Final

I am working on my final for my American Sign Language IV class. It is all video taped. We have been given a list of assignments ie: described your first car and your car now and compare them, etc. and then we videotape ourselves doing the assignments. There are 16'ish items. I am about half way through and taking a breather. My forehead hurts!!! For any of you that know ASL you understand what I am talking about. If you don't, then even if I explain it will still seem strange so just trust me on this one :). Wish me luck on this final. I really, really, really would love to get an "A" this semester. I know that whatever I get is what I earned, but I have been doing my darndest so I hope I am earning an "A"!!!

Eye candy

My copy of Altered Arts arrived yesterday. Now, I should be doing a million things but what I WANT to do is look at this. I always find some amazing things to ooooooooh and aaaaaaaaaaaaah over. The articles are nice and short, but full of information. The adds always have neat project ideas and things to look at.

I didn't always like this particular style. The collage style seemed a bit "odd" to me. Over time, I have come to really like it. It seems to hold so much of a person's soul in the work. I even enjoy pieces that are not done in colors or styles I am particularly fond of (the item on this month's cover is a perfect example). I still appreciate the work and the creativity and the vision in the item. I want to create things like this. I am just so intimidated. It all seems like something I should make in a studio with paint splatters on the walls and shelves lined with all sorts of goodies and since I don't have a studio.................

I need to just get brave and start a project. I know if I began one, I would do great things (for me anyway). Sometimes the getting started is what is intimidating. Know what I mean?

Another completed comfortghan

This is the one I just completed and it is heading out to provide comfort to a person in need. Many thanks to those who contributed squares. This contains squares from members of HMB, members of Crochetlist and also those who answered The Crochet Dude's call.

Thank you all!!!

Playing with paper

Last night was a crop with the local group. I had so much fun!!! I knew I needed to play with paper, but I had no idea how much! Thank you to the group for a wonderful time and to Mare for letting us play in her store! She has soooooooooo many new things and they are beautiful. Her store, World Class Scappers, is amazing. I was good and refrained from purchasing much in the way of unneeded (although it was no unwanted) supplies. There certainly is some pretty paper out there. Since I have two boys, it is a good thing I have nieces to scrap and cards to make!! :)
Look at this pretty stuff by Paper Adventures. There is sparkle on most of it which you can't, unfortunately, appreciate on-line, but trust me, it is gorgeous!

Anyone Home?

So, have you given up on me? Guilt is a funny thing. I was feeling guilty that I hadn't posted in a while. So what did I do? Not post! The next day, same thing. Well today, I procrastinate and avoid no more~!!! Nothing witty or adventurous, just letting you know I am still alive.

Oh yeah, I found my stamps!!!!

Most recently completed

comfortghans. These are the two that I have completed most recently. The yellow one contains some squares that were sent in during The Crochet Dude's call for squares. Thank you to everyone who made squares to help make these possible!!

ACCEPTANCE

Acceptance. The word is defined as follows:

acceptance

n 1: the mental attitude that something is believable and should be accepted as true; "he gave credence to the gossip"; "acceptance of Newtonian mechanics was unquestioned for 200 years" [syn: credence] 2: the act of accepting with approval; favorable reception; "its adoption by society"; "the proposal found wide acceptance" [syn: adoption, acceptation, espousal] 3: the state of being acceptable and accepted; "torn jeans received no acceptance at the country club" [ant: rejection] 4: (contract law) words signifying consent to the terms of an offer (thereby creating a contract) 5: banking: a time draft drawn on and accepted by a bank [syn: banker's acceptance] 6: a disposition to tolerate or accept people or situations; "all people should practice toleration and live together in peace" [syn: toleration, sufferance] 7: the act of taking something that is offered; "her acceptance of the gift encouraged him"; "he anticipated their acceptance of his offer"

#6 seems to be where I am right now. I have accepted and resigned myself to working again. Now, I know I am fortunate because I truly love my job. I love what I do everyday and work with and for some wonderful people. I really don't like what I feel I am missing. I had just started to feel like I was beginning to schedule more effectively, make some real progress with my home and housekeeping, spending more time with each of my children on an individual level including time at their schools, and starting to spend some time on myself (I know, I can hear you all gasping now). I have watched all of this disappear. Some of it gradually and some of it immediately. I don't like that, but after 5 months I believe I have now accepted it. The anger and resentment is less than it was even a few weeks ago. This is an improvement. It was only Monday that it dawned on me that I had reached this point. Perhaps I will advance to the next step (whatever it may be) and perhaps I won't. Not being angry all the time is nice.

