#23 Ho Ho HO!

Almost finished with Christmas, woohoo! Here are the projects thus far:

Purses for a couple of tweens on my list

Uncle Cary and Aunt Julie dolls for a few of the little guys (hilarious!)


A plain plain hat for my man (local Alpaca yarn!)

Hand Knit dish cloth for my dad

#23 Jump Start

Forget not that the earth delights to
feel your bare feet and the winds
long to play with your hair.
-Khalil Gibran

Let's get a jump start on the holidays by making one of our Christmas gifts this week.

#22 Old to New

Until recently I stored all my craft and sewing supplies in a couple of plastic storage containers. My 1 1/2 year old son soon discovered how to open these and find all sorts or fun treasures to play with (scissors, pins, razor blades, small objects just the size for chocking). I needed a way to lock my supplies.

I looked around the house and found an un-used filing cabinet with locking drawers. I then went to thrift stores and purchased all sorts of containers to hold my supplies inside of the cabinet drawers.

The locking filing cabinet

An old suitcase and picnic basket for pattern storage

All sorts of kitchen tins and baskets to organize my supplies

My favorite is the copper cake mold for buttons, this one my son gets to play with and loves.

One helpful tip: remember to write down the measurements of the drawers you are trying to organize and bring your tape measure to the thrift store. I measured out a mock drawer in the store and set the items I was thinking of buying in that space to make sure it worked.

Challenge #22 - Seeing Old Things in a New Light

Each day presents the possibility of a miracle. Be realistic. Plan for one.

We often look at objects and only see one possible utility - the one we've always known. The following web pages show hundreds of innovative ways we can use (and re-use) objects we have around us: New Uses for Old Things and the 50 All-Time Favorite New Uses

(for example, use a traveling soap dish as a camera case)

This week look around for new ways you can use old things you have. Post a couple of your favorite innovations along with photos by next Monday.

Sharing the Love in SLC

I didn't make anything for a specific charity, but I did try sharing the love with others. One way was to give lots of loaves of zucchini bread this past week to people who I thought needed a lift.


I also ran the last few miles of my sister's marathon with her this past Saturday so she'd know that I loved her and supported her. It was awesome to see her cross the finish line within her desired timeframe!

Hats Hats Hats

#21 Share the love

Let us be poised, and wise, and our own, today.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Use your creative talents this week to make something for a charity. If you need an idea or inspiration join me knitting hats for "Warming families".

http://hippiestitch.blogspot.com/

#20 Life Rythmn

As I have been knitting this week...








Knit 2, Purl 2, Knit 2, Purl 2
Mother 2, Clean 2, Wife 2, Work 2
Knit 2, Purl 2, Knit 2, Purl 2
Cook 2, Sew 2, Outside 2, Sleep 1
The rythmn of my life, weaving together stitch by stitch
Knit 2, Purl 2, Knit 2, Purl 2

Response to #20 - A Brief Poem

Seeking Satiation

Parched, I carefully scour shelves
Seeking for just the right source of rejuvenation
Finally, my hand rests on the perfect refreshment
Hours later, text devoured, my soul is satiated.

#15 Photos

Waaaaaay back in July we had a challenge to try something new. I chose to make a pair of jeans, something I had never attempted before. When I finished them my camera was broken. Here they are a few months late



I'm also requesting another week for last weeks challenge, as it's a holiday this week and all. You up for that Steph?

Challenge #20 - Words as Art

Some words for all artists to consider:
"Fear not the voice of the critic,
for no man ever erected a status in honour of a critic."
- Finnish composer

Create a poem or a word picture this week. Share your offering by next Monday.

