Not for the faint hearted

This is how I spent my Labor Day Weekend...and the days leading up to it...and the days following it.

I created a 28" x 28" logo board for Weddings by Grace and Mona that was covered entirely in paper flowers. Every letter...made out of flowers. Every inch of white space...made out of flowers. 10,000 flowers, two bottles of glue, one pair of tweezers, and no paper cuts (surprising!). This was a project of gargantuan proportions that left me with an aching back, temporary numbness in my fingers, and an enormous sense of accomplishment that proved to be the real reward when all was said and done.

Will I ever do a project like this again? Perhaps, but not without first installing an A/C unit in my environmentally friendly studio!

GYM is not a 4-letter word

It was a dark and stormy night. I looked at the building before me with trepidation and fear beacause I knew what was waiting for me on the other side of the door. I took a deep breath to calm my nerves and gently pushed the door open. I grudgingly accepted my fate as I took my first steps back into THE GYM.

Perhaps my return to THE GYM wasn't that dramatic, but it was pretty close. Trepidation, fear, resistance...true, true, true. There was a point in my life when lunchtime workouts, daily walks, and 20-mile bike rides were commonplace. I like to refer to this as the "wonder years" because I look back on those times and wonder where I got the energy to do all of that. Fast forward seven years and there are days when my only cardio exercise involves rolling across the studio on my desk chair when I need to reach my printer. Sad, but true.

So I've finally made the decision to take care of my body inside and out which means plenty of sleep, a healthier diet, and daily exercise at THE GYM. It will be a dramatic lifestyle change but the fact that my husband will be changing right alongside me should make it a little easier. I hope.

Not your mother's bento

If I had the time...and the patience...I would delve into the art of bento box making. Actually, I'm not sure if it's technically an "art," but after seeing these photos I'm a true believer. Can you imagine being a kid, opening up your bento box at lunch time, and seeing one of these FUN arrangements waiting to be gobbled up?

Paper passion

Need some pretty paper for one of your many do-it-yourself wedding craft projects? You're in luck - The Wedding Cafe will be hosting its first ever PAPER WEEK this month! Paper sample packs and other goodies will be available for purchase so be sure to check out the week-long sale.

Among some of Emi Ink's contributions to the sale will be a collection of gorgeous printed paper that I've picked up through the years. I'm trying to put together a varied selection of items from handmade mulberry paper to Japanese washi paper to batik prints for your shopping pleasure. See you at PAPER WEEK!