Homegrown Hospitality

A Test of Faith Part Two

we had such a great time in Arizona...we took in LOTS of sun, tons of ice water (I NEED my own ice machine!) a baseball game with the Angels vs. The Diamondbacks in an AIR CONDITIONED FIELD..hello...the way to go! a trillion applications of sunscreen, water-slide rides (not me or grandma!) Lazy River floats, good food, early morning golf, all in all, LOTS of good family time...here are a few photos from our trip..

and then of course we were all stuck to the tv once the news of Micheal Jackson's death surfaced.  I must have said a 100 times "It is just so sad"

anyways...we decided to stay an extra day, checked out of the hotel on Sunday and headed to Grandma & Grandpa's house where sadly, but fortunately, I started to have a miscarriage.

I can say that now. 

Even now, on Tuesday evening, as of just a few hours ago, all I did was cry, but I think I am starting to be okay, or at least starting to heal. Our entire families hearts are in pieces and it is going to take some time to be okay.  I have to say that it is my FAITH that is carrying me through this, no, it is OUR FAITH that is getting US through this.  As bad as I felt on Sunday...I found so much comfort being with my family at my mom & dad's house. My mom & John took care of me, my mom & Dad took care of all of us.

No matter how much I cry, go through the emotions, I have never, not once wondered why.  I know why and although Ben asked if it was the one diet coke with Caffeine that I drank at Grandma's that did it, we are able to deal with the situation.  WE  just know that it was not in God's plan, at least for now.  Jack has been such a big guy, just concerned for me and came to me on his own last night and reminded me that "it was not God's Plan" and then said "Just think Mom...the little baby is in heaven now!" (he said it with such a cute "oh goodie!" tone) Ben has been pretty devastated and that has made my heart hurt so much more but is starting to understand a little at a time.   

John & I are so so sad.  We "get" it, but up until Sunday, MANY of our conversations were about "This time next year" and watching all of the little one's in the water this weekend made us more and more excited....so that is part of the pain...not to say that we can not try again, but for right now, we need to heal, take time to pray and love, enjoy, embrace & be with our families right now.  

 Another test of faith..another part of the journey...another situation that needs to be shared even though it is very emotional for us right now.  I pray that part of the healing is talking about it.

I know without even asking that you all will keep our family in your prayers...and for that, I thank you so much...but also keep the many many people that go through the sadness of miscarriage in your prayers.  Even though there is much sadness, I still thank GOD for everything he continues to provide in our lives...

A Test Of Faith

“Follow your heart,

but be quiet for a while first.

Ask questions,

then feel the answer.

Learn to trust your heart.”

                                              Unknown

Arizona or Bust...

we are turning off the computers, locking up and hitting the road headed for 5 family fun filled days in the "it's a dry heat" Arizona sun...personally, I can not wait...I feel like an oil well and could use a little dry heat.  The June gloom has worn out it's welcome in California as far as I am concerned so I am looking forward to some heat.  I am sure that by Sunday I will be singing a different tune...and I am gonna be blunt here and say that I am starting to become "thick"..I am headed into my 8th week and although it is way early..I feel like an oily sequoia...ughhh...so the bathing suit thing is not working out so well for me...double ughh!

anyways...Thank you for all of the Anniversary Wishes...I LOVE love and I love my LOVE story...and I love my Valentine....Here is the card I made for him..we really are dorks...as you can see in the photo....

okay..and moving on...I have been sewing...and bringing back on old favorite of mine called the "Shabby Bag".  Back in 2003 and 2004, I made a truckload of these and I used to sell them at the Long Beach Veterans Stadium Flea Market....I forgothow much I love them. They are pretty, they are BIG, they are fully lined and they are shab-a-licious...

Here is a little look at the three combinations I have done so far...(2 are already sold!)

aren't they lovely??? As soon as I get back from AZ I am going to make more and have them for sale at the Scrap Sale on July 10th....

and it just would not be me without leaving you with a little...sneak peek teaser to "something" that is coming up in August...

Have a great rest of the week and a wonderful weekend...I will catch up & re-cap on Monday!~

 

Hello Monday..on a Tuesday.

Monday got away from me....and now it is Tuesday, June 23...my Valentine & I's 2nd Anniversary...(que the floating hearts!) Gosh..time is just flying. 

Just this time last year he was out of town working and this time two years ago was one of the most best wonderful days in my life... 

and this time next year....we will be pushing a stroller! 

Saturday Morning Scavenger Hunt

Saturday's are started by going out to the shead-teau and "starting over"  The counter ,floors & any other spot available is riddled with scraps from the week and it takes a good solid two hours or so to clean it up and clear it out so that I can start over...

I should have taken a "before" photo, but I think you have a pretty good idea of what it looked like compared to right now.  I am pretty sure I hear the sound of creative angels singing...Here is a look at what is going on out there..

