Have You Met Mary Jane?

Click HERE to meet Mary Jane. You'll be charmed I'm sure.

This is what was in my email waiting for me...I love the Mary Jane newsletters. Did I ever tell you I was raised on a farm? Did I ever tell you that when I was a kid all I dreamed of was leaving that farm that was in a one horse midwest town? Yup! That's right, I was moving to San Francisco and I was going to be an architect or a lawyer.... It took me 25 years and I only got it about half right....Did I ever tell you that NOW...all I can think about is having my own little farm in the loveliest place on earth!! Click on the pic to go to the Mary Jane's Project of the Week page.

Project of the Week

Make Your Own Seed Starters
What you’ll need:

• Used newspaper

• A tin can

Creating starter pots from newspaper is cheap, easy, and environmentally savvy. Just take a sheet of newspaper and fold it so that it’s about the height of a can of veggies. Then roll your can in the paper. Slip the paper a couple of inches down off the bottom of the can, and fold it in against the can as you would a roll of coins. Fill with potting soil and sow your seeds. When the seedlings sprout, you can plant the whole thing in the garden, where the newspaper will decompose!

I'm dreaming of spring and knee deep in a nine point promise to God while I'm trying to get back on my feet again...

I hope your day was abundantly blessed!

XO Keke

Is that a Cherry or an Apple?

I was in the book store about three weeks ago and I found this awesome magazine from the U.K. I can not tell you how many times I've poured over the pages of this magazine...like a sloppy bucket of crazy I am simply mad for it!!

Unlike a lot of other DIY magazines on the market, for some reason, this one just speaks to me. My favorite thing about this magazine is the term 'maker'.

I spent the first twenty years of my life designing and making folk art, dolls, primitives, etc... yet I always had a hard time calling myself a 'folk artist'. Never mind the fact that my designs were taken to show in Chicago and other places around the country,I had a pretty sturdy following and received calls almost daily from prominent folk art stores for my wares... I didn't have the confidence to define myself.

I think I was hung up on the term 'artist'...It felt presumptuous to call myself as such. All these years later, although I dibble in this and that and no longer sell for profit I still struggle by the same definition, until now. It's taken 27 yrs to know how to describe myself or what I do... I am indeed a 'Maker'. I love that term!! There is no pressure to claim to be an artist, as if the word 'artist' by definition demands some type of approval or credibility. I'm simply a 'Maker'. No less no more. I also absolutely adore that this mag is called 'Making'.
I couldn't wait to try a pattern, and since I've seem to have forgotten how to crochet, which totally blows my mind since I use to crochet like a mad woman when I was a teenager, here I am trying to remember...trying to retrain myself, and we won't even discuss how my attempt to learn knitting is coming along... I read the pattern, of course I can do this, easy peasy, hands down. And when I was all done....

THIS!

Is what my attempt to make THIS turned out like... ughhh...sighhhhh... Is it an apple or a cherry? None the less since it's the size of a ping pong ball I'm most likely not going to be wearing it proudly on my sweater any day soon!! Practice is as practice does...I shan't give up, only take a deep breath and try try again. In the meantime, if you want to have a better look at this awesome magazine go HERE.

Until tomorrow...

May your day be filled with rainbows!

XO Keke

aka: 'A Maker

Bunnies and Lambs are Dancing in my Head!

I know Easters a little late this year but bunnies and lambs and all kinds of things are jumping around in my head!! Check out the pic below and tell me that's not the cutest funniest little cookies you ever saw.

How adorable are these cookies? Apparently all you have to do is dip a cookie in melted white chocolate candy coating and cover with miniature marshmallows. Dip chocolate m&m's in a bit of the melted chocolate to add for hoofs. Using more melted chocolate add a cookie for the head, mini marshmallow eyes with mini chips for the pupil. Squish mini mallows for the ears and attach. As soon as I'm back on my feet I'm going to try these and show you how they turned out. In the meantime if you click on the pic it should take you to the complete instructions from Southern Living.Com along with a lot of other amazing ideas for spring.

