hannahskillet

busy as a bee...

2011-08-29T08:12:00.000-07:00

but i really want to take a nap. we weathered hurricane irene this weekend. it actually wasn't that bad for our neighborhood which is surprising since i live 2 blocks from the chesapeake beach. but we did have about four hundred million twigs in the yard to pick up yesterday... hence the need for a nap. we are so thankful and feel truly blessed. now i need to go find some caffeine so that i can tackle this day!
be brave, friends...
<3 anna

not dead yet...

2011-08-23T09:55:00.000-07:00

but last week was pretty crazy. three days of art camp with 17 kids and then classes on saturday from 10:30 am to 8:30 pm pretty much did me in. i think i slept for twenty hours saturday night into sunday. there is no way michelle and i could have pulled off without LOTS of help. so here is a big huge hug and sloppy kiss to Janice Roller, Elizabeth Kipp, Jody Blaufus and Mel Sawyer. and of course all of our wonderful students. we hope you were inspired and that we helped to put you in the holiday spirit!
be brave, friends...
<3 anna

because i need a reminder...

2011-08-11T06:23:00.000-07:00

this sign was inspired by the authentique tags and the "destined for greatness" silhouette download. i wanted to keep it relatively simple so that i would focus on the message. i think we all need a reminder sometimes. this sign is going to hang in my studio so that, when i get to the point where i hate what i have created and i have to remind my self to keep pushing through so i can get to the point where i am satisfied, i will have a tangible reminder that i am destined for greatness.

be brave, friends...

<3 anna

for a cute little firefighter...

2011-08-10T09:49:00.000-07:00

i made this album for my friend who is very pregnant. she will be having her first baby in a few weeks. this album is designed so that she can jot down some milestones on the left side along with the date. on the right side there are photo corners placed so that she can put a 5X7 photo of little easton. i can't wait to see it full of all of the photos of the little guy!

be brave, friends...

<3 anna

i believe he can fly...

2011-08-08T06:46:00.000-07:00

cause that's what eagle scouts do! last month we were so fortunate to be able to be a part of my nephew's eagle scout court of honor. he has worked so hard to complete all of the requirements and we are all very proud of him! it was a lot of fun to surprise him as he thought he was not going to receive the award until october. way to go, jake! even if i am your second favorite aunt. ;-)

be brave, friends...

<3 anna

i am a cheater...

2011-08-04T06:29:00.000-07:00

sorry, echo park but i have found a new love. we can still hang out sometime but right now it is all about authentique... have you seen the pretty? a. maze. ing. i have created three projects this past week with two of the lines and i have three more ideas with three other lines. i absoutely love the paper and i love that i am so inspired by the colors and patterns. this cute little mini album will be a travel journal mini album class in september but i just had to show you now cause it is so stinking cute!!

be brave, friends...

<3 anna

sadly i forgot my elf hat...

2011-08-03T07:21:00.000-07:00

because i will be needing it today. i am working on projects for our holiday workshop at Beach Scrapbooks on the 20th. there will be a total of 6 projects for $35. it has been so much fun to work with the christmas papers to create mini books, layouts and other projects. call the store at 563-9009 to sign up. hope to see you there... and elf hats are optional.

be brave, friends...

<3 anna

maybe just send me an email...

2011-08-02T06:58:00.000-07:00

so i know what You want... i had to chuckle when i saw this in barnes & noble. it is a verse that many of our students choose as "their" verse so we have talked about it/preached it a few times throughout the years. it is such a comforting verse but sometimes i feel like i would just like an email from God letting me know i am going in the right direction or making the right choices even though things are tough. the rest of that verse, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future," makes me think i have it all made in the shade. and then you read the next verse, "Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you." and i realize it is all about trust. trusting that God truly loves me and His plans are to give me a future - a perfect future that He has designed for me. and even when i don't understand it... especially when i don't understand it, that i can trust that He loves me more than i will ever understand.
be brave, friends...
<3 anna

inspired...

2011-08-01T05:58:00.000-07:00

by two photos i found of my mom when she was five with her grandmother, i was able to turn this...

into this...

here are some detail shots. i love all of the new authentique lines. the paper is excellent quality and the modern, graphic style matches my own perfectly. i hand sewed all of the yo yos in a perfect pink to match the accents in the paper line and pleated the ribbon by hand.

thanks mom for being such a cute five year old and a great mom!

be brave, friends...

<3 anna

what summer looks like...

2011-07-31T06:50:00.000-07:00

ever since i was a kid i have LOVED tomatoes. i used to eat them like apples and can still remember what it feels like to have the juice running down my arm. there is a man nearby, who must be one hundred and sixty seven years old, who has the yummiest tomatoes in town. best part of summer, hands down. thanks little old man for letting us reap what you sow...
be brave, friends...
<3 anna

only one month left...

2011-07-30T08:17:00.000-07:00

for me to finish this labor of love. my friend (hi Laura!) is very pregnant and will be giving birth to little, or big, Easton in about a month. i promised i would have her quilt finished by the time little E was born. so now i will be spending all my free time hand quilting this little beauty. i promise to post pics when it is all finished. maybe i can get some with the little fella on there! also, this is the first time that i have used basting spray and i highly recommend it. it provides just enough tack to keep the layers where you want them while still allowing you to reposition if needed. enjoy your weekend and take some time to craft!

be brave friends...

<3 anna

if you have kids who are artsy...

2011-07-29T05:50:00.000-07:00

or you would just like 9 hours of peace and quiet... i will be teaching a kid's art camp august 15-17th from 10 - 1 each day. it is going to be a lot of messy fun and your kids will have a blast. if you are interested, call Beach Scrapbooks to sign up!
be brave, friends...
<3 anna

spring cleaning...

2011-07-26T15:03:00.000-07:00

going on around here. i have updated my classes on the sidebar so if you are in the area please come create with me. i have lots of classes and projects going on right now so i will be sharing those with you in the coming days. and i should - finally - have photos up of my studio now that the painting is finally finished (thanks, Rose!). hope you are all enjoying your summer. here in virginia we are trying not to melt. so far i have been successful, but if you see a report on the news about a woman who melted into a puddle with a paintbrush or needle and thread in her hand, it is probably me.
be brave, friends...
<3 anna

i have arrived...

2011-05-31T12:11:00.000-07:00

i opened up my email to find this message...

Hi Anna,
Kal Barteski started following all of your pinboards.
Happy Pinning!
- Ben and the Pinterest Team
---

so, if you don't know who Kal is... well, you should.
she is a super amazing artist from Canada, eh...
she writes all of these amazing things that my heart is trying to say.
she has a super cool boxer, three amazing kids and the cutest french bulldog in the world.
but she is following me...
now i am nervous. must. find. clever. stuff.
or maybe she got me confused with some other anna... hmmm...

be brave, friends...
<3 anna

sneaky peek...

2011-05-31T08:30:00.000-07:00

here is a tiny peek of an art journaling class i am putting together. i don't have all of the details yet but i will let you know as soon as i do...

i will be out of commission for a bit over the next week. tonsils are coming out. ice cream will be eaten. blog posts may or may not be under the influence of pain medicine.

be brave, friends...

<3 anna

thank you...

2011-05-30T07:07:00.000-07:00

to every person serving in the armed forces, to every person who has served and for those we have lost in action. you are responsible for our freedom. you are our heros. you know what it means to be brave.

thank you. thank you. thank you.

photo from usa today

maybe not such a bad idea...

2011-05-27T11:25:00.000-07:00

this whole online friendship thing is hard for me. i make comments on your facebook page. i know everything going on in your life because i have read it on your blog. we have met face to face at a conference. i am inspired by your art. i am touched by your genuineness. and i know that if we lived in the same town or went to the same church, we would be hanging out on friday nights making stuff. but are we friends? i dunno. if i came in to town, would you let me stay at your house? probably not... and rightly so because we don't really KNOW each other. i am a pretty open person and i value openness and honesty in relationships. but what i wanna know is... how in the heck are you supposed to get to that point without seeming like a creeper? maybe those first graders know something that we have forgotten...

be brave, friends...

<3 anna

beautiful, isn't it?

