It's a New Year!

I am not big on making New Year's Resolutions!  My feeling is, why make them if I am only going to break them before the month of January is over, however, that being said, I did resolve to post to my blog at least once a week, if not more often.  If it gets boring, or if you feel like I am rambling, I am sure you will let me know, and I appreciate that. 

Here is my dilemma, since I am going to be posting on my blog on a regular basis, I need to figure out what I am going to do, however, since that has always been a problem for me, too much to do and so little time, we are just going to wing it!  I craft, I volunteer, I read, so any day at any time, I could just post about what is going on around me, it usually is fun and I will try to keep you up to date on my activities.

Since life has been a little boring as of late, I thought I would just post one of my card creations here, but just so you know, I am not as talented as many of the ladies that I follow, and this is one of my first attempts at card making.  I love rosettes and the way they make cards look, I actually made a rosette Christmas ornament this year for a swap, and I was pleased with the way it turned out.  I have started sending birthday and anniversary cards to members of my church and this card is so easy that I make quite a few of them to just have on hand.  It is a standard A2 card using paper from K and Company, their double sided paper coordinates so well, I don't even have to think about it and this design is so basic, I use it for both events. 

Once I get brave enough, I may even start posting You Tube videos, there are so many advanced videos out there that people forget about the basics and that is what keeps us going, just the basics.

I am going to start closing my posts with a quote that has meaning to me.  These are just meant as little pick-me-ups and I hope you enjoy them.

Youth is a gift of nature, but age is a work of art. ~ Garson Kanin

My Story

I know it has been a while since my last post, life and other matters sometimes gets in the way and you just have to do what you have to do to get by.  Our home is a blended home of two families, my husband and myself along with our youngest daughter, her husband and son.  Two years ago, we merged our lives because financially, things were tough for both of  us.  My son-in-law was getting a new business off the ground and my husband had major setbacks in his career after almost thirty years in the financial industry.  Although my husband is not college educated, he is extremely smart and has a very good "gut" way of doing things, I admire him for his ability to succeed in a world where a degree means everything, no matter what the degree is in.  He also has had to overcome some very major health issues including three (3) open heart surgeries and too many to count cancer operations and treatments, needless to say, his health is a daily struggle for him. 

He has probably been the most supportive man I could have ever asked for, especially when you consider what my birth family has subjected us to.  And this is where things can get dicey, so I will be taking this in stages as much of what I say will be difficult to believe or understand, especially when you consider that it is family, but I was so often told, you can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family. 

To say that I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth would be a tremendous understatement.  My mother's adoptive family was one of tremendous wealth and power in the 1800's and early 1900's, which is why they were permitted to adopt her and bring her over from England.  Their social status was above reproach with very deep roots in both the history and financial aspects of this country.  My father's family was a very prominent family from the South, and the merging of these two families was acrimonious, to say the least.

I want to outline my family's background for you to understand where I am today and why I have decided to write down my thoughts and feelings.  Much of what I am about to tell you is valuable historically, but it has also been the reason why my family is so dysfunctional.  Some of my stories are funny, many are painful, but for me to get to the place where I need to be, they need to be told.

Haul and RAK Videos

I have to say, I am a crafting video junkie, I watch as many as I can as often as I can, but lately, all I am seeing are "Haul" and RAK videos, and as much as I like to see what others are purchasing or receiving, it gets to a point when too much is too much.  There are so many talented ladies (and gentlemen) out there whose work I want to see, but instead these people are posting videos that are 15 - 25 minutes long of purchases or RAKs and no one is showing their creations, it is getting discouraging.  The other problem with these videos is that they spend half the time saying OMG and Thank You ..., which I understand, but please enough is enough!  There are a lot of people out there who can't afford to purchase all the stuff that is being shown or can't find it, I know my Michael's and JoAnn's don't carry a lot of the stuff that is being shown, I live in a small town and our craft stores have to carry a large collection of crafting items that cross the entire spectrum, so scrapbooking, rubber stamping and even jewelry making have only small sections dedicated to that craft.

What I am asking here is that you show off your work.  Dedicate your videos to what you are creating and take the time to describe the items that you are making along with the supplies that you are using.  It doesn't help me to know that you purchased 2 huge stacks of paper, 25 different types of rubber stamps and 10 different types of embellishments, I want to know how you are using those items and I want to see the final product.  I can watch a 2 hour video on how to make a mini album, but it is hard to watch a 25 minute video of your shopping haul or RAK, especially when I don't ever get a RAK or I can't run out and buy what you are able to buy. 

This is not meant to offend anyone it is just meant to ask for alternatives, please, I want to see what you making and probably, so do a lot of other people.  I don't learn that much from seeing what you have purchased, but I sure can learn by watching you create your masterpieces.

My First Charm Swap

I have watched everyone's post on FaceBook about all the swaps that they have participated in and I have to admit, I was a little jealous.  I didn't understand the concept of a swap, or a blog, but like everything else in life, if you don't ask questions you won't learn, so I asked and Tanya ScrappyScavenger was sweet enough to take the time to answer my questions.  I told her that I would love to participate, but wasn't sure of what to do and she took control, thank goodness!!!! I have to say that for my first swap, I had a great time, and the girls in our group are very supportive, so thanks to all for making this so much fun. 

Since I create jewelry on a regular basis, I decided to use lampwork beads, Swarovski crystal and bali beads with a theme of Hugs and Kisses, Stars for Wishes.  One charm followed a pink theme and the other fuschia, each being about two and a half inches long on a swivel clasp.  It was like creating an unmatched pair of drop earrings but these are a little on the heavy side, so I wouldn't suggest wearing them for any length of time.

All in all, I loved this swap, but as always, now that it is all over, I might have done things a little differently, but I am willing to learn

My Very First Post

There is so much to say and only so much to say it in, but I have to tell you that this blog will be about the little joys in life, and not the sadness, we have too much of that!  I have so fortunate to have found so many friends thru this amazing tool called the internet, and I have also been lucky enough to travel places to meet them.  I can remember when I first started on the web, way back when, I owned a retail country gift and scrapbooking shop that allowed me so many opportunities.  I would attend gift shows all over the US and not only was I there as a buyer, but I would participate in seminars, give others the benefit of what I had learned in my years as a gift shop owner, I Loved It! 

As always, life has away of taking hold and we closed our shop the week of 9/11 so that I would be able to devote more time to taking care of my ailing mother-in-law.  What an amazing opportunity that became, and what a powerful woman she was with an unwavering faith in her God and a strong love of her family, it opened my eyes to someone I had never met before.  I helped take care of her until she passed at the age of 91 and I was blessed by the whole experience, she helped me see that being a wife, mother and caretaker is as important a career as any.

I love crafting and belong to two groups who are stretching my wings and making me fly, and the girls in those groups are an uplifting circle of friends.  I hope to keep you posted on what we do and when we do it thru this blog, I also intend so speak my mind about some things I see, all in good fun and with a little bit of sarcasm on the side, stay tuned for my side of life!