The Secret Life of Bees

Book Junkie, yes. 50% of personal purchases are made on some type of reading material. I select by title, by cover art, by flipping through the first chapter and reading a bit, by the "summary" on the back cover.

I've picked up "The Secret Life of Bees" a few times and have always placed it back and selected a different book.

I was thrifting the other day and came across the book again. Ok, yes.

I know a book is good for me when I want to reread it again, with a highlighter.

I won't spoil it but it left me obsessed in some strange way with Mary. The Mother of God-Mary.

This quote from the book sums it up better:

"When you're unsure of yourself...when you start pulling back into doubt and small living, she's the one inside saying, 'Get up from there and live like the glorious girl you are.' She's the power inside you, you understand? And whatever it is that keeps widening your heart, that's Mary, too, not only the power inside you but the love. And when you get down to it, Lily, that's the only purpose grand enough for a human life. Not just to love--but to PERSIST in love." (August Boatwright, p. 289)

(I'm adding this book to my "church's" required reading list..that particular discussion was way back here..)

I struggle with my own internal power and using it. Big on anything that motivates that power to move outward.

A customer stopped in the shop last week to chat and she had this (or something like it)on. I wanted one in the worst way. I told her my latest obsession and even borrowed her my thrifted copy of the book.

Well, the bracelets, I found. Math was never a strong thing for me, I only wanted 12. I got 12 dozen. I'm going to chalk this up as something other than an addition error.

Guess where they'll be? At the shop, for sale. Ready to remind you..ahem, it's in there.

Leave me a comment, and I'll randomly select one and send them their very own Mary bracelet.

What Do You Love?

Well if you can't decide, start with this lovely piece of art from Bird from a Wire, the Scribble Heart--she's giving it away so get on over to her blog, tell her what you love, and sign up---you've only got until the 15th.

Today, I'm loving:

-the Scribble Heart (see above)

-that it's Friday tomorrow

-Rhinestones

-Pink

-How the party store has many supplies for creating-who knew?

-A cheap, stylish purse

-finding someone that you have something in common with

-little miss and big and little mister

-possibilities

-laughter

Hotcakes, Anniversaries, and Banners

Where the heck have I been, you say? The trunk show I did yesterday has been consuming every free moment of any free time I had. There were so many ideas that I wanted to create and just not enough time in the day to do it all.

These "Pockets Full of Love" sold like hotcakes yesterday. (tutorial here..I edited mine a bit to use my vintage button stash and of course, some ribbon.) What I loved even more was the display board in the background.

See those gold pins? (and the bad dark photo) Love them..brads with little hooks-perfect for hanging the pockets full of love. Duebers believe it or not. Also loving the color combination of grey and this blue (is it carribean or pool?)

I realized, too, that as of February first-I have been blogging for ONE year. What? Another year has passed, another year that is now captured out here in blogland for whomever lands and starts to read.

I love banners and bunting and was inspired to create a few for the show. Either you love them or you don't-lets just say "lovers" were not in attendance at this particular event. They were my favorite thing to make so I'm secretly delighted to be able to keep them-except for this one.

Because this one, in celebration of One Year, will go to one of you. Leave me a comment with your favorite 5 letter word and I'll randomly select someone on Monday (try to make the day a little better) the 16th.

Remember my old teacup quest? I only have the "ugly ones" (which are still worthy) left and whipped this up to give to the woman hosting the trunk show. The satin ribbon covers up the "ugly" stuff and the result looks pretty cute.

A productive week but now I must clean up the disaster area I have been neglecting.

And the winner is....

A little random number generator has selected 12. The 12th comment happens to be Miss Margeaux, or Mux as her friends call her. Miss Mux, email me your address and 102 1/2 wishes will visit your mailbox in a few days.

There are 2 criterias I use to buy wine; either I've already tasted it or it is in a really cool bottle. The above was purchased for criteria #2 but I thought it was relevant.


Thank you for all your posts, your kind words. I hope that each and every one of your wishes materialize. Just keep fighting for it-whatever it is.





"Any given moment can change your life, you just have to be there for it. " (Curly Girl)


P.S. Kits for the "girls" coming soon in the Etsy shop.

The Girls and A Little Gift

The day after Christmas I always get the post-holiday "blecks". Not wanting to take down the Christmas tree but not really wanting to look at much longer, I decided to indulge myself in a few projects that I (for nothing then more than my sheer enjoyment) wanted to do and ignore the decorations.

These supplies have been waiting to be transformed. Thanks to the (the Queen again and her Ezine)

From the pile of junk, came 102 1/2 wishes. An old book, some paper scraps, a velvet ribbon-Voila! A blank canvas to house all those wishes.

2009 is lurking around the corner. I don't do "resolutions"-non-commital Gemini-but I do have an ongoing list of to-do's with this life.

*****Giveaway Alert******

To celebrate 2009 and a blank slate from which to wish and dream your butts off, 102 1/2 wishes will go to some lucky person. Leave a comment to this post with one of your wishes and on Tuesday, the 30th, I will randomly draw a winner. In the meantime, start your list!

Wow, that was fun.

Now, the Girls.

Whatever intrigued me about clothespin people, I haven't a clue. These two are the first. For the practical people of the world (and who share in my life here on this blog)-No, I haven't a clue what I'm going to do with them. But aren't they cute???

Off to take the tree down, I can't stand it anymore.

Wish #33-That life's irritants continue to be what they are today. Little miss, put my scarf back.