2011-05-26T15:38:00.000-07:00

thank you, panera... once again you had exactly what i didn't know i needed...
be brave, friends...
<3 anna

just call me the turtle whisperer...

2011-05-25T13:25:00.000-07:00

we found this little guy in the road on our way to work this morning. we stopped and picked him up to relocate him to his retirement pond in front of a church near the office. i will not admit that he peed on my foot and i will never let mel know that for a minute i wanted to take him home... then i came to my senses and realized that he just peed on my foot!

watch out for turtles and
be brave, friends...
<3 anna

and you don't even have to bring an apple for the teacher...

2011-05-24T10:51:00.000-07:00

because i prefer chocolate!
i will be teaching an Advanced Silhouette class next week at Beach Scrapbooks in Virginia Beach. i hope you will come join us for some fun... all the details are below. and bringing chocolate is optional, but highly recommended...

Advanced Silhouette: Print & Cut Feature
Have you ever had that perfect embellishment but wanted more than one?
Or thought that the sticker was cute but wished that it was ten inches tall?
Or maybe you would love to have twenty or thirty identical embellishments for a project?
With the silhouette print and cut feature these are all possibilities! This feature allows you to print images on your home printer and then the machine will cut around them for you.
Scrapbook page embellishments, cupcake decorations, valentines, the possibilities are only limited by your imagination.
During this class I will cover this topic and we will practice the print and cut feature so that you can make your own creations at home.
When: Tuesday, May 31st from 6:30-8:00 pm
Cost: $10.00 if you purchased your machine at Beach Scrapbooks, $18.00 if you purchased it elsewhere.
Supplies needed: your laptop (with the silhouette software loaded and updated) and silhouette machine.
Call 563-9009 to sign up!
Hope to see you there...

be brave, friends...
<3 anna

next time won't you sing with me...

2011-05-19T06:09:00.000-07:00

my super, amazing bestie, jen, decided that she didn't have enough going on with four children (2 of which have medical challenges) and running a non-profit so she and her husband, greg, are now going to be fostering babies... those are some lucky babies. but they need to know that aunt anna loves them too, so these little scraps of abcs will magically turn in to a cute banner for the baby room. and just maybe i will have to whip up a blanket to go along with it... maybe.

be brave, friends...

<3 anna

under new management...

2011-05-17T11:55:00.000-07:00

my etsy shop has reopened.

it is actually the same management but i feel like i have a different focus and drive that i haven't had for a long time. for my inspired workshop friends who loved tracie lampe's class, you should check out what i have listed - upcycled journals. i have had these in my studio and they are now up and ready to be sent to live with you!

be brave, friends!

<3 anna

sugary goodness...

2011-04-22T13:30:00.001-07:00

one of the perks of working full time is discovering goodies in the kitchen... just what i needed on this slow friday afternoon. have a wonderful easter and
be brave, friends...
<3 anna

dear skinny girl in my office...

2011-03-25T05:47:00.001-07:00

the next time you walk down the hall with a half gallon of ice cream i am afraid i will have to smack you.
sincerely,
Anna

best surprise ever...

2011-03-22T11:03:00.000-07:00

we snuck in our niece and her twins from Japan and surprised our entire family on saturday...
yep. best surprise ever!
be brave, friends...
<3 anna

sunday, i'm in love...

2011-01-03T09:00:00.000-08:00

i have had my silhouette for about a month now and i thought i had fallen in love with how it cuts paper for paper crafts, but today i discovered a new love. the love of vinyl. it is a beautiful thing.

i was able to make gifts for co-workers and two adorable dog vinyl stickers for the car.

here you see the gifts, monogrammed journals. super cute... did i mention that i am in love? i will take a photo of the dog stickers once i get them on the car windows... if you have a silhouette and have not tried vinyl... what are you waiting for? if you don't have a silhouette, what do you want me to cut for you? because i forsee some late nights with my new love.

be brave, friends...
<3 anna

so, yeah...

2010-12-06T08:00:00.000-08:00

teresa collins didn't pick me. but it is all good... now. in the end i think she was really looking for more of a scrapbooker than someone who is a mixed-media-let-the-product-inspire-you kind of artist. thankfully i have some amazing friends and co-workers at Beach Scrapbooks who have been very supportive and encouraging. so that's all good. i have 4 classes on the january calendar at Beach Scrapbooks, so if you are local or if you really love me you can sign up for one or all of those.
i did want to show you the pretiness that i created and submitted for the tc design team so here are the photos.

this is a holiday sign that you just switch from thanksgiving to christmas.

this is a tissue box cover that i made with the welcome home line.

and finally, i made christmas mini-album. my favorite parts are on these two pages. on the left is mel looking in her stocking. she is always. that. happy. when she opens her stocking. no matter what is inside. and on the right is my nannie who passed away a few years ago with two of my nephews and my littlest niece. nannie always had a twinkle in her eye and i am so thankful that we were able to have her live with us near the end of her life.
be brave, friends...
<3 anna

craftiness for shay...

2010-11-17T08:01:00.000-08:00

the best part of being a youth leader, really the most important part... is building relationships that will last. i am very fortunate to be able to stay in contact with most of my students from the past - even if it is through facebook. shay is one of those students. i remember when she was in eighth grade but now she is an incredible photographer and has a handsome husband and an incredibly cute little girl. i made this mini album a while ago and it has been on display at beach scrapbooks, but i don't think shay got to see it. chloe is their first baby and she is way too cute! not to mention how gorgeous mom and dad are. so here is just a peek of what is a super cute book so they can remember the special day that they became mom and dad for the first time...

be brave, friends...
<3 anna

america... your top 25...

2010-11-16T08:11:00.000-08:00

and i am one of them!!! last week i applied to be on teresa collins design team. i had to submit three projects and write about how i am so awesome that you would be silly not to choose me... and it was a really fun wednesday off spent with my crazy friends at beach scrapbooks. well, this morning i found out that i am one of the top 25 selected. i should find out by the end of the week if i made the cut...but for today top 25 is feeling really good. plus, i am so awesome you would be silly not to choose me. at least that's what i read somewhere...
be brave, friends...
<3 anna

i am back... sorta.

2010-10-20T05:55:00.000-07:00

i am the guest blogger today over at Beach Scrapbooks. it's short and sweet but at least you know i am still alive.
be brave, friends...
<3 anna

really? really? really.

2010-08-03T08:00:00.000-07:00

so last night our dvr died for the 7th time. yep, that's right i said seventh... and it's not like i have children spilling soda into it, or a dog that knocks it off of the shelf... it just sits there and works until it no longer wants to work. and then we lose all of the shows that were taped... yep, all of them... and not such a big deal you think but then i should also tell you that it is shark week. which is a week we wait for all year long... and that on sunday there were nearly 20 hours of shark thrashing activity... how did the pioneers manage...
be brave, friends...
<3 anna

knock me over with a feather...

2010-08-02T05:44:00.000-07:00

today, this little guy is getting checked in for his first year at the University of North Texas. i could pull out all of my cliches and say that it seems like it was just yesterday that he was playing with tractors on a dirt pile, but all of my cliche-remembering energy has been focusing on the fact that i am so emotional about this passage in my nephew's life. the past few months have been a roller coaster of emotions - starting a full-time job that is not my passion, adding a part-time job that is completely my passion, a surprise 75th birthday party for my mom, the aforementioned little guy and his family visiting us, an emergency hospital stay for the aforementioned seventy five year old, a back injury for me... and a sprinkle of drama just to make it interesting. and through all of this i have been thinking about my life as a single woman, who has never been married or had children. much of that ruminating was a result of reading this book. in the book, miller talks about how a good story has hard stuff that the main character has to go through. all i can say is that right now i must be working on an amazing story. and as i thought about the little guy starting his new journey, i realized that i am fearful of that journey taking him emotionally farther away from me. because i don't have my own kids, i treasure each of my nieces and nephews and hope that we will develop the kind of relationship that will last long after the college textbooks are discarded and well into the time they are dropping their own little guy (or girl) off at college. so yeah, you could have knocked me over with a feather this afternoon when tears came quickly as i read facebook posts about packing and getting him ready to go. needless to say, his younger brother does not share my sentiment...
be brave, friends...
<3 anna

not dead yet...

