Category Archives: Daily Life

Daily Life, Holidays

Merry Christmas to All!

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We had a lovely family Christmas this morning at home with our girls that live with us and now we head off in the sleigh (okay monster van!) to head out to San Diego leaving them behind for a few days.  Not likely to have a White Christmas when it’s in the 70’s in San Diego… boo hoooo hoooo!  Oh well…

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and rich blessings of Family love and companionship (and no pounds from the calories consumed!)  I will be gone until just before New Year’s so if there are any problems with any of my kits etc. please be patient with me 🙂 and I’ll attend to things as soon as I am able.

Thank you all for a a MAGNIFICENT first year here on my blog, with all my licensed product and my digital clip art kits at THE DAISIE COMPANY.  It has been such a joy and a learning experience.  Thanks for all the suggestions, advice (and demands :-)!)  It has been such a help in deciding what to do next out of the millions of ideas floating around in this crazy brain of mine.

Blessings to all and a HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Audrey Jeanne Roberts

Daily Life, Faith & Inspiration, One Minute Wisdoms, Parenting

Thoughtful orThoughtless?

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I bet if I ask you, "Do you know someone who is thoughtless in your life?"  Instantly a face or two will pop to the front of your mind.  Likewise if I asked you "Is there someone who comes to mind that is thoughtful?"  There wil be one or two people that will come to mind who have touched your life and your heart by this very special trait.   I’ve been thinking about the difference between the two and how I can become more and more thoughtful as the years go by.

Some of the traits that thoughtful people have are these:  Thoughtful people have full lives, but there’s still always room in their life for you.  They are busy, but not too busy to make a call to see how you’re doing or if they can help when you’re in need.  Thoughtful people do little things that show they care… they put themselves in your shoes and think what would be helpful, encouraging or in some small way make your life brighter or easier. 

Thoughtless people aren’t usually "bad" people, they just don’t think.  They don’t put themselves in anyone else’s shoes and think how their behavior affects anyone else in their lives.  Thoughtless people are often consumed by their own lives.  They are busy.  They are overwhelmed, and often are in chaos.  Most often they just aren’t even aware that other people around them have needs.  If they think about doing something, they rarely actually take a tangible step to follow through.

In all honesty it doesn’t take that much time to be thoughtful.  Small consistent gestures make a big impact in friendships and relationships.  Email has given us an almost instant and very quick way to let friends and family know that we’re thinking of them.  A quick note, one or two minutes even spent writing a paragraph or two can make someone’s day! 

Thoughtful people have developed the ability to "have the thought"… they notice others, they aren’t wrapped up in their own world. They’ve discovered the incredible joy of being a blessing to others and most thoughtful people couldn’t imagine living any other way.  The thoughtless person is handicapped in that the "thought" doesn’t occur to them so it’s impossible to be "thoughful."  

Thoughtfulness is a learned behavior that can be taught.  If you have children or grandchildren, this is an area that takes time and persistence to develop, but makes so much difference in a family.  Asking children questions such as "How do you think Mrs. Smith feels since her husband died and what do you think she would like us to do for her to make her feel a little better?"  "Susie broke her arm and can’t go play in the snow with all the neighbor kids, do you have any ideas of how we can make a special play day with her?"  I’ve learned that when I asked my children and made them think through what a good answer would be, they remembered the lesson better than when I just told them what to do.  Also, I found that when I emphasized a character trait over and over they began to understand and apply it in their lives.  As a mom, I tried to spend more time teaching them good behaviors than just getting on them for bad behaviors over and over.

The holidays are a great time to exercise the "thoughtfulness" muscle (in ourselves and in our children!)  Take a moment and think about someone in your life that a thoughtful gesture might really encourage.  Is there someone who has lost a loved one this year?  Is there someone that is experiencing depression or struggling financially?  What about a family member who might be struggling with a too-busy schedule?

One great thing about thoughfulness is that it often takes no money at all to be thoughtful!  If there’s a young mother, maybe even a young single mother in your community perhaps you can call and offer to watch her children for her one day this Thanksgiving or Christmas season to let her have a day to shop all alone.  Perhaps an older person that you know might not have the energy to prepare a Thanksgiving dinner, but would love to be included in your family’s celebration.  Is there a military wife that could use some help around the house with maintenance?

The most thoughtful gestures of all are totally unexpected and not even tied to a particular date or occasion, they’re "Just because I thought of you…"  Those of you that create your own greeting cards have an incredible resource at your fingertips!  Play with your graphics and make cards and envelopes in advance, so that they are as easy as an email to send off.  Buy a book of stamps and when you think of someone over the next few weeks take that thought one step further to THOUGHTFULNESS and take five minutes to write a personal note. 

