Kind Words

I'm reminded today how kind words can lift a spirit and encourage a soul!  As a  homeschool mom, it's so easy for me to constantly be coaching (correcting) instead of finding the positive words.  Well, I received some very sweet, encouraging words from a customer today and I'm reminded what a difference a positive thought can make:

"Oh my GOODness!!!!!!!!! I love them. They are on my mantle. Myself, hubby and kiddos LOVE it. I ordered another wooden item from a different shop and am KICKING myself. Yours is SO lovely.... A masterpiece. Wish that I had bought your bLESSED blocks too... oh well the family one from******* is fine, but not like yours. Be proud, it is lovely and I am overwhelmed at the beauty, quality and stunning-ness of the piece.

Thank you,
Karen Cowart"

Thank you Karen for making my day.  Now I'm off to give some encouraging words to those little people in my life.

Grow

Grow - a simple word but yet, for me, inspires much more meaning. Yes, the word grow can be the simple reminder of gardening, watching new seedlings take shape. But for me, "grow" challenges me to ground my roots deep where I've been planted and stretch to what God has intended me to be. Am I still learning? Am I striving to sand off those rough edges? Am I maturing into the creation I was intended?

It's not that I want to change into someone I'm not....although I have to admit through my life there have been times when I wished I was more, had a gift I don't possess, etc. But I've come to realize something. We don't look at an unripe fruit or green apple and get angry with it, or want it to change into another kind of fruit. We accept it for what it is and the stage it is in. We know that it is in a process and will one day become the beautiful, mature, delicious fruit it was meant to be.

You see, I believe that is the process each one of us is in. Those immature characteristics in us or our children (that seem so irritating at times), are just the green process of a creation that, at its full maturity, will make us the beautiful, unique creation we were intended to be. So today, I hope you can accept the wonderful creation that you are, yet reach, stretch and GROW into the beautiful, mature creation you were intended to be.

I'm Linking:

Metamorphosis Monday

The DIY Showoff

Creations by Kara

Baby Girl Birth Announcement Blocks and Playing Around With Hand-Crocheted Flowers

Blog land is just the tops for sparking creativity - that is planting creative seeds.  I came upon a tutorial to crochet these fun little flowers at one of my FAVORITE blogs to visit:  Little Birdie Secrets:

 I haven't crocheted in years - I mean like 25 years..... but these were easy, peasy!    Of course, after seeing the cute cards that Little Birdie Secrets made with her mini flowers, my wheels started spinning.  Yes, they would be perfect for my new Baby girl announcement blocks:

 Don't they just add that little spark?  I love them!

 Then I got to thinking......hey these would be great to interchange on little girl shoes!  Just sew a bottom to the top of the shoe and then you can interchange the flower to match their outfit - TOO FUN!

 They even look cute on a little girl's regular old sneaker!

I'm Linking:

Kreations by Kara

By Your Hands

Funky Junk Interiors

Metamorphosis Monday

The DIY Showoff

Plant a Punkin Seed Party - March 11, 2011

It's time to plant some creative seeds ladies!  Here is a little creative seed I'm planting for you today:

This is one of my new spring releases that went up in my Etsy Shop today as a part of Old Farmhouse Gathering's Spring Celebration. Come take a look at everyone's wonderful creations by going to Etsy and typing in SECOFG.

Now let's take a look at a highlight from last week's party:

Wandering Jeweler made this cook Bike Chain Pendant:

How creative is that - what a super neat idea!  Love it!  Grab your "I've been Featured Button" - You definitely deserve it!

<center><a href="http://punkinseedproductions.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img alt="Punkin Seed Productions" src="http://i798.photobucket.com/albums/yy268/egghead9657/Featured.jpg"/></a></center>

Now let's see what else you all have up your gardening sleeve! Let's plant some creative seeds gals!
Here are the rules:

1. Tell all your bloggy friends there is a new linky party!!!

2. Link to your specific post on your blog, no Etsy sites please.

3. Grab the button below and place it within your linking post.

4. Visit other friends, new and old, who are planting creative seeds (remember to leave comments)!

5. Check back to see if you have been featured from the previous Punkin Seed Party! If you have, make sure to grab the "I've been featured" button and wear it with pride on your blog!