2010-07-25T16:28:00.001-07:00

i am still here. just enjoying this roller coaster that has become my life. be back soon... promise.

got my stitching mojo back...

2010-05-20T17:31:00.000-07:00

since i was at inspired. i started this piece at the workshop so that i could illustrate freehand stitching. now i can't seem to put it down! i am probably going to turn into a crazy stitcher like stephanie ackerman who probably stitches in the bath tub. i am going to add a little patchwork to this and turn it into a tote bag. i will have to show some pictures when i get that done, but i wanted to show you my super craftiness.
also, i have not forgotten about a challenge that i received in my comment section on this post... i just couldn't get it complete before the end of april because i had so much prep work for my class and show. so, i have decided that it will be my may challenge. i will be making scarves for ellen, oprah and the ladies of the view and will send them by the end of may... this timeline is dependent on me being able to find vintage fabric to use. i will let you know how it turns out.
be brave, friends...
<3 anna

inspired recap...

2010-05-19T11:35:00.000-07:00

last year i attended donna downey's inspired artist workshop as an attendee. it was such a great experience, even though i didn't finish a single project. this year i was broke but still wanted to be a part of this awesome weekend. i applied to teach a mini workshop - and if you are a regular, you know how that turned out - and decided to volunteer. even if i had to schlep boxes all weekend, i wanted to be there. i totally stepped out of the box by rooming with 2 ladies that i have never met (hi karen & cindy!) and carpooling with four ladies from beach scrapbooks who i only knew in passing.
so i am begging you to step out of your comfort zone and push your limits... because for me, it turned out fab! i know that i will be friends with the beach girls for years to come. my class was so incredible... such fun women and encouraging friends. if you are the slightest bit crafty, i would encourage you to sign up for this weekend... you will push your limits, but you just might fall in love with art and a few friends.
be brave, friends...
<3 anna

clean up on aisle 3...

2010-05-18T14:28:00.000-07:00

i have been working on stocking my etsy store all afternoon. please check it out and buy one of my awesome upcycled journals or notepads. if you were at inspired, these would make the basis for GREAT little art journals like the ones made in pam garrison's class... i will be working on one myself this friday when i am cropping with the beach scrapbook girls!

one of the best weekends...

2010-05-17T10:55:00.000-07:00

of my life was last weekend at inspired. inspired is such a crafty, messy, wonderful weekend that lets you let your hair down, get artsy and try things that you normally wouldn't. it is truly a great weekend.

it was so incredible to teach my first class and to make such amazing new friends. not to mention getting to see old friends. i stepped out on a limb and asked some ladies from beach scrapbooks that i didn't know if they wanted to carpool. thank God it turned out well...actually better than well. i am sure that we will be friends for a long time. i took my camera but of course, didn't pull it out to take a single photo. but jen from beach scrapbooks was there with her amazing camera and took a picture of anything i asked so the pictures on this post are from the beach scrapbooks blog. if you are local, you should totally shop there and take some classes. if you aren't local, they sell online so you have no excuse.

i taught my class friday night and it was amazing. i had some of the most wonderful ladies in there who were so encouraging and ready to learn. and the french knot did not best me! you know when you have the feeling that you are exactly where you are supposed to be... when you know you are doing exactly what God created you to do? i have that feeling when i work with the youth group, and i had that feeling friday night. it is a high that cannot be duplicated using any chemical. so, needless to say i will be teaching many more classes... i have to spread the french knot love. and my new friends - jen, janice, melissa and susan - want me to teach at beach scrapbooks so i will be getting some projects together to share with all of the lovlies at the beach. i still have to unpack and do laundry, but that won't get me down today... my heart is full.
be brave, friends...
<3 anna

happy day...

2010-05-14T19:05:00.000-07:00

well friends... i just finished teaching my first class ever... it was AMAZING. i will have to post later when i get home and can upload some photos but i just wanted to say thank you to my amazing teacher's assistant, angie. but i need to say the most gigantic, humongous, gargantuan THANK YOU to all of my incredible students. you guys are the best and i will never forget your sweet words and encouragement. <3 and of course, the chant started by the beach scrapbook girls was awesome... you girls will have to come to every one of my classes and start a chant at the end of it!
be brave, friends...
<3 anna

getting ready for sunday...

2010-04-29T16:41:00.000-07:00

there is lots of sewing, cutting and painting going on around here. i am getting ready for my first show on sunday at mount trashmore from 11-5. it is an earth day celebration and i will have journals, quilts and mixed media pieces all made from recycled objects. if you are local to virginia beach, come out and visit me... if you aren't, i will have my leftover inventory on etsy on monday... wish me luck!
be brave, friends...
<3 anna

alice's quilt

2010-04-15T17:51:00.001-07:00

on it's way to japan...

melody's quilt

2010-04-15T17:50:00.001-07:00

on it's way to japan...

we might still have ice cream...

2010-04-15T16:41:00.000-07:00

today is tax day. i know that isn't a surprise to any of you, but for me it is the WEIRDEST tax day ever. literally for my entire life this day has been the most significant day of the year. it was shrouded in total exhaustion, clients stopping by and begging me to finish their taxes today, frustration, constant door-bell ringing, copious amounts of pepsi and chocolate all finishing with a trip to cold stone creamery for some well earned ice cream. but this year, tax day has meant driving around in beautiful spring weather, relaxing on the couch, planning new craft projects and, i must admit, thinking about our old clients. i could get used to a tax day like this. for those of you who have completed your tax returns, good job. for those who still haven't started, i feel sorry for your accountant...
for me, i am going to spend the rest of my evening enjoying what will eventually become my new normal tax day... but for the sake of tradition, i will probably still go get some ice cream...
be brave, friends...
<3 anna

lately i feel like...

2010-04-14T16:04:00.000-07:00

i am swimming in jello. i am kicking as hard as i can, but i am not getting anywhere.
when i closed my accounting business in december, i had visions of uninterrupted hours of crafting and sewing and being fabulous. i tried not to focus on the business-y part of starting a craft business and just dreamt of sitting in yards of beautiful fabric creating amazing works of art.
i guess i thought that a fairy would come to pay the bills and do the laundry... didn't happen.
i have been feeling like i am in the midst of a mid-life crisis...sans sports car and boob job.
i guess didn't realize there was such an intricate connection between our family accounting firm and my identity. i guess i never really took a minute to look at me and who i am apart from who others wanted me to be. and now that i have stopped for a minute (or month, whatever), it is taking me a bit to figure out who i want me to be... or how to actually live up to the overachieving goals i have set. in the meantime, i haven't missed an accounting deadline since december - even though i have nothing that i am accounting. so most days i end up just staring at the tv and wondering if i could get ellen to wear one of my handmade scarves on her show and daydreaming about how she would tell all of hollywood about how amazing i am and then i could sell my stuff for a thousand dollars each and i would only have to make a few scarves a month. and then i realize that i don't know if californians actually wear scarves...
my mind is a curious thing. it's a nice place to visit but you wouldn't want to live there.
be brave, friends...
<3 anna

best song ever.

2010-03-12T21:12:00.000-08:00

how He loves by david crowder band

thanks wordle.net
be brave, friends...
<3 anna

last month worked out...

2010-02-25T11:59:00.000-08:00

so well... I might as well set a challenge goal for the month of February. Yes, I know there are only three days left in the month but I do my best work under pressure.
For this month, I will be applying to three different craft fairs to be a vendor. I am not sure which three, but I will find them and let you know...
be brave, friends...
<3 anna

wherein you become exceedingly jealous...

