tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20279803814314527792024-03-12T23:26:32.791-07:00My Life In SketchesOne woman's blog about art, craft, and life.Susan Cepinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11594268656702430691noreply@blogger.comBlogger867125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2027980381431452779.post-16086669402914652072014-09-22T17:18:00.001-07:002014-09-22T17:22:16.097-07:00painting in progress<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/34293080@N05/15323321871/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="666" id="blogsy-1411431497617.057" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5586/15323321871_535053a797_c.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I've been working on this painting for-next-to-ever, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">mostly because I hardly ever paint these days. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I'm back at it again, though! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">In this last round, I decided to darken up the background </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">and block in flesh tones. I'm happy that the figures</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">at least look humanoid at this point</span>.</div>
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<div id="blogsy_footer" style="clear: both; font-size: small; text-align: right;">
<a href="http://blogsyapp.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Posted with Blogsy" src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" height="20" style="margin-right: 5px; vertical-align: middle;" width="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>
Susan Cepinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11594268656702430691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2027980381431452779.post-51107214953967714922014-06-22T14:53:00.001-07:002014-06-22T14:59:02.058-07:00waiting for the game<div class="separator" style="text-align: center; clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEDXINQcpnrJcxTQysBokQbMu3quGKezQnrQ6CWf6D7-jPxkIsvPXKAdZcv_iY6wP05_oMFFqexbjxz4SXctTvHBFfKLUoJI2HzENcnsk3pVnUdWLVXeeWRyc3VZBPDy5LXKjXa5vY7ON2/s640/blogger-image-233611161.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEDXINQcpnrJcxTQysBokQbMu3quGKezQnrQ6CWf6D7-jPxkIsvPXKAdZcv_iY6wP05_oMFFqexbjxz4SXctTvHBFfKLUoJI2HzENcnsk3pVnUdWLVXeeWRyc3VZBPDy5LXKjXa5vY7ON2/s640/blogger-image-233611161.jpg" id="blogsy-1403474221896.7954" class="" alt="" width="640" height="375"></a></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: center; clear: both;"><font face="Courier New" size="4">My favorite bit of this sketch is those couches:</font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="text-align: center; clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlsIej7kpHzi-jEXOOLabzNL_FiW6inRhj1fmQ6NsBp44sOBaQBcH62lxjyRAPszOuDU8ySFiNRmfIFr0_uavDiZ1M6SuzBYGWlrmV5WkL-orH0veclqeRVvVujmCzU8Uv5u1v67ntVH83/s640/blogger-image-994136446.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlsIej7kpHzi-jEXOOLabzNL_FiW6inRhj1fmQ6NsBp44sOBaQBcH62lxjyRAPszOuDU8ySFiNRmfIFr0_uavDiZ1M6SuzBYGWlrmV5WkL-orH0veclqeRVvVujmCzU8Uv5u1v67ntVH83/s640/blogger-image-994136446.jpg" id="blogsy-1403474221868.7432" class="" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: center; clear: both;"><font face="Courier New" size="4">You just never know what wonderful little surprises </font></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: center; clear: both;"><font face="Courier New" size="4">you're going to get with watercolor.</font></div></div><div></div></div><div> </div><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Susan Cepinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11594268656702430691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2027980381431452779.post-39451183476933265962014-06-14T11:27:00.001-07:002014-06-14T11:31:29.951-07:00fun with woodburning<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDOMxLHGPyYa0zmuVsr6voC00XXxZWaiYwXTEgIlMoQ-D_fenbiQyVD2RVzcwvWdzaz092r_ZbfHiwTL18rPNNUWSJctdFPQdgA_g43BmtHaFKzqBx8tNxaUCz4zwkVNfLD91jeVFy9R20/s640/blogger-image-1050524411.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDOMxLHGPyYa0zmuVsr6voC00XXxZWaiYwXTEgIlMoQ-D_fenbiQyVD2RVzcwvWdzaz092r_ZbfHiwTL18rPNNUWSJctdFPQdgA_g43BmtHaFKzqBx8tNxaUCz4zwkVNfLD91jeVFy9R20/s640/blogger-image-1050524411.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> Oh, summer...</div>Susan Cepinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11594268656702430691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2027980381431452779.post-56116004839309500262014-02-19T16:00:00.001-07:002014-02-19T16:03:12.177-07:00fountain pen messes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/34293080@N05/12644033653/" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2819/12644033653_26cf893c4a.jpg" id="blogsy-1392850994940.9795" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="500" alt=""></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <font face="Courier New" size="4">Refilling fountain pens...</font></div><div style="text-align: center;"><font face="Courier New" size="4">the outcome is well worth the mess!</font></div><div> </div><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Susan Cepinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11594268656702430691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2027980381431452779.post-23094008236199164702014-01-15T15:55:00.001-07:002014-01-15T15:55:29.275-07:00save the date<div> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/34293080@N05/11971862724/" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7372/11971862724_cf73ecb3ca.jpg" id="blogsy-1389826528184.5327" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><font size="4" face="Courier New">So, this is what I've been up to lately. </font></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><font size="4" face="Courier New">My dear friends Layne and Mark are getting </font></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><font size="4" face="Courier New">married soon, and I had the privilege of</font></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><font size="4" face="Courier New">designing their "save the date" postcards!</font></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><font size="4" face="Courier New">Scroll down to catch a glimpse of the process.</font></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/34293080@N05/11971462595/" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3704/11971462595_51e3d500c7.jpg" id="blogsy-1389826528165.0662" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></div>
