The Creative Connection

The Creative Connection Event

 in Minneapolis, MN

 This is an amazing 3 day workshop filled with art, inspiration, and wise business advice for the entrepreneur.

 Some of the featured artists on hand to teach workshops are Betz White, Jennifer Murphy, Kaari Meng, Pat Murphy, and Wendy Addison. 
A  conference, crafting extravaganza and emporium for creative women and women entrepreneurs. Created by Nancy Soriano, former editor in chief of Country Living and Jo Packham, the founder and editor in chief of WHERE WOMEN CREATE , THE CREATIVE CONNECTION will bring together women who are passionate about being creative in their lives as artists, business owners, bloggers, and more. Come learn, network, market, and create!

I am happy to be a part of this Creative Community and I will be selling at the Handmade Market there.  I am so looking forward to this wonderful event. If anyone has any questions I would be happy to answer or get the answer. This is going to be so much fun!

See you in Minneapolis, my hometown!
Many Blessings

Rebecca
PS I just want to add I have been traveling... so I have been off the map and under the radar of blogland. I will be back soon!
 Thank you for your comments they are always a joy!

Sunday Morning Reflections

Good Morning -

 It is Sunday and I do not know where the week has gone. I have been trying lately to keep better track of my TIME. I have always been one that just doesn't have any concept of what Time it is, I get lost in the day or what I am doing. Maybe it's because I focus so hard on what I am doing at the Time and I have many things going at once. Sometimes I wonder how I raised 6 children, although I have been known to forget one here and there. My children have good laughs over some of the stories they tell and I just cringe. I don't think they have been scarred to deeply.  I have been thinking lately of journaling some of my experiences and thoughts and art and capturing Time... but again there is that Time element.

 So I made some, for someone else to put their thoughts down or maybe just give as a gift.  If I keep making them maybe one will entice me to start... who knows.

I bought some composition books at Office Max and covered the inside cover with old music sheets and old book pages. I did put pockets on the inside cover with various paper and fabric. I glued it with PVA (bookbinders glue) that I ordered from Dick Blicks. It cuts down on the curling or bending of the cardboard. Then I wrapped it in fabric, in this case with old burlap and embellished the front at will using things I had in the studio.

I had to cut some of my Peonies and bring them into the shop. They fade so quickly and I needed some color with these rainy days we have been having. 

My Peony bushes aren't blooming yet but my Peony tree is always early. This year I didn't get as many blooms as last year.

As long as I am on the subject of flowers, I will show you my French lilacs that bloomed earlier. They are long gone now but the fragrance remains in my memory...

I have a hard Time cutting lilacs, they always wilt - no matter what I do... smash the ends, put them in warm water as I am cutting them, even putting sugar in the water doesn't seem to help. Is it the variety???

We have a new family member... meet Oliver.
We rescued him from a shelter in Chicago, we thought Jesse needed a companion. I know it is little boys and puppy dog tails but we are not around enough to raise a puppy now. Cats are a little more independent... Maybe another Time.

We had a Siamese for 18 years, we lost Alex last year.  So of course another Siamese tugged at our heart strings.

Siamese cats are very verbal... this one is no exception!  If you are not used to a cat that talks constantly... a Siamese is not for you.

It will take a little getting used to again... and it will take Time for Oliver to get used to us.  He is 4 years old and his owners had to give him up because of allergies.  Poor kitty. He will be loved here.


Well, I better get back to work... I have spent enough Time here and I am running out of Time. If you haven't signed up for my Collage Giveaway please do so, it ends May 20. Just click on my sidebar button for the post. 
You don't want to run out of TIME!


Many blessings to you this wonderful Sunday and please take the TIME to leave a comment :)
Rebecca

Mail Time!

Mail Time!

Here's the mail it never fails, it makes me want to wag my tail, when it comes I want to wail... Maaail!

(Ok, maybe I've been watching too much Blues Clues...)

Loving the mail these days! First I must show you what I bought from Lisa's new blog shop... 

at Tarnished and Tattered.

