Yes, another odd fact for 2009

Yes, boys and girls, one more odd number day..... What I found on the web for the significance of today:

September 9, 2009, is the 252nd day of the year, 252 adds to 9, and 09-09-09 = 27

09-09-09 is also the last of the single-digits dates for quite a while - 92 years to be precise.

It is also the upside-down number of "the beast" - satan + 666, of course.

The day itself falls on a Wednesday and both Wednesday & September have 9 letters

"9" is pronounced "jiu" in Chinese which sounds like the same as the word "forever" so couples want to get their marriage certificate today.... Go figure...

Happy 9th to all of you out there.... and a special Birthday wish for Paula - who turns 39 on 9-9-09! Yes, sweetie it will be a lucky year for you ........ better than the last one!

Crusades in the Breeze

Over at the Street Team Crusades, Michelle Ward has posted Crusade # 33 for the month of September. Many of us know and believe that there are no coincidences in life. Things happen for a reason, so how fortuitous is it that Michelle's crusade has to do with feeding your brain and trying something new..... (This is quirky - I say there are no coincidences and then use the word fortuitous, meaning "by chance," yes, girls and boys it is Sunday morning in the honeysuckles and I have probably breathed in too much of their scent and am running in circles....)


Here is a quote from Michelle's challenge: "This month's challenge is to feed your brain - in or out of the studio. Tell us on your blog what you have learned recently, what you plan to learn, or what you are currently learning. It does not have to relate to art. It can be anything. Tried a new recipe? Learned to knit? Took a yoga class? Refinished a piece of furniture or built a birdhouse? Joined a book club or learned ballroom dancing? Tell us."


Well, as many of my readers know, I was on a staycation for two weeks in August. I ended up trying something totally new -- creating business cards for two friends of mine. I have not worked with photoshop that much. I have been in awe of those who do, especially Michelle. So with a little trial and error using special effects I created my first one. This sample does NOT include logo and message since that file is too large to include in this blog but you can see how I photoshopped it with the "glowing edges." I am lovin' the glow... The cards came out nice. I like them and felt good and so did James.


Then, his business partner wanted some but did not like the photos my brother took several years back when she had "weight" on her.... So, I had to borrow a more sophisticated camera from a friend and we went out on a glorious day and took photos (a far cry from my little digital camera).


The one Mary and I really wanted to use did not work and so we went with this stylized one. I am still trying to work on the "glowing edge" one we love and will figure it out one of these days and we will get it printed somewhere




I feel good I ventured out of my comfort zone and worked on these business cards. Yes, I stressed on these. Yes, I was so pleased I tried them. I remember when they approached me on this proposition, I cringed. Will I do any more? I don't know. But I am pleased with the results and happy I tried it. I do plan on working in photoshop more and may even take a class on it! New camera? Not in the cards just yet. Thank y0u, Michelle, for letting me put these thoughts down and looking back on this experience in this way! See you soon in October!

Madame Galoche in the Honeysuckles

Yes, it is time to preview Edward Gorey's Miss September. This month we have Madame Galoche. Now, you ask, what could dear Galoche do? Well, think soup kitchen, potage puree Crecy (carrot soup) and a little dash of insecticide.


Just a little goes a long way. The dear indigents didn't have a chance in May, 1911. OK, the year:

1911...... 1) a meteorite hits earth near Wisconsin; 2) Mona Lisa is stolen from the Louvre by an employee and recovered the next day; 3) Chevy official enters the auto world; 4) IBM is incorporated; 5) The first Indy 500 is run in Indy; 6) the first official flight with airmail takes place; 7) a revolution in Mexico breaks out; and 8) 146 garment workers are burned to death in NYC at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory (this has been a scene for ghost hunters for a number of years). OK back to the Madame...such a charmer, hair to dye for, attitude to match.... gives new meaning to "head chef" in the kitchen.



Madam Galoche doesn't have a clue what is going on in the world. Well, she does in her world and she obviously doesn't like the individuals who show up in her soup kitchen. Well, do tell, she could have just spit in the soup to get even -- she didn't need to go and kill them. Maybe she had PMS or heat surges or she just got up on the wrong side of the bed. Whatever, she ended up giving potage puree Crecy aux perles a bad rapt. Ask me when the last time I ate carrot soup..... NEVER. Proves my point!