<div> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/34293080@N05/11971749853/" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7426/11971749853_48b2c4872b.jpg" id="blogsy-1389826528194.948" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/34293080@N05/11972288456/" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7312/11972288456_f580c661cf.jpg" id="blogsy-1389826528212.737" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/34293080@N05/11971469895/" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3734/11971469895_531410b332.jpg" id="blogsy-1389826528164.5044" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="500" alt=""></a></div>
<div> </div><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Susan Cepinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11594268656702430691noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2027980381431452779.post-1375584372460848032014-01-07T17:03:00.001-07:002014-01-07T17:07:23.396-07:00dylusions<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/34293080@N05/11827680554/" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2831/11827680554_e6acb133c4_c.jpg" id="blogsy-1389139602201.5374" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="787"></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><font face="Courier New" size="4"> Having fun with Dylusions Ink Spray.</font></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><font face="Courier New" size="4">I just picked up the London Blue and Lime Green</font></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><font face="Courier New" size="4">for collage purposes. But in the meantime...</font></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><font face="Courier New" size="4"> </font></div>
<div> </div><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Susan Cepinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11594268656702430691noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2027980381431452779.post-42109946916740942952014-01-06T15:26:00.001-07:002014-01-07T17:12:11.526-07:00travel art supplies<div> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/34293080@N05/11807778616/" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7376/11807778616_5ec27472d9.jpg" id="blogsy-1389139900821.6743" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="262"></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><font face="Courier New" size="4"> I'm looking forward to painting a bunch more this year </font></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><font face="Courier New" size="4">than </font><span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: large; line-height: 1.3em;">I did last year!! As such, I have packed up </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: large; line-height: 1.3em;">some of my </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: large; line-height: 1.3em;">drawing/painting accessories to tote around: </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: large; line-height: 1.3em;">a couple of </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: large; line-height: 1.3em;">General's Sketch & Wash pencils, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: large; line-height: 1.3em;">a mechanical pencil, </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: large; line-height: 1.3em;">a blending stump,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><font face="Courier New" size="4">a waterbrush, </font><span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: large; line-height: 1.3em;">and a mini mister.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><font face="Courier New" size="4">I also toss in a travel watercolor set, </font></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><font face="Courier New" size="4">some tubes of </font><font face="Courier New" style="line-height: 1.3em;"><font size="4">gouache</font>, </font><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 1.3em; font-family: 'Courier New';">or the cutesy </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 1.3em; font-family: 'Courier New';">watercolor pencils </span><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 1.3em; font-family: 'Courier New';">I received </span><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 1.3em; font-family: 'Courier New';">for </span><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 1.3em; font-family: 'Courier New';">Christmas.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 1.3em; font-family: 'Courier New';">Ooh -- there's also a Pentel brush pen in there. </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: large; line-height: 1.3em;">Tasty!!</span></div>
<div> </div><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Susan Cepinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11594268656702430691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2027980381431452779.post-15100858399061516932014-01-02T21:42:00.000-07:002014-01-02T22:34:30.312-07:00happy new year!<div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-TnAfer9qAuQ/UsZL5BKV5kI/AAAAAAAADWQ/ncC39bETFDU/I/photo_372797.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><br><br> <br></div><br><br> <br></div><br><br> Susan Cepinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11594268656702430691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2027980381431452779.post-15692173530246826172013-12-27T11:39:00.000-07:002013-12-27T11:43:27.253-07:00tether ball<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-SSEKJ_Nb5ss/Ur3KTKJaPKI/AAAAAAAADVY/ZuVsBNPtzQU/I/photo_836268.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Tether ball is the newest</div><div style="text-align: center;">addition to our yard and family</div><div style="text-align: center;">entertainment. Elliott loves it!