My father, a Vietnam veteran, sent me this video this afternoon.
I think we often forget the privilege and gift that our freedom is. This clip is a moving tribute to the some of the people behind our country's security.
Emma sat beside me as I watched the video, with tears staining my cheeks. She asked, "Mommy, why are you crying? Who are these men?" I barely got my words out : These men are heroes.
My father, a Vietnam veteran, sent me this video this afternoon.
I think we often forget the privilege and gift that our freedom is. This clip is a moving tribute to the some of the people behind our country's security.
Emma sat beside me as I watched the video, with tears staining my cheeks. She asked, "Mommy, why are you crying? Who are these men?" I barely got my words out : These men are heroes.
The smARTS Week, that I wrote about yesterday culminates in an Arts Festival held at the school over the weekend. It is a juried art show and sale that displays the work of some amazing local artists.
I always love to go because their work is so inspiring and there are so many amazingly talented artists and ideas, from every genre of craft and every walk of life.
I told myself this year, that I was going to do some Christmas shopping while I was there. I came home with nothing. Well, nothing for Christmas….but a few small things for me. I'm horrible, I know.
The bracelet and bobby pin were from Allison Fomich–who had the coolest stand. I pretty much loved everything she was making. (I could have done a lot of Christmas shopping there, had I not been so selfish.) But you know, the bracelet–those are SO my colors. And I wear a bobby pin in my hair every.single.day. I think I deserve to have a cute one, don't you?
Thankfully, Allison is online and I'm pretty sure I'll be hitting up her etsy shop or sending her an email once I get serious about Christmas gifts.
The ring is from a funky little stand that I also fell in love with. It was hard to pick just one, and who can resist a fun little ring that's cute enough to eat.
As I walked around the art show, I picked up cards here and there of a few of my favorite crafters and I thought I'd share their etsy shops here, for you to explore and enjoy.Though I have to say, seeing their work in person, and meeting the artists face to face is so much better than any online website or shop.
Alison Fomich (the bracelet and bobby pin) : Tigerlilly Shop : Alison's blog
Poppi (the ring) : Poppi Shop
Dana Marie Hosler : her shop : her website
Shelly Daly : A Stone's Throw : her shop
Backlog Pottery : website (also home of Trashy Women)
Heidi Hammel, Reclaimed Creations : website
many of the crafters at the show belong to Baltimore Craft : website : on twitter
The smARTS Week, that I wrote about yesterday culminates in an Arts Festival held at the school over the weekend. It is a juried art show and sale that displays the work of some amazing local artists.
I always love to go because their work is so inspiring and there are so many amazingly talented artists and ideas, from every genre of craft and every walk of life.
I told myself this year, that I was going to do some Christmas shopping while I was there. I came home with nothing. Well, nothing for Christmas….but a few small things for me. I'm horrible, I know.
The bracelet and bobby pin were from Allison Fomich–who had the coolest stand. I pretty much loved everything she was making. (I could have done a lot of Christmas shopping there, had I not been so selfish.) But you know, the bracelet–those are SO my colors. And I wear a bobby pin in my hair every.single.day. I think I deserve to have a cute one, don't you?
Thankfully, Allison is online and I'm pretty sure I'll be hitting up her etsy shop or sending her an email once I get serious about Christmas gifts.
The ring is from a funky little stand that I also fell in love with. It was hard to pick just one, and who can resist a fun little ring that's cute enough to eat.
As I walked around the art show, I picked up cards here and there of a few of my favorite crafters and I thought I'd share their etsy shops here, for you to explore and enjoy.Though I have to say, seeing their work in person, and meeting the artists face to face is so much better than any online website or shop.
