A Place For Everything:

This morning, I was reading my friend Lisa's blog Writing in the Buff.  Lisa wrote a great post about preparing to write ... and getting your space just the way you like it before you sit down to get going.

I looked around my messy creative room and thought, okay, I can do better than this.  So I got out my camera and took a few "before" pictures.  Then I cleaned and organized for about an hour, and took some "after" photos.  I also put some mementos on the desk that help to motivate me.  This was not a major renovation or redo, it is really just a way to show you where I work, and how much more pleasant it is when it is tidy.


Before:

That table on the right is covered with stuff!

I know that these chairs would look so much better without the patio furniture seat cushions, but I forgot to take them off before taking the pictures.  I have them on the the chairs because my legs go numb without them, when I am work at the computer for too long.  The chairs are pretty, but are not too comfy as office chairs.

After:

Lisa talks about how she uses candles and "muses".  I don't know too much about "muses", but I think that Emily might just be one.

These are special to me, and are now sitting on top of the computer tower.  Cary gave me the angel and the cross.  I bought the ME "K" years ago.  K for Kathy, you know!

I cleaned all the stuff off of the table.  Now I can sit down and make cards there, if I can ever settle down to do that.  Even so, it makes me happy to have the clutter removed.  Plus, now I get a better view of the ME quilt that Patty made for me.

I straightened up this little entryway, and this is also another view of the cleaned up table.


Now, maybe I can get to work and do some actual writing of stories.  Or, maybe now that the room is cleaner I can sew some more.  Or, maybe I'll just think of some more pictures that I can take on another day.  For tonight, I am done with this room though.  I am going to go back to the couch and read my book.


God bless ....


Kathy

Emily Goes to Grandma's:

Last night I worked on a children's tablescape with my vintage toys.  Some photos didn't turn out so good in color, so I have changed them into black and white.   I took some of those pictures and am using them to let Emily tell a story.  It is my feeble attempt at some creative writing, which happens to scare me to death.

~ Kathy

Emily Goes to Grandma's

Hi, remember me?  I am Emily.  I have been going to a lot of fancy dinners lately.  Last night, I went to Grandma and Grandpa's for dinner.  Grandma made a very special kids table just for us little ones.  It was fun to have our own table, in the kitchen.  Just in case we spill.

There were cheerful placemats, candles, tea pots and lots of old toys on this table.  I guess that we still need to be careful about spilling.  Grandma said ... leave those candles alone or I am going to blow them out.  So, we did.  We were good.

Grandma really likes that Mary Engelbreit stuff.  If we complain, Grandma says, "Well, make the best of it, sweetie.  Bloom where you're planted."  Easier said than done, Grandma!

Grandma also tells us to be nice and take care of each other.  She says this includes the animals, trees and water.  Grandpa says that is because she is an old hippie chick from Eugene.  She says no sir, she was never a hippie.  What is a hippie, anyway?

I love the View Master.  It is old.  Grandma said that after dinner I could use it, but not now.  It has to stay here for decoration for the pictures.

The saying on that box says, "Just living is not enough.  One must have sunshine, freedom and a little flower."  Grandma says, amen to that!

After dinner, we are going to get to read about the little girl of Japan.  It is one of my very favorites.  If you click here, you can read the story about Ah Fu .  Grandma scanned it a while back.  She loves these old books.  They came from her old church that closed down.  So did a lot of these old toys.  Grandpa says that she is sentimental.  She says so is he.

So, that is about all.  It was fun.  I love my Grandma. And my Grandpa.  And Dana and Sonny.  Oh, she says to tell you that the rest of this tablescape will be on her blog on Wednesday.

Bye, bye.  The End.


~ Emily

Tea Cup Tuesday: Bright Color and M.E.

On this day, before the snow hits around here, I wanted to post something cheery and bright.  I love my M.E. things, most are gifts from my girls, my friend Patty and my sister Julie.  All the way around, when I look at these pretties, they bring me joy.  I hope they do the same for you too.  Oh, the vintage suitcase was Cary's grandfather's.

In Sepia

In Black and White

In Soft Focus

I participated in Lady Katherine's Tea Time Tuesday, and Marty's A Stroll through life with this post, thank you ladies!  I also visited many of the other nice blog ladies who linked up there today.  You will not be disappointed if you do the same, I just know it!

Lady Katherine Tea Parlor

A Stroll Through Life

~ Kathy

Tea Time Tuesday

Bloom where you are planted ....

... and serve up a cup of kindness!

This is my first time participating in Tea Time Tuesday.  These are two of my M.E. cups that were given to me as gifts over the years.  I love them.   

Since I have been joining these weekly "show and tell" sessions, I have been so impressed with all of you lovely ladies out there in blog land.  There are so many wonderful blogs!   If I would have known that before I began mine two years ago, I might have been very intimidated to even begin one.  It really isn't that hard to do a blog, but it can take up lots of your time.  It is a lot of fun.  Please don't be afraid to start your own blog if you have been thinking about it.  Blogger has made many improvements, and it is very user friendly.  Other people use Word Press, Type Pad and other programs.


I am meeting so many amazing blogging people all at once, that sometimes I get confused on who is who.  I am going to have to reorganize my blog lists, and sorting them into categories soon!  I enjoy and follow numerous writing blogs, decorating blogs, photography blogs and humor blogs.  I think that mine is a "day-in-the-life" blog with lots of photography.

I want to welcome my newest follower, Terry at LaBella Vie .  I am so happy to have you!  I really appreciate all of the comments that you guys are leaving on here.  It encourages me a lot.

Thank you to Lady Katherine at Lady Katherine's Tea Parlor for hosting Tea Time Tuesday!


~ Kathy

Get Out the Vote!

Mary Engelbreit Paper Dolls:

Do you guys still have your Mary Engelbreit paper dolls?  Anne Estelle and her friends?  I wish that someone would begin a Paper Doll Linky Party.  I think that any kind of paper doll would be fine.

In the meantime, this morning, as I was gathering my other ME things for an upcoming photo shoot, I found my basket of paper dolls.  They come in the back of her Home Companion magazine, and I was pretty good about cutting them out, way back when.

  Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

  Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

This was the fun part.  I got out three sheets of photo paper and a ball of sticky tack.  I dressed some of the dolls, and put them on their own page with sticky tack (I figured that it was easier on the dolls than tape would be).  Then I scanned and cropped them, and posted them on here.  How fun!

  Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

  Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

  Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

I can't wait to see what you guys come up with!

~ Kathy