HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Hope you and your family have a wonderful 2012!!

Blessings,

Sandy

Merry Christmas!

I adore vintage postcards and wanted to share a couple of my favorite holiday ones with you!

It's hard to believe this year is almost over. It's been a busy, amazing, sometimes painful, but all together GREAT year! 

I'm blessed with a wonderful husband and three fabulous sons, family and many friends all over the world! I don't count any of this lightly but with a humble and greatful heart and am truly thankful for everything I have!

I hope you and your loved ones have a very Merry Christmas!

Blessings,
Sandy

Wasn't sure if I had shared this or not! Too good not to share!

 The Wooden Bowl



A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year-old grandson.
The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered.
The family ate together at the table, but the elderly grandfather's shaky hands and
failing sight made eating difficult ~ peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor and 
when he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth.

The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess.
'We must do something about father,' said the son.
'I've had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor.'

So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner.
There, Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner
Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl.
When the family glanced in Grandfather's direction, sometimes he had a tear in his eye as he sat alone.
Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food.

The four-year-old watched it all in silence.

One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor.
He asked the child sweetly, 'What are you making?' Just as sweetly, the boy responded,
'Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food in when I grow up. '

The four-year-old smiled and went back to work.

The words so struck the parents that they were speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks.  Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done.

That evening the husband took Grandfather's hand and gently led him back to the family table.  For the remainder of his days he ate every meal with the family. And for some reason,
neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled.

On a positive note, I've learned that, no matter what happens, how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.

I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles four things:
a rainy day,
the elderly,
lost luggage,
and tangled Christmas tree lights.

I've learned that making a 'living' is not the same thing as making a 'life.'

I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.

I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw something back sometimes.

I've learned that if you pursue happiness, it will elude you
But, if you focus on your family, your friends, the needs of others, your work and doing the very best you can, happiness will find you.

I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.

I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.

I've learned that every day, you should reach out and touch someone.

People love that human touch -- holding hands, a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.

Have a wonderful week!
Blessings,
Sandy

Byron's "Big Peach" Holiday Event

Had a fabulous time today up at the Byron Welcome Center/Art Gallery ~ lots of fun things going on! Breakfast with Santa, petting zoo & car show in the parking lot, Authors at the gallery signing their books, Barb & Sue face painting, artist Allan Carey painting at the gallery, Artist and TV Personality Mark Ballard showed us how to make a Festive Holiday Wreath and the Holiday Mart was rocking with lots of shoppers! Events going on til 7p.m. so there is still time to get out and do some shopping!

Barb

Sue

Allan 

Regina & Mark

Michael Rady ~ signing his book ~ it's available at the Welcome Center/Gallery ~ if you still want a copy of his book.

Some more action outside! Mary & Shirley painting ornaments and snowmen!

Mark showing us how to take a plain evergreen wreath from drab to FAB!

Some of Mark's holiday Merchandise ~ you can see more of his amazing items on his website at www.markballard.com
He has a Facebook page as well under Mark Ballard ~ "LIKE" it today!

Aprons, cards & cookbooks are still available in limited supply at the Byron Welcome Center/Art Gallery - stop in and see Frances!

Mark & Frances ~ Frances ended up purchasing the wreath ~ to go on her RED door for the holidays! She organized the entire event and is such an amazing lady and asset to the city of Byron!!

Now to back up a bit ~ had a wonderful time with my mom & dad here and then my younger sister and her kiddos rolled into town. Was awesome to give my sister some clothes that I no longer wore and even more awesome how great she looked in them! Never would have thought I'd be giving my sister a size 10 pair of pants!! She is still working out and looking great after losing over 150 lbs. all through diet and exercise.

Ready to curl up on the couch with my hubby and watch a movie!

Have a great day!

Sandy 

Painting Amaryllis 

We painted amaryllis in class on Friday and I just love the way they turned out. My hubby has wanted me to paint this flower for years and I finally got around to wanting to paint it myself.   We did this on a repurposed sign that was sanded and painted over with Plaids Folk Art Enamel paint. Then we painted our design using wOils ~ which are amazing water soluable paints.

