2014 November
What a Mess... But So Much to be Thankful For!
11/28/2014
Do you ever have those days that just don't go as planned?? Monday morning was one of those for me!! I had an appointment somewhere between 8 - 12 with the TV folks to have wireless connected in the house and was actually excited about this time at home with plans for all things I needed to do while they were working. First on the agenda was to get Murphy to the vet for his shots at 9:30. Of course, everything has to happen at once!!
My former exchange student, Jemmy was at the house so I asked him to stay while the TV folks were there so I could go to the vet and to call if he needed me. Of course, I forgot my phone in the car. You have to understand that Murphy is one of those seven year old dogs that still acts like a pup and is a HUGE lovable handful. I was concentrating on him and not thinking I needed to stay in touch with home. Needless to say, Jemmy called and poor guy was so shaken up that he couldn't even get out what the problem was!!
I came home to this mess! Jemmy had come around the corner and the young installer was half hanging out of the ceiling 20 some feet in the air!! There are some good things about hoarding stuff... The board in the attic that was holding my boys stuffed animals (from 30 years ago) was the only reason this man did not fall to the floor!
So many things to be thankful for, first the young man was not hurt, and second, a great big shout out to Paul Davis Restoration that came out on Wednesday to repair the mess so hat Thanksgiving will happen in the big great room and the Christmas tree can go up!!
Jeff and I have been so blessed to have Jemmy here as our exchange student starting in 1998. He is from Indonesia and the following yers we had his three sisters here with different host families from our church.
Lenny was the second sister to come after Henny and before Wenny. She was a joy to have, not only as a 'daughter,' but as an employee at the store for several years. We can thank Lenny for insisting that we get ourselves 'online'.
Love to have them anytime we can get them here and even nicer to have them when we are celebrating Thanksgiving. We are truly thankful to their family for sharing the gift of their children!
Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!!!
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Things Better Not Mentioned...(!)
11/21/2014
Don't you just love it when you get to catch up with special folks from your past? I was fortunate enough to be able to do that this past Sunday. Bob and Marcia were my first employers when I was in high school in Hamilton, Ohio. We have stayed in close touch during the past 40 years and they mean the world to me! I worked for them in their jewelry store my entire high school career and based my life and work ethic on the lessons that they shared while I was under their supervision.
The first lesson of many that I learned was that you don't stand around when you are on someone else's payroll. When you punch in you are on their time clock and you look for something to do to stay busy and productive to support that business. That was a tough lesson for a tender hearted little girl that was not used to working!
One of the next lessons that I carry with me is that there is never a job that is beneath you! You do whatever it takes to get the job done and to make sure the customer is happy. The load is so much easier when everyone chips in!
And of course... Bob & Marcia know all my secrets and wild antics from high school! The ins and outs of climbing out the window at night ..... hmmmm... maybe this is better not mentioned.
Over the weekend I was also able to spend some time Christmas shopping for my employees. I love, love, LOVE to put together Christmas baskets for them as a great big thank you for all they do! One evening I was at an outlet mall during a snow storm and it was like a private shopping trip, just for me, since not another soul was out! I was the only one crazy enough to be shopping during a snow storm! That's the way to get your list crossed off quick! The trip was a great success but here again the 'special finds and purchases' are "things better not mentioned" until after the Christmas party.
If you're in need of a fun gift to give for the holidays, I have just the perfect thing!
A pillow cover or two would brighten up someone's house! Use their inserts to put in the custom pillow form and you have a personalized gift that says you care!!
Just pick out your fabric at the store and we will get your custom pillow covers made in time for your holiday gift giving or purchase one already made from our Funky Fibers line! This is a good idea to mention to your friends and family!!
Happy Happy Thanksgiving!... I'm off to design our Thanksgiving feast!
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Behind Closed Doors...
11/14/2014
The Annual Recreation Workshop is a conference that I have been part of for a lot of years and is near and dear to my heart. The ARW workshop is an experiential 5-day event focused on recreation, worship, community, creativity, and the arts. I am honored to be directing this conference this May and am ready to jump knee-deep into the final planning!
Spending time creating with someone that enjoys the process as much as I do is so much fun to me! I had the pleasure of working with Darci, a friend of mine, this past weekend as we planned a class for ARW and brainstormed some of the hospitality pieces. We took a perfectly clean studio, which does not happen very often, and destroyed it!! ... but the juices were flowing!!
We measured, cut, drilled and sawed, then chased my woodworking son out when he thought his mom was going to cut off her hand or burn the place down! In the end, we had created 13 forms for the class to create their own unique boxes using recycled cabinet doors!
Below is our class sample. It opens with hinges on the top to reveal a key holder and the rest of a fun phrase by Milton Berle,
"If opportunity doesn't knock... build a door."
So appropriate, I think, for a conference entitled, "Strangers at Our Doors...
