down my curvy creek...

   Don't you just love taking the time to let your imagination run like a curvy creek, making it's way to something pretty? Well, I do. And I did. And here's a little something at the end of my creek.

   This is made with the Stampin' Up! stamp set called Cottage Window. And a couple of their embossing folders that I love, the argyle folder and the tulip frame folder.

http://janebuchanan.stampinup.net 

    That's the site you can see more stamping creations and purchase the supplies.
Have a beautiful weekend!

Out of the Quicksand

   Well, that was a nasty bit if quicksand, doing it's best to suck me under. Shew!

   This morning as I jogged along the familiar path I was watching the sky, thinking about the gradual graying of the black, stormy night. And today, by God's constant lovingkindness I see some sunshine.

   Don't get me wrong, it's a rainy, cloudy day here again. But like He always does, He lights up my darkness and brings hope and a smile like the sunshine. No matter what the weather brings.
   So thankful for God's grace.

      This is how my centerpiece turned out. I'm sure it will be in a constant state of change, like the autumn. It needs some acorns! 

Happy Thursday to you.

Feeling a bit lost

    You know how some days you just want to stay in bed? Yeah. I let myself do that today. Then I got up and let out the nutty chihuahua and then I climbed back into that too tall, too soft monster and pulled up the quilt again. I never do that.  The sad thing is it didn't make me feel better. Now I feel kind of panicey. and achey. That I haven't been productive enough with my day off.

    Some days I feel like I'm not smart enough, good enough, devoted enough, talented enough, pretty enough, skinny enough, creative enough, witty enough, valued enough, clever enough.

   Somedays I try to pull myself up by my boot-straps and snap out of it and look on the bright side and think positive.

   Somedays that is just so much bullshit.

   It's 5 o'clock somewhere.

Colored metal designs

   We had a class here today using colored metal. We die cut it, embossed it, punched it, sanded it and staz-on inked it! Not all on the same pieces but all in all, we got to try something new and I had a great time teaching the class and sharing in the fun.

See that pretty autumn candle with the gorgeous handmade wrap? It has metal leaves that are embossed and sanded. And each of the ladies were given their own pumpkin spice or apple orchard scented tri-colored candle to wrap. A bit of ribbon, rustic twine, linen thread and  brassy brads to go with those great  leaves and voila!

This is a sample of the turquoise metal embossed and swiped with staz-on ink.

In my classes, one of my favorite things to do is offer choices. So after I explained the techniques I handed out choices of colors of metal and a variety of embossing folders to choose from. The best part of offering choices is seeing all the creativity these ladies have! I learn so much from them. You know how when you do something, you like it and think "OK, that's how you do it." Well, I am constantly shown how many different ways there are to do something.

 Yes indeed. THAT is one of my favorite things in the world; seeing a new way of looking at something, thinking about something or doing something. These ladies keep me on my toes! 

Here is a link to where I purchased  those cool colored metal sheets. 

http://www.addalittledazzle.com/

Thanks for your interest in my little corner of the world :)

  

Looking for peace?

Psalms 42:8 

 The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime;

And His song will be with me in the night.

A prayer to the God of my life.

So many times I wake up in the night. I've become a rather choppy sleeper. But very very often I wake with a song in my heart. A song of love and peace from Jesus. It's true.

Psalms 42:11 

Why are you in despair, O my soul?

And why have you become disturbed within me?

Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him,

the help of my countenance, and my God. 

So many times I find myself stressed out and catching a scowl on my face. But very very often I am reminded that my Father, Abba, lifts up my face and brings me a smile. 

I am so blessed. 

His lovingkindness is neverending.

 

Just one more mile...

   That's about how I get myself to put in the long runs. Just one more mile. Started out that way this morning, needing to get a 10 mile run in, not feeling it. Not feeling it at all. So...I decided a 5 mile run would do.
   As I ran and dreamed and watched the stars fading into a fabulous sunrise I decided to go just one more mile. Yes. 6 would feel like more of an accomplishment. As I was running the sixth, legs not doing too bad, lungs feeling pretty good I thought, well, an 8 mile run would get me closer to that 10 mile run and I wouldn't feel like my training was too far off the mark.
   Finishing up the 8th mile I had to throw in an extra little 3tenths of a mile lap for good measure, make sure I was really getting in every bit of this mileage, my wee little brain decided I might as well go just 2 more and make it good. Good job, Jane. Yup. Got that 10 mile training run in on not so much energy or strength or athleticism, just plain ol' want to and tricking myself a mile at at time. Love it!

