Repurpose - Reuse - Recycle

There is no scarcity of beauty. Madelyn Mulvaney

I was reading - studying - an old Somerset Studio magazine in the tub last night. Yes, I read in the tub. Yes, it's sometimes an issue when the book gets damp. Oh, well. In the back of this issue were some previews of articles in other Stampington publications, and this quote jumped of the page.

We all experience and interpret beauty differently. In my book, that keeps life interesting. I have really worked artistically a lot in the last year. My personal style has become more and more obvious. My color preferences - material preferences - even my studio set up changed as I discovered my art creation personality. I can see all of that evolving by looking through my posts since I started MaggieGraceCreates.

In addition the style in our home reflects each of our idea of beauty and comfort. It is not my home, it is our home and we all contribute to the decor and lifestyle there.

The Man at my Address, me, and the Softball Princess were all in the "big room" last night. I took a wall out before we moved in between the living and dining room making a 17 foot x 35 foot open room of the two. I was crocheting, the Man watching football, and the Softball Princess was doing homework at the dining table. We were all entertaining and loving on the dog. It was an easy - comfy night. I remarked about how HAPPY it felt. I was experiencing one of those BEAUTIFUL LIFE MOMENTS.

This immediately spurred my creativity and I had to MAKE SOMETHING NOW. All of us creative folks understand that urge. So I ran to the studio and gathered up some things. I wanted to work in the house so I could be part of the atmosphere in there.

In about 45 minutes (including gathering and glue drying time) I made two more things for the College Girl's new dorm room. Pretty much instant gratification.

I took a letter that she already had. It was covered in a bright colorful polkadot fabric. A friend gave it to her as a gift a long time ago. She had tucked it away, because it didn't match her new idea of beauty.

I stripped off the existing fabric.


Added some black and white scrapbook paper. Flipped it over and trimmed with an Xacto knife.

A new look for a tucked away item.

Another reuse item - I made framed door decor for College Girl and her roomie last year. Using paper and other items, I repurposed thrifted frames into dry erase boards. Well again, this had been tucked away. The teal paper didn't work with the new decor.

I took it apart. Again added scrapbook paper from the stash. Reused the letters for her name. Put it back together and left her a grocery message for this morning. (she got home really late and was going back this morning early)

It was dark and this looks kinda busy, but in reality it is great. She was thrilled. Alas, the wind caught this frame when she was packing her car and it is now scattered in the driveway. I'll just have to redo again.

I spent NO MONEY. I scratched that itch to create. I made College Girl happy. I worked in one of my favorite manners - USE WHAT I HAVE. How great is all that.

I have a beautiful life. I recognize it. I'm going to record it here. I want you to recognize your beautiful life too.

Oh and the weather people said that four letter word starting with S. In the south that means, no milk or bread in the supermarket. Crazy. Personally - I stocked up on beer (for the man), tequila (for me) and snack foods (for the Softball Princess). We are covered.

Have a great day.

ALONE AT LAST......

No it is not what it sounds like. Well maybe it is.

We never planned for two children. I almost died having the College Girl and the doctors thought the problem would get worse with subsequent children. So we did not plan for the Softball Princess to join us. God has a wonderful sense of humour and we have the best surprise ever. Anyway......

College Girl was a toddler when we bought our house. Two bedrooms - no need for any more - wrong. Softball Princess came along and we packed her right into College Girl's room. There they have remained.

Don't feel sorry for either of them. They are happy and quite well adjusted. This old house has huge rooms. This shared space has two double beds, two closets, to chest of drawers, a desk and an entertainment center with room to spare. They get along great and readily share things. It was even traumatic when College Girl left Softball Princess alone to go off to college.

College dorm life -- roommate - sharing a bathroom with 3 other girls. Oh - and a lot less space and compatiblity between these girls. College Girl adjusted to the dorm life wonderfully - she just kept toilet paper in a basket on their side of the bathroom door because the other side refused to buy toilet paper. Apparently there was some sadistic pleasure in hearing someone scream for paper through the door and screaming back that "they sell it at dollar general."

