Operating in the Urgent Mode

I collect clip art like some people collect coins or stamps. I never know when I'm going to need something for a project. But then I'm never quite sure when I'm going to do a project.

I seem to have the philosophy these days to do whatever is "Urgent" that day. I'm a real procrastinator. Getting down to the deadline is when I do my best work. Well, actually when I think about it I've probably done things in this mode all my life.

I make that "to do list" almost daily, but it's the item that has "bubbled to the top" that gets done. Last week I had two days -- Wednesday and Thursday -- that had nothing on the calendar. I thought I'd get a lot of things done. But those two days filled up quickly in the two days at the beginning of the week. A nail appointment got changed from Monday to Wednesday; my husband decided we should go shopping for those shelves I wanted him to put in my closet. I did get to do some reading. I'm reading General and Mrs. Washington, which is full of details that I never knew. Oh, I also got a couple of naps in.

Check out my website, cardsonline.etsy.com to see what's new.

Until the next time.

Faye

Saturday's Post

A the left is my new birthday card created today. It's 5x7 on whitebristol 67-lb cardstock and includes an envelope. Check it out at cardsonline.etsy.com. The front of the card can be used as a 5x7 photo to be framed.

At the end of December I resigned my seat on the Newport News Friends of the Public Library (NNFPL) Board of Directors. Today I was appointed to the Yorktown Arts Foundation (YAF) Board of Directors. It's time to turn to the artistic side of me and start spending more time on my love for photography. I love working at the Gallery on the York, the YAF's Gallery for display of many types of media, which I currently do as a Day Manager two half-days a month. I'm planning to continue working with the NNFPL West Avenue Regulars to sort and sell book donations.

Gotta go to get a shingles vaccine shot and then on to our friends, Billy and Penney Martin, to play hand and foot with Billy and Penney and our other friends, John and Mary Syran.

Retirement is so much fun--and busy!

Until later,

Faye

Just Thinking....

This is the latest card I've added to my online catalog at cardsonline.etsy.com. The picture on the front is a photograph I took on our Alaska trip a couple of years ago.

I read an article this morning that talked about the need for relationships and how isolated people have become since the invention of the Internet. All communication is done by e-mail, text messages, cell phone, facebook....you get the idea. No more long (or short) handwritten letters; no more cards that you choose for that certain person, write a few words (or your name)--if you remember you send a quick e-card. No more opening that envelope and reading and re-reading the letter or card.

I'm as guilty as anyone else. I make note cards and greeting cards and even have a website to sell them, but rarely send them to friends and family. I'm going to work on remedying that. Hope you will think about it and make it a goal to send those cards and letters--and if you need to purchase the cards, go to my online catalog and purchase a supply. If you'll send me an e-mail at cardsonline@cox.net telling me that you read about my cards at this blog, there will be no shipping charges.

Have a great evening.

What have I missed?

It's been a while since I posted anything. I don't know where the time has gone, but I've been really busy. I thought I was supposed to be retired, but I am as busy as when I worked. But the things that I do now are a lot more fun.

It has gotten really cold here. No snow yet, but it would be nice. The picture above is from last year. This was taken early in the morning, and by noon it was gone.

Hope you have had a chance to see my website: cardsonline.etsy.com
If not, take a look and you might find the right photograph or card(s). Let me know what you think at cardsonline@cox.net.

Faye

Capturing the Moment

I'm all about looking for moments to capture. After my husband, Bob, and I left our son's house after a visit with him in Northern Virginia, we came across this old truck in a flower bed beside the highway. We couldn't fine a place to pull over and take the photograph. So we stopped, looked both ways, and seeing no traffic, I rolled down my window and took this picture from the car. I had it printed as an 11x14 and had it framed. It now hangs on "the gallery" wall in my house and is one of my husband's favorite. Everything on the wall is for sale and they are eventually put on display at the Gallery on the York where I display my work.

For now,
Faye

The Card Maker

As a card maker, I'm always looking for inspiration to come up with a new card or a new line of cards. I try to be constantly adding something new to my catalog. Since I've been making and selling cards for four years now and have a fairly large inventory, I'm adding some of those cards along with new creations.

My favorite cards are the note cards or greeting cards that use my photographs on the front. The front of the card can be removed from the card and you have a small photograph. I especially love the beautiful flowers that I have and continue to photograph. I get a lot of special requests for a special creation. I have used old photographs provided to me by the buyer to be used on the front of the card for birthdays and anniversaries.

I saw one woman was in the card section of a local department store trying to find a 60th anniversary card, with no luck. She said she had looked everywhere. I told her I would love to make the card for her, which I did. She provided the feeling she wanted and some key words for the inside message. She was delighted with the card, and I had a new customer with some referrals.

So long for now,

A photograph from Italy

I just checked out my friend Diane's blog,

http://mylittlecraftyworld.blogspot.com/

and was really blown away by the drawings she posted today and yesterday. This was the first time I had seen them, and I knew she had a lot of talent, but these are really, really good. So check them out.

I have no drawing talent whatsoever, which is why I do photographs. The photo today is from our trip to Venice in May. After retirement in 2004, I bought a digital camera and became hooked! I found that I could capture a moment in time and revisit it through my photographs. I now have three cameras and keep one with me all the time. Other photographs can be found at my Etsy site, cardsonline.etsy.com.

It's back to opening boxes and sorting books that have been donated or discarded by the library branches. Diane and I both are members of the Friends of the Library. The books are sold at book sales and online to raise money for the library system programs.

Have a great day,

Faye

My Outing This Morning

I had to do a couple of errands this morning, specifically to go by the Gallery on the York and pick up my items that didn't sell at the Holiday Show and stop at Costco on the way home to pick up a chicken pot pie.

While at the gallery I picked up a couple of pictures that had been hanging there for a while and hung up replacements. Last spring I was juried in as a participating artist to display my photographs (and hopefully to sell them). I also have matted photographs and some of my note cards and greeting cards for sale there. This gallery is a rare jewel in the art community here. It is the gallery for the Yorktown Arts Foundation and sells fine arts, jewelry and gifts. If you have the opportunity, stop by and take a look at my work as well as all the other work.

Now for the new goal for the year. After leaving the gallery, I was driving along the highway when I realized I was almost at the place where I needed to turn. I glanced in my mirror and didn't see anyone in the turn lane, so I started moving into the turn lane, when I saw a car almost on my bumper. So, for the new goal--I need to be more aware of the traffic around me so I don't cut someone off like I did this morning. Now if I can just remember to add it to the long list of goal for this year.

Until the next time,

Faye

Happy New Year

We had a quiet New Year's Eve--a dinner party at the home of friends in our neighborhood. We left at 10 p.m.; everyone else was still there. I don't know how many were there at midnight.

Two of my goals for the new year were to straighten the attic and sort through all my books. Those two things became the first ones attempted in 2009. I spent most of yesterday sorting through the books and today straightening the attic. I'm about half-way through the tasks. I like to get organized before I start working on all my projects.

Don't forget to check out my catalog of cards and photographs at cardsonline.etsy.com All of my items are guaranteed to please. For those of you who are my friends and live in the area, you can avoid shipping charges by picking up your order. I will accept local checks.

I'm working on lots of new items and will be adding something new every day (ok, may every other day). So watch to see what's new.

Make 2009 the year to start writing notes and letters and sending greeting cards. We all love to get a handwritten note or card in the mail. E-mail is ok, but doesn't replace the personal touch!!

Happy New Year,

Faye