If you wrestle with depression, developing your thoughtfulness muscles can become a powerful weapon to destroy the stronghold that depression can have in your life.  Depressed people have a hard time thinking about others at times, but people who think of and connect with other are rarely depressed in a debilitating way.  Even if you don’t "feel" cheerful, you can write a cheerful message to someone you know is struggling more than you are.  You would be amazed how an act of kindness can make your own heart soar!   How strong is your "thoughtfulness" muscle?  Mine needs some more regular workouts 🙂

THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY:  Col 3:12-14  Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.  NIV

COMMENT:  I love the imagery "clothe yourself."  It’s an action and a choice.  Put on patience like you put on a warm scarf when it’s going to be cold.  Decide to be gentle like you put on rubber boots when you go out into the rain!  God gives us the "clothes" but we need to choose to put them on!

 

Daily Life

My “Walking With God in the Garden of Your Heart” Book is Available

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 on Ebay today.  It was written 4 or 5 years ago and is out of print, I received this note today from a lady who has one for auction if anyone is interested 🙂  Here’s her information:

"I am currently selling Walking With God in the Garden of My Heart (New) on eBay. Starting bid is 99 cents. No lookers at this point. Thought I’d share that with you as I see you mentioned you gave away your last copy. I appreciated your comments on the book. You can find it under the book’s title if you are interested.

Walking With God In The Garden Of My Heart, A. Roberts
Item number: 22016819295
Seller: Carolina Waterway

Blessings,
Peggy Brooks"

Since I am not acquainted with her, use your Ebay skills to determine her rating as a seller and I hope my book finds a good home!

I have had my head down painting all day, so I haven’t had a chance to write or show off anything, sorry!  However, I’ve had a great day painting.  Wish I could tell you what and show you all but I can’t 🙁  I will be gone over the weekend so I’ll try to post some pics and previews tomorrow to hold you over for the weekend.  I get to go see my honey in Big Bear. 

Crafting, Daily Life, Holidays

Making Memorable Holidays For the Children in Your Life

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When I grew up, our Christmas tree was decorated with tinsel and gigantic colored outdoor sized lights.  I LOVED STRINGING THE TINSEL ON  one strand at a time!  We had some plain colored balls, ornaments my sister and I made in the innumerable craft classes we were enrolled in and a few special ornaments my mother had managed to collect on her meager budget.  My sister and I also made paper chains, strung popcorn and cranberries and when we finished decorating the tree we thought it was simply magnificent.  Oh yeah!  And the tree was one of the really cheap, really thin "Charlie Brown" variety trees which were the only ones that we could afford.

Did I grow up feeling deprived of Christmas joy?!  Absolutely not.  Why didn’t I?  I think it was because I got to participate in the holiday, make crafts and help out.  My mother wasn’t worried about our tree being drop-dead-gorgeous or looking like a magazine spread (which there weren’t many of anyway).  She just wanted us children to have a really special holiday.

Since my girls are grown, when I ask what their special memories of Christmas are,  it’s quite interesting to note which ones made a deep impression.  One year we did a 10 foot tall Victorian pink and blue tree (mid-80’s 🙂 )  They loved that tree and we still have some of the paper ornaments from it that they enjoy.  Another year, the year that their Dad was dying from cancer, we went to Hawaii for two weeks and decided to make a Hawaiian Christmas tree by decorating sea shells and making our own ornaments.  Those ornaments have become a treasure for the both of them.  Another year I invited all of the neighborhood kids to come to an ornament making day at out house (their parents contributed $5 and I shopped wholesale so they made some spectacular ornaments!) we did a natural Christmas theme with pine cones and tartan plaid ribbons and still use those ornaments that have survived on our tree today (if we’re going with a red and green theme).  Do you see the theme here on which Christmas’ were memorable to them?  The ones they created something themselves, can look at the ornaments or decorations today and recall the memories.  There’s something about connecting with tangible objects that helps us to store lifelong memories.

Too many of us crafty or artistic types want our homes and Christmas trees to be spectacular and don’t leave room for our children to have fun and participate in the holiday.  When they hang their ornaments "in the wrong place" we move them.  The colors they pick out "don’t go together" or clash with this year’s tree theme.  We make everything perfect and leave them feeling like they don’t quite measure up.  We don’t do it intentionally, but it’s very easy to do and the wound hurts whether it was meant to be a wound or not. 

The last two years, I have turned over the Christmas tree decorating to my two girls who are still at home.  They have had so much fun doing it and I’ve had an amazingly fun time watching them!  They’ve done the tree very differently from what I would do, but it’s been fabulous nonetheless.  This year I’m even thinking about giving in on one of my biggest pet peeves…. colored lights!  I do not like colored Christmas lights, I like simple, elegant white lights.  Sooooooo, of course my children crave colored lights.  It will take everything within me to give in on this one, but I think I finally will, that is with one caveat… no blinking colored lights.  I can’t stand flashing strands of tree lights either (I can handle individually twinkling lights). 