#19 Introspection on Creativity

1. What is the first creative moment you remember?
Cooking with my mother, playing dress up, coloring, making up my own stories
2. Was anyone there to witness or appreciate it?
My parents
3. What is the best idea you've ever had?
To never let “hard things” hold me back
4. What made it great in your mind?
It gave me courage and confidence that I can accomplish almost anything if I’m willing to work for it
5. What is the dumbest idea?
Worrying more about what others think than what you think for yourself
6. What made it stupid?
You live in a constant worry of not being accepted
7. Can you connect the dots that led you to this idea?
I got tired of wondering what others thought of me, wanted me to do; I got more courageous and confident
8. What is your creative ambition?
To live more freely, less restrained, more boldly
9. What are the obstacles to this ambition?
Myself, perceived rules and social conventions
10. What are the vital steps to achieving this ambition?
Letting go of things; daring to live with less restraint
11. How do you begin your day?
With a prayer of thanks and an early-morning run
12. What are your habits? What patterns do you repeat?
I am a creature of habit – I often eat the same things for meals, I pray every day, walk to work along pretty much the same route daily, read scriptures daily, workout daily, write a short note in my journal each night, church weekly, listen to music whenever possible, travel frequently
13. Describe your first successful creative act?
Not sure this is the first or second, but these are two early ones: sewed a pillow and blanket for my dolls
14. Describe your second successful creative act?
Made cookies
15. Compare them.
Home based, simple pleasures, combination of materials
16. What are your attitudes toward: money, power, praise, rivals, work, play?
I think of money as a tool. I like internal power, but not power than harms others. I love praise and think it is underutilized. I wish people would compete against themselves rather than others. I love work (all sorts) and am comfortable doing it. I have a hard time playing.
17. Which artists do you admire most?
Painters, dancers, writers
18. Why are they your role models?
I love artists’ discipline and ability to tell stories and express emotions with their bodies, words, and/or paintings. I also love the way they can affect others who witness their art.
19. What do you and your role models have in common?
The intense desire to express ourselves through art and delight others
20. Does anyone in your life regularly inspire you?
Yes, many – good people all around who serve others; dedicated parents; prophets
21. Who is your muse?
I don’t believe I have just one – lots of people
22. Define muse.
A motivator; someone who compels me to do more, or be creative, or be more than I currently am
23. When confronted with superior intelligence or talent, how do you respond?
I am impressed.
24. When faced with stupidity, hostility, intransigence, laziness, or indifference in others, how do you respond?
I often feel badly for the person; sometimes I am frustrated with him or her.
25. When faced with impending success or the threat of failure, how do you respond?
Work hard to succeed
26. When you work, do you love the process or result?
Both – I love the process because that’s where the learning takes place. I love the result because you can see the output of your and others’ efforts.
27. At what moments do you feel your reach exceeds your grasp?
Yes
28. What is your ideal creative activity?
No one answer - reading (because it spawns my thinking, writing, baking, sewing, teaching
29. What is your greatest fear?
Being with someone in person, but not connecting completely with them mentally, spiritually, or emotionally
30. What is the likelihood of your above answer happening?
Hopefully, not very likely
31. Which of your answers would you most like to change?
Being able to identify a specific creative ambition to pursure
32. What is your idea of mastery?
Attainment of perfection
33. What is your greatest dream?
Traveling everywhere in the world I want to go

#19 crazy hard to do

1. What is the first creative moment you remember?

I can think of many, not sure which was the first. Making a wooden shelf for my collection of plastic animals, playing with my mom’s sewing supplies, painting a picture of cats for my mom, rearranging my bedroom furniture.

2. Was anyone there to witness or appreciate it?

My parents

3. What is the best idea you've ever had?

To come back to life after my divorce

4. What made it great in your mind?

I found myself again

5. What is the dumbest idea?

To live for someone else

6. What made it stupid?

I lost years

7. Can you connect the dots that led you to this idea?

It was slow and subtle changes, not taking time to evaluate or take care of myself

8. What is your creative ambition?

To break through my creative blocks around rules and structure. To live the creative life I visualize for myself

9. What are the obstacles to this ambition?

Habits, Fears, Other commitments

10. What are the vital steps to achieving this ambition?

Accepting imperfection, spending more time creating, setting goals, visualizing, changing habits

11. How do you begin your day?

Nurse my son, throw on clothes, make breakfast for my son and myself, feed the cats, pack up for the day, leave for work

12. What are your habits? What patterns do you repeat?

Personal care routine, putting my son to sleep by singing (same songs, same order), Process for designing landscapes always the same (site visit, photos, layout, site visit, planting, revisions), when creating my habit is to clean the space first, then be super messy creating, leave the mess for later.

