My Altered Art Piece is on an Etsy Treasury

Check out the items on this Etsy Treasury http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=36715 . They were chosen by Esty for Charity and this is a piece of my altered art. Thanks Richard for adding one of my pieces!

Mallory is Learning to Sew

Mallory has been "dying" for me to teach her to sew for quite awhile now. Mallory is a little sponge. She can't learn enough, she wants to know everything about everything! I started Saturday with a little sewing, but she had a very heavy foot and kept forgetting to lift her foot up off the pedal when she wanted to stop. Today I told her she could sew lots of straight lines to try to get the feel of the machine. She wasn't to thrilled at first. You know, come on mom, straight lines, how boring! She had a blast though, especially when I actually left her side and let her do it on her own. I was very proud of Mal! She did a lot of straight lines and pivots and she got much better with her foot control. It won't be long and I'm sure she'll be whipping out clothes. Last weekend she made a hot pad out of the weaving kit the Easter Bunny brought her and last night she also started a rag wreath for her brother and sister-in-law. Busy! Busy!

Mallory looks way to grown up in these pictures. I can't believe what a smart, beautiful, outgoing, funny, etc... little girl she is! I am so proud of her!

I Did Some More Sewing

These 2 Rag Pillows are for Sale on Etsy for Charity. I made them for the April Challenge which is Hop Into Spring.
I made this Rag Pillow for My Etsy Shop. The back is a Bright Yellow Vintage Chenille. (It killed me to cut into the bedspread-I love yellow!) This pillow is oversized and squishy!!
This is a Little Teacher Bag I made. The teacher design is from Loralie Designs. It's for sale in My Etsy Shop too.

I made this bag last week for Mallory to give to her teacher. It is bigger than the other bag and I added laminated tags to it and added some goodies for Mrs. Winaroski.

I made another pillow but I ran out of stuffing. The blue pillow is so much prettier than the picture shows. I am trying to use up some of my fabric. I have a ton of it sitting around here!! I hope to get some more sewing done tomorrow! The only thing is when I sew NO housework gets done and vica versa. Where is my fairy godmother??

This is What I've Been Working on the Past Couple of Days!

I am making these for my Etsy Shop . I will have boy and girl tags and will personalize them and then laminate. They are bookmarks that can be used as a Thank you for religion teachers or as a keepsake for your child who is receiving First Holy Communion.

These are also for sell in my Etsy Shop. Tubular Boxes to hold a little gift or money for some one's dance or music recital gift.

This is a "Book Bag", not a purse, that I made for my 7 year old daughter, Mallory.

Anyway, these are some of things I have been working on the past few days. I can't just work on one thing for some reason. I might get more accomplished if I did, but then my head might explode or something. Do old people get ADD without the hyperactivity?

SSsshhhhhh! Check out my New Things, but Please keep it a Secret!

SSssshhhh! I am not suppose to be buying any more "stuff". I have way to much and we really are broke, but, I had to get a few things. First though, I must thank my dear mailman. I lost the key to my mailbox on Saturday so I haven't been able to check the mail. I knew I was expecting some surprises and was getting very anxious. I left a note on the mailbox yesterday explaining that I lost my keys. (again!!) So today my sweet mailman delivered my mail to my door for me. Thank you Mr. Mailman for suppressing my anxiety attack!

The stuff in the top picture was free, so maybe it's okay, right? Except for the part that I already have "too much" paper. I won it on one of Mary Ann's giveaways from A Very Mary Design. So much fun to get something new!! Thank you Mary Ann! Then I bought a vintage apron pattern on Ebay (because you know there are 2 apron swaps coming up soon!) so I had to have that!! Then I bought these cute little flowers from Bibi Creations for something else I need, but I can't say what yet. Finally, I bought myself some business cards from Barbara at The Pettis Collection . So see, I'm sure you all understand why I needed all of this stuff, but my family, won't so please keep this a secret! Thanks and now it's time for my nap!!

