introduction!) All those things could be side benefits – but they can’t be the main reason!</div>
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So, yes, I’m back! What does this mean? When I have something to post, I will. I love writing book reviews, so you’ll get some of those. I love making handmade cards and writing letters to heroes, so you’ll get some posts about that. I love being nonsensical and writing about random things that happen to me. I’m going to be very busy in the next few weeks, months, and years, as I am starting a new chapter of my life. That means I can’t promise to have weekly posts on a certain theme or host bloghops or do anything that a professional, real blogger would do. It just means that when I have something to say, I will!</div>
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I have a few book reviews in reserve, so I will try to set those to post automatically (since I’m sure I’ll forget. Hey, I may be back, but that doesn’t mean I suddenly have great memory retrieval tricks.) I also have some Word documents with rants about writing, Doctor Who, internet memes, and glitter-phobia (intrigued?)</div>
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I will end this post not with goodbye, but with a hello! And an allons-y!<br />
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P.S. Rereading this (and going all Grammar Nazi on it and stuff) I realize that I've used a lot of exclamation points. This bothers me grammatically, but the perpetually cheerful side of me can't bear to delete a single one. So I'm keeping them! Just thought I would apologize for those that were also bothered. Feel free to post a long exclamation point free comment to counter the excess of them in this post.</div>justbyjohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18164438305312333876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275957249014085800.post-60902783348024485812012-02-12T12:34:00.000-08:002012-02-12T12:39:00.085-08:00Stars and Stamps Our Daily Bread February ChallengeMy first challenge! This card was made for the <a href="http://www.owhstarsandstamps.org/2012/02/february-odbd-challenge.html">Stars and Stamps ODBD challenge</a> and we were supposed to use "yummy ribbon." I don't know how "yummy" this ribbon is, but I am really happy I learned to tie such a neat looking bow, courtesy of<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwRcjaH57P8"> this video here</a>. It also features an origami dress folded from a 3x3inch piece of origami paper. I don't usually do such pastel colors, nor three patterned papers together, but I was happy at how this card turned out!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/justbyjo/6864844299/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="February Our Daily Bread Challenge by justbyjo, on Flickr"><img alt="February Our Daily Bread Challenge" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7198/6864844299_58e7ee7291_z.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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This was my first challenge for OWH and... it was really fun! I don't know if I can do them regularly, I'm sorta strapped for time and do cards sporadically whenever I have a free day, but I certainly hope I can participate in more!<br />
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Thanks for visiting!justbyjohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18164438305312333876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275957249014085800.post-1860884220993089972012-02-01T08:44:00.000-08:002012-02-01T08:44:46.177-08:00Spirelli and spirelli and spirelli... oh my!I've been having more fun with Spirelli cards! These are all made for <a href="http://operationwritehome.org/">OperationWriteHome.org</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/justbyjo/6801915569/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Pink Spirelli Close-Up by justbyjo, on Flickr"><img alt="Pink Spirelli Close-Up" height="480" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7032/6801915569_fe34734f1b_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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One tip for making Spirelli cards is to remember that dark thread shows up well on light paper, but light thread doesn't "pop" when wound around dark paper. My solution? Use thicker strands of light colored threads. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/justbyjo/6801915559/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Pink Spirelli by justbyjo, on Flickr"><img alt="Pink Spirelli" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7169/6801915559_eaf451b7e9_z.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Using thick embroidery thread makes this a bold fun card. Now, see how it contrasts with a card made with single strands of dark embroidery thread on a light background.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/justbyjo/6801915579/" title="Green Spirelli by justbyjo, on Flickr"><img alt="Green Spirelli" height="480" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7168/6801915579_725cfe4992_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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These are two totally different looks, using the same colors - just reversed!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/justbyjo/6801915557/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Patriotic Spirelli by justbyjo, on Flickr"><img alt="Patriotic Spirelli" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7003/6801915557_9bf949432d_z.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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I also made a rather patriotic card... perfect for our military! </div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/justbyjo/6801915587/" title="Purple Spirelli Flower by justbyjo, on Flickr"><img alt="Purple Spirelli Flower" height="480" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7159/6801915587_f95c124faf_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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I have also made a flower with Spirelli. I didn't have any stamps with flower stems, so I had to improvise and draw one of my own. I'm not sure what this means as far as sending it to <a href="http://operationwritehome.org/">OWH</a>, I know that crafters can't include handwritten sentiments, so it might be the same rules for hand-drawn.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/justbyjo/6801915593/" title="Purple Spirelli Flower Close-Up by justbyjo, on Flickr"><img alt="Purple Spirelli Flower Close-Up" height="480" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7019/6801915593_72854a32a4_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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I hope you enjoyed these Spirelli cards! I hope to post a tutorial on how to make them one of these days.justbyjohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18164438305312333876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275957249014085800.post-30561215338910274092012-01-26T13:04:00.000-08:002012-01-26T13:04:44.692-08:00Paper 3D Snowflakes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I'm doing a service project at an assisted living home and we need centerpieces for the party we're hosting. Here is the snowflake I made with instructions found <a href="http://www.squidoo.com/make-paper-snowflakes">HERE</a></div>
