Homegrown Hospitality

Defining Purpose

It is what some call "the season of giving" and just like many, I am blessed beyond measure.  With that comfort, my heart is constantly feeling empathy & compassion for those who are hurting, lost and dealing with difficulties. I get these tsunami strong feelings of "WHAT CAN I DO???" and my mind is constantly wanting, wondering, thinking and ready to do something to help.

As you know, this past year, I have been "moved" to react and respond to others through sharing my faith, supporting The Jessie Rees Foundation & HER cause that has become part of my heart and communicating, sharing and teaching others through my art.  I knew there was more...I just was not sure what it was and on Wednesday of this week, I heard the phrase/question "Care or Cure?"

It was the question Jessie's Mommy & Daddy asked her as they created the very first jars of joy.. 

Part of the purpose of The Jessie Rees Foundation is to provide CARE.  Jessie's wish was to care for the children that were battleing cancer and the question/concept & thought "Care or Cure" made me realize another part of my purpose, made me realize why I am so drawn to her foundation and why I feel so proud to be part of the NEGU team. While I can not cure the hurts, illness, and difficulties of others, I can support others with care...

Through Prayer

Through Reminders

Through Example

Through Connection

Through Art

Through Love

Through Support

and so can you!

We all need to practice the "Season of Giving" each day...not just in November & December and I am learning more and more about myself, about the purpose of my life and how to help others..all through the very short life of a sweet girl named Jessie.
So what can you do to help?

Donate to the Jessie Rees Foundation to provide JOY to little love bugs..

Promote the cause on Facebook by LIKING the page

Tune in THIS SUNDAY to CNN to watch..

 

Moved

Something is happening.

A shift of sorts. My heart is constantly feeling (empathy) and my mind is always wondering, thinking and ready to do something to help (compassion).That is the only way I can describe it. My heart is full of empathy and the compassion that comes from it makes the wheels in my mind spin at full speed.

With both empathy and compassion I am being “moved” to respond to others feelings and situations through art. so now what?

I am not sure, but I am ready to move.

Black Hawk Down

I win the bad blogger award because I was black hawk down with no camera.

gulp.

My camera died in Pennsylvania and like a good & patient girl, I waited until the black Friday sales to see what I could find.  PEOPLE...that was ALOT of days with no camera...but I am back in business.  The slight problem is I find myself very hesitant to pick it up with my inky, painty, glue-n-sealy fingers so the cross I just re-purposed...did not get alot of step by step photos.Here is all I got for ya:

1. I took the hardware off by simply placing a screwdriver under it and gently popped it off...super easy!  I left the little pookies there so that I could pop it back on when I was done. 2. I used Picket Fence Crackle Paint by Tim Holtz/Ranger and brushed it lightly over the entire cross and base to add a crackle (duh!) but to also add that wood-grainish texture to it.  (NOTE: the entire process was very similar to the Faux Woodgrain Finish I did on the frame HERE)
3.  I dried the Crackle and then added Pewter Distress Stain over the surface which gave it a slight pink tinge & I did not like where it was going so I wiped it off with a baby wipe and added another layer of white..JUST HERE & THERE to add to the texture. Then using brown acrylic paint on a DRY paper towel, I simply swiped the paint over the surface applying different amounts of pressure.  This made it so some spots were darker than others. I repeated this until I achieved the look I wanted. It really was that easy.  I did however have a baby wipe on standby to wipe off any spots that were to heavy.

To change the metal embellishment from purple and orange :all I did was dry brush over the purple paint with red acrylic paint, and gold paint over the orange.  Then using the White Picket Fence Crackle, I LIGHTLY brushed over the leaves and petals, dried it and popped it back on. I am pretty sure I hear angels sing when I look at it. and if you are wondering...I did call the other Aaron Brothers in our area to find more crosses and there are none.

boo.

Best Day After the Day After Purchase Ever!

Black Friday?

nope...

Didn't do it.

Okay, well husband tried on Thursday at 4:30 but it is not worth repeating.

Insert Thanksgiving...

It was a great day of food, family, football and stitching and we were fast asleep by, oh..7:30 pm (well, with random texts from friends having fun in line at Target)

Black Friday was spent with family and a few good ol' Lifetime Hallmark Channel movies...and then...I waited till the coast was clear and on Saturday, I dashed to Aaron Brothers just before my "until 2pm only extra 25% of off." coupon exploded in my hands..

and picked up something I had not planned on picking up...but with the 50% and then the additional 25%, I bought this "Tim Holtz'd" it and whahlah.. and it was the best day after the day after Thanksgiving EVER.

I hope that you enjoyed your holiday...now onto Christmas!

BRING IT ON!

Rejoice Always

Many are thankful for for health, wealth and happiness and those who are struggling with loss, fear, anxiety...so this is a special reminder to you that we must rejoice always...
That regardless of circumstances that are not in our control (because really none of it is) we should live daily with a grateful heart and give thanks in all circumstances.

Without our personal  trials, we would not be able to develop patience or faithfulness and without the circumstances we have to endure, would we experience great change and personal growth.

I know that many hate really dislike the phrase, "Everything thing happens for a reason"but...with great faith, you know that it does and it will....and with that said, we know that the outcome will be grand, therefore, we must Rejoice Always.

Today, I am thankful for my God and for home, family, friends and church, but also for the constant workout to strengthen my relationship with the Lord, a continual push to develop patience, to always remember to seek Joy in the midst of pain and sorrow and to continue to move foreword in walk by faith.