I hope you had an abundant day today flooded with rivers of blessings.

I heart U.
Keke

La Vie En Rose

One of the best things you can do when the world is storming around you is to pause.

-Mitch Thrower

Pink makes me happy.

I hope it makes you happy too.

Click on the pictures to take you to happy places.

Give yourself permission to pause...if only for a moment.

XO Keke

Steampunk

Steampunk?

This wasn't the original post I'd planned on sharing today. I'm actually working on a tutorial for things I made with that cute little 'Old Mac Donald' wrapping paper from

"Waddlin' Onion Designs" that I shared with you on this post for

"The ShelbyR Foundation."

Unfortunately, I was a little under the weather today, coupled with a trip to the doctor's office that took most of the day...needless to say I've spent the rest of the day surfing in my nest.

Which brings us to this.... I've been noticing a lot of 'Makers' (I'll explain that term in a future post I have planned.) have been advertising certain items they've been making or selling as Steampunk. The researcher in me, (you can take a puppy off the porch but you can't keep her from running back home...) forced me to dive head first into the land of Steampunk.

I'm curiously excited to tell you it's been an awesome visit. Some where between past and future in an alternate universe you land in Steampunk. Just in case your wondering...YES, OH YES! I would wear this dress in the most beautiful place on earth...and just in case you want to, you can find it HERE. They call it a two piece traveling suit, and since I'm trying to travel back to the most beautiful place on earth I must have this! Besides, AH has long called me Ms. Poppins so it's very fitting.

I've found a myriad of Steampunk art in every form imaginable. I can tell you for certain that if I show AH that pocket watch he will want it for himself! I on the other hand want the necklace! They call it 'The Duellist Cantosonic Wave Gun', and while I'm dreaming of wanting...I so want that Steampunk lap top pictured above!

After all of my research on this topic today I think I love it because it embraces the past with wonder and curiosity wiliest giving birth to all magical futuristic possibility.

Have you ever heard of Dr. Who?

Doctor Who is a British science fiction television program produced by the BBC which began filming in 1963. The program depicts the adventures of a mysterious and eccentric time lord known as the 'Doctor' who travels through time and space in his time machine, the TARDIS (an acronym for Time And Relative Dimension(s) In Space), which normally appears from the exterior to be a blue 1950s British police box. In any case, I read today that Dr. Who was Steampunk before the term or this counter culture existed.

I also have to say, (sorry William Hartnell) the 'Doctors' have improved with the passing episodes.


Do you know that Amazon.com offers 44 Steampunk Art Books? Who knew.

Would you wear these glasses? While I don't exactly fit the 'Wiki' definition of Steampunk...

I think I've been a Steampunker for a very long time, and the above images remind me of so many childhood illustrations from the story books I remember reading. I guess I just discovered one more layer of self defined.

I also found the work most makers describe as Steampunk does not fit into Steampunk in the classic sense as defined. But then again, can one ever define art? Is not art that burning deep inside... so deep inside you that words can not define?



Could you be a 'Steampunker'?

XO Keke

Mother and daughter doctor-heroes: Hawa Abdi + Deqo Mohamed

Mother and daughter doctor-heroes: Hawa Abdi + Deqo Mohamed


I found this video so inspiring on so many levels, as a woman, as a mother, as a patient and as a human being. If these woman, this mother and her daughters can treat 300 people a day, complete 20 surgeries and manage 90,000 people when others fled to far off lands... If these woman can change their world in a country filled with war and poverty, what's the least we could do in a land of opportunity? Will we gather or flee? This video came in God's time, a time when I needed to be lifted up to fight. It's so strange to me and wonderful at the same time. 'What ever your seeking...it's seeking you.' I have said to both my children in the last couple of days... "That's how reveloutions are started." FAITH. I'll explain later in the post I intended to leave today. For now if you could do me the favor of soaking this story in and passing it on...consider it 'paying it forward.' I hope your day is abundantly blessed today. XOXO Keke

