A Year of Milestone Birthdays

50th Birthday Bundle Book

 
This year I have several friends and family members that have milestone birthdays.  50th and 60th.
Today, my brother in law turns 60.  10 days ago, a friend turned 50.  Said friend has a you tube channel where she entertains thousands on a regular basis.  She also shares ideas, tips, tricks and her nostrils.  She has had me as a guest in her home on several occasions throughout the years.
So, for Shannon's birthday I decided that i needed to make her something special.  You only turn 50 once.
 I had taken an online class (see this post) in May and knew that this would be the perfect thing for her birthday-a keepsake of sorts. This "book" is made up of pockets-so she could keep cards or memento's in it.  I first started making a fairly colorful one-in her favorite colors but didn't like the way it was coming along
so i scrapped that and decided 50 deserved to be black.  Since I didn't want to rub it in her face too badly, i went with an elegant look: black, white and metallic.  I wanted a fairly large size so the pockets would be big.
 Once I finished the book, i set it aside and patiently waited for Jan to get here.  I also enlisted the help of her fellow facebook moderators to spread the word-If you wanted to make a birthday card for shannon, you could do so and send to me to include in the book.  I knew that doing it so early AND before the holidays could prove detrimental.  If people procrastinate, as artists do, then they would forget over the holiday season.  People came through-and I had enough cards to put in all the book pockets. 
I decided I couldn't just send the book-it was a birthday after all.  Things are tight in their home right now as Jayson is looking for work. (this is known so i'm not divulging family secrets) So...I wanted to add a bit of "fun" to the box.  Brownie mix (easier than a cake) candles, balloons, horns, twizzlers and some other little goodies. 
 The box went off in the mail and for once, the PO actually delivered it in priority mail time. (usually it's just a "guideline."    Imagine my surprise to find out she was afraid to open it.  Seems she thought i had sent her
another doll.  Like i would do that. (ok, maybe i would, but i did promise after the last doll incident, there would be no more) i just shot myself in the foot with that comment but i did promise.  Don't want her to have a heart attack after all.  Then 20,000+ people would hate me for sure.  She finally braved the box-saw that it was legit. (as in no doll)  and filmed the opening.  You can see that here if you haven't.
 So here are pictures of said book bundle...
 

book unrolls. this is the far right inside of the book

pocket page-the rips can actually hold something if you slide it through.

more pockets

pocket made into a pocket

close up of the glitter 50

folding the book in-velvet pocket with ribbon accent

screen pockets...and my knee

One of the pockets-made from screen

February Already!~

Well, I see i have neglected the blog again.  Can't believe that it is February already.  I had big plans for january: getting back on my treadmill, getting my art room in order (HA) getting the house cleaned up from
all art stuff that should be in said art room...Not done yet. I hope to check it all off my list by the end of this month.  I have been hooked on making my fabric ribbon-and getting my Etsy store back up.  I had some
people ask about the ribbon and others that said "you should sell this" so i thought i would give it a try.
I've already made one roll for someone so I had a sale before I even got store ready!   Hopefully it will be set up by friday~that's my goal anyway. 

My parents' house is almost done~finally.  They think they will be in it by March.  Drive way has been poured and all the bits and pieces of finishing are pretty much done. I think they have to have a final inspection then they have the OK to move in... They went through Owner/Builder where you are the contractor-so they did one step at a time and were there every day when the workers were doing their thing.  I got to see it last summer when it was just studs-so of course we signed several boards.  My dad wrote under the stairwell the story of the house-date started and names...Guess i'll take another road trip in March to see the finished product.  I know they will be glad to get out of their tiny apartment-they won't know what to do with all the space.
  I guess another goal should be updating my blog a bit more.  I do have another post planned after something else happens-a certain present has to be opened before i can put pictures on here ;)