Well the school has a brand new dorm - New Bedford Hall. For the first time she can remember, College Girl has a room of her own. Excited does not bgin to describe how she feels. Last night, the three of us, College Girl, Her Boy, and li'l ol' me, moved her in.

He moved the bed at least four times - the desk - the chest of drawers - the fridge. All the while, she changed her mind, over and over. Ladies do not laugh (oh what the hell - go ahead) every man has to endure this right of passage. The lady in his life and arranging a room. When I left them to make the WalMart run, he was moving the bed yet again, and they were discussing it adamently. I simply laughed and went on my errand.

We got her all set up. She went with a silver, black, and white decor. We managed to grab a few black and white ornaments in the after Christmas frenzy. I had taken the MaggieGrace tool kit and we hung and primped and shined all the stuff. The room suits her. She is so very very happy. She and Her Boy are still on speaking terms. It was a good night.

She was grateful that her mom brought that tool bag. Not every parent travels with bead wire and crimpbeads - to combine with command hooks and get all the decor done in one evening.

I am already missing her. Does she miss us? Not even. She's all stretched out in her own room singing at the top of her lungs --- ALONE AT LAST.

Have a wonderful day.

PS: add to her excitement. College Girl is going to Spain in the spring. Cool huh?

The first finish of the year

Baby Amelia's blanket. In a color called camo pink. Her daddy is an avid outdoorsman so the color is named appropriately.



It is a round blanket. More than likely a "church" blanket. All ruffled and girly looking. I love the ruffles and they fall wonderfully. Softball Princess wrapped a doll up in it and it is so sweet looking.

Here is a close up of those ruffles. Piles of them.

I miss my girls being little. They would never wear these kinds of ruffles now.

Last night was spent doing lots of looking at this...

It is cold here. 20 degrees F this morning. Cold for the southern US and the weather people are calling for teens and single digits by the weekend.

Oh and I am not alone in enjoying the fire.........

This is one spoiled rotten critter.

Moving the College Girl from one dorm to the other today. Then some MaggieGrace Goodness in front of Biggest Loser (and the fire).

I have a beautiful life.

ED information available here.

So sorry about that on my last post comments. I exercised my right to delete the offending comment this morning, but we were out of town all weekend and I never turned on a computer so I was unaware. If any of you were helped by the links left by anonymous in my comments, you are welcome. I have no idea why I am being spammed by those kinds of comments. The phone call to the man at my address was equally funny - I asked him if he was researching medications for this particular male problem on my computer. Boy was he pissed. Maybe because the conversation went like this.

Me: I have a question.

The man: what - in that tone that means he "knows" a fight is about to start.

Me: Do you have a need for long term erec*&%)? Are we having a problem that I haven't been made aware of?

The man: WTF?

Me: Is there some sweet young thing needing more from you?

The man: WTF?

Me: I've been spammed with adds for drugs to help with such problem. Though I would forward links if you need me to.

The man: WTF? Ah: No: Damn: Stammer --- stutter --- freak out.

Me: I'll take that as a you don't have a clue ---- Bye.

I know he is shaking his head and still wondering what this phone call was about.

"Poor ol' Charles" -- that would be one of the phrases to insert here. It has to be awful living with me at times.

Now for real stuff.


Spoons - for the Artist Market.

If there is frost on the grass, it is too cold for softball. Each afternoon was stunning though. Two days of watching girls do skills drills for college coaches. Sorry - this was boring for mom. Dad enjoyed it.

I did however really enjoy the few minutes we spent listening to this gentleman, Bill Lightle, read from his book Mill Daddy: The Life and Times of Roy Davis. We happened upon an authors show in the park in Dahlonega, GA on Saturday and sat and listened to Bill read from his book and give additional anecdotes about the book. The Man was bored to death with this little show, but since I was being drug to this sleepy mountain town against my will for the weekend, I played the "you are gonna do this" card and so we listened. You can insert "poor ol' Charles" here too.

I also bought 1 tiny bag of buttons ($4.00 total) and passed up one item I really, really wanted (still do). The antique store we were in had a pharmacy spindle full of old prescriptions. I didn't have $100.00 to spend on papers to look at, so I passed, but only after returning several times to the booth to drool.