Gratitude

Ok...I promised myself that this morning I wasn't going to wait for my med's to kick in and I was going to wake up take them and head straight for the shower....the truth of the matter is the med's aren't working well anyway and every morning this week I have stressed myself out by almost being late for court....thank you God....the angels on my bumpers made way for me and I managed, some mornings by the skin of my teeth to be on time.... I told the judge in my hardship claim that early mornings weren't a possibility for me. The problem may lie in what is considered 'early', my 'early' now is any appointment before 11:00 a.m. is nearly impossible for me to make. It's frustrating to me. I have been an early riser my entire life. 'Early bird catches the worm girl' has had to redefine her expectations of herself. None the less, since I rec. the last round of toxin I have been awake every night every half hour. I'm exhausted. I'm hoping today will be my last day, we are to go into deliberation this afternoon, but this whole experience has been so unpredictable I don't know what to expect. And here I am, visiting the kingdom, waiting again...last night my neck went into a twist that was so severe I considered going through ER. I tried to call my neuro, but I got the after hour machine, all I really wanted was to leave a message for him so he would get it this morning and hopefully be able to help me today in between court. I couldn't bear the idea of the ER or the after hours on call doc...so, I hooked up my electrodes and wrapped my neck in heat. Eventually my neck muscles released themselves but this morning my neck is so sore it feels like some one held me by my head and flung my body around in circles. It doesn't help that I'm out of some of my meds, and I called my primary doc for refill and was promised a call back. No, I didn't get the call back, and I knew I wouldn't because of 'incompetent normal'. That's what I call one particular office person in Dr. M's office, if I get her on the phone I know it will take about four more days of calls before the doc even gets my msg. Anyways, I'm going to call both docs again this morning before court, some one has to help me before I start banging my head on the wall...ugh! But none of this is really what I wanted to share with you this morning, so what am I doing????

What I wanted to share is gratitude.... since Christmas I have come to a great appreciation for how many generous artsy people there are in this world! So many willing to inspire and share, I can only be filled with 'GRATITUDE'. Even on days when I'm not up to creating, I can surf and dream.... Speaking of 'Inspiration'...has anyone seen 'inspire co' ?

Amy has the cutest little inspiring blog.... http://inspireco.blogspot.com/

I absolutely love visiting her site...and she publishes an 'e-zine' that is filled with all kinds of inspiration and loveliness....

In fact...she has a new one for spring coming out after Monday that you may want to check out... I for one am excited to have something to look forward to. Speaking of...what to you think about my new page? Not sure I'll leave it this way, it's not very 'cherry' but at least I'm making progress to unstick myself, right?

And some more love inspiration....images for you to print...how cute is the little lover above?

And even though I haven't had breakfast yet....i so would eat the sundae above if I could wave my cherry wand and make it appear in front of me.

Here kitty, kitty... hmmm...I just had to share the above Valentine....the look on that cat's face makes me laugh...she looks so vicious...this maybe could be considered a passive aggressive vintage valentine? LOL!!

Ok...now that I have all of that off my chest... I can not procrastinate my shower any longer...

I hope you all have a blessed and abundant day today!! XOXO Keke

Sweet Valentine

I'm back in court today...hopefully this won't last much longer. Being a juror has left me with much to share about this experience...alas it won't be until this is all said and done. The spot in my neck that Dr. D missed unfortunately is still out of control. Ugh!

But on to happier things...

Love is in the air....
Valentines day is right around the corner...

I hope you can click on this to enlarge and print...they really are so adorable. Why don't they make Valentines like these any more??

I wish and pray that you are all abundantly blessed today.

XOXO Keke

Under Construction

I've decided to reinvent.
reinvent: re-in-vent; .v. 1. To make over completely.

