pretty journals

I've made "stitchie bits" for months.

Cleaning, sorting, using up.

Hoarded stash stuff. 

Getting ready for Grateful Hope. 

I knew from early on that these would become part of my journals that I am gifting each person with. 

These are raw - unedited pictures right from my camera. 

I thought the counted cross stitch was fitting for a retreat about counting blessings. 

I'll give a quick description of each. 

Keep in mind - there were no patterns for these bits.

I did have to purchase the journals (composition books), but everything else for these came from my stash. 

Worst thing about that --- this didn't make a noticeable dent in that stash. 

Rustic Blue Paper and vintage postage stamps.

Floral and a comtemporary pattern - a surprise pairing - and flat backed pearls and rhinestones.

Textured Paper and vintage buttons

Another surprise pairing - polka dots and glitter paper with vintage buttons.

I still LOVE that worn blue wooden button. The polka dots are pink on brown.

 This is ALL Tim Holtz Paper stenciled with glitter embossing powder using a stencil from Sweet Stamps

This combo is just HAPPY looking - same stencil as above and Shamrock Dreams Embossing powder from Globecraft and Piccolo

There are several papers here --- but my favorite is that bicycle image. 

This is Tim Holtz paper too - and I spotted this with clear embossing powder. Looks like it rained on it. 

More Tim Holtz - this time with vintage buttons and a gold toned braid. 

I have stashed (hoarded) that butterfly paper for a LONG TIME

Vintage buttons again (I have a thing for buttons)

Glued several papers for that background - the butterfly is embossed

 with Cranberry Wine Embossing Powder - again from G&P. 

I loved this stitchie bit the most -- I am thrilled with this one.

Car tag paper ---- this is just plain fun

The pattern around the stitchie is stenciled in Gilded Rose Gold Embossing powder and uses a Sweet Stamps stencil as well. 

See - I have been working -------

Have a wonderful day - LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL.

Grateful Hope Planning and Praying

This counting of blessings - it's contagious - my friend Patti has/is reading the book --- I am re-reading it. Looking for things to focus on for the retreat. Trying to plan the details. 

Details - all the details - and this is to be a low stress event -----

For my friends. 

Me - well this s a GIFT for them. Some of the details may go unnoticed, but the prayers that are in those details --- they will be felt from now until the event and hopefully well past it. 

Which brings me to today ------

This is me. 

Let's just recap the week. I forgot to write a transaction down in the check book - the warehouse for shipping material to us at my grown up girl job left a CRITICAL item off the truck (4 hours in the car to make that right - windshield time) - Mr Dorsey has had another stroke - one of the youth from my church had a GI artery bleed and is still in the hospital after emergency surgery - a friend of mine spent Wednesday night and all day yesterday trying to find her elderly father (who left going to church, became disoriented, and was finally located miles and miles from home), another friend lost a job, and  add to this ---- I feel puny. (hope I am not getting sick).

I am quite empty ---

And yet I am blessed.

Patti posted her NOTICING on facebook last night. Simply beautiful.
I tossed a grungy sock with the bucket boy --- both of us enjoyed that play time.
Andrew's surgery was successful - he will be ok - again
AND - they found Beth's Dad safe - he wandered into a Historical Museum in a small town and the lovely people there searched until they found Beth's number (please please people - program an ICE number into your phones.)

Blessings through the HARD, EMPTY, TRYING moments.

I want this seeing of blessings to be shared with the ladies in attendance at GRATEFUL HOPE.

So yesterday - while praying over so much difficult stuff - I tried to pray over an easy craft for the Retreat. I put up a picture collage of these and asked for votes. I'm still asking. See some of these ladies are not "craft" oriented ---- but I really want them to feel like they can make something pretty as a memento of the day together. Something that when they see it, they are reminded of the JOY, GRATITUDE, and FELLOWSHIP of the day.

Note - I will put together kits for whichever one I/we decide on. The actual craft will be INSPIRED by these - not an exact duplicate.

So please vote in the comments on this ---- list your top three in order of what you might like to make if you were a part of the gathering.


1. A BEADED HEART ORNAMENT - inspired by the one pictured. I found the original link at Mayahelena on ETSY

A note prompted by Patti: This can be completed in brights or neutrals. I already have everything I need for this craft. I would form the hearts ahead of time ----and the completion would be stringing the beads and wrapping the heart to your liking.

2. FABRIC BUNTING - I found this image at The Natural Wedding Company - it linked to BHLDN - but the bunting is no longer available there. The one shown is sewn to the hanging string, but we would glue ours. Again we can do this in brights - or neutrals. I'm thinking at least 10 different fabrics for each one. 