Next time you order soup -- remember Madame Galoche and steer clear of the potage..... A word to the wise.

OK my little boys and girls - I have a ...

SURPRISE for you.... Well kind of...

Look what is on Claudine Hellmuth's blog.....

YES, you're very own Paper Dolls. I found this while I was crusin' around one of my favorite blogs... Run, don't walk, Run over there. I have just ordered two sets of paper dolls. I mean how cute is this and they will make marvelous birthday and Christmas gifts for males or females ... boys or girls ...

Just think, you could have yourself made up for your mother.... You could have your children made for their grandparents and on and on and on....... What friend, relative, mummy, daddy, wouldn't love these? You can make your whole family into paper dolls and put on your refrigerator.... Or, hey, make up your "own" dang family and hang them on the fridge.... WOW.... what possibilities, what a concept....... hmmmmmm... (I'm wondering if this is really Claudine's refrigerator...I am so jealous)

Please note these photos are used with permission from Claudine. Claudine notes on her blog:

"For $25 + shipping (order 4 or more @ just $20 each) you'll get a custom magnetic doll with your photo image + a set of outfits in a reusable gift tin."

For more information, click here.

Okie dokie - need to go watch tennis. Yes, I am back at work but we have a three day weekend coming up...... time for you to get your paper dolls ordered!

Remembering the Walls Notebook

Last night while lounging in my I love NY pjs......I remembered my Walls notebook. Have not worked on it in ages and ages and ages. So between last night and this morning here is what I did... I started with a page I had added an image to (months ago) because I thought it looked cool (stamped image on acetate):

I used this image a lot in my London photo sleeve album because he so reminds me of Jack the Ripper.... So last night I was still "into" using my CSI Crime Tape on everything and cut out a digital image I had printed on canvas:


Still thought we needed something and so I began to add clip art to "Jack's" page....

I believe my goal was to make the page look like it had windows because I cut out the image which was here..... have scissors will cut... this "background" was a photo from my earlier NYC visit of a beautiful window display.... and then one more clip art girlie girl.....



When all was said and done I added a transparency of trees from a large pad of 12x12 paper and liked it.


The finished pages:

Oh yeah, the pjs.....

Back home in the honeysuckles...

Yes, I did remember to take my little traveling visual journal and had fun with it in New York City. It was a great quick trip and so much fun. Got to do everything I wanted to do.... nice. I love the NEW "CSI Crime Scene" yellow tape. Too cool - found it in the CBS store. On the left hand page, I used the yellow tape along with some clip art I found at the wonderful and fantastic "The Ink Pad" store on eighth avenue. If you get to NYC, you need to visit that store. I bought way too much but it was items I can't find around this town. I also like to see stuff and would rather buy in a store than online. The "Girls Night Out" is from a clip art page by m. mata. Lovely purples and NYC skylines. The "Field Journal" stamp is from clear stamps from Paperdoll pARTs at Character Constructions.

The Pierrot is from a digital collage sheet already purchased from itkupilli on her etsy store. She has some nice digital pages. It is always good to come home and have a day of doing nothing. I don't have to go back to work until Wednesday. Play tennis tomorrow. We had good eats in New York City at Remi's, Gallaghers, Ellen's Stardust Diner, Sweet Emily's and Gotham Bar & Grill. Great shows: Wicked and Jersey Boys. And, of course, it was great to hang out with the girls!

Loren loved her "Wicked" and even picked up a Wicked Barbie Doll - the green was to die for:

It was a rainy weekend but you don't care in New York City. The hustle and bustle is just too fun and it is contagious. The hotel, Washington Jefferson, is perfectly located and in close proximity to the theater district, Times Square, and wonderful restaurants. I have stayed there before and it was fun to return to the small hotel. Sunday was an exciting day with tennis players arriving in the Big Apple getting ready to play in the U.S. Open. I saw a few on the streets.... you know the really tall ones with a wonderful tan and cute.... those types.. Well, need to straighten up and put my new purchases away. You have a good evening!

See ya in a few days!

Enjoy your weekend, friends! I'm gonna enjoy mine! xoxoxo