Got in a little exercise (walking) and worked hard to eat right. I have managed to lose those few pounds that I had put back on.

I can't believe that we are searching for the right fit on a college for my baby. Seems like just yesterday she was keeping us up all night as a baby. Now she is driving herself and getting ready to leave my nest. Where did all those years go?

Have a wonderful day.

She's back...

The College Girl is back on campus. Seems getting her back to school has been technically more difficult than getting her in last fall. She has a new admissions person - who apparently is an idiot. We checked all the boxes - but the scholarship monies were not dispersed correctly - then the rest of the stuff just has not been smooth at all - she was supposed to have a voucher on her loans for books - not done. I may get to drive back to school this afternoon - to deal with all this. AAAACK!!!!!!! eta - all worked out - thanks to Sandra in financial aid.





Moving her back was so much different yesterday. It was just not emotional at all. We had a great time setting up her room with one exeption. The shower in the bathroom was nauseatingly filthy. Mold - OMG - it came off the walls and floor in chunks - kid you not - chunks. I scrubbed the shower myself using 3 cans of foaming bubbles - followed by a wipedown of undiluted liquid bleach. Gross ---





Now after a day off - I came in to find this note on my desk








Any note starting with horse hooves and ending with ky jelly requires explanation. Turns out a coworker was researching liquid glycerin and it is used in all the things listed. But you do have to admit this list is a little scary to find on your desk. LOL -- comments appreciated --





A little updated photo. Please ignore the squinty eyes - we were looking directly into the sun when this was taken. After boot camp on Monday - it was 101 degrees when the workout started (in the sun on the football field). I have lost 23 pounds - and one pants size - about a third of the way to goal. Hot sweaty and gross.

Left to right - Becky - me - Margaret. The three of us spend a lot of time together - our girls are softball players.

I will say - yesterday - I could tell a huge difference in my strength and stamina while we were moving College Girl in. It is not easy - but as long as I can see improvement in some area, I can keep going. Even if it being able to do one more situp - or one more push up - or one extra press - or ten extra feet in a sprint - it serves as reward for making the effort to keep it up. The hardest part for me is turning in the driveway to the school. I will be posting sporatic pictures every now and then just to see if you can tell a difference.

This was taken earlier this spring -

Those are some good looking young ladies - wish mom was tall and thin like them. I can see some differences in my face and neck so far --

Have a great evening.

WIP, homecoming, and something to look forward to.

First let me say - I had a good weekend. I got a space heater for the studio. Hope its enough to keep me somewhat warm. On Saturday, I rested, we had a fire in the heater and I got warm and I slept almost everytime I got still. True healing rest. The College Freshman was home bringing news of the possibility of an additional scholarship next year.

I crocheted two more of the thin neckwarmer style scarves - I am 99% sure one of them went back to school with her. Since she loved it and I can't find it anywhere. I'll be making lots of these for Christmas gifties. These will also be on the list for the Art Show table next year.

I also finished the cross stitch part of a wall hanging.


Loving this color scheme. The floss is a hand dye named wildfire and I love it. This will be a patchwork wall hanging for a bloggy friend. There will be brights and buttons included.


There will be sewing machine work on several items this week.

The mix CD that the Freshman brought me. All new music to me. One of the great things about joining a new group of people is that you are exposed to things that are totally new to you. She has expanded her musical interests so much. She and I are very very close, so she made me a studio/wine drinking/ mellow music mix. I love this. She nailed the mix perfectly. I like how she labeled the cd too.

She will be home for most of this week. Coming home Tuesday night and home til Sunday night. Everyone is so excited. We will be at Grandmother's on Thursday.

Now for the something to look forward to. Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland. I am not normally a huge Johnny Depp fan, but there are roles he is perfect for.

Mad Hatter is one of those perfection roles. Just look.

More about the film here -- Okay ya'll chime in - don't you think this steampunk bohemian victorian look is absolutely fabulous for him? Come on - you know you like it.

Now for one of the most beautiful youtube videos ever - go over ad visit Boho and boho Boy and Cedar (the new boho baby) Look at the video from Nov 23 post. Touched my heart. Sure it will touch yours too.

