A Valentine - from Me to You...

...That's right - I think it is time to "treat" one of you because you all are so good to me. I made this bracelet and thought it was the perfect gift for Valentine's Day because of the sweet rose pendant in the middle.

Actually, I believe it is an antique pin with pretty pink and robin's egg blue buttons on the side...

A lil' gold and a touch of pearl.

I'd love to share it with someone - maybe it will be you. I'll draw a name on Monday, Feb. 1st. That way - you'll have plenty of time to enjoy it for Valentine's Day.

Let me know if you'd like to see this bracelet in your mailbox ;-)

Have a Happy Day!

Cathy

My Valentine Wreath...

...what do you think? Well, I confess - I've never been one to decorate much for Valentine's Day. Not for sure why - I just don't really have any decorations. But browsing around looking at everyone's wonderful ideas - inspired me to make myself something - something simple.

My plain green wreath was looking a lil' lonely...

I bought this great angel from my friend, Frannie, at the antique mall for $7.00...

Used my cricut to cut out a lil' "love"...

...dressed my angel up a bit and tucked him in the middle...

...cut out some tags and hearts to match my new room...

...tied on some red ribbon...

...and now I feel all better because I have a lil' Valentine Cheer in my dining room.

Thanks for inspiring me everybody!

Have a Happy Day!

Cathy

A simple fix...

Well, January is my "nesting" time. The shop is closed and it is about the only time all year when I have a minute to focus on something in my own home. Sooooo, of course I had to "change" something - I don't leave anything the same for very long. And since I do all the work myself - nothing is ever very expensive. A lil' paint, a lil' material, a lil' TLC - and everything feels fresh and new again.

So, here is my delima - I found some curtains at Lowe's that I liked but they were way to short. I don't usually buy store bought curtains simply because I like to piddle with sewing. Now, I'm no seamstress by any stretch of the imagination but I can sew to suit myself. Just don't go peeking underneath - it might not look very pretty - hehe.

About 10 inches to short...

Some corresponding fabrics...

My trusty sewing machine...

After I sewed on the border - I pinned the fabric so it would pleat like the top panel...

And here they are... I really like them. Now, they look kind of custom. They still need to "soften up" so they will hang a bit better - but I think I'm gonna be happy with them.

I'll show you more pictures of my mini makeover later...if I can manage to ever get it finished.

Happy Monday friends,

Cathy

Valentine Salt Dough...

Another holiday means more fun salt dough projects. Actually I'm cheating a lil' bit and showing you pics from last year 'cause I haven't had time to make mine yet!!! But here are a couple of ideas you could use while you are creating your own!

You know the recipe by "heart" now I'm sure but here it goes again...

2 cups all purpose flour

1 cup salt

mix well and add

1 cup warm water

Form dough and shape with your hands or use cookie cutters

Bake at about 325 degrees for a couple of hours - give or take

Insert loops in the top if you'd like to make lil' small charms...

Paint them to your liking...

Here are some I monogrammed, polka-dotted, and glittered to make lil' necklaces. They were for all the young girls in Casen's kindergarten class last year...cute and inexpensive.

And for those of you who do seasonal trees - they would make the perfect ornaments or tie-ons for gifts...

And I haven't tried it yet but I think it would be really cute to make small ones painted in pastel colors that looks like that candy - you know - "kiss me", "u r cute", "I luv u". Place them in a sweet dish for a lil' Valentine decoration. And you'll keep your new diet in check - because you can't eat them - you know, cute on the eyes, not on the thighs -hehe

Everybody have a blessed day and

Happy Creating!

Cathy

Not much snow...but...

...enough to say -

My friend, Sara, made this cute lil' hat for me - thanks Sara - I love it!

Casen made a snow angel or two... and we threw lots of snowballs!

I made some yummy vegetable soup...

...and chocolate chip cookies.

So even though we didn't get enough snow to sleigh ride - it was still a wonderful day.

School's out again tomorrow - so everybody have fun and brrrrrrr.... stay safe and warm!

Cathy

Some thoughts...

Well, we are expecting a lil' snow here in Ky tonight - I'm sure hoping we see some. We had a lil' last year, note the picture, but I'd love to see enough to sleigh ride jus' once.

I'm in a project - a big one - I'll be sharing some pics with you soon. But I got this in an e-mail today and I just loved it - every single word of it - so I thought I'd share it with you. Thanks sweet Julie for sending it to me.

HANDBOOK 2010

Health:

1. Drink plenty of water.

2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.

3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy
5. Make time to pray.
6. Play more games
7. Read more books than you did in 2009 .
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day
9. Sleep for 7 hours.
10. Take a 10-30 minutes walk daily. And while you walk, smile.

Personality:
11. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13. Don't over do. Keep your limits.
14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
16. Dream more while you are awake
17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with His/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23. Smile and laugh more.
24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree...

Society:
25. Call your family often.
26. Each day give something good to others.
27. Forgive everyone for everything.
28. Spend time w/ people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30. What other people think of you is none of your business.
31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends & family will. Stay in touch.

Life:
32. Do the right thing!
33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
34. GOD heals everything.
35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
37. The best is yet to come.
38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.
39. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.

I think if we all live by these words - we will have a very blessed 2010.

Cathy