Kickin It Old Skool Blog-A-Thon - Holiday Disasters

Since both Jamie and Shannon are recovering from an ice storm they chose a prompt about Holiday Disasters today.

My only disaster was a big wind storm 2 weeks before Christmas. The hurricane force winds ripped all the siding off our house and broke all the windows on the South side. We were happy that windows had not broken on both sides or it would have destroyed the house and everything in it. My daughter was a baby and I remember dressing her in a snow suit and having her in a pram in the basement as we waited out the storm. The next day the damage meant that she and I had to go to a friends house while Dave got the windows boarded up with plywood.  The house was full of dirt and grime. I have hated strong wind ever since.

I have some great pictures but they are buried somewhere. After looking through several boxes of photos I gave up.  You'll just have to use your imagination today.

Kicking It Old Skool Blog-A-Thon - Books

Today the prompt for the blog-a-thon is Books.  Its seems like an open ended prompt, its not a list of books but perhaps we pick a book and discuss or whatever. Since no one has posted yet I can't go peek and see what others have done.

So I decided to share a favorite book that I read this year.  It takes place during WWII, the characters are two women who were pilots during the war.  Its a story of friendship and horrific times. I never even knew that women were pilots during the war.  I loved that the author brings these stories to life. It begins with one of them women captured by the Nazi's and her story unfolds to include them both. It was and is one of my favorite books.  I am reading her second book Rose Under Fire currently. She is a wonderful writer. This is a Young Adult book. Now don't let that deter you. Some of my favorite books come from that section now. The only reason I think this book is YA is the age of the characters. The subject matter is definitely deep and thought provoking. Did I say how much I loved this book yet.  Go get yourself a copy and enjoy the story of these two amazing women.

Kickin It Old Skool Blog-A-Thon -- Little me

For todays prompt Jamie and Shannon are asking me to share a photo of a little me. Oh, that one is hard. I grew up in a large family and although I didn't know it, we were poor. When I came along things must have been bad as there are next to no photographs of me. This is the only baby picture of me.

 















Here I am being held by two brothers, Billy and Gerry.  Sister Marianne is on the right and on the left is my brother Tom who doesn't look too happy not being the baby anymore is my brother . Tom. I jokingly always say that he tried to get rid of me when he started my parents bedroom on fire while I was sleeping in the bed. My brother Gerry rescued me.

The next photo does not appear until I am 5 years old. This is the photo that a classmate says was ugly.  I really look like my paternal grandmother in this picture.

Kickin It Old Skool Blog-A-Thon -- Quote

Jamie and Shannon are asking me to share a quote today.

Here is a quote from a favorite poem by Mary Oliver.

 "Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?"


Here is the poem too!.

The Summer Day

Who made the world?
Who made the swan, and the black bear?
Who made the grasshopper?
This grasshopper, I mean—
the one who has flung herself out of the grass,
the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,
who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down—
who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.
Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.
Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.
I don't know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?

I was playing in my art journal and used the prompt from the other day.  What's in my bag? I used my new typewriter to make the list. It would be a fun thing to do pages on all these prompts.

Kickin It Old Skool Blog-A-Thon

Jamie and Shannon are having us do another post on firsts.  I really don't remember my childhood so this was hard for me but I gave it a shot. 

• Your First Job  - Working as a cashier at a convenience store.
• The First Thing to Your Left - Bowl of spaghetti, as I am eating as I do this.
• Something You Remember About First Grade - not a clue, I remember little of my childhood
• The First book you ever read - Another hard one; how about some books from my childhood.  My Brother Michael by Mary Stewart, A Tree Grows in Brookly by Betty Smith Mrs. Mike by Benedict and Nancy Freedman
• The First Thing You Do In the Morning , turn on my nightstand lamp.
• The First Food You Knew You Didn't Like - vegetables, didn't like any but corn.
• Your First Memory - My kindergarten picture and how one girl said it was ugly.

Kicking It Old Skool Blog-A-Thon - What's in Your Bag

Today Jamie and Shannon ask us to open our bags and list 10 items inside.

