My blog and my life. For well over a year now I have felt completely stuck. A precarious situation for a girl like me because it really isn't in my DNA. I feel like I've been lost in a dark forest. Why the sudden change. Not really so sudden. More of an awakening. To be continued... lets just say the events in my life seem to be pointing me in the direction of awakening and realizing that life is fragile, life is too short, and if my lucky, lucky stars have given me people to love and who love me back, and a new breath today, then it's up to me to make the very best of all of it. Let's just say yesterday was a pretty rough day that sent me running home wanting to throw my arms around AH and baby girl who was here waiting for me when I got home. I walked in my front door to hear and see them laughing hysterically and ...uh-hum...playing dress-up.... they were organizing my closets for me....
Ah...and I've been wanting to share with you some new vintage valentines I have found. I think if you click on the pic it should enlarge so you can print.... I hope...let me know.

Have a blessed day...XOXO Keke

Life is Fragile

No matter how much I promise, commit to visiting the kingdom daily... life waits for no man, or cherry queen, as I've said before. Before I get into the thick of it, I wanted to share this site with you. So many people doing good things...unfortunate they never make the five o'clock news, but I won't digress...This almost new nonprofit start-up pictured above is so sweet I had to share with you. Their motto is, "Preserving memories and dreams because a life documented is a life remembered."
They make and donate scrap books to families with sick children. You can find them here...
http://cropsofluv.com/cms/


Since I've last posted, life has brought a myriad of things beyond my control, and some things delightfully within my control, yet surprising....
Just look at the yummy new vintage fabric prints I've found, that was within my control, yet I showed absolutely no self control upon the purchasing of this fabric. Uh-hum...I promise to try harder next time. One complaint though...when did fabric start costing $16.99 a yard? Remember when we used to sew because it was cheaper than buying off the rack? I'm afraid those days are gone... I guess the law of supply and demand comes into play here. I did tell baby girl that while that theory has gone out the window, we can apply a new...now we sew for the 'quality'. Unfortunately I think this one will hold true for a long while in our disposable, we'll just get a new one society. Do people still value heirlooms?

I ask because of an estate sale I visited yesterday, unfortunately I don't have time to post pics of my treasures this morning, but the children and I brought home someones life time of love and it's given me pause and a lot to think about, and a lot of comments from the children. It also turned us into detectives to try to discover who this sentimental woman was. To be continued hopefully tomorrow.... (ok, I know) don't hold your breath.

I have jury duty this morning...that's another to be continued story.

I rec. my botox shots on Friday, again to be cont., the short story is...I think Dr.D may have got most of the spots right on this time except '1'....and that '1' is a big one and causing me to curse, if it weren't my new years resolution to not curse, not even a single 'darn'. Why was that my resolution you ask? In case your wondering, no, this cherry queen did not have a 'potty' mouth. However, I have become painfully aware of our English language and how it seems to be going out the window...what was that quote from Gandhi...something like, 'you must be the change you seek in the world'...or something like that. In any case, I will be calling Dr. D today because I don't think I can wait three months until the next round of the toxin..

See these yummy little ottoman's...It's an Amy Butler pattern. She calls them gumdrop pillows, trust me, they're ottomans. I wish my blasted camera took better pics because the color in these are so yummy....guess who made them?
Baby girl did a splendid job on them for her first project with her new singer.... nothing like a mum's pride.' But I have to run now... blessings on your day. XOXO Keke

Time (nor dystonia) waits for no man or 'Cherry Queen' as the case would be....

I'm sitting here tonight trying to patch my sore heart and cursing dystonia.... From the beginning of receiving this blasted diagnosis I have been determined to not let it interrupt my life...or at least allow as little interruption as possible, no matter the consequences....I have learned over the last two years that there are some things that even 'Cherry Queens' can not control.I should be sound asleep right now at Mitzi's house 3000 miles north...instead, I'm in not so sunny Oz at a mere 32 degrees feeling just a tad bit sorry for myself and guilty for not being there for my Mitzi.

