Labels: family life, inspiration

Thanks a bunch to "Sweet Mummy" one of my PoshMama pals for this wonderful award! Makes me just want to get going and "Kreat" today! ha, ha! So apparently I'm supposed to name 6 things I'm thankful for and pass this along to 6 bloggers (oh dear the choices) - so here goes!

Kind of an appropriate activity for 2 days before Thanksgiving! Don't you think?



I'm thankful for:

1. My family. They are wonderful. I adore every day I wake up and know I get to spend time with my husband and kids. Thanks guys! You're always the bright spot in my day!
2. My friends. Wow, what would I do without all of the wonderful support and friendship I have. From College friends, old work friends, to neighborhood friends, and stitching friends, I have riches beyond belief in this department! All of you make me who I am today and I wouldn't be as succesful without all of your support.
3. Our house and our neighborhood. This may seem silly, but when we moved to Denver we sat down in the perfect neighborhood. We have such a fabulous support system here, wonderful schools and our 50's ranch house which we love so much it's the subject of my other blog. I can't think of one downside to where we live. It's been one of the inspirations that has taken me where I am.
4. My personal gifts. This includes my love of fiber, my creativity, my needlework skills. Apparently I have skill in writing (who knew? I had no idea I did). And for the inspiration that allows me to find things to write about. I am glad I have the skills to do my job as a web designer well and that I still enjoy it after 8 years of learning and expanding my business.
5. The renewed spirit I see in the world today. With an ongoing war, financial crisis and so many negative things in the last several years, it's wonderful to see a glimmer of hope and a bright light in the future for tomorrow. This is my kid's future and it's important to me that it takes a turn for the better. I know it won't be easy, but I'm excited to see where the world is headed and I look forward to waking up every day to see what will happen next.

Ok, whew. That was kinda heavy! :)

So, here are my blog picks. No idea why, these are just who comes to mind as who inspires me and seems to continue to be inspired themselves:

1. Jude at Spirit Cloth: I am constantly inspired and amazed at the images of her work. She's gifted and has skills that I only wish I had! I'm always amazed that she takes time to write me back when I comment and I'm just happy I found her lovely blogs.
2. Sharon at Pin Tangle (formerly "In a Minute Ago"). I count Sharon as a personal friend even though I've never met her. Her work is fabulous, inspirational and she maintains a professional and informational blog that I could only hope to achieve. I can't imagine a day without checking in with her.
3. Pat Winter at Gatherings: Her lovely blog seems such an extension of her life, her art and her spirit. She's a lovely person and I hope some day to meet her and drool in person all over her work! (wow, doesn't seem as appealing that way, does it?)
4. Racaire's Historic Needlework: It's rare I'm totally awe inspired by someone's work, but Racaire seems to have an ability lost in our day and age. It's wonderful to see someone bring historic work to life and she does amazing things with a needle.
5. Pam at Pamdora: her abilites as an illustrator and quilter leave me amazed and inspired that everyone has their "voice" in stitching. Her work is amazing and her life seems equally wonderful. Someday I want to grow up and have a fabulous studio with my husband (ok, not likely, but it's a dream!).
6. And Susan. I can't help but think she and I were sisters seperated at birth! Her artwork is fabulous (and I actually can say I own and can touch a couple of pieces). She's inspirational and a "sister" in the world of Internet geekdom. I consider her almost like a coworker in my creative and work life and I'm thankful I met her via the Internet.

Well I'm sure I could come up with 20 more, but that will have to do because I'm only allowed 6. I hope you visit all of these blogs and that they pass the Kreativ spirit around the net!

Labels: Blogging, family life, inspiration

According to some experts, crafts go along with healthy foods, sleep routines, potty training and reading as some of the most important elements in your child's development. These same experts maintain that crafts help to foster creativity and imagination. I have to agree! They also give kids a sense of accomplishment and can lead to lifelong hobbies. In a perfect world, they can even provide the parents with a few minutes of peace and quiet.

However, what about messy crafts such as paint, glitter, sand, and other activities? Are you strong enough to deal with the lasting effects (and believe me, they can be LONG lasting) or are you a "stay clean and avoid the mess" parent?

Several years ago I hosted a Christmas cookie decorating party in my home. I invited 12 little kids - ranging in age from 2 to 4. Ahead of time I knew it would just trash the house, so I was mentally prepared. We set up kid sized tables in the dining room and just let them go at it. Ironically, it wasn't too much of a mess until my son decided to carry a paper plate full of nonpariels into the kitchen. Of course the plate buckled and they went all over.

Nostalgically, 3 years later, I still run across the odd one caught between the floorboards.
Interested in whether the fear of "messy crafts" was consistent among parents I recently spoke to a few other parents who had had their run-ins with messy crafts about whether they were worth it and would they do it again?

One parent did an art project for her son's class (3-5 year olds). It was called "race car art." They took hot wheels cars, dip them in washable paint and race them along the paper to make art. Apparently the kids loved it, especially the boys. The cleanup was exhausting because it was SO MESSY! The art came out great. She determined it was worth it, but I wonder if she would volunteer such an activity in her home?

One parent exclaimed how she used glitter for the first volunteer project and NEVER AGAIN! It was worth it for the kids but in hindsight, she would have made more rules for the kids. The boys went a bit too nuts.

I also had a bad experience with glitter with our kid's cooperative preschool. It was my day to clean and it took 2 hours to even get up enough of the glitter to make it look like I had done my job. At an average age of 3, I doubt the craft results were even really worth it, but I'm cynical.