1. Wallet.
2. Coin purse.
3. iPhone.
4. Reading glasses.
5. Pens.
6. Moleskine cahier notebook.
7. 2B graphite pencil.
8. Sunglasses.
9. Peppermint life savers.
10. Black eyeliner pencil.

Not very interesting, just a lot of basic stuff.

Kickin It old Skool Blog-a-Thon --- Wishcasting

So appropriate to do some wishcasting on wednesday for the prompt of today's Kickin It Old Skool post.  I did wishcasting with Jamie for several years it seems like.  Its always been amazing.

I've been using the Oracle Deck that I am part of.  Yesterday I pulled a card called Fearless Joy. It is what I have been feeling about this whole project. Then this morning I pulled the same card.

For my wish I choose to keep this feeling.  To have more JOY in my life on a daily basis.  Its so easy to get caught up in the business of life and to forget to enjoy all those joyful moments.

To add to the joy I am hosting a Holiday Giveaway, make sure you enter before the 24th. Go to this post

Kickin It Old Skool Blog-A-Thon - Free Association

Todays Prompt for the blog-a-thon is Word association.  Jamie and Shannon have given us five words to expand upon.

River -  I have always lived near a river or had a river close by. Growing up in Michigan I had the Detroit River, then the Grand River in Lansing, and the Sturgeon River in Houghton Michigan. The Fox River when I lived in Appleton, Wisconsin,  the Ogden river in Utah and the Snake River in Idaho. This is a peek to the Snake River.

Fresh - something new of course, food comes to mind immediately, I think fresh fruit, you know the kind where you bite into it and the juices comes dripping down your chin. Fresh peaches are a favorite of mine.

Escape - Let's get out of town, that is my perfect escape.  Sometimes to familiar places and other times to places unknown.  I love to travel.

Moment  - A moment in time is such a special thing.  So often we forget to appreciate those moments while we have them. I so enjoyed this moment where I got to hold a hummingbird after it had been banded. You could feel her little heart just pounding away.  She only stayed there for a few seconds before flying off.

Night - I am a night person vs a morning person. There are times when I do get up early to enjoy the sights and sounds of my world. I do treasure those times but I am most productive at night. My ideal world is get up with the sun and have a siesta in the afternoon and then up till 2 am creating the wonders of my world.

Kickin It Old Skool Blog-A-Thon - Favorite Songs

Todays Prompt for the blog-a-thon is Favorite Songs

Separate Ways - Journey
How Much I feel - Ambrosia
Holding Back the Years - Studio 99
Lady in Red - Chris De Burg
Rollin in the Deep - Adele
Travelin Soldier - Dixie Chicks
All these things that I've done - The Killers
My Last Breath - Evanescence
Ebudae - Enya
Mummer's Dance - Loreena McKennit
I get up early - Maggie Sansone
Crash and Burn - Savage Garden
Uprising - Muse
1973 - James Blunt
You Know my Name - Chris Cornell
Ride of the Rohirrim - Return of the King Soundtrack - the first minute is my favorite part.
Lord of the Rings - all 3 soundtracks.
Danger Zone - Kenny Loggins
Fever - Micahel Buble'
Desert Rose - Sting
Settlin- Sugarland
Live like you were dieing - Tim McGraw
I still haven't found what I'm looking for - U2
I wanna dance with somebody - Whitney Houston
Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen

Oh I could go on all day.  I haven't even gotten to the classic rock yet. I love listening to music

Kicking It Old Skool Blog-a-Thon- Who Do You Love and Some Excitement

Today for the Kickin It Old Skool Blog-a-Thon we've been asked share Who Do You Love. This can be real people or furry ones.

This is my family, Daughter Sarah and husband Dave on the beach near Newport Oregon.

This is Bo one of my cats. She is definitely her own cat, not a big cuddler unless she wants it.  She loves to sleep around my legs at the bottom of the bed. The other is hiding out somewhere.