Here is a little creation of mine. I took an old frame and just used the back with the stand on it to glue my art to. The designed paper is using the faux patina technique. The picture doesn't quite do it justice.

         Fall is only a day away! To celebrate I shall share with you a cute little fall card I made.

     Go take a walk in the sunshine today, sing a song and enjoy your day! 

Here's my song I would sing for little Boo...

If I had a hammer, I'd hammer in the morning, I'd hammer in the evening, all over this land,

I'd hammer out love between the brothers and the sisters, aaaaalllll over this land.

If I was a Grandma I'd sing in the morning, I'd sing in the evening all over this land.

I'd sing about love between the babies and their grandmas, aaaallll over this land. 

If I was a baby. I'd sing in the morning. I'd sing in the evening all over this land.

I'd sing about love between the mommies and the daddies, aaaaalllll over this land. :)

(you like my version don't you! Now this song will be a happy song in your head all day!)

For the paper crafters out there....

 http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/janebuchanan/

Here is where I do my shopping! And I invite you to, also. Great site for ideas, trends in paper crafting and  high quality tools, paper, dies, punches and rubber stamps.

My favorites from stampin' up are the papers, both the double sided designer paper and the cardstock. This cardstock is heavy and the colors are hard to find at any of the discount craft stores.

One of the things I like about stampin' up is the way the stamps, inks, paper, punches and even their big shot dies coordinate. Makes being creative that much quicker and easier!

So, if you like paper crafts, scrapbooks and getting lost in creating like I do, this is a site for you!

http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/janebuchanan/

(my little advertisement :)
but I really do love Stampin' Up! or I wouldn't sell the stuff!

    All of these cards were created using only Stampin' Up! products, so you can make them, too!

And here is one more. This one is made using the Fun Flowers Bigz die that cuts through lots of different things like fabric, felt, metal, chipboard and naturally, cardstock. 

Pretty sure I found the basic idea for this card on the Stampin' Up! website from another talented demonstrator. 

Well, thanks for stopping by! Come back again.

standing firm

   Throughout my life I have collected quotes. Read poems. Read romance novels. Read horror novels. Collected ideas from all my readings. Read the Bible. Read children's stories. Read biographies. Collected visions of other peoples' lives. Viewed movies. Viewed art. Viewed poverty. Collected hopes that there is a better way.

Sometimes faith is standing firm. 

Sometimes faith is stepping out. 

   There is one of my own quotes. 

there once was a babe from miami

he said "oh, how i do miss my grammy

so let's hop on a plane

or even a train

and go see her soon, please can we?"

   There is one of my own poems. 

   There is some of my own art. 

Look up... when you think you can't go on-

Look to Me... you can do it one day at a time-

just like you run,

one mile at a time, one day at a time. 

And I'll be there with you, 

right by your side,

constant help, constant Love,

giving you strength. 

   And there is some of my hope.

Unreasonable...

No reasonable explanation,

I'm thrilled with that!

and I'm left with unreasonable expectations

that I will not give up

give back

let go

release

or 

cease.
                                                                                    by Jane Buchanan 9/14/12
 

                                                                .

Dreams come true

  Lately I've been thinking about my dreams. I had to answer a questionnaire at work and they asked "what is your dream job". Whoa. what? How long has it been since I thought about that...

   Well, I'm 53. It's been a long time since I really thought about that. My dreams of late have been of the obtainable sort. Dreaming of moving to FL. Dreaming of family around. Dreaming of taking vacations or learning spanish or dancing in heaven. Well that last one is not of the immediately obtainable sort (hopefully).

   But what all this introspection did bring me to, finally, is the question of what were my dreams long ago and wondering about them. Never really being confident of achievement on a grande scale, I didn't dream much as a kid. No huge ambition, no spectacular goal. Just moving forward. Making choices, good and bad. But I really did have a dream. A dream of a love that was mine. A love that was for me, just because of me being me. And reciprocation of that love. A love that wanted MY love in an extraordinary way. Ohhhh, how selfish?  But true nevertheless.

   Yeah. I actually have had dreams come true. Here are two of them. I am so so blessed. And thankful to remember that not only did I have a dream, dreams of love came true over and over for me. 

Just another day in paradise...

Having a very thankful day here in the Ozarks.

 Smiling at the sunny blue sky and grateful to have gotten in a good ten mile run this morning! 

Wondering how this blog thing is going to go...but hey! Nothing ventured, nothing gained they say and I really want to show you some of my creations, tell you some of my thoughts and encourage you to create something you love, too.So here is my first little thank you for checking out my blog!