ArmsWideOpen: There Are No Answers

ArmsWideOpen: There Are No Answers:                                                                           Source I've been thinking all day about what to say about ...

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Craft-seller inspiration

One of my all time favorite magazines from the UK is http://www.cardmakingandpapercraft.com/magazine/craftseller  I happened to find a copy at a book store here in the states May 2012 issue and on the very front was Party bunting and celebrate British Crafts. Page 9 detailed how to make Union Jack Bunting. I created some of my own designs, and put together these pillows, for sale in my etsy shop (you can find the link to that on the side)

 Page 60 of the craft seller magazine!

Sugar Scrub and other gifts on a Budget

Christmas 2011 was  a tough one on us for buying presents.  With that in mind I had in my head to make as many handmade gifts as possible. 

Sugar scrub made with SUGAR, Olive Oil and lemon zest! IT makes your skin feel amazing.

 Rocky and Bullwinkle Coasters

Homemade salsa complete with some chips!

A quilted pillow for my sister (she is a teacher)

some adorable change purses from some lilly shirts that had stains

a coin purse for a teacher

a coin purse with dictionary fabric 

a tote bag and coin purse and a cute quilted pillow.

Quilted bags and some aprons for friends.

a Christmas tote for my sister.

extra spicy salsa for my spicy friends.

an assortment of Jams and jellies to go with some homemade bread

They had the Cutest labels. My daughter learned to make jam!

earrings we made from A very old vintage leather coat.

this just makes me hungry. Homemade bread with the jellies. waiting to cool.

a Maxine quilt for cuddles on the couch.

All these things were basically made with things we already had or re purposed. I happened to have a ton of cilantro growing in my garden that winter. And I had frozen Berries left over from picking this summer.

Cheers have a happy day! and remember to think outside the box.

I met my blog friend. "Louise and Janice take on NYC in the hurricane"

So late last year, while my husband was still out of work, I got to meet one of my blog world friends.   Scary you may think at first .. we met on the internet, blog world, flickr before Facebook.   She emailed me sometime last year around May.  She said she was coming to America to visit me.  At first I thought What??? is she crazy my husband is out of work and I don't even know if I will have a house by then, he a job? But then a little voice in my head said GO FOR IT! What do you have to lose?

In August I went to the Charlotte Airport and picked up Louise Stuart! www.isewacademy.com  It was quite an adventure, we hit it off right away! I just love to meet new people.

 I took her to my favorite place to eat in Charlotte.

 I took her to my favorite Starbucks.... In South Park mall

 And we went to NYC in the HURRICANE!

 SEE not one single person in the road in NYC they shut us DOWN!

Even Jesus closed the church...

although it was just a little rain where we were..

 Louise treated me to the best weekend in NYC At the Waldorf Astoria

 And here she is quaffing at the sign that said subway closed, no standing....

yes, this was closed too. the whole city was... for the impending storm.

I should mention should you meet someone on the blog world... a Earthquake, Hurricane and tornado probably will not all come the weeks they come visit you.. it just so happened that all happened within the two weeks she was here. Lucky us!:) It was amazing fun so if you happen to meet someone on the blog world, flickr, and share some likes... why not meet up?

Mother's Day GIVE AWAY!

iSew Academy: Welcome to the iSew Academy the sewing app for iPads in the iTunes

There is a GREAT Mothers day give away going on now over at http://www.sewcanshe.com/#!giveaway|c66t 

Source: Uploaded by user via Janice on Pinterest

Art show

I rediscovered my love for painting during the time my husband was unemployed an I even sold a few on my Etsy store on line.  Most of them are collaborations, things I had seen here and there and I re-did them to discover my own ideas. I thought I would share them with you here.  

 a painting of my friend Nancy and I :)

 "Don't worry she said everything will be OK" because sometimes you need to hear these words.

 YOU are a child of God.

 my Garden fairy rescuing a blue bird with a broken wing. 

 my sweet Rooney dog as he was trying to take a sniff at my apple pie I had just made...

 She said "I'd rather ask forgiveness than permission" as my friend Louise stoled figs from my neighbors yard.

MY DREAM car. VW bus.

 sweet garden fairy

Four loving cats. Thankfully I am not a crazy cat lady but I do have two.
 

 This is sometimes easier said than done. 

"don't worry she said it's nothing a few cupcakes can't handle"

Wings heal, hearts mend and life moves on. They do. and that is a good thing.

I hope you enjoy my art, they speak to my heart as I am painting them. Each one has a special story. You can read about them there on my ETSY store.   Cheers!

Im off for a bike ride today how about YOU?