Your Hidden Talent

Your natural talent is interpersonal relations and dealing with people. You communicate well and are able to bring disparate groups together. Your calming presence helps everything go more smoothly. People crave your praise and complements.

What's" Your Hidden Talent?

Where O Where have my little stamps gone?

Where O Where can they be?

Seriously! I have two different little alphabet stamp sets. The ones that are perfect for stamping on ribbon or just little generals "things" on scrapbook pages and cards. I have two because they are different fonts. One is pretty generic and one is a bit curly. Well, I can only find the generic one! I wanted to move the storage of the curly one into a bullet holder (yes, a bullet holder) because they are the perfect size. Originally I only had one of these and it currently holds the generic alpha set. This weekend I was given (THANK YOU!!!) a second one and I have spent the last three days looking for the alpha set! I swear I knew exactly where it was, but now, I have searched everywhere I can think of and no alpha so I have this poor lonely bullet box :(.

Here alpha, alpha!!

Cards

I was shopping for items specific to a theme scrapbook I am doing for DH's class reunions when I saw a paper by Wild Asparagus that just screamed "CARD". So, I bought one sheet so I could honor the request and this is what I created. I am so glad I listened :).

Spring Break = Spring Cleaning

I have never been one for much of the whole "Spring Cleaning" thing. Honestly, I have never been much into the cleaning thing at any level, LOL. Seriously though, I have gotten into it a bit this year. Since returning to work I have been feeling like my house is coming down around me and that I just can't keep it the way I like so I decided to take advantage of some of the time I have at home with the boys during Spring Break. In addition to the regular stuff I have managed to do the following so far this week:
clean the oven, wash the fronts of the kitchen cabinets, entirely empty out, sort and replace all the items in my clothes closet.
Now, I know this doesn't really sound like much, but these are projects that just don't get done as part of the day to day. I am most happy with the closet. I tried a new to me technique that was discussed as part of the HGTV Spring Organize/Clean segment. It talks about not being a clotheshorse and gives ideas. Give it a read, some great ideas!!!

Organization

So, I believe this is a skill a person is born with, or born without. I was born without! I try and try and try and it still seems like I am chasing my tail. It is not so much the "where do I put things" organization, although that is an issue too, that gets me. It is the how do I get everything done in the time I have? organization that makes me crazy. I have lists. They DO help, but I really would like to be able to cross everything off just once! Then, I also have those lists that are daily, weekly, just for today, etc. How do you all handle that? I once read that a person should only have one to do list and one calendar. Combine work and home otherwise things go over the top of each other or you forget to look at the other one. This makes sense and is sort of working, but those infrequent but recurring activities are getting to me. ACK!! Please tell me I am not the only one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you Marie

A full layette set in addition to so many other beautiful items! Thank you so much Marie. Everyone has been so very generous and I can't decide if I should smile or be brought to tears :). Thank you all!!!

We have an answer..............

and I did not make the design team :(. I am not super surprised, but still kind of bummed. In the message (yes I was dumped on an answering machine, LOL!!) the store owner did say she was impressed with my submissions and encouraged me to submit again in 6 months when they put out the call again. Now, this may be the standard "let them down easy", but I am going to go with genuine and a compliment. It does feel good not to be wondering anymore :).

Thank you Phyllis!!

Phyllis really outdid herself. Not only did she send so many handmade items, but included two diaper bags as well!! Thank you so much for being so generous Phyllis!!!

Thank you Gracie!

She said she was sending five things, this doesn't look like five to me! :). You are a wonderful person Gracie!! Thank you so much!

Thank you Sylvia!

The detail on the little dress with matching diaper cover and booties is super. These are a great contribution

Thank you Leslie!

These are tiny and just adorable! The matching hats are a wonderful touch.

Thank you Valerie!

Beautiful! I believe the caps are made with one of the round knitting looms.

In Honor of Ivan V. Alarcon

This OPH comfortghan was assembled in honor of Army Staff Sgt. Ivan V. Alarcon

Thank you to all the contributors that assist in this project.