6. Leave a comment here - you know how I love hearing from all my friends!!!!

<center><a href="http://punkinseedproductions.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img alt="Punkin Seed Productions" src="http://i798.photobucket.com/albums/yy268/egghead9657/party.jpg"/></a></center>

Sneak Peak #3 - Hip Hop - New Spring Release

I recently posted about the spring designs I'm working on for :

Old Farmhouse Gathering's (OFG) Spring Celebration will be a great sampling of work from the gals that belong to OFG.  The OFG is a wonderful group of women who have teamed up on Etsy to help promote each other.  Our Spring Celebration kicks off on Friday, so be sure to go to Etsy on Friday and search for SECOFG  and you'll find all of the team's wonderful creations!  Here is another sneak peak at one of the designs "Hip Hop" that  I will be releasing to my Etsy Store on March 11.  Be sure to check back often this week as I'll be giving more sneak peaks!

This is another "mixed-media" look that I'm working on where I use paper and paint.  I have to say these very "Hip" "Hops" are one of my favorites in my new designs!  They just make me smile:

Hope these bring a smile to your day~

 

Sneak Peak No. 2 - "Tweet" to be released on Friday

I recently posted about the spring designs I'm working on for :

Old Farmhouse Gathering's (OFG) Spring Celebration will be a great sampling of work from the gals that belong to OFG.  The OFG is a wonderful group of women who have teamed up on Etsy to help promote each other.  Our Spring Celebration kicks off on Friday, so be sure to go to Etsy on Friday and search for SECOFG  and you'll find all of the team's wonderful creations!  Here is another sneak peak at one of the designs "Tweet" that  I will be releasing to my Etsy Store on March 11.  Be sure to check back often this week as I'll be giving more sneak peaks!

I've tried something new with "Tweet" - a little mixed media.  The birds are cut from scrapbook paper and then I've painted on the shadows and details.  This gives it more dimension.

What a fun way to beckon spring don't you think?

Sneak Peak at "Splish, Splash, Stomp!" Being Released On March 11 as Part of Old Farmhouse Gathering Team's Spring Celebration

I have been busy getting ready to release New Spring Designs as part of the Old Farmhouse Gathering's (OFG) Spring Celebration.  The OFG is a wonderful group of women who have teamed up on Etsy to help promote each other.  Our Spring Celebration kicks off on Friday, so be sure to go to Etsy on Friday and search for SECOFG  and you'll find all of the team's wonderful creations!  Here is a sneak peak at one of the designs "Splish, Splash, Stomp!" that  I will be releasing to my Etsy Store on March 11.  Be sure to check back often this week as I'll be giving more sneak peaks!

This design includes 2 hand-painted blocks:

Ladybug - Butterfly Kisses and Ladybug Hugs

Do you have any Ladybugs in your home?  I do!  I have two little girl ladybugs that definitely give the best ladybug hugs.  However, we also found a real, live ladybug in our house today!  I can't believe it - February in Eastern Oregon is cold and snowy!  What a little fighter!  We are keeping her around, the girls say she is a keeper!  Wishing you a happy week with lots of ladybug hugs!

All We Need is Love

If we truly loved like we are called to (I like to think of it as love in action) would love really be all we needed?

Simplify - Live Simply, Laugh Often, Love Much

I long to simplify, maybe then my house would always be organized, I would always have time to do what I wanted.....very funny huh?  I think that part of raising kiddos, especially when we live in our house 24-7 with homeschooling, is accepting that there is always going to be a mess somewhere in the house!  It amazes me that  all the technology out there to make our lives eaiser, simpler if you will, has a tendency to draw us away of what's  truly important, or it just helps us heap more onto our already overloaded lives!  Crazy isn't it?

So, I'm going to get off my technology (laptop) and go read a good book with my kiddos, how is that for simplifying?  =0)

Welcome-May Our Home Be Warm & Our Friends Be Many

Here is a fun little design to welcome you to your week!