paper cranes in green . . .

good things this week . . .

"Find out where the joy resides, and give

it a voice far beyond singing.  

For to miss the joy is to miss all."

~ Robert Louis Stevenson

GOOD THINGS THIS WEEK . . . 

1.  Plenty of rain

2. Plenty of sunshine

3. Making dolls with Charlotte

4. Making turmeric tea (I used the recipe here)

5. Eating healthy!

6. Talking to my brother

7. Mornings with Lily

8. Dinner and cribbage with my man . . . (I won!)

9. Looking out my window at work and seeing the mountains

10. Green!

It's been a long week . . . a simple week . . . an "I can't wait for the weekend" type of week.  I guess every week is an "I can't wait for the weekend" type of week, but I think I am feeling that a little more than usual . . . Spring Fever!

something to hold onto I think . . .

Luke has been going through boxes that he has had stored in our garage.  He found this the other day.  It was stitched by an old  girlfriend of his.  This friend showed up at our house a few years ago (about three years after they broke up) . . . she was pregnant, homeless, and in trouble with the law.  She lived with us for 6 months until the baby was born . . . she gave the baby up for adoption and I have seen her only one time since then.  To be honest - it was not the easiest 6 months of my life . . . but I do believe it was what was best for that unborn baby. 

 I remember her working on this that winter.  She also did a lot of scrap booking.  I remember watching her stitch one evening and being reminded of the song -  "One of These Things Doesn't Belong" from Sesame Street . . . 

cross-stitch, scrap booking, drugs (one of these things just doesn't belong . . . )

She left our house the week before the baby was born.  I am sad to say that her choices have not improved her life at all.  It is heartbreaking what drugs can do to an otherwise smart, talented, creative young woman, who if had made other choices . . . would have a very different life.  I am thankful she made the right choice regarding her baby.  I have heard that he has wonderful adoptive parents and is happy and healthy.  

So I look at this with mixed feelings.  It is beautifully done, It makes me smile . . . it makes me think of her and her quirky personality . . . and her wild, dyed hair . . . and her intelligence and creativity - and then I get mad.  I get mad at her for not fighting harder . . . for not realizing that there were people who loved her and supported her and wanted to help her - yet she still made the wrong choices.

Then I feel sad . . . for what addiction does to people.  Not just the addict, but also to the people that love them.  I think I will hang onto this . . . frame it and hang it up somewhere where I can see it and be reminded . . . not only of her and what her life could have been, but that it is OK to care and help and reach out even when things . . . and people seem hopeless.  

"No matter how hard the past, 

you can always begin again."

~ Buddha

Charlotte's Shabby Charlotte . . .

"Children are so creative

an imaginative that they just bring

you to life all over again."

~ Moira Kelly

I let Charlotte draw the face on one of the dolls I am making. 

I love how it turned out . . . especially those eyelashes.

She may have to start helping me more often.  

I love the idea of her creating the faces on some dolls.  

fun with charlotte . . .

Charlotte wanted to help me stain doll bodies last night.  As usual everything is much more fun when Charlotte is involved . . . and much more of a mess.  She had coffee splashed all over the counter before we were finished, but the mess was worth it.  Children bring wonder and enthusiasm to everything they do. 

 I wish I had a picture of her face when I told her we had to bake the dolls in the oven.  

She is very interested in this batch of dolls . . . 

I have a feeling she may be helping me with hair and faces next . . .

Her enthusiasm is contagious.  

We have a lot to share with each other . . . her and me.  

"Enthusiasm is is excitement with inspiration,

 motivation, and a pinch of creativity."

~ Bo Bennett

Shabby Charlotte zombie doll . . . Finn

Finn is a high spirited little zombie who loves people way too much to ever think about hurting them.  She tends to get excited very easily and loves to try new things.  She loves sushi and hot coffee with whipped cream and red sprinkles.  She loves to dance . . . pick flowers . . . and simply wander around town seeing what kind of shenanigans she can get into.  Her favorite color is green, but she loves dressing in red just because it puts her in a good mood. 

You can’t go wrong having this little zombie around . . . she is loyal to the end and loves to include her friends whenever she is out having a good time.

I finally found a name for this little zombie and got her story finished.

She will be for sale in my ETSY shop later this week.   

doll bodies and sebastion . . .

