The tale of a long awaited FINISH -----

Once upon a time - The Man's Mama Norvan (Grandmother) made things too. 

We have some of these pretties at our home. 

They bring very special memories to our heart and mind. 

Sadly, we lost her in 1995. 

That was a long, long time ago. 

We cleaned out her home.

Years of possessions. 

Some came to live at our home.

Some with the other children and grand-children.

I ended up with several things.

Including a Payday Candy Bar Box of stuff.

(don't judge - it was a project box and I had great intentions) 

Many years.

Many re-locations of that poor box.

I went searching in my archives and located a picture of it on the shelf in the studio.

See. 

Things are changing in my world. 

Life is Beautiful and I am staking claim to some of the serenity that comes from

cleaning - purging - finishing

(overcoming hoarding is a battle - but I will leave that for my other blog) 

and in the midst of the battle, I lay hands on a Payday Box.

I did not have to open it.

I knew.

But because you don't - here is a quick picture of the contents. 

POLYESTER FABRIC (hideous stuff really) 

Thread.

Some cut circles

Bits of Cotton

Needles

and a few finished yo-yo bits.

I have two of the creations made from this project box, so I knew what it was. 

I'm finishing things.

INTENTION - the word of the year.

And this was the perfect kind of project for clearing my mind of some things. 

Here's what I've accomplished.

I dumped it all out.

Sorted. 

Tossed. 

Traced one of the existing circles. 

Cut as many more as I could from the fabric in the box. 

Cut cotton balls into smaller bits.

(Gathered the remaining fabric bits in a baggie - told you - this is battle)

And made myself a plastic project box. 

Hours were spent alone.

Silent (or with music).

Thinking.

Praying.

Pondering.

Crying.

Healing.

Loving.

Moving forward. 

But also -

Threading her needle (with her thread)

The rhythm of hand stitching is meditative, relaxing.

Allowing room for mind wandering.

I made yo-yo after yo-yo

Hundreds of them.

Placing the finished one in a plastic bag.

Picking that bag up and smiling.

This little pile kept growing. 

My heart filling with memories of Mama Norvan

Wondering where each scrap came from?

How it came to be that she started making these?

Wondering how she decided which bits went together?

I was relaxed in this process.

Creating without pressure.

(you know putting a project on hold for -  say - 19 years takes a LOT of pressure off) 

And one night this week, I finished as many of these as I could make with the contents of the box.

and TA-DAH

Fun little scrap fabric wreath ornaments. 

I found my two and added them to the pile. (the far right one was made by her, as was the one between the two pink ones) 

Several of these have been spoken for.

All will most definitely stay in the family.

And - that is now one box that is no longer part of my HOARD. 

I also have plans for all those fabric bits in the plastic bag too. 

(overcoming hoarding is a battle - please do not judge) 

LIFE IS CRAZY BEAUTIFUL. 

tell me the stories ....

We make nativities. 

The current ones get lots of road miles.

He cuts and sands.

I trace.

He wood burns.

I paint.

He stains. 

We sell. But honestly, the ones we give to our littles are the ones that mean the most to me. 

The story of the first one I made is at the link. 

We gifted this little one with a set this year. 

She spread it out and Dad sent us this picture.

Cute. 

My hope is that she will play and really learn the story. 

Then teach it to her little brother. 

And so forth and so on. 

Much like my girls did. 

(at the end of this post is a fabulous active way to use this for advent devotions)

Then I get this picture via text. 

"Rebecca said this is "Jofus" I said you mean 

Joseph...."nope, Jofus" "

How cute - and if she is playing with it, there will be learning occuring.

Merry Christmas.

************************************

I cannot take credit for this idea, but it is a wonderful one. 

A friend of mine uses their wood block nativity along with some other props for their Advent readings. 

The various figures are placed around the house with the numbered envelopes.

Each night the search out the correct envelope and have the devotional. 

For instance 

Night one - the angel comes to Mary.

Night two - The angel comes to "Jofus" 

Night three - Joseph and Mary together read the scroll. 

All the while the empty manger sits on the table by the tree. 

For the twenty five days leading up to Christmas. The story unfolds and the characters in the story slowly make the trip through the house to Bethlehem. 

On Christmas Eve, Baby Jesus appears in the manger. 

