Winter Crafts, skates and more

I believe I caught the Pinterest bug over the winter.  I am usually behind on things and not too quick to jump on that band wagon; HOWEVER,....I am in love with all things Christmas and so I entered the Christmas season with visions of lovely ideas from Pinterest boards and posted my own right HERE.  It was better than bookmarking every site I loved and I appreciate being able to better organize what I like, not to mention that it is nice to go back at another time.  I did not get to post some of my other crafting. Below is a Glittered house I attempted, still awaiting more glitter I believe and a bit crooked since I tried to adjust the pattern by hand and let's just say I am not a math pro.  I mean it seemed like it would work out but, well, I won't be making my own adjustments in the future, I will find a place to enlarge the copies!

One of my paper skates. I had found a pattern one year and altered it to make it my own.  This is part of catching up with art and being creative again. 



They were so much fun because even though they took a bit of time, oh actually a lot of time to cut out and then I had to cut out cardboard for the back of each one for stability, but never mind that.  They were fun to decorate and embellish.  Not sure if they will be ornaments or a garland next year!
Happy crafting!

Fall Retreat

I was able to go with my mom and sister on a scrap retreat again.  Awhile back I decided that it was a lot of pressure to have photos ready and work on just scrapbooking so I worked on whatever paper projects I wanted to instead.  That has made it what it was meant to be....a creative weekend.

 Here is my creative area at the retreat--I am lucky there was a person missing at our table for 4, as I was able to have most of the other side to myself.  I believe this caused my mom and sister to rebel against one another. I just looked on while they carefully eyed one another's imaginary boundry line on their side of the table. I did happen to see them, at one point, with a ruler in hand when a certain person's tape runner infringed past the mark. (Note, to get more room for yourself at a retreat like this, be sure to bring more craft supplies then the others and really spread them out--they will understand why you need more space)

 And above is the finishing touches on my "Thankful" banner for Thanksgiving. I posted the glittered letters the other day.  I actually did finish a couple of fun projects. See what a lot of over-thinking will get you?? A fun banner full of glitter, stamping, crepe paper, leaves, more leaves and fun!

 Thankful to be away with my sister (pictured above on the left with me, but we won't tell her because she may be mad, about the photo posting thing I mean) and my mom.  Who would have thought those few years ago we would have something like that in common (glue runners, 500 pounds of scrapbook paper, stickles, laughing, staying up until 2:30 a.m., and more laughing). More to follow on retreat crafting in my next posts...
Blessings, C 

Catching up

Time for catching up.  I have been making progress in many areas.  My back and hip are feeling better, as a matter of fact I have been blessed to be able to get back to taking some walks.  I do not know if I will get totally back to the beginning but for now, it is REALLY GOOD to move and walk with my husband again too!

Moving forward with "cleaning out", little by little.  If I do nothing in a day--out of the overwhelming fear of never attaining organization in my home....if I don't just take that next little step and "do the next thing" (I remember that one poem that Elizabeth Elliot had read many years ago about that...) then, I will do NOTHING.  Every day I can DO SOMETHING.  And so I do. I "try" to do something.  Maybe it is putting the laundry away or going through some magazines or craft supplies or one of many "junk" drawers, something that matters.  Got rid of an older style massive "leg press" maching in the tiny unfinished little basement of ours (stilled called the cellar, because it truly is).

I have to come to the conclusion myself, have to come to that place in my mind where I can say "let go now" to certain things.  I made my peace that I have not been able to use the machine I admired and the effort and physical strength is not the same.  After having issues w/my disk in my back, even though I work myself (Lord willing) back into some physical shape again...I am not that same weight lifting- dedicated- fearless-girl I once was.  All about letting go.  I will walk and be fit to certain extents, to what my body will allow now.

Here are my signs of Fall even as I am mingling with Winter and even as I hear some lovely old time Christmas music being played by my sentimental husband.  The glass pumpkin jar filled with candy corn and memories of my grandmother who gave it to me years ago before she passed on.

 And then I leave you with this:

 A Thanksgiving project-in-waiting.
Blessings 

Fall crafting begins!

I am slowly getting ideas for some crafting.  Here is my take on a candle jar, I plan to make more (?)

Fall Jar Candle

This old jar was just wrapped in some orange tissue paper w/mod podge, half filled w/rose hips--spritzed w/some fall oil spices.  Then I frayed a strip of orange fabric then added a cut-out glitter pumpkin and punched some pretty leaves. Tied those on w/some orange cord.  To finish, I placed a small glass votive w/tea candle inside.  Double duty for Fall and Halloween!

 And then, just so we know what wonderful time of year it is, a fall sign.  I saw one similar and decided to make my own.  I do believe it may need a bit more finishing touches, but on to other things now.  I have a Fall banner I was working on last year, maybe that will show up next week!
Happy Fall!
C.

Hello Fall

Hello again.  I am entering a new journey. I figure it is time to take over my blog and if one of my young daughters can begin her little creative blog, I can too.   It will motivate me to have my dreams of being creative again to flourish.

 

Time for another journey, again.  I have lost more than a month due to another herniated disc/pinched nerve.  And, consequently hip issues.  My goal on this journey.... 

 1. Get back to walking, without limping--really walking, like take my 3 mile fast walks with an extra 5-mile-burn up calories- walk. 
2.  Get back to moving around and working on a thorough clean-up of this unorganized house.
 3.  Get back to some greatly needed close friendships, it's been lonely here!
4.   Get back to crafting/scrappin/card-making/whatever I can squeeze in to making--time (and yes, that area is going to get overhauled too!!)  
Time to begin......
 
 

Anniversary and life's moments

It's Wednesday! Wednesday-Friday I call it for my husband, as he works 3 days for someone else installing and refinishing hardwood floors and then every waking moment trying to start his own business. Speaking of this guy, we celebrated our 18th anniversary this past weekend on the 17th. Just time for a quick dinner out but life it like that now.
We did get time this summer. My husband was able to provide for us to go here:
North Carolina for a week w/my sister and her family. Thanks Honey!!
But for now, life is not how I wish. But we are blessed w/good health and a home...sometimes wondering how long we can hold on to it, one week at a time. But blessed for sure. His business demands too much time and I dream of when work for him was 8-10 hour days and the rest, including weekends, were ours as a family. In the beginning of a business that's how it is. Trying to get back into women's bible studies and crafting and continuing to look for a part-time job. And walking. What would I do without taking my walks and how many miles have I walked this year??
Happy crafting and Fall for now. Hugs, Carol