www.scottmansfield.com

Another family thing: Some know him as Scott, some as Scooter, some as hubby, brother or son, but one thing is for sure -- get to know him and his amazing photography. Scott has taught me to actually see what is right in front of me - to capture a feeling on film - to look at the world through the lens and see it's beauty. Check out Scott's web site - his work is sensational, thought provoking and a pleasure to behold.

Just Playing Around

Nothing to blog about, yet, so I've been playing around with my header. (and a few of my new digi playthings.) That's heady stuff! Too much, not enough, back to the original or just back to the drawing board ? --- these are important questions a blogista needs to address. I'll just let it rest for a bit and see if grabs anyone's attention. I'm just an amusing blogger amusing myself, but, I do love those flowers.
my simple header and then I went crazy.......

In the scrapbooking world there are tags for certain styles of scrapbooking, e.g., traditional, simple, block, digital, classic, grunge, etc. I don't do grunge, using embellishments that have nothing to do with the picture or theme, scruffy papers, odd colors, and just stuff filling the page. However, I had to do a little bit of grunge to match this fantastic picture --- I just had to. This is one of my favorite pictures of son & wifey during a photo shoot many years ago and another digital page for the books. Thanks Scooter & Sara for a great photo. For an up close and personal look, just click on the layout.

(credits for the scrapbook legals: word art and butterfly by fei-fei stuff Crazy Beautiful, grunge frame outline by J. Sprague)

It all started when I thought I should get all the family pictures out of the boxes and into a couple of photo albums. While looking for the albums to fill, I discovered there was a whole world I had not been aware of --- Scrapbooking. I was hooked and the rest, as they say, is history. My scrapbooking style has changed since beginning eight years ago and who knows what is next. I love this hobby, this obsession, this passion of working with paper, scissors and glue (with a few computer tricks thrown in for fun) and all the friends I have made across the U.S. in the name of scrapbooking. So, if you want to see and read the Mansfield family history -- just ask --- I'll show you all 60 something albums.

(digital credits: flowers by Pasilee-ecologie and notebook paper shape by Katie Perteit the rest is all mine.)

It's All In The Family . . . . . . .

Paper Artists run with scissors and run in the family! This is a page for the albums when Andrea (aka Lily & Leda) and I (aka Sams'Studio) had a small space in Bellingham's local handmade shop. The shop closed after a few months (no fault of ours) but, we had a fun adventure sharing our love of paper. These photos were taken on opening day - as time went by we filled our shelves with new designs, different products and sold, sold, sold.

This is just one of Andrea's many paper talents. Give her a piece of paper and watch out - it's a wall hanging, a piece of jewelry, a note card, an idea that IKEA should copycat or a dialogue of paper. If you haven't yet, jump over to LilyandLeda.etsy.com and treat yourself to one of her treasures. (If you'd like to see the above digital layout picture up close and personal - just click on it)

(SB legals: pattern papers-Amy Teets Sun Porch, Katie Pertiet, LaCremerie Fruits Noirs, Sweet Blossom Designs by Sara, flowers-Peppermint Creative South Hampton & Michelle Coleman Wild Sherbet, brads-Amy Tweets) whew! The rest is mine -- all mine.

Assignment: Book Report

Well, I’ve got some pimping to do --- oh pleaze, not that! (although, I could use the money - I hear young men and older/wiser women connections are hot right now.) Moving on ---- If you know me at all, you know that I love a great mystery series. I love discovering new authors, starting with book one and on down the line. I’ve read all the female authors from the U.S. and have a pretty good handle on the male authors, too. I don’t care to read dark & dirty or spooks jumping out to Boo me (I scare easily --- you know if you go down that dark and dank basement nothing good is going to happen). Plus, I refuse to read true crime stories (that evil does not deserve to be published) but I love good “get into it” mysteries. Having said that, given all the facts, I usually can pick the perp within a couple of chapters - but continue reading for the enjoyment of the story, characters I want to more about, the mystery of the book and the author’s writing. And just sometimes, I get it wrong (“innocent until proven guilty, Sam!”).

