Homegrown Hospitality

Creative Roundup

Every once in awhile I am going to do a little round up and tell you about what is going on in my creative world, things I am working on, things I am loving and things that you can do. I will be also including these things in a newsletter, so don't feel like you are having a de'j'vu (or however you spell that!)

Creative Junk

Still carving away thoughts, ideas and plans to either teach in store, online or just sell these one of a kind stamps.  Probably do a little of each..maybe.

Carved this little one last night and I like how it turned out.  It does remind me of the stamps I have done with Purple Onion but the difference is, I made it.  That is the best part.  Not that "I" made it, but that it is handmade.  You know what I mean. After carving one, well, I carved another and them stamped them on a hanging tag and played with a few more colors that I do not usually use.  I like it..don't love it, but did not throw it away. Speaking of throwing away, I have a winner from the "my out-of-the-trash stamp" on Monday!  The winner is....

Ann J said:

#1 or #3 I live in a rural area so #2 is not an option!I love Bon Jovi too!

Congrats Ann!  Please email me your mailing address and I will get the stamp off to you..and thank you for loving Bon Jovi, too! 

and speaking of Bon Jovi..if you watch American Idol next week, I believe it is the 14th, they perform on the show. 

Classes

I am scheduling some classes near and far.  Continue to watch here for more details.  Coming soon is my "A Whole New Doodle Class" from last year that was previously found over on the Scrapbook News and Reviews site.  An email will go out about that and the upcoming classes I am working on!

Do Something

As you know, I am passionate about "doing something" and I encourage you to look into doing something yourself! 

This past Tuesday, the high school swim teams held a NEGU meet against the local rival school and it was awesome to see 100's of NEGU swimmers all come together for some friendly competition and gather toys and donations for Joy Jars.
Olympic Gold Medal Swimmer and the NEGU National spokesperson, Kaitlin Sandeno, Tina & I worked the booth, shared Jessie's story, talked about the Joy Squad and sold sweatshirts because it was FREEZING!!!  All of the swimmers showed great spirit and overall it was an awesome event! Thank you Trabuco and Mission swimmers....(and p.s"Way to go Blue!" we won the meet...whoot whoot)

To join the Joy Squad, click here and help spread JOY to a child every month of the year.  Your contribution of $20.00 a month send a jar of joy once a month to children fighting cancer. During the month of March, every contribution will be matched!  Double the joy!

Be sure to go to www.negu.org the check out all of the ways you can help, from donating toys to stuffing jars! There is alot that needs to be done!

Brave Girls/Dahlia House/She's Worth It

oh my, this is a big one, more that you are going to hear me speak about alot.  Human Trafficking. bad bad bad, wrong, wrong, wrong, just plain disgusting.

BUT...

I am helping change that by joining in with an amazing group to help encourage, restore, empower and heal those sweet girls that have been rescued. One sweet brave girl at a time...and you can too, in fact we all can and we are.

Please consider a donation.  Donate $10.00, 20..whatever you can to help buy a house. a HOUSE!?!  a house that will provide safety, security and growth.  Please consider donating.  I am fund-raising myself for another worthy recovery program, but right now, I am asking you to maybe watch Mel, see what is going on and consider making a difference.  Once the funds have been raised and the house is purchased, I am saying out-loud, right now, that I am going to go paint on that wall with Melody and crew and would LOVE to paint your name on a petal..watch the video..

okay, that is all for now..I am sure I could go on, but I will stop and let you enjoy your day!

Adhere The Truth - Repurpose 2013

I am kicking off the first day of the year with my word, Re-Purpose and a plan to "do something for others" with what I have.

I have mentioned it here and on FB, but when you have that nagging urge to help, to reach out and do something, but you just do not know what to do...

it really is easy...we humans just tend to complicate and over think things (well, at least I do.)

"When you don't know what to do, do what you know how to do, with what you have, for someone else."

So now what????

