Homegrown Hospitality

I.R.C. Inspire, Remind & Create **EDITED**

Just wanted to give you a heads up that I just added a few things to my ETSY and all items will ship out same day as purchase!

www.homegrownandhandmade.etsy.com

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back to your regularly scheduled program...

I hope that you all had a  Thanksgiving long weekend.  We all ate too much, spent alot of family time  & accomplished a ton of things, but TODAY..is back to work  !

I have spent the last hour and a half (and it is only now 5:26 am) trying to catch up on emails, ETSY orders and paperwork.  TODAY is the last day of my old email provider so I am trying to finish getting everyone and everything into the places they need to be so, if you are looking for something or waiting for something from me and want to double check, please email me at [email protected] and I will answer EVERYTHING TODAY..that is my PROMISE to you!

My Mom & I went to church   and for me, it was another    & enlightening "He must be talking to me" message from Pastor Rick.  He also had a really GREAT interview on Meet The Press on .  I hope that you got a chance to listen and/or see both.  If not, I will be re-capping it either later today or tomorrow.

also on  , the Valentine & I watched P.S I Love You...what a sad movie!, yes a happy ending, but still so sad! I cried a zillion times (I think the "person" I watched the movie with had "sweaty eyes" too!)  I also laughed and smiled throughout the move but best of all, was reminded of my Creative Spirit (at the part where she first met Jerry in Ireland) If you have seen it, than you know what I am talking about...It put a little fire under my "Creative    and   " and was reminded of my PURPOSE to Inspire, Remind and  . 

For now, I need to get back to work on what I was doing as well as getting the LAST newsletter of 2009   out.  Can you believe that we are not only at the end of another year...but also the end of a decade???? I had not thought of it that way until I heard Rick's message.  Again, I invite you to send me an email today with any questions, comments, ideas, etc.  I am working on my "Creative" plans that include teaching, traveling and on-line classes for 2010 and would really appreciate your thoughts!

Have a   last day of . 

Thanksgiving-Black Friday Recap

I hope that you are enjoying the long Thanksgiving weekend..We have been going at full speed since yesterday morning and I thought I'd pitstop and give you a quick recap of what we have done so far

starting at top left

Mother in law had been over earlier in the week and quietly noticed that we "needed" a tree skirt and had already made one for me for Christmas and made the "executive decision that we "needed" it now...I wore if first, because I LOVE the fabric and then placed it under the tree...

One of my FAVORITE things to do is go through all of the ad's (I like to go through them every Sunday, too) but there are soo many...This year, after we ate, we all sat around the table going through them...

Just a little of the TONS o' food we had...pictured is my Sweet Potato Casserole, SIL Julies SUPER DUPER GOOD Broccoli casserole and my BIL made a new dish with Yams and apples..I named them "Yammples" and it was like eating applesauce...soooo good.

Relaxing on the "House of Couch" in the "Gara-mah-hall" 

Middle Row Left to Right

Me & Mom making her Christmas Cards (see story below), Mom using the "Tim Holtz" distressor on the cards (see more story below), Black Friday Gift o' the Year...SNUGGIE'S...I am getting the leopard one, mom gets the zebra one, nieces get the pink ones and Ben get a blue one...NOBODY else wanted one??? They will wish they had come Christmas morning when we are all...snuggie...., Dad hand coloring cards (see story below)

Bottom Row Left to Right

"The Christmas Card", Mom & Valentine, Two Turkeys, A big card making mess

"The Card"  (see story below), My mom & Valentine, Two Turkey's & a big card making mess so "The Card"..my mom and dad went on a trip this past summer to Zion & Bryce Canyon and took a photo of some deer at the side of the road.  My dad is an artist, I get my talent from him (home loving skills from mom)..anyways, dad is in semi-=retirement and is taking art classes at the ol' club house where they live and did a pencil drawing of the deer...which I scanned in, printed out in sepia tones on white Bazzill card-stock.  I trimmed them, mom inked and edges them, dad hand colored just a little water color pencils and now they are ready to be mounted on dk. green and dk. red Bazzill card-stock and adhered to cream cards....oh, and just a TINY bit of "stickles" on a tree or two..

