Monday, April 30, 2007

Latest creations


I've finished several projects lately, some of them were started months ago and so started last week. It's such a great feeling when the art is flowing.

I've got to get this stuff on the web site. Today you can have a sneak peak of a layout I recently finished. Check the web site later for the companion page. I did this with my April Pinecone Press kit. Love the bright colors that I probably wouldn't have picked otherwise.....

Strikes are good in Bowling



Proof positive that I will post unflattering photos....Sir Henry and I got a coupon in the mail for free bowling so we went and checked out Greenacres Bowling alley. It was fun. We learned that we are still terrible bowlers, but we also learned that there is still a place in our world for a sport that allows you to eat greasy food and drink beer while playing.

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

A glimpse of my world


I am so blessed. In our three bedroom home I have one bedroom with a king size bed to sleep in. One bedroom as a study to write and work in . Plus one brightly accented room as my studio.
Pictured here is my "youngest" Drexel. He is such a delightful exuberant boy. If he's not getting enough attention he just makes a flying leap for your lap with all 20 pounds of himself. In the photo here, he is "helping" me work on my blog by sitting in my lap and resting his head between the keyboard and the mouse.
Drexel likes working in the study best while his sister Daisy like working the studio better because she has a soft little bed in there. Of course they'd both rather be tossing a tennis ball around, but since they think I throw like a girl, they wait until Dad gets home for that.
For the final entry into today's glimpse I'm finally going to start posting about meals. I really love to cook these days and I'm fascinated with recipes and food preparation. As I mentioned in a previous post--I'm even creating a Legacy Art book called "Food is Love, Love is Food."
Last night's dinner was full of familiar flavors in new combinations. Thanks to prepackaged items it was ready in 25 minutes and we have enough leftovers for another meal.
Menu: Thai egg rolls, Stir Fry Chicken and Dumplings with Veggies and Noodles and almond cookies for dessert
Thai egg rolls--From the frozen appetizers at Target, this are the TGI Friday's brand which I prepared according to box in the toaster oven.
Stir Fry Chicken and Dumplings
--fry 4-5 frozen chicken strips until almost done in a touch of olive oil
-- microwave 5 frozen Asian dumplings (Ling, Ling brand from BJ's) for 3 minutes
--cook a package of Asian buckwheat noodles in boiling water for 6 minutes
--Pour a bag of Archer Farms stir fry veggies into skillet with chicken and add dumplings and noodles
--Add a package of mixed Asian Zen sauce from Tastefully Simple (use my friend, Jill Gardner, consultant ID 0008167 if you don't have a consultant)
--Stir fry for 3-5 more minutes until veggies are hot and flavors combine.
--Serve with dipping sauces from grocery store
For dessert we had the cookies I made from a mix on Sunday. They come in a pouch from Betty Crocker or Duncan Hines as sugar cookies. I added some almond flavoring and candy sprinkles to liven them up and made them twice the recommended size so they looked like bakery cookies. I learned all those little tips from Semi-Homemade on Food Network.
Rachael Ray's shows also have a huge influence on me with skillet dinners in general. I'm so grateful for Food Network.
Food is Love, Love is Food.

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Prayers and Hugs to my Hokies


I was born and raised in Virginia and have always felt connected to Tech. I was inches away from attending there myself. It's such a large school within a small community that touches so many hearts and minds. I've visited the campus many times, I know and love alumni, employees, and students.


I am reminded of the prayer service we had in my church after Columbine. I couldn't fathom how children could experience such horror and I still can't. My niece is a college sophomore, my brother is a college Provost and his wife a professor. We naturally think of all the personal connections during such tragedies. It doesn't take long to realize we are all connected.


Cherish each and every soul you know and love--they are our strength and they are a gift. I pray for peace, for understanding, for forgiveness, and strength during this tragedy that effects all of us.

Thursday, April 12, 2007

Gallery revisions at NAChattin.com


Between the natural urge for spring cleaning and perhaps a few too many HGTV shows, I'm on a mission to clean and clear my web site. It's progressing slowly but surely. Top priorities are to consolidate links to older artwork and making room for new posts.

In the Legacy Art Gallery there are four new links:

Food Is Love Album

Pine Cone Press

Early Wizard

Fusion

I've still got a long list of items to post and items to consolidate. I love the accomplished feeling from getting the project underway. There should be a new Suite 101 Article publishing this week too. To stay connected there check the link at the bottom of my blog or from my homepage

Saturday, April 7, 2007

Happy Easter Rub-ons


I've had a big dose of Pine Cone Press lately. I joined a monthly "Not Your Ordinary Book Club" and had our first meeting in March with fabulous instructor Lynn Barwald. The topic was RUB-ONS and I've gone a bit nuts with the concept. I've had to stay in for a week because of a sinus infection and I'd never really used rub-ons very often.
Pictured here are four cards made in less than one hour using the Wizard to apply the rub-ons. These were made after I started going a bit overboard....Before the cards I made the layout from the kit, a second layout, and two cards with kit leftovers. So I hope you enjoy my novice attempts at rub-ons and check out Pine Cone Press for great layout inspiration and kits.

Wednesday, April 4, 2007


Greetings from sniffle and cough land...growl. I am now, without a doubt, getting better every day, however, I've had a dose of the crud lately. Everything seems harder, like working underwater or something....

Now, about the web site. First, there are new card samples inspired by a tutorial on Split Coast Stampers. If you have time, check out the Split Coast gallery on samples too, they are all magnificent.
I'm so thankful this business is full of people who want to share. I get inspired every day.
Other items on the web site: I have been a bit sloppy with my photo sizes and now I've used up all my space. I've spent the last week trying to consolidate and shrink photos, especially of older art. It's more tedious than I expected, but I am getting the anticipated results. Soon the galleries will be linked to photos that enlarge with a click and I'll have room for more "new stuff" like these fun buckle cards.
I've been home bound a bit, so there's lots of stuff to add in when I can--enough for another list:
recipes: blond brownies and pesto meat balls
2 more layouts
Easter rub on cards inspired by my Pine Cone Press Club
new projects to load to the web site
the second article in the suite 101 series
party decor-easy and fun decorations