A Recycled Purse for Sophia

Mallory modeling the purse trying to have a "model" attitude and a close up of the purse

My niece Sophia wanted me to make a purse. She is going to use the purse as a birthday gift for a friend of hers. I used a dress that my daughter, Mallory, had outgrown. I think it turned out pretty cute. The flap is the bodice of the dress and had the velvet brown ribbon and bow on it already and the sequin purses were on the bottom of the dress. I lined the purse with black flannel. Now I just hope the Post Office gets to Sophia in time for the party on Friday!

This is a SUMMER SWAP not a Spring Swap, So it's Okay for Me to Join!

For more information on this Swap go to http://roxisfriends.blogspot.com/2008/03/swap-with-us.html .

Cornflake In The Shape of Illinois Sales for $1,350.00

What is this world coming to? This cornflake sold on EBay for $1,350.00, plus the man who bought it is going to have someone fly from Texas to Virginia to pick up the cornflake so it won't get damaged in shipping. What the heck????? I will have to admit that the two sisters, ages 15 and 23, that listed the cornflake are genius!!

Monty Kerr, the man who bought the cornflake, owns a trivia website and is going to travel with his cornflake in his traveling museum of pop culture. Okay, how many people are going to pay money to Mr. Kerr to see the cornflake shaped like the State of Illinois? NOT ME that's for sure!!!

How much money do you think Mr. Kerr is going to make off of his cornflake???? I realize that Mr. Kerr earned the money to pay for his cornflake and it's his money to spend, BUT, all I can think about is how many hungry people he could feed if he would of spent $1,350.00 on cornflakes and milk. (plus the flight ticket and fee for someone else to go pick up the cornflake)

How do you take an insurance policy out on a cornflake? Or do you? Does the airline charge for a cornflake to fly? What is the fee? What does the person going to pick up the cornflake charge? What if the girls accidentally break (or eat) the cornflake? Seriously, who is going to pay to see a cornflake? These are the kinds of questions that run through my head. I know I'm weird, but not as weird as Monty Kerr!

Easter When I Was Little

My Dad, Mom, 2 Brothers and Me!

This is what our family looked like in 1964 (I think that is the right year?) Eventually Mom and Dad added 3 more little sisters for me. Every Easter my mom would make all of us girls a new Easter dress. She might have stayed up till 5:00 in the morning on Easter morning, but we all went to Mass in a new handmade dress along with our new socks, shoes, little purses and gloves. A very happy memory Mom. Thank you! Oh, I can't leave out my 2 brothers, aren't they handsome! (They both still are!) We always had wonderful Easters. The egg dying, dressing up, Easter morning, Mass, going to Grandma's and Nana's. Very Happy Memories Indeed! You did a great job Mom and Dad!! I love you both so much!!

Happy Easter Picture!

I love this picture! Floating along the river in an eggshell boat with your sweetheart!

How Romantic!

Preppy Spring Swap

Okay, Okay, I know I said no more swaps for this spring, but I think I'm addicted! Yes, besides being addicted to food, paper, fabric, buttons, vintage stuff, etc.... I am now, after actually only completing 2 Swaps, quite ADDICTED! This swap sounds like fun! Everything has to be pink and green, around $20.00 and you have to included (but not limited to) the letters that spell out S-P-R-I-N-G. So if your interested go to http://connecticutcharm.blogspot.com/2008/03/preppy-spring-swap_17.html for more info and to sign up before March 26.

Cute Picture for Easter

Isn't This Just The Cutest Picture?

Easter Swap

I participated in an Easter Basket Swap hosted by Genevieve Olsen of

http://www.bella-enchanted.blogspot.com/

Thank you Genvieve for hosting a wonderful Swap and for all of your hard work organizing this event for us!!

Items I received from my Swap Partner Rebecca

Two green and two yellow hanging eggs, a Dove chocolate Bunny and 2 tins with cookies in them, some speckle eggs and a bunny tin with playing cards in it

The cutest little duck and bunny bowl, a hanging banner, a tag with ducks on it and 2 dainty hankies

A Beautiful basket showing the front and back and a stunning egg (the back of the egg is in the basket with the sheet music on it.)