2010-02-25T00:56:00.000-08:00

Great Guana Cay is a little island that is part of Abaco, Bahamas. It is so laid back and beautiful. The natives are very welcoming and friendly. We spent ten days of bliss on this amazing island and I would go back tomorrow...

mel was a little excited to finally make it to marsh harbor and could barely contain herself while we were waiting for the ferry.

yep. those are our footprints... and actually they were the only footprints as far as we could see because there was no one else on the beach. amazing!

here is our cutie patootie cottage. it was so wonderful - cozy and decorated beautifully... not to mention, word is that drew barrymore stayed there a few months before us... yeah, that's how we roll.

yes, the water was that blue!

an amazing dinner with great friends.

amazing tropical flowers

the island's only "gas station".

our island transportation. yep, the island was that small. mainly golf carts with only a few actual cars. and they drive on the left... that took a while to get used to. we only had a few close calls.

a best friend who loves to take photos of herself and a beautiful beach - somewhere in there.

a surprised birthday girl with an incredibly delicious homemade cake...

thanks to these two ladies!
the owner and talented chef at the art cafe... you must go there and order a slam bam - it is literally a mountain of cheese. a delicious mountain of cheese!

the view from the porch of the art cafe...

and the view from our bedroom window...

great friends on a beautiful beach...

first time snorkeling... and definitely not the last. If you do go to Guana, be sure to make friends with Troy and go on a snorkeling or diving trip with him. It was truly unforgettable. We also set a world record for swimming when we swam back to the boat after we saw a shark...

Hopetown lighthouse

Albury's Sail Shop, where I will be working when I move there. Sewing all day long... with a view of the ocean. Can't get better than that!

The giant Marsh Harbor International Airport. yeah... that's the whole thing.

And to top it all off, I met a man. I am not sure but I think I can handle this one.

If you made it this far, then you really do love me. Thanks!

be brave, friends...

<3 anna

Because I might have early onset dementia...

2010-02-22T19:45:00.000-08:00

I have started a new blog. I have to admit, I have trouble remembering the books that I read. I usually remember if I liked them, but often times I will not remember the story line. I have a friend who occasionally asks me for book recommendations and I always have to clamor through my brain to come up with a title.
I wish I were the type that could spout off not only the title and author, but also character names and major themes. I am lucky if I remember the color of the book cover.
Maybe too much of my brain is consumed with reality TV story lines... nah, that can't be it.
So, in an attempt to jog my memory and as a gift to Karen and all my bookworm friends, I will now be blogging about books that I have read. I will give a bit of a review and sum up my thoughts about the book. Hopefully this will prevent me from getting two thirds of the way through a book and then realizing that I have read the book before. At least not again... why do they change the color of the book covers anyways?

things you learn while editing vacation photos...

2010-02-17T21:23:00.000-08:00

1. some people love to take photos of themselves and random "artsy" things
2. there is really no way to capture the beauty of the bahamian waters on film. if you would like to see it first hand i will happily be your tour guide.
3. picnik's teeth whitener and blemish fixer are truly a gift from God.
4. the best moments in life are those ones where you have those belly laughs with your best friends.
5. there really is a smoke monster...

be brave, friends...

<3 anna

i think i have...

2010-02-16T13:22:00.000-08:00

post vacation depression.

i am just wandering around thinking about guana cay and wondering what all of my new "friends" there are doing...

and marveling at how darn cold it is here!

heads up - i am almost done with the vacation photo editing. so stay tuned for the whole slideshow presentation... you have to provide your own refreshments.

be brave, friends...

<3 anna

Happy Valentine's Day!

2010-02-14T10:47:00.000-08:00

Wish I were there...

I am editing photos now...
Will give you a little tour tomorrow...
Call someone and tell them you love them...
be brave, friends...
<3 anna

Yay for me!

2010-02-12T09:45:00.000-08:00

If you look at that little blinkie to the left, that will give you a hint to my good news that I received last week... I will be teaching a mini workshop at the Inspired Artist Workshop in Concord, NC. My workshop is called Seeing Red - An Embroidery Primer. I am really excited and it should be a lot of fun. I love hand embroidery and think it will be a lot of fun to teach this class. If you aren't signed up for Inspired, why not? There are still seats available... you should go... and you should take my class! Here is where you can go to find out all the info. Hope to see you there!
be brave, friends...
<3 anna

one degree of separation...

2010-02-03T19:12:00.000-08:00

from drew barrymore! that's right, folks, we are staying in the exact cottage that drew and her boyfriend did a few months ago. pretty cool, huh? we also learned that leo dicaprio visited the island and was swarmed by tourists at the bar. our friends made it here safely, and if our golf cart ride around the island tonight is any indication it should be a pretty crazy time! i still haven't gotten sunburn which is a miracle in and of itself. fingers crossed that i can keep up that trend. i better get off to bed, i have a lot of sitting on the beach to do tomorrow... not to mention i need to search for any other celebrities that might be hiding around here.
be brave, friends...
<3 anna

this is literally paradise...

2010-02-02T18:42:00.000-08:00

i have honestly never seen another place as beautiful as this island... we are staying in a cottage in guana cay, abaco, bahamas. there are only a few cars and we get around by golf cart. oh, yeah... it is one sweet ride. the sand is so fine and the water is ten different shades of blue and so clear that you can see your toes. we only saw two other people at the beach today... and we had the rest of it to ourselves. the humidity is working wonders on my naturally curly hair, but i guess i really can't complain considering... unfortunately, internet access is not super amazing so when i tried to upload some photos it wouldn't work... i will try again tomorrow to post a photo or two - even though my sister insists she doesn't want to see them. i wish you were all here...
be brave, friends...
<3 anna

tomorrow is the big day...

2010-01-31T07:18:00.000-08:00

we will be heading to the bahamas!! for ten days!! with great friends!!
this is a photo of our cute little cottage...

we will be celebrating the birth of my best friend of 22 years...
it will be epic...
i promise photos... and stories...
be brave, friends...
<3 anna

cha-cha-cha changes...

2010-01-26T19:35:00.000-08:00

so my humble blog will be getting an extreme makeover... you should notice some changes that should make it look a lot better. please let me know if there are any links that don't work. also, i am in the process of purging, organizing and re-modeling what used to be my accounting office but what will now be my studio. it is a really exciting process. i want to post pictures but i am afraid that someone might call hoarders on me...
be brave, friends...
<3 anna

show and tell...

2010-01-22T09:31:00.000-08:00

when i was a kid i went to private school and my favorite part of the week was show and tell...

my friends, like amy, always had stuff that was so much cooler than my lame attempts at show and tell awesomeness. that was, until my crazy cousin bobbi jean brought her pet skunk to school for my show and tell. i mean, how are you going to beat a skunk at show and tell?! yeah, that's how i roll...

so these photos may not be as cool as a pet skunk, but they are my latest creations for the various quilting bees that i am involved in...

i hope you enjoy.

be brave, friends...

<3 anna

i am such a fraidy cat...

2010-01-14T07:44:00.000-08:00

i have realized over the past few months how much of my life is governed by fear... not so much the scared-of-bridges kind of fear, but the i-might-fail-or-become-a-laughing-stock kind of fear. and i don't think it is healthy fear...
will that person approve? will i be looked at as an utter failure? will i be able to do this or that? and on and on and on...
i was raised by a single mom. and my mother has a big heart. if you know her, you know that she loves well. but as i was growing up, many times that love was expressed as concern for what could go wrong. i know she had good intentions and more than once her cautionary mindset has saved my booty, but it turned me into a big ole fraidy cat. i have realized that i don't try some things because i might fail or because it might result in heartache. i am not so clueless to think that life is without hardships. and i know from personal experience that at one point or another we all become the laughing stock. but the beauty in life is found when you realize that you can make it through all that. that you are strong enough to be laughed at and still come out of it with your head held high. that even though failure might be a part of your journey, it doesn't have to mean the end of the journey. and that without heartache one cannot know the true joy that is love.
with all of this swimming in my brain, i had to choose my one little word. if you are unfamiliar with the concept, basically it is the idea that you choose a word/idea that you will focus on for the entire year. you can find more info here.
so, i chose LIVE BRAVELY!
for me it has become a reminder that i give myself whenever i am afraid to make a call or when i get worried that something i do or say might be misunderstood.
live bravely...
i have to admit that i chose a word last year and pretty much it just became a word on a bag that is now sitting in my closet. in no way did it affect me or change me... but this year i want to be different. i want to look back on this year and see specific things that show i was at least trying to live bravely...
so, to that end, i have decided to set a monthly goal to do something that forces me to be brave. for january, my goal is to create and submit a proposal to teach a mini class at this amazing conference... there are so many reasons not to do it... but the biggest one is fear of rejection. so, to quote my bff - "i am going to drop an elbow on my fear of rejection" - and submit the proposal.
wish me luck, no... wish me courage.
be brave, friends...
<3 anna

in nineteen days...

