Word Junkie, Again.

Wordle. What is a Wordle you ask? Their website blurb reads, "Wordle is a toy for generating “word clouds” from text that you provide. The clouds give greater prominence to words that appear more frequently in the source text."

I used this blog as the foundation for my wordle-my favorite text grouping that manifested is "know courage, yes." (I had to add the punctuation, of course.) or touch something.

Word Lovers--wordle away.

FaceBook and Fynn

Perhaps after 2 glasses of merlot, I should not be posting but...

A.) I am waiting for my teenage daughter to tell me she's safe and sound (homecoming this weekend). and

B.) I feel like ranting. (So, please bear with me or skip this post and read on Monday.)





I recently succumbed, as is usual, to the social pressure of joining Facebook. A social networking sight? Sure, I'll give it a shot. I signed up. I saw faces I haven't seen in years-my curiosity piqued. But then, I wonder.....



1. Does anyone feel as if they are collecting friends? I feel a bit as if I'm collecting Garbage Pail Kids again--whoever has the most wins???



2. I've no interest in sipping virtual martinis, owning an e-pet, that yes, demands to be walked just like the real thing. I've got two breathing dogs that if they could talk would complain like hell that we don't do it enough.



3. I'm really not sure what to do with it. (And I'm pretty positive that I'm not going to post what I'm thinking every hour for everyone to see....) If I haven't talked to someone in 15 years, do they really care to hear how I'm feeling today? Probably not.



4. Has anyone's life been significantly affected by FaceBook? Seriously, I'd like to know.



5. We fall out of touch with people for one reason or another, I get it. But ponder this..I don't live anywhere near my parents but yet, somehow, they always know where I live and the general sense of how my life is going. Why? Because they care about me enough to know where I am and what I'm doing. Hmmm???



6. Ok, so why don't I just choose not to particpate? Well, I like to see the family pictures of those I've kept in touch with. You're right, I'll stop bitching and just go with it.



And so we get to the other "F" word in this post...Fynn.






Another baby is born which gives me an excuse to sew. (Been wanting to try the scalloped edges from "Bend the Rules Sewing"-mine got a bit cloudlike but..I didn't buy the book and was trying to use my memory. Yes, good luck with that.)

Fynn, as you may have guessed, is the baby. I forgot how much fun it was to back stitch. (Wow, really livin' up over here..) but there is something to be said about creating a row of stitches by hand.

It soothes me in some strange way. ( I can hardly recall what my issues with FaceBook were..oh yes, collecting friends.)

Ok, so I'll think of it as a way to get back in touch, to see where our lives have taken us. I will still, however, refuse to drink or trade martinis.

I'll backstitch in my head and consider just taking it for what it's worth.

A Little Courage

Courage has been a reoccuring theme in my life lately. (yes, my own need to change but..) I'm not talking about the, "have the chutzpah to chase your heart's desire" kind of courage but the kind that requires you to take a deep breath and put one foot in front of the other and keep moving. "The sometimes even to live is an act of courage" kind.


A few weeks ago, I was made aware that one of my favorite past co-workers (who is not much older than I) was diagnosed with cancer. Her spirit kicks ass to some of the best and her sense of wit and humor is infectious.

I contacted other co-workers for her address so that I could get something in the mail. Her reply was, "She'd love to hear from you. Just keep it positive." My response, "I know nothing but."

(For the record, I have not ever fought for my life so I'm not sure the kind of courage this requires.)

I only know that I believe I would need to keep my spirit, my mind, and my hand busy provided I was feeling up to it. I put together the little care package above (the card is mine too).

(BTW, she is a crafty soul. If you are thinking, "This chick wants her to fold paper when she's in the middle of killing cancer cells?)

-A feel better "Fortune Cookie"......

-A notebook

-Some paper cranes I folded just for her. (With the instructions on how to do and why, pre cut squares, and instructions to make her visitors help.)

-A mini-dream board for her to see her future...it exists.

I do not have the power to heal. I do not have the power to invoke courage for others. It's in us all-the power is ours.

I am the last person to be preaching on courage. I'm a scaredy cat that wears pants.

Others would disagree. Being an amputee creates this thought from others that you are amazing, that you are an inspiration. None of this is the case-there is no other choice than to continue to get up each morning and live.

This scaredy cat that wears pants needs motivation...I have the above print in my studio.

So paper crane wish #3 goes to Rach for obvious reasons. So that she fights and sees the future with herself in it.

#4,5, and 6 for everyone else who needs the courage-any kind.

Top on my list of favorite movies is "Princess Diaries" in which Amelia's father tells her that,

"Courage is not the absence of fear but the thought that something is more important than fear.

In the Name of Love

Despite the fact that it rained AND I forgot my camera, the Urban Market debut, was awesome.

A few thank you shout outs:

-Debra Ann, for braving the rain the entire day. For keeping me company, relieving me to take much needed "bio" breaks, for laughing when my pin cushions became sponges, and for all the prep help.

-To the librarian and the photographer for lending me their card tables and always their luck and support.

-Kellie and Carmen-Great spot guys!

-To my "neighbor" who let me scootch over a few feet into his massive space.

-Big Mister, whom without, I could not have completed anything. He fell off the "to-do" list often over these past few weeks.

(End of the cheesy Emmy speech....just, thank you!!)

