Karen's Muse and Musings

A Family Halloween

We were extremely lucky to have all three of our grandchildren here for Halloween. Joshua was Count Dracula, Bobby was Max from Where the Wild Things Are, and Kathleen, a.k.a. Cheeky, was an adorable pea pod. I thought I'd share a few photos.

 

Here's one more picture of Kathleen in her Georgia cheerleader outfit. Despite her best cheering efforts, we lost.

 

Catching Up

That seems to be the story lately. I'm always trying to catch up — housework, errands, friends, art projects, blogging. My life has changed so much this year since I keep grandson Bobby 2 or 3 days each week. My focus has definitely shifted from myself and my art to him. And I'm happy with that. At first, I kept beating myself up that I wasn't creating much art, but I've cut that out now. I am enjoying spending time with Bobby, and I know that I'm making an impact on him and his future. That's an accomplishment to be proud of.

I have found some time for digital scrapbooking. I want to make a scrapbook for both Bobby and granddaughter Kathleen documenting the first year of their lives. I need to hurry, at least in Bobby's case since he will turn 1 year old in less than a month. Here is a sample from his book.

And here's a page from Kathleen's.

Kathleen is now 6 months old. I don't get to see her as often as Bobby since she lives far away, but I've enjoyed using Skype to visit online with her and her mommy. Isn't technology wonderful? At least sometimes. I just love this fairly recent photo of her. She has such an adorable little face. I guess you can tell why her nickname is Cheeky.

Bobby, my husband, Warren, and I recently visited a local park where Warren took this photo of Bobby and me.

I have found time to enjoy some knitting lately. I actually finished a sweater that I can actually wear! That was a pleasant surprise. Oh, and I sewed myself a skirt. I'll try to take photos of those projects and share them later — when I'm caught up. Hah!

Calling All Angels

These are a few spreads from an altered children's board book I just completed.

We have two teeth!

I took this photo of grandson Bobby yesterday morning. Can you see his new teeth in that beautiful smile?

I want to thank all of you for the very kind comments and responses I've received for my One World One Heart giveway. I'm blown away by the number of comments I've received. I realized I forgot to tell you the size of the bird quilt. It is approximately 12" square.

Merry Christmas Baby!

It's very quiet here right now. Husband is still in bed. Turkey is in oven. Ganache is cooling. So I'm taking advantage of the lull in the holiday madness to actually add a post. I thought I'd share these photos we took of grandson Bobby last week. He's the best Christmas present ever!

And one last photo. I think he had had enough picture taking!

Merry Christmas to you all!

Sights and Smells of Christmas

Yesterday I received this fresh bay leaf wreath from Williams-Sonoma. Oh my gosh! It smells so good! I first noticed it as I opened the box and the lovely aroma began to waft out and fill the room. And this year, for the first time in several years, I have a live tree, so I'm also surrounded by the lovely pine aroma too. I wish I could attach these delightful scents to this post just as I attach photos.

Now that his mom has returned to work, I have the privilege of keeping my grandbaby, Bobby, a couple of days each week. This is how he looked when I picked him up the other morning.

I wish you could see it better, but he's wearing a reindeer snow suit. It's so cute! Not only are there antlers on the head, but there are little reindeer faces and antlers on the feet as well. I love the way Bobby is pointing his finger at me. It looks like he's trying to tell me something, doesn't it?

Missing in Action

I started to name this post, A.W.O.L., since I've been away for so long, but then decided "missing in action" was more appropriate. I've been busy doing some long overdue housework, babysitting my precious little grandson twice a week, and, oh yes, decorating the house for Christmas. Not much going on the art front for me, but I did put together this slideshow this week. Here's hoping that it works okay.

Auld Lang Syne (from the movie, Sex and the City) is performed by Mairi Campbell and Dave Francis.

T-H-A-N-K-S Book, Page 3

Continuing with my Thanksgiving book, this is the "A" page. I'm enjoying putting this book together more than anything I've done in a while.

I like how the background turned out looking like very old wallpaper, so here's how I did it. I started with a piece of inexpensive yellow scrapbook paper. There was a faint woodgrain pattern on it, but that's not really important. I stamped Layers of Color Fleur Heart stamp all over using VersaFine sepia ink. I created the pattern by repeating the stamp vertically down the page. For the next row I moved the stamp down about halfway to make another vertical row. Then I went back up to the original position for the third row and continued this pattern until the entire paper was covered. I dabbed little bits of Ranger Distressed Crackle Paint in Walnut Stain here and there, and then finally rubbed some Distress Inks (Scattered Straw and Vintage Photo) on with a sponge.

Let Sleeping Babies Lie

Last Sunday, I went to see our sweet little Bobby (and, of course, his mother Dana) to take some pictures of him in the outfits I made for him before he was born. As soon as I dressed him in this little red and white seersucker suit, he fell asleep! So I propped him up on some pillows and snapped away.

Sweet dreams, little man!

Autumn Leaves

The falling leaves drift by the window
The autumn leaves of red and gold
I see your lips, the summer kisses
The sun-burned hands I used to hold

Since you went away the days grow long
And soon Ill hear old winters song
But I miss you most of all my darling
When autumn leaves start to fall

Last night the trick or treaters came. It was the perfect night for it — cool enough to feel like fall, but still quite comfortable to be outside. Today is an absolutely gorgeous day. So gorgeous that I think I better spend as much time outside as I can. Maybe I'll take some art supplies outside and see if I can create something. The art hasn't been flowing out of me lately, but perhaps today will be the day.

I did manage to work out my design for my Christmas cards this year. For some time, I've wanted to do an ornament that could serve as a card as well, and here it is. Now on to the assembly work of making enough for friends and family.

And I finished the hat to go with the sweater I knitted for Baby G. (Baby G is what we're calling the new grandbaby due in February.) I think it is so cute with that little stem on top. It looks like the stem on a pumpkin to me.

Lastly here's a photo of six-week-old Bobby I took almost a couple of weeks ago now. Isn't he adorable? I'll see him again tomorrow and get some new snapshots. They change and grow so fast at this stage.

Autumn Leaves performed by The Bird and the Bee, lyrics by Joseph Kosma, music by Johnny Mercer