I have everything needed for this one too - I would precut the fabric shapes  - and the completion would be the gluing together - I most likely would cut all the pieces from assorted fabrics - then randomly package the kits - but you ladies could swap at the tables ---- 

3. BEADED MOBILE YARD ART. I found this on Pinterest, but in searching Google images - I located the source - on ETSY.  The most difficult part of this will be stringing beads (I'll add buttons to the ones we would make because - well - I have them - and I like them)

I have everything for this one too - I would predrill the branches and completion would be stringing and tying these on. Again - these can be brights - pastels - neutrals.

4. HANDSTITCHED TINY CHARMS - be still my heart -- I love these. These were made by Becky Shander - actually I love ALL her stuff.  Now these are tiny - and this would definitely be a handstitching project.

But once again (imagine) I have all the stuff. to make assorted versions of these.

Matter of fact - I'll be making some of these anyway. Just because.

5. WORD BLOCK ORNAMENT - this one came with a FULL TUTORIAL and I like it. it can be expanded to say HOPE - PEACE - GRACE - LOVE - really anything.

I have "most" of this readily available. Although there may have to be a bit of adaptation to use from the stash. it might not be multi-sided and we may wind up using scrabble tiles for the letters.

6. MELTY FLOWERS -- I made over a 100 of this type of flower for Molly's wedding.  I found this picture here.   Circles of petals - fun button and bead centers. These are a little more "laborious" - but NOT difficult to make.

I would bring the precut circles - and candles - you would melt the edges (who doesn't like to play with fire) and hand stitch together to make a pin on flower. again these could be done in any color scheme and I have all the stuffs for them.

Crafts for 15 people - from the stash - well yes - I can EASILY be accomplished.

This event is in October - it is a LABOR OF LOVE for me. I have felt called to do this from the first chapter of the book. Please help me get all these details right ----

I am investing my heart into this --- God is investing His love through me ---

Please comment with your 'PINIONS even if this is not an event you can attend. I need your help.

I am working through all my details - most will not be seen here until after the event --- surprises are fun.

Life is beautiful - busy, but beautiful - stop and NOTICE the beauty.

GRATEFUL HOPE

Each day new. 

Blessings will spill forth. 

Will you recognize the gifts? 

Even in the ugliest moments there are gifts. 

Do you believe that? 

I do.

I also believe that sometimes we miss them. 

Looking ahead, rushing through, distracted by. 

Whatever the explanation is, we miss them. 

And another thing I believe is that we forget them.

We swear we will remember, but then time slowly erases the color from the memory and finally we lose it.

Until something reminds us. 

A smell, a note, a photo, a word spoken, a song. 

Reminders. 

What if. 

We take the time to NOTICE.

Then to record. 

What if we look into God's word and see a way of living. 

One that allows us to see how he fills. 

Pours out.

Overflowing. 

Allowing us to FULL, FULLY, BEAUTIFULLY live. 

Coming this fall --- 

a day of learning.

in a small group of supportive, encouraging friends.

1000 Gifts - a DVD based study. 

Good food.

Pampering.

Encouragement. 

Laughter.

Tears. 

Grace.

Growing.

Blessings.

GRATEFUL HOPE

More information to come.

Here is the original post about why this retreat is so very important to me.

4/10/2014 EDIT
GRATEFUL HOPE
OCTOBER 4, 2014
NEAR DANIELSVILLE, GA

Counting ....

This book made such a difference in my life. It is gritty, real, honest, and I can see me being friendswith the author if she lived near.

It is also one of those books that sent me looking and studying the scriptures she referenced.

I vowed when I was in the hospital - having just been diagnosed with Renal Cell Carcinoma - that I would live as fully and beautifully as I possibly could. This book is one that has helped me keep that promise.

I make journals - pretty ones - and it's really funny, the list of my blessings is in one that is just a plain old store bought one. I could have thought and planned and made one for myself. But honestly - that didn't seem important at the time - I needed to get those first few blessings on paper. I started counting and I count them constantly.

But that is not why I am discussing this here.

Please pardon me while I ramble.

I've learned a lot about self-care in my years too.

And the very moment I finished this book, I have felt called to share the gift that this brought me. The gift of living in full recognition that being thankful really means living aware.

For instance - at choir practice Wednesday night, I was able to single out the voices and hear how each different voice adds to the whole, all the while being aware that the voice I was really listening too was the one that encourages me to be most aware. And I wear the smile he gives me often.

I am going to share pictures that you may have seen before, but from the awareness level. The kind that makes me realize about self care and gratitude.

This is what I call the dirt road to heaven.

I will leave this place, having relaxed, smiled, shared good food.

I'll breathe fresh air.

Feel the wind on my face and in my hair.

Look at natural beauty.

Laugh when we spot a burl on a pine tree.

Marvel at the way dancing campfire flames can entrance me.

and there may be laughter at my own or some good natured others expense.