I received the nicest package yesterday! It was from my Easter Basket swap partner, Rebecca, from http://ourbackporch.blogspot.com/ . I had to borrow a couple of Rebecca's photo's because my camera doesn't take the best pictures. Anyway, Rebecca made the basket and the egg. My 17 year old daughter, Alexis, loves the basket! (I think that was a hint for me to give it to her) The egg is so pretty! Mallory, my 7 year old daughter couldn't wait to get into the Dove chocolate bunny and the 2 girls both stole the cookies from me.

The Hanging Heart Banner came from http://www.saturdayfinds.etsy.com/ which is one of my favorite shops! Yellow was so perfect since that is my favorite color. Then Rebecca also included the dainty yellow and white hankies. So pretty just to sit and look at! Also the blue tag with chicks on it is from www.sweetnshabbyroses.etsy.com . Unfortunately, I had never seen her shop before, until now. Oh my gosh, Rhea has some absolutely gorgeous items! Here blog has lots of amazing pictures of her work http://sweetnshabbyroses.blogspot.com/.

Rebecca also included a cute yellow duck that has the tiniest bit of glitter on it and a cute rabbit bowl. There were also some yellow and green hanging Easter Eggs and the cutest box of speckled eggs from Piper Classics and a deck of Easter Bunny cards. (I'm waiting for my 9 year old son, Ezie, to claim those)

So, Rebecca thank you so much for a fun Easter Swap and my whole family appreciates everything you sent!! Your wonderful!

Adopt a Soldier

I received an email from an Indiepublic of Land of Etsy member http://seaglassthings.blogspot.com/ about a great cause to help someone out that is out there protecting our freedom and putting his/her life on the line every day. Her friend Frannie has a son-in-law who is awaiting his 3rd tour in Iraq right now and her daughter decided to take this whole project upon herself - later realizing that she was spending so much money mailing packages... on a soldiers salary it was tough. So her mom, Frannie, decided to post for help on MySpace. These are men and women who have no families, or anyone, to write them letters, send them simple things they may miss and help them connect with the home they have been away from for so long.I just did some searching out there on the good ole "Internet" and found a slew of programs in which offer the same thing - helping others - humanity, touching a person's life, connecting, sharing, filling a void... not matter how big or how small - it matters. Here are a couple sites to check out: http://www.soldiersangels.org/ - http://www.americasupportsyou.mil/ - http://www.operationusocarepackage.org/ - www.adoptaussoldier.org/ - http://www.adoptaplatoon.org/ - www.adoptasoldierplatoon.org/ - http://www.anysoldier.com/Adopt a Service Member: http://www.operationac.com/
Contact Frannie (I would assume you would have to be a MySpace member) & there is a link on the right top part of her MySpace page as well: http://www.myspace.com/frannidoeshair .
Check the sites out... see what it is all about... put feelings and views aside - even if you don't believe in the war... or in war in general... they truly believe in what they are doing... they believe they are making a difference.

Another Easter Cartoon

Chocolate Mini-Eggs

Have You Ever Done Something Really Stupid!

I have severe Restless Leg Syndrome. My legs will be jumping around in spasms all night. They are very painful spasms and usually I can't sleep. My Earl is such a sweetheart and rubs them to try to make them feel better. I started taking medication for this last fall and it has helped immensely! Every once in awhile they still act up though even if I've taken my medicine. Last night was one of those nights. My legs hurt so bad and were spasming like crazy, so stupid me took an extra pill an hour or so after the first one. It did help and I went to sleep. Well, that was at 2:30 in the morning and here it is 2:50 in the afternoon and I just got up. A whole day wasted and probably not the smartest thing to do to my body. My sweetheart, Jace, who's only 2, just sat beside me and watched t.v. and colored all day while Mommy slept. Do I ever feel like a bad mom! I did wake up to change his diapers and check on him every half hour or so, but just enough to open my eyes and talk to him for a minute and go back to sleep. He finally fell asleep with me. So anyway, please don't be stupid like me and double up on your medication for Restless Leg Syndrome!

Another Easter Cartoon

Chocolate Easter Bunnies

I've been really busy this morning with a fussy grandson and my own little guy so I haven't had time to post anything. Here's another Easter Cartoon. Enjoy!

A Cute Easter Cartoon

I'm so Frustrated and I Don't Like Mean People!!