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I might post a tutorial at some point, with the tips and tricks I discovered while making it!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieYMbLC09hyphenhyphenaz78o5vWdZqxeSOqowwt_jHoN1VtJGgdGbElpemfTE6fkxwaWjl1zSE757fURy6Ns2oqR01YPpD_3TgdRcqPN6Mec8K-OMcJeiovBjy2cZZNQ4RH8N7LtWXEalOhqcvrnFv/s1600/snowflake+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieYMbLC09hyphenhyphenaz78o5vWdZqxeSOqowwt_jHoN1VtJGgdGbElpemfTE6fkxwaWjl1zSE757fURy6Ns2oqR01YPpD_3TgdRcqPN6Mec8K-OMcJeiovBjy2cZZNQ4RH8N7LtWXEalOhqcvrnFv/s640/snowflake+1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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The snowflake was made out of six sheets of 8.5x8.5 inch copy paper. It measures nearly 22 inches across!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_w7UFywPP2oTEnM5s3bhu3u6OdRVATajNq1VvZo27Ww6FtlFhwL8epto8NmYd8Oh-eGugAR3LEB_z5Cw_vEl9FLjwMxZ-xnmcAf6FB6I_CEBLYoz-QDNQuxK7CQcghFDjMq5pT930ie2x/s1600/snowflake+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_w7UFywPP2oTEnM5s3bhu3u6OdRVATajNq1VvZo27Ww6FtlFhwL8epto8NmYd8Oh-eGugAR3LEB_z5Cw_vEl9FLjwMxZ-xnmcAf6FB6I_CEBLYoz-QDNQuxK7CQcghFDjMq5pT930ie2x/s640/snowflake+2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>justbyjohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18164438305312333876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275957249014085800.post-67704647466385312402012-01-19T08:52:00.000-08:002012-01-19T08:55:00.627-08:00Metallic Spirelli CardsRemember making Spirelli as a kid? It's still fun years later!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh17EgU1zntjvLAvHBSTWZyn3DJV6eGM3-hLkAAGn4yCwOJqKQhDsoreYz3t8A4-DzuLB8c4Cc_Ygh67Ycj6Zuo2r4LmeB587gGLL43UIArQ1y3loqDNzyTktMrqJgV-CFym9qRBTyim11/s1600/P1160268.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh17EgU1zntjvLAvHBSTWZyn3DJV6eGM3-hLkAAGn4yCwOJqKQhDsoreYz3t8A4-DzuLB8c4Cc_Ygh67Ycj6Zuo2r4LmeB587gGLL43UIArQ1y3loqDNzyTktMrqJgV-CFym9qRBTyim11/s640/P1160268.jpg" width="476" /></a></div>
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I have wound metallic thread around a flower shape cut from a Cricut. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigfQ5v6mTCuckqXcGg8uD54rHTyU1_J9otlGj-g-gm1TOzx_9TZi6XfRhasHBtnBUzlpaKxzrq21Ugdy2qQz1QmkMvHu0Xytu3oMiYsJ5SzG9DTCeHrpOyPjTQLxEdLeNyF4pwMqF2Ux4R/s1600/P1160288.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigfQ5v6mTCuckqXcGg8uD54rHTyU1_J9otlGj-g-gm1TOzx_9TZi6XfRhasHBtnBUzlpaKxzrq21Ugdy2qQz1QmkMvHu0Xytu3oMiYsJ5SzG9DTCeHrpOyPjTQLxEdLeNyF4pwMqF2Ux4R/s640/P1160288.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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These are cards I am donating to Operation Write Home (an organization that sends handmade cards to our heroes overseas so they have something nice on which to write home!) Since this was made for a soldier to write home on, the inside of the card is not black because I mounted the black square onto a white cardstock base.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi31gIFS0eKB7-WF101RVC_lVS80W28eeM9SRDt_7M4DAYwODLw5zHidiqzXkz2-MVoDBVJroSvS2wNc4SeFH9pB-cEr734RNQiOeDCIaEVZgPyB820Fr7iOWkjQV7fWO3yANTbwEwC2CmX/s1600/P1160322.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi31gIFS0eKB7-WF101RVC_lVS80W28eeM9SRDt_7M4DAYwODLw5zHidiqzXkz2-MVoDBVJroSvS2wNc4SeFH9pB-cEr734RNQiOeDCIaEVZgPyB820Fr7iOWkjQV7fWO3yANTbwEwC2CmX/s640/P1160322.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
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Have you noticed my background? I have several hardback books that are the same color and I simply stood them upright to block out the (very) messy background.</div>
<br />justbyjohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18164438305312333876noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275957249014085800.post-10294696241073134162011-12-21T11:50:00.001-08:002011-12-21T11:53:57.771-08:00Elegant Blue and Gold Lucky Stars<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The blue stars and gold stars are very pretty on their own, but combining them leads to a stunning result.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFg-JAZIunuPVoD1ec8rdJMLzbOHl3hDdGuMmxQzcUg2HWNhg9kdcTGLTgfoxSEbkXt7uGU7QrHP3foH2bO1F3j6maRk0Ambr3S_nRjOx5_jejl1-zGMi1-TEtELEs2lDSHjKmz8ZxTdwr/s1600/Blue-and-gold-stars-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFg-JAZIunuPVoD1ec8rdJMLzbOHl3hDdGuMmxQzcUg2HWNhg9kdcTGLTgfoxSEbkXt7uGU7QrHP3foH2bO1F3j6maRk0Ambr3S_nRjOx5_jejl1-zGMi1-TEtELEs2lDSHjKmz8ZxTdwr/s640/Blue-and-gold-stars-4.jpg" width="422" /></a></div>
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The gold stars were placed in a circle around the bottom of the wineglass and then the blue stars were laid so two gold stars were between each of them.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixNEkY8Dr5M6fueZCp5cppo1wRKR4NZIIVL0QkQt-uby_088so7FzDXn0iCt2x6gGdwvVzgYcK7rOynYbrKKYUqmiuouSGlt6i_zDP-5NE3IefmxF7QJoyAdMxF5fiIt7UXKljcjw0a9ZD/s1600/Blue-and-gold-stars-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixNEkY8Dr5M6fueZCp5cppo1wRKR4NZIIVL0QkQt-uby_088so7FzDXn0iCt2x6gGdwvVzgYcK7rOynYbrKKYUqmiuouSGlt6i_zDP-5NE3IefmxF7QJoyAdMxF5fiIt7UXKljcjw0a9ZD/s640/Blue-and-gold-stars-2.jpg" width="476" /></a></div>
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The result reminds me of a snowflake! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_8YtHY1gn1qdalNkg9vw2gXMPHScPqn86wtOtlHOSlcYNmgGsQZBwQKWn1TGQm_yt1IN74MTQ6eRNorVM1OUQkO4iDoAF8rlNrdrmGlmUj4KVSBZGmtmfBNVgBqn4JV9z8z3Zn3UNN_E5/s1600/Blue-and-gold-stars-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_8YtHY1gn1qdalNkg9vw2gXMPHScPqn86wtOtlHOSlcYNmgGsQZBwQKWn1TGQm_yt1IN74MTQ6eRNorVM1OUQkO4iDoAF8rlNrdrmGlmUj4KVSBZGmtmfBNVgBqn4JV9z8z3Zn3UNN_E5/s640/Blue-and-gold-stars-3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Really, the designs you could make with lucky stars are limitless. You could put several rows of stars alternating colors to make a huge snowflake design for a grand centerpiece.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBlfc8R5Dx76epR-fN24siIYtlPJWBw3Qfy5SweA8it3wZiSH3OIHtOhtdAKR92katyyTyTH9nUeD1grlgCSi0QCLIpNJl8xiRTrKYxnd32QZ9PJ-BdUeHMASMsIIgUKkjWT50XP_0pKgF/s1600/Blue-and-gold-stars-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBlfc8R5Dx76epR-fN24siIYtlPJWBw3Qfy5SweA8it3wZiSH3OIHtOhtdAKR92katyyTyTH9nUeD1grlgCSi0QCLIpNJl8xiRTrKYxnd32QZ9PJ-BdUeHMASMsIIgUKkjWT50XP_0pKgF/s640/Blue-and-gold-stars-1.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
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Of course, a simple circle of gold stars is just as elegant!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8uauyAGMtZyNK8GpxC_MFaVV-HEaExkdxkoWkJtYUFC98YT9DKsfxOiXRXhLMN8wwyHiWrnbcgjLA2anmX5JzxXM2fyuvWLSa1GbHGZm95Ky_0odbTcETjbyAYeZQ07bq-_Potr1K2lqh/s1600/Blue-and-gold-stars-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8uauyAGMtZyNK8GpxC_MFaVV-HEaExkdxkoWkJtYUFC98YT9DKsfxOiXRXhLMN8wwyHiWrnbcgjLA2anmX5JzxXM2fyuvWLSa1GbHGZm95Ky_0odbTcETjbyAYeZQ07bq-_Potr1K2lqh/s640/Blue-and-gold-stars-5.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
