Thanks

Gingham with Thanks tiles, originally uploaded by passitonplates.

Can you see the iced apple fritters under the cover? For some reason, I always think of apple-based treats when coming up with baking ideas as a think you gift. Maybe because we had wild apple trees on the back 40 on the farm where I grew up and Mom would make the most amazing apple spice cake from them, then give the cake away as a thank you gift.

Anyway, I'm carrying on the tradition this year. Today's the last day of school (how odd that it's on a Monday, but with all the snow days they have to make up, that's how it worked out.)

I'll be putting apple-based treats under this gingham cover with the T-H-A-N-K-S tiles, and giving it away to one of the teachers at my daughter's school.
...As an end of the year Thank You gift to one of her teachers.
(I'll post a link to the plate diary here when I add my comment.)

Apples... school... thank you gift...
I guess apples are doubly appropriate here, aren't they?

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Super Family Fun Day

This past Sunday we all worked together to do the housework then hopped in the car for a long overdue Super Family Fun Day. We had the dog with us and headed to Lincoln City on the Oregon Coast, about an hour west of home.

Along with exploring the winter beach with the tide coming in and encouraging Caesar to chase sea gulls to burn off extra energy, Rachel and I found a very interesting rock while beach combing.
Check this out.



We had a GREAT day. I'll post more pictures soon...



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Computer Paper Organization

Computer paper organization, originally uploaded by passitonplates.

I am a little anal retentive when it comes to being organized. Of course, you'd never know it if you walked through my living room at this moment. Keep in mind, I live with the Tornado Twins.

That's kind of why I took over the one car finished garage with my PIOP Studio. It's my "Girl Cave" and I don't have to deal with anyone else's messes in there but my own. Which I promptly clean up.
{{happy happy}}

Ok, so here's what I do with all my various computer papers. I organize them by type, then put them in a labeled magazine holder.

Stationery is obvious, but Biz Cards & Project Papers are biz cards, of course, and CD Labeling papers, Post Cards, Half Fold Greeting Cards, etc.

Labels are pretty much anything adhesive.

Even Mr. Pass It On Plates (the elder Tornado Twin) grudgingly appreciates the organization and can find what he's looking for within seconds. Success!

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What do you think?

I've always turned to crafts in the past when trying to figure something out - or when I was restless and needed some kind of change. You know when you have a restless creative moment and you feel compelled to just create to calm the inner crafty beast for a while?

Even when I'm trying to figure out a new Pretty Little Doo Dad to go with a new PlateWrap fabric, I turn to other craft projects to help me think.

Write a letter - frame, originally uploaded by passitonplates.

Lo and behold, I have a LOT of other completed crafty projects made when I couldn't figure something else out or when I just felt compelled to create. The dilemma now is I need to figure out what to do with all these creations and I don't dare craft away to figure it out. Not until I do something with all the other neat stuff filling my shelves and storage bins.

Stamps frame, originally uploaded by passitonplates.

Aha! How about a little Etsy shop filled with all the nifty items I felt compelled to make? This is a totally random collection, but maybe that would do the trick. What do you think?

The pictures shown here are two picture frames I made from a decoupage of stamps, address book entries, air mail envelopes, and a pencil...

Are they Etsy-Worthy?

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Books, Books, and more Books

This picture has been brought to you by the letter B, originally uploaded by passitonplates.

The living room bookcase is now in the garage - aka The Pass It On Plates Studio. No, we don't park in the garage of the new place; it's just the office. And what better place for our ten foot wide by six feet tall bookcase stuffed with books?

Yes, you read that right. We have a lot of books. While I have a ton of tapes, CDs, and downloaded MP3s, Mr. Pass It On Plates is Deaf and he buys books. Most of these are his, and about a third are cookbooks. (He's a Chef, so several are professional books.) The rest of the books range from theology & Bibles, (yes plural - I think he has over a dozen different versions), Chess, politics, horror, classics (Thoreau, Shakespeare, Poe), history & anthropology, finance, gardening & herbs...

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So... which books are Pam's?

Pam's other books, originally uploaded by passitonplates.

Now that you know that we have a HUGE amount of books (and there are about 10 more boxes of books still in storage) ...here are some of my books.

Pam's Books, originally uploaded by passitonplates.