You know, I really try to be a nice person. I always try to say please and thank you. I tell people to have a nice day even though I would rather say something else sometimes. I honestly try to be a cheerful person and to make other people feel appreciated for the work that they do. I even thank the bill collectors! Even if I'm in a bad mood I don't impose my mood on others. So why are some people so rude? Have you ever called someplace on the phone and no matter how nice you are they are totally rude back to you? I don't know why some people have to be like that. I hate to be treated like crap and I tend to take it very personally! I will start to cry and then I can't talk and I just keep crying harder and harder. I hate when I do this!! I am completely powerless and seem like a big wussy. This happened to me this morning. I had a person be so rude to me on the phone and there really wasn't any reason for it. Now I can't quit crying and I hate it. Why am I letting this very rude, miserable person ruin my whole morning?

I hope you all have a much better morning than I am having and please remember that your attitude really does effect other people.

A Few of My Favorite Bunny Things

I Received this Book from my Mom and Dad in 1969 for my First Holy Communion

My Mom bought me this Picture Frame when we went to San Antonio, Texas for her graduation. She had just earned her Masters Degree. We were so proud of her!! (and we still are)
My Ex-Husband brought this Bunny Music Box back for me from one of his business trips.

With Easter coming up next week I thought I would share a couple of my favorite bunnies with you. I have loved the story of the Velveteen Rabbit since 2nd grade when I received this book! You can't tell this by looking at the book! It is just slightly worn.

I still remember the moment when I saw this cute little bunny frame in the gift shop of the hotel we stayed in for my Mom's graduation. I fell in love with it the moment I saw it, but I didn't have any spending money with me for the trip. Mom bought it for me and gave it to me the following Christmas. I was so surprised!

The little music box is from my Ex-husband. I have always loved this music box. It has such a simplicity and gentleness about it.

I just wanted to share these bunny things with you. They make me smile!

My 3rd and Final Prize from OWOH Giveaway Arrived Today!

The bag is from Edie from The Sporadic Packrat

The Inside of the bag has so many cool little zipper pockets!

I received my 3rd and final gift today from the OWOH Giveaway! Thank you so much Edie!! http://cowgirl53.wordpress.com/ There is that old saying, "anything worth having is worth waiting for" and this was definitely worth waiting for! (not that I minded the wait!) The bag is just the perfect size and I love all the little pockets in it. My 7 year old said she "needs" a bag just like this one! Thank you for the extra goodies too! I love lace and buttons! Thanks so much Edie!!

Go With Your Heart When It Comes To Your Children - Jace and His Autistic Symptoms

Jace Sitting in a Little Container

Jace Drawing

Jace's Drawing

This is my little guy, Jace. He turned 2 in January. Jace doesn't really talk yet but he loves to draw. He is always drawing on everything. He will spend hours just drawing on a piece of paper like the one above. I am always impressed at his diligency and how precise he tries to make his little shapes. I wish I knew what is going on in that little head of his.

I was really concerned at one point that about Jace. He was having some autistic symptoms.

These are the symptoms he was having (the symptoms in green are the things that were the worst in Jace):

Social skills
Fails to respond to his or her name
Has poor eye contact
**Appears not to hear you at times** (this is still a biggie)
Resists cuddling and holding
Appears unaware of others' feelings
Seems to prefer playing alone — retreats into his or her "own world"

Language
Starts talking later than other children
**Loses previously acquired ability to say words or sentences** (this was a biggie)

Starts talking later than other children
Behavior
Performs repetitive movements, such as rocking, spinning or hand-flapping

GI Symptoms
Many parents report that their children with autism suffer from stomach and bowel problems (gastrointestinal or GI problems)
Jace had acid reflex disease for the first year of his life. He wouldn't gain weight, he threw up all the time. We finally had to put him on medication and then he gained weight.

Jace's symptoms weren't strong enough for most people to notice that much, but I could see changes in him. I know a lot of people will say I was just being an overprotective mom or jumping to conclusions, but he is my 8th child and I knew we had to intervene. We had him evaluated last August and started Speech Therapy in September. His therapist, Kathy, plays with him to get him to make sounds. His speech is just starting to take off, I think he can see 10 words now, but the social changes in him have been remarkable! He is a cuddly, loving, out going little guy now. I am so thankful that I went with my heart and didn't listen to all the "know it all" people with all of their advice. It's hard to trust in herself to make the right decision sometimes, but we all have to fight for our kids!

