Circle Journal

Hello, Dear Ones! I'm so thrilled to tell you I was asked to participate in a Circle Journal group! I've never done this before but it sounded like so much fun. And you know how I love to have fun. There's 10 ladies involved.

 We were to come up with a theme for our journals. Now I decided for my theme ~ 'By Hand'! Now if you know me, you know how I love to keep my tiny dainty talented fingers so busy. This would be just perfect for my journal.

 I made a collage on the computer with elements that I have used 'By Hand' to create many things.

 I also poked down three olden buttons on the front. I used chip board for my pages and huge 3" rings to hold them together.

 This is what you see when you open up my journal. A sweet hand I found from The Graphics Fairy and a favorite scripture. The facing page is about me and why I chose my theme. You can't see it very well, but the words on the border describe 'By Hand' things like: sewing, patterns, thread, crochet, embroidery, etc.
I'm just so clever like that! :) Please know I'm kidding.

The next two pages.

At the top I have the instructions for my fellow Circle Journalies to follow. Kind of a flip flop top! :)

I took some scrapbooking paper and sewed up a pocket on my sewing machine.

 Then I've made a tag for each to decorate and added 'By Hand' for them to write their name and address on the back.

 Also there's one of those sweet hands for each Circle Journalie to add to her page in my journal. 

 Oops! I can see my tiny little knot has untied itself. I'll have to fix that!

 Flip up the flap and I've placed tiny little pictures of some of the things I've made 'By Hand'. Most of you have probably seen all of these things before.

 Again, because I'm so clever, I added a little mannequin and paper pieced her a lovely frock! :)

Then it was time to make my own two page spread of my craftiness! 

 Oh, I embroidered this 'By Hand' and was going to use it on the front of my journal but it just didn't work the way I wanted it to. So here it is!

 Sewing, crocheting, needles, embroidering graphics.

 Just the cutest little square filled with sewing sayings. I love this!

 You can't do any needle crafts without some scissors! :)

Here's the back of my journal. My journal will be mailed out tomorrow to a Circle Journalie and she will put her creativity to work on two pages in my journal. I'll receive a journal and will decorate two pages relating to the theme. We'll all mail a journal on the first of each month to another Circle Journalie until all the journals have made the rounds. We should get our own journals back around October and it will be filled with wonderfulness from each gal. Doesn't this sound fun? 

I just may show you each month what I decide to do in each journal that comes into my most dainty fingers! 

I'm joining Under the Table and Dreaming for Sunday Showcase Party

Between Naps on the Porch for Met Monday

The Girl Creative for Just Something I Whipped Up

Everything Under the Moon for Bedazzle Me Monday

DIY Showoff for DIY Project Parade

Be Colorful for Motivated Mondays

Smiling Sally for Blue Monday

The Blackberry Vine for Tuesday To Do Party

Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesdays

Be a bunch of sweeties,

Shelia :)

I'll leave you with a little Note Song~

Circle of Friends

We were made to love and be loved
But the price this world demands will cost you far too much
I spent so many years just trying to fit in
Now I've found a place in this circle of friends

In a circle of friends we have one Father
In a circle of friends we share this prayer
That every orphaned soul will know
And all will enter in
To the shelter of this circle of friends

If you weep, I will weep with you
If you sing for joy the rest of us will lift our voices too
But no matter what you feel inside there's no need to pretend
That's the way it is in this circle of friends

In a circle of friends We have one father
In a circle of friends we share this prayer
That we'll gather together no matter how the highway bends
I will not lose this circle of friends

Among the nations, tribes and tongues we have sisters and brothers
And when we meet in heaven we will recognize each other 
With joy so deep and love so sweet
Oh we'll celebrate these friends
And a life that never ends

In a prayer
That will not be long before 
All will enter in 
To the shelter of this circle of friends
That it will not be long before
All will enter in 
To the shelter of this circle of friends

~sung by Point of Grace