Alison Fomich (the bracelet and bobby pin) : Tigerlilly Shop : Alison's blog
Poppi (the ring) : Poppi Shop
Dana Marie Hosler : her shop : her website
Shelly Daly : A Stone's Throw : her shop
Backlog Pottery : website (also home of Trashy Women)
Heidi Hammel, Reclaimed Creations : website
many of the crafters at the show belong to Baltimore Craft : website : on twitter
Every year, the school that my little sister attends (and perhaps Emma will attend one day, too) holds a smARTS Week. Local artists, crafters, and teachers host a variety of classes and for those three days, regular schoolwork is put on hold while the students get up to their elbows in art. Classes cover the whole spectrum of interests from nature-journaling, cake decorating, flower arranging, gospel singing, sculpture, photography, glass fusing, pottery, and so much more. It's the kind of thing an adult could get mighty jealous of, (and I've been hinting around that I'd love to see a smARTS week for adults, too.)
Inspired by Jade's Craft Hope project, I threw out the idea of offering a quilting class to the students–having them create quilts that could be given to needy children in our community. The idea was a success. There were sewing machines available, the school's music teacher was also a quilter and things were set in place.
The original plan was for me to be on location, helping with the class, but when my babysitting fell through, I found myself as the behind-the-scenes help for the class.
The students in the quilting class created two quilt tops–in quite interesting color schemes 🙂 –and they were sent home to me to add the batting and the backing, and then sent back for them to hand-tie the next day. Most of the students in the class had never sewn before and I was given some interesting quilt tops to work with. But with a little squaring up, some reinforcing of seams, and a bucketful of God-given patience, I was able to send back their quilts, tied up in bundles to be hand-tied and sent off to someone in need.
I've always noticed in my sewing experiences that projects truly motivated by love and giving tend to go so smoothly for me. I'm constantly guilty of making silly mistakes, moving through my projects sloppily or quickly. Yet, when a project is inspired and driven by love and a giving heart, it seems that things always come together perfectly, as if my head and hands and heart are working together despite my shortcomings.
I love that about handmade work.
As I sat at my sewing machine, with the quilt draped across my lap, I noticed immediately the warmth it was providing in my very cold, farmhouse kitchen. And I could only think of the sweet little child whose lap and weary body these quilts would bring warmth to. The thought of that warms my heart.
Every year, the school that my little sister attends (and perhaps Emma will attend one day, too) holds a smARTS Week. Local artists, crafters, and teachers host a variety of classes and for those three days, regular schoolwork is put on hold while the students get up to their elbows in art. Classes cover the whole spectrum of interests from nature-journaling, cake decorating, flower arranging, gospel singing, sculpture, photography, glass fusing, pottery, and so much more. It's the kind of thing an adult could get mighty jealous of, (and I've been hinting around that I'd love to see a smARTS week for adults, too.)
Inspired by Jade's Craft Hope project, I threw out the idea of offering a quilting class to the students–having them create quilts that could be given to needy children in our community. The idea was a success. There were sewing machines available, the school's music teacher was also a quilter and things were set in place.
The original plan was for me to be on location, helping with the class, but when my babysitting fell through, I found myself as the behind-the-scenes help for the class.
The students in the quilting class created two quilt tops–in quite interesting color schemes 🙂 –and they were sent home to me to add the batting and the backing, and then sent back for them to hand-tie the next day. Most of the students in the class had never sewn before and I was given some interesting quilt tops to work with. But with a little squaring up, some reinforcing of seams, and a bucketful of God-given patience, I was able to send back their quilts, tied up in bundles to be hand-tied and sent off to someone in need.
I've always noticed in my sewing experiences that projects truly motivated by love and giving tend to go so smoothly for me. I'm constantly guilty of making silly mistakes, moving through my projects sloppily or quickly. Yet, when a project is inspired and driven by love and a giving heart, it seems that things always come together perfectly, as if my head and hands and heart are working together despite my shortcomings.
I love that about handmade work.
As I sat at my sewing machine, with the quilt draped across my lap, I noticed immediately the warmth it was providing in my very cold, farmhouse kitchen. And I could only think of the sweet little child whose lap and weary body these quilts would bring warmth to. The thought of that warms my heart.