On Christmas Day - before the gift frenzy begins - the Wise Men bring their gifts to the new Baby. 

A beautiful tradition for the kids. 

If you choose to adapt this idea for your Christmas, please leave a comment here, I would love to hear your stories. 

Much love and a Very Merry Christmas to all of you. 

#STASHTAGS 29/31

Today's word COMFORT - and since I actually make these in the evening before I post them - I'm sick and this is reference to what I am doing to comfort myself. I've got the crud.

Here's the list
-tan cardstock tag base
- a piece of coca cola flannel fabric (I'm in my flannel pj's and drinking coke with ice and a straw - first cola I             have had in months)
- a torn magazine bit -- (yes, I am reading a cheap trashy magazine of the type you  find at the grocery check
            out line - aka STAR)
- a crochet granny square - (I'm on the sofa under a blanket my mama made)
- the little teddy bear is a reference to the 80lb footwarmer on the sofa with me.
- the hanger on this one is a scrap of acrylic yarn very much the same as the blanket I am under.

We are almost done with October ---- I plan to continue the game with Heartfelt Thanksgivings in honor of the Thanksgiving season. These will be tags too - only I'll be using heart shaped ones. I've enjoyed making these so much that I'm going to make me a few more - I may keep the message private in some cases (to protect the guilty - hehe) but I will still be sharing the decorated hearts --- and I have all those left from the wedding chairs to use up anyway.

Also - it is fall show season and I am getting ready for the Holiday Artist Market on November 16 at the Danielsville Courthouse.

Here is the current state of the FLOOR in MaggieGrace world ---- covered composition books drying.

Whoo hoo.

This is a stunning red tree - seems fall is appearing in stages here. I took this on a windshield time trip today.

And we all know that Rusty is mama's dog. Never far from me if I am at home.

Well ------

That is --------

Til this one surprises us and comes home from college ---- Then he abandons his job of keeping my feet warm - to love on his missing buddy.  We were all really glad to see her. 

Have a great afternoon ---- it is a beautiful day.

#STASHTAGS 5/31

ENCOURAGE. My grandmother taught me to crochet.

Materials List:

- tan card base

- a stamp that actually has words, but I was able to stamp off center. 

- a russet ink from Studio Calico (after I stamped it, I brushed a bit of ink all around the edges. 

- a bit of crochet that I started and never progressed on (imagine that) 

- a copper bit with the word written on it.

- a polyester yoyo from Mama Norvan (there are more of these yoyos she used them to make Christmas 

      wreath ornaments - I'm going to make each of my girls an ornament now that I've located that box)

- and a seriously happy accident in the box with the yoyos. The hanger is a piece of ribbon she saved that had faded to the perfect match for the stamp ink.

I learned how to crochet by watching my Grandmother. I would sit behind her and watch her. Then when I started to actually handle yarn and a hook, she was so encouraging. As was my mama. I am using some favorite bits and bobs on this project since I know I'll be keeping these for me. And knowing that has allowed me to use them without thinking "well I'll save this for ____" 

This is actually turning out to be a very fun and enlightening project.

Have a great day.

visitors

The pictures have nothing to do with the post. 

My baby sister came to the house today. 

She visited in my studio.

She loved it.

I hope she will come back for a day of making. 

At least for some salty rim adult beverages.

I'm kinda fond of her. 

 rose crocheted from hardware store twine.

my daughters wedding bouquet.  I made from lace that was her Nomi's and rhinestone brooches gathered all over.

the spoon was damaged - but then so are we - still life and love are beautiful.

seems i have a "thing" for buttons. 

Much love everyone 

have a beautiful day.

THANK GOD MY MAMA DIDN'T DO THIS......

I am the oldest child. The one in the middle is my sister, Tracey. (shhh... we can talk about her later) the one on the right is my mama. She's a character.

Smart. She sure is.

Funny. Got that covered.

Inspirational. That too.

Strong --- uh-huh. My daddy was killed in an accident when I was 15. she suddenly found herself on one income with two teenage girls.

I look sooooo much like her. At times I go by my reflection and I literally see her. Those moments are very eerie.

And --- Girls I am so sorry --- but at times my mouth opens and my mama comes out. Ok ladies --- you know you said it ---- "I will NEVER say that to my kids". Then you do and then you remember. And most of the time --- then you smile.