2010-01-13T12:48:00.000-08:00

i will be here...

be brave, friends...
<3 anna

the sixty four thousand dollar question...

2010-01-12T10:44:00.000-08:00

and the one i dread the most.
not just because of the unavoidable judgement it begs, but also because i am not sure of the answer - at least i'm not entirely sure.
"so what are you going to do now that you sold your business?"
for some reason "lay around the house in my pajamas and watch ncis reruns" does not seem to be a good answer.
i spent a good portion of last year trying to figure myself out. i would not recommend it. you will find some ugly things that should stay hidden from view, but i digress...
so as i was asking myself why i was selling the business and what i would do, i realized that i was taking a BIG leap and if i was going to do that then i needed to make it count. i want to do what makes me truly happy. what do i love? what things make me want to jump out of bed in the morning and actually change out of my pjs and avoid tony and mcgee on the tube?
for me it is 2 things... handcraft and teenagers.
so the answer to the question falls into those two categories. i am not exactly sure what those two areas of my life will look like. but i know that IF i have to have a "job" - and apparently the power company doesn't want to give me electricity for free...whatever - then i want to be doing something that i love and something that i believe is making a difference in the world.
i don't know what will pan out, but i want to...
teach classes in handcraft techniques to adults and children
make quilts
teach quilting
metalize the world and teach others to do the same
teach teenagers that they are truly loved by a God that created them to make a difference in the world
develop and run a christian leadership camp for teenagers
disciple teens
help teenagers figure out what talents and abilities God has given them and how they can use those talents to share His love
learn
grow
soar
inspire others to chase whatever dream is living quietly in their heart
i hope you will come with me on the journey. it wouldn't be any fun without you!
be brave, friends...
<3 anna

the announcement you have - or haven't - been waiting for...

2010-01-11T09:50:00.001-08:00

on december 16th, after 40 years of business, i closed our family accounting firm. i know... big whoop... it is actually quite a big deal around these parts and is the main reason that i have been such a slacker of a blogger. let's just say that you collect a lot of crap over 40 years time. and when the business is run out of your home your "work stuff" and your "you stuff" start shacking up. which is perfectly fine if you aren't trying to sell all of your work stuff without a rouge pair or underwear getting caught up in the madness. so i am now having a bit of an identity crisis because, if you can do math - which i can't without an adding machine (which i sold with the business) - you will notice that the business was a bit older than i am which means that i have lived with it for all of my 36 years. which makes me kind of feel like i just sold off one of my siblings. granted, it was a sibling that was a lot of work and i didn't like very much, but it was part of the family none the less. more than that, it became a part of who i was and how i showed love to my family. you see, accounting is not even on the short list of what i would choose for a career. i sort of fell into it and for a while it was where i was supposed to be. and most importantly to me at the time - it was how i showed love to my mother. for so many of us women, approval of our mothers drives more than one decision in our life. for me, running a business in an industry that i was not in love with, was my attempt at gaining or earning that love. as i look back on the ten years that i spent at the helm of willett bookkeeping, it became much more than a business. it became a tool that tested the strength of our family. it became a form of therapy for the relationship between my mother and myself. and sadly it broke some family bonds that i held dear. i am a firm believer that life is about the journey. i don't regret the choice i made to run the business or to stay in the business for as long as i did. you see, had i not made the choices i did i would have never understood the strength that it took for my mother to run a business from home while working full time and raising four kids on her own. i would have never learned how much my sisters love me and truly want what is best for me. i would have never learned the amount of strength that i can muster when i need it. but most importantly, i would have never known that my mother is actually proud of me - not because of what i do, but because of who i am. and that makes it all worth it.
be brave, friends...
<3 anna

2009-12-23T23:45:00.000-08:00

okay...

2009-12-10T16:08:00.000-08:00

so according to blogger i haven't posted here in a while, but i think they are wrong. i have written at least two posts a day to you my friends. i can't help it if blogger can't go into my brain and type up all of the clever words i am thinking while i am changing the cat box or working on a tax return... so i guess those don't count. whatever.
big stuff is going on around here. but my lips are sealed - for now. i can tell you that my evil cat, jack, must have found Jesus because he is all about loving me now. and if his heart can be changed, anything is possible.
i wanted to share this AWESOME show i watched on pbs last night - i think it was last night... all of the days are melting together. anyways...
it was an amazing documentary on origami. it is breathtaking. you have to watch it. i mean it. it makes my paper cranes look like trash, but it is truly amazing to see what these artist do with a piece of paper.
go. watch it. comment.
be brave, friends...
<3 anna

the photo is courtesy the pbs website... and the seahorse is origami... told you - it will blow your mind.

world aids day...

2009-12-01T07:59:00.000-08:00

go here www.fromhivtohome.org to make a difference!
be brave, friends...
<3 anna

she loves to help out...

2009-11-19T12:25:00.000-08:00

by offering a pre-wash of all the dirty dishes. she is always willing to help her grandma with that task. if you need some help around the house she is available...and you can pay her in dog bones.
be brave, friends...
<3 anna

cause i reeeeeeaaaaaallllllyyyyyy wanna win!!!

2009-11-18T16:50:00.000-08:00

i am posting this.

Mama’s Holiday Wish List Meme
TodaysMama and Provo Craft are giving away a sleighful of gifts this holiday season and to enter I’m sharing this meme with you.

1. What 5 items are on your holiday wish list this year?
fabric, williams sonoma food chopper, yudu machine, real simple mag, metal
2. What is your favorite handmade gift you have received?
a quilt from my grandmother
3. What handmade gift have you always wanted to tackle?
a quilt for my mother
4. What was the best Christmas gift you received as a child?
baby alive - she peed on my big sister!!
5. What items are on your kid’s wish list this year?
stuffed animals
6. What is your favorite holiday food?
ham
7. What will you be hand-crafting for the holidays?
tote bags and jewelry
8. What is your favorite holiday movie?
elf
9. Favorite holiday song?
o holy night
10. Favorite holiday pastime?
reading the best christmas pageant ever

metal yummies...

2009-11-14T22:06:00.001-08:00

i tried to post these last night but the internet was acting up... whatever...
these are a few samples of what i did at the certification class. hope you like them.

man, they make me happy.
be brave, friends...
<3 anna

tomorrow...

2009-11-12T19:05:00.000-08:00

i will be writing love on my arm.
twloha is a movement that has been close to my heart because i work with teens and so many of them are hurting and aching and need to feel love. the story that started twloha can be found here. go there and read it. it is not easy to read but it is too common among young people today. stand with me tomorrow by writing love on your arm and let those that are hurting know that there is hope and love and peace.
be brave, friends...
<3 anna

texas + pjs + metal = bliss

2009-11-11T19:30:00.000-08:00

last may i went to an artist retreat where i discovered ten seconds studios. i loved the class that cheryl taught there and was instantly smitten with hand embossing metal. so when i found out that they offered a certification class where i could learn all about the yumminess that tss has to offer, it took about 2 milliseconds for me to sign up. the class was held over a long weekend and we learned everything from embossing to antiquing to using molds with embossing machines. we stayed at the bra-free retreat house that is run by the tss gang. i was in heaven. from thursday night until sunday morning i was able to create to my heart's content... in my pjs...with an unlimited supply of m&ms. megan, jeff and cheryl (the tss gang) are really great. we were provided with tons of supplies and given a discount on additional product that weekend. that said, they don't take themselves seriously at all and i laughed as hard as i created. so today i am going to share some pictures of "the warehouse" of tss. this is where day classes are offered and all of the product is stored and from where the product is shipped. check out their site - you can watch a few taco tuesday videos to see how crazy this gang is.

i only have ten minutes...

2009-11-09T20:52:00.000-08:00

to get a post in today. sorry i have been mia. i have been with my bff 24-7 helping her to recover from a partial knee replacement.
so my brain is fried and i don't have the wit in me to write an amusing post... so you are going to get some links to my favorite blogs...
visit these people...the rock!
jennifer - my bff (not the knee one, the one that wants to adopt 400 children from africa)
heather - one of the best photographers on earth and someone i am glad to call my friend
"heather from canada" - a very cool girl who makes really really great scrapbook pages...
casii - my friend who is also an amazing youth leader with some crazy game ideas!
cz - amazing graphic design. and a cynic to boot.
lisa leonard - such pretty jewelry...
be brave, friends...
<3 anna

i'm making a list...

