Tired of winter!

I know much of the country has been hit hard by winter weather this year, and Chicago is no exception.  They reported on the weather news that in a usual winter, we dip below zero an average of 10 times.  That was in the third week of January, and by then we had already experienced 14 days of sub-zero temps.  And I know for a fact that we have had at least three more days since.  In between the polar vortex blasts, we have had snow . . . and more snow . . . and even more snow!  It kind of makes you want to strangle the little groundhog who predicted six more weeks of this stuff.

But instead, I know that God is good, and there are good gifts in each day.  So far I have found a six-word phrase of encouragement for each day of February -- all from reading my Message Bible.  I'd like to share them with you, along with some photos I took today of a grocery store bouquet of flowers.

February 1:  Every God direction is road-tested.  (from Psalm 18:30)

February 2: Keep your eyes open for God. (from Psalm 105:4)

February 3:  Savor the gift of this day.  (from 2 Corinthians 4:15)

So now it's a challenge to see if I can find a six word phrase to bring encouragement every day of this cold and gloomy month.  I love that they are short enough for me to remember all day long!

And just for fun, I create a "wild and wacky" calendar for our department at the library each month.  The calendar is hung on the wall, and a copy goes on our web page.  Some of the days definitely give something to smile about.

I hope you are finding ways to keep the winter blues at bay!

Calendars finished!

I belong to a calligraphy study group, and each year we create a calendar to sell or give to friends.  We just finished collating the 2013 version, and it's a great one!  Here's some pics of my two pages, as well as the whole group with finished copies.  (I forgot to take pics during the process -- we were too busy).

 Usually we only get to do one page per year, but our credits person moved a couple of months ago, so I volunteered to do it.  I used pastel pencils on black paper to try to get the look of a chalkboard.  And for my June page, I used some of the techniques I have learned in Joanne Sharpe's Letter Love class.  When we get together every year to put the calendars together, there's lots of oohing and aahing over everyone's techniques!

Calendar Page Love

Two lovely March calendar pages to show you.  The first is from the calendar produced by our Calligraphy study group.  March's page was created by the talented Luce Zolna.  Such beautiful details make for a lovely page.

The second calendar was done by Pam Johnson Brickell, who regularly blogs here.  She lives in South Carolina, where the blossoms are ahead of us here in Illinois.  Our redbuds won't be blooming for at least a month.  But I'm so glad I have a reminder of them in this colorful page.

Happy (almost) spring!

A couple more calendars and more

I forgot about an important calendar that I have hanging in my studio.  Each year our calligraphy group produces a calendar -- each of us creates one month, and someone does the cover and credits page, and then we collate them into cases the size of cd cases.  They make great gifts and lots of people buy them.  This is the January page for this year, made by Bessie.

And at our annual calligraphy group holiday party last week-end, we also got this wonderful calendar done by Tim Botts, who is also a member of our group, a gifted instructor and fantastic calligrapher.

And finally, my friend Karen made this lovely piece which was hung on our Arboretum tree and then auctioned off at our party.  I was so happy to be the lucky highest bidder!

It's humbling and challenging to be surrounded by so many creative people.

New Year, New Calendars

One of my favorite traditions each January 1 is to get out the new calendars I have collected, open them, look ONLY at the first month/day/week and place them where they will stay for the year.  Here's the calendars for 2012:

The kitchen calendar -- Mary Engelbreit.  A few years ago we did our kitchen in "Mary" and each year one of my kids gives me a new calendar.  Her whimsical illustrations make me smile.

A daily tear-off for the top of the steps -- more "Mary"!

Right outside my studio -- Pam Johnson Brickell's gorgeous sketches from South Carolina.

Sorry -- I don't know why blogger flipped this one -- but on my desk I have a weekly calendar with illuminations from the St. John's Bible.  I had the chance to see some of the original pages from this incredible work last year, and each page inspires awe and worship.

My dollar store Italy calendar for the bedroom.  We were there a few years ago and I would love to go back.  Right now, just in memories and pictures!

Happy New Year to all!

New Calendar!

It's always a treat to look at the latest offerings from my blogger friends.  I'm usually so inspired by what others are doing.  One of the artists I follow has a gift for capturing the beauty of nature in her sketchbook -- and then she posts her pages and I'm always in awe.  Her name is Pam Johnson Brickell, and you can find her blog here.  (I'm also a little jealous because she lives in South Carolina where the winters aren't brutal and she can enjoy the outdoors year-round.)  ANYWAY, she created a 2012 calendar and had a giveaway on her blog, and I won it!  It came in the mail yesterday and it was a little like early Christmas.  Every page had me oohing and aahing -- I already have a place in mind to hang it -- right outside of my studio where everyone in the family can admire it.

Here's a couple of pages from it:

Aren't they just magnificent?  I think she is going to be making more and selling them, so be sure to check her blog for details!  I think they would be just the best gifts for nature lovers!!

Thank you, Pam!