You see, we all have our individual tastes and ways of expressing our love of the holidays.  But it’s so important to remember that we need to nurture our children so that they can deveop their own creativity, rather than make our home a showplace for outsiders. 

Have you thought about how you can involve your children (or grandchldren, or neighborhood children if you don’t have any of your own) in the holiday decorating, starting with Thanksgiving?  Can you think of some simple projects to do with them?  How about showcasing their school projects on a front entry way table if you have one?  What about having them make a wreath for your front door out of construction paper, scrapbook papers or ?  You might look in one of the many craft magazines and see if there’s some project that would be suitable for their ages and your patience level.  Then while you’re doing the project, tell them some stories about why you celebrate the holidays in a particular way, or share some special memories of the holidays you had in your youth.  These are the memoies that are stored away deep in their souls and nourish them their whole life through! 

THE PROVERB OF THE DAY: Prov 6:20-22 0 My son, keep your father’s commands and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.  Bind them upon your heart forever; fasten them around your neck.  When you walk, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you.  NIV

Daily Life, Holidays

Before the Holidays, Set Your Goals and Be Real About Them!

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Do you do what I do each holiday season?  I tend to want to do too much, get too little done and then I beat myself up for it.   I clench my teeth and determine that NEXT YEAR I’M GOING TO DO… (fill in the blank) and I make a list that no human could possibly accomplish in three lifetimes! 

This year, I’m trying to be very realistic and plan two or three things that are DOABLE for me at this stage of my life.  As a career woman with a lot deadlines, pressure and responsibility, I seem to  think that I should be able to do everything I can think of.  I would love to have a Thanksgiving feast for those around us that won’t have one without our inviting them.  I would love to be able to throw an awesome Christmas party,  bake cookies, keep a perfect house, make trays of cookies for my shut in neighbors, make my own Christmas cards (including a fabulously funny, informative and touching famlly news letter) and perhaps add to that going to a rest home to sing Christmas carols!  But my time, energy and resources are limited, not to mention that I wasn’t capable of all that when I was young and energetic, let alone at 49!!!

But what CAN I do to make our family holiday season special?  Special for my family is taking time to make a trip in to see a special Christmas display of lights.  It might be catching a great holiday movie if there’s a Narnia movie or something similar coming out this year.  It might be inviting a couple of friends over for a relaxing evening together, or perhaps a cookie exchange.  One thing I enjoy tremendously is making a gift(s) that are specially chosen for each person, this year it will probably be some more scrapbook pages for my girl’s scrapbooks.

I intentionally scheduled the Christmas Card Crop on December 1st so there’s no excuse for me not getting my cards done and out early!  By doing that I’ll create a few Christmas cards for Daisie company and pick my favorite to use for our family instead of waiting until the last minute as usual and stressing over it.  The most important thing for me to remember so that I enjoy the season is to stop and enjoy what we DO DO instead of agonizing over what we WON’T be able to do.  As always, it’s a matter of my attitude about the holidays that will make them special or stressful.

What do you enjoy of the holidays and what do you do because it’s expected of you?  Do you really enjoy being with your extended family or is it a painful experience of disappointment year after year?  Do you spend time doing what others expect of you or do you have the joy of doing what you enjoy for your holidays?  If you take time now to think through and map out what you want your celebration to include (before the pressure from your family begins to build) you might be able to have more control over what your schedule and plans for the season looks like.  If you make your plans early (and stick to them) you might be able to say, "Oh, I’m sorry we won’t be able to attend _______ we already have other plans" rather than stammering, stumbling and giving in to an activity you dread and will find no joy in! 

I’ve already started to take a little time this year to reflect on what I really enjoy about the holidays.  I’m making my focus doing two or three of those special things.  With our new grandson coming in late January, we’ll be traveling to our daughter’s house for the holidays, rather than them coming up to see us.  Since we haven’t been to San Diego during Christmas for four years we’ll have the opportunity to do some "traditional" family events.  We’ll go to the Hotel Del Coronado for our traditional viewing of their Christmas tree and the lights on the hotel and we’ll go see "Christmas Card Lane" in Penasquitos where there is an amazing giant lawn display fo Christmas Cards and lights. If we accomplish these two activities and enjoy each other on Christmas morning it will be a perfect Christmas!   All in all , I plan to relax and enjoy my family and meditate on what is really important about this season.  How about you?  Now’s a great time to start thinking about it and making your plans!