2009-11-03T19:22:00.000-08:00

and checking it about four times - afraid that i will forget someone on the christmas card or gift list. i have already started. i know. it is crazy for those of you who did all-nighters with me in college to think that i am actually getting an early start on something. i feel a little weirded out too! but last year christmas was truly stressful for me. i wanted to make gifts but waited to long and ran out of time (i know, surprise, surprise) and actually addressed christmas cards but didn't send them out. yeah. real nice. so, i came across this site that totally gets you organized and has you make lists (which i <3 ) and sets weekly deadlines so that you will work on things that i usually wait until december 23rd to start. who knew the postal service couldn't deliver cards to sweden in a day? so yeah, i am doing this system and so far i feel good. it helps that this lady has christmas on the brain and talks about it nearly every day. so i don't feel so weird addressing christmas cards when it is barely november. you need to join me. i am serious. if i can do this, anyone can. seriously. anyone.
be brave, friends...
<3 anna

it's no burrito...

2009-11-02T17:15:00.000-08:00

but she still won.
you may remember the all nighter i did last halloween to make my best friend's costume. this year i wasn't up all night but i do think it turned out pretty cute. our theory is that no matter what you dress up as, if you have a cute dog as a part of your costume then you are sure to win.
be brave, friends...
<3 anna

you've got me...

2009-11-01T16:59:00.000-08:00

at least for the next month...
if you look on the side you will see a little button about national blog posting month. i really need this to get back into blogging. so you got me... hopefully you aren't saying, "crap. i don't want to listen to all of her blathering for an entire month straight..." if you are, too bad. and maybe, just maybe i will be giving away a quilt at the end of the month... you never know...
be brave, friends...
<3 anna

i am gone for six weeks...

2009-10-23T13:55:00.000-07:00

and now i am asking for a favor...
i am trying to get a job with with nature made as a blogger but i need to get
enough votes to get through the first round. please go to the following link
and vote for me. http://www.sam-e.com/job/profile/828 it will only take a minute
or two. you don't have to register or anything, just click a button to vote for
me. thanks! you rock!!
be brave...
<3 anna

apparently...

2009-10-22T10:25:00.001-07:00

i missed the entire month of september. huh... wonder how that happened...be back later to catch you up on my very, very exciting life!
be brave...
<3 anna

saturday morning...

2009-08-30T20:56:00.001-07:00

E race results 8.29.09
Originally uploaded by annawillett

a more detailed post with pictures to come soon.
thanks for all the love!
be brave, friends...
<3 anna

not quite sure...

2009-08-27T19:25:00.000-07:00

how i feel about tropical storm danny. according to the weather channel photo, he should be right over virginia beach saturday morning with 65-70 mph winds. i don't know if i mentioned it, but i have a little thing going on saturday morning that i have been training for. a friend has a contact in the city who said that the race would be called if there was rain. and if you have never been in a tropical storm, there usually tends to be a little rain. but i am committed to doing it. i told my best friend, mel, that she will carry an umbrella and stand out there to cheer me on while i do the dang thing even if i am the only person out there running on that boardwalk. at least i won't have to worry about sunburn.
be brave, friends...
<3 anna

dear body,

2009-08-26T05:45:00.001-07:00

we need to talk.
apparently you are under the assumption that we are actually 35 years old. i mean, you act like i have spent the last thirty five years drinking soda, eating junk and not exercising. and maybe i have but that is not the point. the point is that i have no problem running a 5K and i mean running the entire 3.1 miles. i did it last night in my sleep, that's how easy it is for me. but you... you refuse. now that i think of it, it is your fault. you are the one who became addicted to pepsi and pizza. okay, i admit that i allowed those indulgences from time to time, but i am in youth ministry. how am i not supposed to drink soda and eat pepsi when i need to do that to share Christ's love with teenagers? but the rest of the time it was all you. you know, i think you have planned this from the start...you like laying around on the couch doing nothing. well, that is over now, mister... we will be participating in that 5K on saturday even if i have to drag your sorry body over the finish line and then resuscitate you when it is all over.
i will expect an apology from you soon.
sincerely,
anna

apparently i have offended my shins...

2009-08-22T20:11:00.000-07:00

because they are revolting. i had a great run on thursday - early morning, beach breezes and new running shoes. can't get much better than that.
then i woke up on friday... and my shins decided that they would show me who is boss. it wasn't constant pain, just when i used my legs. maybe i can complete my 5K by walking on my hands? so i decided to give them a day of rest, that my muscles were just fatigued and i would get back on schedule today.
so when i woke up this morning i was shocked to find that my shins were not done with their vacation. they did not want to walk today, much less train for a 5K. as i consulted my doctor, um, the internet search engines, i discovered that i have shin splints.
and i should rest until i feel better... i feel fine. it is my darn shins that don't feel well. it should say, "rest until your shins have decided that they would like to run again. if your shins would rather recline in front of the tv or lay on the bed then you are screwed."
maybe my shins are mad because i haven't shaved. maybe i am not moisturizing enough.
i better go practice my walking handstand.
be brave, friends...

my co-workers are hairy...

2009-08-03T12:45:00.000-07:00

and they bite. well, one of them does. this is jack, who was so precious as a kitten, but now insists that he only wants to be touched on his terms. he also believes that my mac powerbook is a great place for a nap and that it is fun to make dogs chase you. we won't even mention how he hides in the bushes and jumps out at my clients as they are getting ready to come to the door. i think he may be getting his pink slip sometime soon. i don't know why he hasn't been fired before now.
be brave, friends...

an inspired pantry...

2009-07-30T19:17:00.000-07:00

a few months back i went to an amazing event called inspired by donna downey. it was such an incredible experience in that it bolstered my confidence in my art and made me want more... more time to create, a more creative career, and a more creative living space. cheryl darrow from ten seconds studio taught a metal class there and i fell in love! so much so that i wanted to incorporate it into our recent pantry re-do. there is still a bit of hanging and sorting to do but i made these super cool shelf tags to help us organize all of our pantry stuff. i really love them and they make me very happy. today i found myself standing in there drinking my pepsi and admiring my cute shelf tags. watch out, martha stewart. you ain't got nothin on me!
be brave, friends...
<3 anna

summer reading...

2009-07-29T16:47:00.000-07:00

i have been on a major reading kick the past month or so. i think it might have something to do with some great books i have picked up...

this one is definitely my favorite. i picked it up at the new target and it consumed me for an entire day. read it.

this was another one that i read but wasn't too impressed with. i know i am in the minority here and there is an entire cult following but it just didn't blow my dress up, if you know what i mean...

i am reading this one now. it is an enthralling story. i am really enjoying it right now but often times the end of a book ruins the whole thing for me. i will let you know...

this one i didn't even finish. if i start reading a book and am not taken by the style of writing or the story itself, i don't bother finishing it. i know there are tons of people who love her, but once again, my dress just hung there with out even a slight breeze...
read any good books lately???
be brave, friends...

hostest with the mostest...

2009-07-20T08:50:00.001-07:00

i am hosting 2 quilting bees. really fun way to get an entire quilt top pieced. basically each person chooses a month and they are responsible for sending out fabric to the other members with a block type request that month. each member completes their block and sends it back. so you will end up with 11 blocks and you can add your own block to make an entire quilt top. if you want to join, leave me a comment and i will contact you!!

catching up on some correspondence...