</div><br><br> Susan Cepinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11594268656702430691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2027980381431452779.post-76501203907483510262013-11-13T11:12:00.000-07:002013-11-17T10:20:39.347-07:00the clock<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Susan Cepinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11594268656702430691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2027980381431452779.post-20484152502671799882013-10-30T21:46:00.001-07:002013-10-30T21:49:55.083-07:00it's caramel apple time!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/34293080@N05/10586173056/" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3832/10586173056_75ee4544b2.jpg" id="blogsy-1383194952859.159" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="500" alt=""></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font size="4">I've been trying to figure out how to make caramel apples </font></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font size="4">for several years now -- not the Kraft Caramel kind, </font></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font size="4">although those are great. I wanted to learn how to</font></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><font size="4"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">whip up </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.3em;">my own caramel from scratch!</span></font></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/34293080@N05/10586170345/" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5531/10586170345_0894fe181a.jpg" id="blogsy-1383194952912.299" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="500" alt=""></a></div>
<div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font size="4"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); line-height: 1.3em;">So I found a recipe (can't locate it at the moment, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); line-height: 1.3em;">but it had condensed milk, brown sugar, and corn syrup, </span></div>
</font></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><font size="4"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); line-height: 1.3em;">for starters) </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); line-height: 1.3em;">and cooked up the ingredients to the </span></font></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><font size="4"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); line-height: 1.3em;">"hard ball" </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); line-height: 1.3em;">candy stage as instructed. </span></font></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); line-height: 1.3em;"><font size="4">Well, the caramel tasted great!</font></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); line-height: 1.3em;"><font size="4">But it set up so hard that we could barely cut through it </font></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); line-height: 1.3em;"><font size="4">with a knife -- think Sugar Daddy chewy. </font></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); line-height: 1.3em;"><font size="4">It was delicious, though, so I might give it another go. </font></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); line-height: 1.3em;"><font size="4">This time, I'll only heat it to the "soft ball" stage </font></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); line-height: 1.3em;"><font size="4">and see what happens. </font></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); line-height: 1.3em;"><font size="4">Do you have a favorite way to make caramel apples?</font></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); line-height: 1.3em;"><font size="4">How 'bout favorite bits to roll them in </font></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); line-height: 1.3em;"><font size="4">while the caramel's still gooey?</font></span></div>
<div><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"></span><br style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><div> </div>
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</div><div> </div><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Susan Cepinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11594268656702430691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2027980381431452779.post-73363672838833969472013-10-03T09:31:00.000-07:002013-10-03T13:39:15.083-07:00hello again<div style="text-align: center;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><div><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-D1GOvdbqFmk/Uk2fibpHWfI/AAAAAAAADR4/UX5op69qAwA/I/photo_969133.jpg" id="blogsy-1380832743917.5862" class="bloggoimg" alt="" width="400" height="396"></div>
<div><font face="Courier New" size="4">Hi there! As you may have guessed, </font></div>
<div><font face="Courier New" size="4">the past few weeks have been </font><span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: large; line-height: 1.3em;">crazy busy </span></div>
<div><span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: large; line-height: 1.3em;">around here! They have included:</span></div>
<div><font face="Courier New" size="4">one (1) new school (my son's), </font></div>
<div><font face="Courier New" size="4">one (1) tonsillectomy (my daughter's), </font></div>
<div><font face="Courier New" size="4">and one (1) new part-time job (mine). </font></div>
<div><font face="Courier New" size="4">All good transitions, and we are </font></div>
<div><font face="Courier New" size="4">happily and healthfully </font><span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: large; line-height: 1.3em;">looking forward to fall.</span></div>
<div><font face="Courier New" size="4"><br>
</font></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><font face="Courier New" size="4">I hope you are as well!</font></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><font face="Courier New" size="4"><br>
</font></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><font face="Courier New" size="4"> </font></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><font face="Courier New" size="4">Now that I have a blog app on my phone, </font></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><font face="Courier New" size="4">I hope to resume posting on a regular basis. </font></div>
