Full Of Possibility - A Repost

Welcome 2013 - Full Of Possibility.

 In Memory...

Well, it's almost that time. Time to close out this year and welcome a new one. The time of year when some folks reflect back on the previous three-hundred-sixty-five days with pleasure, some with disappointment and then there are some who don't give it much thought at all.

Some set resolutions.

Resolution...to resolve.

Do you set resolutions?

I can honestly say I don't recall ever setting one. Probably because I know me and I know that I am more likely than not to break it.

What is it about a new year that causes one to make resolutions?

Better yet, what is it about a new year that causes some to acutely analyze the previous 365 days? We sure don't put that much stock in a week or a month.

So why do we put so much focus on a year? I don't have the answer but for whatever reason the summation of 365 days gets a lot of attention from some people.

I once had a dear friend who told me each year on December 31st that the new year had to be better than the last because the last was the worst year of her life.

I never understood her fascination with those cumulative days - the year.

Each new year was a daunting thing to her - so daunting that one January day she took her own life.

A few days from now will mark the 23rd anniversary of her passing. There were no words then and are no words now to describe the devastation brought on by her actions. She had an illness... and as her illness progressed she became unable to see past each day... and although there had been many happy days in her past she could no longer see them in the rear view mirror... she saw no joy in yesterday and no hope in tomorrow... and no matter how hard we tried, we couldn't help her to see.

I don't know for sure but I'd say there aren't many days that slip by me that I don't think of her. And it might sound odd but when I do think of her it is no longer with sadness for my rear view mirror does work and I can clearly see our happy days. I also clearly see tomorrow and know that there is a great big world out there just waiting for me.

Yes, a new year is on the horizon... there will be no resolutions from me... there will also be no looking back regretting what might have been... Her memory reminds me to live my life one day at a time... I will say my prayers and try to make each day the best it can be... and if its not... there will be tomorrow... clear and full of possibility.

Thanksgiving...

On this Thanksgiving eve 2012 I share with you my post from Thanksgiving eve 2009.  My gratitude and thanks for each grow daily.  I am blessed beyond measure.

Give Thanks To The Lord For He Is Good...

On this day before Thanksgiving a few things I'm thankful for...

God's never ending love.

The Senor - he amazes me daily with his love, support, kind heart and sense of humor.  With him I have learned it is possible to fall deeper in love each and every day.

The tradition of making cornbread dressing with Dede which has now been passed along to Mom, Sandra, McKae and me.

Family - the one I was born to and the one I married.

The Armed Forces of the United States of America.

Taylor, McKae and Cate have never had to go without health care and have never been truly hungry or thirsty.

Friends from Mrs. Curry's Kindergarten, Elementary school, Intermediate school, Junior high school, High school, the twenty-somethings, the thirty-somethings, the forty-somethings and those who have spanned some or all of those times.  What blessings they are.

Eating raw cornbread dressing with Mom, Sandra and McKae.

The honor of being a Mimi and a Step-Monster.

Health care, health insurance and access to the medication needed to treat my illness.

I was born in to a family who lives in a country where there is freedom of religion, freedom of speech and where human injustice is against the law.

I was diagnosed with a chronic illness and not a terminal illness.

My parents.  They love me unconditionally.  Through example they taught me the value of work ethic, respect for self, respect for God and respect for others. 

And of course, I can't forget the cornbread dressing!

Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his steadfast love endures forever. Psalm 107:1

It's your right....

Unless you have been living under a rock you are all too well aware that the 2012 Election is underway.  Despite the negative ads, disgraceful mud-slinging and flat-out embarrassing behavior displayed by the Presidential candidates during the debates we still need to take full advantage of our right to vote.

Election Day is Tuesday November 6th; however, early voting is now available.  I like to take advantage of early voting.  It allows me to avoid the crowds and make certain nothing comes up to prevent me from voting by the first Tuesday in November.

I cast my ballot last week and left the polling location with my head held a little higher.  It feels good to know I live in a country where my vote counts (I'll refrain from sharing my opinion on the electoral college and it's terrifying ability to override the popular vote in some cases.)

I hope everyone who is registered to vote will get out and do so.  Make your voice heard. Take advantage of the right given to you as a US citizen. It is a right millions of people across the world can only dream of.

Transformation...

