with love from Florida...

Here are some pics from Florida...

This is my sister's new Sara's Art House print. We "framed" it on a painted canves and added some black buttons. So cute!!!

My sister makes these fun yo-yo's. We got the clever idea to attach them to the lamp shade with scrapbooking Zots. It's called "low-committment" decorating! This lamp stand was brass and we thought it would look better sprayed "siren red"!

This afternoon we had lunch at the Deck Down Under and strolled along Daytona Beach! Note: This is one of those scary "hold the camera way out so we are both in the photo" moments.

Why do we NEED to create???

My sister made this for me from items she found at the thrift store. It hangs in my kitchen of course!!!



I am fairly determined that my need to create is genetic. My sister and I cannot go for a week without the urge to craft or decorate. My mom is the same way. She is fortunate to be retired and able to succumb to the creative urge practically whenever she wants. I think my Grandmother was the same way.


My sister and I get frustrated when the demands of full-time work as moms and part-time work out of the home gets in the way of our creative urges. I remind her that someday our kids will not need us so much and we will have the time to create more.


We reminisced over the weekend about our childhood home and how much we loved it. My parents did such a great job of making it a place of rest, a place of happiness, a place where anyone on any "road" of life could find acceptance and God, and most of all it was a place where we were encouraged and allowed to be creative. We are so greatful for this. I think we are trying to make our homes the same way. Perhaps they already are!!!

This is our "TIME OUT" chair. It doesn't get used that much anymore but serves as a constant reminder of how quickly my girls are growing up. I started it and had a "block" so Mom finished it for me! I love it so much!!! Perhaps my girls will use it for their little kids someday???

Live from Florida!!!

I am freezing and I am supposed to be warm. I am in Florida... but not really complaining as I am thoroughly enjoying my time with my sister and her family. My nephews are growing up so fast. Their place in the country is delightful!

My sister and I have had a blast thrifting, painting (more on another post), walking on the beach, and playing cards. We "shopped" in her craft room and came up with some fantastic projects. She also introduced me to a hair straightening iron that does wonders!!! I swear it makes my hair look two inches longer...such a great thing when you are trying to grow it out!

My Favorite Things

These are a few of my favorite things...

My sweet grandmother made these years ago, and I pull them out every winter and hang them around the house. She was amazingly creative. My mom, my sister and I are so inspired by her. She was filled with grace and beauty. I miss her!

This was made by my Aunt Joanna who is just as creative as my grandmother. I have always adored angels and she made this for me about 15 years ago. She makes amazing quilts and has the cutest house on Bainbridge Island, WA.

This was made by Betty, my "other-mother" growing up. Her daughter and I were best friends growing up. Now our daughters are friends! Betty is an accomplished quilter and knitter and seamstress! So glad to know her!

My friend Lisa at Star Creek makes the most fabulous things with wood and a screen press. I have more of her stuff which I will post someday soon!

By the way, notice how I now can put text between my photos. I feel like such a pro! Now if I can just figure out how to change the main background color of my blog???

ALSO, today I got up at 5:30 and was blessed by this "for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work" Hebrews 4:10. I am encouraged to make Sundays a true day of Sabbath for my family. God has been waking me around 5:00 each day.

Thanks Sara - for the link.

Still to come... creative things my Sister and Mom make... don't miss it!!!

So Beautiful...

I ran across this recent oil-pastel by my 6 year old. It's me! I love the details... the three different colors in my hair (very accurate!) and the "flip". This picture makes me feel very happy; very happy that this is how she sees me.


In my life, I am blessed to be surrounded by so many very creative people. This week worth of blog entries will focus on their creations! This is a weaving by my oldest! This piece actually was chosen to go to the district art show.





This is our "art" wall in our house. The girls have created such amazing pieces! They have been blessed with great art teachers at school who really bring out their creative strengths.

Just so you know...

I have taken a week off of facebook in order to get in the habit of reading God's Book before computer time. I have managed to get a bit more into the Word. Thanks to my dear sister-in-law and brother-in-law I am enjoying a magazine subscription to Today's Christian Woman from Christianity today where he works. A must read if you are a Christian woman...today. And this months highlight is an interview with Kate of John & Kate Plus 8, one of our family's favorite TV shows. Their book Multiple Blessings was great by the way!

With out facebook I have had more time to hang out with my kids and hubby, catch up on laundry and take down 99% of the Christmas decor. My friend Sherry prompted me to post some of my favorite scripture on my facebook posts and see what happens. I am just having so much more fun in blog-land! Some many ideas...

I wanted to share some movie "suggestions":

*Juno* was so touching and not at all what I expected. I was pleasantly surprised.
*Simon Birch* continues to be one of my favorites. A beautiful movie on so many levels.
*No Country for Old Men* I suggest you skip it altogether. Horrible flick. Cannot believe it won any awards.
*Dr. Horrible's Sing-a-Long Blog * was hilarious. My hubby hated it and he has a great sense of humor, so maybe I was just really tired while watching it. If you like Monty Python-ish movies, B-movies, indies, etc. you will love this. We got it in a gift exchange at Christmas. Thanks Mike and Ali!

*Thou Shalt Laugh 2* We are part way through it and my hubby and I laughed so much with Dan Nainan and Victoria Jackson. Thank God for clean humor!

Daily plea for advice: Can anyone help me figure out how I can insert images into my post text instead of the images all ending up at the beginning of my text? Help, please...I am a frustrated newbie.

This is to be the year of COLOR! I am so inspired by www.sara-mincy.blogspot.com and my friend at LaTeDa! The big white-ish walls inside my home are begging for paint. I have a terrific pallet of colors and no more excuses...

I need a bit of help with these terrific rockers on my front porch. I got them in great shape at a garage sale for $2 a piece. They are currently primered (is that a word?). I was thinking since my house is red, black and cream, maybe I should paint them one of those colors. Maybe not... shouldn't it be something different? Help...