michelle my belle

Smile Often!

A new stamp with a motto I believe in!

 

Here's the tracing paper that I flipped over and burnished onto the stamp material. This is a simple way to reverse your image so that it won't come out backwards when stamped.

I cut out the design so that it's easy to maneuver while carving. I recommend not carving too much away before doing a test stamp. You can always take out more material but you can't add it back in. I also like to leave slivers of material here and there so that it looks like it was actually carved and not just a drawing.

Happy Stamp Carving!

Vintage Book turned Journal

My friend Teri came over yesterday and taught me how to make these fabulous journals using old books. 

I used black paper for my signatures so I could make it more of a photo album since I have a journal I'm already working in. 

I sewed in a old found button for fun. I'm not sure what this stitch is called. I know it's much simpler and quicker than the Coptic stitch. What took the most time was cutting the paper for the signatures. The actual sewing and hole punching only took about an hour. I see many more of these in my future! Garage Sales here I come!

MT:

ran 8.5 miles on Tues.

Wed. off

6.5 miles today

It was hard to get out there today. It was cold out and I was in a groove in the studio that I didn't want to spoil. I put it off till 5PM which gave just enough time to do the loop before dark. I'm glad I got out there. It felt good.

Weekend of Ski Racing!

We got to spend our weekend up at Mt. Hood with some friends who have a cabin up there. We played a game they call "peasant" in which I won like 4 times in a row! Love that game :) ha! (pride cometh before the fall!) We ate, and I ate WAY TOO MUCH! Thanks so much Amy and Braden for a great weekend!

Our youngest won her first ski race this weekend. She actually ended up, by God's grace, winning both of the races this weekend. My aunt Cindy and cousin Monica, Mom and Dad, and Katy and her boyfriend Brandon all came up this weekend to watch her race so it was extra great to have her do so well. 

And, to top it off my oldest, who isn't racing this year, was asked to fore run for the races. We couldn't have planned it better.

 

I'm working on a new project. Can't wait to have them finished so I can show you.

MT:

Friday I ran 18 miles @ an 8:50 per mile average pace with Katy joining me on my last 6 miles. We finished the last mile in 7:57 just for fun.

Today ran 5 miles @ an 8:05 pace by myself.

Things are feeling pretty good. I've been careful to take rest days and to have slow days.

I've had an insatiable appetite with all this running. I would still like to lose at least 6 lbs. before the marathon but I just can't seem to quit stuffing my face!

New Print on our Etsy!

We recently added this print for sale on our Allen Designs Etsy store! You can see the process and the original here.

I've kept the original for now and it's sitting on my mantle above my fireplace and I love it! It's nice to have art in the home.

Journal Pages & New Stamp

 

Sometimes the pages come together and look great and other times they look like a messy hodge podge of doodles. 

 

My first attempt at carving this stamp today I had forgotten to reverse the image. So I had to do the entire stamp over! This isn't the first time I've done this!

 

I stamped it on some colored Post-it notes for fun. (and because I couldn't find any paper within reach)

MT(marathon training) - 6 weeks into my 16 week training program

ran 8 miles this morning with Stacey and Katy. didn't feel that great and it took a bit of effort to finish. that's when running with people really pays off. we started off with a few miles at about 9:40 pace then did the rest at about an 8:30 ave. pace. maybe if i could shed this extra 6-lbs i could run better!

Las Vegas and Running

 

 

A few days ago I went to Las Vegas to walk the mainly furniture show at the World Market Center. They've been trying to grow the gift portion of the show over the past few years. I'm glad I spent a few hundred $$ and flew down before deciding to commit to a booth, shipping product, a week of boredom and that rigmarole. I felt that this show is a ways off from being a good gift show. Maybe when some of the larger gift companies move in...

Running wise I've been doing okay. No injuries so far, thank you Lord!

2/11 - 7 mls. 8:30 average

2/13 - 6 miles easy

2/15 - 15 miles easy

and today ran 6 miles averaging 9:00 min. miles. 

This weeks goal is to run between 35-40 miles. We'll see.

Hope you're doing well. :)

God Bless

A Lone Journal Page...

Finally finished a journal page amidst more traveling, kids, catching up on paperwork and running. Figured I better do a post before you all leave me and never come back! :) 

Fun Finds and Talented Friends

A few of my favorites from this seasons show circuit.

This is Lisbet from En Gry & Sif. Their yummy felted items are designed in Denmark and made in Nepal. Not to mention they have hearts of gold!

This is Bret from All New Materials. I'm not quite sure how to describe their monsteresque stuffies. I had to have one for myself! Forget the kids. 

 

 

Bojan and Joe of Kimono Kool. Joe designs all his products out of silk kimono fabric and has them made in Japan. Super cool stuff! I got my 13 yr. old some shoelaces and she loves 'em. 

My friend Gary and his son from Sonoma Lavender. If you're ever in Sonoma, CA in the summer check their website to see if your trip coincides with their Lavender Festival. I've been told that there are many good deals to be had there. Not to mention beautiful!

I've been having a bit of a hard time getting back in the groove after returning from the gift shows. Everything seems daunting and a bit overwhelming. I'm hoping to be able to find some time this weekend to get away from the "business" side of things and enjoy a bit of the "creative" side. I hope to have something fun to show you by Monday.

I'm 4 days into my 14 Day Challenge of tracking my food. The other night I felt as though I could Eat the HOUSE! I've been using a free online site called SparkPeople for tracking. I've had to increase my calories to more in the 1500-1800 range to compensate for exercise. I don't want to starve myself or increase my risk of injury, I just want to slowly lose a few LBS. and reunite with the reality of what I'm eating.

MT: Ran yesterday 6 miles slow (9:45-10:00) pace. Still feeling sluggish. Thankfully ran with a friend so I didn't have to mentally fight with myself to keep running.

Please feel free to comment with any questions you may have for me. I LOVE asking questions. Maybe that's why my grandma would always say "curiosity killed the cat" and I would always reply, "satisfaction brought it back"!

Home from New York!

Finally done with the show season. I guess I've been a bit lazy lately with the computer hence the lack of blogging. I didn't pull it out a single time while in NY. Partially cause it would have cost me $14.95 per day for Internet and partly cause I think I needed a break. I've been paying for it the past few days trying to catch up on all the emails!

I'm lovin' this mermaid sculpture that a jeweler used in her display. I didn't get the name of the jeweler or the artist that created this masterpiece. 

Another picture of our display. This display can take us anywhere from 8 hours to set up or like in NY 4.5 hours. Just depending on how much new stuff we're adding or taking away. 

It was very cold, we didn't spend a whole lot of time taking pictures or checking out the scenery on this trip. We did go see "In The Heights" on Broadway. It was fabulous. Got our tickets at the tkts booth for $65 or so!

 

Glad to be home. Enjoying my family, my own coffee, Internet and running without stoplights!

MTU - Jan. 24, ran 16 miles in Central Park with Katy, didn't run the rest of the week! ugh. bad girl!

Feb. 1, ran 13.25 miles and today ran 3 mls. 

I'm on week 4 of a 16 week training program. No more slacking from this point on.

Oh, and I started a 14 Day Challenge yesterday with Katy (my graphics/show/running gal). We're going to track everything we eat for the 14 days. My stomach is growling as I type! The first few days always seem to be the hardest.

Hope you are doing well. I know these are some tough times for many.