Life...

I started married life when I was 22, I had my Daughter Sarah when I was 24 and before I was 26 my son Brian was gently placed into my arms... This year my children both approached mild-stone birthdays Sarah is now 18 and Brian just turned 16 a few weeks ago.
Life has a magnificent way of unfolding. New adventures it seams are always ahead of us.

Now as my two are heading down the path to early adult hood with so much ahead of them I find myself embarked on my path to my middle age hood. strangely its almost as if our paths have crossed as in some ways we have a lot of the same choices to make....
for as I sit and write this I ask myself: just what do I want to be when I grow up?



some times we need a plan to help us obtain our goals, how ever most often the road we take in life has a way of unfolding and leading us down a lane we did not attend to take.
I never set out to write a book but some how I now have two books to my credit...


(one of the projects from the book)

my newest one: Layered tattered and stitched. is now in my hands...
I find myself gazing at it much like a mother looks at her new born child.
(How did I get to this point in my life? is a question that still baffles me at times!
I have been blessed in so many ways)



A few weeks ago I traveled to the International quilt show in Houston Texas to Launch my new book and share it along with my creative process with the attendees.

I had a great time talking with everyone and it was an opportunity for me to reconnect with old and new friends along with my artwork that I have not seen for about a year.
(strange how much one can grow and change in a year!)



Here I am getting my step outs ready to share with a group of shop owners projects from my book.


(these pages will turn into a book soon!)

Once I was done with the work aspect of my trip I took a stroll along the showroom floor in a attempt of collecting ideas as to the direction I want to take my self over the next few years.
dreaming up what my next few steps will be.
Its important for me to always set large and small goals and once one of these goals are meet I am already looking to set the next....

"I want to live the width of my life, not merely the length of it"



The last few years have been so packed full for me as I am still guiding my children however I have a new found freedom as they began to stretch there wings. I have found a way to balance my family life with books and magazine writing, creating art and traveling around the country to teach, but somehow along they way I have not had much free times to myself. However the time has came for me to partake on a major goal:
November 2009 to January 2010 has been declared by me as "FREE zone"



I will take off some much needed time to reconnect with my family and home as I take some time to nest.
I will spend time reorganizing my studio and working out all the ideas that have been collecting in my head I will dream and plant the seeds of my tomorrows.



It really does take time to be become who you are really supposed to be.
I truly love the direction my life has taken.
I look forward to sharing new things with you soon!
But for now
I hope you will pick up a copy of the just released layered tattered and stitched.
(autographed copy's with a small piece of art made by me, for sale here)
an take your own journey as I share with you my passion for fabric art!

and don't forget to follow your hART!

Close the Language-Door

There is some kiss we want
with our whole lives,
the touch of Spirit on the body.

Seawater begs the pearl
to break its shell.

And the lily, how passionately
it needs some wild Darling!

At night, I open the window
and ask the moon to come
and press its face against mine.
Breathe into me.

Close the language-door,
and open the love-window

The moon won't use the door,
only the window.

~Rumi

Fabric Cuff Kit & DVD

With the help from my Charming assistant Sarah (AKA supper cute teenage daughter) and our trusty video flip camera we made a DVD of "me" creating a fabric cuff. I have decided to offer this DVD for sale as a kit so when it arrives at your doorstep you will have all you need to get started, Just supply your self (and if you like a friend as the kit can make up to two cuffs.)
and pair of scissors and away you go!

Learn how to adorn yourself with these whimsical fabric creations. Make a statement! Unite hand sewing with fabric,lace and buttons,to create something original and enchanting!



your kit will provide you with all you need to make at least two fabric cuffs along with a step by step DVD of me making a cuff in my studio (it will be just like your sitting next to me!)
also included is a embroidery stitch chart with six of my favorite stitches.



So please head on over to my shop and order a kit today.