Instead I've been laying on the couch whip stitching little magic mushrooms trying to cheer myself up and trying to ignore the pain of the dystonic tremors that have been kicking my tail since before Christmas. Just like that! Mr. Holiday was filling the house with merry, I was hanging in there the best I could and then boom! The north pole was turned upside down and Mr. Holiday got the stomach flu that lasted a week and a half...then we both got a cold/flu....and it never stopped, just round and round we go.... I think the worst thing besides the obvious is the guilt I feel for letting everyone down and not being able to finish things that I start...like posting the last dozen matchboxes! Ughf! But Christmas came and went and so did mine and Mr. Holiday's 25th anniversary, and New Years...the children came, pitched in to help with things to be done...Baby girl has been running around trying to take care of all of my business for about three weeks now...she really is such a sweet and wonderful baby girl....and then she got the flu and is sooo sooo sick right now! Ok God...forgive me, but could we get a break here????

And most disappointingly...I've missed my trip to see my Mitzi and her band of princess'...oh they are so sweet and yummy and beautiful....

Today was one of Mitzi's princess' baby shower...ta da...just like that, it was a blink...I remember the day my niece was born, I remember being really angry because my parents made me go to school, I remember talking incessantly to my best friend on the school bus all the way to school about this new baby ball of wonder that had just been born and gave me a new title...'aunt'. Hmmm...but I'm wondering...Mitzi is not old enough to be called 'grandma', she certainly doesn't look like a grandma...nor I a 'great' aunt...but I could skate with being a 'great aunt'...but what should Mitzi be called? Baby girl has informed me that should my son and his wife have a baby in the near future that I should be called 'memsie', for the reason above...and I quite like that...so maybe Mitzi should be called the same.

Speaking of Mitzi or soon to be 'Memsie'...I've missed out on sharing so much over the past few weeks....this is a glimpse of yummies sent in one of the Christmas pkgs. received. Mitzi's little Em made these adorable 12 day of Christmas felted ornaments for me...so sweet. And I won't tell you that I ate almost that whole tin of the yummiest cookies you ever wanted to taste by myself....
And below, our sweet little Christmas kitty dressed in her Christmas scarf that she didn't even mind wearing because it has been so ridiculously cold here....
And her naughtiness continued with the Christmas tree and presents....

My son and his wife arrived early to pitch in with Christmas dinner...below is the vegetable tray he put together complete with what he called reindeer dip because...well you can see for yourself.
And he set the table beautifully.....
The nutcrackers lined up to play Christmas carols....

And Santa brought baby girl and my daughter-in-law new Singer sewing machines for Christmas and the delight on their faces says it all.....


And then....well, I made Mr. Holiday a sock monkey for our 25th wedding anniversary...isn't that what everybody gets for this occasion? I can not even tell you how excited AH was with this gift seriously!! No I'm not kidding....and he immediately named him 'Jack'.

And just in case your wondering....AH a.k.a. 'Mr.Holiday' tapped the naughty little kitty's toy mice to his mini coopers on his race car track so 'Jack' and the naughty little kitty could watch them go round and round.

I hope this post finds you all better than well, with wishes for a bright, shiny and happy new year filled with abundant blessing beyond your wildest dreams!

XO Keke

P.S. I placed a new button in my side bar. A Swap for All Seasons has a new Winter swap started and it is a simply sweet one indeed just as 'Linda' the best swap hostess on the planet intended. You should really come play along if you can....

Match Boxes 11-15, I'm a lucky, lucky Christmas Girl!!