Contests, Daily Life

100,000th Visit Countdown, 99,000 is Coming Today!

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Well, sometime this morning we’ll cross 99,000 so we’re almost there!  There are these four people that are the most likely to get it right:

Jane
Granann
amgranny4825(Terry)
Patsy
Aunt Anne

Their guesses range from the 9th to the 12th.  It is possible for me to have 1200 visitors in a day and have it happen today, but not likely!  Remember that those who post a comment on the day we cross over are eligible for a prize also.  I’ll be drawing randomly from the day’s comments.

I’m so utterly amazed that so many people have stopped by over the past 9 months.  It’s a joy to contemplate what I want to write and share from my heart.  Thank you so much for making me a little part of your day.

I’m working on my kits for next week and will have some previews up, probably tomorrow.  One is "Gingerbread Christmas" I will have a papers kit, a Gingerbread Cottage Makings kit, and probably will have my Gingerbread Cottage Centerpiece/Box as well.  So if you like to make your own packaging for Christmas goodies to give away or other similar projects you’ll have a great time with this kit!

THE PROVERB OF THE DAY: Prov 8:8-11 All the words of my mouth are just; none of them is crooked or perverse.  To the discerning all of them are right; they are faultless to those who have knowledge.  Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold,  for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her. NIV

Daily Life

An Awesome New Movie Coming Out, “Bella”

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My husband sent me an email message describing a brand new movie that won the People’s Choice award at the Toronto film festival, called "Bella."  It is slated to come out in American theatres October 26th.  It is a beautiful story that is family friendly and very emotionally uplifting.

We don’t see a lot of movies, partially because we live so far away from the city that when we go into town our list is pretty long of what must get accomplished so we don’t have the time to spend the time to sit in a theatre!   However, when a really exceptional film comes out, we make it a priority to see it the first or second week in the theatre so that hopefully the film gets a wider showing.  We hope that if you like the film you’ll pass the information along and do likewise. 

You can see "Bella’s" trailer at www.bellathemovie.com/site/#/film/videos/ and read more about the story behind the story at www.bellathemovie.com.  The men behind the film company have all had their lives touched by the love of God and have a desire to be a light shining in the darkness.  Eduardo Verstegui, the star of the movie, is someone you will most likely recognize.  He’s a huge star in Mexico who was voted one of "People en Espanol’s"  50 most beautiful people.  His coach that taught him English, was part of helping him find purpose in his life.  Through her impace, he has had a life-changing encounter with Christ, that has left him unwilling to play the type of roles he built his career upon.  He’s chosen to wait until he’s married before touching or kissing another woman.  Pretty radical and totally awesome stories.  These men are determined to set an example for their people and their culture to see of how a family can and should function.

Check out the trailers and pass the information along! 

ON THE CONTEST:  THE BLOG COUNTER HIT 98.000 THIS MORNING!

THE PROVERB OF THE DAY:  Prov 6:16-19 There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him:  haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,  a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil,  a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers. NIV

Daily Life, Health & Lifestyle, Holidays

It’s a Great Time to Start Changing Your Eating Habits

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Are you thinking about the holidays already?  Does that thinking also include how you’re going to avoid putting on the 5-10 pounds that sneaks up on you each year during this season?  If so, now might be the best possible time to start a new eating plan.

When I lost my weight two years ago, we started the first of November.  By Thanksgiving our results had already been so excellent and we were feeling so much better than we had before starting our eating program, that we sailed through the holidays without even a temptation to eat the goodies and candies that came our way.  We just regifted them and passed them along.  If you’re even thinking about it, let me encourage you to make the step and go forward.  Before the holidays is the perfect time to get started.

Some pointers I’ve learned along the way to losing weight permanently:

  1. Don’t do the latest fad diet.  They don’t really work and even if you do lose the weight you haven’t changed anything about your eating patterns and it will come right back and usually with a few more pounds to boot.
  2. The people that lose weight the best and keep it off the longest attend a meeting of some sort.  We all need encouragement, accountability and support.  There are many groups such as Weight Watchers, Prism Weight Loss, and others that can help you go through the process.  It’s always easier to do something with others than all alone.  There are many good weight loss programs, but the successful ones use this principle in their plan.
  3. The weight loss programs that work the best and help you keep the weight off the longest will all require the same thing… that you measure your portions, keep track of what you are eating, excercise and change the types of food that you put in your body.  Sorry to have to be the one to break it to you 🙂 but there’s no magic pill.  Once you get over the fact that you need to do this, it really is very easy.  The benefit of having to weigh, measure and plan is that it becomes a part of your routine.  Americans especially have absolulely no idea what a proper serving of food is — it’s definitely NOT what the restaurant serves you!
  4. Simply changing the quality of the food that you are eating, such as changing out brown rice for white, 100% whole wheat for white bread, eating more fruits and vegetables and eliminating sugars can actually make it easy to take your weight off and keep it off permanently.  Good food satisfies your cravings, bad food kicks them into high gear.
  5. (UPDATE: I thought to add this one later)  Find someone who has succeeded and kept their weight off and ask them how they did it.  When I wasn’t serious yet about losing weight I formulated a lot of spontaneous plans on how I was going to lose weight — the problem was that none of them were based on any knowledge that had led to success.  I was guessing at things rather than finding out what worked and what didn’t work and why.  I was following pop culture, rumor and the latest easy fix program.  The problem with easy fixes are that they are neither easy or fix anything!

