Sunday Inspiration - Affection

"Every gift which is given, even though it be small, is in reality great, if it is given with affection."  Pindar  (ancient Greek poet)

1.  Moss Covered Monogram by Esther Shafer

2.  Holding Hands Illustration by Sara Pulver

3.  Vintage Seam Binding by Jersey Ice Cream Company

4.  Spooning No. 2 Fine Art Photo by Petek Design

5.  French Beaded Flowers by Fen

6.  Los Cabos Porcelain Ring by MaaP Studio

7.  Greeting Card with Handwritten Calligraphy by Sparrow Nest Script

8.  Wedding Invitation by Vanessa Ottenbreit

9.  Romantic French Print by The Love Shop

Sunday Inspiration

"Sow good services; sweet remembrances will grow from them."  Madame de Stael (French author 1766-1817)


I love this sentiment - This is my visual interpretation of it:

Artists From Left to Right:

Irene Suchocki

Rebecca Peragine

The Pendant Emporium

Joy St. Claire

Design and be Mary

Susan Lussier O'Connor

Steam Designs

Sandra Ramirez

Liz Lollar

New Year's Resolution - Again

Well, here it is again - The new year.  2012 instead of 2011.  This is a repost of lasts year's new year's resolutions entitled Making Mistakes.  As I was rereading this post, at first I thought that I hadn't done so well because I still wasn't realizing success beyond my wildest dreams.  Aren't we all too hard on ourselves?  However, I did accomplish one key goal - A written plan.  I took a course at our local college where the big final project was a business plan.  And I got an "A" on it, too!  (patting myself on the back).  


So, my friends, here is the original post:


Eleanor Roosevelt once said, "Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to make them all yourself."  I suppose that's true.   With 2011 coming quite soon, and with the rush of the Christmas season behind me, I find myself becoming quite introspective. Since I made plenty of mistakes in 2010, I plan to learn from them - might as well make good use of them since they're already made!


One mistake I made was a lack of planning.  I definitely had lots of good intentions but without planning, that's what my dreams remained - good intentions.  Oh, flying by the seat of my ample pants served me well enough but had I converted my 2010 resolutions into written-down plans, success beyond my wildest dreams would not have been so elusive.  

What does all this rumination and introspection mean?  It means that 2011 will be lived on purpose.  With a plan. A well thought out plan.  A written-down plan. Eleanor Roosevelt also said, "In the long run, we shape our lives, and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility."


So, my dear friends, please hold me accountable.  Until next time...  

Sunday Inspiration: The Future Beckons

Mark Twain once said, "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."

Vintage Tall Ship Fine Art Print by gbrousseau

As 2011 closes and 2012 opens, that is what I want to do - Throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor and catch the trade winds in my sails.  To all my friends - May you explore, dream and discover all things good!

Sunday Inspiration - Love

"Love" by Denise Mayumi via Flickr

Today is February 13, the day before Valentine's Day. So, I guess that makes it Valentine's Day Eve!  In honor of the holiday that celebrates love, this Sunday's inspiring quote is from one of my favorite authors - St. Paul. 

"Je t'aime - Mae and Bebe" by KatHannah

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails."

From St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians.

Sunday Inspiration - Persevere

Spiral Pendant by LP Jewelry

per·se·vere

 verb \ˌpər-sə-ˈvir\

intransitive verb

: to persist in a state, enterprise, or undertaking in spite of counterinfluences, opposition, or discouragement

Great Plains Pioneer Family late 1800s

"Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never--in nothing, great or small, large or petty--never give in, except to convictions of honor and good sense."  Winston Churchill

Sunday Inspiration - Imagine

"At first people refuse to believe that a strange new thing can be done, then they begin to hope it can be done, then they see it can be done - Then it is done and all the world wonders why it was not done centuries ago."  Frances Hodgson Burnett

Imagine necklace

Where is your imagination taking you today?

