Media Cabinet Revival

Wow.

Two--NOT one, but TWO remarkable things have happened today.

One. I figured out how to transfer pictures from my phone to my computer. ALL.BY.MYSELF.

Please hold your applause....

Because you will be amazed to hear that I finished, yes FINISHED a project.

I know. I know.

What? You don't believe me?

I got pictures.

Check it:

Media cabinet--Before:

(Definitely in need of a revival. No?)

Cardboard squares cut to size.
Fabric cut to cover cardboard.
Glued fabric to cardboard with decoupage glue.
Inserted into picture openings.
Cuteness...

How bout them apples?!

Sometimes, the Only Way to Go is to Stop

So I got sick this weekend.

It really wasn't a bad thing.

It just made it more of a challenge to work on Saturday.

But Sunday?

Oh, blessed Sunday.

It seemed sacrilege to stay home from church on Easter Sunday, but actually observing the Sabbath and having a day of rest did so much for my soul.

My girl and I read the paper (funnies first), had monkey bread, read all 4 Gospel accounts of the Resurrection (could you IMAGINE being Mary and suddenly recognizing someone who you thought was dead was now ALIVE and standing before you?!), we sat on the couch awhile watching a few videos, I read, I rested, we took a walk, we painted, we had mac and cheese for supper and called it a day.

And now-- it's spring break!

I still have to go to work, but not having to wake up a family and motivate them toward the door and the day....

makes me feel like I'M on VACATION!

A Little Something for Sunday

After I ran at the park Friday, I noticed the sun filtering through everything and lighting it with a lovely glow.

Coulda, Shoulda, Woulda

Yesterday.

I coulda cleaned bathrooms.

I shoulda swept the floor.

I woulda washed clothes.

I coulda cooked a meal.

I shoulda showered.

I woulda washed my hair.

But.

There was the Farmers Market. The Library.

There was art waiting to be created.

There were ideas flowing.

There was sunshine.

There were cats to be petted.

Clearly, something much more important came up.

The Making of a Weekend

I've been following Harper's every breath.



You know how you're not supposed to carry your social security card on your person? Yeah, well, since I don't and I've put mine in a very secure place, I spent a portion of my day off here (but in my local office and may I just say, the people who hang out there are a bit unsettling..."I need my money! Where's my check? I'm on dialysis!") so I could finally get this:

Am still cruising the internet on hubby's good graces. Although I have my laptop, the cord is STILL not here so I had limited battery power which is now depleted. Three hours only SOUNDS like a lot of time to be on the computer. When trying to pull it back to the land of the living, it's more like the twinkling of an eye.

Was so excited to receive my new subscription issue of ReadyMade. This may be my new fave. The decor projects look like things you find in domino which is my current favorite decorating magazine. Great. More magazines to save. I seriously need to show you the bin (a literal plastic bin) FULL of magazines. Other people stash fabric or craft supplies (and I do a bit of that too) but I stash magazines for inspiration. I could paper my house with all the mags I have. The scary thing is, I've weeded out a bunch. What can I say. I love a lot of things and I'm a decorating schitzo.

I also discovered yoville on facebook. It's a fun way to waste time.

Lest you think I piddled away another weekend, I must hasten to say that I found time in my busy play schedule to clean the bathroom and vacuum the whole house. (Which by this point was less vacuuming and more beating dust bunnies to death with the vacuum hose. They had grown large enough to fight back.)

And I'm spent. It may take me all week to recover from my indulgences.

Branching out...

...Which in my case means, going out on a limb.

I have taken a deep breath and signed up for my very first online class of any kind. Anything that sounds like it might have anything to do with higher learning makes me hyperventilate. (That deep breath was the very beginning symptom.)

Not only have I signed up to stretch my brain, I'm stretching my right brain with the coaching of a very creative girl: Traci Bautista. When I'm not petrified, I'm very excited. I love Traci's colorful work which has a sense of freedom. I'm looking to release my inner artist and give myself permission to break the rules and go with the flow.

I'm going to sling paint, scratch, scribble, cut and paste. It'll be just like kindergarten all over again.

Except that paper bag won't be for my lunch.
(Breathe in and out...slowly now...)
Collage Unleashed aRt! workshops

Oh Happy Day...

Oh glorious delight.

It's 17 degrees outside this morning which, to me, is as cold as the North Pole. At least, it feels that way to my southern bones, where anything below 32 degrees calls for staying in the house and hibernating like a bear. My current giddy state is due, not to the weather --we have nothing to show for our popscicle-ey temperatures--but to the fact that my schedule has opened up and I have no obligations to take me from my warm, snuggly home. As the rest of the family slumbers under their cocoon of blankets, I have slipped to the computer to catch up on the latest. I've brewed some coffee to which I added vanilla flavoring and ground cinnamon to the grounds before brewing. Speaking of coffee, has anyone else discovered Truvia?