Look what arrived in yesterday's mail.  The oracle deck cards that I've been involved with.  I got together with a fabulous group of artists from all over the world to create this. It is so amazing to see it in my hands and to know a little piece of my art is in the hands of people near and far.  I am humbled by the beauty of this project.  

We have a website here but its pretty basic at this point. You can purchase decks from me if you are from the US. Click on tab at the top of the page or go here. We have people selling them from Canada, Europe, Australia and New Zealand, if you are from one of these countries let me know and I will connect you to the correct person.

Kickin It Old Skool Blog-a-Thon One Sentence Saturday

Today for the Kickin It Old Skool Blog-a-Thon we've been asked share one sentence in a book. The third book from the top shelf of a bookshelf.

 To touch the lives of children. From You Can Write Children's Books.

Kickin It Old Skool Blog-A-Thon - A First - My Dog Flynn

Today for the Kickin It Old Skool Blog-a-Thon we've been asked to share our firsts, A first in anything. It took me awhile to come up with something. I'd like to talk about my first dog, the first dog that was truly mine, not a family dog, but mine. He was my Mother's Day Gift Fourteen Years ago.

Who couldn't love a face like this.  I trained him, ran and walked with him, shared a life with him and miss him so much today.  We had to put him down earlier this year and my life has been less since then.

We took walks in snow and rain, and I felt such a bond, a companionship.  Some days when I walk I like to think he is still there with me. I miss the hugs, the slobbery kisses, the walks, the connection. This year, as I drove around town Christmas shopping I realized that I won't be buying a dog treat this holiday, it brought the sadness and loss back to me.

People always ask "Are you going to get another dog?" I usually say yes, but it hasn't been an immediate thing. I am still mourning Flynn, although I miss having a dog, I haven't had that desire to have a new companion now. I think sometime next year I'll be ready. Time will have passed and I will have honored this relationship that was so dear to me. Right now I like to think he is off in some field herding up some sheep and having a great time.

Kickin It Old Skool Blog-A-Thon * Ten Things I Know For Sure

Today's prompt for the Kickin It Old Skool Blog-a-Thon hosted by Jamie and Shannon Ridler is   

Ten things I know for sure.

1.  Family is so important, tell your people that you love them.
2.  Everyone is creative.
3.  New art supplies never fail to give me a lift. I love my new Venzia Fabriano journal.
4.  It is often the simple things in life that bring the most pleasure.
5.  Birds will delight me my entire life.
6.  Art heals in so many ways.
7.  Coaching changes lives, I wouldn't be where I am today without it.
8.  Connection with other women feeds my soul on multiple levels.
9.  Manifesting really works.
10. Thoughts create things so I try to think good ones.

Kickin It Old Skool Blog-A-Thon - Weepy Wednesday

Today's prompt for the Kickin It Old Skool Blog-a-Thon hosted by Jamie and Shannon Ridler is  what makes you cry.

Onions, big time, I can't peel an onion without crying.  Movies, I cry when the General comes out for his celebration in the Movie White Christmas every time. Or those happy/sad TV clips of soldiers surprising their families by coming home. Sometimes I cry when someone I love says something hurtful. Or when a person or group does something wonderful.  I will cry when I am happy too, I call them tears of joy.


Painting a gift





















I painted this part of a tote bag years ago and used roller stamps on it and then outlined the images.

I tackled the back last night. I painted the other side with a view in Sedona.

This is what I have now. I am thinking maybe the water should be more blue like the sky. So I will probably play with that today.

Kickin It Old Skool Blog-a-Thon - Show and Tell

Today's prompt for the Kickin It Old Skool Blog-a-Thon hosted by Jamie and Shannon Ridler is show and tell.  I have been working hard on gifts but I can't show them here.  If you were on Jamie's Spreecast today, you got to see them.

This is what I made this morning, I got out my Cricut electronic die cutter and made some tags for presents.

Then I attended Creativity and Coffee with Jamie. I brought my journal, gelatos and WC crayons to the office and just played while the event was happening.  Just a journal page of color and pattern and lots of fun.

