Wordless Wednesday - Time for a Change!

Belle making herself comfortable on the changing table!

Carnival Blog: Valentine's Day Wish

Valentine’s Day has always been something a little special that we celebrated while I was growing up; and naturally, those special memories are the ones I have carried on when my children were growing up. While young, we would always have a special dinner that evening, followed by a Valentine’s cake or cookies that my grandmother would have made. Also it was that little special gift that you knew came from the heart that would be treasured. The one gift that stands out in my memory, and of which I still have, and continue to wear every year on Valentine’s Day, is a small heart with tiny turquoise stones set within the heart. Continuing the tradition, I have always made Valentine’s Day a special day for my children also when they were young, and still do. About the beginning of February, I would start sneaking little candy hearts into their lunch boxes or put them on the dinner table next to each place setting. On Valentine’s Day I would always go to the bakery down the street and purchase these very large heart cookies which my children loved and would look forward to. Of course, I would have to buy about 12 of them, some for my children, my nephews and nieces, and of course make sure there were extra for their friends that might arrive. My children still expect those big heart cookies even today. When they were younger, I would always buy a little gift, usually a stuffed animal with a heart or a special book. The past 10 years, once they got past that stuffed animal stage, the Valentine’s Day gift tradition were boxers with hearts on them for the boys, and of course that little something extra from Victoria Secret for my daughter. Since we have a new member added to our family, little Zachary, I can’t wait to shop for his first little Valentine stuffed animal! Will my children be getting their traditional gifts this year, or is it time that I do something a little different this year?
As I was thinking what to write, one thought kept coming to my mind. Traditions are all very nice, and wonderful to cherish; but I wondered if those poor children in Haiti, or other countries left in devastation this past year have even heard of Valentine’s Day. I can’t help but thinking, here we are all talking about that one special gift, or dinner, or date we may have had; but what do these poor children have to celebrate. Will they be having a special dinner on Valentine’s Day; will they even have a sip of water to drink? As they sit in the street because they have no home and have lost all of their family and have no where to go, will there be someone there to comfort them, give them a hug, or that special Valentine cookie? Will they be admiring that little special gift we so cherished, or will they have a blanket to keep them warm? I was remembering those little boxes of Valentine’s that we (and my children) would buy to fill out for all of our friends. Do you think anyone will be giving them a Valentine’s Day card? I think this year, I should start a new tradition – I am going to try to get as many people I know to buy that box of 20 Valentine’s, signing each one with a little note to let them know they are loved by so many people around the world. I know the Red Cross is trying to get food, water and medical supplies to them, and perhaps we could send them cards through the Red Cross or some other organization that you might be participating with. Also in breaking tradition, the money that would have been spent for those boxers or Victoria Secret surprise, will instead this year be donated to the Red Cross. If you wish to be willing to break tradition and made a contribution to these needy little children whose hearts are empty, you can go to RedCross.org; each State has their own chapter, and there you will find many different areas that you can contribute to. This year my heart will be with those poor, hungry, homeless little faces looking for someone to let them know they are loved.

*** "All You Need is Love" poster by http://www.sixsixters.etsy.com***

Wordless Wednesday. Peaceful Morning

A view from my Bedroom window. Another Snowy Day!

Blogger of the Month: NicoDesigns

"Live each day as if it was a Gift."
The name “Nico” was a name given to her by her father, who she calls her hero; and, I can bet a lot of her inspiration! As Nico states, “I sew for sanity. Creativity is a great hobby and I encourage everyone to try it.”



Using her family as inspiration, Nico seems to find a creative idea in all that is around us. Things we would dismiss, she seems to find as inspiration. The adorable little shoes in her shop I am sure were inspired by her two infant children. What inspired me most after looking at Nico’s shop, which I admit, I have not visited too often, although her tiny felt shoes caught my eye quite a while ago, was not only her dedication to her work, but her caring attitude.