Here is the pencil drawing and the finished card...

  It is now 8:12 pm on the tail end of Black friday and we are all tired..so we are going to be (last night..we were all in bed with light's out by 8:19pm!)

Tomorrow we are going to play HGTV and paint Ben's room, finish the Christmas cards, go to church, eat and go to bed again!!!

Hope that you are having a great weekend!  Happy Thanksgiving! 

 

oh, p.s. mom just gave us an ornament for our tree...   ironically, she bought it before "Snowflake" died a week ago today! 

 

Homegrown & Happy Thanksgiving...

I hope you have a wonderful day... Happy Thanksgiving!

Thankful, Blessed and Grateful...and tired!

EARLY this morning I looked back this time last year  and decided that this doodle needs a re-do and update...some new colors, etc. so I will be doing that this morning...and in reading this doodle...it reminded me of a few things that I need to do and how I need to re-think my thoughts...

I was fussy that I was doing laundry at 4:34 am this morning and thought "does it ever end?" I immediately corrected myself  because not only am I thankful for a family I have to wash for,  I am thankful that I have a washer that washes and a dryer that dries...

and then made a list of to-do's that includes several random things like  roasting the sweet potatoes, continuing to defrost the turkey, painting the baseboards (yes, because I just LOVE to do everything at once!) having lunch with friends (not a task, but a reward!), chopping onions, baking pumpkin bread and it made me stop to think about how grateful and thankful I am that I am able to work from home so that I can clean it while I work (and yes, I "whistle while I work", if you were wondering)and bake while I work, and listen to Kelly & Regis, the ladies at The View, and take a nap at 2 while General Hospital is on

I continue to count my blessings for all that I have even when I get frustrated that socks don't match because I am thankful that our feet are warm and covered. (now if I could just get Ben to keep his shoes on!)

I continue to count my blessings at the same time I grit my teeth (yep, a multi-tasker) when I see that the windows are dirty and that I still need to clean them before tomorrow but am thankful that I have windows to clean, energy to get up and do it,  and  75 degree plus weather to go out and do it. 

now..here is the key to why I am able to do what I do...

None of this would work without a GOD that I can go to 24/7 to pray to, tell, share, whine, and thank for all of blessings and chaos in my life.  I am so lucky that I have a choice, I am so blessed that no matter what I have done in the past, he does not hold it against me and I am so grateful that he listens to me and then fills my mind and heart with the real things that always counter-balance my "grrrrr" moments.  

Have a blessed, Grateful and Thankful Day..

(p.s.I am off to re-doodle.  I will post it later, so check back!)

Morning Update

8:30am

Bunk Beds are down, Sweet potatoes roasting, laundry going and getting markers out to re-do doodle...

10:02 am

did you know that a 15 x 10 x 1 pan is a regular size cooking sheet?  I did not either but I got the big ol manly measuring tape out and measured...

did you know that if you roast sweet potatoes at 450 degrees instead of 350 degrees, they will roast better...just sayin

and just because I thought that I would tell you (because there is no way that you would know) I am out of dish soap, with pans piling up, sweet potatoes roasting and pumpkin bars on deck waiting for the oven...

 

and yes, I am working on the re-do doodle....

 9:47 pm

so, the base boards did not get re-painted (why I really thought I needed to do that is unexplainable!) BUT, the dog got a bath, the YUMMY cranberry-apple relish is done and is really Yummy (and I am not a cranberry lover) and I now finishing the doodle re-do..it will be up first thing in the morning...everything else is ready and on deck for the 6am turkey launch.

Good night and Happy Thanksgiving Eve...

 

 
 

Inspired by...

Monday is usually the day I clean house, change sheets, finish up laundry, etc..when I stumbled upon Donna's blog and the canvas ornaments she was working on...