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><font face="Courier New" size="4">So see ya soon!</font><br>
<br>
</div>
<div> </div><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Susan Cepinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11594268656702430691noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2027980381431452779.post-33506509652126585932013-09-10T16:03:00.001-07:002013-09-10T16:03:11.870-07:00in the bookbag<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-r_lNEz-S9vw/Ui-Q0eFPFNI/AAAAAAAADRg/8Zg6obIj0jo/s1024/Photo%252520Sep%2525209%25252C%2525202013%25252C%2525208%25253A11%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br>
<img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-r_lNEz-S9vw/Ui-Q0eFPFNI/AAAAAAAADRg/8Zg6obIj0jo/s532/Photo%252520Sep%2525209%25252C%2525202013%25252C%2525208%25253A11%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1378854043922.91" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="532" height="354"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZG5Z5Zs39Xw/Ui-Qy11UMBI/AAAAAAAADRY/COveyBCZCz8/s1024/Photo%252520Sep%2525209%25252C%2525202013%25252C%2525208%25253A11%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZG5Z5Zs39Xw/Ui-Qy11UMBI/AAAAAAAADRY/COveyBCZCz8/s532/Photo%252520Sep%2525209%25252C%2525202013%25252C%2525208%25253A11%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1378854043970.3584" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="532" height="354"></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"> Here are my favorite reads of late:</div>
<div> 1) <u>The Wisdom of Stability</u> by Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove</div>
<div> A meditation on the beauty of staying put in a world that's on the move, and a consideration of the ways God uses constancy of place and people to accomplish His work. As I read this, I find myself grateful for the place where I live and the people who have shared it with me these many years. The book has reframed some things for me.</div>
<div> 2) <u>Creative Lettering</u> by Jenny Doh</div>
<div> This beautiful primer is a collection of samples and alphabets by lettering artists. It includes instructions for how to letter the alphabets and suggested art projects to go with them. Tasty!</div>
<div> 3) <u>The Complete Photo Guide to Cookie Decorating</u> by Autumn Carpenter</div>
<div> Includes thorough supply suggestions, recipes, and instructions for accomplishing a variety of cookie forms and decorations, including flood icing, painted and filigree frosting, decorative buttercream frosting, candy coatings, and fondant. This book answered some questions I had about cookie decorating, and I've done my fair share of it!</div>
<div> 4) <u>Color Recipes for Painted Furniture and More</u> by Annie Sloan</div>
<div> Don't know if I'll use this one for practical purposes, but it sure is fun to look at.</div>
<div> </div><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Susan Cepinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11594268656702430691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2027980381431452779.post-47263277885338161562013-08-26T14:14:00.001-07:002013-08-26T14:14:54.805-07:00party time<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/34293080@N05/9603520662/" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5329/9603520662_ebe70d0101_c.jpg" id="blogsy-1377551687803.6843" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="549" height="366"></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"> <font face="Courier New" size="4">200 water balloons + 4 pounds of bacon + 90 degree</font></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><font face="Courier New" size="4">weather (what a relief!) + one kajillion kids =</font></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><font face="Courier New" size="6"><strong><br>
</strong></font></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><font face="Courier New" size="6"><strong>PARTAY!!!!!</strong></font></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><font face="Courier New" size="6"><strong><br>
</strong></font></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><font face="Courier New" size="4"><strong>Happy Birthday, little buddy!</strong></font></div>
<div> </div><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Susan Cepinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11594268656702430691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2027980381431452779.post-45359421373859247982013-08-21T19:23:00.000-07:002013-08-22T06:57:46.976-07:00beaded journals<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA4QlX4WRXCabA5CC9LLBJTilklRRPB-xtozevuWdlF1YPkEXum2PaPZYAB0JANR8XOjNP503wxGotVSECw6C4NDOhb6l3coxOKetDWh1qs9usqG3Lz_FWK6t0ADRNR-_QAxeZCHS3owBZ/s1600/Journal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="" height="400" id="blogsy-1377177256914.5063" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA4QlX4WRXCabA5CC9LLBJTilklRRPB-xtozevuWdlF1YPkEXum2PaPZYAB0JANR8XOjNP503wxGotVSECw6C4NDOhb6l3coxOKetDWh1qs9usqG3Lz_FWK6t0ADRNR-_QAxeZCHS3owBZ/s400/Journal.jpg" width="268" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">As I mentioned previously, </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">I've been beading up a storm lately. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">My favorite thing to bead at the moment is </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">these little (3.5" x 5.5") Moleskine journals. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">I just love the contrast between the </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">shiny beads and the plain cover stock. </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmaqBHLFoA5KOaWRaAZgYdYXWMUlUHmAq78OojKZF6OO7sp5TOY9HVS53ny_LFGahjLHbIpDnzkmMd4SVoKbLDlBZWZlrOwzmvat5_p66GucO8kx284WxK8W_Kuqvo9wOtMBRFPNu3Q2lN/s1600/Journal+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="" height="400" id="blogsy-1377177256836.1333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmaqBHLFoA5KOaWRaAZgYdYXWMUlUHmAq78OojKZF6OO7sp5TOY9HVS53ny_LFGahjLHbIpDnzkmMd4SVoKbLDlBZWZlrOwzmvat5_p66GucO8kx284WxK8W_Kuqvo9wOtMBRFPNu3Q2lN/s400/Journal+3.jpg" width="295" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAQ6_26XxNHdugAxsfN_FqBbV8_e21yKAoG0yQWxtpA7p03VtevGT_qtcNw0jfLy5u9rguhHNOIzIj8dV_FP5aHGBC5jqC5PDMKFnzz4eYUdm9nRyHDNI5pXiBPiPCagSwGz-xMW_EpSBE/s1600/Journal+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="" height="400" id="blogsy-1377177256912.1426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAQ6_26XxNHdugAxsfN_FqBbV8_e21yKAoG0yQWxtpA7p03VtevGT_qtcNw0jfLy5u9rguhHNOIzIj8dV_FP5aHGBC5jqC5PDMKFnzz4eYUdm9nRyHDNI5pXiBPiPCagSwGz-xMW_EpSBE/s400/Journal+2.jpg" width="331" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">These little, hand-beaded journals are now</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">available at my <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/senecastreetstudios" target="_self" title="">Etsy shop</a>...