13. Describe your first successful creative act?

‘Make it yourself with wool’ competition

14. Describe your second successful creative act?

Growing a strawberry garden

15. Compare them.

Both were systematic, both included help from my mother, both I was fiercely proud of

16. What are your attitudes toward: money, power, praise, rivals, work, play?

Money: Don’t care, wish it didn’t exist

Power: I like to be in control of myself and situations

Praise: thrive on it, work for it

Rivals: try to make them friends, jealousy, ignore

Work: don’t mind hard work if I enjoy or believe in what I’m doing. Work harder on projects for other people then for myself

Play: Big priority, important part of my life and beliefs

17. Which artist do you admire most?

Matisse, T.S. Eliot, Wolfgang Oehme & James Van Sweden

18. Why are they your role models?

Vision, breaking rules, use of color, understanding of texture

19. What do you and your role models have in common?

Vision, style

20. Does anyone in your life regularly inspire you?

Tonja, Wendy, Steph, Patty, Keenan, Lisa Marie,

21. Who is your muse?

Always changing

22. Define muse.

Someone/something who/that gets me thinking and prompts me to act

23. When confronted with superior intelligence or talent, how do you respond?

I’m confronted. I feel jealous and try to prove to them that I am just as intelligent or talented.

24. When faced with stupidity, hostility, intransigence, laziness, or indifference in others, how do you respond?

Usually complain to someone else about it. It makes me irritated and sad.

25. When faced with impending success or the threat of failure, how do you respond?

I push through to succeed

26. When you work, do you love the process or result?

Process, this is why I never make things more than once, I’m bored once I figure it out

27. At what moments do you feel your reach exceeds your grasp?

Time always creates these moments for me. I usually have too many projects for the amount of time available and usually procrastinate until the last minute.

28. What is your ideal creative activity?

I think I have a few: teaching, sewing, systemizing, design

29. What is your greatest fear?

I won’t live the life I want to.

30. What is the likelihood of your above answer happening?

Not sure

31. Which of your answers would you most like to change?

#23

32. What is your idea of mastery?

Having enough skill to teach others, but knowing you’ve only scratched the surface and need to continually keep learning, trying, exploring

33. What is your greatest dream?

To feel complete and at ease with myself and life.

#17 Celebrate - a little late

The traditional 2nd anniversary gift is 'cloth'. Although we said no gifts, how could I pass that one up. So, just a quick small laptop cover for my honey. I even bypassed all my fun fabrics for these really manly picks! I used a tutorial from the 'sew mama sew' blog

#19 Your Creative Autobiography

Take a breath
Say how you feel
Walk away
Ask for help
(I was taken by this conflict resolution mantra this week)

I am currently reading 'The Creative Habit, learn it and use it for life' by Twyla Tharp. The book is a work book for creativity. As the challenge this week complete Twyla's 'Creative Autobiography'.



1. What is the first creative moment you remember?
2. Was anyone there to witness or appreciate it?
3. What is the best idea you've ever had?
4. What made it great in your mind?
5. What is the dumbest idea?
6. What made it stupid?
7. Can you connect the dots that led you to this idea?
8. What is your creative ambition?
9. What are the obstacles to this ambition?
10. What are the vital steps to achieving this ambition?
11. How do you begin your day?
12. What are your habits? What patterns do you repeat?
13. Describe your first successful creative act?
14. Describe your second successful creative act?
15. Compare them.
16. What are your attitudes toward: money, power, praise, rivals, work, play?
17. Which artist do you admire most?
18. Why are they your role models?
19. What do you and your role models have in common?
20. Does anyone in your life regularly inspire you?
21. Who is your muse?
22. Define muse.
23. When confronted with superior intelligence or talent, how do you respond?
24. When faced with stupidity, hostility, intransigence, laziness, or indifference in others, how do you respond?
25. When faced with impending success or the threat of failure, how do you resond?
26. When you work, do you love the process or result?
27. At what moments do you feel your reach exceeds your grasp?
28. What is your ideal creative activity?
29. What is your greatest fear?
30. What is the likelihood of your above answer happening?
31. Which of your answers would you most like to change?
32. What is your idea of mastery?
33. What is your greatest dream?