<br />justbyjohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18164438305312333876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275957249014085800.post-22580372005232859912011-12-21T11:50:00.000-08:002011-12-21T11:50:35.940-08:00Elegant Lucky Stars in Blue Wineglass<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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These lucky stars are blue with gold streaks, coordinating perfectly with a blue stemmed wineglass and gold stars set around the bottom.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBGNmtOAxs6cZGtbs4KMDkknk-_nYcJ0XMxjKk6HzHjxhql0PdAK3fKb7cHZxTYrA2_zcgt2_n1ZKrjZcr7aLmwRd1EkQufYhs0p_60iGS745GrUo4n-CDr60g-wuQj5KVhi3XQs6wQEZ/s1600/Blue-wineglass-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBGNmtOAxs6cZGtbs4KMDkknk-_nYcJ0XMxjKk6HzHjxhql0PdAK3fKb7cHZxTYrA2_zcgt2_n1ZKrjZcr7aLmwRd1EkQufYhs0p_60iGS745GrUo4n-CDr60g-wuQj5KVhi3XQs6wQEZ/s640/Blue-wineglass-4.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihOnR7Z2xg2CVXXX2SqBc9K09jRq5VSRC3vK3GU5ErQE9IoWexivup1J3SD1DMvsRn_D2wmfSXt6Rw_GWbexnBR7fX9JRZZ3WB5FcAaR9Edmd_CagnAH_KLG4ND3q_z2jLU8iaIfEnQRo0/s1600/Blue-wineglass-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihOnR7Z2xg2CVXXX2SqBc9K09jRq5VSRC3vK3GU5ErQE9IoWexivup1J3SD1DMvsRn_D2wmfSXt6Rw_GWbexnBR7fX9JRZZ3WB5FcAaR9Edmd_CagnAH_KLG4ND3q_z2jLU8iaIfEnQRo0/s640/Blue-wineglass-3.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
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Although these stars could work for any occasion, the deep blue color reminds me of especially of the Christmas season.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9EJT49xHdNOmdZCaJ8bp90ERsGCa5uTDRHuFQ6GzDJ59_gq3xvo-RgOuXneOuYlIc5dri1EpvDGIDWl8HC4OsBmmTclLWDMdAu5H7eM71vQfX0zVqz5WQcagyFnqft_XOlG5Ml6UKWtX_/s1600/Blue-wineglass-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9EJT49xHdNOmdZCaJ8bp90ERsGCa5uTDRHuFQ6GzDJ59_gq3xvo-RgOuXneOuYlIc5dri1EpvDGIDWl8HC4OsBmmTclLWDMdAu5H7eM71vQfX0zVqz5WQcagyFnqft_XOlG5Ml6UKWtX_/s640/Blue-wineglass-2.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
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Setting gold stars around the bottom of the wineglass really gives the setting an extra "pop"!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFISeJSHHWKno7hfRhlgX0IqvMw-xLgY1iDzjxVKikFpxoK5kkcGsL9aPhxG4TbtgNwx5-0OkgIblykeLy3-FmeBOCnA5lJJKMzHjmVscQIa1bkL20yI4HMClhITn6BiQTA2-lwSFmlaAQ/s1600/Blue-wineglass-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFISeJSHHWKno7hfRhlgX0IqvMw-xLgY1iDzjxVKikFpxoK5kkcGsL9aPhxG4TbtgNwx5-0OkgIblykeLy3-FmeBOCnA5lJJKMzHjmVscQIa1bkL20yI4HMClhITn6BiQTA2-lwSFmlaAQ/s640/Blue-wineglass-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>justbyjohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18164438305312333876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275957249014085800.post-2438776877544548882011-12-21T10:49:00.000-08:002011-12-21T11:50:45.301-08:00Elegant Lucky Stars in Gold Goblet<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Lucky stars can be cute, but they are also very elegant when folded from metallic papers.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwwY-SPIizDGivtMTrNcJn4jJ4eWLfVsXPMGiuVY5yiAL6GSiHQdTABPmes2w48OrHabFMamqyiXM5Sv7aOAlqb8Bkk4NcH8xQOPIXd8bmEbLC21QDXBnIC8vKwKwnXIpAzN18JuTzG5mL/s1600/Gold-goblet-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwwY-SPIizDGivtMTrNcJn4jJ4eWLfVsXPMGiuVY5yiAL6GSiHQdTABPmes2w48OrHabFMamqyiXM5Sv7aOAlqb8Bkk4NcH8xQOPIXd8bmEbLC21QDXBnIC8vKwKwnXIpAzN18JuTzG5mL/s640/Gold-goblet-2.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
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One of the most sophisticated ways to use lucky stars is to place them in a wineglass or a goblet.<br />
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You can use a plain wineglass or one that complements the stars.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwIeJa9UffiTk98oQOImzfDKcRRj8mdQkYXCLSVbdQzA_838-xX5F7m4wRwqwa65JkoTMn8u6r0080iGyXSuOM-s-9s1DTOqWl0EGXKfVlcCyKFA8Irsl4I5LeHFJJ5H_tC90EmGq9LCon/s1600/Gold-goblet-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwIeJa9UffiTk98oQOImzfDKcRRj8mdQkYXCLSVbdQzA_838-xX5F7m4wRwqwa65JkoTMn8u6r0080iGyXSuOM-s-9s1DTOqWl0EGXKfVlcCyKFA8Irsl4I5LeHFJJ5H_tC90EmGq9LCon/s640/Gold-goblet-4.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
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This would be the perfect centerpiece for tables at a wedding or other elegant party.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-YDWaFybKpHl_ZaKURowgHyhe2LpPcTDYhT_8IxSlKfl-stZZLOX_OaIwzOQn9t0U95zHQvR7KnJh4DLwt1JQqVwWYJIupZlHDRoI6TM3Bh3agGddMt1kjXp3tkYffZ0IlhclWDbjiARL/s1600/Gold-goblet-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-YDWaFybKpHl_ZaKURowgHyhe2LpPcTDYhT_8IxSlKfl-stZZLOX_OaIwzOQn9t0U95zHQvR7KnJh4DLwt1JQqVwWYJIupZlHDRoI6TM3Bh3agGddMt1kjXp3tkYffZ0IlhclWDbjiARL/s640/Gold-goblet-5.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
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If you scatter the stars around the table, they also take the form of a classy confetti that your guests will want to take home (talk about easy clean up!)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKq7a4hQ0jLi63pwi7eO8nz1BIfaGpxVYPmIOoawUHysrnOabhubw7MT15cbO0sRMQrPuQHzoq0InUkMomGORb_n5gHBhA4ZGAmbKXOOd-tRMpJY2iM2Dt3pF2A2W5-ERVhnGAIPyTvB3z/s1600/Gold-goblet-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKq7a4hQ0jLi63pwi7eO8nz1BIfaGpxVYPmIOoawUHysrnOabhubw7MT15cbO0sRMQrPuQHzoq0InUkMomGORb_n5gHBhA4ZGAmbKXOOd-tRMpJY2iM2Dt3pF2A2W5-ERVhnGAIPyTvB3z/s640/Gold-goblet-3.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
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Gold stars would also be a great gift for a "golden anniversary." Imagine giving your loved one 50 gold stars in a wineglass or maybe 500 in a vase! The gift could be displayed for many more years to come and will be a continual reminder of your love. You could also write one thing you love about the person on every single star and have your loved one read a new one each day.</div>justbyjohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18164438305312333876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275957249014085800.post-61255920540716376522011-12-17T14:07:00.000-08:002011-12-17T14:07:21.696-08:00New Blog LayoutIf you can't tell, I've redesigned my blog! I felt the need for something a little "cleaner." I changed the colors to black and white so that things would be easier to read, especially the links. I hope the fun fonts show up, I really like them. I also adjusted the width of my blog so I can use huge pictures. Then, of course, there is the header...<div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhepN3MnTLsthUK5UfBtm1jxJbzPRjMBPSznhU7lTxoNpSXX5DOcT7_PBpY8MjgYo1BBkipmnY7te36FFcMQ9FwUZ7xF5n7uF1PW4iYj9v1vuCJ7EppldKBR8SerjPFEVyBKn18-8hszZqR/s1600/blog+header+to+show+off.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhepN3MnTLsthUK5UfBtm1jxJbzPRjMBPSznhU7lTxoNpSXX5DOcT7_PBpY8MjgYo1BBkipmnY7te36FFcMQ9FwUZ7xF5n7uF1PW4iYj9v1vuCJ7EppldKBR8SerjPFEVyBKn18-8hszZqR/s640/blog+header+to+show+off.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Okay, I'm going to brag for a moment... isn't it beautiful???? Alright, bragging done. But seriously, I really like this. The blog is clean, and somewhat professional looking, but still has that little "pop" that is totally me!</div>
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The curvy design is a spirelli (you know, that string art you did as a kid). I had already made it for a digital scrapbooking set and had never used it before! I was thinking of using the spirelli I made to accent backgrounds, but I think inserting photos within them could make a really interesting (albeit difficult) scrapbook layout.