Sunday Inspiration - Success

PEACE & LOVE ornaments by RecycledParts

“To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children…to leave the world a better place…to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.”                   ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Dying Art of Letter Writing

This week is National Letter Writing Week here in the US.  With email, Facebook and Twitter, it seems that sitting down to write a letter with pen and paper is becoming a dying art.  Don't get me wrong - I love email!  What an efficient and sustainable way to communicate.  However, there is something very special that happens when a letter is written, sent, delivered and then read.


I have a cousin in Chicago who I correspond with.  Also a girlfriend of 30 years in St. Louis.  When I receive one of their letters in my mailbox, it is as if I have received a priceless gift!  I read and reread their letters, written in their own hand, and it is as if a piece of themselves has been imparted into my life.  That's one thing that I like about a letter - I can put it in my pocket and carry it with me!


My husband and I dated before email.  We were separated for a season while I was away to college. I still have his love letters stored away in a box.  Try tying up a group of emails with a ribbon!  


In honor of letters, here are a few of my favorite Etsy finds:

Here is a lovely notecard by StoriesDivinations

Here is another beautiful notecard by ParrotDesignStudios

Wouldn't it be fun to type a letter on this typewriter from Brooklynretro?

I would love to hear a story about a special letter you received!

Merry Christmas to All!

These words are excerpts from my very, VERY favorite Christmas musical, Handel's Messiah:


And the glory, the glory of the Lord shall
Be revealed. And all flesh shall see it
Together, together, For the mouth of the
Lord has spoken it. And the glory, the
glory of the Lord.
(Isaiah 40:5)


For unto us a Child is born, unto us a
Son is given, unto us a Son is given, and
The government shall be upon His
Shoulders, and His Name shall be
Called: Wonderful, Counselor, The
Might God, The Everlasting Father, The
Prince of Peace, The Everlasting Father,
The Prince of Peace!
(Isaiah 9:6)


Glory to God! Glory to God in the
highest! Good will towards men!
(St. Luke 2:14)


Rejoice, rejoice, rejoice greatly!
The King cometh unto thee.
(Zechariah 9:9)


Who is this King of Glory? Who is this
King of Glory? This King of Glory. The
Lord strong and mighty, the Lord strong
and mighty. The Lord of Hosts. He is the
King of Glory.
(Psalm 14:7-10)


And He shall reign forever and ever!
King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, and He
Shall reign forever and ever.
Hallelujah!
(Revelation 11:15, 19:16)


From Messiah by George Frederic Handel, written in 1741

What About Making

Tara Gentile at Scoutie Girl asked this question:  Why do you make?   This question got me to thinking about the answer.  I've never really thought much about it before because I've always made.  I mean, always - it's in my DNA.   My mom always made stuff and so did my grandmother.  My grandfather was a dairy farmer, and my Dad was an engineer.  I guess he designed stuff and then made it.  

As a child, I actually thought everyone was a maker, too.  When I grew up, I found that wasn't the case, but that's okay. Those I know who are not makers do other cool stuff like bookeeping and teaching.  In some ways, maybe that is what they make.

So, Tara, I guess this is my answer:  I just make.  I'm not sure how to do {be} otherwise.  I'd like to know why others make, too!

Dinner Plates

My Mom and I had a BIG garage sale last weekend.  It was so fun!  People paid US to haul away our cast off stuff - what a concept.  Our customers were happy because they found a bargain, and we were happy because we divested ourselves of clutter and earned some extra money.

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One of our customers bought all the odd and end plates that we had at 25¢ each, including some of my Mom's Portmerion Botanical Garden odd sandwich plates (now THAT is a bargain!!!).  She explained that when she gives a plate of cookies, she can tell the recipient to keep the plate.  I LOVE that idea - What a wonderful way to bless a friend.

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Now I'm all inspired to make some cookies to put on a beautiful thrifted give-away plate!

Here's a Portmerion Botanic Garden Plate.  Aren't they beautiful?