If you’re like me, the first brownie leads to the tenth.  The first cookie or piece of pie never satisfies it just makes me crave more and more and more.  If that’s the case for you too, it’s so much easier to avoid the first bite than to resist the second, third, fourth… well, you get the picture.

I lost 63 pounds in less than a year participating in the Prism Weight Loss Program.  Their web address is www.pwlp.com if your’e interested.  Miss Stacey, in response to her health crisis earlier this year has also worked through the same program and has lost to date over 50 pounds!!!  Way to go Stacey!!!!!!  But what I love feeling the most isn’t "skinny" it’s ‘healthy."  No more yucky, I ate too much and am miserable feelings.  No more guilt for being out of control.  No more having my mind consumed with thoughts of food all day long.  If I can do it, you can too!  Happy Holidays.

THE PROVERB OF THE DAY: Prov 4:10-12 Listen, my son, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many.  I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble. NIV

Audrey Jeanne's Expressions Framed Prints, Daily Life

So Much I Want to Say…

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but I’m in super-crunch-crisis-get-stuff-to-manufacturer’s mode!  I have some very exciting possibilities that I’m being presented for and have to give it my full attention for the next couple of days so be patient with me (and of course when and if it comes to fruition you’ll get in on the news!)

But today, my BABY turns 21.  I can close my eyes and feel the labor pains, smell the new baby smell and feel her snuggled up in my arms.  This is my dare-devil pilot daughter!  She’s an amazing woman and I am so blessed to be called "Mom" by her.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JACQUI!!!!!!  No mother was ever prouder of her children than this mom (maybe equally proud, but not prouder!). 

My baby’s grown up just in time for us to welcome our new GRANDSON, Ellington.  He’ll be born at the end of January and the cycle will begin anew.  Here’s a poem that I wrote a few years back.  I wrote it when Jacqui was twelve.  It is copyrighted, so you may use it to make a single item for yourself but not for sale please.

THE CIRCLE OF LOVE

My child, when you were conceived I held you deep inside…in the circle of my womb.  We were so close, we shared everything, you and I.  On the day you were born I held you in the circle of my arms, joyously sharing you with those I loved the most.

Then when you seemed to fit just right, you began to walk and talk and grow and the circle of my arms had to open more and more.  Your gangly arms and legs began spreading outside of my reach… My circle could no longer contain all you were becoming!

Now I watch your life moving into even bigger circles, uniquely your own… A tiny part of me fears I will stand apart, alone… somewhere outside your heart… but the greater part of me knows you will carry with you the values, wisdom and truth shared within our circle of love.

And now I know, as I walk the path of all who have passed this way before, it’s in the letting go that the circle of love begins again.  Copyright Audrey Jeanne Roberts  (This is available as a framed, matted, hand-calligraphied piece from Audrey Jeanne’s Expressions 800-662-3333 if you’re interested)

 

Daily Life

Oh Boy am I Whooped!!!

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I always have these grand expectations of what I’m going to get done the day I get home, but it’s always laughable what I really DO get done the day after!!!  I’m just whooped.  It feels like all I did was walk and talk and how should that be so exhausting?!  I’ve enjoyed reading the comments on the various supplier’s products and I have a few more that I’ll review more thoroughly this coming week.  One of the items was a template and retractable knife blade tool for handcutting shapes.  If it’s really as easily done as the woman demonstrating it made it look, it will be a great little tool for scrapbooking or cardmaking, especially if you only have  a small space to work in.

I’m going out with my family tonight to our standing dinner theatre engagement in Fresno to see "Man of La Mancha."  It’s at the Roger Rocca’s Theatre and as usual will be a fabulous night.  My husband worked a fire in Julian all week while I was gone and got home after midnight last night, so he might try to nod off during the play but it’s one of his very favorites so hopefully he’ll be able to hold his head upright!