But the one thing about my MAMA I am celebrating today.

SHE DIDN'T KILL ME WHEN I WAS A TEENAGER.

and there were times that was a distinct possibility.



oooh --- I knew EVERYTHING. And, "Bless her Heart", in my world she had to be the dumbest, meanest, most difficult person there was.

Bear with me ---- she is none of those things.

I had a smart mouth, kinda still do. That was punished.

Forge my mama's name on a paper --- NO WAY --- got my butt whipped for that in the third grade. She made a believer outta me.

14 --- wanted to date a 23 year old. Mama --- lets just let that one go for now. I married him, we have two beautiful girls, and they are the very essence of my heart.

Ran out of gas one time. She rescued us, got a friend of hers to open the service station, and then made sure we went by there and filled up after that.

Oh I thought I was slick  but --- I cannot count the number of times I wanted to do something and she said NO. Every single time I went against her will, I got caught. EVERY SINGLE TIME.

Got home one night and she asked "just what happened between you and The Man at the Dairy Queen?" damn small town America --- and this was BEFORE cell phones. We had a little (loud) disagreement in the parking lot. Somebody reported it to my mama. Man --- that was some speech. About behaving in public. And how mortifying that phone call was.

Tried the whole "but so&so's mama said she could" ----- she didn't fall for that either.

It snowed one time and they did not cancel school --- the last words out of my mouth were "don't worry mama, I won't wreck your car". Twenty minutes later I'm on a strangers house phone, calling my mama, to get her to get someone to pull same car out of the ditch.

Did I say I had a smart mouth? Still kinda do. Well, that is still reprimanded.

Again --- today I am celebrating the fact that

MY MAMA DIDN'T KILL ME WHEN I WAS A TEENAGER.

Thank you Mama.

And besides ---- just look at how many really great and embarrassing stories you get to tell now.

Mama -- I love you.

I thought.......

When they were little, I thought I might never sleep again. I heard every change in breathing. Each time they turned over.

I did sleep again ---- but, oh my, these two ARE my very breathing.

I watch the car commercial of the little boy asking his dad all the "why" questions and I remember that I thought "WHY DO THEY HAVE TO ASK ALL THESE QUESTIONS?" And I answered them over and over and over.

One is a Chemistry grad student, the other an environmental science major. They are still asking questions ---- many of them way beyond my abilities to provide answers. 

Oh and the toddler years --- they climbed EVERYTHING. I thought I might climb the walls. They ran and danced and twirled and learned. They fell down and got back up. And I thought "how in the world am I going to keep up with them."

And one runs marathons and one is a college level softball player, and there is no way I can keep up with them, but I can cheer them on by my presence, with a text, a phone call. 

Oh the elementary school years --- bringing exposure to other kids and an introduction to independence that mama wasn't sure about at all. And I thought "I sure hope they learn to make good choices in people."

And one volunteers with special olympics and includes ALL kinds of wonderful people in her life and the other has chosen her eternal mate and together they include kids and wonderful adults in their circle of friends. 

Middle school --- wow --- and I thought that they thought that I was the meanest and dumbest mother in the the world. Because ---- well ---- because at sometime during the middle school years the aliens from the Raging Hormones planet abduct your sweet little girls and replace them with these "THINGS". They looked like my girls, but I thought quite often, there is NO WAY that is mine.

And occasionally - one would let me catch a glimpse of who they were struggling to become. And those glimpses --- well those glimpses gave me hope that we might just make it through these years. 

OOOH ---- sixteen, and I thought my heart may just stop on that first solo trip out of the driveway in the car.

And now one jokes about "road rage" and how stupid drivers bother her and the other one is driving home to see me as often as she can.

I thought there would always be shoes by the island in the dining room.

I thought the washing of uniforms would never end.

I thought that ........

I thought that ........

I thought that I would absolutely be bored to death if we had to watch these videos again

grandpa's magical toys part one

grandpa's magical toys part two

grandpa's magical toys part three

grandpa's magical toys part four

I WAS WRONG ----

And I am so glad that so many of these thoughts were never given a real voice.

