Wednesday Wrap-up - Summer Reading

September 16, 2015

This summer reading season provided me an interesting crop of books. As of the writing of this post, I have read 38 books of my 50 book goal for the year. Among this group are some of my favorites.

Because I was trying to get bingo in the Books on the Nightstand summer bingo card, I have a little of everything on the list.

I read a total of 20 books between Memorial Day and Labor Day. While I can't quite choose a favorite, there are some that will stick with me.

Forty Acres by Dewayne Alexander Smith because it is speculative fiction about black people controlling slavery. Having supreme control of things turns even the most well meaning person into something vile, but I appreciate the author's ability to think the madness through. The publisher calls this a thriller, but I think it is great speculative fiction.

Autopsy of a Deceased Church by Thom S. Rainer because I'm Christian and I believe in growing in a church and growing as a church, just as Christ commanded. Too many churches are dying and we must alter that.

The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty only because the ending drives me crazy. It's one of those resolved without a resolution things.

So, how did I do at Bingo? I failed.

Oh well, until next year!

I don't typically decorate my planner page, but I do enjoy the occasional artful outlet. I use a variety of pages in my planner. For my weekly planning and tracking, I use the Month/Week Combo (page 1), and the Month/Week Combo (alternate page 2).&n… — I don't typically decorate my planner page, but I do enjoy the occasional artful outlet. I use a variety of pages in my planner. For my weekly planning and tracking, I use the Month/Week Combo (page 1), and the Month/Week Combo (alternate page 2).
Since the pages are blank, I add the dates before I fill it in with all the colorful goodness.

Magnolia Monday-Weekly Planner Decoration

September 14, 2015

I use this weekly spread to track my checking account balance and to highlight important events/appointments, workouts, reading, etc. It's an overview that can get cluttered on individual days, but it's perfect for quick glances and assessments.&nbs… — I use this weekly spread to track my checking account balance and to highlight important events/appointments, workouts, reading, etc. It's an overview that can get cluttered on individual days, but it's perfect for quick glances and assessments.

Because my planner is typically quite chunky, I try to keep all my embellishments flat which presents an ideal situation for stamping. On these pages, I use a combination of StudioL2E, Tim Holtz, Kelly Purkey, and other stamps in my collection. The … — Because my planner is typically quite chunky, I try to keep all my embellishments flat which presents an ideal situation for stamping. On these pages, I use a combination of StudioL2E, Tim Holtz, Kelly Purkey, and other stamps in my collection. The ink is Stampin' Up!. Because my birthday appears in this 3 week span, I also made a tab at the top that is stamped happy birthday.

I quite enjoy the results, so I think I will be decorating my spreads more often. How nice it is to use my planner pages as an artful outlet.

Life As An Addictive Crafter

September 6, 2015

I just watched a YouTube Video of an artist who described himself as an addictive sketcher. I laughed as I thought of myself as the addictive crafter. I have been crafting since I was a child. It was something my mother introduced to keep us busy and out of trouble. What it has become is a way for me to escape.

Crafting keeps me sane. Crafting keeps me calm. Crafting is the perfect stress relief when I am ready to indulge in something complex and intriguing while I forget the nonsense of the workplace. The down side (if there is one) of being an addictive crafter, is the amount of stuff that you accumulate as a result. No, I didn't need fifteen zipper pouches, but I had the time and materials so why not. One day, I will give them as gifts. Into the potential gift basket they go. At some point, you end up with more gifts than you have occasions to gift them.

My crafting desire has not waned in all these years, so my crafting output has to pivot and adjust. My name is April and I am an addicted crafter. Welcome to my studio, the place from which I will launch my love of crafting into the world.

Up next in the workshop....the quarterly workshop sale! October 2015.