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Fidgety

My Dad was fidgety.

He'd jiggle his foot.
Or fiddle with any implement close at hand.
He had a tiny vice grip on the kitchen counter he would clamp onto and off anything close by....like his finger - or YOUR finger.
It sort of hurt - but not really - just sorta.

One time - he pulled a plastic grape off a cluster of grapes Mom had on the table (remember those plastic grapes?)...then he would squeeze it and make it stick on things as he let go, like his cheek, or YOUR nose or a Grandchilds dimple.
Oh he was so funny.

AND fidget-ey.
I feel fidget-ey as we await the arrival of family.
I should be doing the last cleaning walk through.
But....
Well...I feel too fidget-ey.

My favorite fidget remembrance of Dad was when he put a new toilet plunger -that was sitting near by waiting to be put in the bathroom - on his head and it did the little suction thing and when he tried to get it off...it make a nice bruise right around the top of his little bald head.
FUNNY. Really funny.
He laughed...we all laughed.
Did someone get a picture of that?

I found a belt of Dad's, that for some reason, I got when we cleaned out his closet.
Our son is going to wear it.
(Our youngest is much of the build - and tender heart - of his Grandpa Jack.)
Something along the lines of...
Something old, something new, something borrowed, something from Grandpa.
(He and Mom are a handsome couple, don't ya think?)

 
Oh, Dad.
You'd love to be here this week.
You loved a party - do you still like parties?

I miss you Dad...want you here this week.
I hope you will be close by.
We are having a big party.
p.s. Dad - you'll like Julia.

I feel fidgety - fidgety and sentimental.
Weddings will do that to a person.

(new bags in Etsy shop)

See this happy family.

See this Grandpa.
See this Grandma.
See these Grandgirls.
See these happy Grandparents.

See these Grandsons.
These handsome Grandsons.

See this couple.
See this really great couple.

They are all gathering.
Together.
This couple is getting wed.
This family gathers.
Starting tomorrow.
They are my family.
We are excited.
See this happy family.
We feel grateful.
Very blessed.
Very grateful.
Very excited.
We are all gathering together.
For a wedding.
Here.
A place were families are created.
For time and all eternity.
(I am not sure eternity - is long enough to be with this family.)

Thanks kids...we love you.

Arlene and Pepper take HeartRocks on the road

Cheryl called.
I didn't get to come back to Farm Chicks.
I want some things.
Can we meet someplace?
Sure............

So we loaded up and went "On the Road".
It was fun.
Cheryl is adorable.
Don't you agree?

Her bag is to carry her Bible and purse to Bible study.
And the journal is to record favorite Bible verses and quotes.
Now.
How easy is it to love a girl like that?

He returns....

I hear your footsteps down the hall.
You are home again and safe.
All the burdens of the day are lightened,
And all the night noises
Are music to my ears.

Welcome home, Honey.

It's you and me Babe.

In just two short weeks.

Our baby boy.
Our pride and joy.
Will wed.

We are all.
Pretty.
Darn. (I just looked in my blogline reader and this looks like an "m"..it is dar n - I wouldn't swear..I promise..well, at least not in public).

And listen to this.
A little tidbit.
Three daughter-in-laws
Jess
Jill
Julia
All J's.
The "J" girls.
All amazing.

I need this.

Doesn't everyone?
And I just might win.
Some lucky dog has to.

Being inspired

I have found the most inspiring thing is to just begin.
(Donna hosts an Inspired Wednesday on her blog)
Start.
Yes that is what inspires me.
Just begin.
Make something.
The more I make - the more ideas come.
Just get out the supplies and begin.

I am a two personality artist.
I like to make something new and original.

But I also really enjoy making the same thing over and over.
Creating piles and rows.

The materials.
They are inspiring.
The touch.
The feel.
Or as some folks call it...the 'hand' of something.
The - yes, dare I say - smell. (I do love old slightly musty things)
The combining of materials - inspire me.
Sewing on paper, for example

And sewing unlikely things onto paper.
That inspires me.
And not trimming..leaving things jagged and ragged.
Just begin.
Gather materials together.
Start putting them together.
Be your own inspiration.

What inspires you?

p.s. I have a few of these yummy delicious "Found Paper" journals in my shop. (Is it okay to call non-eatable things, delicious?) They are awaiting your added inspiration.

And we learned some things.

At the vendor tea that is.
No, it wasn't about "how to be a better vendor - or building your business - or such things" like one might expect.

it was FUN things.
It was inspiring things.

I have talked about Virginia before and how she is as good as a bird at building nests.
Well...

Here she is with her magic hands showing us how she does it.
And yes, she will be at the show with many many nests.
They are - well, as good a a bird  - without the bird droppings, if that matters to you.
Since I like to put mine all about the house, it kind of matters to me.

And the adorable little cage she made from fencing material to put the nest in...on an old china plate, of course.

Then the proprietor of Homestead Mercantile showed us her vintage inspired crowns with glass glitter that tarnishes and becomes better and better looking with age...don't I just wish I could be like glass glitter?
See how it is tarnishing around the outer edges?
It already looks delightfully old.
I just think I need a crown.
I am deciding what I want it to say.
Seriously - I want need a crown.

Don't we all?   What will your crown say?

Then Sharon who is a friend and partner with Virginia (the bird nest lady) showed us how to make dress forms.
Old fashioned dress forms.
From paper.
We were spell bound.

All of this has caused me to do some thinking.
Today I have toiled away in The Magic Room (if you can call it toil) and thinking.
Thinking a lot.
These women shared sort-of-like-their-secrets of what they do.
So generous.
I tend to want to hide my secrets, tuck them safe inside under my wing.
I feel a little threatened by just tossing 'secrets' out there into the wind.
I am not sure what I am afraid of.
Why do I feel so protective?

I think my heart feels more generous because of the generous nature of these women and this vendor tea.
I feel a tug to be like I was invited to do - reach out...share - be more generous.
In many areas of my life.
I guess I really did learn some things.
Some fun things.
Some inspiring things.

I visited another world. The world of The Vintage Barn

(picture from The Vintage Barn - BarnBarnBaby.com)

I felt like I had drifted into another little world
A vintage county world.
Rolane Hopper is the hostess for The Vintage Barn Show.
She hosted a tea for the vendors.
Rolane's gift is the gift of being gracious.

And it doesn't hurt one bit that she is just adorable.
And everything was perfect.

But more than the THINGS being perfect.
Rolane is so kind - and gracious.
Her partner/friend Sharon shared a sweet poem about sisterhood and encouraged us to reach out and lighten the burdens and cares of those around us.
To be kind to the people that attend this years event.
I mean - honestly - do you hear of anything like that, in todays fast pace dog eat dog world?
I felt a little lump raise in my throat as they shared with us.
It wasn't just that everyTHING was perfect, it was that the feeling of concern and being gentle and kind  - was - well - perfect.

If you want to feel a part of this warm and gracious family, you can.
Just attend the show July 11th and Sept 12th.
You won't be disappointed. See what they say about last years show.

Oh and look for me...we will be over by the chickens.
That's right -  real live chickens.

It is just delightful.

How could I be so blessed to be part of this wonderful show?

Hello little Etsy shop

Don't worry little shop.
I didn't forget you.

That feels much better.
Much better.