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">which is finally open! Yay! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">I don't have much in the way of packaging </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">and logos yet, but I do have sewing labels! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">So here's the way they ship:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNL1ikokK7Bj27rl6oMJOxQiGsuvk7KvliL87w8p9_i_mhbu-hxDx02OUyAJ6KFa5m_XB7bdkJLSnchwEuMxxxXeUxITUcreq_4qKC9G0RtdAitc1FMB_gofeT0GmtRdunpRg1YiDNPD2C/s1600/Journal+Packaging+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="" height="266" id="blogsy-1377177256897.9993" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNL1ikokK7Bj27rl6oMJOxQiGsuvk7KvliL87w8p9_i_mhbu-hxDx02OUyAJ6KFa5m_XB7bdkJLSnchwEuMxxxXeUxITUcreq_4qKC9G0RtdAitc1FMB_gofeT0GmtRdunpRg1YiDNPD2C/s400/Journal+Packaging+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg13ClA-U3GY0S_3U5vlisJlPjbhhXMZySypHVbj9Q7t_xwkPv6WSqepos5GdrYXHZeNDIv8H1Gi1PQ3jnQOGTpy3iwqDQAqA1dZNCPUd8qEeKUn1_okeqdRS9dKAZN8jnSPARbchofODTW/s1600/Journal+Packaging.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="" height="400" id="blogsy-1377177256930.8074" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg13ClA-U3GY0S_3U5vlisJlPjbhhXMZySypHVbj9Q7t_xwkPv6WSqepos5GdrYXHZeNDIv8H1Gi1PQ3jnQOGTpy3iwqDQAqA1dZNCPUd8qEeKUn1_okeqdRS9dKAZN8jnSPARbchofODTW/s400/Journal+Packaging.jpg" width="352" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Whee!</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div id="blogsy_footer" style="clear: both; font-size: small; text-align: right;">
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Susan Cepinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11594268656702430691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2027980381431452779.post-65392592937050647322013-08-18T16:35:00.002-07:002013-08-18T21:55:23.353-07:00for a friend<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiASf0kdP4qYPyfFsM38x4J_mriY4lfQz5_9FzQ4pEk40bg0jJ2bQI30L0FiJIhD-PU1pN5yij1uvb_w7qDyYHysaLeJIg_vSOgnyEOHrOu0BOtBkTOySXqvzjszvHBsEjx1WUhTAkdhEw6/s1600/For+a+Friend.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target=""><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiASf0kdP4qYPyfFsM38x4J_mriY4lfQz5_9FzQ4pEk40bg0jJ2bQI30L0FiJIhD-PU1pN5yij1uvb_w7qDyYHysaLeJIg_vSOgnyEOHrOu0BOtBkTOySXqvzjszvHBsEjx1WUhTAkdhEw6/s400/For+a+Friend.jpg" id="blogsy-1376888113920.4128" class="" alt="" width="480" height="319"></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ever since I made this little zip bag, I've been wanting to make</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">a small purse for myself out of the fabric. It's incredibly soft! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I'm not sure where it came from, but I suspect it's some sort of </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">microsuede. And isn't the color just so exciting?</span></div>
</div><div> </div>
<div> </div><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Susan Cepinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11594268656702430691noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2027980381431452779.post-88103437354862546652013-08-12T22:04:00.001-07:002013-08-12T22:04:42.799-07:00yum<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/34293080@N05/9500759684/" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; "><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5512/9500759684_4a29f08d48.jpg" id="blogsy-1376370281305.7659" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="446" alt=""></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"> Okay, so this is a horrible photo. I get that.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">But the marshmallows were homemade and </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">pretty darn tasty with chocolate fondue.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">Recipe <a href="http://bbpaperandink.blogspot.com/2011/06/homemade-marshmallows.html" target="_self" title="">here</a>.</div>
<div> </div><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Susan Cepinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11594268656702430691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2027980381431452779.post-44505081057772392702013-08-07T21:30:00.001-07:002013-08-07T21:30:52.415-07:00sorting beads<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/34293080@N05/9461308881/" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3713/9461308881_b367a7890d.jpg" id="blogsy-1375936251113.2705" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="333"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have been all into beading lately. I love the texture of beads,</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the vibrant colors, and the delicate sheen. Unfortunately, sead </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">beads have a way of traveling. My whole collection of chartreuse</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and blonde beads fell out of their containers into a much bigger </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">container last week, and completely mixed together. Once combined,</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">they're not all that easy to tell apart! So I sat down tonight and sorted.