Once you post your answers to the above questions also post what you took away from the exercise.

#18 Giving

Great article. I sent the link to a few of my friends working in the 'not for profit' world, who are dependent on the generosity of others to continue the amazing work they do.

Two things really came to me in reading the article. First, to start thinking about how to involve my son in our volunteering and financial giving in the future.

Second, it solidified my desire to continue our support of Colorado Youth at Risk monetarily. Particularly in this financial climate when writing the check each quarter becomes more difficult.

www.coloradoyouthatrisk.org

Challenge 18 - Giving Is Good

This week read or listen to an address about giving by Dr. Arthur C. Brooks, president of the American Enterprise Institute, in February of 2009 at a BYU forum. You can either listen to it or read it. Write your thoughts about the address and one thing you're going to do differently because of reading and/or listening to it.

Celebration Creation

Last weekend I went on my first camping trip of the summer. In honor of that celebration and to make it easier and faster to go on other camping trips in the future, I created a camping kit. The camping kit is a large tote that houses most things you need on a camping trip so you don't have to round them all up every time you want to head out on an outdoor adventure.


The kit contents include:
-matches
-paper products for meals
-a bottle of watered down dish detergent for hand washing
-a container of cooking utinsels (like spatulas, a wire whisk, etc.)
-an assortment of plastic bags (all sizes and varieties)
-hot pads
-dish towels
-toilet paper
-a tablecloth
-salt and pepper shakers
-durable plastic glasses and utinsels for eating (so they can be washed and reused)

Eventually, I want to add several other things to my kit like:
-string for a clothes line
-newspaper for starting fires

Now that I'm ready for camping, I hope that the outdoor overnight excursions continue through the rest of the summer!

#17 Celebrate

Today is a very exciting time in my life.
I am on a wonderful adventure and will never
go through this particular experience again.

As it is my 2nd wedding anniversary this week, I'm in a celebratory mood. So this short weeks challenge (sorry for the late post) is to create something for a celebration. Be it food, cards, crafts or whatever you dream up. Photos and post on monday!

#16 New Friend?

I'm not sure if I would qualify Tom as a "new friend" but it was an interesting evening.

I was out watering my front yard when Tom walked up. He was obviously 'tripping' on something but jovial enough. He proceeded to walk up and down our block talking with me and pulling weeds from my neighbors yards. At one point he even watered my neighbors plants. He was super chatty until he noticed Cary sitting on the front porch. Embarrassed he asked if that was my husband. When I responded "yes" he left to garden elsewhere.

#15 JEANS

My "try something new" turned into a much longer project then expected. I made a pair of jeans. They turned out great and I would love to show you BUT our camera is not working. So, you will have to wait until it is fixed. For now I'm just happy to be finished with the challenge from June 25th. Whew!

New Friend Jana

Jana Chapman is a summer intern in our offices. Last week I took Jana to lunch and made a new friend out of her.

Three things I learned about Jana:
1. She grew up in Virginia
2. She thinks deeply
3. She has been the recipient of unexpected miracles

One thing Jana and I have in common:
1. We both love learning and designing instructional materials

Challenge #16 - Make a New Friend

This week, make a new friend by talking to someone you don't know (or know by name only) at your office, in your neighborhood, or when you're out and about. Learn at least three things about them and find one thing you have in common. Document your experience by next Monday.

A New Connection Point

During the last week I, with the input of a cousin, created a family blog for the extended Allen family. Our goal is to keep better connected and to strengthen our somewhat waning relationships as we continue to spread out around the country. Happily, "Proud to Be Allen" is off to a great start!