Have a wonderful weekend.  Those of you who are prize winners from last week and the prize winner that will be drawn tomorrow should receive your prizes tomorrow afternoon.  Get your last minute entries in to the Creating a Special Christmas Contest at The DAISIE COMPANY (http://www.daisiecompany.com/galleries/showgallery.php/cat/711).  The winner will be randomly selected from the entries that were posted from Saturday through midnight tonight so you have a great shot at winning.

THE PROVERB OF THE DAY:  Proverbs 21: 8-9  The way of the guilty is devious, but the conduct of the innocent is upright.  Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome woman.  NIV

Ouch!  That last verse goes to all relationships (male and femaie), but I think all of us can think of a cantankerous woman that makes life miserable for all who know her… it’s a great reminder what a key role we play as the heart of the home.  If mother/wife is kind and patient, the rest of the family has a much better chance of following along, when mom is grouchy… WATCH OUT!!!!   

Crafting, Daily Life, Scrapbooking

Memory Trends Scrapbook Show Next Week by Audrey Jeanne Roberts

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My scraponizerNext Sunday I leave for Las Vegas, NV to attend the "Memory Trends" show.  This show is specifically for Scrapbooking and related crafts.  I’m getting excited to see what’s new in the industry, make some new contacts and probably purchase a new wide-format laser printer if I find a good deal.

I will pick up information on new products and goodies and share it with you as a lot of the companies that are showing will be debuting new lines.  I should be able to blog from my hotel room at Harrah’s (I’m assuming they have wireless available as I didn’t book the room).  Unfortunately, my laptop isn’t set up to handle my digital camera so I won’t be able to post any pictures until I get home, but I’ll do my best to take you along with me!

I am assisting a friend who is teaching a class on organizing scrapping supplies with a new product that I received a sample of yesterday.  It’s called the "Scraponizer," (www.scraponizer.com)  The picture is of my decorated set (they don’t come quite so pretty!)  It’s a wonderful set of 4 see through plastic shallow storage compartments that store securely on a shelf and pull down for use.  One is divided in 2 secure compartments, one has 4, one has 6 and one has 8 compartments.  Each compartment won’t leak into the others because of the way it is constructed. 

 My clean desk!I decorated my boxes yesterday to bring to the show, it was fun to get to take a break from designing for others and play around with organizing my own supplies to go with my newly partially organized studio space!  Fun, fun, fun!

Working on my computer desk yesterday was a joy.  When I cleaned I took time to ask myself these questions and make changes accordingly:

  1. What isn’t working on this desk and why?
  2. What is being stored here that really shouldn’t be and where should I move it?
  3. How can I get more clear desk top space for working?

One of the most innovative things I did to create space was place my oversized printer on top of a formica paper storage unit (strong enough to hold the weight).  It is still very accesible, but now doesn’t make me feel crowded and closed in.  I had tended to use the paper print out tray as a storage space which probably isn’t very good for it and certainly isn’t very efficient!  Now I have paper storage for the various papers I use, as well as storage for art to be scanned.  To its left out of camera range, is a vertical file stacker for current projects to be stored in folders instead of layers on the desk. 

Still to be done is the oversized paper mess on the second shelf of my bookcase unit.  I need to build a paper storage unit like the letter size so that the varieties of papers I use can be separated not just piled.  That however, is a project for another day!

Tomorrow I’ll have a preview of my newest Christmas kit that will be coming out next week  "Windows on Christmas"  Come back by for a peek!  Also, the Blog contest is ending on Saturday!  So post away on the comments.

THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY: Rom 12:17-19  Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. NIV

Daily Life

Okay… This is REALLY Embarassing!

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Remember that "Messiest Studio Contest" I told you about a couple of weeks ago.  Well, just guess who won said contest!!!!  YIKES!  When I got the news I told my family and started uncontrollably blushing.  Then I grabbed an empty trash can and went to work.  That was about 7 PM and I stopped at about 1 AM.  I’m not finished but I made a really good start on things. 

I’ve just been too busy to stop so it all piles up.  If I stop to clean I miss a deadline, so the mess gets worse and worse until I can barely function.  Does that sound familiar?  I’m sure that I’m not alone.  The part that amazed me last night is that the worst area cleaned up in less than half an hour.  So how much time did I waste looking for things when I couldn’t spend half an hour cleaning? 

Here’s what I learned last night as I was throwing about 150 pounds of paper away (an entire, very large trash can on wheels).  Most of my issue is with paper — surprise, surprise!  A lot is the magazines and catalogs that I need to look through for ideas and to keep track of trends.  I’m not sure what the answer is on that one as I still need them but don’t have enough time to look through them on a regular basis.  I’ve been letting about half of my subscriptions go and picking my magazines more carefully. 