What a wonderful weekend, but then weekends are always wonderful

. . . .just because they are weekends.

I wrote doll stories . . . made doll bodies . . . had "rainy day" pizza with Charlotte . . . and champagne with Sarah.  We went to lunch and played cribbage . . . went to dinner with friends . . . worked on projects . . . and watched The Walking Dead.

We made the most of our time and wasted time . . . 

"The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time."

~ Bertrand Russell

good things this week . . .

"Finding joy is probably tantamount

to finding yourself and being

comfortable in your own skin."

~ Morgan Freeman

PEACE ~ LOVE ~ LILY

GOOD THINGS THIS WEEK . . . 

1. Coffee, tea, and cute cookies at work . . . 

2. Being disciplined and not eating the cookies

3. Quotes

4. Shopping with Lily . . . popcorn and root beer!

5. My brother sending me pictures of Mom and Oscar

6. Walking and taking pictures

7. Flowers

8. Getting plenty of sleep

9. Eating healthy . . . and feeling great

10. Getting reacquainted with my Shabby Charlotte dolls . . . 

Peace ~ Love ~ Joy

there's a lily under my desk . . .

Lily is in the office with me before school and if I take her home with me, sometimes for a few minutes before we leave.  She often ends up under my desk . . . which is a perfect place for a kid. 

So, I thought why not make it even better.  We now have a backrest pillow, a blanket, and a light.  She can sit under there and read or play on my iPad.  I think now we need something to hold some books and snacks . . . and maybe a mini fridge. 

3 little Shabbys . . .

I haven't been very consistent with my Shabby Charlotte dolls lately . . . I'll get one made here and there.  I still need to finish one of these . . . and write a couple of stories.  I notice these three little Shabbys sitting in a basket last night when I was sorting through some stuff . . . and decided I need to get motivated to make some dolls.  Sometimes posting about something keeps me on track to get it done.  So tonight there will Shabby Charlotte bios . . . and possibly working on some voodoo dolls.  I just need to make some fun little voodoo dolls.  

forgiveness . . .

Any one who knows me at all . . . knows that I love quotes, and I love when I find quotes on labels or packages, written in unexpected places, or in this case on a tea bag.  I have posted photos of these quotes before.  I honestly think there should be fun, positive quotes put on  more items . . . maybe not even all fun and positive.  A good sarcastic quote on the right item might not be a bad idea.

That being said . . . this is the quote that I found today!

Forgiveness . . . . what a difference that has made in my life.  Also one of those topics that I am very passionate about . . . so let me rant for a moment.

Forgiveness . . .  the intentional and voluntary process by which a victim undergoes a change in feelings and attitude regarding an offense, lets go of negative emotions such as vengefulness, with an increased ability to wish the offender well.

Forgive and it changes your life.  I will not go so far as to call myself a victim, but I have been hurt in the past and hung onto that hurt and blame for way too long.  I can remember the exact moment when I realized I could forgive everything . . . it changed my life and gave me complete control over the situation.  It took away all the negative energy that was consuming my life. 

It doesn't make what happens right . . . or what people do to hurt you right.  That is for them to deal with, but for me . . .  it took a weight off of me, it gave me back my happiness, it put me back on the road to being me.  And I think I am the best me that I have ever been.  I can't say that I wouldn't change things if I could, but I can say that by getting through it all and choosing forgiveness . . . I am a way stronger person and there is nothing about that situation that can hurt me anymore.  

That being said . . . onto something not so serious.

A little more green . . . because it is March and it is my favorite color!

. . . and a little advice for today!

spring magic . . .

"People from a planet without flowers 

would think we must be mad with joy 

the whole time to have such things about us."  

~ Iris Murdoch, A Fairly Honourable Defeat

"It's spring fever.  That is what the name of it is.

And when you've got it, you want . . . 

oh, you don't quite know what it is you do want,

but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!"

~ Mark Twain

Do I ever have spring fever!  I try to get a few miles walking and running in during my lunch break . . . and today I just wanted to keep going.

  I probably posted the same thing last year

 . . . but Spring never fails to work it's magic.  

Oh, I do believe in magic . . . and I do believe there must be a fairy of some sort in this last picture - sitting in that tree soaking up the sunshine.  

At least I like to think there is . . . life is just way more fun when you believe in MAGIC!