INSERT LOUD SCREECHING BREAKS...

who needs clean sheets anyways???

so, I left a quick comment for her, dashed out to the ol' Shead-Teau, turned off the AM Talk and tuned into the KOST (because they are playing continuous Christmas music as their gift to me) and got to work.

Now, go grab your coffee, get comfortable and get ready for a creative "Pin-Ball" session....I make myself "sea-sick" with the back and forth...but hey, it is me, "Simply Complicated"

so like I mentioned, I was Inspired by Donna....

so I got out my sewing machine, my Big Shot, my big Circle Die, some canvas, some stamps and a little felt...and this is what I came up with

okay, so I loved it, and then I just liked it. I am not that into circles, so that was what bugged me...so much that I started with squares...and stamps...

and then I sewed the edges, but realized that the ink was not dry..so I stamped out a ton of 2010 words for the year..because I can not have just one...set them aside to dry..and cut out tags with another die....

and used my stamps, some green ink...and whalah!

hello CUTE! so my Donna Inspired morning went from round ornaments to sewed & stamped canvas that will now be tags for my gift giving this year!

Can you imagine one of these ties with a strip of fabric wrapped around a loaf of banana bread or around the lid of a Ball Jar filled with something yummy....or tied with a string around the handles of a kraft gift bag?

okay, so another one of my favorite stamps is this one..and look how dang cute it looks on canvas, all stitched up and cute

and well, the ink on my 2010 words were not dry yet and this cute thing was lonely, so I added it and a few other things to the front of a blank journal 

  
Finally,all of my words were dry, so I stitched the edges of each one and then glued them to the front of a canvas journal,coincidently also by Donna Downey for Prima.  It looked to plain so I cut out some letters that I had stamped on canvas with paint last week and glued those on too....

whew...told you it was going to be a pin ball game..up down, back and forth! But really creative and refreshing...Thanks Donna ,for inspiring me!  

Maybe today I will get the sheets changes, finish up the laundry, etc..or..maybe not!

What Inspires You?   

It's beginning...

 
yes, tree is up, house is decorated...Thanksgiving is THIS WEEK and it is almost time for my "Remember December" project. I know we need to finish out November...but I wanted to remind you that the entire month of December I will be at the "other" blog... Remember December..and I want to invite you to follow along.   

This Just In....SPEAKING OF REMEMBER DECEMBER .....I understand that there has been some interest in another class at Oh, Scrap! in Costa Mesafor a "Remember December" class..soooo...I am trying to gather up supplies to create one more class.  IF you are in the area and interested, I HIGHLY SUGGEST that you call Jennifer or Mary TODAY to get on the list...(949) 645-3334 (and you could probably sign up for myother class, you know, if you wanted..just saying!)

okay, back to where I was....

As I was decorating the tree yesterday, I started reminiscing about the ornaments that we have and decided that my "Remember December" book will be more about each ornament, almost like a guide book, so that someday, they will know who, when & why about each ornament.

Do you get "sentimental" when you decorate the house?  I suppose it is one of those "getting older" things, but I felt very emotional as I was doing it.  I am sure it could have been that Jack (age 14) did not want to help..and Ben was playing with a friend, so it was primarily me.  Yes, the "Valentine" did help a little, and yes he did get the boxes out of the attic, so that totally counts but I definitely felt tugs on the ol' heartstrings.

It is gone now because as I type this Ben is yelling at the top of his lungs from his bed ( and I am in the gara-mah-hall) ...ahhh, Monday, welcome back and thanks for tying my heartstrings up in what I am sure is in a really cute bow!

Have a great day!

Inspiration Unlimited 2010

Meet me in Henderson Nevada....I will bring the Chocolate Chip Cookies and the Non-Dairy Hazelnut Cream!

Can I suggest you put something on your Christmas list ???

