Homegrown Hospitality

Fell off the Wagon

I have been crazily kitting away for this weekend and have had to hold myself back from pulling the sewing machine out, about 100 times, or so.  I have to say, THAT is an achievement for me, you know..staying on task.

I "pre-ordered" Alisa Burkes new book coming out this summer and it seemed to calm my need to stitch, kinda...

 
okay, so I must confess, even though I stayed on tasked with the urge to sew, I completely fell off the wagon with something else...

As I was helping Ben build the Great Wall of China out of styrofoam, I remembered Alisa talking about making stamps with a wood burning tool.. so I thought I would try it, you know..because we were already messing around with styrofoam....I did not want to waste it (thanks to Tracie).

so... I tried it...and..

I made stamps and stamps and more stamps. (these are COMPLELTY different from rubber stamps...so don't be confused or worried) These are for paint..and ink...and fabric...and felt...oh gosh (insert squeel)

 
 
 
If you follow me on Facebook, then you saw that I wrote..."Houston, I think I have a problem...."

 
Yikes...and yippee....I am excited to let you know that I will be back at Grove's in Pennsylvania JULY 29-30 for a  "12 Days of Christmas"in July class (details to follow soon) and I will be incorporating some of these techniques, as well as a sprinkling of Prima..some felt...buttons...stitch..Helmar...who knows!!!!

Okay, I need to pull myself back onto the wagon and get on the road to Art-Full Horizons...

Have a GREAT weekend...see you when I get back!

p.s. If you click the link about and decide to buy Alisa's book, please let me know so that we can create together!!!

Cultivating My Reading Skills

I think I love to read, the thing is, when I "make" time to read, I cannot find my glasses. (I need a chain to hold them but the valentine says "NO WAY") Most of the time, when I do start to read, I fall asleep.  This is probably because the only time I have to read is

• at the end of the day, which of course is when I am tired, duh.
• when I take a bath, which is only once in a great while, and then I either am being interrupted by "mom????" or the dog sniffing underneath the door.
• or waiting for kids at pick-up from school or practice, which again, I fall asleep because I can take the BEST naps in a warm car...(I lock the doors and crack the window!)

Happily, I have managed to read my way through some amazing books in the past 6 months or so.  That is how long it takes to get through a book (unless I am on a lounge chair at the Maui Marriott) but that is okay, because I do like to read slow so that I can absorb what I am reading....highlight things, re-read good parts and think about it.

anyways...I have mentioned Brene Brown's "The Gifts of Imperfection" a thousand times, and coincidentally, it is right here tucked into my doodle bag for on the spot reminders & inspiration...

 
but another one of my new favorites is this book:

 
It is called "Living, Loving & Learning"written by Leo Buscaglia.  It is a book filled with his lectures and lessons, and everytime I pick it up, which is not as often as I would like, I smile while I read. This is the perfect book to put in your bag, your center console, your beach bag, wherever...because it is one that you can just pick up and read any chapter...GREAT great great lessons, stories and reminders of how good life is..even when we think, feel or sometimes act like it isn't.

I was so excited to take a bath on Sunday night (something I should make more time for...so should YOU!) and grabbed the ol' book, opened it up and read the best chapter

 
Hello. 

I do not think I am allowed to take photos or re-type the chapter, because I would probably be breaking a law..but can I just say, "duh!"..really SIMPLE things, that we all can do..all should do and probably don't because we are all a bunch of "Whirling Dervish's", well, at least most of us...okay, at least me. 

The chapter ended with this, and I quote:

"You know, I have a feeling that this wonderful quality of humanness, with all of its wonder, is Gods gift to you.  And what you do with it is your gift to God.  Don't satisfy yourself with anything less than offering God the perfect gift that you are. And have a blast doing it."

You can read more about these two books by simply clicking on the links above.  They will take you to the Amazon site where you can read a little more of the book, read reviews..and should you feel compelled..order them to put into your beach bag.

oh..p.s..the authors of these books also have sites that you should check out:

Brene Brown -  http://www.ordinarycourage.com/

Dr. Leo Buscaglia -http://leobuscaglia.org

by the way...I have now managed to "misplace" TWO pairs of glasses.

Ready To Launch!

In case you have not noticed (but I think you have) I have been a little vague with alot of my cre-a-tive-ness since the beginning of the year...actually even before then because I got myself into a pickle with everything I was doing..not doing...trying to do and not wanting to do...(and how does one even get into a pickle, anyways??)

then, 

it all pretty much fell apart.

It was all a long time coming and I do not need to go into the gritty details. I am not one to point fingers, name names and blah blah blah because that does no good.  The  point is, I recognized what was happening, I picked myself UP, dusted myself off, stretched myself out, and now I am moving on and moving up.

It took getting to a certain point where I had to STOP, pretty much "drop and roll" and now, with the help of an amazing GOD, some really GREAT books, a handful of wonderful friends, a family that is always ready to witness my "take off" (over and over and over) and a renewed confidence....

I am ready to launch. (here is a little snippet from my art journal yesterday)

 
During this self proclaimed "Self Intervention" I am taking alot of time to really listen to what speaks to me the most. (and no, doodles do not talk..you know what I mean!) This is hard for me because I love LOVE love to create alot of things....all at the same time.  doodled this yesterday..first thing in the morning

 
well, DUH! who would not want to do that...BUT that is not going to help me..help you unless I refocus it into a lesson of some sort...through inspiring, teaching and sharing...so, in a nutshell..that is exactly what I am in the middle of..right now!

I guess I could have just said that in the very beginning...but that would not have been as fun!

Thanks for sticking with wm and "getting me"!