It came last week but I haven't had a chance to post much lately as I have been under the weather.  I just love her work and I couldn't resist her collage wall hanging.

And this sweet little childs cup and I also got some shredded music paper.

But sweet girl that Lisa is, she also included this wonderful old brush with my initial on it as a gift. Thank you Lisa... I love it!

I love her eye for detail, look at the card she made and sent it as a wonderful gesture.

\

I love the little bird in the dome with buttons and lace... it doesn't get much better than this!

 You will want to check out her blog shop and blog if you haven't been there, she is amazing~

Since it was just Mother's Day, I have to tell you I had such a nice day with half of my brood. I am so blessed with beautiful children inside and out. They are good to their mama. My oldest daughter lives in WA.  She of course helps with the shop and has a great eye. She sent me a wonderful mother's day gift that I want to share, because I know you all will appreciate this.

Wrapped in an old wallpaper box with great creamy lace and millinery!

A beautiful handmade box with everything I love...

And also a handmade card... 

Inside is just as yummy... love these creamy old spools and...

a gorgeous Art Deco necklace... but that isn't all!

Look at this creamware... just the right color and so quaint.

 Does she know her mother or what... thank you Sweetie!
But I am not finished, I will not go through all of my gifts but I do have to show you one other.
It is from "the Boy" as he calls himself. 
It is too great not to post...

This handmade flower was on top of the box with pink paper, yes he made it... sweet boy!

Look at this! An antique miniature printing press!
Is that great or what...

He put a stamp in it to try it out and we printed these cards. It has a roller that goes over the disc and then inks the stamp just like a big press. I will have fun with this little gem. And I have to tell you he also went to Border's and bought out all the WWC magazines that I am in and gave them to me, so I could do a collage or something he said. I have to say I feel a little spoiled this mother's day. 


Wishing you a great week and many blessings. 
Rebecca

A Mother's Heart

Thinking on this mother's day my mind of course goes to my mother and how much I appreciate her. The older one gets the more we appreciate those around us. My mother will be 85 this year, she is a young 85 and if it wasn't for her arthritis she could run circles around me. She has always been a rock, steady and dependable. Growing up, she wasn't the perfect mom... she made her share of mistakes, as we all do. She was taught by her mother according to the times and logistics of small town farm life. Growing up with two brothers in the depression era without a father, who died when she was 2, she learned to work hard and be practical about life.

 Being of Swedish decent she grew up in the Lutheran church and there were certain things you didn't talk about and if you didn't have anything good to say... well then, you just didn't say it. 

She had a loving and kind heart and we, my two brothers, sister and I always knew we were loved.  She was deep in faith and loved the Lord, if there was a problem she prayed about it. That was the answer to any problem... fact, no doubts. 

For years I felt that I wasn't prepared well enough for life, mother never sat down and talked to me about anything... I sort of just had to figure things out and some things I didn't do so well on. 
Children were to be seen and not heard.

 My teen years were tuff and hard on everyone in my family as I was the rebel child. I caused a raucous and stood up to my authoritative father when my mother would not even do so.  

I don't know of to many perfect families, in fact I couldn't even tell you what a perfect family is. But what I do know, is that I have learned throughout the years by example... 

I learned faith by watching my mother trust her whole world to her Heavenly Father, 
I learned truth through the word that my mother spoke and read,

I learned strength when I watched my mother bury her oldest son when he was only 18, 

I learned faithfulness when I watched my mother stand by her husband after he broke her trust, 
I learned preserverence when I watched her say goodbye to her life long soul mate,

I learned love from my mother who always loved me no matter what, unconditionally,  and

I learned that mothering never stops... 

And now my babies have grown and they are working through the mistakes I made and hopefully learning by example...

 and knowing  love because I have been so loved... thanks mom!


My Six Loves...

Jody and Sarah

Jennifer and Kerri

Nicole

James

Happy Mother's Day to all of you, I hope you have a day of love.

Many Blessings

Rebecca