Seeking Hope

oh, sweet verse of poetry
proclaim our goodbyes,

'tis hope that is sought
without and within,

each day, every moment
a bittersweet memory,

yet gently persuaded
asking most tenderly,

will you please,
always remember me.



farewell 2006...

With glad hearts, we welcome 2007!

Shimmery, Glittery, and Glistening

This has been a very special Christmas for me. I spent much of my free time from August through December designing and creating a series of winter ornaments and decorations. I found great pleasure throughout the season in sharing my treasures with friends both near and far.

I was also the very proud recipient of some INCREDIBLE ornaments that were made by a number of extremely talented artists. I thought I might share some of these shimmery, glittery, and glistening gifts with you.

The ABSOLUTELY ADORABLE houses in the image above were sent to me by the talented Ms. Jenny Everyday. Words CAN NOT BEGIN to express HOW Sweet, SWEET, S-W-E-E-T these ornaments are!

My husband asked if someone had sent me pastries when he saw the bubble gum pink cake box. As I began to carefully unwrap the ornaments inside this pretty package, a HUGE grin crept across my face, and I shouted with delight... "There are NO Pastries in here!!!! It is SOMETHING MUCH MUCH BETTER!!!!"

If you have not had a chance to peruse Jenny's site with all of her delectable treats, you are definitely missing a feast for the eyes. I FEEL COMPLETELY HONORED and BLESSED that I met Jenny and Aaron (the other half of this creative duo)!!!!

I have had visions of sugarplums and these holiday cottages in my dreams every night since their box arrived.

The Very....VERY BEAUTIFUL dove in the photo on the left was a most thoughtful and heartfelt gift from Delsie Chambon. Delsie was my Secret Santa in the Silver Bella Ornament Exchange. I was SO THRILLED and EXCITED when I opened my exchange package to find the most DELICATE and EXQUISITE bird!!!!

My darling dove came nestled in a elegant oval box that Delsie had decorated with vintage papers and soft felt material. And, you should SEE the gorgeous ephemera that adorns this oh.. so.. lovely ornament!

I feel like the luckiest girl to have had Delsie as my Secret Santa... in fact, a little bird told me that she was the OUTSTANDING designer of A Song in My Heart Desk Calendar. Maybe her work on the calendar inspired her Silver Bella ornament?

And lastly, a few jeweled surprises I received from Melissa McCobb Hubble's Winter Solstice Exchange. This swap was so much fun, and the ornaments I received in return were OUT of this WORLD!

I want to thank everyone for these cherished gifts. I look forward to decorating my tree year after year remembering fondly the friendships I have made and the treasures that were exchanged during Christmas 2006.

for you...

We have all seen words such as "dream", "create", and "believe", etched into a piece of jewelry. These syllables entice us to embrace and have faith in these ideas that we tout so boldly around our neck and wrist.

Over a year ago, I purchased a small simple necklace from Ms. Nina Bagley that also had one of those single word proclamations, but this particular piece was different. This word did not ask for a response. It was instead... a definition... a name I could call myself... a title that might change the way someone looked at me, for those who bothered to stop and read the four letters. The word is "Poet".

Everytime I wear this dainty pendant, I feel empowered... I FEEL like a poet......

Often penning small bits of prose during brief moments, I suppose I would be considered somewhat of a closet poet. However, I could never bring myself to tell anyone what I was doing, or even begin to think of myself as a real writer. Poets are individuals that eloquently carry us away in a flurry of emotions... describing ever so gently... so tenderly each thought and every feeling.

And here I am... playing,.. pretending,... hoping.. that maybe...just maybe my meager verse might do the same. Never would I dream of whispering the phrase or shouting to the world.... "I AM A POET!".... until I purchased this small adornment with a tiny word on the front.

And so it is...as I sit here at my computer, on the eve of Christmas...and the only gift I can think to give a weary world to honor this glorious occasion... is a little piece of myself... a little bit... of poetry.


'Tis christmas time
the christ child born,

repeat the noise
of sounding joys,

a chilly morn
a world of white,

all is calm
all is bright.

A winter sky
in shades of gray,

peace to you
upon this day,

the bells ring out
to humble hearts,

give thanks,
give praise,
and celebrate.

You are Cordially Invited!

I am very excited to share some news with you. I will be teaching a workshop at Valley Ridge Art Studio on April 21 & 22.

Not only will I have the chance to spend a whole weekend sharing techniques with my fellow artists, I have the great privilege of team teaching this workshop with someone I truly admire, my mother-in-law, Marylin Huskamp!

Kathy Malkasian is the proprietor of this enchanting studio located in the rural country side near Madison, Wisconsin. Every year, starting in the spring and continuing through the fall, Kathy and her husband, Bill, host wonderful artist workshops from a place that is nestled admist the most incredible scenery. Words can not express how excited, thrilled, and honored Marylin and I are that Kathy has invited us to be part of the Valley Ridge Experience.

We would also like to extend an invitation to you to come spend a fun artful weekend with us. Our workshop, Fused Fragments Extended Journal, is an exciting exploration of a NO-SEW fusion process that bonds even the tiniest scraps of papers and/or fibers.

Using this technique, you will be able to incorporate a wide variety of materials such as papers (all different types and textures), pictures, photographs, natural elements (sticks, dried flowers and leaves), silk flowers and leaves, threads, yarns, fabric, feathers, sequins, buttons, small flat metal items, or whatever strikes your fancy at the creative moment. This Fusion process can also be applied to multiple surfaces transforming such items as plain paper or cardstock, paper folders, journals, fabric, canvas, and much more into INCREDIBLY!!!! vibrant, and multidimensional pieces of collage art. It is a FABULOUS technique for those who want to add their favorite findings or keepsakes to their work.

