Hunting Season 2007

Another successful hunt completed.  Will I display my trophy on the wall?  Will I annoy all of my friends with the endless pictures of the beautiful specimen?

Growing up in rural Oklahoma I was subjected to many post hunting season photographs of the proud hunter and trophy.  We all want to share the products or prizes of a successful hunt.  It is human nature to share what we are most proud of.  Now there is a new outlet for  bragging called blogging.

My latest prize and show piece is a gorgeous (if I do say so myself) Princess Blanket.  I was helped in the fabric selection by my sister-in -law and the geometric configuration by Grumpwurst himself.  The focus fabric is a licensed Disney print that I purchased at Joann's fabric store along with the coordinating fabric.  Finished size is 63" X 40" which is crib size for this pattern.  The pattern is a Foldy Stuff chevron pattern.  The fabric is actually folded over to give dimension and texture to the finished quilt.

This showpiece already has an intended home with my niece Regan (Collin's sister) in Southern California for Christmas.  Collin's Christmas present is in the works and will be showcased soon.

(Chimpin' ain't easy Tim!) 

Technorati Tags: Disney Quilt

A Whimsical Segway

Enchanted Rose on Segway @ EPCOT

Well, I thought I would do something different that I haven't done before on this blog....include some video!

I have provided for everyone's viewing pleasure a little 20 second clip I made with my Canon Powershot S70 point-and-shoot camera while we were on a break during the Segway Tour through the Epcot World Pavilion.

As you can see, my lovely wife makes it look so easy :)

(Editor's Note:  This video was shot a year ago before Ms Enchanted Rose entered into a vigorous exercise routine and shed 2-3 dress sizes)

 

 

 

 

Technorati Tags: Segway, EPCOT, Enchanted Rose

Scrapbooking and fun with food

The latest scrapbooking project is finished.  I am sharing this little gem to give examples of the fun ways to use creative pictures that may be overlooked in the planning stages but add a great deal to the finished product. 

The whole goal of scrapbooking is to preserve memories and experiences in a way that regular photo albums fall short.  In doing this, you really have to think outside the standard trip photos and add some personal flair to the creative process.   

Pictures of signs may make the best title for the page.  This is especially helpful when you can't quite find the "right" font to fit the theming. What better way to capture attention than with the actual sign for the restaurant or attraction?  Several of my pages for my Disney World trip 2006 scrapbook are headed with pictures that Grumpwurst took on our trip of signs and posters.

Another fun way to add flair to a page is by using pictures of the food.  We started this when we went to Victoria and Albert's.  If we were going to pay that much for the food- we were going to remember everything about it!  I love how the kids macaroni and cheese turned out in this picture.  A Mickey Mouse on the page and another trip memory- a great combination.  Everyone ties memories to food wether conscious or subconsciously.  This aids in that process and makes for a cute page as well.   

Who doesn't tie your memories with vacation or life events with food?  I know that my top five things at Disney include at least two food events/tastes.  At Disneyland it is the ice cream from Catch a Flave on the boardwalk heading toward California Screamin and the clam chowder bread bowls in New Orleans.  Even writing about these palate pleasing treats makes my mouth water.  How do you think your memory and senses will be sparked from a picture?

Technorati Tags: scrapbooking, enchanted Rose, Disney

Whose the leader of the club?

The bus was allowed to go to a special entrance so that we would not have to carry our equipment so far. It was a special entrance for the entertainers. I was later informed that this is called "backstage". I was there with about 120 other high school kids from my high school marching band. We had been chosen to participate in the Disney magic for that day. Our high school marching band got the privilege of marching down main street while playing the Mickey Mouse March and It's A Small World. We then got to play at the park for the rest of the day as part of the reward of being chosen as participants.

The selection process was brutal. I think that we played those mind numbing tunes over a hundred times before even making the audition tape. The taping process alone was a nightmare. I am not sure how many "takes" we went through until our band director said the quality was good enough to submit. We then had to wait until the allotted time had passed before we heard the good news. Then we practiced some more!