Extending Radical Hospitality!"
I think that I'll hunt some more doors and see if anyone wants to do this class to create their own version of 'Behind Closed Doors'. Sounds like a great class for the STUDIO! Any excuse to pull out the power tools is a good one!
I'm now in the process of creating a box with a large cabinet door just for my sewing supplies... Watch for the finished piece!
November brings lots of excitement as I start to plan for the Making Ends Meet Christmas party. I know what I am doing for the centerpieces which usually takes quite awhile and next week I will start all the shopping for my employees. Unfortunately I can't share just what I am creating until after the party since they read, critique and follow my new blog!! So.... we will share lots of photos of the party and all its fun the week of the 16th, after the party!
What are you creating this week? Do you find time to make gifts during the holiday season?? Enjoy!!
PS: If you would like to visit ARW, go to http://www.montreat.org/event/2015-arw/
2 Comments
Jayn Lando - What a fantastic class it is going to be! Two of the most creative people I know! I always have big plans for everything I am going to make for gifts but never get them all done... but do get some done. I need to finish my jewelry from Deb's metalsmithing class last week!
DarcMcKinnon - This was such fun! Cannot wait to see the finished class pieces!
How Many Body Types Are there?...!
11/7/2014
I am playing with tunic and top designs for the Funky Fibers line and am trying to take several different ideas to put into a one of a kind garment that will be appealing to all.... which is about impossible!
I try to start with a basic shape that might fit several different body types and then add the embellishments and fun stuff to make it special.
This past week as I was working on several tunic designs for the Open House, I was fortunate enough to have a group of wonderful women in the STUDIO taking jewelry classes with guest artist Deb Guess. I would create a "basic shape" in my upstairs workroom and then go down to the STUDIO for a critique. (They didn't know when they signed up to make jewelry that they would be clothing models and designers too). It didn't take long to know what they were thinking by the expression on their faces!
In the end we came out with several fun pieces that I was pleased with... and so were the critique gallery :) ! Which one do you like??
My husband and I have decided to double the size of our booth at the Florida Delray Affair show in April. This will require a LOT of product to sell to break even, so I will start creating purses and clothing like crazy now. The best part about it is that there are no rules!! I get to make and create whatever I want!! You will have to stop by and check out all the new items for sale!!
The Open House is under way! We rush and rush to get things done for the Open House and then, when it's done, I like to walk away. I love to create and design but I don't like to be the center of attention or to hear the comments, good or bad.
I learned early with my designs and art, no matter what it is that I do, I create mostly out of what is pleasing to me. The fact that it's fun and I can share it with you is just an added bonus. I hope you can find a form of art that makes you happy.... and that you can play for your enjoyment!
Today I get to play again...
The critique clan will be coming to play with our looms and weaving, so I'm looking forward to this get-together!!
0 Comments
11/28/2014
Do you ever have those days that just don't go as planned?? Monday morning was one of those for me!! I had an appointment somewhere between 8 - 12 with the TV folks to have wireless connected in the house and was actually excited about this time at home with plans for all things I needed to do while they were working. First on the agenda was to get Murphy to the vet for his shots at 9:30. Of course, everything has to happen at once!!
My former exchange student, Jemmy was at the house so I asked him to stay while the TV folks were there so I could go to the vet and to call if he needed me. Of course, I forgot my phone in the car. You have to understand that Murphy is one of those seven year old dogs that still acts like a pup and is a HUGE lovable handful. I was concentrating on him and not thinking I needed to stay in touch with home. Needless to say, Jemmy called and poor guy was so shaken up that he couldn't even get out what the problem was!!
I came home to this mess! Jemmy had come around the corner and the young installer was half hanging out of the ceiling 20 some feet in the air!! There are some good things about hoarding stuff... The board in the attic that was holding my boys stuffed animals (from 30 years ago) was the only reason this man did not fall to the floor!
So many things to be thankful for, first the young man was not hurt, and second, a great big shout out to Paul Davis Restoration that came out on Wednesday to repair the mess so hat Thanksgiving will happen in the big great room and the Christmas tree can go up!!
Jeff and I have been so blessed to have Jemmy here as our exchange student starting in 1998. He is from Indonesia and the following yers we had his three sisters here with different host families from our church.Lenny was the second sister to come after Henny and before Wenny. She was a joy to have, not only as a 'daughter,' but as an employee at the store for several years. We can thank Lenny for insisting that we get ourselves 'online'.
Love to have them anytime we can get them here and even nicer to have them when we are celebrating Thanksgiving. We are truly thankful to their family for sharing the gift of their children!
Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!!!
0 Comments
Things Better Not Mentioned...(!)
