Please pray for Baby Jacob

Please pray for my friend Vivian's grandbaby due 8 June. It has been a difficult and scary journey for all involved. Click on the link to read more.


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Serge Wins Counties Again & Today is Two Years

So two weeks ago Serge won counties for a second year. He was severely cramping in his hand and legs, fell on the ground, and  when he got up his legs were so stiff from cramping that he could hardly move. He just played UNBELIEVABLE tennis!!! It was just amazing. I have never seen him play so well.

He suddenly developed a sore throat before the cramping started. I ran out and found a Rite-aid 5 minutes away. Bought him orange juice, Emergen-C, and Vit. C throat lozenges. The runner up is a solid player, and it was so nice to see them both enjoying playing with one another. When coach came around asking if I or others had anything salty, his opponent's grandparents gave him a can of almonds! The nicest, most gracious family.  What a joy to see young players who are honest and good. What a joy to see people who just wished the boys well. Now that's the way to play tennis!

So 9:16 this morning brought in the 2nd year mark for Ken's passing. Luckily there wasn't much going on at work this morning, because I welled up a few times. My students didn't see. I was so glad that it wasn't hectic. A quiet day otherwise. We watched 'The Secret' at the end of the day. It is a feel good, inspirational movie based on the book. So what started out as a possibly weepy day, turned into a beautiful day full of wonderful memories. I turned on Jim Brickman Radio for the class, and it set the tone for a peaceful and uplifting day.

Then a retired priest from our church and his wife came over. They wanted to give me something. They had no idea that it was Ken's 2 yr. anniversary of passing, but it was providencial. Fr. was upset that he hadn't checked his calendar, but I was tickled over the visit. They are an elderly couple who are two of the most wonderful people you could ever meet, placing smiles upon all faces, young and old. He said a couple of prayers for Ken in Heaven, and us here on earth.We are truly blessed.Having Fr. and his wife come over for nice conversation and special things topped off our quiet day.

We truly must find the good in every day. Sometimes it may be difficult, but I always wake up saying thank you, and fall asleep saying thank you. If I am cranky and can't find much to be thankful about I thank God for my family , cats, and tulips and lilacs, my favorite flowers.

Got a terrific fortune in my fortune cookie today. At first I thought it was the silliest thing, and then I re-read it.

                        Fear came knocking at my door. Faith answered it. There was no one there.

With faith, fear is gone. May you have a faithful and blessed day.

Love you, Ken!     xoxoxo

Beautiful antique cabinet

This cabinet is in my friend Jenny's powder room. Jenny passed away in 2009. She had beautiful taste. I love this cabinet. I love and miss my friend Jenny even more.

Check out this cool Pom-Pom Tutorial

on Piece.

Do I even know how to Post anymore????? Sorry for not posting in like , forever!

Sheriff Bunny

Vintage Chick Cookie Jar

Me time, and some stamped on, mini, vintage, Dutch, doll shoes. Aren't they adorable? I love the way they turned out.
Paperweight baubles that my girls do.
So here are the facts. I work too many jobs keeping a roof over our heads, preserving our excellent credit, and trying to make a go of things without my honey. But that's the way it is. May he rest in peace.

But this year has found us in better spirits overall, and if we can get through this next election in November, and have good things take hold, well then, by golly, things may not be so bad after all. OK- God said to be hopeful until the end. So a positive attitude creates your positive future.

I have been doing a warehouse sale that opens up once a month. My friend Jessica and I do it together. We provide a lot of the smalls for the show, because most people- and there are not that many of us in this big warehouse space- have furniture. We have had a few smaller pieces of furniture, and a couple of big pieces, but we do smalls. So I sell vintage and a trickle of artwork, as I save that for my shows, and don't want things getting moved around a gazillion times. I like keeping things in good shape.

Putting a few items in ETSY, just so that it is bare no longer. It just got so hectic around the end of the year.

But 2012 is the year of taking a little more time for me. That means taking time to henna my hair when needed, reading some more books that I want to read, doing more fun artwork, and not just in the rush of getting ready for shows, and starting to work on the house, painting, hopefully doing a deck , and finishing the basement and my studio. And if you have been with me in this blog for awhile, then you know that I've spoken of finishing the basement before.

Truthfully, my time seems to be rather limited with hubby gone, being a one parent household. With a teenage son, a daughter in college, an older one who helps when she's home, but has her own life, because she's graduated, working, and has a long time beau, and three kitties, well....."I'z bizzy fokes".