The other part of the paper issue is things that I’ve printed out to check that the files are good, colors are okay or are copies of emails with instructions for projects that I’m working on.  I tend to keep piling things around my computer and work off of the top layer.  When I consistently take a few moments at the end of my day to get rid of what I’m done handling, I do better.  So since I totally cleaned and reorganized my computer desk that’s what I’m going to start doing again.  Historically I do well for quite a while.  So how do I keep the habit up for the long haul?  I don’t quite know the answer to that one yet!

The organizational expert counselled me to get rid of a lot of my tables.  I think she’s right.  They tend to be easy places to accumulate stuff that I just don’t want to make a decision about at the moment.  Then they get buried by the next layer of procrastinated decisions and my life is in chaos once again.  The old adage HIO comes to mind… Handle it ONCE!  Make a decision and throw it away, file it away or do what you need to to put it to rest.  But Handle it!

Oh well.  I won a great prize though, so since I aired my "dirty studio" out in public at least it was worth it.  i won a year’s listing on an new licensing website called "Simply licensed."  www.simplylicensed.com  It’s a place where mfgs. can come to see art and artists to see if there’s something that fits their need so it’s really a cool prize.   Thanks for the congratulations on the win from so many of you (along with your admission that you could easily have won if you entered  that helped a lot!)

THE PROVERB OF THE DAY  Proverbs 10:17 He who heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.  NIV

Daily Life

“My Name is Audrey Jeanne and I’m a Messy Artist…”

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My messy studio photo #1I feel like I’m standing in front of a 12 step-recovery group and coming clean!  Any of you that have read my blog or know me, know I’ve never hid that fact that my studio is ALWAYS a mess!!!  But now, one of my yahoo groups for Licensed artists is having a "Messy Studio" contest.  I uploaded my photos to them this morning, so I decided to let you guys peek into my disaster area as well.

My studio is actually the formal dining room of our just under 2,000 sq. ft. ranch style house.  We bought it 3 1/2 years ago, sight unseen over the internet!  The real estate market was red hot at that time and we were living in our "ware-home" in San Diego.  We had sold our home and had decided to relocate here in the mountains.  We pretty much grabbed the best property, with the prettiest view we could find and figured we’d work on it in the next few years.  Ultimately we’ll build a new studio for me, probably configured as a new master suite so that it adds to the value of the property if we decide to move on.

I own 1,000 sq. ft. of mexican saltillo pavers that are stacked on a palette outside the garage waiting to be installed, but I’m so busy now that I can’t let my studio be torn up long enough to install the floor in the entry, living room, dining room and kitchen!!!

Messy Studio center photo

The transition was a little difficult for me as I went from an 800 sq. ft. guest house in San Diego where I used about 1/2 of that space to an 11′ x 17′ formal dining room and a corner of my third bedroom that I share with my daughter Jacqui when she’s home from college.

My biggest struggle to be organized, is that I create such a wide variety of projects that my work area/organizational system is always changing.  In reality I have had to accept that there is no actually way to effectively organize it in the space I have alotted for that purpose.  After many years of struggle, I think I am finally at peace with that concept. 

We have two 40′ cargo containers that we’re getting ready to move, organize and set up for overflow storage.  At that point, a lot of what I have to have inside the studio can go out to the container to be accessed only when I need it.  Until then, much of the items on the floor are overflow storage!!!

 Right side of studio

 The right side of my studio is used the most with my graphics, scanning and hand-lettering areas.  I tend to work in a big circle around me and then I carefully tiptoe from there to the door !   When I start to clean this mess up (after I wrap up my current project of 48 designs with Cottage Garden Collections) I will drag a trash can in here and start "filing" my papers!!!!  It seems that paper in all its forms is my greatest enemy.

Now… why would I share my mess with you?  To help you understand that you’re not alone!  All of us creative types struggle with organizing our creative side.  Which, by the way, is about as doable as herding cats!!!  The first step is to realize you can keep yourself organized enough to remain sane, but that if your studio/crafting space is too neat it usually means that you’re not actually using it.  Creativity is pretty much always a messy process.  Neat, organized, perfectionistic people are rarely also able to be artistic or creative.  Be at peace with who you are and what you love to do and do your best to keep things just below the health department’s condemnation standards, and HAVE FUN!!!  That’s what crafting and art are all about.

The second thing I wanted you to see is that even professional artists don’t have perfect spaces to work in.  Over the years I started with the dining room table and a desk in my bedroom and one in the dining room.  Then I moved on to the two car suburban garage that had no insulation.  I grew my company too large for the garage so I leased a studio/warehouse and my art studio ended up being right smack in the middle of the facility.  I could go on and on… my favorite studio of all was the wonderful space at our last home in the guest house and the third bedroom inside the 125 year old adobe home.  The adobe area was my watercolor studio with perfect light and the adobe kept the watercolor from drying out too quickly, it had "magical" properties for painting in. 