I'm still plugging along.  Today is "weigh day".  I'm down 12.9 pounds.  Yep, it's still slow, slow, slow.  Oh well, at least the number is going down rather than up!  I must confess that I haven't made it to the gym yet.  Hopefully soon.  This craft bug I have seems to be taking up all my time!

I've done a couple of more jewelry frames since my last post.  Both are painted with Annie Sloan chalk paint and distressed to hopefully look "shabby chic".  Both currently appear in my Etsy shop but I plan to show them at a craft fair I am participating in on November 10th if they don't sale before.  I am excited about the craft fair.  I've never done anything like that and I think it sounds fun (although it also sounds like a lot of work!).

This frame is painted what Annie Sloan calls Emperor's Silk.  The original frame had some very light blue in it and can be seen in some of the distressed areas.  It really gives it a cool look.  I left the back of these frames open to allow the wall paint to show through.

This next frame is painted Napolecnic Blue.  The original frame was gold and I love how distressing it allowed the gold to peak through in the detailed areas of the frame.

I just love turning something dirty and beat-up into a newly repurposed, pretty something.  Transformation is a good thing.  I need to remember that when trying to get myself to the gym!

Happy Friday everyone - we're off to Lubbock this weekend to spend time with some most precious faces.

The craftiness continues...

I came across another old frame and decided it needed to be repurposed.  Wallah!

I had some of the mesh screen left from the first jewelry frame and decided it would be perfect with the Annie Sloan graphite chalk paint I used on this one.

As you can see I distressed it a bit but not much.

I decided to leave the fabric backing off of this one so that the wall paint from where it is hung will show through.  This should allow it to be right at home wherever it ends up.

Another item for the Etsy store.  Or who knows, someone I know may end up with it for Christmas!

Craft kick...

As I mentioned I've been on this craft kick.

I discovered the joy of making fabric covered buttons and have been trying out all kinds of methods for using them.

So far I've made push pins, magnets and hair pins!  I have this thing for pretty fabrics, papers, crayons, and markers - Anything colorful and fun - so this fits in perfectly!

Here's a few pics of a few of my creations!  You can also see them in my Etsy shop.  I think they would make really fun little every day gifts or stocking stuffers.

My creative bug...

The last few weeks I've been feeling, for lack of a better word, crafty. Or maybe a better way of putting is that I've been needing a creative outlet.

In an effort to satisfy my creative bug I dug out some fall flowers from my foliage stash and designed a (if you could call it that!) a fall arrangement (see previous post!).  That didn't do the trick.

Something about the fall always seems to bring out this need in me to go junk shopping.  I know, I know. I'm weird like that.  Anyway, the Señor was out of town so I put on some comfortable (i.e. ugly) shoes and hit the local junk store circuit. And yes siree, some treasures were found!

I'm mad at myself because I didn't take any before pictures but the short of it is I bought a filthy old beat up antique frame and turned it in to a pretty jewelry frame. (Of course, pretty is in the eye of the beholder!)

Ta Da!

First things first, I had to clean it up real good.  Once that was done I broke out the Annie Sloan Old White chalk paint and gave it a first coat.  After allowing it to dry I gave the frame a light sanding and went back over it with a second coat, allowed it to dry and gave it a second sanding.  Since I was going for the "shabby chic" look I went over some areas more than others allowing much of the original finish to show through.

Next I took a piece of project board from the craft store, cut it to fit the back of the frame and covered it with what I call a "french-looking" fabric.  The fabric is a dark taupe color and has a lovely script handwriting in black scrawled across it (in French of course!).

I then cut a piece of mesh screen to fit the inside of the frame (where the glass would normally fit).  This screen is what some call radiator screen and can be purchased at Lowe's or other hardware stores.  This particular screen has small cut outs in the shape of clovers.

After inserting the mesh screen (I used a staple gun to secure it to the frame) I took the fabric covered project board and stapled the board to the back of the frame as well.  The fun thing about the mesh screen is it allows small glimpses of the fabric while also providing ample places to hang earrings or hooks for hanging necklaces, bracelets or any other accessories of your choosing.

I am pleased with how it turned out and believe I will try my hand at a few more.  This frame is for sale in my Etsy shop along with a few other little trinkets.  If you think you might enjoy a jewelry frame pop over and take a look.  My shop is BRAND NEW and would love some traffic.  There are just a few little items there now but keep checking back as I plan to continue to nourish this creative bug of mine!