One parent had this great story: "I went to a birthday party once for an extremely well behaved two year old. The hostess included a craft project for all the kids involving billions of small, choking hazards. I still can't remember what it entailed, because I spent the entire time trying to keep my almost feral two year old from choking on everything when she wasn't dumping all the plates of bitty things we were supposed to be crafting. Again, I can't remember what the project or the parts were. I remember the floor of the house and trying to track down all the bitty parts while my daughter dumped another plate of them. I was happy and accomplished by not being required to call 911 before we left. I'm pretty sure we left with thousands of those bitty parts still on the floor."

I'm guessing that experience wasn't worth it. But it definitely makes for the memories!

One wonderful thing about kids is that they make you look at art products in a totally different way. Who would have thought about what stickers stick to and how horrendous they can be to remove on certain surfaces. Oh well, the joys of parenthood and crafting...it's never boring!

Labels: family life, kid art

Surfing doing research for my articles and wow:

Read the interview with her here and then check out the CUTE board books on her website - wouldn't they make outstanding gifts?

Labels: fiber art, inspiration

I sort of have an excuse, I've been swamped with work, Matey Moo has been home (this is day 3) with pink eye and we've finished the great sleepover! :) (that was last weekend). OH! And our dryer broke, so I spent Monday shopping for a new/used one.

Here are the kids downtown - we went to see Madagascar 2 and then the girls stayed for a sleepover. Very fun!


I have done NO stitching the last few days, but today am really inspired and excited to get going. I finished my two breast cancer blocks - but the photos are on another camera...I"ll get to those soon. So, I need to finish the kitty cat quilt and I'm going to finish Alec's quilt too - not sure if it's possible, but I'm going to try.

My sewing studio is a disaster, so I'm tidying up in there today too. Hopefully this will be a multi-post day. I'm also writing for Divine Caroline - too much to do! :)

Labels: family life, organization

Wow, 8 years ago today. It all seems to have gone too fast.

8 years ago yesterday, I went to the Dr. and with a slight elevation in blood pressure, they decided to induce. The Dr's comment? "You're not going home without a baby". I spent the night of the 10th looking out the window at a snowstorm. The next day you were born. Wow. How amazing. You were the most beautiful baby.

Just the other day I was telling you how you napped on top of me - you would wiggle and wiggle trying not to fall asleep, so I would hold you tight until you fell asleep. You always hated naps.

You've always had your own style. I hope you keep that sense of "you" - that something that makes you special and fun! Love that hat!
Happy birthday Missy C. I love you with all my heart pretty girl!

Labels: family life

Labels: Blogging, family life, inspiration

With a little remodeling in place, here's the kids with the new member of our household:

Larry the Lounge Lizard.

There's a really long boring story about how we got this, but needless to say it has something to do with the chaos of having 40 French students last summer.

The kids love him and he's totally cheap, so maybe he won't last too long?

Maybe?

Labels: family life

I'm feeling the need to remodel my blog, so if things look weird or I'm not posting much for the next few days - bear with me! :)

Labels: Blogging

Labels: ponderances

Labels: Denver, family life

Christine Kane is a musician and sort of a self help expert. I've been reading her blog for a long time, but was particularly intrigued with her Resolution Revolution: A Better Way to Start Your Year. So, I've decided to participate.

I've never been great at resolutions - they are easy to make and dismiss. But this year I like this idea. Since I've been journaling, I figure recording my progress on my "word" will be part of that process. It all fits together (I love it when that happens!).

So, here's my word: Discipline

1. training to act in accordance with rules; drill: military discipline.
2. activity, exercise, or a regimen that develops or improves a skill; training: A daily stint at the typewriter is excellent discipline for a writer.
3. punishment inflicted by way of correction and training.
4.the rigor or training effect of experience, adversity, etc.: the harsh discipline of poverty.
5. behavior in accord with rules of conduct; behavior and order maintained
by training and control: good discipline in an army.
6. a set or system of rules and regulations.
7. Ecclesiastical. the system of government regulating the practice of a church as distinguished from its doctrine.
8. an instrument of punishment, esp. a whip or scourge, used in the practice of self-mortification or as an instrument of chastisement in certain religious communities.
9. a branch of instruction or learning: the disciplines of history and economics. –verb(used with object)
10. to train by instruction and exercise; drill.
11. to bring to a state of order and obedience by training and control.
12. to punish or penalize in order to train and control; correct; chastise.

I think the definition is as interesting as my choice. Especially for me. Since I decided, years ago, to stay home with the kids, I have lacked this....ok, wait. I've never really had a lot of discipline, but now I really see it in my kids begging to do their homework and me saying "oh, not now dear". Or I sit evenings and wish I could do nothing...only to sit there and do nothing while agonizing over the things I want to do. So, I'm going to develop this quality. I'm going to schedule relaxing time as well as productive time and not feel guilty about it. I'm not going to apologize for scheduling my life...I'm going to do it and enjoy it. However, I'm also going to have the discipline to follow through with things rather than sitting around and avoiding them.

I'm not sure about the punishment part of the definition, but I might even give that a try. See if I can take something away from myself if I have a bad week or something. Hmmm....have to think on that.

Anyway, I love how this word becomes a touchstone for the year ahead. I'm looking forward to it and I'm sure I'll blog along the way.

Now, as part of my new resolution, I got almost totally done with the two blocks I'm working on for Leslie's big project:






I'm really thrilled with the progress and they should be completely done today. Her project is a wonderful one and I'm really excited to be participating. Plus, it's given me the push to finish some of my other projects...it's amazing what I can accomplish with an entire day in my studio!

Labels: Crazy quilt, inspiration, ponderances