WELL! This is Fun

 Birthday #83 was last Saturday.  By way of celebration I managed yo do something to my lower back on Friday. night.  I leaned over the pick up stuff off the couch on my way to bed.  Big OUCH!  Slowly getting better, but not how I would prefer to celebrate anything.

On a happier note.  I try to give myself a smallish treat every year for my own celebration.  This year it's one of Kathleen Burke's. IMAGINE mugs.  Love the image of all these people hand in hand.  It's a most pleasant mug to drink from, which I suppose should be a main purpose!

I signed up for Karen Abend's Sketchbook Challenge this year.  I have really enjoyed Sarah Mitchell's pre-challenge video on making the Australian Piano Hinge book.  So far I have made three.  I haven't kept up with the daily challenges due to feeling so lousy.  I may start playing catch-up today.

We are finally having warm weather.  Actually we had several days of what felt more like summer.  After some very noisy thunderstorms late yesterday it's been cooling down to what passes for normal here.  Of course that doesn't mean we couldn't have snow by Wednesday.  Hey!  It happens!

My first impulse was to start moving plants to their outside summer places.  Then I remembered one year, many years ago now, that I did that and the temps promptly dropped to near freezing.  Which then resulted in me frantically covering everything with blankets.  So I will refrain for a few more weeks.  Meanwhile it's a good time to get things clean and neat for the coming summer.

Daffodils are in bloom, late but so appreciated.  Also have vinca and lily of the valley are showing progress. Morning walks around the garden/lawn with a cup of tea are definitely in order.

Stay strong, and as always, thanks for stopping by.............*s*

Books and stuff

Found yet another bunny whistle when I was sorting a shelf last week.  Not a great shot.  May try for a better one later. These were a lot of fun do but I never considered selling them.  They take so long and are so fussy that the price would have to be outrageous.

I have a new. hobby?.....obsession?  I signed up for The Sketchbook Revival 2026 with Karen Abend.  Last year I did a few of the challenges and found them useful for pottery.  She also offers a make-your-own-sketchbook every year.  This year Sarah Matthews has a very good tutorial on how to make an Australian Piano Hinge book.  The neat thing about this one is that is is no stitching involved, and pages are removable.

 

I made the first one following instructions  for a 6x9 book using 9x12 65lb. paper and a paper bag for the hinges.  The bag was heavy duty; Next time I will use some of my packing paper which is a bit thinner.
 

I made another one yesterday approximately 5x7.  Because I wanted to hinge along the short side I only used one hinge.  Mistake!  I should have used two narrower hinges.  As it is the pages slide around a bit, but are easily held in place with a tie.  

The spine looks a bit wonky due to the print I chose for the back cover.  It's really quite straight.

Now I want to try a 9x12 which is my favorite size for planning pot decoration.  I have to see what I have in the way of papers.  I wish I still had some of my old Hammermill Bond cover stock.  I bought a ream of it way back when I was finishing my degree   Used the last of it a few years ago.  Paper keeps vey well if it's stored properly.  Meanwhile my habit of buying paper goes on.

The covers are reused calendars.  Carl Larsson on the to and Mucha on the bottom.  Again there is a good reason for saving stuff!

We are finally having some slightly warmer, sunnier days,  The daffodils are finally blooming.  Toes crossed we don't have a really hot spell which ends them all too quickly.

We'll see, grasshopper............we'll see..............

Stay strong; stay safe and, as always, thanks for stopping by..............*s*