I do sleep --- there are STILL questions ---- I cannot keep them safe ---- occasionally a bad decision will happen --- I still have worries when they drive out of the driveway --- I haven't tripped over any of their shoes (or backpacks or batbags) in years ---- and the aliens have returned them  ---- and I am more than likely a pretty average mom and not the meanest or the most stupid one on the planet ----

I am still glad that washing and trying to get red mud out of uniforms is a thing of the past.

Oh, and the videos --- I've been watching them and they are not at all boring.

See ---- in this video --- ABBY learned that the HOKEY POKEY IS WHAT IT"S ALL ABOUT.

They grew up --- I'm their mama --- I AM SO PROUD OF WHO THEY ARE

I LOVE YOU MOLLY AND ABBY ---- AND I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT JUST LIKE TO HEAR IT AGAIN. 

HEARTS AFIRE ......

Well --- well --- well. SERIOUS and I do mean SERIOUS progress happened this weekend with wedding prep. But it almost didn't play out that way.

Last week I send out an invite for a wedding workday. The invite included the bride-to-be, bridesmaids, MIL, stepMIL, friends. Lots of people. Because this was the most overwhelming project for me at this point. And I was "shut-down" because I have a tendency to do that when I get overwhelmed. 

This wall - all 33 feet of it - is to feature hundreds of paper hearts on sticks. Along with a wine barrel arrangement in the middle. (to hide that yellow sign)

I purchased packs of wooden skewers. The father of the bride spray painted them varying shades of white - silver - satin nickle.

There was also paper punching of lots of cardstock hearts. 

All of this happened last week in prep for the work day. 

Then Thursday - the texts started - this one wasn't coming - that one was a nope - sorry we can do it another time. 

People --- I do NOT have room in the prep schedule for another time.

So I kept punching and stacking hearts

400 of them total ---- 

Then on Saturday morning, the Bride-to-Be texts me that she is sick and won't be coming. 

MAMA HAD A BRIDEZILLA MOM MOMENT. 

The were ugly texts back and forth. Threats of quitting unless some people decided to help DIY the DIY wedding we are working on. Informing the young lady involved that "playtime" is over. Screaming at the Father of the Bride for going to a softball game that he had no children involved in. Calling friends and then my Mama. LOTS OF HYSTERICAL TEARS. It was not a good morning. 

I kept right on punching those hearts because the damned things HAD TO BE DONE no matter the crisis. 

At that moment I did have some help. It did make me feel a tiny bit better since this help is so danged cute. 

Then the reinforcements showed up ---- My sweet Mama and she made a gallon of her "always makes me feel better" sweet tea and brought it. 

She also brought wit and wisdom. Just saying. 

The Crusty Old Guy showed up too. Wait ---- there is no productivity involved in this picture ---- coffee break time I guess. I am sure he had no idea what he was walking into when he came through those doors. 


He actually hot glued all the sticks to the card stock while I punched the patterned hearts and Mama glue the pretty parts on with help from.....

Wait - how did she get in the pictures? 

The Bride-to-Be sucked it up and came on to help. She took a whole bunch pf ribbing for making her mama mad. And she took it in a very good-natured manner.

The plan is to stand these in boards along that wall. 

Go to this post to see the Pinspiration for this idea. 

Father of the Bride dug in the side room of the barn and found some rustic sawmill slabs for the bases. 

This is the idea we are now working. 

10 foot boards --- with a jack daniels wooden cask planter in the center. 200 assorted hearts stood in little drilled holes in the boards. 

The hearts even look pretty in mass in baskets and other containers where they are waiting for the final touch before being stored. There will be a tiny piece of tulle tied to each one right beneath the heart. 

All shades of white, blue, grey. 

It was a major undertaking. 

It took four of us four hours to assemble these. 

Does not include the hours I spent punching the card stock before hand. 

I think I deserve a floral heart just for me.... 

Don't you?

Oh and Molly, I'm sorry I was mad. It just was way too much to even think about when it was all playing out. 

I love you and I am so afraid of you being disappointed with how this wedding looks. 

Every mama wants to give her child all the hopes and dreams come true that she can. 

On being their unorthodox mom...

I LOVE being Mom. As I am working on wedding stuff, I am pondering the life and times of the Bride-to-Be and her little sister. It's been a lot of fun to remember things.