We will be using the surrounding Wisconsin landscape as our inspiration for creating a very wide or extended journal similar to the example you see at the top of this blog post.

Marylin and I have been very busy gathering, drying, and pressing some beautiful botanicals to give to our students. These botanicals, along with some other goodies, are a small way of saying, "Thank You for spending time with us."

So, if you are longing to visit a place filled with art, fun, and friendship then COME... Join US!!! Valley Ridge Art Studio is truly a divine creative retreat, and the PERFECT getaway!

the littlest angel

I have a tiny desk calendar sitting right in front of my computer. This daily reminder was a favorite gift I received from a very dear friend. Recently, I had turned the page to reveal a new day, just as I do everyday, but on this particular occasion the quote really touched my heart.

"Angels occupy the loviest corners of our thoughts." - Anonymous

These words by Mr. Anonymous reminded me of the first Christmas card I designed after graduating from college. As a new designer, I was eager to spread my creative wings by making a greeting card to IMPRESS all of my family and friends.

My first card HAD to be OUTSTANDING.... I was an artist and everyone (well... really only me... but I thought everyone else) expected some great artistic effort.

While I was brainstorming, combing every stash of old and new Christmas magazines, along with every other holiday resource I could lay my hands on, in search of that PERFECT idea, I ran across a photo I had acquired several years earlier. The photograph was of a small child dressed in a homemade angel costume.

As I stared at this image, I could tell that this little girl, all dressed in her tinsel pipe cleaner halo and gauzy white robe, was a most eager participant probably in some grade school Christmas pageant or play. She had the sweetest smile..... and you could tell by her eyes that she was sincerely happy. It was also very obvious that an extremely proud parent or grandparent had snapped this close up of their adorable angel.

This child's whole facial expression just seemed to capture the true Spirit of Christmas. She, in ALL of her innocence and simplicity, WAS the perfect Christmas card.

Even now, I can't help but pull out this very first card, and smile when I see my littlest angel.

She is a reminder of the sheer joy there is in just being.... in, and among, and part of this magical season. By happily participating in holiday activities or events, being around family or friends, and stopping to appreciate the small things, these experiences make the loving memories to fill every corner of your thoughts.

All is Merry and Bright

The festive holiday season has begun, and all of the glimmering, shimmery, glittery trimmings are on full display in our Home. We have a brand new Christmas tree this year.

A Christmas tree is quite an investment at our house considering our last artificial tree, which has been retired to the basement rec room, was bought over 11 years ago. Since the store did not have the tree on display, I took a BIG chance buying the very last 9' tree from the '05 Target After-Christmas Sale. I had to decide to make the purchase based solely on a picture from the side of the box.

My husband feels very spoiled by having a tree with lights already strung on each branch. Every year, he is such a good sport about dragging out the many strands of lights, wading through the tangled mess, and replacing any burnt out or missing bulbs.

This adorable man is ALSO the one that puts all the decorations on our tree. He always does a SPECTACULAR job of carefully placing the ornaments so they are face forward, and distributing them among the limbs so that everything looks perfect.

When he is finished, I love to tuck a few surprises in among the branches. This year I have placed several real bird's nests along side the other shiny jewels that are suspended from the majestic evergreen. These tiny nests are so delicate. They are true works of art, straight from the hands of mother nature. I can even image a little sparrow or robin red breast perched beside each nest.

Feelings of delight wash over me when I see the tree illuminated for the first time and adorned with all its bits and baubbles.

What is it about the Christmas tree that fills our hearts with such joy? Perhaps it is an opportunity to bring nature a little closer to us... but so many people, myself included, have an artificial tree. However when I see our tree grace an empty dark corner of our Home, I feel happy and hopeful.

I spend many moments during the holiday curled up in a favorite chair in the same room with this symbol of the season... trying to drink in all its beauty. These are rare moments when I actually make time for myself to just sit and be very still. I take a few minutes from all my rushing around I think I must do, and just breathe. A quietness falls over me while I am sitting there so silent... so still. This calm rests upon me like a soft warm blanket that I love to snuggle under on cold nights, and I feel a deep inner peace. It is within these precious moments that I reflect upon the end of a year that has passed by too quickly and upon a season meant to make the heart both merry and bright.

TAG... I'm IT!!?!??

OH MY... I have been TAGGED by my dear friend, Shari Beaubien! Shari has asked me to share with all of you, 6 WEIRD THINGS about myself.

Where to BEGIN...(giggle... giggle...giggle)

1. When family and friends come to visit, I normally serve all beverages in plastic cups. This, of course, saves on clean up time. HOWEVER, I am a TOTAL FANATIC about any empty cups lying around the house. My family gets SO UPSET with me because they will finish a drink and set their plastic cup somewhere to use again. But when they come back, the cup has disappeared into the trash.

2. I HAVE to make up my bed everyday. AND... certain pillows on our bed have certain pillowcases that go on them!

3. I INSIST on the shower being squeegeed to rid the walls and shower doors of any excess water. Then I spray Tilex brand shower spray to keep it clean and fresh.

4. I ALWAYS dry the kitchen sink with a paper towel after using the faucet.

5. I CAN'T STAND for the mail to sit on the kitchen counter. So I sort the mail into piles and put my husband's mail on his desk (which he hates because his desk is always a MESS, and he can never find anything).

6. And FINALLY... we have trained our dogs to sit at the door after they go outside to do their potty business. We wipe all their paws off before they can come back in the house.


OK... I KNOW.. I have a sickness... YES!!!! I AM A CLEAN FREAK!

NOW... I have to Tag six more people.... Marylin Huskamp, Syd McCutcheon, Mary Stanley, Janie P, Heather Simpson-Bluhm, and Lori Seavey-Christian.... YOU'RE IT!