I hope this finds all of you having a fabulous day.

Bunches of stuff...

This post will be a mishmash of things today.

First a picture from the 9-11 service the softball team had. The three players on the left are representing their siblings - all serving active duty for our country. The group to the right are the veterans we recognized. If you look at the fence line there is a complete line of law enforcement and emergency services personnel. A heartfelt thank you goes out to all of these people and the others who are serving this country both here and abroad.


This beautiful little girl is Addison (the pup is Lucy). Addie has a big sister on the team and she has grown up at the ball field. She has a late summer birthday and I can remember her mom sitting in the car with the AC running with that tiny baby in her arms waiting to pick big sis up at practice. Such a sweet and smart little one. We all take turns being mommy.

Abby has her head up her A**. Her grades are falling. Mom is ready to scream. Anybody's guess why? She is 15 - has always been a disciplined straight A student - and focused ball player. Wanna guess what we have --------

A BOYFRIEND.

Sweet kid. Name's Cody. But she is having a terrible time getting everything done. She's going to have to figure out her definition of time management. Teenage challenges..... I also think some of it has to do with Molly leaving. Time to really focus on getting this all situated. She's smart though, she will figure it all out.

The picture is from the homecoming dance on Friday night. She really was very pretty.

Got to see the College Freshman on Saturday and Sunday. She is really enjoying college and learning her own way through a sport and a demanding major. We went to dinner Saturday night with the team and families. That was fun - getting to know everyone. We also got to see her play a little. As a freshman, she doesn't get too much playing time.

One last MaggieGrace style picture. A quilt, made by my mom, for the College Freshman. When Abby saw it, she wanted it bad. Orange is her favorite color. Mom pieced this and had it quilted. We took it to her on Saturday and she had it on her bed before we left to come home. The pieced part of the quilt is made from scraps my mom bought at a yard sale. She bought the fabric for the backing at her local quilt store.

For the first time in several days, I spent time in MaggieGraceWorld. Honestly, with the chest pains I was having, I was a little afraid to be out there by myself. My family leaves me alone when I am in there so I felt alone. The chest pains are better now - only a little heart raceat times. Last night, I made some tags and got a baby gift ready for Local Best Friend. He has an employee who just became a new Dad and LBF wanted to send something to the baby. I pulled a baby blanket out of the stash and added a handmade tag to the gift wrapping. Congrats to Ryan and Hannah and new baby Taylor. Enjoy the small years - the teenage ones get a little stormy.

Have a great day everyone.

My weekend

div>I had great plans to post photos, but the dang cable is at home.



The College Freshman is getting a tiny bit of playing time. She is working hard and learning a significant amount about the theory of time management. I can't post the pictures here, but you can link over to the school website and look. (she is uniform #2)



volleyball

As you all know the Softball Princess played ball in Columbus, GA. at The Shaw Invitational. This is a well run tournament and one we look forward to playing every year. It is also a heavily recruited tournament for college coaches. Look at the promo photos of the softball complex.

It is a massive complex and the softball area is only a small part of the overall complex.

The very first view we had of the place looked like this.

Very well maintained - a beautiful location - well below the gnat line though.

Hot and humid - it is the south. Being from small town rural north Georgia, the girls were a little overwhelmed on Firday night. See we won all of our games on Friday and finished first in the gold bracket. These preliminary wins gave us the priviledge of playing in the Stadium on Saturday.
The entrance to the Stadium - this looks like a college campus to me. Ticket windows instead of table at the gate. Multilevel entrances. This is High School Softball in the big leagues.

Take a look at the players'view from right field. Nice.

The girls played well on Saturday morning, but the tournament was not finished because of a weather front bringing some serious storms. We were there ALL day on Saturday and played one game.

It was kind of a relaxing trek for me. We car pooled with some friends and Bryan drove. I got to create, visit with Rebecca and just sit back and rest. I did get to cruise through an antiques mall on Saturday - Pictures tomorrow.