2009-07-15T12:37:00.000-07:00

dear ants,
if you continue to come into my kitchen i will continue to kill you. you are welcome to live in the backyard or even out front but the kitchen is off limits. please help prevent this meaningless loss of ant lives.
sincerely,
anna

dear panera,
if you continue to sell such yummy salads i will definitely go broke. please remedy this problem by making food that tastes nasty or at least have some poor customer service so i will not want to return every day to order your delicious chicken cobb salad. thank you for your time.
anna

dear neighbor across the street,
why do you walk up and down your driveway each and every day talking on your cordless phone while wearing only pajama bottoms? my chihuahua does not appreciate your attire and sits in the front window barking at you. please put on a shirt or talk on the phone inside your home. she is very concerned you will get skin cancer, or maybe she just can't figure out who in the heck you could be talking to for eight plus hours a day.
your neighbor,
anna

dear target,
thank you for building a super target in our city. i was not spending enough at the regular target and really needed a super one so that my entire income will be spent at your new, super store buying stuff that i really need.
thanks again,
anna

dear, sweet friends,
come visit virginia...we always have room for you.
love,
anna

yesterday...

2009-07-08T07:58:00.000-07:00

i got frustrated trying to make this so i put it aside and made myself a new pretty pillowcase. and it made me happy. i have enlisted the help of mel's mom to finish the aforementioned spawn of satan. i really think jaso would have looked adorable just wrapped up in a cute quilt. whatever...
be brave, friends...

somehow...

2009-07-01T13:34:00.000-07:00

this pretty fabric has to become a dress for a cutie in denver... where are those darn animals that made cinderella's dress?!? maybe olive could help? but i am guessing the english bulldog slobber look isn't what we are going for...

these sheets...

2009-06-30T08:09:00.001-07:00

make me happy...
and to be honest, i need it. i have been down for the past week or so. my best friend, in her infinite wisdom, got me these sheets as a pick me up. hopefully i will be out of this funk soon.
be brave, friends...
<3 anna

weekend recap...

2009-06-24T06:39:00.000-07:00

we had our KLAM DIG (four friends from college who get together about once a month and take turns planning a day of fun that helps the other three learn more about the planner's interests) this weekend. i have had posts about these fun times before. like this one.so this weekend was l's turn. she is the vegetarian in the group so it was only natural that she would take us to richmond vegetarian festival. it was definitely eye-opening. i tried lots of different foods that were...interesting. and then i said a little praise the Lord when i saw a booth that had fries and funnel cakes. we met the big gobbler there.
he was in a pen with a small chicken who was not in the mood to be photographed. maybe it had something to do with the little kid that was throwing sticks at him. the irony of a kid torturing a chicken at a vegetarian festival was not lost on me. i guess he didn't read the literature.
the next day we went to church with our friends and although i am sure the message was great i was completely distracted by this amazing quilt that was hanging in the front of the church.
it was incredible. i had to see it up close. it is made of pieces that are about 2 X 3 inches. the finished quilt was easily 10 ft X 12 ft. i just stood there for a few minutes and didn't want to leave. it would definitely make me want to go to church each week...
be brave, friends...
<3 anna

because i want to post but don't know what to say...

2009-06-23T08:03:00.000-07:00

TODAY
June 23rd, 2009

Outside my window... the breeze is blowing.

I am thinking... that i need to make some big decisions.

I am thankful for... family and friends that are supportive and encouraging.

From the kitchen... we have an army of ants taking over... that is why we went to olive garden last night.

I am wearing... a skirt with cheating shorts attached underneath, a flower shirt and sandals.

I am creating... a dress for a sweet, beautiful little girl in denver.

I am going... to the grocery store. it is sad that that merits documentation around here...

I am reading... firefly lane by kristin hannah - good read.

I am hoping... that i can be brave enough to make the right decision.

I am hearing... the view ladies talking about jon & kate.

Around the house... there is laundry waiting, dogs outside and let's not even talk about the office.

One of my favorite things... ice cream.

A few plans for the rest of the week... quilting bee projects, finishing aforementioned dress, lots of doodling and of course work. oh, and the exciting weekend of cleaning out the tool shed. maybe my good friend will have her baby and save me from that last one...

whew!

2009-06-11T13:16:00.001-07:00

it has been a crazy week! we have family coming in tomorrow so i am in the deep-cleaning-of-the-house mode and haven't had any time to blog or craft. that makes for a sad me.
but it will be so wonderful to see my dear sister (that's us-she is the one with the snazzy lapels. i am the cute one) who deserted me to move to texas to work on the stupid orion project. whatever. who really needs to go to mars anyway...
but we are nearly ready. the important things are done... the plans for a visit to busch gardens and new games have been purchased. it should be a really great week.
and i promise to keep you updated.
pinkie promise...
be brave, friends...
<3 anna

all underwear is not created equal...

2009-06-04T13:05:00.000-07:00

i expect that when i embark on an new endeavor that there will be a learning curve. you know, little things here and there that you realize just by performing an action. by experimenting with different acrylic paints you can learn which ones are best for which applications. in sewing, after the first time one of your seams comes loose, you learn to pin your material or slow down and pay more attention. you know, life is just one learning experience after another.
the same is true for running...
and yesterday i learned that my snoopy underwear does not stay up when i am jogging. who knew? except the guy driving down the street as i was grabbing my shorts trying to keep snoopy from peeking out.
it made me understand the pain all those gangster-pants wearing guys must endure each day.
be brave, friends...

catching up in 12 photos...

2009-06-03T13:39:00.000-07:00

first i need to say thanks for all the great encouragement for my 5k run. i can use it. i will keep you guys updated as i sink further into insanity.
so since i was gone for while, i thought i would let you know what i have been up to. and i hate posts without photos so here goes...

1. this was the view on my desk for the last month or so of tax season. thank you mr. bronchitis and your cousin ms. sinus infection. please do not visit again.
2. a rose from my mother's day boquet that olive gave me.
3. the elephants we saw at the zoo on the way home from the inspired workshop. they stood really still for the photos. we even got to pet them.
4. my VERY VERY VERY cool new friends that i met at inspired. big hugs to you all!
5. the heather bailey project that i did at inspired. this is her sample.
6. a close up of an iris from our front yard this spring.
7. olive enjoying a spring afternoon
8. purple flower from our yard. wisteria? lilac? purple flower.
9. my pages for the art journal swap
10. mel and i with our nephew, ben who is now deployed to afghanistan. please pray for his safety as he is in a high risk job. he is a big joker and we love him!
11. lily looking introspective.
12. a furry friend in the front yard on the famous purple flowers.

that catches you up with the exception of 2 weddings, an artist workshop (AMAZING!!!), a babysitting trip to houston, a 6 month old bulldog in heat, a 7 month old bulldog getting "fixed", 200+ tax returns, a best friend with a broken toe, a best friend with a pulled tendon in her back, a funeral, a bridal shower, a best friend's birthday, quiltfest, and a partride in a pear tree.
well, maybe not that last part but you never know around here.
be brave, friends...

in 88 days...

2009-06-02T10:55:00.001-07:00

i might need cpr. just warning you.
in a moment of what can only be described as utter craziness i decided to run a 5k. and not only that, i actually told a friend about it. see, it isn't real until you talk about it - hence the delay in this post. but kristy is a really great friend who has been a runner for a while and has really taken me under her wing. and man do i need it! if you know me even a bit you might guess that running isn't one of my daily activities - until now. what was i thinking!!?
but my dear coach kristy has actually made me believe that i can do it. i got a lecture about the right shoes, how i am no spring chicken(how dare she!) so i need to listen to my body when i am running. little does she know that my body is going to be cursing me the entire time, but i digress. she even found a few training plans that might work for me. this is the one that i am doing. it seems do-able even for a couch potato like me. so on august 29 i will be joining other runners/walkers at the east coast surfing championship 5k race and i want to hear you people cheering for me.
and between now and then if you see a blond lying on the side of the road gasping for breath please stop and give me a pepsi... and some oxygen... and a ride home.

proof...

2009-05-28T12:05:00.001-07:00

that i am alive and have actually done something...

this is my nifty shirt from inspired artist workshop. i had such an amazing time there learning, meeting friends like her her, her and her and just playing.
***side note here... it is so weird when you talk to people online and then see them at an event like inspired. there were so many people that i "talk" to online but i felt weird just walking up and being like, "hey... i am anna. we talk on facebook. i read your blog. really i am not creepy. be my friend..." cool ladies like cameron, jilliene, cathy mauro, cathy z, stella. so even though i saw them from afar i didn't actually talk to them. i am a dork, i know. okay, back to my original point...***
it was exhausting but a. maze. ing.! and i think the shirt really does work because i felt extra inspired today when i was cleaning up dog crap!

and this is my first finished project from inspired. i will be sharing more (hopefully soon). this was all hand sewn using supercool templates. aimee was a great teacher. so patient and helpful - even though our class didn't end until 10 pm... and she is so darn cute. her store is called overall quilter and she wears the cutest overalls that are handmade by her mom.

thank you for joining me for show & tell thursday. see you tomorrow when i will tell you why i think i have truly lost my ever-lovin mind!
be brave, friends...
<3 anna

loser...