This is the bulletin board that hangs up and to the right of the counter top..It has a cornucopia of things..I would probably win something on "Let's Make a Deal" if they had a "Creative Edition"

You'd find out alot about me by studying that board..

on the opposite side of my counter is where I have a ridiculous amount of projects.  I used to have a basket of them by our front door but it got to be toooo many...so now, here they are

and next to that is TWO LARGE BOXES full of stuff to sell at the Scrap Sale on Friday, July 10...but I can not show you that...it would be so unfair to those of you on the other side of the country..or the world!

and my counter top...ahhh, so nice to see you counter top!

 

and here is just a little look at some of the projects I completed this week, which by the way, made me very sea sick.  My Creative Flow is so Bi-Polar that it makes me have vertigo and the fact that working outside my box makes me..well...let's just say, I am a good sport and will give any product the benefit of the doubt...it is just that I DON'T LIKE some of the things that I make, compared the the things I LOVE LOVE to make....

needless to say, I had a very creative week and will have LOTS to give away soon.  I can not possibly keep storing all of these projects and if someone loves something..then they should have it instead of me keeping it in a box..

Happy Rest of your weekend.....

Hello Friday!

Oh there is so much to tell you about today...

First, There is a BIG SALE on the Sx2 stuff over at The Daily Digi.  If you are wondering what exactly Sx2 is, well today is the day you can "Read All About it"...& over on the left hand side bar under "for the Love of Papr & Digi", you can see how I am the "Not-a-Digi" person and simply print all my "junk" onto paper an then play with it...go on..go look...you can come right back when you are done...

 

second, school is officially OUT!!!!

We hit the skatepark, In-N-Out and then the boys "stayed up late" tillike, 11pm or so (and I was up too!)  Here is a look back at the first day & last day...both of the boys took a growth spurt this year.  It makes me sooo sapppy to think that Ben will be in 5th grade..Jack will be in 8th grade...and gulp...we will have another one before you know it.  Yesterday as we were getting ready to head to school, I was squeezing Ben telling him that I just could not believe that he was getting soooo big and he said "that's all right Mom, you will have another baby soon"...ugghhh....it's those "how can I love another" feeling creeping in.  I know I will, but I suppose these are the beginnings of raising a blended family.  I want Jack & Ben to KNOW completely that they are NEVER being replaced, nor do I want them to feel 2nd to a new baby....any advice and words of wisdom can be emailed to me at anytime! 

 

Regardless...it is summer...so it is back to work early & late for me and fun in the middle.  This is really "Our Every-Other-Year" Family Vacation to Maui...but due to that DUMB dumb DuMb economy...we will not be sifting the Maui sand with our toes.  We are however doing a few little local vacations...Wednesday, we are heading to Arizona (without the DOG) for some fun & sun with Grandma & Grandpa at the Arizona Grand...and in July we will be "roughing it" in the motorhome at the beach for a whole week with Grandma, Grandpa and a whole big group of family campers!...(again without the dog)

and speaking of the dog...Jack has a new summer job as it seems I am not dealing with the smell of pets (just thinking about it makes me blllahhhkkkk) so yesterday, I trained Jack from start to finish on this:

Most Important Rule to Dog Washing..ALWAYS leave one hand on wet dog at all times or get wet (see last photo). 

okay, moving on...

 

Deena has just opened up a new "Homeschool" Card kit for the summer and you should REALLY go check it out...and speaking of Deena...don't forget that we are have a BIG Scrap Sale in the Garage-mah-hall on FRIDAY, July 10th from 6:00 to 10:00 (or until there is no more stuff...but we have ALOT, but it is really good..so who knows!)  I think we have even decided to have a little make-n-take table to play with stuff..AND maybe even  a Bake Sale, too!

If you would like the address and flyer emailed to you, please email me at homegrownhospitality@cox.net or Deena at zigszoo@cox.net .  We will send you info so that you can "pass it on"...it is gonna be fun in the summer!

 

alrighty, the sun is up and I must retreat to the shead-teau to work..then we are off to the beach...and then Boomers...with some errands and "junk" inbetween...

Have a really great Friday....

Yipppeeeee...Summer is here!

CreAtiVitY up'S and DoWns...

I doodled today..well, and yesterday too...BUT I seem to be having some real difficulties right now with being content with colors, paper, really just doodling in general, so besides my fun doodle class going on right now, I am going to put down the pens for a while.  I don't want to force it...and I seem to be so overtaken by felt (flowers created yesterday in the car while at the skatepark!) that I am just going to stick with that for a bit...well and playing with paper of course, duh!  I am working on PDW stuff...Girl's Loft Stuff...TDD stuff, NEW Purple Onion stamps and Christmas stuff.

Yep, you heard me right...christmas...and I will have a new class announcement soon, so watch for that. 

Okay, for today, a doodle.  Actually, two doodles.  Same doodle done on different days...shows you how up and down I am...If you did not get a chance to read Donna Downey's blog yesterday on Creativity..you should. It is good. REALLY good.  Could not have said it better myself, and this quote compliments it just perfectly...