I also have a belated birthday greeting for Miss MaryAnn - ya'll go tell her Happy Happy Birthday. I am trying desperately to finish the top secret project for her. Lucky for me - she has decided to go with the Vallen plan of a birthday season.

Ya'll have a wonderful day.

hinting at fall

eta - I received a note about the polyvore collages that the links in mine are not working properly to give credit to the appropriate people ( i think i need to go back to school on this one) I respect the all of the inspiring people out there so much that i will be deleting all of the collages until i can figure out how to fix the problem - I apologize to anyone who may have been offended. And I want to thank Jude at spirit cloth for letting me know there was a problem in such a kind and gracious manner. Please go see her beautiful work.

I know there are a few wedding photos here. No plans at my house, but I do read a few wedding related blogs and those images are from there.

I named this set orange and brown, because I seem to be headed that direction right now. The light is changing here in the south and in the evenings there is just a hint of fall in the air. I think of orange and brown as fall. The leaves take on those rich fall hues. The flames in the fireplace signal a warm cozy evening. I reach for a glass of red wine instead of a citrusy margarita. Earthy, rustic, and in the south the perfect weather for outdoors. Lower humidity - your makeup does not melt right off your face when you walk out the door.

Fall is my favorite season here.

A long weekend coming. I'll be putting things away in the studio. I still have a few things to move out there, but right now I have to clean and sort and organize. I also have a sketch to complete for my submission to the Hauntings Exhibitions at the local art gallery as well as an artist statement about my work.

College Freshman is off to a tournament this weekend in Memphis, TN. The first time she has been to a competition without me. They leave today and will be back late Sunday night. Monday is a holiday for her and we will probably head her way then. She called earlier and is having one of those reality moments. She parked illegally in the visitor parking this morning after practice - left her lights on - and now has a dead battery. They are leaving and she is freaked about the whole scenario. Mom would love to go to her rescue, but I simply coached her through the steps to resolve the issue and maybe she will call back later with the news it is resolved.

I am looking forward to a weekend of "piddling". Yes it will be work, but I so need to get my house and studio in order and I think then I can feel a little less stress. Right now the stress is causing me to have some physical issues - - my asthma is flaring up - heart racing - I am tired but not sleeping all that well - tension headaches. Nothing major and all directly related to stress. What I really need, and cannot afford either in time or money, is a trip to the beach. oh well.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

A blatantly stolen idea

Over the last year, I have been reading the Pink Roses blog. I started reading when I happened across it and realized that Suzanne is from my neck of the woods. I kept reading because she is so creative and wellspoken and she's a mom.

Suzanne now has two kids in college. An accomplishment I cannot imagine. But the idea that I stole from her was one she was doing for her daughter when she went off to college. Every week there was an encouraging card sent to her daughter. A handmade card. Her daughter displayed them all in her room and this was special for the two of them. I decided when I read it that it was something I wanted to do for my girls.

Sorry about the picture, I snapped this just before I dropped it in the mail - so I can't retake it.

These are flat cards - not quite postcard sized. I just threw together bits and pieces on the front - and a personal message on the back.

The one I sent last week was entirely different, but I put it into a handmade envelope that my friend Ann-Margret made.

This is a fun way to send her just a few lines of love from home.

We have an unexpected night off here - softball cancelled because of RAIN - desperately needed rain - so no complaints. I'll be cleaning - you know you are too busy when you look forward to a night just to clean.

You all know how I feel about sports and the good things that kids get from participating. God knows we are involved with our monsters and we support so many other sports in the area. We are in a small rural area of north Georgia, yet our softball field complex was ranked nationally. Quite an honor for small town America. How did this happen? With a ton of community support and the parents hard work. We cut grass, paint dugouts, hang netting, and anything else that needs to be done. We rely on donations for supplies, transporting the girls - feeding them - equipment. On and on - and all of these donations are so appreciated.

Having said all of that, I believe every sports program is worthy of that kind of support. One of my Very First blogging buddies was MaryAnn over at A Very Mary Design. She is the Very Mom of a Very Special young lady, who is a competitive swimmer. Again being from a small town, they need a little extra support for their team and facilities. The Very young woman is asking for help with some of the fund raising. If you can spare some loose change, or a few dollars, please consider sending it her way. I got my envelope addressed to go.

