perfect pearls

Since I had a 50% off coupon and a gift certificate for Michael's, I got some Perfect Pearls by Ranger. This is my first attempt. I took a piece of card stock embossed with a texture using my Cuttlebug, then dabbed the Perfect Medium all over and swirled different colors of powder around. You can't of course see the shimmer. Then I stamped a Michael Strong image and painted it with the Perfect Pearls.

I feel like such a beginner! I've done simple stamps and cards for ages but rarely gone beyond my comfort zone (embossing, watercolor, colored pencils, etc.) and branched out to different techniques. I like the Alcohol inks (also from Ranger) but I'm not great at it yet. I love the effect of painting with the Perfect Pearls. This card needs a little something more, I think a tiny spray of pearls in that bow. It is much prettier in person. I did some other pictures, but the trouble is, you can't see its shiny goodness from a scanner. :(

catching up

(my poor kitty after surgery...)

It's been awhile since I even thought about this blog. Lots of things going on other than making things!

This morning I found a site that I think will be really useful... it's called The Stitching Cow. It's based in Australia, but it is epatterns so it might not matter. I haven't tried to order anything yet but am enjoying the ideas and may get brave enough to try ordering. There's a link to a currency converter so it's a maybe. I love the stuff though. I've had fun browsing, and I got the free stitchery pattern for a mini quilt, so there you go.

I'm making good progress finding my dining room table. When I am stressed I clutter worse. So I am playing catch up now. I used to just get mad at myself but lately I've been just telling myself, stop beating yourself up, and just clean up after yourself now. LOL... My reward of course for having the area all cleaned up and no clutter is making that mini quilt!! It will be good to sew again. I've been reluctant because the last time I sewed the kitty ate thread and ended up in the hospital so I am going to have to be SUPER TIDY with my thread. It makes me nervous even to think about. Now that summer is approaching and she will be spending more outside time, I think I can have my machine set up, throw her out the door, SEW for a couple hours and clean up before she gets back. And vacuum a LOT. I won't really throw her, she bounds out quite nicely all by herself. ;)

Uncle Alan...

FEBRUARY 23, 2010

 

I’ve had enough darkness and winter. Right now it is windy and rainy.

My uncle died last week. It has been a sad time. My father is now alone– his 9 brothers and sisters are all gone. He says that is what has been hitting him the most, feeling alone.

I’m glad that in spite of humanly being alone, he is not alone. He knows that this isn’t the end. He knows that it is good that my uncle is no longer suffering. He knows that he will see him again along with his brothers and sisters.

It’s still sad. Having to clear out his apartment and seeing what he left behind made me want to run home and throw some stuff out so my loved ones won’t have to see the silliness that I collect. My mother was laughing over 70 coasters and 10 shoehorns. I can only imagine how people are going to feel going through my stuff. 🙂

We did find a song book from the 1800’s– that had belonged to my Quaker great-grandfather. It was full of the love of the Lord.  It was encouraging in the midst of the hard things that we have been going through.

He also had started 4 rose bushes. In spite of how badly he had been doing, he was still gardening a tiny bit. I’ve been told it is hard to slip roses. They looked healthy and full of potential. His birdfeeder, full of thistle, attracts Lesser Goldfinches. It was so restful to just sit and watch them. I remember the last time I was with him, we were just sitting there watching the birds come and go. A quiet time.

He will be greatly missed. By my father and my mother. By his neighbors. By his daughter. By me.

my grandpa and I...

DECEMBER 14, 2009

my grandpa and I…

Thinking of my Grandpa Linton today. Both of us had this compelling urge to write. He was quite prolific, and actually wrote a newspaper column for awhile, and was published in a magazine, although no one seems to have a copy of it any more. He wrote quietly and compassionately. He wasn’t afraid to write what he thought. His stories about the mannequins in the historical museum are priceless.