11/21/2014
Don't you just love it when you get to catch up with special folks from your past? I was fortunate enough to be able to do that this past Sunday. Bob and Marcia were my first employers when I was in high school in Hamilton, Ohio. We have stayed in close touch during the past 40 years and they mean the world to me! I worked for them in their jewelry store my entire high school career and based my life and work ethic on the lessons that they shared while I was under their supervision.
 |
| Yep! That's me in the middle wearing the red and white stripe top at the jewelry store. :) |
One of the next lessons that I carry with me is that there is never a job that is beneath you! You do whatever it takes to get the job done and to make sure the customer is happy. The load is so much easier when everyone chips in!
And of course... Bob & Marcia know all my secrets and wild antics from high school! The ins and outs of climbing out the window at night ..... hmmmm... maybe this is better not mentioned.
Over the weekend I was also able to spend some time Christmas shopping for my employees. I love, love, LOVE to put together Christmas baskets for them as a great big thank you for all they do! One evening I was at an outlet mall during a snow storm and it was like a private shopping trip, just for me, since not another soul was out! I was the only one crazy enough to be shopping during a snow storm! That's the way to get your list crossed off quick! The trip was a great success but here again the 'special finds and purchases' are "things better not mentioned" until after the Christmas party.
If you're in need of a fun gift to give for the holidays, I have just the perfect thing!
A pillow cover or two would brighten up someone's house! Use their inserts to put in the custom pillow form and you have a personalized gift that says you care!!
Just pick out your fabric at the store and we will get your custom pillow covers made in time for your holiday gift giving or purchase one already made from our Funky Fibers line! This is a good idea to mention to your friends and family!!
Happy Happy Thanksgiving!... I'm off to design our Thanksgiving feast!
0 Comments
Behind Closed Doors...
11/14/2014
Spending time creating with someone that enjoys the process as much as I do is so much fun to me! I had the pleasure of working with Darci, a friend of mine, this past weekend as we planned a class for ARW and brainstormed some of the hospitality pieces. We took a perfectly clean studio, which does not happen very often, and destroyed it!! ... but the juices were flowing!!
Below is our class sample. It opens with hinges on the top to reveal a key holder and the rest of a fun phrase by Milton Berle,
"If opportunity doesn't knock... build a door."
Extending Radical Hospitality!"
I think that I'll hunt some more doors and see if anyone wants to do this class to create their own version of 'Behind Closed Doors'. Sounds like a great class for the STUDIO! Any excuse to pull out the power tools is a good one!
I'm now in the process of creating a box with a large cabinet door just for my sewing supplies... Watch for the finished piece!
November brings lots of excitement as I start to plan for the Making Ends Meet Christmas party. I know what I am doing for the centerpieces which usually takes quite awhile and next week I will start all the shopping for my employees. Unfortunately I can't share just what I am creating until after the party since they read, critique and follow my new blog!! So.... we will share lots of photos of the party and all its fun the week of the 16th, after the party!
What are you creating this week? Do you find time to make gifts during the holiday season?? Enjoy!!
PS: If you would like to visit ARW, go to http://www.montreat.org/event/2015-arw/
2 Comments
Jayn Lando - What a fantastic class it is going to be! Two of the most creative people I know! I always have big plans for everything I am going to make for gifts but never get them all done... but do get some done. I need to finish my jewelry from Deb's metalsmithing class last week!
DarcMcKinnon - This was such fun! Cannot wait to see the finished class pieces!
How Many Body Types Are there?...!
11/7/2014
I am playing with tunic and top designs for the Funky Fibers line and am trying to take several different ideas to put into a one of a kind garment that will be appealing to all.... which is about impossible!
This past week as I was working on several tunic designs for the Open House, I was fortunate enough to have a group of wonderful women in the STUDIO taking jewelry classes with guest artist Deb Guess. I would create a "basic shape" in my upstairs workroom and then go down to the STUDIO for a critique. (They didn't know when they signed up to make jewelry that they would be clothing models and designers too). It didn't take long to know what they were thinking by the expression on their faces!
In the end we came out with several fun pieces that I was pleased with... and so were the critique gallery :) ! Which one do you like??
My husband and I have decided to double the size of our booth at the Florida Delray Affair show in April. This will require a LOT of product to sell to break even, so I will start creating purses and clothing like crazy now. The best part about it is that there are no rules!! I get to make and create whatever I want!! You will have to stop by and check out all the new items for sale!!
The Open House is under way! We rush and rush to get things done for the Open House and then, when it's done, I like to walk away. I love to create and design but I don't like to be the center of attention or to hear the comments, good or bad.
I learned early with my designs and art, no matter what it is that I do, I create mostly out of what is pleasing to me. The fact that it's fun and I can share it with you is just an added bonus. I hope you can find a form of art that makes you happy.... and that you can play for your enjoyment!
Today I get to play again...
The critique clan will be coming to play with our looms and weaving, so I'm looking forward to this get-together!!
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