I should have prefaced this entire blog with the fact that I AM A DRUMMER! I was the ONLY girl drummer in the school and our drum line was massive (four snare drums, four bass drums, two quad players, and three cymbal players- all this not counting our usual percussion pit). These songs were not made for marching drum lines, so I have to admit that I was not looking forward to the parade as much I was looking forward to it being over. (Marching with a drum in a parade is taxing work no matter what time of year it is!)

So, when I went to Disneyland for the first time I actually went backstage before I ever laid eyes on Main street. Now, looking back, I can appreciate just how unique those experiences I had in high school really were. Not everyone - even if they are from Southern California- has the opportunity to be a part of the Disney magic in this capacity. I was able to be a part of a Disneyland Parade while I was still in high school! How cool is that!

I have to admit that the only thing that really stands out to me from that parade was me hoping that I would not trip over the tracks on Main Street and fall on my face. That would be awesome -to spend my first day at Disney in the hospital instead. I could see the one person dropping all their sticks being me (I just had that kind of luck). I always carried extra sticks in case I dropped one, and we had chaperones that walked next to the drum line just in case that did happen, but I imagine the worst scenario possible when performing. (Do you think this may be why I collect drumsticks from all over the country now? ) I did manage to make it through all in one piece and with all of my drum sticks in my possession. It was a miracle!

Now it was time to cross the yellow backstage line and come out on the other side- onstage for my first day at Disneyland.

The Most Beautiful Flowers are not always found in Beautiful Gardens, It's True. (Cinderella)

The perfect one is out there!  I know it is.  I keep looking, hoping that the next glance will bring success.  Then it happens!  I find just the perfect one.  It will complete the ensemble and make things work.

Crafting is not just a hobby- it is a hunt.  Which color of paper or which fabric will complete this project?  Will this page be my favorite when I have finished it or will I want to redo it as soon as I place it in the album?

Recently I have discovered that I can combine my passions and have great success.  I love to quilt.  I have been doing it since I was in junior high.  I love to scrapbook.  I have been doing that since I was in college.  I LOVE Disney!  I can’t pinpoint the moment this love affair started, but I think that it was shortly after figuring out what music was.  I have a serious love affair with all of the Disney sound tracks whether movie or otherwise.  (I have decided that I have a great shower voice and love to belt out the songs- Beauty and the Beast particularly.)

Buying crafting supplies is just as much fun for the "hunter" as is putting the project together.  For my quilts, the main focus fabric has to be perfect to pull all of the other complementing fabrics together.  Texture, fabric type, and color all play a part in the success of any quilt.  With scrapbooking it is pulling the right theme for the page.  This may come from the pictures themselves or even just a great color that pops in the picture. 

Above all else- never pay full price!  That is what makes this a true hunt- the stalking phase.  Will my 40% off coupon get here in time?  Will license fabrics be on sale this week?  How much batting really is too much when you want 100% cotton for the entire quilt and quality really matters?  Each week I scour the weekly ads and hold out for just the right combination of coupons and sales.

Sometimes I believe that Grumpwurst thinks this hunt is my favorite part of the whole crafting experience.  My craft room is probably the best evidence in his favor.  The drawers and cabinets are filed with the pieces of the "next project".  We are currently building a new home in which I have a craft room all my own for letting these creative expressions take flight.  Once it is completed I will have to post a picture.

Seeing the completed project is a gratifying experience for me, but the true passion I have is in sharing.  My family has no problem with that!  Most of my sibling’s household’s have at least one Enchanted Rose quilt original.  No real guessing to what my family members get as baby gifts.

It is not a terrible thing for a scrapbooker to have a photographer in the house either.  It's nice when talents can complement each other so nicely. :)  Keep taking those Grumptastic photos and being my wingman in this hunt!

Technorati Tags: Disney, Scrapbooking, Quilting, Enchanted Rose