Artist Trading Cards - growing in numbers!

( L to R. ) Candy Cooper - Deni Corbett - Mary Kline
These 3 school teachers (aren't they adorable?)
from Orlando, Florida, come to see me at the shop
every year and each time I get to know them all a little better.
They were enthusiastic, creative and hopeful that their inspiration
gained from us here will catch on at their school. Last year we discussed in detail,
Artist Trading Cards, they bought Artist Trading Card Workshop

book by Bernie Berlin and with that information & a little
inspiration from me, they instituted an
ATC program in their literature classes. Please
feel free to check out their program for kids.
I am sure that they would be honored
if you followed their lead and started
an ATC project like theirs in your school.

Chicago adventure

Here we are just soaking up the excitement of the game
at Murphy's Bleachers for a quick burger and
some pre-game celebration. If
any of you have been to a Chicago Cubs game
you know what I mean. You can't go to
Wrigley Field without stopping at the local
establishments like the Cubby Bear Lounge
on Addison right outside of Wrigley Field
front entrance. Hey Hey Hey== Go Cubs Go.Here is where the red line L drops you off
as you stumble off the train feeling a breath
of fresh air after being squished in with
hundreds of people trying to get to the park.

Yes, the cubs have their own band right outside
the gates at clark and addison. Ok Ok
I am a little crazy and I still think that I
am 30 yrs old, but at a Cubs Game at Wrigley
Field.... I AM!
Only those that have been there
and experienced all of this can understand.
It's been 14 years since my last game
and it was time to get back into the
swing of things with the band.
Go Cubs Go.
Go Cubs Go.
Cubs are gonna win today!!!!
and...
they did!

Material Matters

Along with 4th of July activities in Columbus (upper arlington) Ohio, the Material Matters
quilt show display was at the Columbus Museum of Art.
"Quiltmaking in the 21st Century".

Trip back home... Chicago

The city looks better than ever , especially with the addition of Millennium Park
and Navy Pier. Although the park has always been at Randolph and Michigan
it has been greatly enhanced since we lived there 14 years ago. Below is a pic
of the Lurie Gardens located in the park. Truly amazing was the sharp contrasting
textures and colors of the prairie flowers with the amazing architecture of the
the surrounding areas. The flowering perennials and grasses cover a large area
of the the park and pleasant paths allow for quiet and peaceful walks through
every nook and cranny of the area.
At night we wondered about in Streeterville, an area located along the Chicago River from
Michigan Ave to Navy Pier and took fabulous photos of every possible building and skyline
including the new trump tower that Bill from the apprentice is working on. We even stopped into that hotel along the way to lunch. The building is not completed, but interestingly enough
the hotel area is open at only $695 a night for a basic room. Every day the building grew a little more as we watched the cranes hoist i beams, lumber, glass and more to the very top.

Topping off the week was a Chicago Cubs game at Wrigley Field. Even
though we didn't have tickets we boarded the heavily crowded, body to
body, squished in Red Line L to the ever famous Addison stop. Everyone
piled out of the train and into the ever popular bars in and around the filed.
We, of course, did the same at Murphys and the Cubby Bear at Clark and
Addison.
Just like the "olden days" we looked for tickets only to find out that
#1 - scalping tickets is LEGAL now
#2 - there were plenty of tickets available on the street
#3 - the price isn't $1. anymore, for bleacher seats ; try $100!

Happily for all attending, except the Cinci fans, Cubs win, Cubs win, Cubs win!!!!!!!!
And I guessed the total attendance... 41,360! A win for me, too. (only cubs fans will
know what that one means)

Buying trip

What have we all been waiting for since last September? You knowwwwwww.... the ATC wizard
templates from European Papers. I had to drive all the way to Columbus, Ohio to their shop to get them and of course the other bonus was getting to see Lisa Ohmer, the owner of The Columbus Center for Book Arts & European Papers. Knowing that she had a Miniature Book show in the gallery here gave me additional
incentive to make every possible effort to get here to see her shop. I met her at a
international hobby show for retailers several years ago and wanted to reintroduce
myself to her, see the show and shop shop shop. With a 3 year old grandson in tow
it was difficult to get as much time in the shop as I wanted. So this little bit of
magic was enough to hold me over until the next trip.

What a joy that was to explore, if only for a few short moments, this gem hidden in a quaint carriage house in a great little artsy area of Columbus.Not only was I able to carry back a supply of ATC wizard templates, Lisa told me
all about an ATC Swap that she is doing with some playing card type atc's that
are pre-printed and ready for you to do your magic. Anyone interested in joining
in can stop by and I will give you a set of these cards to work on.

I have more details on this that will be posted when I get back, so stay tuned
and if you want the cards, please let me know asap. I will save you a set.