OKAY, I'M HOOKED ON VAMPIRES!!!

Tim Holtz recommended Stephanie Meyer's TWILIGHT as an excellent book. I didn't pay much attention to the recommendation since I'm not really into "vampire books". I heard about the book constantly and decided to buy it.

IT IS FANTASTIC! I have already downloaded part two of this saga to my Kindle and can't wait to start reading it!! It's not your typical vampire story - it's a love story and there's mystery and passion and action... all wrapped up in one awesome story!

This saga definitely goes into my favorite books list! By the way, if you love to read and do not yet have a Kindle.... GET ONE! I used to have the Sony E-Book and thought that was great but the Kindle blows them right out of the water. For anyone who enjoys reading the Kindle is the bomb (see it on Amazon.com)! I even get my newspaper downloaded on my Kindle every morning! The best part? Well ONE of the best parts? Where a new book will cost you (hardcover) approximately $26.95 at the book store - it costs only $9.95 on the Kindle!!! Yeah!

EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS: DONATIONS NEEDED

AMBER DAWN DICKERSON


As I shared with you in a previous post, my friend Brenda Schenck lost her 11 year old granddaughter, Amber, in a freak accident. Amber choked on food and died on Tuesday, December 30th. The family not only has to deal with this unimaginable loss, but also has to face funeral expenses they can not afford. Amber was laid to rest on Saturday, January 3rd, 2009.

Any donation at all would be so appreciated, $5 from as many of you as possible would make a huge dent in the overwhelming debt this family has to deal with on top of their pain.

DONATIONS SHOULD BE SENT TO:
Colonial Funeral Home
127 Ellisboro Road
Madison, North Carolina 27027
Please write on the check: ON BEHALF OF AMBER DAWN DICKERSON

I thank you in advance for your kindness to this family.

CRAZY QUILTING

Just today I was asking what Crazy Quilting was and in going through Pat Winter's art, I find she has a site where she shows her Crazy Quilting AND provides instructions on how to do it!!! CLICK HERE. I find Pat's work with crazy quilting to be one of the most beautiful I have ever seen.

COMFORT DOLL PROJECT

Pat Winter, a wonderful doll artist is involved in what she has called the COMFORT DOLL PROJECT. These are dolls that are made by artists to be given to women who have suffered abuse. The project is huge and has the support of many artists from all over the world. Pat gathers the dolls and donates them to shelters for battered and abused women. The dolls bring comfort and the knowledge that somewhere someone cares for these women who have gone through so much.

The dolls I have posted are all made by Pat. Any artist who loves dolls will love her blog at http://www.art-e-zine.co.uk/patdoll.html.

Please make sure you visit and if you can, help with this wonderful cause.

KREATIV BLOG AWARD

Wow!! My friend Arlene (www.alteredbyme.blogspot.com) nominated me for the Kreativ Blog Award!! That is so cool! Pursuant to the Rules, I am to list 7 things I love and then nominate 7 other blogs for the award.

Things I love:

1. Bring smiles to the faces of both friends and strangers-waiting-to-be friends. I am blessed with so much that when can make someone happy by sharing with them something they may not be able to get for themselves, it gives me a high like no other.

2. SItting by the ocean and reading a great book

3. The sound and feel of a very windy day.

4. The sound of the rain outside.

5. Getting my hands (and everything else!!!) full of paint, glue and just "junk" while I see a work of art come to life.

6. Being surrounded by my children and grandchild.

7. Sharing my life with my on-line sisters.

I will get back to you on the 7 blogs... there are just SO many that I love!!!!

Thank you Arlene!!! I'm thrilled!

Just a thought.....

The 2nd day of the New Year is ending and I've had so many things to think about over the past few days. I don't believe much in New Year's resolutions - well intentioned but not very realistic.

So how to approach the new year? Well, I have a few ideas of how I would like to start my year:

1. The first thing I'd like to do is learn how not to "sweat the little things". All in all my life is very good. The entire country is going through tough financial times and I am no exception but I still have it so much better than so many others.

2. Make more time for myself and most importantly, not feel guilty about it. It's only natural to put your children and your family before yourself --- but is it fair? I don't think so. I have every intention of being a lot more selfish of my time. Sounds awful doesn't it?

3. Take time to let my friends know how much they mean to me. My family already does.... but my friends - both physical and online - are truly my daily inspiration.

and

Finally, learn how to listen to the "whispers" Kelly Rae Roberts refers to in her book Taking Flight. Those whispers sometimes know more about us than we do. My inner whispers are getting progressively LOUDER!! (Lord I hope it's not that I'm becoming schizophrenic!)

I wish you all a wonderfully artistic 2009. Some of you, like my friend Brenda, have started the year with unimaginable pain - others have started the year with other types of hurt and losses.... wake up every day and thank God for what you DO have - you can't do anything about what you don't. And when you lay your head down at night, leave your problems with God - he doesn't sleep anyway!

Hugs.

YOUR PRAYERS FOR MY FRIEND BRENDA SCHENCK

As many of you know, I am very active in a wonderful yahoo group called Paper Imagery Designs. One of my dearest friends on that group, Brenda Schenck, has emailed me today with horrible news. Her 11 year old granddaughter choked and died on Tuesday, December 30th, 2008. She is being buried tomorrow. My heart hurts for my friend and her family. I can not even IMAGINE her pain.

I will pray fervently for her and her family; for God to grant them peace in their hearts and healing in their lives. I ask for your prayers as well for this wonderful woman who has lost a beloved granddaugher and her daughter who has lost her child.