I love the colors of this cross stitch piece.

I have a huge stash of craft stuff to work with. 

My mama taught me to make. 

It is a wonderful relaxing way to end my day.

It is also a wonderful way to "kill" time normally wasted waiting. 

All of these "blessings" are actual ones from my list. 

Since April of 2010 (yes that's when the C word happened), I have chased and celebrated 100's of sunrises and sunsets. 

Several of my friends say I have a "thing" for the sun.

I do -----

Blue Berry Muffin coffee. 

I love the Green Mountain K-Cup coffee in the wild mountain blueberry flavor. 

Coffee man gifts me with a supply for my birthday each year.

It is seasonal and difficult to find, I appreciate the effort. 

I don't drink it everyday, I save it to really savor and enjoy. 

It is wonderful with just the coffee and creamer.

But here is how I make it really special

brew my coffee

add creamer to my liking

add a dash of vanilla flavoring (a capful to my travel mug size cup) Amaretto works too.

add one packet of Stevia (I can no longer tolerate anything with aspertame in it) 

sprinkle with cinnamon. 

MMMMMM BlueBerry Muffin Coffee. 

Brew a cup of that coffee on a cold Saturday Morning. 

Add running shoes - sweatshirt - jacket - cell phone (to capture the image above) 

Take a long walk down the side road and watch the sun come up. 

Answer the phone because coffee man is calling wondering if you have noticed the sunrise.

Laugh with him because you are walking to a better view of it. (Chasing the sunrise AGAIN)

Pray thanksgivings for how blessed you are. 

Exercise is GREAT self care. 

Take off on a trip to where ever. 

No idea where you are going. 

Just ride. 

Turn the radio on.

Stop - look at junk.

Get a snack.

Explore an old building. 

Eat good food. 

Sing loud with yourself ---- or a buddy if you have one with you.

Allow yourself to have NO agenda. 

Walk somewhere - run somewhere 

Move your body. 

Alone - it gives you time to think.

Add a buddy - or two or 20 - celebrate being together. 

Walk in a public place.

Stop and look at the grey color of the underside of the crane's wings. 

Pet a dog or two walking with their owners.

Say hello to those owners. 

oh and ALWAYS smile at kids. 

99.99% of the time they smile back or at least wave. 

Walk in the sun --- the rain --- the wind --- the heat --- the snow. 

Move your body. 

Celebrate the fact that your body is amazing and capable and can be encouraged to become stronger.

Accept GRACE from others

Give GRACE to others

Share the beauty of GRACE with others

And above all else give and accept GRACE to and from yourself. 

All of this being grateful is so good for your heart.

It is one thing to be grateful and to lift thanksgiving for blessings. 

We are human and like so many "thoughts" we may forget.

We swear we are grateful and I believe we are. 

But when we take the time to savor and RECORD our blessings we start becoming more aware.

And like much of our lives, being good stewards will allow us to gather more. 

Which brings me full circle to the original reason for this post. 

I have share my reaction to the book with many people - many have read it and been affected. 

But I still feel led to do something else. 

I really really want to have a special Retreat using the devotion package from this book. 

Not like a "normal" womens retreat. 

but one that helps us "see" more of the blessings. 

A small gathering of just a few.

I sent a text to my sweet friend Patti about this here are phrases I used. 

My copy of the book is dog-earred and marked up (I want each person to have a copy)

I want to gift these ladies

I want them to feel special - and individual

Pampered

restful

With time to explore and create and discuss with one another

Be gifted and surrounded by loving moments 

I do not want money (or lack of it) to be a roadblock for this. 

I see this as an all day thing. 

Breakfast - lunch - dinner - between meal treats nothing fancy and we may even try a potluck kind of thing for the foods.

Beautiful decor 

Special SWAG

A comfy setting - not the church fellowship hall

This is a yoga pants and sneakers acceptable event.

The five sessions of DVD led study.

Discussion

Music - from all genre

A creative project. (some thing easy and non-messy)

a time for a nap or a long walk after lunch.

interaction with each other or alone in a natural setting.

Now here is where all of you come in. 

I need a place

I need helpers - food prep - decor - taking care of needs

I need the stuff (or a way to provide it) 

I covet the prayer for making this successful. And for some reason, I know that this is just the thing needed for someone I know and love and I am so hopeful God will work this miracle for her.

I've put this on MaggieGraceCreates, because, well, I feel like I am trying to CREATE a special feeling. 

Please think about it.

Share your ideas for the "perfect" retreat day.

Lift prayer and big blessings.

And if you have resources to help make this a reality - i thank you in advance.

edited 4-10-2014
THIS RETREAT HAS A NAME NOW
GRATEFUL HOPE
WILL BE COMING 
OCTOBER 4, 2014