13 Years

As I was switching out the tablecloth this morning. I acknowledge to myself that my sister Gail had made this quilted goodie! Okay...so it's not really a tablecloth - it is a quilt - probably intended for a nap and a lap. But I like it as a table covering!

If you are at ALL familiar with me and/or my musings you will know that I am very much like the moose in the lovable kids book, "If You Give a Moose a Muffin". Here how the mind works...Nancy style:

I was thinking about my sista Gailey making the quilt/tablecloth...this resulted in me thinking about my loved and appreciated appliqued Christmas tree skirt that my other sister, Judy, made me (in 1986)...then I realized my annually hung Christmas tree panel was also made by Gail...and my outdoor ornament (vintage 1984) was made by my sista Judy! (Are you picking up on the moose/muffin thing?) So I decided to make a little photo collage of the generosity of my sissies!

They make me lovelies that I use year-to-year. I make them cards - that they give away - and probably end up in a landfill. I find myself wondering about giving something a bit more durable?????!!!!!!!

I promise I will get to the card - but FIRST...

I just finished these for THE SISTERS! I finally made something durable! I started with (really rather un-attractive) 'art' that I bought at a local "Bargain Center" and then hand lettered the 'saying'.

This one is for my Atlanta, GA sister - she has a party-size deck that holds memories of kids on tree swings, grilled meals, sisters sittin', and more than an occasional adult beverage. 

This one is for my Omaha, NE sista. She would sleep on her porch if she wasn't afraid that raccoons would come up and snuggle with her in the night. Her porch is for sewin', knittin', meals, snacks, sister sittin', and of course the occasional (okay....semi-regular) adult beverage consumption. 

And THIS is what REALLY started this. I can not believe I am showing this to you! I did some "deep" cleaning and found this tattered/printed email from Gail. There are many things to note about this correspondence.

Most glaring is THE DATE!!! I swear I HAVE cleaned my house a few times since July of 2001! I absolutely did NOT remember this email but I must have had good intentions since I printed it out...Right?

I DO remember walking past the porch that held this declaration - it was in our beloved Shellman Bluff! I can picture the cottage and the porch! Also note the 'sisterly love' that oozes from this email:

Gail: "Remember this? Make it for me!"

Me: "Sure I remember....now let me print this and totally forget about it for 13 years!"

THAT is how we sistas roll! No gloss. No soft edges. Just blunt. Just us!

At the time of the email printing I hand-wrote the "deck for Judy" - knowing that WHEN I made one for Gail I would of course NEED to make one for Judy! It's not on old lumber - but it is completed - 13 YEARS LATER!!!! Good thing they both still have a porch/deck and that we are still speaking to one another! Good thing I finally wondered what was in the "important stack of important papers"!

How embarrassing! 2001!!!!????

Finally - on to the card. This one, while it has embellishments - does NOT have any glitter! As you may have noted in previous posts I had a "blingy" request for 5 BLING-laden Christmas cards. I am DONE with glitter and bling for awhile! This one is more representative of "my style". Much more representative than sparkly members of the Star Trek or Harry Potter casts! 

String Not Bling

~Base card - PaperTrey Ink Hawaiian Shores cardstock

~Layer of kraft card stock stamped with Stampabilities Le Script background stamp using Versamark and one of my favorite embossing powders: Enamelware by Ranger; also stamped with Hero Arts Dandelion Frame using 4 Tim Holtz stains

~Twine (it is aqua but sure doesn't look like it in the photo!)

~Burlap flowers with wood bead centers

~Prima leaves

~Stems created with raffia (transfer of crap item from Omaha)

Challenges | Inspirations

Challenge Up Your Life - turquoise and brown

Alphabet Challenge - V for variety (3 different embellishment) 

Crafty Creations - embossing

Inspiration Destination - anything

Ruby's Rainbows - just because (just because I had to make something without glitter!)

Thanks for clicking by!

Here's to sisters who can be blunt and still love each other, sisters who don't mind waiting 13 years for a request to be completed, and sisters who surround each other with love even with miles in between!

Nancy in Iowa