Ann

Sandi

Ann

This was Ann's first class with us and she did a beautiful job - think she really surprised herself and I look forward to having her back in class in the New Year!

Sherry

Roz

Pat

Kim

Glo

I only have one class this month as it's such a busy busy time of year and I really wanted to enjoy the holidays and my family and not feel so rushed.

I am doing some pre-planning for my classes and certification dates though for the New Year and will hopefully get all of that on my website soon!

New Year! That just sounds crazy doesn't it - 2011 FLEW BY!

It's been a good year - busy but also fun!!

Have a wonderful day!
Blessings,

Sandy

Hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving! Take time to really reflect on what is important in life and to be thankful and grateful for all that you - even if it isn't all that you want! Cherish the memories you make with friends and family and make sure you let them know how much they mean to you!
Blessings,
Sandy

Mistletoe Market 2011 & being a bad blogger!

So first I'll start with the Mistletoe Market - this was our 5th year at the MM and it's always a lot of work but also so much fun! We have such a wonderful response to our creations and honestly that makes it all worth it! We have some fabulous repeat customers that come year after year to have new ornaments or tiles made and we love to see and hear people say "oh this is the one I got last year...or the year before!"

There is no way we could do the event without the help of Nicoles family - Lexie has always been such a worker bee helping the customers and we knew after last year when Katie helped us out that we'd need both of them this year! They were great and so helpful with the customers ~ making sure they got the exact ornament with the all the extras that they wanted! (she has a lot of help behind the scenes from family & friends that is invaluable and for that I know we are both grateful!) All my boys came and helped us get out of the venue in record time at the end of the event - packed and loaded in 45 minutes!

Nicole and I didn't stop painting pretty much from the moment we got in there til the moment we left each day. None of use really ate anything and kept our liquid intake to a minimum cause we really had no time to go to the ladies room either. Today was the first day I've actually felt like myself again! Two days to set up for the 3 day event and two days to recover!

After such a fabulous year we decided we needed to expand our booth and are hoping for a 10x30 space next year as well as getting a website up for all those customers that continually ask us if we have a website so that they can order later. We're working on it so make sure to check back soon as you know I'll post it on my blog!

Now on to the bad blogger.....I cannot believe I haven't posted on my blog since the beginning of the month. It's been busy to say the least and on top of that I had another birthday so I'm a year older, a bit slower and well, have to make more lists so that I can remember what I need to do!

Life is good! I have the most amazing family - supportive husband that is my biggest cheerleader! Three fabulous boys that work hard at school and in their down time fill our home with LOUD NOISE - oh, I mean music! Huge amps, electric guitars, drums, bass and more! But I love to hear them play (more so when I recognize the song they are playing) and couldn't be a prouder momma!

I'm thankful that my parents live close by again and they get to come and visit us often!!
I'm thankful that I adore my in-laws (I have so many friends that don't have that same blessing)!!
I am thankful for my sisters and their families and my hubbys siblings and their families!
I'm thankful for all of my family!
I'm thankful that I LOVE what I do (painting) and that I get to share that with people and students that I adore!
I'm thankful that after 44 years I can admit when I am wrong and know how to say I'm sorry.
I'm thankful I know how to forgive and when necessary ask for forgiveness.
I'm thankful for all my dear friends that love me despite of all my faults and are always there for me!
I truly am blessed beyond measure and for that I am forever thankful & grateful!

I hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
As I do I hope you will to think about what it is you are thankful for!
We only have one life to live so ask yourself if you are living yours to the fullest? Are you doing what you need to do in this life to be the best YOU can be?
Are you doing what you need to help your children become the best they can be with your guidance and unconditional love?
Are you thankful for what you have even if it isn't everything you want?
These are questions I've been asking myself these last few months and just thought I'd throw them out there for you to think about too.

Have a wonderfully BLESSED week and for my US friends a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Sandy

Holiday Glass Painting Class
Monday in paint class we painted a santa plate, & a votive & ornament like Santa's belt.
I of course had painted way too many ideas and then had to edit for class time and loved the way the santa plate turned out so that is what we painted.