Gracefully Strung

Remember...You have to "Believe it to see it" 

so maybe, today, with all of that extra paper...fabric...felt.....whatever you have go make a banner that is gracefully strung together....

 
 and psst...in case you wanna learn to doodle...go here

Closed For Restoration

I am Closed for Restoration....carefully, prayerfully, steadily, patiently, lovingly, honestly, creatively....for the long hall.  I am going to be personally experiencing an "Extreme Home Makeover" (for me, duh! ...no buss will be pulling down my street..i wish!) 

Sunday I took a 4 hour "S.H.A.P.E class at Church.  SHAPE stands for S-Spiritual gifts H-Heart A-Abilities P-Personality-E-Experiences.

Tuesday was the first day of the Online Soul Restoration Workshop and unexpectedly I had a "hmmmm" moment...(not "ahhh") and was not only able to absorb what Melody talked about, but was able to "Close for Restoration"

 
along with that, I am almost finished reading Brene Browns book The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are ....and have started going back with a highlighter and am already re-reading things...yes, before I am finished, so that I get it. Page 54 has a GREAT quote by Katherine Center

"Courage is contagious. You have to be Brave with your life so that others can be Brave with theirs"

and this Saturday is the kick off to the Daniel Plan, not only our small group 6-week study, but a new way, no a new HEALTHY way of life. You should consider coming if you live here...it is pretty dang exciting!

 
anyways, I am Closed for Restoration...and Open to Re-Construction (the non-surgical kind!)

Here is one of the keys to my success:

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart" Col 3:23

So you might be wondering what all this means for YOU my favorite blog readers in the whole wide world???...

Welp, because I am doing it to better myself, extract things, tone things, change things, delete things, execute things (that sounds weird!), refine things...you know.."CULTIVATE" all the areas of ME...

means that I will be a better ME for GOD,

for ME...

and yes..for YOU!

a Better Me.

and LOTS of exciting creative things....

I am ready!

Ready to Learn

Ready to Create

Ready to Listen

Ready to Absorb

Ready to Let Go!

are you inspired??? YOU can do it too!

Cultivating Bravery

Get some coffee and a pencil...you might wanna right a few things down!

I have always teased that I am a "Brave Girl" wannabe because I have never actually gone to Brave Girls Camp.....but in real life, I sorta am, a Brave Girl. I have personally taken some GIANT leaps of FAITH (without a visible net, I must add!) but (and there is that big ugly but again) I am not as Brave as some yet Braver than others....we all are...and that is good enough as long as you (or at least I) am working towards a better goal.

Right now, to strengthen and broaden my Bravery...I am reading this book

The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are

written by Brene Brown who also has an amazing blog (among other things!) http://www.ordinarycourage.com/

I am reading, highlighting, underlining and folding over pages ALOT....One of those "Oh, she must have written this for me" books...

also, in honor of Bravery....this coming TUESDAY is the kick off to the Brave Girls Soul Restoration Online Class...and I am ready...

                                                                                   journal by} Log Your Memory
Whatever YOU are working on...YOU can do it..NO MATTER what your goal is.....all you need is a little FAITH.  Reach OUT...MOVE forward....it's not too late...(sounds like a DEVO song!) Start NOW!

I have LOTS more to say..but I have to go to my important little traffic directing job..so I will be back later!

The Week Wrap Up

This week I pretended Rit Dye was Jello, made some juice and dyed some trim

                                                           (this may very possibly be my Inspired 2011 project..just sayin)

I also sorted a trillion little letters and decided to sew a few on some felt..

 
This week, I ordered a new book and it just arrived...

 
This week, I continued kitting for two upcoming events, of which one just changed from an "entire package plan" to ala' carte plan.. http://homespunholidayatthevineyard.blogspot.com/

 
This week, I pressed a few other buttons on my machine and got these lovelies

 

and this time next week..I will be in Pennsylvania, getting ready to teach and play at Grove's....see you soon PA!

Hello WWW Tuesday

Today is the end/beginning of Week Two of my Weight Watcher Journey and I have to weigh in later today.

I just have to not only say that it is more than easy, it has REALLY made a definite change in my eating habits.  In addition, I have been doing some pretty aggressive workouts in between running & walks to work on my "mental status" (hold your comments!) and everything is changing..for the good....

oh except for when we went to the Angel Game last Thursday night and I ate enough salted peanuts in the shell for 13 people, which if I calculated correctly, was 44 points.

yes, I said 44, FORTY FOUR, 44 44 44 44...FORTY FOUR!!!!!????? I only get 21 points per day...

Let's just say that I will not be eating ANY peanuts anytime soon....but it made me think about how many times I have over eaten something, you know, like

Peanut M&M's..(which by the way I have NO desire for!!!!! yay, me!)

Never the less, we had a GREAT time at the Angel Game and all of the pictures are printed and ready to be put into an album...even though I ate 44 points worth of salted peanuts in the shell,....44!

Today I am a busy busy kitter getting things ready for theReflection's Ala' Carteclass on Thursday night as well as updating this darn'd blog with upcoming classes....here is a look at the mini book that will make its home in the box that we will be creating in class:

 
 
I REALLY like this little class, in fact, it MIGHT become a "Not a Kit, Kit" for June....

If you are a new reader,every once in a while I create a kit from one of my classes, and this is pretty dang cute so as soon as I can get the info on the boxes that I am waiting for, then the decision will be made.   
 
A "Not a Kit, Kit" really is a "kit", it just is not a "kit club" and there are a limited amount of kits that will be available.... so, if you think you might even be interested, send me an email at homegrown1@att.netand let me know.

Okay..off to start the day...Hope that you have a great one!

did I mention 44 points??????

ugg.