Today, I wish for you the same.  To seek joy...push through the rough spots and rejoice always...Happy Thanksgiving Friends.

 

 

All Things

4:13...The "address" of one of my life verses:

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" Phil. 4:13

and a number that has come up several times in the past week.

At church yesterday, I learned an awesome way to create a habit of gratitude. Think about the date of your birthday (mine is 4/13) and turn that into a time (4:13)   Now, get out your phone and set the alarm for everyday at that time. (Tip - set it at pm so you do not get an early morning reminder!) Every time that alarm sounds, chimes, beeps, rings or vibrates, stop and say/think or write down something that you are grateful for.

Friday night when I walked into Athlete's Choice to set up for the boutique, Kevin, owner of 1Eighty Apparel was setting up his booth and when he turned around, he was wearing this shirt.. and I was not surprised. It was not a coincidence...God does not talk to me in a great thunderous echo-ish deep voice...HE talks to me in ways like this.

All Things...

I, we, you, can do all things...with the strength HE gives us.  Not with our own strength....and thankful...We must be thankful for all things...not just the good things, but again ALL Things and I was reminded of that as I was reading this book last night... and as I turned the page that I had decided would be my last of the night...

yep..

there it was...

okay..go set your alarms!

p.s. the 4:13 story will continue on Wednesday..that's all I am sayin.

Whirling Dervish Surge

It always happens.  About 48 hours before any type of class or boutique I get this surge of " I MUST MAKE MORE THINGS"

Tomorrow is the 1st Annual Athlete's Choice Holiday Boutique where 10% (+10 more%) of all of the proceeds will go the the Jessie Rees Foundation.  I have told you about it on FB and here on the blog and I have been making things here and there along the way and then...

BAM

I got that "whirling dervish surge" and just started making things left and right, wasting what I thought was a TON of time, sewing, stopping...cutting & stitching and then stopping again, then painting and stopping and then more stitching...and stopping.  I finally made myself dizzy from the sporadic back and forth, I stacked it all up and put it away. (which is just 1 of 100 reasons why the Shead-Teau looks the way it does.)

I am not sure if it was the canvas, the hearts, the stitching or what, but something clicked and I drug it all back out, started completely over and created the 2012 version of my raviolis.  (In the past, the raviolis have been in felt, this year, canvas) and I kinda love them.

The nice thing, is they can be a gift tag, an ornament for the tree, a bottle hanger but best of all, just a cute little reminder of the important things...

Joy

Hope...
Peace and of course, LOVE, duh. so what I thought was wasted time was well spent time, because had I not taken all of the steps I had taken, I would not have these.

If you are in the area, be sure to come by Athlete's Choice tomorrow night from 7:00-9:00 pm.

23252 Arroyo Vista, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688

Little House...

on the Prairie was my favorite collection of books to read and my favorite show to watch growing up so of course when I read this quote, from non other than Laura Ingalls Wilder herself, I knew it was the perfect thing to remind myself and others of... and it reminds me of where I just was and that feeling of simple pleasures as I took a picture of a couple of cows (and was so dumb happy about it..as if I had never seen a cow)and really how simple it is.

Life is complicated so today, I am thankful for prayer...

and Little House on the Prarie.

 

Christmas Boutique For a Cause

This Saturday, I will be setting up a little table to sell my wares at Athlete's Choice in my town, Rancho Santa Margarita and 10% of all sales will be donated to The Jessie Rees Foundation. In addition to the 10%, I am going to up it an additional 10% for a total of 20% (math skills, I know)

I will be selling the ornaments I have been making and teaching this season and am stitching up some super cute little quilted ornaments from the fabric I brought home from Pennsylvania that will hang on these even cuter little metal hangers from Amish country and there is plenty more cute where that came from...Happy Basket pillows, leather cuffs and more...If you are in the area, I would love to see you...and bring your friends...

Let's kick the season off together!

Athlete's Choice ..23252 Arroyo Vista, RSM 92688 (thanks, mom!)

p.s.In case you are still reading, I am going to teach a "Creative Muscle" class at Athlete's Choice in January so if you want to sign up, come on Saturday and check out the project!

Home Away From Home

I am home..from my home away from home and once again, I return with a swollen, overflowing heart for the experience with things like having a friend that giggles with me as I find happiness and see the beauty in taking a photo of the second floor old, worn ceilings (or maybe it is the third floor) and still giggling with me as I step out onto a REAL fire escape without a fear in the world (okay, a tiny bit, for just a second) Experiencing an amazing day in the "Valley" and the actual taste of adrenaline as "rutting" deer cross in front of you at 12:30 am on roads like this Happily singing John Denver songs as you breathe in the very old crisp air and dream about sitting here watching the horse drawn "toppers" go by and wondering how long I would really last on a big ol' farm before I would want to come home Experiencing a "Lifetime/Hallmark" channel movie moment as the Veteran's Day Parade marched by and experiencing the emotion of feeling really grateful for what others do for our freedom Grateful for new and old friends to travel from near and far to gather for the love of creating, laughing, eating, and sharing stories about "rutting" deer,choosing to spend the beginning of a 10th birthday celebration with me (Happy Birthday Carlee!)and making a big ol' creative mess with me.Thank you to Jeff & Staci Shuck for your love, hospitality, humor and your brick building that I love so much, to all of the crew at Grove's and to all of my PA family...I love you and miss you already!