Sheriff bunny and the vintage chick cookie jar are probably going into my Etsy shop.

Some Gifts We Made for My Mother-in Law's 80th

A very young Janet, under a dome on a vintage floral plate that came from my friend Jenny's things, (given to me after she passed. I am glad I could use it in such a way). This picture is actually so adorable. Just not so clear here. It was taken by my husband's uncle, Frank Navarra, photographer.Archery pillow. Her and hubby in youth. Not the clearist pictures, but you get the idea.

Front of planner.
Inside back of planner.

Sorry I haven't posted in like-forever. I have been working so much. I can not do everything, but I always seem to try to do a lot. What, oh what , pray tell, can I give up???

Be Blessed.:)

Sorry I Haven't Been Posting Lately...

Hi everyone, it's been hectic working so many jobs, so please forgive me my negligence. I've been playing tennis mom to my son and his tournaments, etc. and catching up with old friends. I was thinking of videotaping the process of trying to get my studio built in the basement. What do you think? I thought that maybe it would make me get to it sooner.

Have been going through my garage and basement, clearing out, and in other areas of the house as well. Reciting to myself "I release the old to make room for the new"events, and people coming into my life in the future. Some days are better than others.

So, my daughter wants to make throws or quilts out of Ken's clothing. His things collaged on one side, and a nice fabric on the other. I also just went through an old Christmas issue of Martha and saw a 2 sided scarf. I thought that they would make nice memory gifts for family members. What do you think? Any more ideas?

I recently made a few gifts for my mother-in-law. She turns 80 in the winter, but you'd never know it. She looks great, still plays tennis usually weekly, and is a gentle, kind individual who inspires others with her class. She always looks great. She is amazing. So, Ken's sisters wanted to have a birthday celebration earlier for her. It was at a beautiful country club on Long Island. It was pouring rain, yet still the view through the windows overlooking the gray skies and waves were beautiful. The food was out of this world great, and they did a mini roast on her. I know that Ken would've liked preparing a speech and presenting it.

Any way, we wanted to make some personal gifts that would have meaning to them. When I get a chance to put them on my computer , I will post the items, as long as the pictures come out alright. She was quite a looker in her youth, and still is today. We have a wealth of fabulous pictures from their teens in camp when they met, (my in-laws that is).

So I printed a picture of them both with bows and arrows, and made a pillow with pretty trim. I think that the colors look good for her place. The girls made a collage on a boxed canvas of them. She was Cleopatra and he was wooing her by her side.

And these adorable pictures of her when she was a little girl were just too cute. I mounted one and put a vintage flower in her hand under a dome on a vintage plate with more vintage flowers at the base. I think that it came out adorably. Alex made a vintage picture card, and I made a 'Ken do' planner with a collaged cover including hubby when he was a young boy. I also made a bookmark from a water colored paper by my girls with a baby picture on the front. She is probably holding an orange , but it looks like a tennis ball in her hand. Tennis is in the family.

So I have been doing artwork here and there, trying to get ready for a big show coming up. Is there ever enough time? And I am always trying to get work together to put into shops that want my things. Add all that to the 6 other jobs that I work, and life can get a little crazy at times. A cold came through the house on top of that, then there was preparation for Hurricane Irene which never really hit here. Just lost the power 2 times. Had to put things into the garage and shed. We do get high winds here in the mountains a lot.

And the husband (also our friend) of my dear friend Jenny who passed away 2 years ago September asked me to go through her things and to take what ever I wanted from her work/studio area. There was a wealth of beautiful items that I will use in my studio, and other lovely items. I can't believe how many things that came from me. We shared our goodies, and now I am getting some back, and loads of other lovelies. She worked for the Archives and did much research on historical pieces. I will have to do my homework on these items. Some things I will keep and others I will sell. And some artwork I will add on to, and they will in essence be collaborations between us. It is a lot, but it brings many happy memories which I am grateful to have had. I went through everything with her beautiful daughter, Emma. Emma will be helping me at Boonsborough Days, and I will be thankful for her help.

So, what do you think about posting the progress of the studio in videos? And what other ideas might you have for making memory pieces from Ken's clothing? Because he was a tennis professional, he had many t-shirts and sweeatshirts. We have been going through his things at a snail's pace so far. It is especially difficult for my children . They do not want me to go through things without them, which I would never do anyway. And they do not want to do it much at all yet. But, I think that it is time to start a little here and there. It will be cathartic. And especially, the act of making things with TLC to gift to family and friends.