Mark your calenders for Sept. 2010, tear it out and give it to someone that wants to know what you want for Christmas...or, hey, Hanukkah! JUST $285.00 (plus a little for this and that) and make plans to meet me (and possibly drive with me) to INSPIRATION uNLIMITED 2010...

Here is what you need to do RIGHT NOW....

You NEED to go to Teresa's blog RIGHT NOW to read all about the plans for 2010 and see the line-up of teachers (including lil' ol me...gasp) and check out the "new digs" for the 2010 event...wowee-zowie...super nice...and really, you NEED to go because we have a blast..really...we do....here are just some of the photo's from this past Sept. event...

can you come?  really. please?

am I begging?

maybe a little, but that is because we have such a fun time..

we laugh alot...

we smile alot, so much that my cheeks hurt...

really....can you??

did I mention that I am teaching with all of the "supastars"?

I hope you can come...

I bet you could..

hey, if I can go, you can..and you all know how homesick I get!

come on...

think about it...

I gotta go teach (and bury the bunny, uggh.)

I will check back with you all tonight...to see if you are going to go...

come on...

it is fun!

p.s...

remember I have a NEW EMAIL and REALLY NEED YOU to email me so that I can get my address book filled up:

[email protected]

Thank you...see you tonight (and in Henderson, NV.)

TODAY...recap

 
TODAY the changes begin. It is just time.  I am not waiting for "the new year" because TODAY is the first day of the rest of my life, (duh!) There will be some BIG changes and some very small changes...but today is the day I mark as "the day".  There is no  specific monumental reason why TODAY is the day, it just is.  I have a choice, and I choose TODAY.

I hope you choose today, but if not, there is always tomorrow! 

Now..an UPDATE on my TODAY.

It was the day that I let my Ben walk home from school (with a neighbor) by themselves.  YES, he is in fifth grade but it is a big step for me.  When I dropped him off at school , he was so excited that he smiled all the way out of the car, up the back steps and out of my view.

Today was a big step for me.

TODAY was also the day that my little bunny, "snowflake" died.  (my dad called him"Speedo & Sea Biscuit")

 As soon as I got home from dropping Ben off, I went right out to the back to uncover snowflakes cage to find him all cuddled up in the corner, sleeping more sound than I had ever seen him.  It was one of those moments that I just knew.  I am not a pet person "per-say" because I don't like to touch or cuddle, but I like them & I am a fair mom when it comes to getting pets for the boys (just like my mom & dad did for my sister & I).

I dreaded calling Valentine because he is a regular ol' ACE VENTURA and I knew that I would add distress to his day, but I had to do something   Poor Ben, so excited to be walking home, arriving with a smile quickly became very sad.  Hee did not take it well at all.  My heart breaks for kids (and pet LOVERS) that have to experience the death of a pet.  I did my share of pet loss growing up, but it still is so hard when it happens.

We will be burying Snowflake in the backyard tomorrow in a safe place. Hop happy into heaven little Snowflake.

and lastly, TODAY, I got a new email address, we got a new phone carrier, a new internet provider and cable etc. ans as much as it is no big deal..it is! and now I am just unsure of how to let everyone know the new email...

so, would you do me a HUGE favor and send me an email to

[email protected]

I would really appreciate it.

Hope you had a great TODAY!

Change is Good & Change is Coming...

Blog Changes & Email Changes

As you can see, I am tweaking my blog a little here & there.  It appears to be a little "sterile" right now, but I will be adding (and deleting things) as I learn how to manage it better. 

I am also getting an NEW EMAIL ADDRESS tomorrow...this could cause ALOT of initial problems but hopefully delete the email issues I have been having.  I am a little bit (ALOT) concerned on how the transition is going to work, but the people at AT&T insure me that it will be okay. 

Shead-Teau Changes

The Shead-Teau needs a really BIG BAD makeover (and some christmas lights, hello!) 

I have started to work just a tad on it and there is LOTS to do.  There is going to be a shift in product supply come January so I must make room, ween out the other and prepare for a "new path" on my Creative Journey".