#15 New & Fresh Challenge

Stay Inspired!

This week, create something new. Try something you have never attempted before. Document and post next Monday.

#14 What's a garlic scape?

This was a perfectly timed challenge as our CSA (community supported agriculture) delivered our first box of veggies for the year this week - Hurray!!!

Spinach
Red Leaf Lettuce
Green Leaf Lettuce
Tuscan Kale
Curly leaf Kale
Rhubarb
Radishes
Beets
Garlic Scapes

To celebrate we fixed a feast with our neighbors who we split our farm share with.

The menu was:
Pasta primavera (Kale)
Green Salad (Radishes, Spinach, Lettuce)
Roasted Beets with feta
Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp

We also juiced Kale, Beet Greens, Carrots and a few apples!

The surprise in our box was garlic scapes. This little green is a bit like a green onion, but with a mild garlic flavor. They are part of the garlic plant which needs to be removed when growing garlic to help form big juicy bulbs. So its a win, win. Great bulbs later, yummy garlic scapes now. Lightly sauted they add a bit of garlic to any dish or a kick when chopped fresh sprinkled on any dish.

New Peas and Potatoes

We've definitely had enough rain to water our gardens in Utah this year. Our only concern is getting enough sunshine between rainstorms to help the plants grow. Luckily, the sun has been out enough to yield new red potatoes and peas locally so I made a summertime favorite this week - new peas and potatoes.

The dish is very easy to fix. You quarter and boil the new potatoes (leaving the skins on) and shell and boil the peas separately. While the peas and potatoes are boiling, make a white sauce out of milk, flour, salt, and butter. When the white sauce is thick and the potatoes and peas are ready, combine them together and serve them immediately. The resulting meal is light and absolutely delicious - perfect for a summer evening!

Challenge 14 - Garden Fresh

This week create a dish with garden fresh vegetables and/or fruits. Summer's on and so is fresh produce - hooray! Share your recipe and/or photos of your creation by Monday of next week.

Cards on the way...

My cards are works in progress right now. I'll finish off this post when they're complete.

#13 How does your garden grow

Gardening note cards for my beautiful neighbor Charlene, whom I love to share my gardening with. I loved this periwinkle tissue paper and thought it paired nicely with the buttons and extra green envelopes I had sitting around. Thanks to Charlene for the photos as my camera is broken!

The Future is Indeed Bright!

I have faith that great things (even miracles) are brought about by small and simple acts.
I have faith in sunshine - it brings out the best in people.
I have faith in children - they are our bright hope for the future.
I have faith that God exists and watches over all of His children on earth.
I have faith in the power of the human spirit to overcome great odds.
I have faith in exercise, good nutrition, and healthy living.
I have faith in using natural means to cure illnesses and heal the body and soul.

#13 Write it down

When I find myself fading, I close my eyes and realize my friends are my energy

This week create two sets of note cards. One for you and one for a friend. You can use any medium you would like. Post photos of the finished product next week.

#12 Faith

Farmer John

I did not record daily those things that I have faith in, but I did think about it often this week. Most of my musing were about those things that scare me in this world and what kind of faith I have in the world, people and myself to change them.

I watched two documentaries this week that focused on one of those subjects that keep me up at night, food. That seems funny to type but I think it is one of the scariest subjects in the world today. I watched 'The Real Dirt on Farmer John' and 'The future of food'. These movies focus on the rise of chemical and industrial farming industry, the environmental degradation, health concerns and loss of small family farms.



While I watch movies like these, my heart aches and I think how will we survive, are we setting our civilization up for failure. I wallow without seeing an out, my faith is temporarily put to the side. Luckily as I wallow the movies change and talk about those who are fighting, changing and turning the tide. My faith is sparked and I think about the 2000 acre organic farm I am a member of and how my choice to only buy organic produce that is produced locally really is fighting and can make a difference.

So today I have faith in consumer power, organic farmers and my son. I often wonder if bringing a child into the world today is a good idea. Then I spend time with him and take in all his light and goodness and I know that the world needs more light like him and that he will help repair the damage we have done.