Morning has to be my favorite part of the day. It's as if even the sun throws off a light that is promising. There's the opportunity of things to be done, fun to be had.

So, if you will excuse me, I need another cup of coffee to sip on while I read your blogs and find inspiration for my day...

I've Found Heaven on Earth

I am sitting here enjoying the most delicious mug of cocoa I've ever made. Piping hot. Extra marshmallows.

And today? Today all of my dreams came true.

Well. Any dreams that had to do with a certain craft store opening in my neighborhood. I drug my girl through that place for two whole hours. She didn't start asking if we were done until we were 2/3 of the way through! Bless her.

Holy Moly. That place is a crafter's nirvana.

Rockets, trains, knitting, kid's crafts, home decor, fabric(!), paint, canvas, beads, scrapbooking, candle making, and about 4 aisles of Christmas stuff! You name it, they've got it. They even have experiment kits and models for science projects. (I did the ear model when I was in school. The pieces are smaller and more life size now. Boo.)

I still haven't been for a run since Monday and finally found time to put some laundry on to wash. Maybe I can run after work tomorrow... gotta run off that marshmallow laden cocoa!

Soul Restoration

Thought I'd give you a peek at my journal from Saturday. I went with a friend walking through the woods to step away from life and it's distractions in order to hear God more clearly.

May 17, 2008 Saturday

I become so overwhelmed by the cacophony of life.

Being surrounded by Your creation brings tears of gratefulness to my eyes as I hear the stereophonic birdsong melodies accompanied by the whisper of the wind. Each sound bespeaking Your presence.

The carpet of pine straw to walk on, the trees guarding the path, the cerulean blue canopy above me as a shield contrasting with the rich greens of the leaves, the sweet fragrance of the air--the rest of the world fades as I become aware of each of these.

There's something about morning that quiets my soul -- speaks to my spirit. Is it because my perspective is fresh and new? I'm rested ? I love the light of the morning. The glint of the sun on the dew. The gleam on the leaves. The overall sheen the world takes on as the sun begins bathing everything in light.

No agenda.
Deep breaths of quiet cleansing.

I spend most of my days asking for things from You. Usually, these are cries born of frustration made in desperation. Today, I'm asking only that you speak to me in a language I can understand and that you will give me a heart that hears...

John 14:27
I give you peace, the kind of peace that only I can give. It isn't like the peace that this world can give. So don't be worried or afraid.

Philippians 4:6, 7
Don't worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God. Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand And this peace will control the way you think and feel.

II Thessalonians 3:16
I pray that the Lord, who gives peace, will always bless you with peace. May the Lord be with all of you.

Retail Therapy

Well, Savannah welcomed me into her bosom with open arms.

On the hour drive down, I found a radio station playing Jazz. It was just the thing. Relaxing, yet upbeat.

Ironically, I still didn't get to go downtown into the funky creative shops and explore. I was up in the retail chain area. I made that my first priority because I really wanted to get my girl some more pajamas from Target. I figured there would be a GREAT sale and some really cute stuff. The sale wasn't as much as I had hoped and there was little to no selection. I did find one pair in her current size, it's better than nothing. Cute penguin print too.

While at the mall, I hit a craft store. I found a pack of decorative papers and a variety pack of ink pads in different colors. That will be fun to play with this weekend!

On to Rugged Wearhouse, which was highly recommended by two of my employees. Good concept: cheap, namebrand clothing. I found nothing. Oh well.


Then: my heart began to beat a little faster as I headed toward Barnes and Noble. However, that was tempered by looking at my watch and realizing I needed to head for home soon. (Where DOES the time go?!) I went directly to the magazine section to feed my addiction. Two Photoshop mags for hubby, Somerset's Altered Couture and Dwell for me. (Funny, I thought I got more than that!) I found a Highlight High Five for my girl. She was so cute. "Oooh, wook! A magdazine!" I looked for more of the Somerset mags but didn't really find what I was looking for. At $15 a pop, I try to be choosy. Only getting those I'm REALLY interested in. I would have any of them. They are all so well made and inspirational.
I also found a book that will really benefit my photographer husband, but I will use it too now that the photography bug has bitten me too. It's called Expressions, by Donna Smylie & Allison Tyler Jones. (Taking Estraordinary Photos for Your Scrapbooks and Memory Art.) It's basically a primer for good photography. I've learned a lot from hubby, but this book lays it out very simply and talks about lighting as well. Invaluable info in here. It will be a great rescource.
I really could have stayed in B&N for quite a bit longer looking through music and other books. I think if I had unlimited income, I'd spend it on books and magazines. Then I'd need to build a huge English type library onto the house to hold my wealth.

Time to turn the car toward home. There was quite a bit of traffic, it seemed the cars were pushing each other down the highway. My thought turned toward my day...my emotions felt sated, but I still long to finish my mental list of things to do in Savannah.

I'll just have to go back.

Soon.