Homegrown Hospitality

Thinking Outloud

Sometimes I think too much..sometimes out loud and I am pretty sure now is one of those times. For about 3 1/2 years I have been trying to inspire you with my creative, personal and faith filled life on this blog and it is time for a little break.

I have been thinking for quite a while now on how to keep this blog fortified with a balance of creative endeavors, life lessons and plain ol' blah blah blah without wearing out its welcome... so starting today, I will only be blogging on Monday, Wednesday & Friday.  

Sometimes pulling yourself away from something makes it better, so that is what I am aiming for.  Plus, I am getting ready to launch a few new things, including Homegrown & Homemade On-line 09..watch for all of the details on Wednesday!!!  

On my "blogging days off" I will be growing spiritually, focusing on home & family life and of course, creating..so that when I am here on Mon-Wed-Fri. I may be of better service and inspiration to you!..Do not worry though...I am right here, reading your comments and emails so do not be surprised if I jump in once in awhile to say hello on my "off days"..you know that I can not stay away!

with love...

s.

p.s..here is a project that I made this morning that will be part of Homegrown & Handmade On-line 09..just could not wait to give you a peek..

see you Wednesday!

Sunday Evening Post...

Just thought I would give you a heads up that I just added a few new bags to my ETSY shoppe...

Have a relaxing Sunday evening....

Meet Charlie

I am all out of cream wool, I mean "snow", but I do have some orange so by request, I have created "someone" new....Meet Charlie..

Penelope's friend from "The Patch"

  Charlie would like to tell you that Sandra Smart is the name that was picked by none other than "The Valentine" as the winner for the canvas!  Congrats to Sandra and welcome to the world Charlie!

Have a great Sunday!

Saturday Morning Post

talk about coincidence...first, I can design a stamp and heck, I can buy a stamp...BUT I do not have stamp skills, so a few days ago, in a mad fury of overhauling the Shead-Teau, I ran across a TON of my stamps...so as my reward for cleaning up, once I could actually see the top of my counter and there was a spot for me to stand in front of the counter ..

I took a little me time & played with stamps...now, I will not show you the trash because I threw alot away...but here are two survivors and "for the love of Pete" I think they are okay.

Personally, I can not see myself making anymore of these, but it sure would be a fun class to needle-felt a "Pete" and then make some cards....or something...

anyways...for now, these will go in a box with the rest of the stuff "I just make"...

and then...the coinscience of Pete started to happen....

I had just finished up the winning give away to Missy for naming "Penelope"...and placed her on the catwalk with the cards...

she even has a little headband to hold her snow-ear muffs on..and of course she has a heart woven into her middle AND a heart on her scarf...

"cute" I scream...CUTE!!!

anyways..so I have to get over to JoAnn's yesterday and I spot a new magazine on the stand....

so there I stood, in front of the Simplicity Pattern drawers completely lost in this magazine...so much so, that I did not realize there was a lady standing in back of me waiting to get into the drawer that I was standing in front of...until I let out a pretty loud "ohhhhhhhhhh" when I got to page 101

For the Love of Pete..would you look at who it is????? GREAT Gobs of Fire..It is Pete!

anyways...the magazine has TONS of ideas...but it is $14.99!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! so make sure to take your 40% off coupon if you are going to buy it...

meanwhile, back at the ol' shipping counter in the garag-mah-hall...these little lovelies are being colored in and attached the the Remember December packages being shipped out...finally!

Have a great Saturday...I will pick a winner (gross!) for the painting on Sunday....

Make It Work...Chapter One *EDIT*

Yesterday I met with my friends for a Back to School PTA planning meeting.  I was so so excited and anxious to see them, to spend time with the people that I spend ALOT of time with during the school year that I am fortunate to call my friends..

I left with a headache and honestly...I still have it. ( I still have a headache also because I watch too much news, but in the case that they just arrested a molester in MY CITY that was using Face-Book as his fishing pole to troll for girls...I am glad there is one less monster "fisherman" on the streets. UGH.)

anyways....

I am certain that I was not the only one that had a headache after our meeting, but it was not from them, gosh, no I love hanging out, laughing, planning, remembering....I feel one of my commentary posts coming on but I am going to save you from it...I am going to journal it, pray about it and try and take my frustration, confusion and emotions and turn them into positive planning and maybe even a few cute "snow peeps".  That is all we can do....

I am inspired to pull out some paper and start writing of the Trailer Park Martha Manual.  Chapter One will be called "Make It Work" and then I will share it with the world (or maybe not, maybe I will share it with Oprah and SHE will share it with the world, and then my book with be #1 on the best sellers list & I will make a zillion bucks and then we can have a librarian for our school, and art classes, and music..ut oh..I will stop)  

We need to take what we have...as a school, as a state, as a community, as parents and make it work....because if we don't, we will have headaches everyday and that is not going to work because if we take too much Advil, for our headaches, our livers will get messed up (or is it kidneys) and we have  way too much laundry, carpool, practices and scrapbook pages to make to have health issues, because too many of us don't have insurance (here I go again) , plus when you have a headache...your cookies will not bake the way they are supposed to!

Here is a doodle that would  will be in my TPM Manual....

it really is that simple.

Have a super day and turn those frustrations into something creative...put the "FUN" in Dysfunctional!