I do hope all of you are having a wonderful day.

I SEE PATTERNS EMERGING

eta - I received a note about the polyvore collages that the links in mine are not working properly to give credit to the appropriate people ( i think i need to go back to school on this one) I respect the all of the inspiring people out there so much that i will be deleting all of the collages until i can figure out how to fix the problem - I apologize to anyone who may have been offended. And I want to thank Jude at spirit cloth for letting me know there was a problem in such a kind and gracious manner. Please go see her beautiful work.


Okay - so the college freshman called last night. Seems there was a freak accident involving a shorted hairdryer, an electrical outlet, and a damp suitemate last night. Molly found her lying in the floor - unconcious - and burned on the side of her face. She is going to be okay, but it sure scared everyone.

I am having a blast assembling these image collages. I have now discovered that you can click on the collage and if you have imported the images the software gives a link back to the picture. Way cool.

I particularly love these images. The fabric square at the top right is my favorite, I'll be making an adaptation of these for a bridal shower centerpiece in the near future. These have an opening in the center and the creator refers to them as vases. I'll be making them with skirts to hold single flower stems in can's or jars. I'm thinking in various shades of fall and yes - I have PLENTY of fabrics to choose from.

I am still carrying that bag of crochet tag creations around. Great to work on in the heat. I am also cross stitching on the top secret project at night in my recliner and still moving and sorting and organizing in the studio. Nothing really photo worthy.

The title of this post reflects me organizing all of my inspirational photos in that computer folder into the wonderful pattern collages. I love the grouping of the items, making a family or themed presentation. You can play for free too -- http://www.polyvore.com/

Now I have to say - my favorite software (aka tools) online are as follows

http://www.blogger.com/
http://www.flickr.com/
http://www.polyvore.com/
www.google.com/reader
http://www.picnic.com/

you guys have any more links (time wasting websites) to share.

Have a wonderful day all.

This is a serious issue people ...

I found out this weekend that a friends teenager is "cutting herself". Breakup with the first boyfriend triggered it. People you cannot love a child out of this. This issue needs immediate and professional intervention. What causes personally destructive behaviors? Myriad reasons. Teens are expecially at risk for lots of these behaviors. Be vigilant - hell - be nosy - ask questions - who? what? where? when? know your child's friends - know your child's normal behaviors - be involved. When you signed up as Mommy, you signed up for the hard stuff too. You signed up to be the parent -NOT THE FRIEND. Keep that perspective please - it is important. There are moments when the last thing you want to hear is the words "I hate you" because you are trying to lead them in the right direction. They really don't hate you and they know you love them.

Stepping off the soapbox now.

The college freshman came home this weekend - complete with laundry. How cliche is that? So I took her to the laundromat in town (we are still struggling with our well at home) and made her wash them. That backfired as far as she is concerned. I fully enjoyed having her home and in all honesty - her leaving yesterday was harder than last week, so I retreated to my "space".

I am down to sorting all that little stuff that drives you crazy.

I need not purchase any white glue in the near future. I found a shoe box full in the bottom of the craft cabinet. Yes this is embarassing.

What to do about these hanging craft bags. Take 1/2 of a cheap dollar tree plate drying rack and screw it to the wall. I can flip through these quickly - fun stuff. I have some more of these bags too -

Buttons, beads, bottles. These are my drugs of choice. Stress relief - relaxation - sleep aid - revitalization aid - blood pressure reduction - these little bottles cover it all.

After the entire afternoon of sorting and putting away stuff, I fixed a little card for Molly and mailed it in an envelope that Ann-Margret made for me. Then I took a magazine page in the house and made one of my own - fun stuff - there will be lots more of these. Then I spent some time cross stitching on the top secret project while I watched Law and Order and Cold Case.

More sorting tonight - then some silver work.

Have a great day.

8-12-08

8-12-08
Originally uploaded by maggiegracecreates

i'll edit in a little while

eta -- whew two days from you know where. I spent Tuesday afternoon preparing an hour long presentation for a meeting. One of the presenters had a family emergency and I was called on to produce. Then that meeting lasted all day on Thursday with a 2 and 1/2 hour drive home. Back to my desk today.