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The hardest part of creating the header (after actually figuring out what I even wanted to do for my header and trying various photo-montages) was finding the right photos. I have tons of photos, but not all of them look good in such small spaces. I had to stretch some of them out... the stretch is somewhat noticeable to me, but what do you think? If you had to pick, which are the ones that you think needed to be stretched?</div>
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After finding the right photos, it wasn't to hard to insert them. A little bit finicky re-sizing them once they were placed in their slots but, overall, not to bad.</div>
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This probably isn't the last time I'll redesign my blog (I really, really enjoy it) but I think this template shall stick around for awhile.</div>
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<br /></div>justbyjohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18164438305312333876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275957249014085800.post-86198862533237921872011-12-12T06:00:00.000-08:002011-12-18T17:05:11.342-08:00"Lantern" Book Folding ArtI'm at it again! This time I decided to try a paperback book. Take a look:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWK7CJqe6y6nhoBx3yWvqR2zPORjGeB80GmUVAyBszHiI62ceJsWC6z2ZxxmJwzEQgkH0fC01aR_lky1d67bQ6uhSIhqWVz-tdSkgM7qGeaKeF2wLXsH1ZZvkafGUcw1SiM0W4E-WG907k/s1600/lantern+book+folding+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWK7CJqe6y6nhoBx3yWvqR2zPORjGeB80GmUVAyBszHiI62ceJsWC6z2ZxxmJwzEQgkH0fC01aR_lky1d67bQ6uhSIhqWVz-tdSkgM7qGeaKeF2wLXsH1ZZvkafGUcw1SiM0W4E-WG907k/s640/lantern+book+folding+4.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I found some really cool vintage-looking children's books along with a book rack at an estate sale this weekend. "Well," I thought to myself, "I would feel terrible folding them... but I could definitely photograph them with folded books!" <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNOw0bfApEEVQVSJSL-4xafKOsvgXmhjaqd-1ljAGThjeV7D9U5HMl7DsM04DZgO9SI4BPOAm3BNs6o0IpvLaf9oPADiCUa9eJZ9Uh3usmHVAwzXLrn-dkX9YjmGsXRUQ9HSOajoMN8RH2/s1600/lantern+book+folding+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNOw0bfApEEVQVSJSL-4xafKOsvgXmhjaqd-1ljAGThjeV7D9U5HMl7DsM04DZgO9SI4BPOAm3BNs6o0IpvLaf9oPADiCUa9eJZ9Uh3usmHVAwzXLrn-dkX9YjmGsXRUQ9HSOajoMN8RH2/s640/lantern+book+folding+3.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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There was a set of nine for $10 and the book rack was free (probably since I purchased all the books it held!)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlRIhAGpnbHeGMUieB14SA29WzgT2q53HOUFp8jB3WYcSC7OhczSdPxPNn4F8XlAaWoWM0WUoeTl8SGxZOlXKs36CTLCYooMP_TCStWiBP7OWf4bL2eD0oeDhyphenhyphenyIkUBw32slMo17uIk4Bq/s1600/lantern+book+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlRIhAGpnbHeGMUieB14SA29WzgT2q53HOUFp8jB3WYcSC7OhczSdPxPNn4F8XlAaWoWM0WUoeTl8SGxZOlXKs36CTLCYooMP_TCStWiBP7OWf4bL2eD0oeDhyphenhyphenyIkUBw32slMo17uIk4Bq/s640/lantern+book+2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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This folded paperback book is two books in one: "A Time to Forgive" and "Promise Forever" by Marta Perry.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGiHsfXIGmBNpD5aSzToT7gxnZvUaTqlhZtAnAzpyr8wWchyphenhyphentC6VqMZfwbeqC9-H41nq7LpyK9Ksv-3n9DospjiWHytM4UpP8fqDXZdSmE95vBc1aqwCOFUapDiwL4mP2nP3hEYKqogasv/s1600/lantern+book+folding+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGiHsfXIGmBNpD5aSzToT7gxnZvUaTqlhZtAnAzpyr8wWchyphenhyphentC6VqMZfwbeqC9-H41nq7LpyK9Ksv-3n9DospjiWHytM4UpP8fqDXZdSmE95vBc1aqwCOFUapDiwL4mP2nP3hEYKqogasv/s640/lantern+book+folding+5.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-8ryIMYHE_10fQ-xDVpIYArk3bBztNA8moNkFi1VpyOqEo1mr2-vxvHyfLT0nTSSRzOUyXwvAOyDmdH7efK3y4Dc5taprYwmVfits06zn9fnWQVSI5u4rK1i9mwds2fCv70iE4w6lFX-E/s1600/lantern+book+folding+6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-8ryIMYHE_10fQ-xDVpIYArk3bBztNA8moNkFi1VpyOqEo1mr2-vxvHyfLT0nTSSRzOUyXwvAOyDmdH7efK3y4Dc5taprYwmVfits06zn9fnWQVSI5u4rK1i9mwds2fCv70iE4w6lFX-E/s640/lantern+book+folding+6.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
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Book folding can be placed as book ends by other books. I would suggest using one of those slim black metal book ends if your books don't actually stand up on their own... you wouldn't want your folded creation to be crushed! So far, I've only used metal book ends as a safety precaution since my books seem to stay standing on their own.<br />
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I really had a lot of fun setting up all these different designs!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7PZn-URwhC-9IHO1985R9MwW_85xSpRZm-X8H0cUHiM7IM0frS7g3ce9EkNGRkFGNObGpIYAsy-ppeNYU_dFdBCXxXmGM0QIgd0y40-KGhTZxovQInHD-4PLTXGbFvNfVI7B9gyRwxZNh/s1600/lantern+book+folding+9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7PZn-URwhC-9IHO1985R9MwW_85xSpRZm-X8H0cUHiM7IM0frS7g3ce9EkNGRkFGNObGpIYAsy-ppeNYU_dFdBCXxXmGM0QIgd0y40-KGhTZxovQInHD-4PLTXGbFvNfVI7B9gyRwxZNh/s640/lantern+book+folding+9.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I call this design "Lantern" because it reminds me of one of those paper lanterns you might hang up outside. This one is made of paper too, but I don't think I'd risk putting it outside!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4zff1fvxz6ZnBHIO_I1N9PhNFgeKIRKRROP8hX9CL9N71DO4NphoWO1UF2talFcXZSFuh6axGTvkHnIzV3V-Evc6iO3bY2xXL1EceNP6Es4SgSGN2j7RIJlaiL1rLKe644Ie67I1wVa1L/s1600/lantern+book+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4zff1fvxz6ZnBHIO_I1N9PhNFgeKIRKRROP8hX9CL9N71DO4NphoWO1UF2talFcXZSFuh6axGTvkHnIzV3V-Evc6iO3bY2xXL1EceNP6Es4SgSGN2j7RIJlaiL1rLKe644Ie67I1wVa1L/s640/lantern+book+1.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOE_1DQLugImMAMULsOVmyz2bf9BC2xckIzLlGSDtFhySFCSlpIlphJZRYp8cUJu9pT9DxidHbpbGKu46Q7BoiVs-M7ygOcWyJDsbbiBSCt7qpoBrBAaaTVnryDShQ0I7OuuXCtyZfPqcW/s1600/lantern+book+folding+7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOE_1DQLugImMAMULsOVmyz2bf9BC2xckIzLlGSDtFhySFCSlpIlphJZRYp8cUJu9pT9DxidHbpbGKu46Q7BoiVs-M7ygOcWyJDsbbiBSCt7qpoBrBAaaTVnryDShQ0I7OuuXCtyZfPqcW/s640/lantern+book+folding+7.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Thanks for reading... and looking!<br />
<br />justbyjohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18164438305312333876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275957249014085800.post-37333256273165009342011-11-21T12:28:00.001-08:002011-12-17T14:34:41.954-08:00Somebody Everybody Listens To by Suzanne Supplee (Full Book Review)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.suzannesupplee.com/index.html" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGhPz_-47pE4gaoP4aq9HJBysGHTvU-dJuWQyaN4RQHrrK_YxWVXXhRijBmDxKbgHCyeLcGdSLMaJxP7LQOHj0fHzHVJCzrz_A7mrryWmpvfVo_pYgNHCze3wPpgsccLQlVKtf5YFEqjSb/s320/suzanne+supplee.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><b>Title: </b>Somebody Everybody Listens To</o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><b>Author: </b>Suzanne Supplee </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><b>Pages: </b>245</o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Content: </b>V=1, D=1, S=1, L=2<br />
<br /></div>
<b>Plot:</b> Retta Lee
Jones has dreamed of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Nashville</st1:place></st1:city>
all her life. The summer after
graduating high school she takes her guitar and heads to that city of country
music. She knows it won’t be easy and
she isn’t expecting fame overnight… but when her car breaks down her first
night and she’s mugged the second she begins to doubt she can really make it. Things don’t get any easier. In fact, the friendship of Ricky Dean and
book sales girl Emerson and her best friend from Starling, Brenda, seem to be
the only things pulling her through. <i>Can Retta make it as a country music singer?</i> Pick up the book to find out!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>What I liked: </b>Alright, I like country music myself so it was really cool
that before every chapter there was a half page “biography” of country music
artists of where they were born, where they worked, their “big break,” and a
life event. Also, it had their full
names (Did you know Faith Hill’s name is really Audrey Faith Perry? Or Toby Keith’s last name is Covel? How about “Richard Keith Urban”? Also, all of the chapters were titled after a
song that a country music artist wrote.