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/34293080@N05/9464088856/" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3700/9464088856_348bd2e861.jpg" id="blogsy-1375936251041.8406" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="333" alt=""></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"> As I was sorting beads, I realized that much of my life these days</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">feels very similar to this process. I spend so much time chasing </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">down mundane details that roll away quickly as I approach. This </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">isn't a new sensation, either. Perhaps I'm just the kind of person who </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">is always sorting beads. My attempt to start a cottage business has </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">been that way -- slow and precarious, picking through minutiae.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">Beautiful things happen here and there, but not in a Type A person</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">kind of way. Rolling little balls of color around tonight, it dawned on me that </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">this is not such a bad way to live. If I can accept my turtlish </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">tendencies and stop trying to be a jack rabbit, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">maybe I'll be able to enjoy myself more along the way.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;"> </div>
<div> </div><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Susan Cepinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11594268656702430691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2027980381431452779.post-29955840779823297362013-07-27T15:58:00.001-07:002013-07-27T15:58:44.621-07:00ryan preaches<div> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/34293080@N05/9381225082/" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3760/9381225082_4de387ac7c_c.jpg" id="blogsy-1374965925853.4172" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="748" alt=""></a></div>
<div> </div><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Susan Cepinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11594268656702430691noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2027980381431452779.post-28543678476526096402013-07-25T10:12:00.001-07:002013-07-25T10:12:54.733-07:00road trip<div> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/34293080@N05/9367369756/" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7295/9367369756_c1a0862ab6_c.jpg" id="blogsy-1374772372451.854" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="656" alt=""></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"> This week, Eric & I drove to Globe, AZ to deliver the kids to </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">Grandma and Grandpa for a few days. These are some road</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">trip sightings, rendered in General Sketch & Wash pencil.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">It was a lovely drive -- the desert is lush from the monsoons,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">and the sky was full of fluffy clouds. We even saw a bit of rain!!</div>
<div> </div><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Susan Cepinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11594268656702430691noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2027980381431452779.post-5826228073154411932013-07-21T21:38:00.001-07:002013-07-21T21:39:42.012-07:00clarinet practice<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/34293080@N05/9341441108/" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7417/9341441108_afb5f3dfcc.jpg" id="blogsy-1374467911699.1199" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="369" height="436"></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">We're trying to keep the musical process going</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">this summer, even though many of the scheduley</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">structures are happily set aside.</div>
<div> </div><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Susan Cepinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11594268656702430691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2027980381431452779.post-90141440237655510302013-07-11T14:34:00.001-07:002013-07-11T14:34:35.702-07:00skate leash tutorial<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/34293080@N05/9262973713/" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3796/9262973713_7412ff1aa6_c.jpg" id="blogsy-1373578477766.3662" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="750"></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"> As I mentioned <a href="http://www.susansketches.blogspot.com/2013/06/skating.html" target="_self" title="">previously</a>, a skate leash is a handy way of keeping </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">roller or inline skates tethered together for hauling around or hanging up.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">The pictures in this tutorial show my kids sewing up their own skate</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">leashes in about ten minutes -- it's that easy! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">Start with a strap of some kind which can be doubled up and still</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">pass through your sewing machine. The instructions that follow refer</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">to grosgrain ribbon, sewn with regular poly/cotton sewing thread </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">and a #14 sewing machine needle.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">1) Cut strap to 48" length (if this skate leash is for a small child, you may wish </div>
<div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">to adjust this down -- my seven-year-old prefers a 36" starting length). </div>
<div> </div>
