Conscience....nothing to do with crafts

I have been weaning myself from Fb, but I did want to post something but it's too long for a FB post. I would like to ask for continued prayers for my MIL and I would like to clarify something, so there is no misunderstanding.  I don't want to take undue credit for something.

 MIL is not doing so great. Well, actually, for someone her age and who has been through what she has been through the last year, she is doing remarkably well. Her body is failing, but her spirit is still there. She is probably the toughest woman I have ever known.  Our relationship has not been a peaceful one, but she has been a big part of my entire adult life and we have had some fun times as well as some not so fun times.  She would do anything for me and has been very generous to me over the years. Ruth and Esther, we would never be, but both stubborn and determined to have our own way….yes.  Our “alikeness” has been our biggest deterrent to a happy, peaceful relationship.  I ask that you keep her in your prayers. That her last days, weeks, maybe months, will be peaceful and she will have the opportunity to make the changes and decisions necessary to face what she must face.

Seven months ago I had to take a step back from the situation, for several reasons. During this time, my sweet precious son has spent the most time with her than anyone. Until flu and crud hit our house, he was with her almost every day.  Never ashamed to be seen with his old, ailing Granny, like many teenage boys would, even when she was recovering from disfiguring surgery.  Some folks say he really got something out of it….those whose thoughts are more about the material things in life. Yes, she spoils him. Always has. Would (and has) spend her last dime on him, take him anywhere she was physically able to take him. She did the same thing with her 4 grown grandchildren when they were younger.  She spoiled them right up until they got married and some had kids.  She won’t be around for that for Mack. She tries to make up for the time she won’t be around, now.  But besides buying holiday decorations and soft drinks at Walmart and eating at Beef O Bradys several times a week, they have put puzzles together, looked at old pictures and put pictures albums together.  They have ridden out to area cemeteries to record birth and death dates of ancestors. They have spent many hours talking about the things they like and don’t like. I will admit that there are some things about him that she knows better than I do.  Even if no one else acknowledges how important he has been, I want him to know how much I appreciate him being there for his Granny, when I haven’t been.  She also has met a friend, Laura, over the last couple of months, who is staying with her and takes very good care of her.  We are all very grateful for Laura.

During the holidays, I was burdened with many thoughts about how precious life is and how guilt (either from something you have done, or something you haven't done) can consume every aspect of your being.  I know there comes a time when the past needs to be put in the past. I am trying to not mend fences with my MIL, but tear down the fence and plant a garden….even if it’s just a potted plant.  Hopefully, there will be enough time to see a little fruit before the next season of our lives comes along. I want us to part with both of us understanding how much we have in common, and accepting that, and throwing out differences out with the weeds. 

I don’t want anyone to think that I have played a role in caring for MIL in the last 7 months. I haven’t.  I have made sure my husband and children knew when she needed them and when things were going on. But, I have not been the one caring for her and I do not want to take any credit away from those who have. I am very grateful to those who have been. Her sister, Annie, has been by her side, often unappreciated, but always willing to help her in any way she could.  I know that my sister & brother and I would be the same way with each other and I pray that my kids would be that way with each other.  

Thinking back to my post several weeks ago about conscience and how different people are, I continue to be amazed at how people interpret things.  I was raised in the church, and even though I have strayed at times from that upbringing, the fundamental principles that I was taught are not easily hidden or denied.  But, it makes it hard for me to understand those who just don’t get it.  Sometimes you do things just simply for peace of mind. Not for material or financial gain. Some people look for materialism in everything. There is remorse. There is guilt. There is a sincere wish to make amends…..just because it’s the right thing to do. Not everything has a price tag or a market value.

Please pray for my MIL and for anyone else you might have differences with. Pray that God will burden  your heart to fix those differences. You never know for sure that you will have that opportunity or the time if you put it off.

 

Snacks for Santa

What is your family's Christmas tradition for leaving snacks for Santa? Do you leave cold milk and cookies, cocoa and fruit cake? How many of you have children who continue the traditions of your childhood, with their little ones?

32 years ago, I made a Santa set for my daughter's first Christmas. A year later, I had requests from family members to make sets for their homes.  A year later, mothers of my daughter's friends ask me to make sets for them. It gives me great pleasure to know that every year of their childhood, they used something that I made for them.  It gives me even greater pleasure that some of them are using their Santa sets for their own children....and I have made a new generation of Santa sets for many of them. 

I love making them. It has become a Christmas tradition and one that I share for the first Christmases of each of the new babies in my extended family. Last year, I made a LOT of Santa sets but unfortunately I had to "remake" them.  I used a new brand of paint, when I could not find the paints I had used in the past.  After using the set, moms found that the paint washed off. In 32 years that had never happened. We still use that 32 yr old set and the one I made 16 years later for my son. Paint still intact!  Fortunately, I found the old brand of paint and am ready to start a new batch of Santa sets with no fear of having to "repaint" them. I have already made two sets and have washed them several times....paint intact!

