The Joy of Creating!

I got an email for a custom order--HeartStones! I LOVE to make HeartStone. I just L-O-V-E it!!!!

So........I open the clay. It is cold and stiff in my hands. I start to knead it and roll it into a ball, the clay begins to stain my palms. I notice my fingerprint. It is perfect in the clay--every detail, every ridge, every swirl. I am reminded that, as God put it, I am fearfully and wonderfully made!

The clay begins to soften, my palms are deeply stained. "It's okay, it washes off", I remind myself. I put the clay in the pasta machine and leisurely turn the handle. The lump of clay moves so slowly as if it enjoys the pressure of the rollers. A perfect sheet of polymer clay. I fold it over, totally enjoying the feel of the smoothness of the clay, and put it between the rollers. Once again, I turn the handle and a perfect sheet of clay emerges--smooth as glass.

I repeat this same action again.......17......18......19.........20 times. It is ready!

I am now holding a perfectly refined piece of polymer clay. Perfectly conditioned and ready to yield to my bidding, ready to be formed by my will, ready to become what I think is best.......................the clay is waiting on me to make it "be".

I begin humming........then I realize the words of the song I am humming.........

"Have Thine own way, Lord, have Thine own way!
You are the Potter, I am the clay.
Mold me and make me, after Thy will,
while I am waiting, perfectly still."

I am humbled.

Memorial Day 2009

Today I salute and honor those of my family who have served and are serving our Country:


Roy's Father, Roy
my Brother-in-Law, Mark
my Sister-in-Law, Diana
my husband's Cousin who died while serving our Country (hubby never knew him),
my Nephew, Paul
my Husband, Roy
Roy's Uncles, Albert and Edward
my Father, Jack
Roy's Grandfather, Roy
my Uncle, Fred
my Cousin, Fred
my Cousin-in-Law, Dale
my Grandfathers, Fred and Jim
our Son, Eric

These brave men and woman served in Air Force, the Navy and the Army. I am grateful for their service and sacrifice to our great United States of America!

Last night we watched the Memorial Day Show to Honor Our Nation's Heros on PBS. It was very moving. There was not a dry eye in the room. As I watched a story about how a Mother stood beside her critically injured Son ignoring the doctor's predictions of his death, she refused to believe he would die. He is alive and she cares for him 24/7 as he suffered a brain injury and can no longer care for himself. I realized God has truly blessed our family. I am so grateful that the above was not a path God required of our family or of me. My military members all came home alive and not in a steel box. I sincerely thank you, God!

Thank you to all who serve!

Have you ever had a day................................................

Have you ever had a day when you wanted a brownie? The thick.......1" to 2" thick.........and chewy........ya know............ real gooey and chewy? .............................. I have!

So I went to the "Ye Olde Bakery" and there it was in all it's chocolaty glory! I could taste it just standing in line to buy! Why it was at least 1 1/2" thick! And you could see that it was chewy--it had a dark center and oozed yummy chocolaty goodness! My mouth was ready! My taste buds stood at attention in anticipation. My saliva glands were in full gushing mode. I BOUGHT IT - IT WAS MINE!!!!!!! OOOOOHHHH........I SOOOO want this Chocolate Brownie! I am NOT sharing!!!!!!

I took the bag and settled in the front seat of my car. I calmly drove home. I was not feeling very good that day so I decided to wait to eat my precious chocolate treasure later in the evening. SO I set it on the kitchen cabinet, pushing it way back to the wall, so seeking paws could not reach it. I was careful--very careful!

Dinner was over. Dishes were done. Good night for TV. I was in my favorite recliner with my Precious Chocolaty Treasure in hand. I un-wrap the plastic wrap--Man! the Bakery really wrapped it well--at least 3 times! That meant chewy goodness for sure! As I continue peeling the wrap from my momentarily most treasured possession, Amelia jumps onto the couch. Her eyes fixed on my chocolaty goodness. Saliva at the brink of drool, she licks her lips. I remind her it is my Brownie and it is NOT for Amelia! She is transfixed by the allure of it's sweet scent of promise.