To learn more about CSA's (Community Supported Agriculture) in your area contact www.localharvest.org or in Colorado www.grantfarms.com

#11 Gorilla Gardening

My surprise warm fuzzy came in the form of gorilla gardening. I live very urban and often times the very small front yard landscapes are forgotten and become overgrown. Last week I would slip out of the house after 9:00pm and secretly pull weeds. One advantage to living urban is we have lots of street lights that make moonlight gardening easy to accomplish. I received many compliments from passerby's as I frantically worked trying not to get caught.

Challenge #12 - A Bright Future

“The future is as bright as your faith.” - Thomas S. Monson

This week strive to act based on and be filled with faith. Create a list of things in which you have faith by writing down at least one thing you have faith in every day. Post your list by the end of day next Monday.

Smile Away

This week the challenge caused me to try to connect with more strangers than normal. As I did so, I found that the tried and true method of simply smiling worked best. (I guess that's why it is the "tried and true" method, right?!) :) No wonder my mother always counseled me to smile when I was small. Smile engage almost everyone and even disarm most people if they're uptight or not happy.

I also found that commenting on people's children or pets (especially when hiking or walking) works great to make a connection and sometimes even start a brief or extended conversation.

#11 Surprise!

Follow Your Bliss!

Who doesn't love an unexpected smile or laugh, especially when it comes from a stranger or anonymous donor. This week come up with a creative way to give strangers the gift of a surprise warm fuzzy. Record your efforts and results for next weeks posting.

Steph's Unique Jewelry Piece

This week I made myself a new bracelet out of various shaped blue and clear beads and fun silver bangles. I strung the beads and bangles on an elastic line so it would be easy to take off and put on. The bead/bangle pattern is fairly systematic, typical of my unique style. The color and textures are more bright and rich than much of my jewelry of the past.

#10 Unique Jewlery Piece by Julie

For my unique Jewlery piece I choose to try making a fabric cuff. I used the instruction from Anna Marie Horners book 'Seams to Me'. These were really fun to make and came together quickly. I'm thinking they would make great gifts.

I used fabric left over from a quilt lining. I loved the fabric and was a little disappointed I was only using it for a quilt backing. This gave me a chance to have something that would display and highlight this fabric.

I made both a plain and ruffled version





The button loops as explained in the book, work fantastic and are very easy to make. These were a new skill for me.

I personally like the non-ruffle version for this print, although I did love that the buttons had a checked texture to match the ruffle.

Uniquely You

“Do not let anyone rob you of your personal power and creativity. Always, always, always be you and revel in and stand up for your uniqueness.... Sculpt yourself into a multi-dimensional, fully-empowered, fun-loving human being.”
-Gary Lee Price, sculptor, January 2004

This week design and create a piece of jewelry that is uniquely you. Explain how it represents you and/or any symbolism behind the jewelry in your blog posting next Monday and, of course, provide a picture of the beautiful finished piece.

Shine

The words" Like the moon, come out from behind the clouds! Shine" most spoke to me this week. Ever since January I have been training for the Ogden Marathon with my younger sister, Laura. Two weeks ago, Laura sustained an injury and didn't know if she'd be able to run the race on May 16 or not. Last Wednesday, May 13, she decided she wouldn't run. I was terrified to run the race alone. I told her and the rest of my family that I wasn't going to do it. Finally, on Friday, they convinced me to run the race without Laura. Both of my sisters said to me, "This is your chance to get out there and run hard. You're a fast runner. You could run a really fast race because you won't have either of us to slow you down."