EDIT...after writing those last words.."turn those frustrations..." I went straight out to the Shead-Teau and painted this...

 and got my frustrations out..Now here is the "simply complicated" thing about me (reason#642)

I like to make things like this...but I don't want it...

so I am going to give it away...with the catch that you have to pay shipping on it..This is kinda a big canvas...and well, times they are tough...so I can imagine that shipping will be about $10.00-$12.00 bucks..and hey ten bucks is ten bucks...

so...if that is in your budget and you would like to be entered into the drawing...

then comment away.

Summer 2009

Not that it is over, but it is pretty darn close and like every other year, this summer flew by...

Family "StayCation" in Arizona...1:00 Angel Game in air condition...sleeping on the couch...staying up too late...too many smores...camping with family & friends...way too much sand...not enough sunscreen...a trip to the emergency room...night swimming...new freckles...frozen yogurt at 9 o'clock at night...neighborhood block parties...bicycles built for eight...sleepovers...surfing...Lake Smellsomore...lazy rivers & waterslides...making crafts on 4th of July...slip-n-slides...road trip to Arizona...quick trip to Florida and no pictures to prove it....Family day to Redondo Pier..a pregnancy & a loss...spending time with old neighbors and having fun with new ones...selling a big ol' cadillac and relocating the house of couch...

LOTS of memories...fun, silly, sad & wonderful..all part of life and it is a good one.  Although I am a little bummed that summer is coming to an end and homework & bedtimes will resume in about a week, IT IS TIME... I look forward to a new school year for the boys and a semi-regular schedule for me...( I said semi-regular).

Hope you are enjoying the last days of summer...Maybe take a moment today to reflect on the past few months make a few notes, look at, develop or, for the love of pete, take some photos today!

Hi, My Name Is...

I must admit, I am going to be making a "blizzard" of these lil snowpeeps because there are so many cute names for them..especially when I start thinking up the little personalities they could have...and the things they do..

I could easily spend my entire day making these...but I can't..I have so many things going on...but as I make them..I will introduce them to you!

LOTS of you (thank you!) have asked about a class, online or on sight and I am trying to figure that one out..YOU will be the first to know, so stay tuned to this blog.

Now today being Wednesday means that it is the middle of the week and I usually go a little "digi" on ya, but I am saving that for FRIDAY..so check back for that...also, I have been sewing up a shabby bag storm in-between packing & shipping "Remember December" kits, Back-to-School Shopping, keeping very bored kids from clawing each others eyes out (we are DONE with summer, I think) well, and making lil snow peeps...It is NEVER (and I mean NEVER) a dull moment around here....

Have a really great day...

P.S... Penelope is her name and Missy was the first to suggest it...so I am sending you your very own little snowpeep (and you can name her whatever you want!

Don't Kill The Messenger...

I am just doing "Pete & Friends" a favor, sorta like a public service announcement...

so don't kill the messenger, but today is..um...August 25th.  4 months till, well, you know....and I don't want to freak you out, but it is RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER....so I am just reminding you of something you already know...December is a CRAZY, hectic month so now would be a really good time to at least start thinking about thinking about it....

AND......

Let me introduce you to the newest member of "Pete & Friends" She does not have a name yet, nor holly leaves for the berries in her hat, but what she does have, is a heart.  Yep, while I was creating her (and poking my poor pointer finger) I wove a little puffy red heart and before I made her "middle", I wrapped the heart up in her!!!!! That is how much I love these little things...

I am a dork..I know...but so are Pete & Friends...silly, dorky little wool snowpeople that totally make you smile...

I think it is the eyes and carrot, I mean "nose".

p.s...what should her name be...I am thinking that there might be a little snow prize involved.....

 

Inspiration Challenge

Today is Sunday.  A day I usually use as a day to reflect on the past week and prepare for the coming week.  I am loading my car today, as well as making room for a few more pick ups before I head over to meet Jennette. 

I can not put into words exactly, how the OUTPOURING of supplies, support, emails and comments has effected me..and more importantly, Jennette.  In a world where people are committing completely uthinkable acts, arguing over health care, stocks, polices, clunkers, ethnicity and whether or not dark chocolate is good for you and how much red wine you should drink, it stills my heart to know that there is good in this world...sometimes right in front of your eyes, disguised as a pile of scraps, "last years" colors or "has beens"..

This whole act of "Helping Creatively" is another PERFECT definition of my purpose of being a "Trailer Park Martha"  simply taking what you have and make good use of it.  It really is as simple as that.

Now, as Sunday progresses closer to Monday, use today's doodle as a challenge & inspiration to make a change...make a difference..or as your "ahhhh" moment to start NOW.

Here is the PDF file Download Doitnow with the doodle on it. 

Download it, print it out, color it, make it small, cut them out, give them to friends, leave them in your mailbox, put them in carts at the store..leave them places so that others will be inspired, too....

I mean REALLY???

"Pete & Friends" just keep getting cuter and in NO WAY am I bragging, that is NOT what I am saying and not my intention (just in case you might have thought that)

They are cute as they start to take form..until I add the carrot and those eyes!!!!

I am off to San Diego to teach at this retreat for the day and "Pete & Friends" are coming with me!