Kickin It Old Skool Blog-a-Thon - Favorite Movies

For a movie buff - All time favorite:  Lord of the Rings.

Many women don't like these film due to all the battle scenes.  I love them on several levels,the actors, (I do love Viggo Mortensen)  the story and then all the costuming and set design and the music.  I really got into the details of filmmaking with these flicks.

Other films I like:

While You were Sleeping - Favorite Romantic Comedy
Christmas in Connecticut the Barbara Stanwyck version 1945 - Christmas Movies. I also love White Christmas, Its a Wonderful Life, A Christmas Story
Old movies - The Quiet Man - favorite flick with John Wayne in it.
Fantasy - Harry Potter Movies.
Thriller - Hunt for Red October, you can't beat Sean Connery in a film.
Science Fiction - Star Trek, Star Wars movies.

There are many more but these are what first came to mind.  I love the whole movie experience, my daughter and I have bonded over many flicks and now call one another after seeing a new movie to share experiences and critiques. I do love a good story and movies take me there in new ways.

Kickin It Old Skool - Where I blog

Jamie and Shannon asks to see where we are all blogging from.  When I looked at my room I gasped.  Oh not here, I am in production sewing mode and the place is a disaster. My office and sewing area are in the same room. I re-gouped a little, straightened up my desk. Then I had to figure how to use the timer on my camera.  At least I know how now. Just be thankful that I did not show you the other side of the room.

Kickin It Old Skool Blog a Thon - One Sentence Saturday

One Sentence Saturday is the prompt for todays post of the Kicking it old Skool Blog-a-thon I am doing with Jamie and Shannon Ridler.


Snow falling outside, with crafting going on inside, where its warm.  



Can't show any of it it since its Christmas presents that I am working on.

Kickin It Old Skool - First Blog Post

Jamie and Shannon want us to share our first blog post.  Whoa that took some doing and this isn't the first post because I don't remember where that first blog was. I just remember it was frustrating because I didn't want to pay extra to post pictures.  I blogged on the tripod platform for 2 years then moved to blogger. When I started I was working in a call center fixing people's printers.  I wasn't even doing art, just weaving and spinning.  I started because I wanted to share projects I was doing with friends in other states. The blog was called Meanderings. I moved it to blogger in 2006 and changed the name to The Queen of Creativity on July 4, 2009. Its hard to believe I have been blogging ten years.

Tuesday, 16 November 2004

blanket
Mood:  happy
Topic: Weaving
Well I finally found a blog where I can post pictures so here goes. 
I am making a blanket for my daughter for christmas. Its all handspun yarns. The warp looks quite pretty. Plans are to weave with grey weft.

Just finished a tri-loom shawl and out another one on the loom.. I am using some green homespun by Lion brand. It will be quite pretty its a nice shade.

Here is a pic of the blanket

Kickin it Old Skool Blog A Thon Day 5 - Ten Things

 

The Prompt for today is to share ten things about me.

1.  Books, I love books, reading and writing them.  I have books in every room of my house.
2.  I love all thing English.  British dramas, comedies, chocolate.
3.  Now that we are empty nesters I have taken over all the spare rooms in the house.  I have a          weaving studio, an art studio and an office/sewing room.
4.  I am a big Dr. Who fan I even have a life sized Dalek in my living room.  Its on loan from a f      friend. I see myself as River Song, I want to be that Fearless.
5. I love Science Fiction and Fantasy, stories, Tv and movies.  I loved Firefly,
    Babylon 5, Stargate Atlantis, Star Trek etc.
6. I love being a coach, its o great being to help people foster their own creativity.
7. I grew up in Michigan and moved west more than 30 years ago.
8. I have 3 big looms that I weave fabrics on and 2 spinning wheels to make yarn..
9. I'm A Fearless Painter and I love the process. Its opened me up in many ways.
10. I love to see animals in nature, I've seen whales, wolves, bears, owls and many more in their naturll environments.