Lesson learned:  if you can't find the tried and true, don't bother with the unknown!   

Here are some of the ones I made last year. If you would like to start a tradition with the little ones in your family, let me know. I will be glad to make a set for you.  (Allow 10 days)  Glass sets are $18, melamine sets are $12. 

Chee Chee Buie 

229-254-2255

csbuie@yahoo.com

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Having just returned from a few days in St. Augustine, I am ready to decorate for Christmas!  The city was wrapped in millions of lights and the sight was spectacular!  In fact, I believe it is listed as one of the Travel Channel's top five places to visit for Christmas.  Who would have thought a trip to the beach would motivate my Christmas spirit?

I love Christmas. I love the lights and the colors and the smells and the spirit of the Christmas season. Last year we were coming off of 2 weddings in October and my mother-in-law's cancer diagnosis (and radical surgery the first of December).  I am not so tired this year! (A few days in St. Augustine and my two-a-day Visalus shakes are helping!!!)

As I think about decorating, I am also thinking about my holiday crafts and special gifts for special people in our lives.  Trying to decide what I will do this year, I am reminded of ornaments I made for co-workers and friends when I was working at a church.  These were some of my favorite gifts to give, as well as one of my favorite craft projects.  They turned out beautifully and were very well received.  I wish I had taken pictures of them. I took pictures of the beautiful stained glass windows in the church and printed them on transparencies and inserted the pcitures into clear glass ball ornaments.  The ornament was embellished with silver and gold cording around the top and finished with ribbons on the top.  My next door neighbor was a new preacher at a church in town and made one of the front of his church.  

I have used this project for birthday gifts, as well, by putting a baby picture inside the ornament.  A picture of a grandchild, a family photo, an old photo of a deceased loved one, pets, first home, wedding picture, engagement photo, a special event from the year....all make great subjects for the ornament. Also, if there is something that is your "trademark" (my mother's is a red bird, my mother in law's is a hummingbird, my daughter's is a dragonfly, my niece's is a horse.....) those can be rubber stamped onto the transparency and left clear or can be colored.  Monograms can also be used.

I do not have pictures of the ones I made, but found some similar to mine on the internet.  I will be making these next week. If you would like one, please contact me.  You will need to send the photo that you want me to use. If you want to use a rubber stamp, you can email the stamped picture to me or tell me what it is and I probably have a rubber stamp to fill your request.  

Ornaments with colored pictures are $15, black and white ones are $10. Mine are more decorative around the top.  Allow 10 days.

Also, please let me invite you to join me in a project I am doing in honor of World's Largest Giving Day.  I am collecting ziplock bags of toiletry articles for a new home here for women with substance abuse problems.  The Harvest House of Hope, Inc., is a non-profit organization, no state funding or grants, entirely reliant on support of the community and caring individuals.  The House of Hope is a residential facility dedicated to helping women who have substance abuse issues and have already been detoxed at least 3 days.  It is a 6 month to 1 year program, designed to give support for their illness, find God, educate them so they can become self-supporting, restore families, and to teach them no matter what they have or don't have, they can always "give back". Pay it forward.  If you would like to contribute, the list of items for the bags are listed on here. If you would prefer to contribute a journal or notebook and pen/pencil instead, please feel free to do so.  Please comment on the Event page if you would like to participate.

It's only Rock and Roll but I like it, like it, yes I do!

As I was riding the waves of Google's Images in search of some art projects for my 10th grader for school, I came across painted "vinyl".  Hopefully, everyone reading this will know what this is.  It is NOT a black CD.  I found this on Created by Hand, a blog with so many wonderful, and unusual, art projects that I couldn't pick a favorite!  Here is the artist's website, with more examples of his work.  Of course, there is one missing Rock icon from this gallery of portraits.  Anyone who knows me, knows who is missing.  Can you guess? 

This "groovy" artwork led me to look further for more Rock and Roll related art projects. But, first, let me distract you from the Rock and Roll related and share this from the Created by Hand site.  I love "found" art projects and recycled art.  Here are some great examples. These two are really cool.  One is made from old newspapers, cards, and junk mail. The flower is made from plastic bottles.

 

Love this artprint collage and other artwork at Bandaged Ear.

How about painting your skateboard, or use an old skateboard for a canvas and hang it on the wall, use it as a shelf, whatever rocks your world! This is from Laura Tucker.

OK, I think this may be my favorite! Those ugly chairs we had back in the 70s.  In your school lunchroom, in your first apartment.  Ugh. Ugly then, but really cool recycled now! This one is covered with repurposed artwork from CDs.  There are several examples at FRCH/Creative Fuel.

