MONDAY LOVE GOODIES !!

Happy new week, everyone!  I didn't make it back to post a Friday Freebie, so I'll make up for it today!  I've almost decided it's impossible for me to stick to any posting schedule regardless of how I'd love to be that organized.  Too many real life things keep jumping up in my face.  I've just learned that my sweet almost 82 year old Mom has scheduled herself for an aortic valve replacement surgery on the 17th, and that's right around the corner!  Yikes!  My folks are in WV, my only brother is in AZ, and I'm 8 hrs. away from them here at the beach.  I will be traveling north to be there for her surgery, of course, and will be staying as long as necessary afterwards to help take care of her and do for my Dad while she is recovering.  My bro will be there for her surgery also, and will probably be able to hang out for one week as he is a teacher with a classroom full of ROTC students that he cannot leave alone too long.  I am busy making preparations for this trip and extended stay which will be quite a change for me in weather conditions alone.  They are currently under a seige of snowfall due to total around 30 inches by the middle of this week.  I haven't done snow for over 15 years!  Not sure I even have the clothes to put on myself anymore for that type of weather!  Yikes!  We don't own a 4WD anymore either!  I've just used the last of my resources to get a small laptop to take with me for sanity, but I'm not sure I'll be able to catch an internet signal up there in the "sticks", but I will explore the how-to's after I'm there awhile.  Just know that if I'm not able to post for a month, that's why.  The laptop will enable me to load my programs and keep designing in any spare time I can squeeze into the busy schedule up there.  So I figured that will save my sanity.  We don't realize how accustomed to our daily conveniences we are until something like this pops up to remove them from you.  I will take my yarns, knitting needles, crochet hooks, several thick good books I've been wanting to read and the laptop.  That should be a fairly good survival kit for me.  I'll probably be very busy anyway nursing my Mom and running her house while she is down.  My folks are not your typical elderly.  They have their full mentation, stay very active, and keep up their 2-acre property without help.  My brother has always called my Mom by a loving nickname he gave her years ago, "The Rock".  She has been the dynamic center around which all else happens for as long as I can recall.  She hits the floor running in the morings, is a night-owl like me, does an amazing job at keeping everybody highly motivated, and has withstood many a storm in her own life but remains unscathed and staunch in her faith.  Hence, my brother's nickname for her.

At any rate, I hope you will miss me a little if I'm not here with you for awhile.  If that happens, I will look forward to my own return, and I hope you will also.

Today, I'm giving you a Valentine I made just for you!  I've named it "Circle Of Love" and it's another photo mat/clipping mask.  I'm so hung up on making these things, I just can't stop!  This idea popped into my head, so here it is:

DOWNLOAD HERE

Here is my own layout and one way to use this mask.  I simply clipped a paper to it and sat my photo on top of it, feather blending the photo edges to fade them from being so sharp.  I  used a photo of one of my favorite subjects (LOL) and just cropped a circle of his face from the picture.

The two papers used and the left corner flourish are from a collaboration kit named "Where The Heart Is" by Grandma's Templates and Scraps N Pieces, the measuring tape element and alpha letters are from kit "Sew Chic" by Tricia Curtis Designs found at GDS.  The font at the top is Angelic War from DaFont.  I went ahead and turned this layout into a Quick Page for you also entitled "Unmeasured Love", so grab it below if you like it.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Lastly for today, I'm adding another project to the "Mason Jar" for your consideration.  It's another crocheted bath/kitchen rag with the ruffled top, this one in pleasing color combinations of camel gold background and variegated topper in sage, cream, mauve tones.  These are 100% cotton, machine wash/dry and can be used as pot holders, hot pads, kitchen rag, or personal bath rags for self or guests.  They make especially wonderful items to place in a gift basket you are making for someone.  If you've never used one of these, treat yourself to one.  Folks who have tried them always come back for more for themselves and for gifts.  They are soft, wear well, last forever, and are so fluffy coming out of the dryer.  Here's the preview:

Item:  CR_#02
Price:  $8.00 (+$2.50 S/H)

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That's all I have for the moment.  Have a great week, and I hope you are somebody's special Valentine!  Remember to stop in often and see what I have for you.  I  had a reader comment just recently that she liked my music.  I haven't reloaded that player for a long time, but if the music bothers you while you visit here, simply scroll to the bottom of my screen and turn the player off.  You are in charge of the player while here.  Hope I make it back soon!  Happy Scrapping!

Tootles!!