                                               

Have a super day!

 

 

 

Special Delivery

Here is a little sneak peek of the special delivery I got from the mailman yesterday for Girl's Loft!!

I had to giggle when Iopened the box and it was all PINK and green...hmmm...I wonder if that is an indication of "things" (& NO we are NOT finding out)

Stay tuned for more and make sure to go on over to get on the waiting list for the first Girls Loft kit!

to do..or not to do...

I know that we are not supposed to live by "lists" but personally, if I do not have a list to go by,  most of the time I deviate from the  "to-do's" right on over to the  "do those"..and "do that's"..and the best one..."do-it later's" and then all at once I am struggling "to do it all" right now....sound familiar?

The reason for the statement above is that I have a lot of projects that I am working on and getting finished up on but seem to only want to to do this...sit and cut felt letters. 

I just cut and cut and cut...and then stitch...and stitch...and then stitch...

if you ever just see me sitting in my car waiting for kids to get out of school, sitting at the skate park or if you have ever wondered..."Hmm..I wonder what Stephanie is doing right now??"...I am probably doing this.

For my newer readers, I often out myself with my "struggles" because it is a good way to admit it, deal with it and move on, plus 9 times out of 10, I get emails from readers that admit they are they same way. 

That is what I like most about this blog...the honesty I submit to you...about my life..my trials...my loves...my failures...my random acts of dork-ness, and then the fact that YOU STILL COME BACK!!!

I think most of us, at least here reading this blog, are the same. (or else you probably would not be here right now).  It is nice to be able to relate to others, even if it is on a computer screen, on a skype call, via a 12x12 layout or in real life.  I want you to feel happy, comfortable, inspired and reminded here at Homegrown Hospitality and you have my blessing to use this blog as your very own little cozy therapy couch, (but just know, most of the time I am lounging on it.) 

so back to the cute felt letters, flowers, hearts...etc...welp, they are soon to be digital elements (I think it is okay to tell you that!) but also, they will be sold as little sets at the D.S.S Scrap Sale here on July 10th...okay...right this down...FRIDAY, JULY 10th (that's a Friday Night) from 6pm -9pm....Deena had listed it from 5-9...but we changed it so you can all get here after your workday without breaking any laws by speeding down the toll road....we do not need any high speed pursuits to watch on the evening news of ladies trying to get here...

The stuff is good...but not that good..well...

anyways...so I am going to be packing them up by words & such for you to use...um...really however you want..and here is the thing...they are all hand cut, hand-stitched..totally homegrown & homemade so I think that is why I LOVE them so much....

I did have a question about them last time I showed some of the felties, and that question was, do I do custom words..of course I do, but again because they are 100% homemade, the stitches are a little "pippi" (you know, like pippi longstocking..a little quirky)...let's just say NO two letters nor stitches are the same (which is another reason why I LOVE them)

anyways...I should go now...I need to get "Willy Wonka" up and dressed for the 4th grade character breakfast...

Have a great day today...whatever you "to-do"

Past Projects...that just never "made it"

Because the #1 answer to the "What do you want to see" question was "see more projects", I thought I'd go through and post some of the things that I have worked on in the past year...or two. 

Created July 2008 - the front panel of the "The Good Stuff" the little book was once upon a time going to be a class at this years Inspired.  LOVE this little book made from October Afternoon cards and scraps...and little photos of my family, in fact it sits right here next to me and my computer...I used my Bind-it-all() to bind it and continues to be a favorite of mine to look at...

   Created Oct/Nov 2008 Daily December project Inspired by Ali Edwards...This is still a fav and coincidentally will be making a comeback...at a local store this summer....STAY TUNED....should have the details this week...who doesnt LOVE getting a jump on the holidays in August....

The Valentine's Book I made...for my Valentine.  I believe it was also in the first issue of Homegrown Hospitality.

I made it from a Bazzill book, MM scraps and lots of love...for reals..don't get all grossed out...

This Summer Block Party Book was made last year to recap our streets annual block party's...we have one for every possible summer holiday (plus we add some in) Another project made just from chipboard and card stock, scraps of Scenic Route Liberty (which I still love), a little doodle here and there, homemade star embellishments and a bunch of red white and blue ribbons scraps...

This is the project that inspired last summers "Sweet Land of Liberty" class.

okay, that is probably enough to look at for now...anything inspire you?  I hope so...I have a LOT more where this all came from and maybe once a week or so I will go through past projects and share some tips and stuff with you.

This is our last week of school and I have one last project to make..a "willy wonka" costume for Ben...I thought my project making days for this school year were over...but heck, what's one more....all I have to say is THANK GOODNESS the sun has decidedthat it is time to come out...this past few months have been way to gloomy...which I have come to realize has mixed way too well with my hormones changing....now everything makes a little more sense...duh!

Have a great Monday!!!!

p.s...Don't forget to go over to the Girl's Loft...today is the reveal!!!!