So as you already know, I have been taking art classes with Tina Siddiqui at Gallaghers Canyon and Rotary Center for the Arts. I have now painted 7 paintings in pastels. I haven't blogged my recent paintings, so here goes..... This one was inspired by Van Gogh's Sunflowers. Pastel 11x14.

Not really crafts related, but I stumbled upon a web site www.gilbertssyndrome.com which explains a bit about the liver problem I was diagnosed with at age 17. Basically Gilbert's is a liver function issue which prevents the liver from effectively filtering the yuck out of your bloodstream (yuck could be dead red blood cells or toxins).

Doctors have always said to me that there are no side affects with this syndrome (other than looking a bit yellow) but new studies out there are starting to reveal that they may be other related medical issues including:

general fatigue, weakness, tiredness with insomnia, poor memory, inability to recall words, brain fog (i.e. spaced-out), depression, SAD (seasonal affective disorder), gastric issues (including bloating), sinusitis (blocked sinus), tinnuitis (ringing in ears), motion-sickness.

For years I thought I was permanently "under the weather" and you learn to live with them but now I know that there might actually be a cause. So what's the answer? There really isn't one, but I'm thinking of trying Dr Sandra Cabot's Liver Cleansing Diet. It's supposed to help the liver function more effectively.

Anyway, whether you've been diagnosed with GS or not, please visit the site and take the survey. More respondents are needed to help determine whether these symptoms are really more prevalent in GS suffers or not.

Not really crafts related, but I stumbled upon a web site www.gilbertssyndrome.com which explains a bit about the liver problem I was diagnosed with at age 17. Basically Gilbert's is a liver function issue which prevents the liver from effectively filtering the yuck out of your bloodstream (yuck could be dead red blood cells or toxins).

Doctors have always said to me that there are no side affects with this syndrome (other than looking a bit yellow) but new studies out there are starting to reveal that they may be other related medical issues including:

general fatigue, weakness, tiredness with insomnia, poor memory, inability to recall words, brain fog (i.e. spaced-out), depression, SAD (seasonal affective disorder), gastric issues (including bloating), sinusitis (blocked sinus), tinnuitis (ringing in ears), motion-sickness.

For years I thought I was permanently "under the weather" and you learn to live with them but now I know that there might actually be a cause. So what's the answer? There really isn't one, but I'm thinking of trying Dr Sandra Cabot's Liver Cleansing Diet. It's supposed to help the liver function more effectively.

Anyway, whether you've been diagnosed with GS or not, please visit the site and take the survey. More respondents are needed to help determine whether these symptoms are really more prevalent in GS suffers or not.

Not much to say, but more watering cans. I'm really liking this image which I think goes with a variety of different occasions and thought I'd make a couple more cards.

Recipe: Mellow Moss, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White CS; Basic Black ink; Chocolate grosgrain ribbon. Nice and Easy Notes and Everyday Flexible Phrases stamp sets.


Recipe: Close to Cocoa, Whisper White CS; Pretty in Pink tag; Chocolate & Celery grosgrain ribbon; Basic Black and Close to Cocoa ink; staples. Nice and Easy Notes stamps.

I finally plucked up enough courage to separate the images from the sentiments on the Nice & Easy Notes stamps I bought used. I hadn't used this set at all even though I like the images.

Anyway, now that I've done this, the stamps have a new lease on life. I particularly love this watering can image.

I've been busy today making some cards (J took a 4 hour nap and K was at daycare).

Christmas Cards

This card was inspired by a card on p.50 of SU! 2006 IB&C. I changed up the stamp set used and the sentiment but the colors are pretty much the same. SU Gently Falling and Everyday Flexible Phrases stamps; Almost Ameythst, Lovely Lavender and Mellow Moss CS with Lovely Lavender Ink, Mellow Moss button.


This card was an original design. SU Gently Falling and Everyday Flexible Phrases stamps; Not Quite Navy and Bashful Blue CS, Bashful Blue Ink, White Grosgrain and Hodgepodge Hardware.


These generic cards were made with CTMH Sweet Flowers (SOM July 2005). Sentiment stamped with Close to Cocoa ink on Mellow Moss CS. First card uses Bashful Blue, Chocolate and Mellow Moss colors and second card uses Perfect Plum, Chocolate and Mellow Moss colors. Chocolate grosgrain and Hodgepodge Hardware/Word Window punch also used.

As mentioned before, SU!'s Love Without End was the first stamp set I owned but I quickly ran out of ideas for it and didn't use it for a while. Now I am re-exploring my options with it. Here are a couple of birthday cards I whipped up using it.

Cards made with: SU! Love Without End, Everyday Flexible Phrases; Mellow Moss, Pale Plum, Pretty in Pink CS and Inks; Soft Subtles Buttons and Linen Thread.