So that was super cool!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I also felt like I connected with Retta and how she had done
all this research on country music and knew she wasn’t going to be famous overnight…
and she wasn’t. I feel like the same
thing has happened with me: I started a handmade card business and did a lot of
research and I knew I wasn’t going to have millions of orders on *my Etsy shop*
overnight… and I didn’t. I think Retta
might have felt a bit like me, where you *know* something isn’t going to be
easy in your head, but in your heart you hope by some miracle it will be – or that
it will at least be easier then it was for others.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I really liked that there were actually a few songs of Retta’s
in the book. Sometimes it peeves me to
read a book about how a character is really good at writing, or poetry, or
whatnot and then you don’t see any of their work. I only wish this book came with a CD so I
could actually listen to the tune of the songs! =]</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Also, just detail wise – on the page of the country music
artist bio and the first chapter page there was some *really* pretty grey
swirly-flowery printing.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Negative: </b>I didn’t find anything I really disliked about this
book! There <i>was</i> some language, if you are worried about that, but I didn't find
it particularly overwhelming.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Who would like this
book: </b>Anyone who enjoys country music! Of course, if you are totally hate the
country twang the book would still be a good read (after all, it’s not like you
can actually hear the music. Although,
if you’ve listened to the artists, maybe you can.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You can visit Suzanne Supplee’s website here: <a href="http://www.suzannesupplee.com/index.html">http://www.suzannesupplee.com/index.html</a> (Read through her Q&A or even the “Contact”
page – I got a giggle from both.)<br />
<br />
View book discussion questions (after you've read the book of course!) here: <a href="http://justbyjosephine.blogspot.com/2011/08/somebody-everybody-listens-to-by.html">http://justbyjosephine.blogspot.com/2011/08/somebody-everybody-listens-to-by.html</a></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>justbyjohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18164438305312333876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275957249014085800.post-40449621259053753242011-11-07T07:00:00.000-08:002011-12-17T13:37:31.724-08:00Just When You Thought They Couldn't Get Any CuterOh my goodness... you thought these little origami lucky stars couldn't be more adorable:<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNeI9cgL_kCza2Y1FzdiJ8FhXZkQpKKfrBuoYNwUKuiYctVBSe4Y-SKVzTCpJxqgYVaqFFl5x4xPvmA-2IS1FZj7hZqsDLIGbNOt_6oBs0qaY2RT-YooBIOVWTFj13OpcePYL52PfpGzdK/s1600/P1110535.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNeI9cgL_kCza2Y1FzdiJ8FhXZkQpKKfrBuoYNwUKuiYctVBSe4Y-SKVzTCpJxqgYVaqFFl5x4xPvmA-2IS1FZj7hZqsDLIGbNOt_6oBs0qaY2RT-YooBIOVWTFj13OpcePYL52PfpGzdK/s640/P1110535.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I'm here to prove you wrong. Take a look at this little guy:<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCVz8CWO9-jwpenl1f2_AEBS_tiiWbDu-N-I2-27WuOSF31CeWI8CYNzoDX3mjsdVf4B0TlchjAxaTtfcBZO13Qi7sk2KNdHevO_i09P42Zg-RYjaR9C6xK7F3Jm4QeJzLIep9DSkEPek5/s1600/lucky-stars-faces-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCVz8CWO9-jwpenl1f2_AEBS_tiiWbDu-N-I2-27WuOSF31CeWI8CYNzoDX3mjsdVf4B0TlchjAxaTtfcBZO13Qi7sk2KNdHevO_i09P42Zg-RYjaR9C6xK7F3Jm4QeJzLIep9DSkEPek5/s640/lucky-stars-faces-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Told you. And these ones:<br />
<br />
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</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguy934a24nXqRtcbtSoNIZCcl7rgi3P6PONr5sB9B-NAxUwMAOAM_GqePgnuCtZzkUXCNQ26tKabNgjqpBmpqgRMw2qYiVkz9NvAfEkXIzSRv1Q9nx7ZMCgwkVFqiQg6Zj453bm1-vu0DQ/s1600/lucky-stars-faces-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguy934a24nXqRtcbtSoNIZCcl7rgi3P6PONr5sB9B-NAxUwMAOAM_GqePgnuCtZzkUXCNQ26tKabNgjqpBmpqgRMw2qYiVkz9NvAfEkXIzSRv1Q9nx7ZMCgwkVFqiQg6Zj453bm1-vu0DQ/s640/lucky-stars-faces-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
And finally these:<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSLsqJmh15sqsEcn4r0FNeaV1wvsubtOBe1HKvK_gJXcl0B7aH8CTvCM8AxJTGCtm8Gs-lmDNcKaKwwPVczKrnCHewCd7eN7kEqn7HYyrdu7O4-h6D7pxomcCJ835B8q_6kDlPuoX666GN/s1600/lucky-stars-faces-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSLsqJmh15sqsEcn4r0FNeaV1wvsubtOBe1HKvK_gJXcl0B7aH8CTvCM8AxJTGCtm8Gs-lmDNcKaKwwPVczKrnCHewCd7eN7kEqn7HYyrdu7O4-h6D7pxomcCJ835B8q_6kDlPuoX666GN/s640/lucky-stars-faces-3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
They're like paper emoticons! =P Can you imagine how cute these would be as earring beads? Having colors to match your outfits is sooo last year - now expressions to fit your emotions are totally in!justbyjohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18164438305312333876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275957249014085800.post-24081870972132647382011-11-01T17:14:00.000-07:002011-12-17T14:35:02.093-08:00The Queen of Water by Laura Resau (Full YA Book Review)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWHGd18wK4CZpZYJTiwWfCwYUxnU3qYNxxCyPHCkHa5QkVEtL413GFU4mW6ihAvOP-BxWFTcwVHCTMRo3gTfgNwrwlJpgqMftOICM5pnHeH7RMm8vmwXDWOFTZdZdxPpQlA9NNGIN7Zy9i/s1600/The+Queen+of+Water+cover.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWHGd18wK4CZpZYJTiwWfCwYUxnU3qYNxxCyPHCkHa5QkVEtL413GFU4mW6ihAvOP-BxWFTcwVHCTMRo3gTfgNwrwlJpgqMftOICM5pnHeH7RMm8vmwXDWOFTZdZdxPpQlA9NNGIN7Zy9i/s320/The+Queen+of+Water+cover.JPG" width="217" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There was that moment while reading <i>The Queen of Water</i> by Laura Resau when I <i>finally</i> tore myself away
from the book to get some sleep. As I
shut the cover, I glanced at the author’s names and let a loud “OHHHHH” escape
my lips.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>The plot:</b> <i>The
Queen of Water </i>tells the story of Maria Virginia, a Quechua girl living in Ecaudor, who
becomes a servant for an upper class <i>mestizo</i>
family while she is very young. <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:state w:st="on">Virginia</st1:state></st1:place> never receives
any sort of pay, nor the promised visits to her family so whether she was sold
by her parents or simply given away remains ambiguous. The Doctorita is almost the “evil
step-mother” type who beats <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Virginia</st1:place></st1:state>
and keeps her locked in the house. The
Doctorita’s husband, Nino Carlitos, is a seemingly kind father figure until his
affections for Virginia and his jealousy of other teenage boys reeks of something
more sinister. In spite of her terrible
situation, <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Virginia</st1:place></st1:state>
is <i>vivisima</i> (very clever), curious,
and resilient. Even though she hates the
<i>mestizos</i> she serves, there is
something, apart from their threats, that holds her back from escaping.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>The moment:</b> So about “that moment” I mentioned
above. If you’ve read <i>The Shack</i> by Wm. P. Young you might have
had this reaction too (except, with <i>The Queen of Water</i> it’s undoubtedly a
real person and situation.) You see, the
book is written by TWO authors one of which is Laura Resau, whom I recognized
as the author of <i>Red Glass</i>. The other is Maria Virginia Farinango of whom
I had never heard. Maybe I should have
guessed after reading the words on the cover “a novel based on a true story” –
but then again, I’ve read a lot of historical fiction books, most of which are
based on true stories. Once I put
together that the author and the girl in the book were the same person it made
the story all the better.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Random Interesting
Fact:</b> An interesting note for Spanish students – on page 259 it is
mentioned that the poor <i>indigenas</i> are
scorned by shopkeepers and middle class <i>indigenas</i> and they show their dislike by not using polite <i>usted</i>
form when speaking to the poor <i>indegenas.</i> So instead of “<i><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Como</st1:city></st1:place> estas</i>?” (as to a stranger to show
respect) they would say “<i><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Como</st1:city></st1:place>
esta</i>?” (which you only use with close friends or peers) (of course, these would have accents, which I haven't figured out how to work on blogger =)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Overall:</b> I loved this book! I loved it as a story, but I also loved that it was a true story. Even better was that Ms. Resau has so much information on her blog about her experience writing the book and time with Maria Virginia. It is so interesting to have a book literally "come alive."<br />