We often hear of the many organizations that need our help and donations, well, Nico has stepped forward to make donations to many of these organizations through the sales she makes from her shop. For example, one of her items, a tiny bird which turns out to be a pin cushion, created from remnants, 5% of the sale will be donated to the Ronald McDonald House and another 5% will be donated to a Cancer Hospital in memory of a small child who lost her life at the young age of 7. A little soft angel doll called Chloe was handmade and dedication to her memory.





I also noticed a quite attractive handbag in Nico’s shop of light blue with a trellis type print. What amazed me was that this very attractive bag was a “diaper bag”! I am currently watching my newborn grandson and a 1 yr old and find myself stuffing everything into my large bag. The inside of this bag comes with three large pockets, which are perfect to hold sippy cups, a wallet, glasses and a small toy or two. Wow, something I definitely can use. Nico also has a few other great designs of her “classy” diaper bags. All the items in her shop are eco-friendly. The use of 100% cotton and new and recycled materials are also what inspires Nico to not only take what God has given us, but has used them in a positive way; and what is left over or can’t be used is not just discarded, but donated to prevent them from further polluting our earth.So as Nico says, her inspiration is her family, so too do I find her dedication and donations to such very worthy causes is a true inspiration to me.

I also took a second to visit Nico’s blog: http://designsbynico.blogspot.com/, which I am so glad I didn’t miss. It is a blog filled with many tutorials on how to make “Baby Legwarmers”; and yes, I have already made a pair from her great and easy instructions – to – Hats from old Sweaters. A small train set with pieces of left over wood, with a little help from her dad. I sadly admit I have not visited Nico’s blog before, but expect to be an avid follower from now on. I can’t wait to see what she will pull out of her closet for her next creation!

Wordless Wednesday: la dolce vita

Belle living the good life!

Carnival Blog: My Best Memory of 2009

Zachary (1/2 hr old)

Kelly (4 hrs. old)

They say one should never look back, but follow whatever waits for us in the future. There often does exist an exception to that rule; milestones that carve into our very hearts and souls that we can never forget, but also allow us to look to what the future will bring.

Kelly,Keith & Ryan (1987)

There exists in my life three very important milestones in my past that made me who I am today; those being the birth of each of my children, Kelly, Keith and Ryan. They are the blessings that God gave me when the doctors told me I would never be able to have children. It is truly them that I have to thank for always being the rock that carried me through the worst times. Often, even as young as they were, when we thought things couldn’t get worse, they always made me smile. Three children with three totally different personalities; each unique in their own way, they were always by my side no matter what bridge we had to cross, helping to make me to the person I am today. So as I look back at the many trial and tribulations of our lives, the Year 2009, brought all of these past milestones full circle, and so began the future of the next generation.
As most of you all know by now, my daughter Kelly, my first child, had her first child in October, making me a grandmother for the first time. It that mother’s intuition that will never fail us (or as I would say my angels watching over me), but coincidentally, right before Kelly made the announcement of her pregnancy, I said to my son Keith, about a week before her announcement, that I thought she was pregnant, which she wasn’t even sure about at that time. So now three months later, little Zachary has joined my daily routine as I watch him every day. For those of you who already have grandchildren, you will truly understand this; when I visited them in the hospital, my first thought was my baby was having a baby. So I can definitely say that little Zachary’s arrival is truly the milestone that makes 2009 a year to remember. Now as we enter into our second decade of the 2000 millennium, I look forward to watching the daily progress as each day brings a new experience watching him grow. Yesterday, although only 3 ½ mos. old, he turned over for the first time. So as I look back at the special gift God brought into our lives in 2009, I can now look forward to watching my family grow as they experience adulthood; but no matter how old they get, they will always be my baby’s.

Wordless Wednesday: The "Ultimate" Beatle Fan!

Zachary.3 mos. already a Beatle Fan!

Carnival: My Best Christmas Present!