First, take a look at the video: 

Now, if you have taken one of my classes in the past few months, then you know exactly how to make "truth cards" the way I am making them but, here is the thing,

YOU can create "truth cards" just the way you want!

Here is what I am doing:

1. Start by creating cards or covering regular ol' playing cards with scraps of paper and tissue paper 2. Add a little ink to the edges 3. Add some paint, some stamps and some love in the shape of hearts (or whatever you wish!) 4. Add a little more "detail" 5. Adhere the truth and hey, as you are creating these truth cards for others, think, reflect and pray about what you are doing while you are doing it. It's a win win and that is a GREAT way to start off a new year!
For more information on how YOU can create truth cards for our brave girl friends on the other side of the world, go here http://bravegirlsclub.com/truth-card-exchange-manila-phillipines

and just a little shout out to my amazing friends Melody & Kathy...YOU are changing the world...ONE BRAVE GIRL AT A TIME!

I am..

BRAVE....

even when I feel like I am not,

I am.

and courageous

and vulnerable

and an artist

and sensitive

and sarcastic

Brave is

hard

rewarding

courageous

scary

and part of life so don't waste a second being a fraddy cat..PICK YO' SELF UP AND GET GOING!

Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

Today's Post is...

brought to you by the letter "P"

Brave Girls POSTED my new "Faith the Chicken" doodle on today's "A Little Bird Told Me" Daily Truth.   Faith is "me" (and maybe you) and you see, having "faith" is one thing...being brave (a chicken, get it?) is a whole other story...and this "Faith" that you see in the doodle, she has decided that she wants to be brave and colorful...like a PEACOCK!!!!! and she is sassy!

P is also for PRACTICE..and in addition to PRACTICING bravery, I am also PRACTICING my coloring skills on the newest PURPLE onion stamp release. (PSSST...Trim-a-tree starts shipping tomorrow!)

and am very PLEASED with the way they are all coming out.

P is also for Pete...and as I type, I have a huge PILE of glass ornaments sitting to my right, ready to be PAINTED.  Thank you all for PLACING your orders..keep them coming...I will be painting for a few weeks...so there is still time.

and lastly..and most PROUDLY...

P is for PURPOSE...and I am soooo PLEASED to tell you that with a PORTION of the PROCEEDS made from the sales of the "Little Muslin Hearts" YOU were able to PROVIDE 10 little lovebugs with some JOY...so thank you so so much!!! 

Faith & Bravery

I see that my sweet little "Faith the Chicken" doodlebird is being featured over at Brave Girls today so I saw it fitting to talk about what "she" means.

 
She is me (and maybe you)...growing and being tested in "faith",standing (not hiding) eyes pointed forward and focused (not down or closed) ...but very much a big "chicken" about many things (and being honest and open about those things).

Being a "chicken" is not a bad thing, sorta...as long as you fall back on that "faith" to help you do what you need to do....to be faithful, strong & brave.

"I've commanded you to be strong and brave. Don't ever be afraid or discouraged! I am the LORD your God, and I will be there to help you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9 (CEV)

I know you might be thinking that it says "do not ever be afraid or discouraged" and I am telling you the opposite by admitting that I am a chicken about somethings....

well, yes, I am often afraid and/or discouraged..because I am human, duh! BUT (dang big but!) I do not let my fears prevent me from doing things...It just makes things a little tougher, I am a little more anxious and uncomfortable..but those things make the outcome of doing something that I may be chicken about much more beautiful.

whew.

My faith is the "wind beneath my chicken wings" (sorry in advance if you sing that song all day!)  to help me fly .

Yes..I know that "chickens don't fly"....but just play along..She's a doodle for the love of Pete! oh..and she is a stamp too...

 
http://www.purpleoniondesigns.com/newstamps.html

Thanks to Mel & Kathy and all of the Brave Girls for helping me develop stronger wings for flight!! 

Worth Every Penny..

I just signed up..again...for Soul Restoration 2.

It is that good.

It is worth every penny.