I am also catching some grief because of the meeting. There are going to be some changes in behaviors here and Some people are acting like children. I cannot make them understand that we have to respect the signature on the paycheck - even if we don't agree with all the rules.

Grown men acting like children is so freakin' stupid to me and I have wasted no time letting them know how I feel about that issue. Been a tough day with lots of ill temperaments going on.

MaggieGrace has not seen the light of day through all this, but I will this weekend. 3 hours of gate duty tonight. Three games tomorrow and ALL DAY ball tournament Saturday. I will finish a boatload of those crochet tags. (50 of them will head to Sweden next week)

Molly called this morning. I was more than ready to hear her voice on the phone. She is having a blast. I quote.

"trying new things, meeting new people, figuring out a schedule and I ran into a boy I went to elementary school with."

Two or three a day practices are going to leave very little time for getting in trouble. The calculus, chemistry, english, religion schedule is demanding too. She is planning on coming home Saturday. All her new buddies are leaving campus for the weekend. She has an early practice - then she will head home.

I hope this finds all of you having a wonderful week.

My house regurgitated a child......

The dining room self cleaned itself on Saturday night and Sunday morning. Her bed is now unmade because she took the mattress pad she liked off of it. Her spot in the toothbrush holder is empty. We only forgot the toilet brush and bathroom rugs. The final run to WalMart cost me 39.90. I have successfully left my child at college.



We're off. Fill up the car -- with stuff and gas. Dad swung it through the car wash for her (only after asking me for quarters). Jeepie is happy she said - and she was so nervous and excited.

Typical dorm room - block walls - built in furniture - the moving in was easy - she is on the ground floor right off the lobby - less than 15 feet from the campus security office. The upperclassmen completed a final gracious act for the freshmen - they carried everything in for us.

Then we unpacked and put away. Two girls - their stuff - the rest of two families - a couple of grandparents - we stepped over and through and around. For the entire afternoon.

They should not need very much stuff (although Molly did forget the laptop charger)

I have no pictures of the explosion that was the unpacking.

A few more glimpses of the day --

In the chapel at the pledge and promise sevices. (Mom please - I am trying to tell you something - I think it was about a calculus book.) Look at the pipe organ in the upper corner - it is magnificent. The campus is small enough that you can hear the music majors practicing on it.

Taking MaryAnn's spraypaint challenge, I made these cute dorm room marker boards. (can't have my child take off without handmades. The color is off on the blue one, it is much more teal.

I spray painted two cheap picture frames. Used handmade paper (thank you -Beth) and the metal letters that were part of my birthday giftie from Vallen (thank you too). The other embellishments were things that I had. From the comments we heard, there will soon be others of these decorating the halls.

Abby was subdued, but somewhat happy. She is in charge of the paint in her new room and gets to pick dinner locations now. (more seafood - less Mexican) The two of them are incredibly close and this will be a tough few weeks for her.

The two monsters in the new room - notice the bear - thats Brady - Emily (new roommate) brought hers too and she also brough this tattered old quilt that she sleeps with. Bits of home in a new space.

One last glimpse of them- Molly has her back to us (center bottom) and Emily was about to wave to mom (red shirt to the right)

The sisters held each other tight - gotta say - this is now one of my favorite shots of the two of them.

It was a good day - she will be fine and so will we.

On the way home - Dad would start to ask about things she had - our new phrase became...."She may play hookie from class. She may stumble into the room drunk. But she will feed herself and bathe - at least we got that right. "

They have two days of team building and play - then a 5am practice on Wednesday - the only real worry she has is about time management with the demands of being and athlete.

Funny - the excitement she had about the entire scenario, made it okay for me to let go.

Oh and the worst part of the day - there had to be one, right. Dad was taking the stuff, that would not fit in to the room, back to the truck on the way to the chapel for the pledge and blessing and locked both sets of keys in the truck. That did almost cause me to nut up. Emily's dad managed to open it fairly easy. Thanks, Chris.

Ya'll have a great day.

