Goals

It's good to set goals....and it's even better when you actually meet one!

This is what 300 Christmas match boxes looks like. My goal was to get them done by the end of July....and was very satisfying to have reached my goal a full week early. 

And the best part is I got to take a little field trip downtown and wander around Folly 101 to make my delivery.

And to my surprise....Astrid wants 200 more in summer colors. There were just a handful of matchboxes sprinkled around the store in her various candle displays....can you I Spy them in the photos?  

So I've already gone to my paper stash (which keeps on giving) and I'll start cutting papers again...this time various blues, apple greens and little bit of yellow and red. 

NOW

"Enjoy the space between where you are and where you're going." unknown

I may have posted this quote before....but since it showed up on my social media feed today....it seemed timely after yesterday's post about spaciousness.  Still thinking about that by the way.

The space between is actually NOW....and NOW is what we should be focused on and enjoying!  Dinner and cards with Jay and Janice tonight....so NOW is looking pretty darn good!

It's good when we have company....

it pushes me to dust...and spruce things up. And this time I get to show off my balls for the first time!

I spent several hours over the past few days working on a set of summer matches for Folly 101.  This mindfully mindless project has three phases:  cutting, folding and gluing...and I can do it while I watch TV or listen to a podcast.  Win win!

I think most of these might end up in little hostess gift bags with a candle and a package of napkins for the various color displays around the store.  We'll see.  

Astrid ordered 300 Christmas matches....and it's never too early to get started!   

It's always a treat to walk into this beautiful store to make my delivery. It's different every time and I love to soak in all the colors and textures. It's a feast for the eyes!

If my home wasn't already fully furnished....I would be trading matches for merchandise....which I have done in the past.

Here's a little tour from their Instagram page.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C321Mmarvfs/

Pop of Red

It was a lovely crisp winter day....perfect for our morning walk and a little creative excursion downtown.  

I stopped at Folly 101...which is always bursting with festive holiday spirit. 

I love wandering around Portland...and I'm looking forward to our annual light tour. It's time!

I spy my Christmas matches.

  

Many of the matches were in these little gift packs with a candle and a package of napkins.

They would make a great hostess or teacher gift....and apparently they're selling pretty well.  Astrid warned me that she might be requesting more than usual next year....I'll be ready.

There was so much to see....all so festive and fun.

My quiet Christmas Moment #13 is this little display on a shelf in my entryway.  

It features the second gifted cardinal from Patty....and one of my favorite little trees.

And...a little joy.

I love this little pop of red with all the blues and greens. Thanks Patty!

  

Speaking of Patty.....

I have always loved her festive centerpiece decked out with a pop of red balls and cardinals..  And...she just purchased the same starburst I shared yesterday....and doesn't the cardinal look happy sitting in the light!

Pile of Matches

I've been making Christmas matches for Folly 101 for more years than I can remember...and just today this image came across my Instagram feed. 

I think the silver pine tree candle holder is just lovely....and the little pile of matches on the side made me smile.

https://www.instagram.com/folly_101/

A few weeks ago I spent an evening cutting papers....and then during 2 episodes of The Great British Baking Show the next day got them glued on the boxes. I have the assembly line process down to a science.

It's one of the mindlessly mindful projects I enjoy. Folly 101 is a beautiful store and is at 101 Exchange Street in Portland, Maine if you're ever in the area.  

https://www.folly101.com/

August Color Scheme

The Folt Bolt color scheme for August is all the shades of red. It's kind of a tough one for my series but it will push me to think creatively and I'll come up with something. A few things are rolling around in my head....including red geraniums.

Seven down....five to go.  

All Decked Out

I stopped by Folly 101 yesterday while I was in Maine to drop off a few more Christmas matches. It was festive and fun all decked out for Christmas. If you're in the Portland area...it's worth a stop at 101 Exchange Street.

And it's always fun to see Adam's stars.....right next to a whole jar of matches at the counter. While I was there I got to see Adam himself....he's now working full time in the store. What a joy!

 If you're new to the blog....I used to help out with Christmas windows at Folly. You can click on the "Folly 101" label on the right.  Or click here to see all my posts about the store.

It Was Time....

....to make Christmas matches for Folly 101...a lovely gift shop in Portland, ME. The chunky little cutting board works great as a weight while they're drying.  I just keep pushing them through....by the time they come out the other end they're dry. I've made thousands over the years....so I have the process down pat.

Stripes and Dots

I took some time yesterday to fill another order of matches for Folly 101. Astrid sent me this picture of Adam's stars with the color palette I was to use....and I needed to stick to just stripes and dots. I will take them in tomorrow...it's always fun to walk in and see what has changed. It's such a beautiful store...I bet there will be a touch of spring!






This is about 1/2....there is another box nearly full too.

I cut my paper to size and prefold them around the a box....I can do this on my lap while watching TV.  Then I adhere them to the boxes using Mod Podge at the table.  

Little Pleated Trees

The last project for this particular Christmas at Folly 101 was a row of little pleated trees for the ledge behind the checkout counter.

I simply folded good old fashioned paper fans. I topped each one off with one of Adam's special stars and attached a small wooden dowel as a trunk so they could be secured in a styrofoam base.

Simple...but fun.

The 6 Foot Tree

Most of the years I helped with the Christmas windows at Folly 101 I made some sort of a Christmas tree for one of the front windows.  In 2012 these little pleated trees below were the inspiration for this 6 foot tree.

This was Astrid's mock up....using a couple of colors of green card stock.  This one was about 6 inches....I was shooting for 5 or 6 feet...including the base and the topper.

I didn't take any pictures of the process at home....I didn't know I would be blogging about it.  I started with very large pieces of really nice art card stock in a two tones of green. 

I scored the paper so it could pleat easily then started folding.  It took some figuring to decide how many sheets were needed to glue together to give each layer enough flare and keep it proportional. My friend Joan was very helpful during the process...her mathematical skills...her artistic eye...and her extra pair of hands were a life saver.

Once I had the layers figured out I needed to find a way to hold them up. I used a piece of PVC pipe in the center secured in a bucket of rocks and sand. I cut various sizes of circles out of cardboard to use as supports under each layer....kind of like an umbrella. These circles had to be taped and secured onto the pole one at a time as we assembled the tree in the store. You can see a cardboard circle in this picture ready for the next layer.

Using a large styrofoam ball I made a curly topper for the tree that was suspended from the ceiling. 

This may not be my favorite tree...but I was proud of the fact that I made it work.

A Curly Christmas

Back to the curls.

2012 was the year of paper curls and a 6 foot pleated tree at Folly 101 in Portland.  Most of the curls ended up on a couple of wreaths.  I curled strips of Christmas scrapbook paper by wrapping them around a dowel. Then I glued them one by one on a cardboard base....it was a good project while I watched TV.

This one hung on the brick wall....

...and this one was suspended from the ceilings in one of the front windows.