What was his motivation? I don’t know his, but I suspect bloggers have inborn desire to make a mark, make a difference, not to get lost along the way. To write it all down lest it be forgotten. There is an urgency, for me. Sometimes my life is chaotic and I have an intense desire for it not to be chaotic. When I write, my thoughts become orderly; it is soothing to put those thoughts down on paper.

Most of what my grandfather wrote was historical in nature. An attempt, perhaps, to say, “here I am!” when in the Real World he might have felt rather invisible. He at least was writing to his family; who is my audience?  Barely anyone reads this blog, but that is not why I write it.  There are lots of words in me but it is not easy to express things verbally. I think my audience is just me and the Lord. Documentation of my attempt, no matter how feeble, to live for Him, to work in the fields with Him, to continually turn everything over to Him– to be thankful, to be positive. To continually be aware of the scope of His sacrifice, to constantly be reminded of His grace for me… not as a work, but as a testimony of His great LOVE…

So am I like my grandfather? I like to think so, because he was Your servant. He had a hard life, but his writings reflect a quiet love for You, and for his family. I didn’t get to know him well but I could tell he loved me by the twinkle in his eyes…

Love you, Grandpa Linton. Sorry about the time I dropped that bowling ball on your foot.

cards, cards, cards...

it has been awhile since I've made this many cards at a stretch. I better get with it, though, I need to get them in the mail yesterday.

I saw a tree made with this punch and it was much more elaborate than mine. Now of course I can't find the link.

Added another tree to the slideshow. My cards aren't as "polished" as I would like but practice makes perfect, as they say, so I just need to keep creating. ;)

alcohol inks on foil

Two new cards... alcohol inks on embossed foil. I used spray adhesive to fasten the foil to the card stock, then ran it through the cuttlebug. I added inks for color. The cards were part of a Michael Strong stamps challenge. So finally, I entered a challenge. It has been a long time. I have 2 more foil embossed cards to finish, don't know what I will do yet. These are way prettier than they scan. ;)

my father...

2002 update... we lost my father six years after this was written. I have written a lot about my father, because he was such an incredible man. I hope I told my parents enough how much I loved being their daughter. 

DECEMBER 1, 2009

my father…

Today I was trying to put up a shelf. It needs trimming. Before, I would call my dad, take the shelf over there, and he would trim it on the spot. Now, I have no one to do that for me. I have to figure it out by myself. Sigh. I miss my daddy. He’s still alive, he’s just not right here. So I called him and told him how much I appreciated him and how he was always there.

He has been there in my life so very much. I remember one time when my life was unbearable beyond belief. I had just had major surgery, a friend’s 4 year old drowned, my dog was run over right in front of me, and the cows made friends with some porcupines. I also found out I was pregnant with my fifth child that week. I just knew that there was no way to handle things. I cried for days on end.  My father, knowing that the thought of having another baby was overwhelming to me, said, “oh goody!! another baby to love!” He made it clear that he was there for me no matter what.  He took me fishing. I am NOT a fisherman, I don’t even LIKE to fish. But he said, just cast it out there and wait. Just wait. And breathe. He told me it was going to be okay, that someday I would thank the Lord for this child, and even for the overwhelm.

And I have. I am so blessed that my youngest is here. He is such a wonderful guy. We all would have missed so much if he had not been born. Sometimes it sure doesn’t seem like Our timing, but it sure is HIS timing.  God knew just what He was doing. Lord I praise You!

And now, all those babies are grown and on their own. That little boy is going to be 22 years old this month. And that father will be 85. Time flies by, they all grow up, I can’t believe how quickly.

And amazingly, the love my father has for me pales in comparison to the love that my Heavenly Father has for me. He purchased me knowing my sinfulness, knowing my weakness. He paid the full price for my sins knowing exactly how I am. He loves me even more than my earthly father. I can’t comprehend it.

And I will praise You, Father, always. I thank You for my earthly father, but more, I thank You for the gift You have given me.