I love mail and hand written letters and typically my mailbox contains more junk mail than one should receive, but last week I received this lovely box in the mail from a sweet friend. Aren't the colors wonderful?

"Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born."
- Anais Nin

I am off to clean my closet...sounds exciting I know, but I have been trying to do this for a year. I typically start out with gusto and then after about an hour am completely bored, but today I am gonna make a dent. Wish me luck!

Seems like yesterday, but it was 16 years ago. We were married on an unusually sunny day in Seattle at St. James Cathedral. A few weeks prior to the wedding there was a fire in the church and there were some moments of worry, but the smoke damage was minor and they allowed the scheduled weddings to continue. So things went as they should and all that really mattered was that we were married. I married a keeper.

Here is a little poem I found in an antique book...

Song
by Louise Bogan

Love me because I am lost;
Love me that I am undone.
This is brave, - no man has wished it,
not one.

Be strong to look on my heart
As others look on my face.
Love me - I tell you....

I am finally feeling better...I came down with the crud that was going around and have been sick for over a week. It really made me appreciate feeling healthy. So hopefully I am done for the year.

Mondays and Fridays are my studio days, but lately I have not managed to get much done. A little studio cleaning, a little organizing, a little supply gathering...but not actually getting work done. I did order new moo cards and some supplies for ArtFest so those things are crossed off my "to do" list.

The picture here are my little finds today. Instead of working in the studio I decided to go for some visual stimulation at an antique mall in Snohomish. I was looking in a case at a wire knit purse much bigger than the one pictured and thinking...how perfect the chain would be to hang earrings, but then I saw this little doll (from head to toe she is about two inches). Isn't she cute? Then I saw this little wire knit coin purse that would be great too and a little more up my price range. Oh and the little silver bracelet with Paris scenes just around the corner. It is amazing how much stuff they can pack into those glass cases.

Yep...not much done, but a few good finds so all in all not a bad day.

Tip of the day...


Nesters and friends here is an alternative to a drill for punching holes...
A great pair of punch pliers. They can be used on sheet metal to punch a neat little hole, but recently I tested them on a vintage shoe clip. The rhinestone was easily removed by using an awl on the back side and then punched a hole where the rhinestone was...easy. I got these from Lisa Niven Kelly since I like to support small businesses, but you can get them at Rio too. You could also look at this screw down hole punch. I am a tool girl...so I am always on the look out for tools that can go with me.

I will be teaching at the Portland Art & Soul Retreat October 5th and 6th. Registration opens on 3/11, and they offer a number of wonderful classes. Let me know if you are going to attend...I would love to see you.

Sorry to blog and dash, but the sun is out today and it feels like spring.