Catching Up....

I always have good intentions of posting regularly, but with work, sickness, time spent reading all of the other wonderful blogs, life, etc, time definately slips away from me. I am in a bunch of fun spring swaps that I am working on....Danielle's Spring Soiree Collage Swap, Kai's Daylight Savings Swap, Heather's Sweet Little Nest Swap, and Lenna Andrews' Alpha Stamps Tallulahs Postcard Swap. Fun, fun, and more fun!

Also, I just had to share this! My birthday was a month ago (I know I should have posted this then), and I just want to share this blog that my mom posted about me on her myspace account (yes!) on my birthday...my mom is my absolute best friend in the world...we live about 4 miles apart..here is her picture.

Anyway, here is her blog from January 24 (my bday) and by the way, my real name is Lorraine (mentioned in the blog below but friends and family call me Lolly):
Happy Birthday to You!!! Lorraine Marie you have been a blessing in my life!
I remember when you were born like it was yesterday. You were so little and so fragile looking with your long arms and legs and dark hair. And even with all the bruises from the hard birth, you were absolutely beautiful! And I was so young to be a Mom. And so immature. But when I saw your face and your beautiful blue eyes gazed into mine so trustingly, I knew it was time to grow up and be the Mom you deserved.I loved you so much. You looked so pretty in white with your dark hair. I remember not wanting to share you with anyone and wanted to hold you and stare at your pretty face all the time. I couldn't believe you came through me and that I was chosen and blessed to guide you, teach you and protect you through life!

When you got older your hair got wavy and long and it seems like your eyes got even more blue. Since mine were so dark, it made me happy to gaze at bright blue trusting eyes. You were tall with long legs and pretty hands. And you were so smart! I thought you were perfect.
When your sisters were born, it was hard for you to share your Mom but you were so helpful with them and loved them so. You were like a little mother to them and liked them as long as they left your toys and stuffed animals alone! As they grew it became harder for you to have a life of your own. Amy and Jill were into everything, including the toilet much to your horror! I've often said that I wish I could have spent more time alone with you before the twins were born but we managed to become so close in spite of it. Love knows no bounds. And you were my beloved firstborn.

Through the years and the ups and downs our love has been steadfast. I'm so proud of the smart, caring, and beautiful woman you have become. I'm so proud that you've accomplished so much. You have your own home, your own life and are so admired and respected in your job. And your pure love of animals swells my heart with pride. You are among the most compassionate people I have ever met and the depth of your soul is immense. You give of yourself without limit. You're spirituality is deeply quiet and naturally ingrained and so lovely.

What would I have done without you in my life! You are such a magnificant gift.

Happy Birthday my dearest of daughters. Forty three years seem like but a blink of an eye and you have been such a joy to me in this life. I wish for you a lasting love, and a happy and long life. May you always know that love surrounds you and that I have loved you since the moment of your birth and I will love you for all eternity.

"There are those who give with joy, and that joy is their reward. Through the hands of such as these God speaks, and from behind their eyes He smiles upon the earth. " (Gibran)

Love, Mom

Is that not the most wonderful gift to get from your mom? I printed it out and put it in my journal and will cherish it forever!!

Another thing I am way behind on is posting about two additional Valentine swaps I was in ....

I participated in The Hanging Heart Swap from Sweet Goodness Swaps and this is what Kai made me.....I just love things that are made by other artists....they bring me such joy! I love it, Kai!!!!


This is what I sent to Kai! This was a FUN swap!

Then, I also participated in the Crafty Cupid Swap and my partner was Stevie.....this is the package that I sent to her!

And this is what she sent to me......

Look at what she did below....see the tag in the bottom left corner....she took my picture from my blog and made me a personalized tag...is that not the cutest thing ever? I may have to use that idea in the future!!


I can officially say that I am addicted to swaps and love every minute of it.

I am off work today, so need to get busy working on my crafts and my part-time ebay business (not craft related), and I also want to start making things for Etsy. My mom has some wonderful creations that I will be posting in etsy in the coming weeks as well. My goal is also to update my blog more regularly. I have a list of things I want to post about!! I promise myself that I will do better!

Have a great weekend!

Sweetheart Box Swap Recieved - Lucky me!!

I am a lucky girl to have had such a great swap partner, Angela for the fun Sweetheart Box Swap hosted by Maria at The Junkk Drawer. Look at all of the fun goodies I received~

First of all, look at the loveliness upon simply opening the shipping box....what fun! Let's dig in!

I love aprons and Angela sent me the most adorable apron - it's brown and white with appliques hearts on the front! I love it!

Angela is such a sweetie, she even sent something for the "kids" - my four legged cat children! Now that is special!

A lovely handmade card.....I love handmade cards.

This is her decorated heart candy box.......love the fur border!! My cats thought that was their present too! :)

Look at all the pink/white/red girliness on the following pictures........OOOH!!





Thanks so much to Angela! I absolutely love participating in these neat swaps! I have another swap that I received to post about - I'll try to get that done in the next day or so!

Sweetheart Box Swap Mailed!

I was able to ship out my swap goodies for the Sweetheart Box Swap hosted by Maria over at The Junkk Drawer.

Missions being accomplished and more! Fun!