I fall into the category of being a very unorthodox mom.

My children are aware of it.

This is why this e-card is so funny to me.

Source: someecards.com via Kelly on Pinterest

Let's talk about some of the more unorthodox moments of family memories ---

I had a serious accident while I was pregnant with the Bride. Rolled my car several times down into a ravine. Not a scratch on me - just a seat belt bruise. Then When I was pregnant with the Softball Princess, I had a little fender bender. Well, here is the unorthodox response to these incidents 

WE CAN"T HAVE ANY MORE CHILDREN ---- MY DAMNED CAR INSURANCE CAN"T HANDLE IT.

Fast Forward a bit - the Bride-to-Be is learning to talk ---- I work so hard with her to master her first word ---- that word was DADDY!!!!!! I was thrilled beyond all measure that this went this way. Why - you might ask? Because at 2AM when she was awake and wanted to watch Barney Video's, she would stand in her crib - rattle the side - and scream DADDY!!!! I would calmly roll over in the bed and say "Honey, she wants you." Then I would go back to sleep while he learned the Barney Songs. Didn't work with the Softball Princess - Daddy was onto my deviant behavior then.

We called the Pacifier --- the STOPPER --- Why? Because when B2B would cry -- one of us would say as we gave it to her --- STOP HER. Thus the name.

Softball Princess wanted to go to B2B daycare so bad, they did not take children under 3. Well she didn't know that, and we were having a little delay in our potty training... Unorthodox Mommy says --- when you are potty trained we will see if they will let you go to busy box. Bingo --- three days --- potty training DONE.

Oh -- school memories are far too numerous for this writing. But here is where collusion started. They had been taking notes all these years. But there are a few worth talking about. Projects --- we are a project family.

Creating the sea floor. ---- Princess and her Friend Cort - had to do this one --- Of course MOM finds out THE NIGHT BEFORE --- so here we are building the sea floor in my dining room ---- needed some kind of "backing" to shape the paper mache. Search - search - search - find NOTHING. Realize that screen wire will work and take the screen off the window and cut said screen into shape. YES I DID....... Unorthodox - that's me.

Then there was the Valley Forge Project --- Build a diorama of the area. Little log Cabins, a tiny little boat, River --- all fairly accurate. Actually started ahead of time for this one. Project is due on Friday. At three AM Friday morning, the B2B (maybe 10 at the time) appears at my bedside (anybody else freak out at being awakened because someone is staring at you) and when I creak open one eye she whispered "Mama, it was snowing at Valley Forge." So at 5AM ---- Mom is in the driveway in her t-shirt and underwear, with HER toothbrush, white paint, and a butter knife "SNOWING ON VALLEY FORGE"

Then there was my personal favorite --- the family tree project. Not another last minute --- Oh yea mom - project. YUP. Had to have information for four generations removed. Mom gets on the phone -- and starts gathering information --- (thank you Grandmother and Aunt Becky) and we start filling in the tree information. Tree gets all filled in and the B2B then informs me that "pictures give me extra credit". Unorthodox Mom - who has no access to these family pictures - promptly goes online and proceeds to print random pictures from FLICKR. We stole those relatives -- blatantly stole those relatives. That project has now become known as the ADOPTED RELATIVE project.

Now there are thousands of these kinds of stories. We drive each other batshit crazy. We laugh at each other and ourselves. But above and beyond all that --- we love and we love and we love.

Guess there is not too much you can say that is unorthodox about that.

It's a good life

Good morning. It's summertime and the living is super wonderful. Hot -- July hot and humid here.

We are enjoying it though -- spending time NOTICING things.

Like last night's local episode of Animal Planet. We have black snakes at the house - not pets. I found this one eating a rat out by my studio. I'm not afraid of the snakes and find them in my studio fairly often. They are not typically agressive and keep the poisonous ones away. They keep the rats and mice out of the barns too. So they get to stay.

Way back in cold weather we found a trash pile in the woods behind the house. I dug out out several bottles and jars. No telling how long they had been there. Being the super efficient person that I am -- I had these in a tote by the kitchen steps since then. (Please don't judge) One night recently I cleaned them. Oh my there were treasures.

