New Year's Resolutions...

I've never been a resolution type person. I'd loosely consider the past year and figure out those things I could improve upon, or do differently, but that's as far as I'd take it.

Maybe it was the nature of our holiday break this year, but I found myself giving serious thought to the new year. I figured I basically had an open invitation to at least consider the opportunity for possibility that stretched before me. And so I found myself typing a list of "focus;" things I want to accomplish or work on in the upcoming year...Ways I can accomplish what I prayed for as the clock struck 12 on that special eve- May I become a better mother, sister, granddaughter, friend, teacher, coinhabitor of the earth...Person! I divided my list into Body, Mind, and Spirit sections.

As I told Cub's daddy today, I've been wanting to read the bible, cover to cover, since I was a small child. I received my first one from "Santa" when I was around six years old. I fondly remember my father reading stories from the Old Testament to me before bedtime. They both fascinated and horrified me at the same time, but from that early age sprouted a desire to learn more about its contents.

So, I've begun the "The Bible in One Year," lessons that accompany one of the devotionals I receive in the mail, thanks to my dear grandfather.

I won't bore anyone with the details, but now I know that "East of Eden" and "The Land of Nod," are the same place...and that Cain was the first to use the expression, "my brother's keeper," as in "Am I not my brother's keeper?" and thanks to a bit of help from a geography text book, I now know where the Garden of Eden was located and that the Tree of Life and The Tree of Knowledge co-existed there. I underline all the time and take notes in the margins...

I'm super excited about this one. It will surely be an exercise in setting a goal and sticking to it!

How To Deal With Serious Cabin Fever...

1. Craft your little heart out.

Cub and her Nana put this together and I think they did a stellar job.

These little houses can be deceiving...They take patience!

Another tradition I've created unintentionally-crafting holiday ornaments after the fact. Here's this year's model. Thanks again to Sarah for the inspiration, as always.
I also embellished some frames with vintage buttons and strung a vintage bead on to wire, but that's not complete yet, so I'll hold off on the photos.


2. Open A Delicious Package From A Fellow Crafty Islander! This made my entire weekend. I brought it upstairs and saved it for just the right moment. Look how pretty Renee packages everything. Pure joy.

Ahhh...When I saw this in her Shoeflower shop, it was love at first sight. I need the red one, too!Sorry if the flick is a little blurry. This necklace is more lovely in person than I could have imagined. To me, it just embodies Renee's unique blend of style, innocence, femininity, and craft.


This next little gem is an after-holiday present for Cub's Nana...because she just lost her father and she adores dolls like this one. I thought of her immediately when I saw it. I know she will appreciate its beauty as much as I do. May its presence begin to heal her heart.


3. Cook Some Comfort Food

This Corn Pudding is super easy: 1 box (Jiffy) Corn Muffin Mix, 3 eggs, 1/2 c. sour cream, and 1 (15 oz) can cream-style corn. Combine it all and pour into a greased 2-quart baking dish. Bake at 350 for 35 minutes.
It's a perfect accompaniment to a simple vegetable soup. I added a pinch of nutmeg as well.

Yes, this was yummy.

Fortunately, Nana is coming over this afternoon. I'm off to run errands and such. So begins the mad scramble to get everything ready before returning to work on Monday.
Did I really have 12 days off or was it just a dream?

To Grandmother's House We Go

Yesterday was such a special day...

We went to my Grandmother's house for three celebrations: Christmas, New Year's, and my baby brother's 40th birthday!

It was a breeze getting there...No traffic! That means they were only 45 minutes away as opposed to the usual hour and a half!

I had to take a picture of Cub passed out in the back because it is such a rare sight!

This photo makes me laugh every time I look at it...That bobble head is too funny.

This pizza set was one of her favorite gifts from Aunt Kathy and Uncle David. The velcro on the back of the toppings makes it easy to customize each slice!

Yay for wooden toys!!!
Here is one of the gifts I received from daddy's family that didn't get stolen...It was given to me over the weekend. I must say, I am enjoying it thoroughly! I'm also getting spoiled by this creamy-tasting coffee each morning...but that's the beauty of a holiday gift. Thanks, Aunt Ellen and Uncle Joe for such a generous present.

We had cake right before we left. My brother was born on New Year's Eve, but he wanted to save the cake so we could all be there to enjoy it. What a guy! He and Cub blew out the candles together. Afterwards, he broke out some old childhood photos...We've come a long way together, my brother and I. My grandmother told us when he was born, I acted just like I was his mommy. I was two at the time, but I thought he was mine...

Happy Birthday, my sweet brother! May God Bless your fortieth year with health, happiness, and dreams fulfilled.

Doesn't matter that your 40 and 6'4"...

You will always be my little guy.

My 2009 "To Craft" List

Happy 2009, Everyone. The new year is here and I've opened our door to let the cold air in and welcome it with open arms! Ours was a quiet New Year's Eve. A small gathering with music, dancing, and munchies in Pops' old room--It felt nice to hang-out in his space, look at photos and celebrate his life together. Then it was home to put Cub to bed by 11pm, which is reeeeeeeeally late for her. Daddy went home to sleep and I brought in the New Year quietly by myself...which was a first for me, but was exactly how I wanted it. I finally brought in the year with prayer, which is something I've always wanted to do. Today, we are off to see my family in Long Island. I can't wait...We get to have another Christmas, too!