The other thing I liked the most was that I could shut the door on things and "go home,." across the brick patio.  I loved being able to do that.  But I want you to know that I could go back to working at our kitchen table if I had to… it really isn’t the studio that makes the artist, it’s the passion for art that drives the artist to create no matter when, where or how.

So if you’re a crafter working on the kitchen table… find a way to organize yourself as best as you can, but don’t stop creating!  Enjoy what you do, dream of  better place to do it in, but don’t wait until you have that perfect space before you use the gifts and talents God gave you!

THE PROVERB OF THE DAY:  Proverbs 27:7-9  When you’ve stuffed yourself, you refuse dessert; when you’re starved you could eat a horse!  People who won’t settle own, wandering hither and yon, are like restless birds, flitting to and fro.  Just as lotions and fragrance give sensual delight, a sweet friendship refreshes the soul.   The Message Bible

Daily Life

Cascade Complex Fire Camp Burn Over pictures

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Kasey wrote to me because she stumbled upon my blog the day I posted photos of the fire.  Her husband works for the forestry service and is still stationed at the Cascade Complex Fire Camp, though my husband has left and is headed home.  She sent me this link this morning to a photo report of what happened at their camp.  www.wildlandfire.com/docs/2007/id-bof-cascade-icp-burn-by.pdf  Camp Burnover Photos  

Steve is in the bottom right hand corner of page #9’s photo.  He has the red bandana around his neck and some way, way, waaaaay too long hair as he needed a haircut when he left a month prior to this photo!  His commercial laundry rig is shown on page #18 with the fire burning above and beyond it.  Steve was guarding the water bladders (the big balloon-like blobs on the ground) because if they were burned through by embers they would be out of business instantly. 

My sweetie is heading home today, but could still be diverted at a moment’s notice… I have my fingers and toes crossed!  Our daughter and son-in-law may come up this weekend after all so it would be a double blessing!  Throw up a quick one for us, but as always, what God has planned will be fine with us.

THE PROVERB OF THE DAY:  Proverbs 21:3,5  To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice… The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.

Daily Life

Cascade Complex Fire Pictures

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My husband called this afternoon and we had a leisurely 40 minute conversation, the first in a very, very long time.  He mentioned that there was a website I could go to with incident photos and reports (why didn’t I know about this 3 weeks ago is my next question to him!!!)  The website has about 50 photos from the fire that he’s been on for most of this month. 

When things heated up earlier this week (and their fire camp burned over) he told me about 3 historic log cabins that were near him and were so cute.  He was really upset that they didn’t make it.  Here’s a picture of the firefighters doing their best to try to shield them.  They’re actually wrapping the structure with a metallic reflective shield.  My guess is that just the heat of the fire would have been enough to ignite the super dried out structure.

This next picture is of towering clouds that the flames produce.  They soar 35-40,000 feet in to the sky and then ice forms at the top of the clouds and the weight becomes too much for the cloud to sustain and the wind comes rushing back down as the cloud collapses.  When this happens a wind is produced that spreads the fire in a wild, chaotic fashion.  So they are spectacularly beautiful and very dangerous.

Often this week, they’ve had an inversion layer which acts like a blanket and "smothers" the fire with pressure which also holds in the smoke like a fog.  Steve said they’ll wake up and can barely see the other side of their tent because of the fire "fog" that settles over the camp.

This is their camp as the flames were approaching.  These helicopters are truly amazing and their crew are real heroes.  They battled for hours to keep the camp safe.  The camp Steve is in is the Incident Control Center (or it’s called something very similar in name) 

This is some amazingly beautiful country.  I love the mountains and tall trees so it would be easy for me to consider living in a place like this.  I’m not much for shopping or city-life (though I do enjoy a good play or other artistic presentation!)  I guess I’m just a mountain-girl at heart.

These are the flames as they were coming across the highway.  Steve’s fire is part of the Cascade Complex Fires, his is the North Fork Fire that has threatened the community of Warm Lake and closed Warm Lake Highway.

He’ll be leaving there (fingers crossed) tomorrow.  They’ll rest for a day or two and then may go on to another site. 

One of my friend’s (Trice Workman) brother’s home was spared last night, but I haven’t heard any further today.   He lives near/in Missoula, Montana.  Pray for him, his neighbors (who lost their homes) and his family.

Audrey Jeanne Roberts

THE PROVERB OF THE DAY:  Prov 17:12-14
Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs
than a fool in his folly.  If a man pays back evil for good,
evil will never leave his house.  Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam;
so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.   NIV