See that atlas strongshoulder jar -- it has a grey cast to it -- from being naturally irradiated. There is not a lid, but the jar is pristine ans the color is amazing. I found one on ebay that is not as clear for 16.99 -- not too bad for dug out of the trash pile.

The smaller jar is a Jumbo Peanut Butter jar - again I found a similar one on ebay for 14.00. Now to decide what to do with these ---- should they stay with me bcause they are cool or should I sell them because they have value?

This is just a fun edit of the picture ------

Now there is no quandry about the bottles above. They will be displayed / altered / sold as inspiration strikes. College Girl snagged these from her future mother-in-law for me. Love that they think of me on that kind of thing. I altered the raw picture using the free tools at www.befunky.com

Saturday, the 14th was my birthday and my Mama surprised me with this gallon sized pickle jar FULL of wooden spools. How cool is that? I'm thinking she knows me really well too.

She also gave me this baby food jar full of cloth shirt buttons. These will only be used on very special "perfect" projects. Why? They were my Nanny's. Right now they will sit in my studio and make me happy.

I'm planning the simply simple September series again -- hope you guys will join me for that.

Have a wonderful end of the summer Friday.

Blessings -- Teresa

Sister Sister -- Twisted Sister

It started with a text to my phone  ------ "Abby just bit me on the arm!"

It now looks like this

Abby Atkinson

my sister texted my mom and told her i bit her.
granted, i did bite her. but how do you seriously type the words, "Mom, Abby just bit me."??? hha #bitemeback

• • 

    Molly Atkinson I seriously debated punching you. Luckily, I'm a better person than that, unlike people who randomly bite other people unprovoked.

    3 hours ago via mobile · · 1
  • 

    Molly Atkinson Good luck getting a copy of the next Menzel exam, sucka!

    3 hours ago via mobile · · 2
  • 

    Abby Atkinson i bet your punches hurt. and i bet i was valedictorian because i'm not smart enough to pass the last test.

    3 hours ago · · 2
  • 

    Molly Atkinson You were valedictorian because you had no competition and used all my calc tests to study.

    3 hours ago · · 1
  • 

    Abby Atkinson i didn't have your calculus notebook, dear. you were too stingy to give it up.

    3 hours ago ·
  • 

    Molly Atkinson Lies. What the heck is your problem?

    3 hours ago · · 1
  • 

    Abby Atkinson just to clear this up for all you madcow folks entertained by this, i did not have her calculus notebook. i am not a liar, dear. and i have no problems other than i was really hungry at that particular instant.

    3 hours ago ·
  • 

    Teresa Atkinson Both of you act your ages -----

    2 hours ago · · 1
  • 

    Abby Atkinson mom, i'm just a small town girl livin' in a lonely world.

    2 hours ago · · 2
  • 

    Teresa Atkinson dang it abby --- now that song is stuck in my head.

    2 hours ago · · 1
  • 

    Molly Atkinson You're officially a 4 year old. I'm 21, so I have more important things to do than partake in this mundane idiocy you somehow find funny. Grow. Up.

    about an hour ago ·
  • 

    Abby Atkinson yet you continue talking.

    about an hour ago ·
  • 

    Molly Atkinson ‎..Yet you continue biting people past the age you should know better?

    about an hour ago ·
  • 

    Abby Atkinson you're 21 and you told mom that i bit you. there are a lot of things people should grow out of but don't.

    about an hour ago ·
  • 

    Molly Atkinson There is something seriously wrong with someone who finds joy in causing their family members pain. That's really sick.

    about an hour ago ·
  • 

    Abby Atkinson says the girl that accused her sister of cheating in high school. cool story bro.

    38 minutes ago ·
  • 

    Teresa Atkinson what is the deal, ladies???

    25 minutes ago ·
  • 

    Molly Atkinson Ask her, she's the one who bit me.

    23 minutes ago via mobile ·
  • 

    Abby Atkinson ‎"I'm 21, so I have more important things to do..."

    21 minutes ago ·
  • 

    Teresa Atkinson I'm 46 --- I have questions I would like answers to. Molly whats wrong? and Abby, what started this?

    18 minutes ago ·

my status now looks like this

 

I'm the referee in a sibling dispute 60 miles from here -- because my name is Mom and I'm that awesome?????

 

 

Gotta love my life........

 

I do love my girls......