More birds ...

In addition to handing out birds to unsuspecting children, I created 15 more.  The Runner handed these out to the special needs children on his bus yesterday.

The first five were for elementary students:  Dax, Conner, Hayden, Carson and Mark.

 

The next three were for the middle school students:  Bailey, Ryann and Luke.

These went to the five high school students:  Chris, Andy, Brendan, Jonathan and Bryan.

Lastly, Katrina, the bus driver, and Dax's nurse, Stella, received these.

These were fun for me to create and fun for The Runner to pass out.  Our wish is that they were fun for the children especially.

Are you famous???????????

 

Last year I decided I wanted to do something nice for complete strangers.  I made about a half a dozen birds ornaments (sorry, but no photos from last year) and left the house to find children - preferably Kindergarten age.

The day I chose to play Santa was less than a week before Christmas.  Things weren't going as planned - every child I saw was either way too young or way too old.

My last stop of the day of errands was Half-Price Book store.  Just as I was ready to leave, I saw a little girl (maybe six or seven) skipping across the store.  I didn't want to approach her alone so I followed her.  Sure enough, she joined her mother and older brother.

I walked up to her and said, "Merry Christmas!  Do you have your Christmas tree up yet?"  Her reply was "Ummm, no - we have to wait until two days before Christmas when they go on sale."  My heart immediately hurt!

I reached in my bag, pulled out a bird and asked her if she would like to have it and she could hang it on her tree ... and in the meantime, maybe she could hang it on her bedroom door.

Of course, she took the bird, thanked me profusely and asked, "Did you make this?"  My reply was, "Yes - just for you!"  If you could have seen the look on her face, you would have thought I gave her the world.  She showed her mom and said, "Momma, just LOOK at this beautiful bird.  This lady just gave it to ME."

And then she turned it over and saw my signature.  She looked at it, looked at me, looked at her mom, looked back at the bird and then back to her mom.  She told her mom, "Look.  It's signed."  And then with her eyes as big as saucers - maybe even bigger - she asked me, "Are you famous?"

Let me tell you right here and now.   This little girl made my Christmas!!!!

I'm sure I won't have anything like this happen to me this year, but I am hoping to make some youngsters happy.  So far, I've made these six and if there's time, I'll create more.

I bettcha that sweet little girl still has her bird.  And I bettcha it didn't get packed away with the Christmas ornaments last year.  I hope she hangs it on her tree again this year.

Planning ahead ...

My friend called the other day to tell me her best friend's mother is under Hospice care.  She asked if I could create sympathy cards to be ready to mail to her friend and her two sisters.

Becka loves the color green.  She loves birds (all animals, actually) and flowers.  I hope she finds comfort in her time of need when she opens this card.

Laura loves the color red and poppies.  I chose this paper for her and finished it off with a heart and a full tulle bow.

"Anything girlie" was the request for Kathy's card.  I'm hoping she sees bright and sunny days again - just like the sunny yellow on this card.  The settee's extra touch just made me happy and I am hoping it will make her smile, too.

If you look closely, you will see that there is a butterfly on each of the cards.  If there aren't any on the paper, one is added to every sympathy card I create.  I've been told butterflies are a symbol of life after death because of its stages of transformation from egg to adult.

These girls are going to have some rough days ahead of them - I remember all too well.  If you still have your mom, tell her you love her and give her a hug.

A Garden Mini Album

A couple of months ago, my dear friend, Vicki Boster, posted on her blog that she would be having a giveaway.  One of the items she gave away was my mini album.  If you are not familiar with Vicki and have never visited her blog, I invite you to do so.  You are in for a real treat - her knitting is to die for, the photographs always look professionally done and her designer nests are fantastic.

Without further ado, here we go ...

I wish you could see the colors in person - they are so vibrant.  The basket hung from the binder ring is perfect.  Somebody (wish I could remember who!) gave me this years ago.  I can't tell you how many times I almost threw it away.  Sure glad I didn't!

Another friend(?) preserved this tiny flower - isn't it beautiful?

 

How sweet is this little bird's necklace?



 

Many years ago I was playing around with Glossy Accents and seed beads.  See? it pays to save things.  Ummm.  Would that be considered hoarding?

I have the best friends!!!  See the little bee and the beautiful peach rose on the bottle cap and the yellow fiber?  Yep - all for me.  Thank you, friends - I just wish I could remember your names.

This quote is my favorite.  What's yours?

 

I've already told you my favorite quote.  I think perhaps this is my favorite page.  Which page is your favorite?

 

That wraps it up for this album.  I haven't created a mini since this one.  I've been saving some beautiful papers so maybe it's time - I just need a theme or a reason ...