Just then nature calls! The alarm is harsh and cramping so I MUST answer. I re-wrap my so anticipated Brownie, securing the ooey, gooey, delightfulness inside and rush to answer the call. Amelia jumps down, escorts me to the throne room, making sure I am seated comfortably, and goes back to the living room. I am not too concerned for the Brownie as there were more pressing issues at hand..........................................

Completing the aforementioned tasked, I eagerly return to my recliner and my Brownie. Oh the sweetness....Oh the chocolate treasure....I am ready...the one thing I have longed for all day....my taste buds are on full alert....I even drool a little.....I turn the corner.....I can smell the chocolate....oh.

AMELIA ATE MY BROWNIE!!!!! Crumbs still clinging to her whiskers, she licks her lips in supreme delight. It is gone! The plastic wrap licked clean. Not a morsel of chocolaty goodness to be seen! The beloved and desired object of my passion is in the stomach of a very happy and contented DOG!

"Amelia, bad dog! Very bad dog!", I exclaim in complete and utter disappointment.

She looks a me with her cute little 'bobo' face and says, "Yes, I did eat it! And I liked it!".

How can you argue with that????? Is the Bakery open on Memorial Day?

Lil HeartBird Prototype

Here is the prototype of my Lil HeartBird!

They can be made as magnets, lapel pins, window dazzlers, gift/scrapbook embellishments, etc.

I am very excited! What do you think?

Keep an Eye out for Lil HeartBirds

I am working on a new item "Lil HeartBirds to carry your burdens away!" My team mate Kelley of http://TatteredTapestry.etsy.com set the idea in motion. I am hoping to debut them today or tomorrow!
They will be made of polymer clay--my favorite medium--and they will have glitz!!!!
I envision them as window decorations, Christmas ornaments, package decorations, scrapbooking embellishments, even use in a baby mobile. The ideas and possibilities just don't stop!!!

Personal note:
Back from a weekend in San Antonio with Eric and Lenise! As you know, they just transferred from Florida to San Antonio and we had to go visit!
Did we have a great time? ABSOLUTELY!!!

When we left I did not have that sad, sinking, not knowing feeling because instead of being 2 DAYS away they are only 2 HOURS away! Their house is cute. They are still decorating and setting it up but it is cute! I am so happy for them (and Roy and I).

Eric says he is liking his new job. He is struggling with "Getting Used to New Co-Workers Germs Syndrome". He has hoarseness and nasal drainage but once he builds a resistance and get used to the rather "LOUD" voice he needs to use with the Trainees, he will do great! He was off on Saturday and admitted he missed the Trainees!!!! On Sunday when Eric came into work, his mentor asked if we had a good time with our visit and Eric told him yes and we were going home later that day. His mentor told him to go home and continue the visit and be back at the training pod at 4:00pm! That was about 10:00am! So we got to spend Sunday with Lenise AND Eric too! We planned to leave about 4:00pm anyway so it was perfect! Lenise went to work Saturday morning and we had breakfast at her Starbucks! She is so good! I am SO PROUD of her and it was fun to watch her work! She found another Starbucks less than 5 minutes away from their house and will be transferring there in September! She is such a good Barrista. She made coffee at the house for us Sunday morning and of course it was FANTASTIC!!!

Oh--I am just do proud of them!

Can you tell we had a GREAT time?

Our Creative World: itsmeCheri

It is with great honor that I share with you to the following:

Our Creative World: itsmeCheri

I have been featured in this wonderful blog about creativity. Please read and comment!

I am humbled!

My Cup Runneth Over!!!

I am on Cloud 9! I am so BLESSED!!!

My kids are home! When Eric first hugged me he said, "I am home Mom! I am home!" Lenise just smiled and hugged me!

It was WONDERFUL!!!

This is the first Mother's Day in eight(8) years that I am going to be with the reason I am a Mother!

My cup runneth over!