 

 

 

Home Changes

We got "big people" bedding this week.  This may sound silly to you, but we have been in LIMBO with mattress size & bedding for a LONG TIME...and things are starting to take shape.  I have to give Kohl's & Ralph Lauren/CHAPS a high five & big round of applause for mixing "Man-ish" brown stripes with BEAUTIFUL red rose patterns!  Can you hear that???? It is me squealing with joy...hey, for me, it is the little things. (P.S..that is NOT my bedroom...ugghh..I wish!)

okay, enough change for right now..onto more Creative Things..

I dropped off the class sample "The Good Stuff" Recipe Book at Oh, Scrap! yesterday.  Go check out the sample...it is a really great book, and big, too! The classes are going to be super fun not only because you will be heading home with a 100% finished project, but also a container of cookies because we are going to have a cookie exchange at the same time!!!!

Saturday I am headed to French Valley to the Scrap Retreat House to teach a little doodle/card class mixed in with a little embossing, inking, and felt, duh!.  This event is sponsored by Scrapbook Royalty and will be benefiting the Avon Breast Cancel Research.  I worked on my samples last night and today have to make kits...wanna see how cute things are shaping up to be??? okay! and speaking of Breast Cancer Research, I had started putting together a project back in April and well I let LIFE get in the way and "dropped the Ball" BUT...PRAISE THE LORD..it was a rubber ball and after a tap on the shoulder from GOD just two days ago, it is all coming back together....

details to follow soon.

   I will be adding sets of 10 "Little Pewter Hearts" to my ETSY shoppe today.  I did not think it was fair to be "Pewter Heart Hog" and wanted to share them with you.  You can go check them out, but as always, quantities are very limited so don't "wait" too long.... 

I think that is it for now. 

Off I go to start the day, workout my arms to be able to embrace change and get to work! Life is good, change is good and GOD is good!

My Un-Digi Skills Put to Work..

   

I have not mentioned my un-digi skills in awhile and yesterday while browsing the trillion styles of Christmas cards displayed in stores, I had to remind myelf that I need to MAKE cards, duh.  I had just kinda forgotten about all the cute stuff I ALREADY HAVE, slapped my own hand, then walked away from the card selection.

Now remember, I designdigital elements, but that is it as far as my digi skills go.  I am an equal opportunity create-er and as much as I probably "need" to learn some digi skills, I do not want to. 

I am a "hands-on"  ...

I prefer to take a chance at a paper cut. 

I  paper. 

So, if I play my cards right (no pun intended) I will make cards this year...how about you? Do you make them, do you send them? do you get them? do you add a letter and a photo, or just a photo...or just a letter??? or do you say, "Oh, I will send them after Christmas" and then never do..I have done all of the above and honestly, I just want to send them, because I want to get them. 

I  getting cards in the mail and each year it seems that there are less and less.  Maybe it is because stamps are almost fifty cents..ughh....but at the same time, the people in my life are worth 10 times that much..even more (giggle) YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN...

anyways, here are a few thoughts for my cards this year...

red Gingham, hello???

or green gingham...
 

or kraft gingham...

who needs anything else?

maybe a family of tree's...

or a little holly  

or I don't know..maybe a gingerbread man (or women) or PETE...duh! Just a few things I have in the ol' shead-teau...so in the coming days,

I will share with you what I come up with...and my   family (they do not know it yet) will get to "play cards" on Thanksgiving...I am going to haul out all of my stuff (well, not all of it) and we are going to !
why don't you do the same???  

 

to find all of the links to the things I mentioned in today's blog..check out the new list on the lefthand side bar called "The Creative Things I Do.."

oh, and just p.s...did you happen to see Bon Jovi on "Behind the Actor's Studio" last night???? (I think that is what it is called) he said a "word" during the interview that was a CODE to me..

he said

"homegrown"

don't be jealous.

 

have a great day...off to bible study!