Ms. Resau's website: <a href="http://www.lauraresau.com/">http://www.lauraresau.com/</a><br />
Ms. Resau's blog: <a href="http://lauraresau.blogspot.com/">http://lauraresau.blogspot.com/</a><br />
<br />
<b>What I Took Away:</b>
In the last third of <i>The Queen of Water</i>,
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:state w:st="on">Virginia</st1:state></st1:place> goes
to a shop and finds a book <i>Secrets to a
Happy Life</i> in which </div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“the key idea is <i>Querer
es poder. To want is to be able to. To want is power.</i> If you want something enough, you’ll find a
way to get it. You have to be creative,
think outside the box. You have to
repeat your dream to yourself, with complete faith that you will get it. You have to envision your dreams as if
they’re already real.”</blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Querer es poder</i> is
the way that <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:state w:st="on">Virginia</st1:state></st1:place>
eventually achieves her dreams. She is
creative, just like MacGyver – her admired television star – and works towards
her dreams.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u>Learning:</u><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">1 –
This was mostly entertainment; I may have seen the characters learn and grow
but did not do so myself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">2 –
I may have learned a few interesting facts or life lessons that I’ll probably
forget in a week.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i>3 – This book was
informative on a topic I wasn’t very knowledgeable about and/or I learned a new
way of looking at life.</i><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">4 –
I felt like I learned about something I knew nothing of (and I will remember
it) and/or it answered questions I had about life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">5 –
This book was life-changing.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u>Vocabulary:</u><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">1 –
No new words here.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">2 –
I might have seen one or two I didn’t recognize.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i>3 – A couple of words
OR foreign language words.</i><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">4 –
Lots of new words to look up and learn!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">5 –
There were new words every page, I sometimes felt they distracted and inhibited
me from understanding the book.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">(based
on vocabulary needed for SAT or ACT tests.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u>Content:</u><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">1 –
Nothing to worry about, I would be comfortable reading this book to my mom,
sister, grandma, or Pastor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">2 –
This book may have mild violence or language.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i>3 – This book has
medium content in several areas and is suitable for ages 13+.</i><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">4 –
This book may have blatant content in one or two areas (violence, language).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">5 –
This book has blatant content in many areas.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">(Please
contact me if you would like to know specifics about the content and why I
rated it a 3.)</span></div>
<br />
Have you read <i>The Queen of Water</i> or any of Laura Resau's books? What did you think of them? Leave a comment letting me know, I would love to hear what you have to say!)justbyjohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18164438305312333876noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275957249014085800.post-39356087757458338252011-10-29T06:30:00.000-07:002011-12-17T14:38:40.232-08:00Another Book Folding ExampleWhy yes, I AM addicted to book folding. I'd be worried if I wasn't...<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUXyK_g8H3rXh0-a-v6PW0T_5Awr2AZvgJUqMdhRlXcA_otxz2ZFtNbq4ja8aAee2igzrSrD-qKdM__sU9h8K2koEMtsKd0Qx9BANxspPgFfzDCU3sWuBe0nsbc6s8HU3L9t17Cs4-0k3f/s1600/book-folding-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUXyK_g8H3rXh0-a-v6PW0T_5Awr2AZvgJUqMdhRlXcA_otxz2ZFtNbq4ja8aAee2igzrSrD-qKdM__sU9h8K2koEMtsKd0Qx9BANxspPgFfzDCU3sWuBe0nsbc6s8HU3L9t17Cs4-0k3f/s640/book-folding-5.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Book folded from <i>Christopher Unborn</i> by Carlos Fuentes.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I actually did this one before the book in the last post. Several pages are folded in the same direction at a time, which makes for a less fluid but bolder look.<br />
<br />
The worst part was doing the mathematical calculations to see what type of fold I should do first. I attempted this design on another book, but since I ran out of pages on a different fold the piece lacked symmetry. I messed up again on this book, but since it had more pages I simply unfolded some at the front and some at the back... problem solved!justbyjohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18164438305312333876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275957249014085800.post-82963524698871484742011-10-24T14:09:00.000-07:002011-12-17T14:38:40.237-08:00Book FoldingI must say, my favorite material thing is a good book and my favorite art technique is origami. You can imagine how I felt when I discovered something that combines the two: book folding!<br />
<br />
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How I discovered this, I honestly can't remember - although I'm sure it involved searching the web for inspiration and instead stumbling upon my new hobby.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzrsluzpzlzak4J1mGgggDJ5DiFJPGM9aD3_8JVictyzATKt3RWwVr8R9m2tKm2KbGg8aKdG8EF9mu4ZLAcL-4sgSJaGbTaLbOQWhkwilRJkeDFIvVZ4i6Cs3mjwVNOZcP-CJtViJb8c2W/s1600/book-folding-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzrsluzpzlzak4J1mGgggDJ5DiFJPGM9aD3_8JVictyzATKt3RWwVr8R9m2tKm2KbGg8aKdG8EF9mu4ZLAcL-4sgSJaGbTaLbOQWhkwilRJkeDFIvVZ4i6Cs3mjwVNOZcP-CJtViJb8c2W/s640/book-folding-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The neat thing about book folding is that the finished
result is a piece of art that can be used in decorating and as a
conversation piece. If you are going to make one for a book lover
though, make sure it's from a book they've read - imagine the horror of
having an unread book laying around!<br />
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There are not many tutorials showing people how to do this online, so a lot of this I had to figure out myself. I'm still not sure how others even begin to do the more elaborate designs, some of which include shapes and words. If I ever discover the secret I can just imagine what I would be creating... lightening bolt shapes from Harry Potter books, the Mockingjay symbol from the Hunger Games, and, if I got really good, a horse for Black Beauty.<br />
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This was folded from <i>Star Trek The Lost Years</i> by J.M. Dillard. I have made several different styles of books (more pictures of those are yet to come.) I haven't put any in my Etsy shop yet, because I have not determined shipping, but I hope to do so soon!<br />
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<br />justbyjohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18164438305312333876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275957249014085800.post-57531416837267422632011-09-28T06:30:00.000-07:002011-09-28T06:30:03.803-07:00Why Handmade Cards?<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">On Monday I wrote a post explaining why you should send a greeting card, regardless of whether it is handmade. This a follow-up post answering why handmade cards are so much more meaningful than commercial cards.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Whether you make the card or you buy it from someone who did, time and effort went into the production of the card.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The card wasn’t spit out of a machine making countless card clones (nice alliteration, eh?)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, most handmade cards are probably a “limited edition” (only made until the crafter runs out of supplies) or entirely one of a kind.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Not only did the crafter put effort into making the card, but the buyer (or the creator) put effort into figuring out what sort of card the recipient would like best, along with some extra time and money into getting that card.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although handmade cards often speak for themselves, the value of the card is bumped up considerably if you write a heartfelt message inside the card instead of just signing your name.