Here’s where the pimping comes in --- I recently discovered an author that has his act together and writes a most enjoyable read. Even if you don’t read mysteries per se, these books are for everyone. Mr. Karp is one of the funniest writers with barbs and banter throughout, great character studies, story lines that are plausible with twists and turns to keep you up all night reading and laughing. Lomax & Biggs are the heroes of the story, two LAPD detectives that you won’t be able to get enough of throughout all of Mr. Karp’s books.

Now, I understand if you have commitment issues - don’t we all - however, Mr. Karp has posted the first five chapters (they’re small chapters and it won’t take you long to read) of his third book, Flipping Out, being released the end of March. Hop on over to his web site and get a belly laughing taste of this great mystery writer’s book. And, if you’re like me -- start with book one: The Rabbit Factory followed by book two: Bloodthirsty. That is, if you’re looking for a good time!

It's a family thing.......

Another digital layout and one more for the albums. All this creative talent in the family is amazing! My darling niece had an artist's show last year in Portland and I captured the image plus added a photo of her from her facebook page (hope that's okie dokie with you, El). I love that photo! An assemblage art piece that is well balanced, esoterically pleasing and captures a stable collage format. More family treasures to come --- it's a family thing.

rolling the credit line for the digital scrapbook page: Jessica Sprague's pattern paper, Katie Pertiet's tree (and tweeked by me). Photo credits: artist photo-Andrea Nelson of Lotus Photograpghy, artist-Eleanor Williams.

Oh! Oh! I think I'm Hooked ......

Although my scrap room has morphed in the last couple of years (got me some new toys, better cubbie holes that are filled with more stuff and a screamin' new puter) I found these pictures from 2007 and scrapped them digitally. I've been a cut-n-paste scrapbooking gal for 7 years and have over 60 albums to prove it --- but I gotta tell ya, digital scapbooking is F-U-N! I won't go totally crazy and just do digi from now on, just sneak some into the albums here and there. Try It, You'll Like It!

I did this layout for a challenge at an on-line weekend crop at SAS (Start A Scrapbook) or has the hubby called it: E-crop. Here's the required mention of product used on the above layout: Shabby Princess' Festival buttons, Fresh Air flower, Pattie Knox acrylic alphas, Katie Pertiet photo frame and tag, background red paper by ME. I actually folded a piece of paper, sanded the day lights out of it and distressed it, then scanned it into the puter to use. Easie Peasie

Today's Assignment: Make A Love List

What makes you all warm and tingly? Places that you love, moments you want to capture more of, things filling your comfort zone. What makes you feel good? What's on your love list, today?

Post it on your blog or post it here in the comments. Or do both! Either way, really focus on what brings you a smile and I guarantee you'll feel happier afterwards.

Here's my love list: I love my nap times (or quiet times for those in the know). and my warm, red blankie. I love starting a great mystery series. I love being surround by family, playing board games. and discovering new ones. I love walking the Mall in D.C. at night. I love walking the Mall in D.C. I love road trips with my sons & discovering those little dotted lines on a road map. I love early morning photo shoots. I love mornings. I love the southwest Navajo red rock. I love scrapbooking and creating a safe place for the memories. I love Mexican & Greek foods. I love moonlight shining through our windows. I love Santa Barbara. I love girl chats with my daughter. I love to dance. I love my children's laughter. I love connecting with friends, old and new. I love Bellingham, it's mountains, it's bay, the peacefulness of it all. I love Saturday Market. I love cupcakes. I love to travel. I love Oxford, Maryland. I love lilacs. I love the color red. I love a juicy, everything on it cheese burger. I love ice water. I love moon rises over the Canadian Cascades (again for those in the know). I love Canadian geese. I love whales. I love BISON. I love Teddy Roosevelt National Park. I love daisies. I love Lake Pleasant in the Olympics on a sunny day. or any day. I love the smell of a freshly opened bag of potato chips. I love chicken salad sandwiches from Our House, and sorry to see that spot close. I love walking on an Oregon coast beach. I love the ocean. I love exploring lighthouses. I love campfires when created with only one match. I love ferry rides - it doesn't matter how long or to where. I love to create..........

