Here Again

The last months have brought many changes in our lives. We moved around the corner and love our new place. I am still busy decorating and hope to do some landscaping in spring. ( If the four feet of snow out there ever melts)
Ryan has gone through so many changes and is now going to school for 1 1/2 hours a day. He really likes it and has awesome teachers. His interest in crafts keep growing. He loves to stamp and cut while I work on projects. He also loves to watch the Tim Holtz videos.
As far as crafting goes, I bought a cricut and a new sewing machine. They both get a work out almost every day. Almost everything I make I end up giving away of late. This will continue as my daughter is expecting a little boy in late March. She is musician and wants a music theme in his room. So instead of teddy bears or sponge bob I am designing some things with guitars and notes and such for him. Though I have not cut fabric with my cricut yet I plan to use it for appliques on a quilt and also to cut vinyl notes for his wall.
I will post some pics later.

Windfalls and Such

I am so blessed. I have had a windfall. So we are moving and will not have time to be online much for a few weeks. I hate the packing and moving. ( it is just around the corner) but love the decorating, and getting settled in time to plant flowers and things. I am on top of the world!

Art Speaks to You

Judy of Red Velvet Creations uses her art to tell stories we might not want to hear. But they are stories we need to hear. Please go see her pieces representing the holocaust and then please just google Darfur and find somewhere to write or donate in hopes of stopping the horrible things happening there. Thousands and thousands of people stood by and watched as Jews, Gypsies, the ill and disabled and others were murdered. Each of us need to do something, no matter how small, together we can stop this horror. I myself am in no position to donate lots of money, but I can write and so can you. Take 10 minutes please and write a letter that may help save lives. Here is one site but there are also many others.

http://www.genocideindarfur.net/

Thank You!

My blogging friend Linda knew that I was without a digital camera and had to borrow one when I posted pictures. Being the very kind and thoughtful person she is, she sent me one that she was no longer using. How cool is that? It arrived today and I will soon be posting pictures galore thanks to her generosity. I am so blessed to have her friendship! The above is a small way of saying thank you, that I put together in PSP.

So Very Happy!

I won't go into the whole story today but today was a very special day. I was reconnected with my Granddaughter. This is my lovely Sarrena! I of course will be talking to Linda of Studio Stuff about swirly skirts and all the little girl things I will have to be making. I cannot stop smiling.

Lessons

My son Ryan and I visited the sheltered workshop he will be attending in a few years this week. We toured the various departments where different jobs were done and in each area the workers made sure to welcome us and showed such pride in their work.

In the wood shop a young man with Downs Syndrome was working hard at making pallets, but he rushed over to greet us grabbing our hands and shaking them with enthusiasm. He said to my son, " Hi Buddy, I am Joe". I responded for Ryan saying, "I am sorry Ryan cannot talk, but he is happy to meet you". Joe looked with concern to Ryan and said, "don't worry I will help you". There was no thinking about this, Joe would help Ryan and that was all there was to it.

How many times have I responded to a friend in need by saying, "oh, I feel bad for you". Many, many times and I do feel bad for them. But what if I had acted as fast as Joe did to a stranger and said, "don't worry I will help you?" I am so grateful for people like Joe who remind me of the simplest and most important things in life. Thank you Joe.

Header

I was going to design a header today, but while gazing out my window at the sky I saw how beautiful the trees were and since my daughter was here with a camera I snapped a pic and used that. I gaze out that same high window every day, sometimes I see the beauty sometimes I don't.

My First Project With Emma's Hats

Though my first attempt leaves quite a bit to be desired it will be a springboard to a better version. I used some chipboard slide mailers hinged together with tape to make it. I also vowed not to purchase anything new for crafting for awhile so in keeping on my budget it is all made with what I had available.