Here are move of my books. In college, I was a Graphic Design major and now am studying Marketing, so that's where a lot of my interest lies.

Ok, so I also have some Sue Grafton (I love Kinsey Milhone!), Janet Evanovich, Lillian Jackson Braun (is Qwill a Youper - from Michigan's U.P? I always wonder if that's where Pickax is.) Of course, Harry Potter is there somewhere. Rachel is trying to get me to read Twilight, but I know I won't be able to put it down and I just don't have 24 hours to sit and read the book straight through right now. I do that with every Harry Potter book that comes out and although I love the book, it kills any chance that I'll get anything done.

Maybe if I ever schedule foot surgery... Nah I'm kidding. But with every Harry Potter book I started Friday night and finished up Saturday evening. Straight through without sleeping.

I'm nuts, I know.

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This is my Obnoxious Butterfly tote bag

Bright purple tote bag, originally uploaded by passitonplates.

I have a thing for tote bags. As I sew up other projects, I find fabrics that go together and I often whip up a quick tote bag - the size is based on my immediate need.

A few months ago I needed one big enough to hold a couple three-ring binders and a few other misc things, so I took some leftover obnoxious butterfly fabric and some leftover obnoxious purple fabric and made this cute-and-not-really-obnoxious tote bag. The handles are grosgrain ribbon.

DSCN5118, originally uploaded by passitonplates.

My discerning (now) 13 year old decided I should put the butterflies on the inside and the solid color purple on the outside. She said it's for a visual surprise, but I think it's so I don't embarrass her if I carry the bag while we're out together.

Ok, yeah, it's wrinkly in the picture. It had been backed up for the move and i had to snap a quick picture and show you as soon as it was unpacked.

Cute, eh?

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I think they're creating more work for themselves...

I need to ship out some Original Pass It On Plates but ran out of my extra large USPS flat rate shipping boxes.

"No problem," I thought, "I'll just go back to the Post Office and pick up another bundle of boxes."

Long story short, these boxes have become a special order item only, and the only way I can get more is by ordering a bundle of 10 from USPS.com. So I went online, set up an account, and ordered my boxes. When the order was completed, I received this message:

All free shipping supply items are shipped via Parcel Post within 2 Business Days and should be received within 7-10 Business Days.

What??

Since I have an odd way of looking at things, this message really made me laugh.

Parcel Post, really?

Seven to ten business days, are you kidding?

It just seems silly that they would ship my order to me when they can just throw some on the mail truck and drop them off.

Huh.

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1. We're Moving!2. Get to know me3. Mpls food

Pass It On Plates has grown and will soon have its own dedicated studio space! We bought a condo and I'll be busy over the next couple of weeks with moving, cleaning up the apartment, getting rid of misc via Craig's List, and getting settled in the new place. While I'm gone, I'll publish a few personal posts about myself and my family so you can get to know me better.

I usually have so many things to talk about that I don't take the time to invite you in to my home to meet the family. Now's your chance.

Brace yourself.

For starters, we have lived in Oregon for only a few years. Before that, we lived in the Twin Cities (Minneapolis-St Paul) for over a dozen years. Our lives out here in the Pacific Northwest are flavored by a Midwestern perspective. We're still impressed by the snow-covered mountains visible from our neighborhood... in the middle of July. We can't get enough of the ocean. Every winter day that we can wear sandals and shorts with our fleece jacket (most any winter day) is deeply appreciated. The absence of mosquitos ... well I don't have to explain how happy we are about that.

On the other hand, being foodies, we miss Minneapolis food. Until just this year we couldn't define Mpls food, and it's still surprising when we realize that the signature dishes of that Scandinavian town are Italian and BBQ. Go figure. (I'll explain Al Capone's Italian influence on the city later.)

Here's a picture of a restaurant we miss: Famous Dave's BBQ.

This particular one is located at Calhoun Square in Uptown Mpls, a hip and upscale shopping mall. This restaurant has a "train" that passes overhead. Ok, it's just sound and theatrical effects, but it makes the atmosphere as good as the food.

Here is Rachel and the rack of ribs that we shared last time we were at Dave's. This was taken in 2006.

Yeah, it's been that long.

... now if only Dave's would open a location here in Oregon...