Fun stuff

Both girls got Kodak cameras as part of their birthday - until I get mine replaced - I'll be using theirs. The above picture is now gone from the wall in the College Freshman's room. She spent last night packing favorites to hang up in her dorm - it is in all black and white. but I have looked at this and thought over and over what a cool art quilt it would make. maybe in raw edged applique. I am glad to have the photo - now if I get the creative muse nudge , I'll print this on a transparency and start that task.
A customer shared something with me yesterday. Unexpectedly. One of those sharings that causes you to cross the lines from a simple business relationship - to being friends. This guy - big, burly, macho wood worker - builder - and somewhat standoffish - came by the store to get a water heater. I put the job name on the ticket and it was a church in our area. He said they were building an addition and that he was doing the contracting as a donation. We started talking about faith and works and other things about being Christian in a professional environment. A natural, easy, conversation that would end with him sharing a photo of a cradle he has made and a letter to go with it. The letter, written by a young family member, was composed to express his feelings to the parents of the new baby. We both shed those trickle down tears as we talked about our children and how far we have come in raising them. We left it agreeing that unconditional love, time, and a faith basis are the most important things we can give our children. All of the rest of it will then follow as we go. When he realized that I was the mother of the Salutatorian, he expressed his opinion of a parenting job well done by myself and the man at my address.

God sent an affirmation to me - through an unlikely angel - that I have done the best I can and that it is time to lean on faith and let her go. Then I come home to find that this(above) is one of the art peices she has chosen to take with her. The lettering was done by the Softball Princess for the College Freshman.

Now for MaggieGrace goodies - all these edges - a big envelope of them - are the circles and ovals for making gift tags cut from a bunch of card scraps given to me by a church member. I agonized over the decision to go ahead and complete these. I tend to have an idea, collect the stuff, complete a few, then move on to the next one. This blog and the committments I have made to Using What I Have both have contributed to changes in that behavior.

I need things to photograph (you all know what I am talking about) and to send to people, so I am much more diligent in completing projects. So until the weather cools off enough to quilt and crochet blankets, this little book shaped box (below) will be my travel companion.

It is easy to carry. It was in the stuff that Beth gave me. It holds just a few of those thrifted spools of thread, my awl, a tiny crochet hook, and a few of the circles and ovals at a time. I keep this and a small accent pillow to use for a punching surface in the truck. So this is the portable project for now.

More of the completed tags. If you would like to have some of these tags or these, email me at teresahome@juno.com. I'm selling these 10 for $1.50 US. I may be able to make a themed package (depends on what I have) or just a random assortment for you. I can also do the crochet ones with a monogram stamped on them. Again all of this money goes into the fun money account for the college freshman. God knows after all of the expenses for the summer

I have not even attempted to set up my ETSY shop, so I'll be selling these just here and to local folks for now.

Hope you are all having a great day.

A few quick pictures

I GOT A BOX ----- it was all wrapped up and proclaiming something called a fiesta. It was my birthday gift from the Queen herself. This box was battered and bruised - but the contents - not even a scratch - look a floppy brim crochet hat - a fabric flower pin and some way cool alphabet letters. Love it all - my dear friend.


A couple of pictures from the dining room floor - Beth - Molly grabbed those baskets for her room - hope thats okay.

More stuff - all school supplies.

And just so you guys don't forget - like you would - not even. Some peeks around the studio.
Jars of sorted stuff.
I am a paper whore. I only wish this was all of it. This is a serious problem for me. I'll be completing some journals inpired by the Secret Leaves ones next week.

More bottles. These stacking lab bottles are one of my favorite goodies ever from the man at my address. Buttons, beads, rocks are all stacked up and organized. This has been daunting to say the least. I am really embarrassed to say how (I really don't know the answer either) many times I have purchased duplicates of things because I just could not find what I was looking for at the house. I already love having all this space in the barn (it will not be enough) and I am being so careful with putting things away in some sort of organized fashion. Tonight will find the College Freshman beginning the clothes packing process. I'll be making two frames for them to use as dry erase boards outside the door. Hope to have more on that tomorrow.

Have a wonderful day all.