Homegrown Hospitality

Last Call..REGISTRATION STILL OPEN THROUGH 1/31!!!!

December JANUARY 31st is the last day to sign up for my year long follow along Scrapbook Life Journal 2012 on-line course...

I have received several emails as well as read several comments and questions on the FB group about the class and thought I would post this info from one of the emails I sent out hoping to answer your questions.

We are getting ready to journey, scrapbook, doodle, document and journal our way through Twenty Twelve together, creating a “scrapbook*life*doodle journal” binder based on monthly prompts, doodles, quotes, bible verses, inspiration and our individual lives.   

We are going to commit to not only taking this journey together but also committing that we will never inflict any unnecessary creative stress on ourselves.  You might find that you will visit your binder daily to jot down a quote or make a list, maybe once a week after something has been posted or every month… It is up to you.  I will simply be here to inspire, remind and share with you what I have done with my pages.

There are many reasons for this journey and we each have our own intentions for what we would like to accomplish.  We are going to need to make time to take time to reflect on our lives, journal our thoughts, take more pictures of OURSELVES and enjoy the little moments in life that often get forgotten in our busy, hustle bustle life & world...

Something to keep in mind is that there are no "scrapbook" skills necessary and no Art Journal skills needed...

really the only things you need for this course are:

• a computer (and if you are reading this, you have one)
• a heart (to love with!)
• a pen (to write and doodle with)
• some paper (to use your pen on)
• a binder (or anything that you want to use to keep all of your work in) 

well, and if you are a FB user (which is not necessary but we have quite a group!) you need to "friend me" after signing up so I can add you...and speaking of FB, as I finished adding new members to the group today, I found myself excited, anxious, nervous and happy about what I am going to share, inspire and motivate you with.

If you are already signed up..one more day to go...If you have not signed up, I hope that you will consider joining me and creative souls ALL OVER THE WORLD.....

Happy New Years eve EVE! 

oh, duh...to sign up, just go to the very top to the first post on the blog and click the "click here"

Practice

Getting things accomplished is such a great feeling and as this year comes to an end and we start a new one, I am setting some "goals" to "PRACTICE" accomplishing things. Notice I did not use the stereotype New Years Word "resolution"???

nah, just setting some "Goals" because it is a much more positive word.

My word "PRACTICE" word will help me "ACCOMPLISH" things and in return, peace of mind will happen, and peace of mind equals a overall peace, and if I am peaceful, then it might inspire you to do something to capture some peace, and if you are peaceful, well, then...someone you are around might sense your peace and want their own peace.

Inspired to accomplish, practice and obtain a little peace???

Me too!

"psst..." Registration for "Scrapbook*Life*Journal" ends tomorrow!!!!

 

DIY Embroidery Pattern Printing

Thank you for all of your comments and compliments on my "scrapple" style stitching.  I love to stitch and while I will be the first to admit that I do not "follow" any rules or techniques on the correct way to stitch I will also say that I LOVE the way it is coming out with all of the textures and stitches and I even added some pink in last night !!?!!whhhaatttt???, I know!

Anyways, I know you can Google "how to transfer an embroidery pattern" but this is how I do it :

Supplies

• Muslin 
• Freezer Paper 
• Scissors
• Iron
• Printer

1. Measure and cut a piece of freezer paper to measure 8 1/2" x 11 (just trace a piece of computer paper onto the freezer paper)

2. Place the freezer paper SHINY SIDE OF PAPER DOWN and iron the freezer paper onto the muslin. It will pucker a little bit.  MAKE SURE THAT ALL EDGES ARE IRONED DOWN COMPLETELY. Trim to measure the 8 1/2" x 11

3. Place your piece into your printer the way you would typically place paper in and print out your image.

4. Remove the freezer paper

5. Attach an embroidery hoop

6. Stitch away!..be careful..it is addicting, well and even a bit harmful if you poke yourself as much as I do!

I am almost done with my piece and I will share it when I am!

oh, wait..the image...it is right here: http://homegrownhospitality.typepad.com/homegrown_hospitality/2011/12/just-color.html

Scrapple Stitching

one doodle printed on muslin + a whole bunch of colors + a whole lotta stitches

=  Scrapple Stitching (which also equals a whole lotta relaxing)

One Little Word..

can make a huge difference. This is the fifth year I am taking Ali's lead with One Little Word.

2008 was a year to define my Purpose

2009 was a year to just plain Focus

2010 was a year focused on Hope

2011 was a year to Cultivate

and 2012 is the year to Practice all of the above....

practicing art...inspiring hope...sharing my faith...teaching the skills I have been given...being quiet...listening...comforting...praying...helping...developing...living...giving and loving...

these are just some of the things that I want to practice doing for the first time, better, stronger and longer...

for God, for me, for you, for them, for us.

What is your word?

I am ready..

for a new year...

are you???

Five days and the new class starts....just sayin... 

Merry Christmas

Wishing, praying and sending you tidings of Peace & Joy!

Merry Christmas

Love,

John, Stephanie, Jack & Ben...and coco, too!

YOU matter

We attended the first of ten thousand Christmas Eve services last night at Saddleback

and although the service was a litttttllllleeeeeee bit lonnnggggggg last night because of a special whoot whoot for our local high school CIF state champs....it was an amazing message and should you have the opportunity, or rather, make time to attend a service, I suggest you do, because YOU matter. 

The good news is no matter what....YOU have value, you really really do..you do you do you do and do not let anyone or anything make you think different.

Seek and Ye Shall Find...

it really is that easy...we just complicate it, duh.

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." Matthew 7:7(NIV)

Early Morning Ideas

I got an idea early Sunday morning compliments of God because He knows that I work best at 4am so once church was over, groceries were put away and dinner was in the crock pot, I went to work...

because my doodles do not have to just be colored in with markers, duh, especially if they are printed on muslin...

hmmmm....

I am thinking this may be something you will be seeing more of in 2012....

Now, if I would just stop poking myself with the dang needle, I would be 100% happy!

Stitching is a wonderful way to relax, especially this week, the week before Christmas...Fah Lah Lah!!!