2009-05-27T09:26:00.000-07:00

go ahead... you can say it. i am a total loser. i promise that i have been thinking of you all and have a nifty post planned with lots of pictures and info on what i have been doing since we last met. but for now i am here with a pitiful post to let you know that i know i am a loser. promise to be back soon. and this time i mean it.
<3 anna

i know

2009-04-29T05:15:00.000-07:00

that the 15th has come and gone, but for me the crazyness of tax season doesn't slow down until the end of april. so keep your pants on, people (jen!), i will be back really soon. promise. in the mean time enjoy the picture of my olive with a mullet.
<3 anna

just wait...

2009-03-12T19:08:00.000-07:00

until tax season is over. this is something i heard my entire life. when i wanted to do something or go somewhere my mom always told me we would do that when tax season was over. as an adult i now understand the stress that must have been present as she tried to raise four kids alone, work a full time job and run a business out of the home. i never really appreciated that until i started running the family business myself. there never seems to be enough time and the paradise that is "when tax season is over" seems limitless and full of hope and free time. and to be honest, i just don't have the brain power for the witty banter when i am surviving on four or five hours asleep. so, just you wait until tax season is over. i have a lot in store for you. more consistent blogging, some projects i have been working on, a few weddings i will be going to, some beautiful bike rides and the antics of a 5 month old english bulldog who i believe is functioning with less than optimum brain capacity. at least she is cute. i will be in and out between now and april 15th so please say hi and if you have any extra reese cups feel free to send them my way.
be brave, friends...

i know...

2009-03-03T09:18:00.001-08:00

it is tirade tuesday, but i just don't have it in me. if i did i would rant on about how people promise to write on their blog and then they are gone for more than ten days without a word. losers. ;-)
so today we have to take our tawney to be put to sleep. she has been sick for a while and she has gotten so weak and now refuses to eat. the photo is one taken by my amazing niece. tawney has been an amazing dog. she loves to chase cats and snuggle with andrew, my nephew, while he watches disney channel. she loves her stuffed babies that we buy her and will carry them to bed with her. lily has been a doting nurse for the past few weeks and will probably be lost without her beloved tawney. we have had tawney since she was 8 weeks old. we got her after a trip to sweden in 1996. she was an adorable puppy - all legs and ears. she loves to nap with mom in the afternoon and is terrified of our swimming pool. she chases bunnies in her sleep nearly every afternoon and loves to get treats. she has been a huge part of our lives for the past thirteen years. we will miss her terribly. please keep us in our thoughts and prayers. thanks, friends!
be brave...

topsy turvy...

2009-02-18T11:07:00.000-08:00

is how i am feeling today. you know when you are all mixed up and it seems like nothing is going as planned and instead of graciously accepting that change you fight it with all your might. that is topsy turvy. actually, i am really in the mood to chuck it all and run away to the bahamas, live on the beach and catch my own food to eat. it has been one of those weeks. but i don't think the bahamians would take to an english bulldog using the beaches as her potty. whatever...
so as not to bore you with my whining (too late, you say? well, too bad) i will give you the cliffs notes version of my week.
1. the mysterious smell that we had under the house wasn't just the dead possum, it was also a busted sewer pipe. use your imagination.
2. there was no show and tell thursday last week because all i got to "make" was dinner. and who really wants to see a picture of a pork chop?
3. aunt flo is visiting, hence the whining and attitude.
4. david's bridal actually had the EXACT skirt i was trying to order - but they said they didn't have it and i had to order another - in the clearance rack for fifteen dollars. i love paying full price when the discounted item is actually sitting on the rack twenty feet away.
5. my computer decided that the companies that i process payrolls for didn't have to pay any federal taxes last week. and i didn't catch it until this week.
6. my mother and i have had 2 huge arguments in 3 days. the joys of being a parent caregiver will be reserved for another day. probably when i return from the bahamas.
7. i am frustrated with myself for not handling all this junk better.
8. i was a dummy and totally hurt a friend's feelings by being selfish.
9. i have not been doing anything i was supposed to (walk, food journal, etc.) this week for my journey to health. i think i am at a rest stop. with really nice bathrooms and good vending machines.
10. my sister is going through a difficult time and i can't be there to help and i am not sure what to say to make her feel better. so i feel like a bad sister.
pity party over. thanks for coming. there are no party favors - unless you are interested in an overpriced bridesmaid skirt.
be brave, friends...

weigh in wednesday...

2009-02-11T10:25:00.001-08:00

so i think i burned a few calories yesterday with my tirade because today when i stepped on the scale i was 2.5 pounds lighter. my blog friend, well i call her my friend because i read her blog all the time, wrote a song called a good day this week. that is exactly how i felt this morning after i saw that i actually lost.
i am going to keep true to my "only report good things" promise, but i have to admit i am almost ashamed to have lost weight this week. i haven't really been good. without getting specific, there was cake, too much pepsi and not enough walking involved.
but... i did walk once this week. and my puppy olive loved the beach and was so obedient. i had salad for lunch today. on saturday we went for a great bike trip. and by trip i mean we rode around in circles trying to figure out how to get to false cape. but it was fun and we had a great time with friends. and i have drank enough water to fill our swimming pool three times. okay maybe i am exaggerating on that last one, but that is what it feels like.
on to my goals for this week...
walk each day with hyperactive, add olive
clean out the pantry and remove all sweets
start a food journal where i write down everything... and maybe post it on here...
be brave, friends...

tuesday tirade: i couldn't leave well enough alone...

2009-02-10T17:24:00.000-08:00

at least that is what my mom always told me and today i think it applies.
as i was running errands this afternoon i was lamenting because i did not have a tuesday tirade ready. and since i made such big promises last week i knew i had to deliver... you can only imagine the pressure.
so my friend is getting married in 2 months and she asked me to be in the wedding. the friendship is the good part of the deal, the squeezing into a dress... not so much. today was the special day. we met up at the bridal store this evening and we were told to try on the separates for size and fit and then we would order the proper size and color combo. sounds easy, right? that's what we thought too until we went to check out.
after i tried on a collection of various skirts and tops...

sidebar- WHY in the heck do they have a MILLION mirrors in those places? i really don't want to see what i look like in the back. i am happy living in the land of my delusion where i look perfect in the dress. and to not have ANY mirrors in the actual dressing room is just cruel. you have to actually leave the room to see how hideous you look. thank you david's bridal for that reality smack in the face...
back to the actual tirade (see you waited 2 weeks and not only do i give you one tirade but i give you a tirade and a half)

so as we are checking out the lady says, "oh, these are on sale." and i think SCORE!! and then i realize the expression on her face doesn't really reflect my excitement. "well, they might not have them in your size," she responds. okay. so you are telling me that i spent an hour of my life embarassing myself coming out of the dressing room with half zipped up dresses just to be told i couldn't get the dress.
at this point, i am trying not to get angry because ari, my friend and the bride, is so patient and understanding. so i go and get three more options. and they didn't have any of those either.
i am not kidding. i wish i were kidding. then i had an idea... search by my size and the color ari wants and i will get whatever you have. "we can't do that," she says. WHAT, you can't search in your computer by SIZE? do we not live in the twenty first century? i can surf the net while i wait at the bank, my gps can tell me right where i am at all times, i can chat with friends in denver on my computer in virginia for pete's sake!!! you can't search by size???
so now i am on the hunt for a dress, actually a skirt and top like the ones in the pic. white on top and tropic blue on the bottom...
so apparently i couldn't leave well enough alone. i should have just written a nice litte post about how great life is and how i didn't have a tirade in me... but noooo i had to wait all day for something tirade-worthy.
when will i ever learn...
be brave, friends...