Healing. Inspiring. Doing.

I made that crochet eyeball for my daughter's father and we gave it to him for Valentine's Day. It's all part of the healing, I suppose.

Besides, I had fun making it.

He gave us each a piece of his artwork.

Giving a handmade gift that will make the recipient smile is nice.

No matter what the situation.

(Even if he did rip up the last handmade gift I gave him--a painting.)

Lately, I've been obsessed with crocheting. Funny to me, because I took so many months away from it to focus on sewing. Now, I'm into crochet. Sewing can wait.

Yes, I am a fickle pickle. Oh, well. I'm enjoying myself.

Best of it is I've secured a table at a spring craft event on Staten Island.

This puts the pressure on a bit...and I have no idea what I'm doing, really.

But I want/need to put myself out there.

I craft for others after all, not myself...So, it will be kinda perfect-

whether I sell anything or not. Something new.

And while I'm on the topic of crochet...

I was super-excited to see granny squares hit the runway for Fall 2011.

Crochet scarves were trendy this past fall/winter-

glad to see it taken to another level.

Hats off to HOUSE OF HOLLAND!

2011 So far, so good.

Haven't updated in a while, but I finally figured out how to download my photos again!

So far, this year has been good to us.

I've rediscovered my love for crochet and have been making time

to create some new goodies for my loved ones.

Here's a hat I made for my girl while watching a movie one night last week.

I'm happy to say, she loves it!

We've been having some nice winter visits with Cub's daddy, too.

This inspiring place has become a favorite of ours.
There is so much peace and beauty there and usually we have most
of the place to ourselves.

I love taking photos when I'm there. The light is perfect and there are so many
beautiful and interesting things to capture.
You travel back in time while you are there.

Other things I've been enjoying A LOT this year...


Indian Cooking
Vegan Baking
Crocheting handbags and body parts...yup, body parts.
Watercolor Painting
What seems to be a revival in QUALITY American mainstream filmmaking.
Getting back into working my "program." Yay, healing!
Quiting smoking...for the umpteenth time. It's gonna stick this time around. I know it is!
Yoga three times a week! Whoo-hoo!
Continuing to feed my guilty pleasure...building my perfume collection-now adding vintage bottles and miniatures. Oh, boy.
Planning an exotic summer getaway with my daughter! More to come on that one...

What have you been up to?

She Says...

This is my daughter on her first day of first grade this year.

If you know her, you will know that this is a typical face she makes. She loves making the thumbs up sign when she likes something, too. I think it is adorable.

For the past two days she has been saying the darndest things. I wanted to record them here in my special space so I'll never forget them.

She is experiencing a growth spurt lately...specifically in the intellect which is exhibited by her curiousity and all the amazing thoughts she has been having.

"I'm really excited about being a grown-up...except I don't like the part about dying.

I don't want to be ninety. But I wanna be a grown-up. Twenty is the age I wanna be. It's half way between a kid and a grown-up."

"You make a good mom. You just do."

"I've gotta go into business. I could sell snowcones or lemonade. I think we'll do lemon snow cones. That's in the middle."

Wasn't I smart today? How I investigated my butt. Since I was five, I was always curious about what the inside of my body looked like. "

"Look how big my heart is. See how big it is? That's because I'm so kind."

I love you, my little girl.

What a blessing to be by your side...

Handmade for the Holidays...

This is an old image...maybe from two years ago or so. I would love to post photos of what I've been up to in terms of "elving," but my iphone is not uploading properly and I've been too busy/lazy to try and solve the problem.

This year, I decided to take the pressure off myself as far as crafting for everyone in our lives. I decided to set a reasonable budget and shop within set boundary. It actually worked out and for the first time I'm not completely stressed. It has felt nice to just enjoy and not rush to complete projects. Truth is, I'm just really exhausted this year. Our lives have been fun-busy...but this mama is tired.

Here are a few links to things I've made for our sweet loved ones so far:

crochet bow headbands

cinnamon-coffee bath salts

(My first!!!) Arigurumi-Heloise the Hen

chocolate-covered pretzels (teacher gifts)

one of these fabric ornaments

Now the only thing left is some cookie making later in the week.

This Christmas season, I am missing my sweet Grandfather terribly.

The holidays just don't feel the same without him...

It's Gonna Be A Good One

"It's a new dawn,

It's a new day,

It's a new life for me

And I'm feelin' good..."

Oh, how I love that song! And lately it sounds great to my ears.

( image courtesy of thestir.cafemom.com)


For a few years now I've tossed around the idea of a pink Christmas tree.
But what I really wanted was a white one...With lots of candy-colored trim!
While on Long Island a few weeks ago, me and my girl were in a favorite store and guess what we found? A lovely white Christmas tree. Perfect size. Perfect cost.
My girl was a little suspicious at first, but I quickly convinced her how pretty
it is going to look in our new living room.
I can just tell that this coming holiday season is going to be wonderful.
It's all about NEW BEGINNINGS...
and about feeling good.
Next weekend we will go to our favorite dollar store where they have the bestest, most kitschiest ornaments in the world, and we will stock-up on Christmas cuteness.
We both can't wait to decorate.

I can't wait to make some of these for the tree!

Thoughts, Dreams, and Plans

I am marking this point in time for myself by posting this picture.

It is symbolic for me. It was snapped at our special place this past summer.

Lately, I can't help but feel the beginnings of a new life cycle for me and it feels so good.

I feel strong.

This is such a new feeling for me...Feeling strong and confident.

Of course, I give all the credit and glory to my best friend and heavenly Father above!

It has been a loooong season for me-this coming into my own.

But I believe it has finally arrived.

And I am so grateful.

These past few weeks I have been inspired by-

1. Singing in unison with the new choir I am a part of!

2. The originality and creativity of my beautiful daughter.

3. The generous heart of my Girl--for everything she makes is for someone she loves. Always.

4. The courage and grace of a dear friend as she continues on a most sacred journey.

5. The beauty and strength of my Grandmother, as she presses on without my beloved Grandfather, her husband of seventy years.

6. The beauty of autumn here in New York, which has been so vibrant and beautiful-

serving as a reminder that there is so much beauty even within the "dying" times of life...

...and that it is okay to let things fall away as they need to.

"I'm baaaaaack!"

How I've missed this cozy little sharing spot!

I see my last post was almost two months ago.

So, what have I been up to?

Let's play a little catch-up!

We continue to be blessed with happiness, good health, and the love of dear friends and family.

So, life is good. Very busy, but good busy.

*************

We moved at the end of the summer and it has been the best thing I've done in a looong time. Our place is a much better "fit" for me and my daughter.

There is great shopping and convenience, a community filled with families and children, a wonderful new church...and the beach is nearby. There are even little old-school Italian American gems-like restaurants and salumerias tucked within the streets leading up to the beach. We are happy here.

So recently, it has been all about settling in and living day to day.

It's the little details of our simple life together that I love and enjoy the most.

I've missed you all!

xoxo