When Stretch'd on One's Bed

Jane Austen Poetry Scarf Made for Kristen Robinson

When stretch'd on one's bed
With a fierce-throbbing head,
Which preculdes alike thought or repose,
How little one cares
For the grandest affairs
That may busy the world as it goes!

How little one feels
For the waltzes and reels
Of our Dance-loving friends at a Ball!
How slight one's concern
To conjecture or learn
What their flounces or hearts may befall.

How little one minds
If a company dines
On the best that the Season affords!
How short is one's muse
O'er the Sauces and Stews,
Or the Guests, be they Beggars or Lords.

How little the Bells,
Ring they Peels, toll they Knells,
Can attract our attention or Ears!
The Bride may be married,
The Corse may be carried
And touch nor our hopes nor our fears.

Our own bodily pains
Ev'ry faculty chains;
We can feel on no subject besides.
Tis in health and in ease
We the power must seize
For our friends and our souls to provide.

~Jane Austen

create ART

The final items from A Charming Exchange for the charity auction going to Susan G. Komen for The Cure have been added at Ebay. This last lot includes the bracelet which graces the book's cover along with this mixed media jewelry folder.

I made this bracelet with pearls, moonstones, crystals, leather, stamped organza and silk ribbon along with
charms created from some amazing artist, left to right:

Crystal button with crown slider: made by Jes Berry and Ruth Rae

Vintage metal with book text : Deryn Mentock

Bead dangle: Kelly Snelling

PMC medallion: Catherine Witherell

CREATE; Jes Berry

Flower button: Crystal Neubauer

ART tree: Ruth Rae

Vintage key with Bead dangle: Kelly Snelling

Bird nest and Life light: Deryn Mentock

I would like to thank the 30 artist that helped to make all the jewelry in this book possible, you can find more about them and links to there sites on the charming exchange blog sidebar

I hope you will head on over and take a look at the last 8 pieces of jewelry and make a bid!

(I have been very busy and will try to do a blog post soon about what I have been up to!)

Auction Update

A new lot of jewelry has been put up and the bidding has began!
so please head on over to Ebay and place a bid!
(and view all of the pieces)


Please, help spread the word on the auction and tell your friends and help us to raise funds to stop breast cancer 100% goes to Susan G. Komen for the Cure!!


happy bidding and good luck! this lot will end this Saturday the 17!
(in just 2 days!)

the cure

Cancer has been unfortunately in my life. My mother has just completed her cycle of chemotherapy and radiation in her battle with cancer.

and during the writing of a charming exchange, Kelly bravely had to undergo her own personal fight against breast cancer.

Cancer changes your life, by some means for the better as you realize what's important, you learn to prioritize, you discover how to love deeper and you find out just how much life is to be savored and you lean how not to waste your precious time.

The fact is that getting routine check-ups and following through on recommended tests such as self-examination mammography and MRIs are very important as early detection is key to the survival rate of breast cancer.

I am pleased to announce that the charity auction of jewelry from A Charming Exchange to raise money for Susan G. Komen for the Cure has now began with 10 pieces of jewelry. please keep in mind that new pieces will also be added through the month of October.


I hope you will help us to get the word out there and tell your friends about our charity auction to raise money to fight and support the brave women who are battling Breast cancer.

please follow this link to bid:
http://shop.ebay.com/english_dixie/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=

Thank you for your support!

possibilities

Life has no limitations, except the ones you make.

“Limitations live only in our minds. But if we use our imaginations, our possibilities become limitless.”
~ Jamie Paolinetti

“Stop thinking in terms of limitations and start thinking in terms of possibilities”
~Terry Josephson

“We all have possibilities we don't know about. We can do things we don't even dream we can do.”
~ Dale Carnegie

“When you’ve exhausted all possibilities, remember this—you haven’t.”
~ Robert H. Schuller

Become a possibilitarian. No matter how dark things seem to be or actually are, raise your sights and see possibilities -- always see them, for they're always there.
~Norman Vincent Peale