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-AOwrRTIx8oI/Ud8c9DZB04I/AAAAAAAADMU/Qq028wJy6vw/s1024/Photo%252520Jul%2525209%25252C%2525202013%25252C%2525205%25253A33%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-AOwrRTIx8oI/Ud8c9DZB04I/AAAAAAAADMU/Qq028wJy6vw/s500/Photo%252520Jul%2525209%25252C%2525202013%25252C%2525205%25253A33%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1373578477770.4724" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="333"></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); text-align: center; ">2) Starting on one end, iron the ribbon under about 1/2".</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-zKgwfWNk8no/Ud8c7uFb7yI/AAAAAAAADME/pJufozKt-5w/s921/Photo%252520Jul%2525209%25252C%2525202013%25252C%2525205%25253A35%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-zKgwfWNk8no/Ud8c7uFb7yI/AAAAAAAADME/pJufozKt-5w/s500/Photo%252520Jul%2525209%25252C%2525202013%25252C%2525205%25253A35%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1373578477816.7935" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="391"></a><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "> </span><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "><br>
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">2) Fold the ribbon under again, this time another 3 inches.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-p-aiORtQ8ho/Ud8c8eCYKiI/AAAAAAAADMM/CxBbvfoUy2E/s1024/Photo%252520Jul%2525209%25252C%2525202013%25252C%2525205%25253A34%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-p-aiORtQ8ho/Ud8c8eCYKiI/AAAAAAAADMM/CxBbvfoUy2E/s500/Photo%252520Jul%2525209%25252C%2525202013%25252C%2525205%25253A34%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1373578477818.301" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="409"></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">3) Press.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-HbS9w1okMd0/Ud8c6kB7_iI/AAAAAAAADL8/u3R8vb_WHUs/s1024/Photo%252520Jul%2525209%25252C%2525202013%25252C%2525205%25253A36%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-HbS9w1okMd0/Ud8c6kB7_iI/AAAAAAAADL8/u3R8vb_WHUs/s500/Photo%252520Jul%2525209%25252C%2525202013%25252C%2525205%25253A36%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1373578477810.2441" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="355"></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"> 4) Using your presser foot as a guide, sew down the ribbon at the </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">3" fold. Secure this end of the loop with a small rectangle of stitches</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">and then an "x" criss-crossing the rectangle. <span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">This encases the frayed ends </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">of the ribbon and strengthens the loop. </span><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">Trim loose strings. Iron one more time.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-XiXdd8TmmoM/Ud8c5385WeI/AAAAAAAADL0/aD6lMaj5bi8/s1024/Photo%252520Jul%2525209%25252C%2525202013%25252C%2525205%25253A37%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-XiXdd8TmmoM/Ud8c5385WeI/AAAAAAAADL0/aD6lMaj5bi8/s500/Photo%252520Jul%2525209%25252C%2525202013%25252C%2525205%25253A37%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1373578477788.9602" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">Your ribbon end should look something like this.</span><br>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-NrpsSKJ2bBM/Ud8c44xxsYI/AAAAAAAADLs/we5NmVVNr_A/s1024/Photo%252520Jul%2525209%25252C%2525202013%25252C%2525205%25253A38%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-NrpsSKJ2bBM/Ud8c44xxsYI/AAAAAAAADLs/we5NmVVNr_A/s500/Photo%252520Jul%2525209%25252C%2525202013%25252C%2525205%25253A38%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1373578477870.2979" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="354"></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">5) Repeat steps 2-5 with the other end of the strap, making sure</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">you are folding the ends under to the same side of the ribbon as before.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7UPRs2F4_QM/Ud8c-59kKQI/AAAAAAAADMk/jmwT_tKAhUI/s1024/Photo%252520Jul%2525209%25252C%2525202013%25252C%2525205%25253A29%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7UPRs2F4_QM/Ud8c-59kKQI/AAAAAAAADMk/jmwT_tKAhUI/s500/Photo%252520Jul%2525209%25252C%2525202013%25252C%2525205%25253A29%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1373578477781.127" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="358"></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"> 6) Your skate leash is complete! Pull the ribbon strap partially</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">through one end to form a loop. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-kPayE_Svlh4/Ud8c_k3alHI/AAAAAAAADMs/H6zoVaZ-E2c/s1024/Photo%252520Jul%2525209%25252C%2525202013%25252C%2525205%25253A25%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-kPayE_Svlh4/Ud8c_k3alHI/AAAAAAAADMs/H6zoVaZ-E2c/s500/Photo%252520Jul%2525209%25252C%2525202013%25252C%2525205%25253A25%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1373578477813.9336" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="390"></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"> Repeat with the other end as well.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Mtt_Urjav4A/Ud8dBvJ7lwI/AAAAAAAADM8/OkLOGJVGdK8/s1024/Photo%252520Jul%2525208%25252C%2525202013%25252C%2525204%25253A05%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Mtt_Urjav4A/Ud8dBvJ7lwI/AAAAAAAADM8/OkLOGJVGdK8/s500/Photo%252520Jul%2525208%25252C%2525202013%25252C%2525204%25253A05%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1373578477832.721" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"> 7) Position the loop you just made over part of the skate --</div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">the toe stop, the front wheels, or the boot itself. Pull to tighten.</span><br>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/34293080@N05/9262974141/" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3682/9262974141_4a1513d594_b.jpg" id="blogsy-1373578477868.127" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="848" alt=""></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">The other end attaches to the other skate, and you are ready to go!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;"> </div>