The Joy of Giving and the Impact it Can Have on You

There have been several times in my life when my family has been in dire need of assistance and it has always amazed me how people have come to our rescue. When I was 2 weeks from giving birth to our 7 year old daughter, Earl lost his job. We were living paycheck to paycheck and at the time we had 10 people in our house, we had NO savings to fall back on.

I made a couple trips to the Food Bank, which I never in my life would have dreamed I would be doing, and we had to get Medicaid and HEAP to survive the winter. Earl and I did not want to ask family for help, but his mom helped us out with gas and a truck payment or two, one of his sisters helped out with groceries for Thanksgiving, my ex-husband even bought us a Christmas Tree, and my brother sent us some money for bills.

At Christmas that year we had a nurse at the Ped. office give us $500.00, a couple hundred dollars in groceries and some small gifts she had accumulated over the year from clearance sales and such. I will never forget the impact that her giving has had on us. All she asked in return is that we keep her name anonymous and that every year at Christmas we try to help someone else out. Since this experience we have always tried to help people out in small ways. (we still can't afford anything big) The best thing we have done though is to teach our kids to help others.

My younger kids are some of the most giving children I have ever seen. I have seen pure joy in their little faces when they have donated toys, canned goods and by collecting money to give to the Red Cross.

So when I was reading the Blog, A Very Mary Design , today and I saw her posting on giving and about Girls for Gender Equity, I was inspired and wanted to join in on the fun and share the information on this wonderful way we can all help 6 young ladies have a great start at college.

"Girls for Gender Equity humbly requests a donation for a College Shower, our annual event to celebrate the teen girls in our Sisters in Strength program who will graduate from high school and continue their academic success in college. Each girl has spent time in our program learning skills that will help her reach to future goals and internalizing that education is a key element to one's success.To help prepare these six young women for the transition to college, we are asking you to contribute to the care package that each girl will receive. Examples of care package items include:

Personal care items (bath and beauty products)
Home goods (bedding, dorm furniture, kitchen accessories)
Clothing and shoes
Gift Certificates (books, food, school supplies)

To honor this generosity, we will list you as a supporter on our website, post your 200x200 pixel ad on the Sisters in Strength MySpace page, and mention your donation in our monthly e-newsletter. Please send your contribution to our office by May 1, 2008. This request comes during Women's History Month because we know that with your support these girls can also make history."

Education is so important and theses girls deserve a great start as they continue in their education. I am so proud of them for moving on to become educated women and I hope you are too and can find it in your heart to help them out!

If you are interested in helping, email Mandy (mandy@ggenyc.org ) for more info.

Thanks!!

Sherry

Vintage Kitchen Swap

The Last Swap I am joining for the spring is The Vintage Kitchen Swap. The sign-up deadline is March 18. Go to http://papermojo.blogspot.com/2008/03/kitchen-swap-badge.html for more information.

Favorite Spring Things Swap

I joined the Favorite Spring Things Swap. The deadline to sign up is today, March 12. Go to http://lifeat123house.blogspot.com/2008/02/favorite-spring-things.html for more information.

LunchBox Swap

I just signed up for a LunchBox Swap. The sign-ups are until March 14 if you want to join. Go to http://www.ohfransson.com/oh_fransson/2008/03/lunchbox-swap.html to get the information. It looks like fun!!

A Handmade Book by Sandy from SpartaSoap

Sandy from http://spartasoap.etsy.com/ and http://outworldarts.blogspot.com/ sent me these photos of a book that she made. This is her first time at bookbinding and I think she did an excellent job!! I love the textures of the book. The burlap cover looks so cool with the handmade paper. The top picture shows a couple of the pieces of my handmade paper that Sandy purchased through my Etsy Shop (http://sherryrenee.etsy.com/ I love the different colors and textures of papers that she has chosen to put in her book. I think this type of a book would be really neat to do some genealogy type work in. Thanks for sharing Sandy! You did a wonderful job and I may have to try to make something like this myself!