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The great thing about handmade cards is that they can stick around for a long time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Facebook posts are all to soon lost in the deluge, e-cards are smiled at and deleted a week later, standard greeting cards are thrown away, memories of a phone call or an in-person conversation will fade but not so with handmade cards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are put on bookshelves where the recipient will smile and think of the sender whenever they see the card.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even when the card is banished to the memory box it can still be enjoyed every time it is pulled out and is unlikely to be thrown away.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">So why handmade cards?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are gifts in and of themselves: gifts from the crafter, gifts of time, effort, or money from the giver, and gifts of encouragement and smiles to the recipient.</div>justbyjohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18164438305312333876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275957249014085800.post-11557021276947955152011-09-26T06:30:00.000-07:002011-09-26T06:30:02.782-07:00Why Greeting Cards?<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Since I have a business selling handmade greeting cards I thought I’d answer the question: why handmade cards?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, another question needs to be answered first: why greeting cards in general?</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">I believe there are degrees of the effort we put into wishing someone Happy Birthday (this will be the example for this post, but replace it for whatever fits you – thank you, congratulations, etc.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The easiest way is to text them or post a message on Facebook.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The next easiest way is to send them some sort of e-card.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After that comes sending a standard greeting card, then comes talking to them in person or giving them a call <em>along with</em> buying and sending a meaningful greeting card.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Giving a gift can be placed anywhere in this list depending on what the gift is, how meaningful it is to the recipient and how much time, effort, or money the giver put into acquiring it.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">What is the difference between a “standard greeting card” and a “meaningful greeting card”?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A meaningful greeting card is one that will propped up on the table and won’t be thrown away for several years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It could be saved because it was especially beautiful or funny, or maybe it was because the message you wrote inside was especially meaningful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A standard greeting card is just like all the other cards the recipient will receive - nothing (apart from your signature and perhaps a laugh or “aww” after reading the printed message) sets it apart.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">I put giving someone a call and sending a meaningful greeting card on the same level.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both of those take time (and perhaps a small amount of money or precious cell-phone minutes) to complete.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Either</span> is the absolute best way to show someone that you care (short of throwing them a party or taking them to Europe!)</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">If the message isn’t meaningful and the card isn’t representative of the recipient’s personality then the difficulty of wishing someone happy birthday is between that of sending an e-card and giving the person a call.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even then, a standard greeting card is still more meaningful then a Facebook message or an e-card.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Stay tuned for a post on Wednesday answering the question "Why handmade cards?"</div>justbyjohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18164438305312333876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275957249014085800.post-22405882238773444582011-09-23T06:07:00.000-07:002011-09-23T06:07:18.573-07:00Forgotten Word Friday: Acerbic<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Forgotten Word Fridays are an attempt to bring some vocabulary back into my life and into the world. Most of these words are not used in everday speech but they could be found in tests such as the SATs. I choose these words when I find them in whatever book I'm currently reading and am not sure of their meaning.</span></em><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">.</span></span><span style="font-size: large;">Word:</span> Acerbic<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">How it's pronounced:</span> Uh-sur-bick</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">Meaning:</span> Acidic in temper, mood, or tone. (Merrium Webster)</span><br />
1. sour or astringent in taste: Lemon juice is acerbic. <br />
2. harsh or severe, as of temper or expression: acerbic criticism<br />
(Dictionary.com<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/acerbic">http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/acerbic</a>)<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Where I found it:</span> I found this while reading <em>Mockingjay</em> by Suzanne Collins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Katniss (the main character) has to yell, “People of Panem, we fight, we dare, we end our hunger for justice!” into a camera to rally the people of Panem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After summing up all the anger she can muster and yelling the line:<br />
<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><br />
<blockquote>There’s a dead silence on the set.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It goes on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally, the intercom crackles and Haymith’s <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>acerbic</u></b> laugh fills the studio.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He contains himself just long enough to say, “And that, my friends, is how a revolution dies.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> - <em>Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (page 72.)</em></span></blockquote>(In other words, Haymitch’s laugh reveals that Katniss is a horrible actor and her speech wouldn’t rally Eskimos to build igloos.)<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">Word picture:</span> Word pictures are sometimes used to help recall a word. Sometimes they can be incredibly funny or… as I’m doing it… just part of a sentence to help you remember. </span><br />
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Assure Bick = acerbic<br />
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“Could you assure Bick that the consequences will be less severe (<strong>acerbic</strong>) the sooner he turns himself in?”<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">How to impress your friends:</span><br />
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<strong><u>At school:</u></strong> "Ms. March’s criticism of my paper was acerbic.”<br />
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<strong><u>Politics:</u></strong> "Don’t you think the Judge’s decision for the death penalty was acerbic?”<br />
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<strong><u>For parents:</u></strong> "There will be acerbic consequences if you disobey us.”<br />
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Think of all the things that could be acerbic!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your mother’s expression, your enemy’s comment, the recent hail storm, somebody’s punishment, consequences, criticism, or a poisonous drink.<br />