Um...I've never had so many problems trying to blog post in my life, which is why this is being posted today instead of yesterday. Has that ever happened to you...yesterday I had my post nearly done, which was no small feat considering how many pics I'm including in this one, and boom! Post disappeared! What!?
Ooooh, lucky it"s Christmas and merry and I'm surrounded by Mr. Holiday! And then this morning my pics are disappearing... is this a test for how many times I can upload?
LOL. In any case, the match box days will be out of order because I just don't have the heart to fight pic day #ll down below #12. Maybe it's because I'm just still a little under the weather and everything that can go wrong is because I probably need to be in bed but I don't want to miss out on all the merry making. Mr. Holiday has fixed me up a nice little nest on the couch so I can watch everything that's happening at my crazy frenzied holiday house...which is sweet, but still...you know what I mean. Ok...I'll stop my grumby fumby, there's no place for it right now. Besides, I know I'm still a lucky Christmas girl in spite of everything....So on with the show!!

Match Box Day #11
The match box below came to me from Marie Entwistle. What can I say? Adorable, magnificent, excellent craftsmanship, just all together so awesome? Yes, all those things and so much more....
My pics just don't do justice! And you know what? If you visit Marie @ http://spunbyme.blogspot.com/ you'll get to see Marie's pics of 'real' little elves!!! It's true, and I would be jealous if I hadn't been so happy just looking at their shiny little faces! Thanks a million Marie! And if that's not enough enticement to visit her I'm telling you should 'RUN' don't walk on over there because she's having a give away of the most beautiful kind!! Seriously, the one who wins her giveaway is going to be a lucky, lucky duck!!!


Match Box Day #15

The below wonderful matchbox came to me from Amy Duff @ http://papertrailsleaver.blogspot.com/ You can not even imagine how excited I was to see the wonderful little gift inside this box! Complete with my favorite word! Thanks a bunch Amy! You should also know Amy has a wonderful blog with a wonderful giveaway going right now! Tis' the season, better to give than receive, more the merrier? Yep!

Match Box Day #14
This cleaver little box below came to me from Linda Gates, winner of my give away. Remember I mentioned one of my biggest challenges with this swap was how and where to put the tag so it didn't look all junked up? Uh.....why couldn't I have been as clever as Linda and put a cute little hangy tag on mine? But you know what...it's ok, I'll know better the next time, and the best thing about swaps and new blog buddies is that inspiration abounds everywhere! Please go look for Linda @ http://countrypickins.blogspot.com/ Thanks bunches Linda! Match Box Day 13
Ok, get ready, I'm on a good roll! The cute little minimalist styled,(one of my favorite themes) matchbox below came to me from Jan Roberts and I can not tell you how thrilled I was to see the little gift inside the box!! Is that the most adorable puzzle charm you ever saw? Which is so very clever again!! Jan met my #2 biggest challenge of trying to find a cute little something, something to put in the box without breaking a sweat!!! Again, why couldn't I have thought of that?? Doesn't matter...lucky,lucky me!

And you know whats so silly about my artist block on this challenge? "I LOVE Miniatures!" This should have been no sweat...again, next time, because since we started opening boxes I've thought of a thousand ideas, and none of them are the same as the ones I got, I just found so much inspiration after opening all of these...it's like my artist block flew out the window and I've had a hundred ah-ha moments.... You can find Jan @ http://www.artfriendzy.blogspot.com/ And yet another blog that's so fun to visit, you'll even have a cute little owl on your pointer if you stop by for a visit....Match Box Day #12

The below match box came to me from Arizona from Pam Snow. It's so wonderful finding out the distance your swap gifts travel as well as being able to find so many new blog buddies! Pam's cute little retro box is covered in sheet music and filled with little red heart buttons...awe.... thanks Pam! You can find Pam at ...

http://treasures-n-textures.blogspot.com/

Have you been wondering where Mr. Holiday is? He's still in the kitchen, and yes he's up to his usual merry shananagans....

My baby girl caught him doing this...and in typical 'Christmas Ham' style, when he discovered her, he did this....

He's patting his sugar cut out cookie dough into rounds so he can chill them in the fridge...I'll have to share more with you later... It's time for me to rest now...I hope all of you are having a blessed Christmas season!!

Thanks for stopping by....

XOXO

Keke