<div> </div><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Susan Cepinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11594268656702430691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2027980381431452779.post-16761744951295893132013-06-29T09:38:00.001-07:002013-06-29T09:38:47.913-07:00summertime<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aD_Vr8QLwNQ/Uc8NVJyD28I/AAAAAAAADLU/E4wCc1hxC38/s1024/Photo%252520Jun%25252029%25252C%2525202013%25252C%2525209%25253A37%252520AM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aD_Vr8QLwNQ/Uc8NVJyD28I/AAAAAAAADLU/E4wCc1hxC38/s500/Photo%252520Jun%25252029%25252C%2525202013%25252C%2525209%25253A37%252520AM.jpg" id="blogsy-1372523865402.8435" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a></div>
<div> </div><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Susan Cepinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11594268656702430691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2027980381431452779.post-89577857329646143102013-06-26T17:41:00.001-07:002013-06-26T17:41:44.454-07:00skating<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UW274QpImXU/UcuH3fZGfKI/AAAAAAAADLE/oKA_gY1ziR4/s1024/Photo%252520Jun%25252026%25252C%2525202013%25252C%2525205%25253A29%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UW274QpImXU/UcuH3fZGfKI/AAAAAAAADLE/oKA_gY1ziR4/s500/Photo%252520Jun%25252026%25252C%2525202013%25252C%2525205%25253A29%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1372293104491.4824" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="897"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My failure to blog lately has not been for lack of interesting things to </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">talk about, but rather for a complete lack of motivation to snap a decent </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">photo. Maybe one of these days soon I'll strap my camera on and get to it!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Anyway, in search of fun, air-conditioned exercise activities for the</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">kids this summer, I discovered our local roller rink's summer pass.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I <em>love</em> to roller skate and don't especially like to swim, so this was a</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">no-brainer. It has, of course, taken the three of us a little time to work</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the kinks out of our process, find the right skates, etc. But we're meeting</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">people, getting into a rhythm, learning how to keep track of our skates,</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and even figuring out how to skate backwards!!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In my random skate-related internet research, I came across the </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">skate leash. This is a strap with some sort of loop at either end </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">to wrap around any part of each skate (the brake, wheels, etc.)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">for easy towing. I figured out how to make my own rather than </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">shell out the $20 they want online, and I'll post a tutorial on it soon.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Maybe you need one, too!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-t9lK6okyVDA/UcuH10JJtHI/AAAAAAAADK8/huWJiA8uQ6o/s1024/Photo%252520Jun%25252026%25252C%2525202013%25252C%2525205%25253A30%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-t9lK6okyVDA/UcuH10JJtHI/AAAAAAAADK8/huWJiA8uQ6o/s500/Photo%252520Jun%25252026%25252C%2525202013%25252C%2525205%25253A30%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1372293104497.5457" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="750"></a></div>
<div> </div><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Susan Cepinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11594268656702430691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2027980381431452779.post-74105994670830022192013-06-12T08:46:00.001-07:002013-06-12T08:46:43.930-07:00back from vacation<div> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-G7kwscZsNPQ/UbiWkhfojbI/AAAAAAAADKo/z2YW-IiOTkc/s1024/Photo%252520Jun%2525204%25252C%2525202013%25252C%25252012%25253A37%252520AM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-G7kwscZsNPQ/UbiWkhfojbI/AAAAAAAADKo/z2YW-IiOTkc/s500/Photo%252520Jun%2525204%25252C%2525202013%25252C%25252012%25253A37%252520AM.jpg" id="blogsy-1371051876302.476" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="333"></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"> We spent last week in Carlsbad, California enjoying the </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">60-something degree weather, the beach, and a cutesie</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">little beach town with plenty of coffee and ice cream shops</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">(sometimes <em>combined</em> -- what could be better?!).</div>
<div style="text-align: center;"> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-4q0SrvEDpcI/UbiWjVYaPBI/AAAAAAAADKg/NHB1M2Qk5Sw/s1024/Photo%252520Jun%2525204%25252C%2525202013%25252C%2525201%25253A19%252520AM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-4q0SrvEDpcI/UbiWjVYaPBI/AAAAAAAADKg/NHB1M2Qk5Sw/s500/Photo%252520Jun%2525204%25252C%2525202013%25252C%2525201%25253A19%252520AM.jpg" id="blogsy-1371051876280.134" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="333"></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"> The week largely felt like <em>this.</em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">We are back now, to the 100+ heat, but fully enjoying being home.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">The skating starts today, and the bumming around with friends.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">Ah, summer.</div><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Susan Cepinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11594268656702430691noreply@blogger.com0