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How would you use "acerbic" in everyday life? If you use it in an everyday blog post I'll link back to you here in this post =]justbyjohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18164438305312333876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275957249014085800.post-90538902235798022632011-09-19T07:56:00.000-07:002011-09-21T14:12:05.799-07:00I just wanted another bottle of water…<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">You know those people who seem to give much more than you asked for? You ask for the newest matchbox racing set – they give you a kid-friendly riding jeep. You ask for an iTunes gift card, they get you an iPhone. Well, I asked for a bottle of water.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">See, I was at a craft fair this weekend, selling my handmade cards and other craft items.</div><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghTu-mNhAobkqbLterTOPYqthlKD9PX_-wuTROUA0tOTEptZO08HrIJsRbTTcFwaFFUzN_wmVnFAEfLrX2eZTaCpasuZZtlJ0v55oyX5JUeXbmkvp4Eh7kpVar9gBRSyCfz9Nb92Ty9ZYT/s1600/P1120056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghTu-mNhAobkqbLterTOPYqthlKD9PX_-wuTROUA0tOTEptZO08HrIJsRbTTcFwaFFUzN_wmVnFAEfLrX2eZTaCpasuZZtlJ0v55oyX5JUeXbmkvp4Eh7kpVar9gBRSyCfz9Nb92Ty9ZYT/s320/P1120056.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My table filled with handmade cards.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuFOFtyffGUNvLbznGC6Zp68NKpWUQPBoJEK0oj0MFtaNWzbQD5Bf9hienS3OrO-AgLYv4G_3MHEltmjJC36k4f5zLwSjsMfpMaxCtKgAwtS_S3xvqV8px9elzItRLKbYDcpURGfbJTtEb/s1600/P1120052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuFOFtyffGUNvLbznGC6Zp68NKpWUQPBoJEK0oj0MFtaNWzbQD5Bf9hienS3OrO-AgLYv4G_3MHEltmjJC36k4f5zLwSjsMfpMaxCtKgAwtS_S3xvqV8px9elzItRLKbYDcpURGfbJTtEb/s320/P1120052.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cool ironing board with my book folding, origami lucky stars, and a jar of 1001 origami cranes.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHGCl1x-qp9l8AdJ8xjnhFnTRDgo3BKbod6fNI-aI7FQfheRRuTdqFwKTVmTDBhz8vD0kq8aMn5Xa8-U2EL9vcWKxPJ8yjjqwgkNXyWjRsXVuVMb8WlTDtWznXWV4OPRIZSI3bmZbgERTC/s1600/P1120059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHGCl1x-qp9l8AdJ8xjnhFnTRDgo3BKbod6fNI-aI7FQfheRRuTdqFwKTVmTDBhz8vD0kq8aMn5Xa8-U2EL9vcWKxPJ8yjjqwgkNXyWjRsXVuVMb8WlTDtWznXWV4OPRIZSI3bmZbgERTC/s320/P1120059.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My table where people could write a letter or make a coloring page to be <br />
sent to <a href="http://operationwritehome.org/">Operation Write Home</a> so a hero could be encouraged.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Business had been rather slow for all the vendors, but it seemed to be picking up. I didn't have a canopy like all the other vendors so I was grateful for the clouds blocking out the sun's heat. <br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">My mom stopped to check in on me at one point and I asked her to get me another bottle of water and as she was walking away she said “watch out for the wind.” It <b>was </b>a little breezy, but it didn’t seem too bad until WHOOSH. All my cards, falling off the table. Business cards flying. Origami lucky stars falling from the sky… or rather the ironing board.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3_MgfH9ddiaoh7rwok7OG_F__OVlZzGFMWyrxQnLUmTvxgsqFa3NGkrGwxm-3DZMy0Pcg_Xt0FSkv4XQxII-HjlmseUNz6cpdK0x0a8OLKZM0VvIl5BEuRbBeia3b3oBXTHvtLuXtTZrf/s1600/P1120054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320px" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3_MgfH9ddiaoh7rwok7OG_F__OVlZzGFMWyrxQnLUmTvxgsqFa3NGkrGwxm-3DZMy0Pcg_Xt0FSkv4XQxII-HjlmseUNz6cpdK0x0a8OLKZM0VvIl5BEuRbBeia3b3oBXTHvtLuXtTZrf/s320/P1120054.JPG" width="240px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tiny origami lucky stars in glass ornaments.<br />
<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">At that point I was just dropping anything I could gather into plastic Wal*Mart bags. Thank goodness some friends had arrived earlier and had stuck around, because they were a great help making sure nothing was damaged. Moments after all the loose cards were gathered into a plastic baggy I could feel a few drops of rain and so we immediately took all the permeable items to the vehicle… and then the ironing board… and then the tubs. By the time only my desk was left out it had started to pour. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Because we threw everything helter-skelter into the vehicle there wasn’t room left for me so I went to stand under the church awning to wait it out. After five minutes it showed no sign of quitting and was getting worse, so I ran around to see if any venders needed help (everybody seemed to have their things under control.) </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">I was drenched and didn’t fancy setting my cards up only to have it rain again OR to have the wind blow my cards into a nice puddle of water so my family headed home. Thirty minutes later the rain had stopped and I couldn’t help laughing to God “goodness me, I only asked for a bottle of water… not a whole lakeful!”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">I can’t help thinking God is like that person who gives so much more than we ask for… so much more than we deserve. Sometimes it’s funny, like a lakeful of water instead of a bottle full, but often it’s more serious like forgiving our sins. I often ask “God, please forgive me for Sin X” and God says, “Child, I will forgive you for Sin X, and I’ll also forgive you for Sins A-Z that you didn’t even know about.” We ask for the crumbs of His mercifulness and he feeds us a full meal. And, really, with all He has done for me, I don't think too much water at an inopportune moment is something I am worthy of complaining about.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>justbyjohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18164438305312333876noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275957249014085800.post-66841638476012715462011-09-02T13:12:00.000-07:002011-12-17T14:38:13.965-08:00Forgotten Word Friday: AmeliorateClassic books can be hard to get into, hard to keep reading, and sometimes hard to understand, but one of the things I love about them is their wealth of Forgotten Words. Those words like alacrity, perspicacious, and vermiculations. I keep a Post-It note by my bed so I can write them down.<br />
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It wasn't until I was browsing through SAT prep materials months ago that I realized how limited my vocabulary is. I am an avid reader and writer, but most of the words I had never come across before. My question is when did we lose sight of these words? Most Young Adult books today don't use these words and I wonder why. Was it because teens no longer used them that YA authors stopped writing with them? Or was it because YA books and the internet stopped using interesting words that teens no longer say them? I can't help but wonder.<br />
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Last night I came across the word illimited and realized that I really want to get back into studying vocabulary. I think what might help me become better at this is to write the occasional blog post about words I discover. I wanted to start with illimited... until I looked it up and realized that it only meant "incapable of being limited." Makes sense! So I decided to start with ameliorate.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Word:</span> Ameliorate.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">How it's pronounced:</span> uh-meel-yuh-rate.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Meaning:</span> To make better or more bearable. To improve. (Merrium Webster)<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Where I found it:</span> I re-discovered this word while reading Chapter 45 (Troy's Romanticism) of <em>Far From the Madding Crowd</em> by Thomas Hardy. The second paragraph reads: <em></em><br />
<blockquote><em>"There is always an inertia to be overcome in striking out a new line of conduct - not more in ourselves, it seems, than in circumscribing events which appear as if leagued together to allow no novelties in the way of <strong>amelioration</strong>."</em></blockquote>I found this sentence hard to understand, but a paraphrase might be, <br />
<blockquote>"<em>There is always a resistance to change that needs to be overcome when doing something in a new way. The resistance is not so much as in giving up our own resistance to change, but in limiting events which seem to be joined together to ensure that nothing unusual happens in the way of improvement."</em></blockquote><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Word picture:</span> Word pictures are sometimes used to help recall a word. I'm terrible at coming up with them but here's one I thought of when I first learned this word. <br />
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Amalie-rate<br />
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AMALIE got high RATINGS because her key word methods IMPROVED/AMELIORATED the vocabulary of participants.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">How to impress your friends:</span><br />
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<strong><u>At work:</u></strong> "Man, I really hope this meeting will ameliorate the work conditions around here."<br />
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<strong><u>Politics:</u></strong> "Does anyone really believe that the President's new bill will ameliorate our economy?"<br />
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<strong><u>For parents:</u></strong> "Your grades need some major amelioration before we'll even consider letting you go to that party on Friday."<br />
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<strong><u>For teens:</u></strong> "Dude, they've really ameliorated the quality of their pizza!"<br />
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How would you use "ameliorate" in everyday life? If you use it in an everyday blog post I'll link back to you here in this post =]justbyjohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18164438305312333876noreply@blogger.com0