Anyone who visited me today (or Saturday as I write this) and oohed or ahhed over anything, you've no idea how encouraging that is-Thank You! That was partially my soul laying there on those soggy tables and to leave it out in the rain is sometimes a scary, scary thing.

I knew that the Market wouldn't be for everyone. You only had to take a stroll around the park to see that I was in the midst of carved tree trunks and marshmallow shooters. But those of you who got it, well thank you for appreciating something new.

Since I'm all about the lessons life teaches, here's what I learned today:

-Moms do not buy tutus, grandmas do.

-Believe in yourself.

-A little water may flatten your hair, but it can't flatten internal exhilaration.

-Some people really read what they want to see, not what is actually there.

-Presentation, Presentation, Presentation. You don't know how many times I was asked where my store was located. Well, right here, silly. If it looks like one and acts like one, it probably is one.

-Only young women think aprons are an accessory. Anyone over 55 just can't stand the thought of them. (I think you could equate it to us Xers cringing when we see teenagers wearing fluorescent colors. We know that Genera Hypercolor shirts are not far from revival-ew!) Just as they see highballs at 5:00 and pot roast on the table as hubby walks through the door. These women fought to burn apron strings-we are oohing and buying them in every color. I can see where the eye rolls come in.

-Dream Boards were a hot seller. We all could use the visual, don't you think??

One more tidbit: I got so many compliments on the "flowers" pictured above, I thought I would share with the world. These particular ones are part of a Martha Stewart kit. If you must buy them, WalMart (I know, I hate it too..unless I'm looking for cheap things to alter their original use.) has 5 flowers in a kits for $9.97 vs. the 7 for $19.99 at Michael's and Martha's website.

But if you want to make them...all you need is some wire and 15 sheets of "craft" tissue paper (craft tissue paper has a waxy coating on one side-makes your flower hold its shape a little better).

-Unwrap your tissue paper, fan fold the tissue paper (you know back and forth like we did in kindergarten).

-You'll have one fat strip of paper. Round both ends (this will duplicate the lt. pink) with scissors. (Pretend it's a paper doll, and you are shaping the head.)

-Place the wire in the middle of the strip and twist.

-Starting at the end, pull each sheet of tissue paper upwards and shape as you go. So easy and so very cute.

Oh yes, my bguides quote today (hi, divine intervention) from Confucius, "It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop. "

Write Now.

Yes, still manufacturing.....

Since it is now 10:19 on a Sunday, I have exactly 11 minutes until my internal "stay on schedule" voice starts to tell me I need to get my ass in bed. Monday and I don't get along (and we abhor each other if I stay up too late on Sundays. Which always happens.)

Someday, I hope to reconcile with Mr. First Day of the Week but as of yet, we have an unspoken agreement to just deal with each other.

So, I'll make this snappy. To the left, are today's creation. Fabric covered journals. I want to keep them all for myself, (and maybe I'll get to.) As a bonus, I have created a little journal prompt book to go along with these. Sometimes, I'm extremely uninspired and could use the spark to get the juices flowing.

I came up with 29, the 30th one I stole from my dear friend, Oprah. The Gratitude Journal.

So, since I can't use one of these-here are the 10 things I'm grateful for today.

1. My husband's wool socks.

2. Rainy days.

3. The smell of supper simmering all day with the knowledge that I actually planned and executed a healthy meal. (We had beef stew.)

4. 2 crossword puzzles in the Sunday paper-an easy and a difficult

5. The smell of laundry tumbling in the dryer.

6. Naps.

7. Amos Lee, Michael Buble, and Billy Joel

8. Homework completion with no fights

9. Google

10. Picture day outfits picked out the night before.

I'm 6 minutes past my bedtime...Monday, please be nice.

Labor Away, My Friends, Labor Away.

A bittersweet day. A Monday that does not require donning heels, ironing or pressing the snooze button 3 times-a glorious free day off. (This is the sweet portion.)


So, I sit here in bare feet and catch you up on my life. It has been too long since I've posted a new entry and I hate to disappoint my public (all 3 of you.)

The Market's first show is right around the corner and this is where I have been-holed up in the studio cranking out goodies that in these economic times are really just frivolous un-neccesities. Cute un-necessities, nevertheless, but Christmas is just 118 or so days away.

Creative people don't like deadlines but they need them. And doubt is just part of the process of belief.



Received the map for our spot in the show, #59 and a call from the chamber saying that they had accidentally given me the spot that a gentleman has been in for 22 years. So I returned spot #59-corner in the back-and was gifted #95. A few spots way from food which is in the front of the park and adjacent to the donut holes. This translates to foot traffic so I'm not complaining-maybe I'll realize why #59 is better but for now, I'll chalk it up to divine intervention.








(And so with the bitter part of this day...) The kids start school tomorrow and summer, as this household knows it, draws to a close.



The dictator in me goes on vacation in the summer and is replaced with a nicer, more relaxed leader. In the summer, there aren't bedtimes, supper times, homework hours, bath times. Now, the dictator has to return and get the household back on schedule.


Makes me sad that "times" come back and rule.

I look at little mister and am thankful that this kid has the opportunity to get an education, that he is growing up, that each year I watch the light bulb go off when he finally gets it.

Little miss could slow down on the aging--but it's time for her to wake up when the sun rises not just be going to bed. (Night owl-takes after her mama.)

So-relax today, create something, go barefoot. Summer is still here.

I'll be checking for flight delays and hoping the dictator has an extended layover in Chicago.