When this vacation began, I thought I was going to have a lot of time to tackle this list, or at least some of it...But that didn't happen and it's okay. That just means I have a lot of crafting to look forward to in the coming year!

1. DIY Headbands! I've been a fan of headbands all my life. Love 'em! I just draw the line at putting them on infants. Ouchie on their new little heads! Now I can make my own. I'm thinking this fabric and this one, too...would be very nice.

2. Embroidery! I have had this one bookmarked forever. And I have gone back to it again and again. I think it's time to buy one of these adorable kits or books and get down to business. I only question whether or not I actually have the patience for this!

3. Bottle Cap Jewelry- A love for the quick, easy, and quirky make these completely appealing to me. I can have a new necklace in a less than a half hour! But I'm thinking charm bracelet for this one!

4. Paint Chip projects- Again, quick and easy. Cute, too! I think I'll make a trip to Home Depot tomorrow and start playing.

5. These super-cool art journals by Maquette (LUV her). So much potential for using up fabric

scraps here, too.

6. Collage Blocks - Could be a fun way to start using up my paper scraps. I love the combo of childhood (creativity) reference and potential for design here.

7. Fruit Butters made in the slow-cooker! Our home will smell divine!

8. Marshmallows - Never got around to making these...So, now I'm aiming for Valentine's Day.

9. Macarons! Nothing more needs to be said here.

10. This pom-pom garland needs to live in my room and hang over the large picture window in my bedroom! I love color and a sense of whimsy in places that are typically considered private...like the bathroom and bedroom. I'm with the Euro's on this one!

11. The Black Apple dollie! I'll probably never be lucky enough to grab-up one of Emily's doll's, so I'll make my own. I downloaded the pattern during the holidays. Ha! Wishful thinking, right?

12. Needlebooks - These would make cute gifts. Who couldn't use a mini-mending kit?

13. The Knock-Off Designer Fabric Bead Necklace!

14. Pinecone Votives...

15. Stunning Canvas Photos- Hip and creative...Will definitely gift some of these in the upcoming year.

And this is just the beginning...There are so many more!

Oh, and my word of the year...It was hard to pick just one from such a comprehensive list...but "accept" called out to me the loudest, so I'm going to stick with that one and I know in my heart, that word has a lot to teach me.

Blessings for a creative and happy day and year!

Bonne Annee!

Wishing you a very happy and healthy New Year!
May 2009 bring blessings, peace, and happiness to all the world.
xoxo

Loss

A difficult day all around...

I am a person who loses things on a fairly regular basis. When I was a little girl, my grandmother would tell me to pray to St. Anthony whenever I lose something and he will help me find it. So tonight, I offer this prayer to St. Anthony...

Please, St. Anthony, if it is not too late...

I pray for the return of the Christmas gifts that our loved ones gave to us in a spirit of love and kindness.

Fact is, I don't think they are so much lost, as they were stolen from my car. Cub's grandpa filled three white plastic bags with the gifts we received at his home on Christmas day. There were gifts from all the family (including Daddy) to us, and gifts that were sent from her grandpa's relatives in Texas. We have never met them, but they send such thoughtful and generous gifts to Cub each year. This year was no exeption. I feel just terrible. When I discovered they were no longer in my car, I felt physically ill and still do. It feels awful to know that all of their efforts were for naught. I feel like I owe many people an apology.

So, please...St. Anthony, if you can hear me...Please help them find the way back to our home.

Amen.

Therapeutic Crafting

This vacation has been different than I had originally planned. I haven't seen my family yet, Pops passed away, nothing has really been done around the house, we've been coming home late from gathering every night...but we've been okay. Better than okay, sometimes. There has been a lot of love and joy in the midst of everything and those are always good feelings.

Yesterday, we were home for a few hours in between visiting relatives/eating.

For some reason, I found myself making these little barrettes again...only this time with the variation.

I am a bit of a hair accessory-a-holic, and it does not help that Cub hates anything in her hair. Bummer. I feel like a kinda got short-changed in that department! I finally had a little girl-Yay! I get to play with pig-tails and lots of hair-do's and clips, elastics, RIBBONS, too!!!!!

Nope. No way. Maybe that explains it.

Needing a bit more craft-therapy, I made a visit to Craftbits. I'm sentimental about that site. When I first started making stuff, they were one of the first places I found with lots of bath and body crafts, which is what I was very much into at the time. I still like them a lot over there!

Anyway, I found this printable Matryoshka doll and made an easy ornament. Of course, I then had to make her a sister out of felt. Here they are hanging-out on our tree.

I just wish I was better at the face thing. Maybe a Sharpee wasn't the best bet, but I thought paint wouldn't do well on the fuzzy felt. Oh, well.

Making things makes you feel better and that's what it was about.