I am so proud of myself....ever since I took the initiative with my studio shelf (see previous post), I am FINALLY feeling energized to get some things done around my house. Some days I think that is what holds me back from really getting into my crafts - the idea that I SHOULD get things done in the house....then I just completely shut down and do neither. Oy!

Anyway, this project pictured below is only half done, but only because I have to run back to Lowe's to get more grout.....I have a small vanity in the upstairs bath that had that old, probably original linoleum crap on it....so, I broke up some vintage plates that I had been collecting in a closet and tiled around the sink.....I love it! I can't wait to see it when it is actually grouted....I plan to work on that this weekend. I will post a finished product pic at that time.


Then, I had this shelf that my mom gave to me and I love it and need it for the kitchen, but it was this gross green........so I painted it burgundy, hung a few crystals from the top, and I like it. You can kind of see the open shelves at the bottom of the pic....I am making curtains for those, that match the curtains I have in my lower kitchen cabinets (the curtains were an idea which I totally took from Karla at Karla's Cottage - thanks, Karla!)....a really neat burgundy/cream toille fabric!


Okay, and finally, speaking of kitchens, I really do love mine! I love my corian counter tops and my seamless sink; I love all of my crystal jars, both new and vintage (that hold cat treats, dog treats, rabbit food, etc); I love my mirrored glass jewelry box that I use for tea bags, etc; I love the vintage plates and pictures and frames with loved ones (both animal and human); and check out the fantastic cat mold that my godmother just sent me for my birthday (which is tomorrow Jan 24 - I will be 43!! - where did the years go??) - I love it all! These pics are just the one corner of the kitchen and then my memory card was full and I had to get to work......but you get the gist! The only thing that really bugs me right now is the cabinet door pulls - I really need to find some crystal ones - that will be my next mission on eBay.





Well, thanks for listening to my rambling......

Things happen....

Just as I am getting my craft back on, what happens but my studio desk (a shelf in the open closet) collapses.....luckily, I was in the room at the time and was able to catch it as it fell. Nothing broken. Turns out it was probably a good thing......the shelf that I was using was actually not anchored on the wall very well and was an accident waiting to happen. I put on my carpenter britches and measured and purchased new wood, twice the depth of the previous shelf. I was also able to raise it up a little bit higher, so now my bar stool that I sit on fits beautifully under the shelf. I'm sure others could have done a much better job, but I am really proud of myself!! I quite like my new shelf.

Happy crafting to you all!

I'm Back....

Happy New Year! I am back from taking a break for a little while....had to, not wanted to. At Thanksgiving, I came down with pneumonia and it really threw me for a loop this past month. In addition, I have very high blood pressure and so December, in between being sick and tired, I have been getting over that serious bout of pneumonia, have been working to control my asthma, working to control my blood pressure and am once again back on the weight loss train. I have had numerous doctors’ visits this past month (cardiologist, allergist, ultrasounds, ct scan, and stress echo) so am dealing with these issues. I have got to get a grip on my health and weight. I want to be around for a long time! My four-legged children need me!!

So.....My house is a mess and my studio has been neglected, but with the new year comes better health and excitement for what the new year will bring. I am at my highest weight in years, and so on December 30 I started the Bob Greene BEST LIFE DIET (vegetarian version) and in the first week have lost 9.6 pounds. I have been a yoyo dieter for years and have always said "this time will be it".....well, this time HAS to be 'it". My doctor told me that my blood pressure and weight and age (I'm 43 this month) makes me a prime candidate for a stroke. I have to say that scared the heck out of me, so onward to extreme good health. I have a long way to go, but I will get there.

I am ready to get crafty and so have joined a couple of swaps - The Sweet Treats and Roses Swap hosted by Karla and Beth and The Sweet Heart Box Swap hosted by Maria at The Junkk Drawer. Looking forward to getting busy with these!

On December 8, I lost one of my beloved cats, Charlie.
He was my handsome, snaggle-toothed blind old Persian cat. He had gone blind earlier this year due to detached retinas caused by high blood pressure. He also was discovered to have an enlarged heart. However, that did not stop him. He adapted well to the blindness and was still my handsome, friendly greeter to all who came in the front door. He still followed me everywhere and along with Frieda, the queen (see below) reigned supreme as a leader among the others. Charlie died at home with me after what appeared to be a stroke – he was able to limp to all his favorite spots downstairs, almost as if he was saying goodbye – then he made it to my chair and he passed away peacefully in the spot next to me that he loved so much within an hour. My sweet Charlie gave me such tremendous joy when he came to me in the final five years of his life and the realization that he is gone from me now is almost too much to bear. He is missed greatly.


I am excited and energized about what the new year will bring to me. 2007 was filled with highs and lows, but each and everyday I am grateful to be here on mother earth, to have a family (4-legged and 2-legged) that I adore, friends who are wonderful, a home that makes me happy, a job that leaves me satisfied, a spiritual life that fulfills me, a voice that I can use to sing, to praise, to yell, to question, to laugh and to cry, and a life that is blessed with goodness.

I am happy to be back!

So many blogs to post, so little time!

I am so far behind in posting blogs. I check other people's blogs all the time but I have not been able to make the time to post all the blogs of my own that I want to write. It seems there is never enough time in a day! Yikes. Anyway, as of right now, I am off work until Monday, so no excuses. Starting tomorrow, I am going to attempt to catch up with all my blog writings and picture posting, etc.
Stay tuned.......
Lolly