How about some guitar pick earrings on Etsy.

And how about some wood and aluminum can artwork from Paul Villinski?  

Speaking of guitars....Look at this great storage idea from Good Stuff Guitar Shop.

and a decoupaged guitar....from Valli & Kim.

And oh the things you can do with guitar strings!  This is from the Fish and Bicycles blog.

How about a new cover for your planner, address book, or journal?  This is from Earth to Philly.

Oh the things you can do with vinyl! This from Shannon Ruby at Etsy.


Now how cool is this dresser from Bliss Ranch? (Check out the site to see the "before" picture!)

Light fixture from one of the coolest sites ever: Think Outside the Bin


For lots of projects using lots of recyclables...Think Outside the Bin!

Share some projects you have completed, or something on your To Try List!

Thank you, Mrs. Mary Jane!

I have been sorely neeeding to lose weight.  The more I sit around crafting, the "wider my horizons expand."  And I am not talking about the field of crafts, if you know what I mean.  My doctor told me I had better lose close to 50 pounds.  I have just not been motivated.

My sister started  this 90 Day Challenge weight loss program.  I began to notice how much she had lost and she talked me into trying it. Honestly, I tried it just to shut her up.  :)  But, wow, two days on it and I was sleeping better, thus feeling better.  

I went to the doctor 3 weeks ago today (8/16).  I weighed too much when the nurse made me get on those hateful scales.. Let's leave it at that. I started this program on the following Monday (8/20).  I went to the doctor, just to weigh on the same scales, on Thursday (8/23). I had lost 4 pounds!!!!!   This morning I dropped by just to weigh again (today is Thursday) and I lost 3 more pounds!  7 pounds in 14 days....only 11 days on the program.  So....I am excited.

I decided to sell the product.  I am loving it!  It has been fun to share the product and encourage others to join me in getting healthier. A friend of mine who begged to get on the product after she borrowed some and used it for a couple of days, is having a Shake Tasting Party tonight and inviting her friends. (By the way, my friend also decided to sell it).  She had so many people wanting to come, that she had to ask her Mother in law to host it because she has a lot of room.

So, I thought I would do something for a thank you to her MIL.  I saw this pretty little pot and decided to put some herbs in it so she could have an herb garden. I thought it turned out kind of cute!  I used cinnamon sticks for plant markers.

Ask me about my product!  You have nothing to lose............or do you?  It's for weight loss, control, energy, muscle toning, etc.  Two shakes a day. I know folks who have been able to stop taking Metformin and blood pressure meds after they were on it a few weeks.  Under doctor's approval!  Love to share more with you but right now I just want to show you the herb garden.  And remind you that you need to enter the contest to win a Michael's gift card and/or a Starbucks gift card.  Contest ends soon!  Stove Eyes Craft and Caption Contest

Rosemary, Oregano, Basil, Thyme
no parsley or sage. :(

Enter those contests!

Stove Eyes or, The Eyes Have It

Yesterday, instead of a nice hamburger and french fries lunch, we had a kitchen fire.  I burned up my stove and a few other small things. But, the house is still standing, other than burned wiring causing me to have miles of extension cords to plug in my router and modem, and some nasty blisters on my hand, all is well. Or will be when the wiring is fixed and I can cook again, and when I get a new stove. 

Anyway, I noticed how interesting the display now looks on my stove. What used to look like this:

Now looks like this:

Creepy, funny. Kind of shines a new light on the meaning of "stove eyes".
 
One of my Round Robin Art Journal friends suggested I use that in one of the journals.  That made me think what fun it would be to get your take on these cute little "stove eyes".

So, there will be a 2 category contest!

First category will be the Funniest Caption.  Post a comment below with your caption.  One rule: you MUST begin your comment with "CAPTION" in all caps.  Last day for entries is Thursday at noon. My top 3 favorites will be posted on my Facebook page on Friday and everyone can vote for their favorite from the top 3 through Sunday at midnight. The winner will be announced on Monday and will receive a $10 Starbucks card.
 
First category will be the Best Craft Idea.  Post a comment below with your suggestions for a craft using this picture (scrapbook, journal, greeting card, decoration, party supplies, the only limit is your imagination).  One rule: you MUST begin your comment with "CRAFT IDEA" in all caps.  Last day for entries is Thursday at noon. My top 3 favorites will be posted on my Facebook page on Friday and everyone can vote for their favorite from the top 3 through Sunday at midnight. The winner will be announced on Monday and will receive a $10 Starbucks card.

So, put your thinking caps on!  You have until noon Thursday to post your comment (contest entry) at the bottom of this post!!! You can enter as many times as you wish, just make each suggestion as a separate comment.  Be sure your email address is included or linked. 

There is going to be a latte crafting going on!  :)