Just musing a bit ~ while recently reading Brian Freeman's book Immoral, I found this passage that sorta just sat in my mind for a bit. I went back to the marked page again and again, re-reading this little bit of wisdom and thinking about this man's observation.
"How the course of our lives can change so quickly if something is said or not said. We feel one thing and say another, because that's how we're brought up. We have our dreams and our fantasies though we rarely act on them. We all are, I think, more frightened than hopeful and more self sacrificing - the children, the spouse, the job, the community - than selfish. And that, I suppose, is good in the larger sense of maintaining the civilized society."
However, I like to remember, it's always best to follow your bliss.
Just musing a bit ~

Paraskevidekatriaphobia is the moniker placed on that fear of Friday the 13th. Author Charles Panati, one of the leading authorities on the subject of "Origins" maintains that the superstition can be traced back to ancient myth:

The actual origin of the superstition, though, appears also to be a tale in Norse mythology. Friday is named for Frigga, the free-spirited goddess of love and fertility. When Norse and Germanic tribes converted to Christianity, Frigga was banished in shame to a mountaintop and labeled a witch. It was believed that every Friday, the spiteful goddess convened a meeting with eleven other witches, plus the devil - a gathering of thirteen - and plotted ill turns of fate for the coming week. For many centuries in Scandinavia, Friday was known as "Witches' Sabbath."

Today, may be the day to grab those rabbit foot charms, four leaf clovers, rub your pet rock, wear your lucky shirt or keep the salt shaker handy --- cause you just might need it, today, or on March 13th or November 13th, 2009. Happy Friday the 13th!

A daughter........

"A daughter is a little girl who grows up to be a friend" (author unknown). Ah, so true, so true. Not long ago, Andrea emailed me some pictures she had taken of herself -- arm extended self-portrait snapshots. And as you know "if you give your mom a picture ~ it's going to be scrapbooked" (see January's article If You Give A Mouse A Cookie).

It wasn't until I saw these recent snapshots that I saw the resemblance --- she looks like me! I always saw the Mansfield features. Her thick, dark hair, brown eyes and that beautiful smile that captures your heart. But, there it was in black and white: a mini ME. But, she is just a tiny reflection of me. She is her own woman. A woman who is refreshing, kind and full of magic.

sidebar: the layout pages I did are directly scraplifted from Cathy Zielske's book, Clean & Simple Scrapbooking, a very favorite scrapbook artist of mine. Thanks, Cathy, I needed a lift.

You.........you are AWESOME

Let's Talk Fonts

font (fant) n.; A design for a set of characters. A font is the combination of typeface and other qualities, such as size, pitch, and spacing. For example, Times Roman is a typeface that defines the shape of each character. Within Times Roman, however, there are many fonts to choose from -- different sizes, italic, bold and so on. (The term font is often used incorrectly as a synonym for typeface.)
I love fonts - they are the expression of the written puter word. I have hundreds at my disposal and I use most of them weekly. The Serif, the sans-serif, the cursive, the fantasy, the old stand-bys. Check out the bottom of this blog for a daily font you can download. Have yourself some fun by create your own handwriting into a font at www.yourfonts.com (a tip: it's best to do a print instead or cursive handwriting - the connecting lines (serifs) won't match up.

Remember the pangram, The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog. - ? I found a couple of others that are just funny and wanted to share:

The job requires extra pluck and zeal from every young wage earner. And
Ebenezer unexpectedly bagged two tranquil aardvarks with his jiffy vacuum cleaner.

And, although there are no English words that contain all the letters in the alphabet "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" will always put a smile on your face when sung out loud.

I've been tagged (click on photo for an up close look)

I've been tagged by Cassie - the challenge is to go to your photo storage, to the 6th folder and then the 6th picture. Post it on your blog and talk about it, then tag 6 more bloggers to do the same.

Since I'm scrapbooking my 2007 pictures, the 6th folder was our California Spring Break photos and the 6th picture was one that my son, Bruce, took of his brother, Scott. It doesn't matter where we are or what we're doing, Scott always has his camera out and ready to shoot. I love this photo - a candid study of a photographer on California's northern coast, just California Dreamin'. I had already created a scrapbook page using this photo, so it was easy-squeezey to post. Tag, your IT!

Andrea
Eleanor
Gail
Sara
Barb & Donna
Cindy

Remember: Your 6th photo folder and the 6th photo then tag 6 bloggers. Have Fun!