So many gifts came to mind as I read our topic for this blog. If I think back to my childhood, my first recollection would be my Madame Alexander doll. As I thought at the time I would grow up to be a ballerina, my grandparents gave me the Madame Alexander doll, “Elise” which was a ballerina. I have always treasured that doll and it still sits on a shelf in my room. My other most treasured Christmas presents were my “Eloise” books. I have the whole series, including a signed copy of the first one of the series by Kay Thompson, who wrote the books; and yes, I also have an Eloise doll, which sits with all my Eloise books. When my children were young, they would love to read them also. A special tradition which was always under our tree for as long as I can remember, were the many books that each year would be waiting to be read. Each year would be a new and special Christmas book, which were never wrapped, but stood so proudly to be the first gift to be seen, as my sister and I would sneak out at 5am to see if Santa arrived. We couldn’t open our presents right away, but when my family would awake, I would already be sitting in one of our fireside chairs reading my newest book. Since my children were born, it is a tradition which I carried on with them; a special Christmas book waiting under the tree for each one to find. Since I still have most of the books, one of which I think I got when I was about 2 years old (all having to do with Christmas), each year we bring out the past books received and place them around the tree, waiting for the newest book for Santa to bring. Although my 1st little grandson is just 2 months old, I have already bought his first Christmas book. Sorry I can’t reveal the title since my daughter reads my blogs! But you can guess that it will be quite special.
Although the many dolls and books which meant so much to me as a child and to my own children, I think nothing compares to the handmade little Christmas ornaments and decorations my children would make at school. Each one unique in their own creativity, they range from a tiny beaded wreath to a wreath made out of tissue paper and a paper plate, and of course those tiny framed handprints. One year my son Ryan’s (the artist in the family) class made little Christmas trees. They had to bring in little things to decorate their tree with, and of course Ryan being Ryan, his tree had to be unique. He managed to find tiny lights and hook them up to the tree with batteries attached. His little is still always placed on our coffee table with the lights still blinking. So each year when it is time to decorate the tree and take out the ornaments, there among them are my prized and favorite Christmas gifts – little gifts made with little fingers and a lot of love.

December Blogger of the Month: CalKat

Our Blogger of the Month Calkat – seems to be a combination of two very talented artists, Carrie & Kathy. Not only are they venturing in the selling of their OOAK pieces of jewelry in their shop Calkat: http://www.Calkat.etsy.com. They have three other shops here on Etsy as well; Ametista; The Clay Shoppe; and YogaFairies. I choose these few pieces from their CalKat Jewelry Shop as an example of just some of their beautiful pieces.

Carrie and Kathy (CalKat) have spent the last five years designing and selling custom made, one of a kind (OOAK) jewelry using primarily Sterling Silver, Gemstones, and Swarovski crystals. During that time when they were creating their beautiful jewelry, they began experimenting in other realms, and discovered their love of polymer clay; as they say “and the rest is history”. So began “The Clay Shoppe” http://www.TheClayShoppe.etsy.com. Looking through this shop, one will find some very unique and different clay designs made by their special modes. One of my favorites is the little “cherub angel” molded out of polymer clay. They are continuing experimenting with different clays and ideas, and soon hope to start working with precious metal clays.

Ametista is another one of their shops here on Etsy: http://www.Ametista.etsy.com. I think this was one of my favorites. I love their apothecary bottles with their old-fashioned look. Again, another unique example of their craftsmanship.

Lastly, is their fourth shop “YogaFairies”, this name really intrigued me, so I couldn’t wait to visit this shop: http://www.YogaFairies.etsy.com. There you will find a little polymer clay fairy sitting in a yoga position, imparting the Indian wish of “Namaste” to each of us. You will have tovisit this shop to learn about this very sacred part of Indian culture. Each Yoga Fairy is an original handcrafted piece, so no two will be created exactly alike.

Both artists love exploring new techniques and playing with fun ideas, as they invite you to come back often as there's always something new to see!