Saturday morning, I intended to run the race alone, but then my pacing watch that I had borrowed from Laura was dead and I had no way of keeping track of time. Thus, I started running the race with Laura's friend and neighbor, Jen who had a pacing watch. I felt really good and had to hold myself back a bit to run with Jen, but I was still so fearful of running alone that I stayed with her until mile 18. At that time, she said to me "You can run faster than this. Go ahead." So, I mustered up courage and started running at the pace my body felt natural to do. I did that for the last eight miles. To put it in the words of the quote, I finally allowed myself to"come out from behind the clouds." Amazingly, I did "shine." I ran the last eight miles at a sub eight-minute mile pace and finished strong at 3 hours 28 minutes and 24 seconds. Ironically, though the finish time was good, it doesn't really matter to me. What matters most is that I was finally had the courage to run on my own.

Meditate

I have always wanted to be a person that meditates. I've set goals about it, I've attended guided meditation, I've created a meditation alter in my home. But alas I have never had a meditation practice. Hence, this week the word meditate has stuck with me. I've been thinking about it as I water my yard, practice yoga, sew at night, cook...then I came to my realization. I am a person who meditates. I meditate while doing.

Once I had this realization I put it more into practice. I feel best when I practice yoga, just stepping on my mat is a meditation for me. I know that fitting in a full daily practice right now is an unreasonable and unattainable goal. So, I am setting one that I feel is within my reach. Each day I will step foot on my mat, get grounded and take a deep breath. Hopefully this ritual and the lure of the meditation will inspire me to do a small portion of my practice.

(this is a really weird angle, my feet look very small, they are actually very big! :))

Lucky number 9

Meditate
Live purely. Be quiet.
Do your work with mastery.
Like the moon, come out from behind the clouds!
Shine
-Buddha

As I am late in posting our challenge this week, I will make it simple. Take something from the quote above the speaks to you and put it into action in your life. Whatever that looks like for you this week. Post your outcome Monday (I think I can post on time, I think I can post on time)

Random Acts of Kindness

I apologize for the delay, here they are my three random acts of kindness.

#1 - My neighbor hates all things having to do with gardening. I love all things having to do with gardening, so I planted his parking strip and have committed to its care this summer.



#2 - My girlfriend works for Delta and often lets me fly for free on buddy passes. I recently used one of her buddy passes. As a thank you I made her these wool felt coasters.


#3 - Another neighbor just brought home there granddaughter and her preemie baby boy. I put together a care package of gently used items of my sons for them on mothers day.

Acts of Kindness Report

As I completed the good deed challenge this past week, I learned that one of my best creative gifts and/or talents is to assemble or orchestrate the coming together of things. This is evident in the three "acts of kindness" I have chosen to report on.

1. When I learned that my parents were coming home and would be staying at my Grandma's house for a few weeks, I decided to assemble a food basket with their favorite edible items so things they like to eat would be readily available to them. It was fun to shop for and arrange all the items in the basket.


2. I bought and assembled a bouquet of flowers for my mom for Mother's Day. Arranging the flowers so the colors, textures, and sizes worked well together was fairly intriguing.


3. I took my sister-in-law's and mother's wedding rings into the jeweler to have their crowns replaced and to be cleaned for my dad and brother this past week. When I got the rings back, I wanted them to be wrapped beautiful without expending any money, so I used the plastic wrap and ribbon from the flower packaging I had purchased earlier as wrapping paper and the bow.

Challenge #8 - Good Deeds

I shall pass this way but once; any good, therefore, that I can do or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again. – Henry Drummond

Do three acts of kindness for others using your creative talents and gifts. Explain what you did in photos and words by next Monday night.

Dandelions by Julie #7

On my walks I collected photographs of Dandelions. I had 30, but I liked the layout of 5 x 5. Dandelions scream spring to me and make me feel carefree. Collecting these photos I became even more found of the plant for all the textures and variations it produces. These photos have my creative juices flowing, I'm thinking of all sorts of things I could use these images on and designs to make inspired by them!

Objects from the Sea

Last weekend I traveled to the Oregon coast with a few friends, seeking rejuvenation and solace. Walking on the beach daily brought peace to my soul and joy to my heart. My finds for this week come from my walks along the beach - rocks of all shapes, compositions, and textures worn and weathered by the sea. I didn't make any permanent configuration of these rocks because I like to take them out of the bowl regularly and arrange them in various patterns on my desk.