Here is a little tiny look at what my journal looks like from last session

 
and I LOVE my book... 
but if you do not want to spend those pennies..you can sign up to give...blood...for free..NEXT WEEKEND we are having at Red Cross Blood Drive for this lovely.

and if you do not want to give blood...please give your time to say a little prayer for this big hearted little girl..she NEEDS them!!

and for the love of Pete...take time to make something today!  I spent a few hours over at Oh, Scrap! yesterday fluffing up the store for their KTLA Live Broadcast on Monday morning and was so happy to just sit and quietly create...and have not made these roses in a very long time...

 
The roses reminded me that I have a Create @ Home Technique Worksheet for $3.00 that you can order, download and, well...create at home. Click here to be taken to the link page!

  
Today...

Make time to take time..to do something...for someone else..and for yourself!

One Down...

In Brave Girls Soul Restoration 2 we are setting goals....and setting them the right way, not just because it is something we are supposed to do, you know, like on January 1st.

 
THAT NEVER WORKS..at least for me. 

In Soul Restoration, we are taking steps...at taking steps...make sense? and what better way to take a step than with new shoes...

 
yep, momma got a new pair of running shoes...and on sale, praise the Lord and...today, I am confident enough to share that my Goal #1 is....

 
Healthy Eating + Daily Fitness = Better feeling..Better Living..Better Mind..Better Body!!

You see, my problem has always been that I do one and not the other.....either eat great and not exercise...or exercise great and eat...well...like crap...and it does not work..

duh.

I know I am not the only one that does this and I even know that it does not work...yet year after year...I do the same thing even though I know that it only works when you do it AT THE SAME TIME...

"Pickin' up what I am puttin' down???"

DUH!

Totally reminds me of this verse from Romans 7:15

 "...I don't really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don't do it. Instead, I do what I hate."

So I joined Weight Watchers last Wednesday. 

I have a goal....and Weight Watchers is one of my steps. 

 
It keeps me accountable...keeps me on track...and after one week...

I lost one pound!

Okay, so not thrilled about only one pound BUT....one is better than none..or better than gaining...and I have to tell you, the reward for eating good & healthy and staying on track AND EXCERCISING at the same time makes me feel like I have lost 10 pounds!!!!

So one down...many to go....goals that is...and pounds...amongst other things...

work in progress...

we all are, you know!

 

SR2

 Are you doing it???

 
Soul Restoration 2....???

If you are then make sure to join up with me in my "Homegrown Brave Girls" group..the names kinda sounds gang-ish...but have you met me?

So not the gang type....

Unless you try to take my paint brushes away...or my markers...

Just kidding.

If your not...

doing Soul Restoration 2, that is,

You should..

Really, it is amazing...duh..

It is Melody...It is Brave Girls...of course it is amazing..and I am not just saying that.

Random Creative

 
1. It is beginning to look alot like "12 Days of Christmas" in JULY..in Pennsylvania!!!!...I am awaiting two shipments, one from Ranger, one from Prima so that I can wrap up the class samples and get you all of the information! eek...I LOVE PA!

2. I made my own fabric from Muslin, water colors and stitching...love!

3. I had a little paint on my brush and on my way to rinse the brush off, I decided to paint a little heart on a little rock from in the front of the shead-teau.

4. More watercolor on Muslin...

5. More doodlin on canvas...

6. Soul Restoration 2 started on Tuesday...just in time!

7. Oh look, more free motion stitching!

8. Christmas stash...

9. Felt+buttons+free motion+hand stitching+Christmas Tree = happiness!

Why did the Chicken....EDIT

cross the road?

because she ("Faith, the chicken) is ONE BRAVE CHICK... 
and she just finished the Brave Girls Soul Restoration and she, ("faith the Chicken") is BRAVE...well, or getting there!!!

Come back tomorrow  it's here now...to see the finished piece but in the meantime, go check out Brave Girls Soul Restoration..Click here for all of the details!