I'm a mother. No, more of a mom really. No formality. Just lots of love and fun. I have this sixth sense when it comes to my kids. A gut feeling I guess you might call it. I think when you become a mother (by birth or adoption - you still become a mother) God drops this extra sense to you. We like to joke that He gives us extra guardian angels that whisper to us mothers! Somehow, someway a mother just knows. So last night when the phone rang at 1130 pm I jumped. Oh boy did I jump!
There has been some shuffling in our house recently. The oldest went off to college and the vultures started moving! Middle child took the oldest child's room, youngest child took the middle child's room, mom took the youngest child's room, etc.... There is still a designated room for the oldest don't worry! But, this shifting has had one very pleasant outcome for me. When the hubby starts snoring (which will happen since we live in the allergy capital of Texas!!!) I can move upstairs to a bed. A real bed. Not the sofa. Not the floor. It is pure heaven!! Such was the case last night.
I had just drifted off to sleep when I heard the phone ring. Of course, there was no phone upstairs. By the time I stumbled downstairs, without my glasses, the phone had stopped. Ugh! Good thing we have caller id. I just had this gut feeling it was the oldest child. Sure enough! As I called him back my nerves ramped up. He didn't pick up immediately either. Nerves ramped up some more. Then when he does pick up he seems utterly confused as to why I'm calling him. He butt-dialed me. Really? For heaven's sake lock the screen or something! And then the lovely little guy says "oh, did I wake you?" Really????? It's late. Late for me. Now I'm awake. Fully awake. Had not spoken to him in what, 24 hours or more. But he was off to play frisbee so he couldn't talk right now. Frisbee. At midnight. Oh, how I remember those days!
It is an incredibly strange sensation to know that for 18 years I have been solely responsible for knowing everything about this child and now he is on his own. He is an adult. He makes his own choices and does not have to check in with me. He is smart and very responsible but it is strange for me. He has been gone a week now and I have limited myself to only a few closet crying sessions. I have limited myself to a few calls and only for "important" things. Texts, well, I have texted him more than once a day I admit. But I am allowed to.....I'm his mom!
Needless to say but after my adrenaline rush of the phone episode I was awake. Completely, not falling asleep anytime soon awake! What would any good crafter do in this situation? Yep, craft! I have been working on projects for next quarters classes and still had some design issues. Not anymore! Midnight was good. I worked out a few kinks in my plans, got the logistics of projects down, and simplified a rather hard project so I think I can put it on the list for next quarter. Yeah! Feeling good, tired, but good.
Today is the last class I teach for the vintage beach suitcase. I can hardly wait. This one has been so much fun. I love watching the ladies transform the parts to make their own suitcase. The look of accomplishment on their face is wonderful. I am planning another suitcase for Christmas and I think it will be adorable. Tune in for pics of that closer to Christmas. After class I am headed to my grandparents. They are in their 90's. Amazing. I am hoping to see my newest baby cousin as they will be in town today. I find I really enjoy visiting with my grandparents now. I love hearing all the stories of them growing up. Just mind boggling the things they have done, have seen.
It's going to be a great day. Even though my heart skipped a little beat late last night, I know today will be great. Family and crafting - yeah! Hope your day is special too.
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Monday, August 20, 2012
Ah, the good old days
This weekend was one of those emotional roller coaster kinds. The hubby and I delivered our first born to COLLEGE! Oh man. Talk about emotions.
To start with, it is an 8 hour drive (maybe a bit more with snack stops). We left early Saturday morning. Just hubby, college child, and myself. All the others stayed at the house. My little man has been crying for 2 weeks just because he is going to miss his big brother. That alone has put me on tear alert. Like I needed an excuse! I mean really.....I'm going to miss his big brother too! Anyway, after the day long drive we finally arrived. A friend told me that sometimes they let the kids move in the night before but that is "unofficial" and we just have to show up. Armed with that tidbit of info I suggested that we drive by his dorm to just take a look. Yep. Won the lottery on that one!!! No lines. Parked right in front of building. Unloaded all the stuff. Got first pick of beds in the tiny room. College kid got first taste of what life will be without mom and maybe a bit of vice versa.
I think the last sentence there is important. I tend to be a crier. I cry when I'm happy, when I'm sad, when others are happy, when others are sad, well, you get the picture. I cry. It's me; just who I am. My mom is this way too. So, I have been trying very hard to focus on all the positives. I don't want the boy to think his momma is going to cry the whole time he is gone (or at least he doesn't need to know that!) I think that the unloading of all the stuff then having the evening and the next morning to just chill with him was the absolute best thing ever. I was not stressed about having to battle the lines of students or chaos that happens on move in weekend. It was nice. Also, having had a good look at the room we realized a few little things we had not brought with us so there was time Sunday morning to pick them up.
So, sometime around noon yesterday, we left. Left my beautiful baby boy at college. I shed a few tears but managed to keep my composure for the most part. Last night, alone in my closet, is a different matter entirely! This is an amazing time for him I know but I sure am going to miss him. He is an incredible person that brings rays of sunshine to our home. Hubby and I fondly remembered some of our college days. He brought up that our boy has some opportunities that we did not. Neither of us lived on campus. I was really glad to hear hubby say that it is good for him to live on campus because I really pushed for that. Being so far from home, I felt he needed to right in the middle of it all. I enjoyed that wonderful conversation with the hubby. It made me feel like I pushed for the right thing. Now home to the wonderful 4 rays of sunshine that are there: the amazing HS senior that nothing is to big of a challenge for, the big hearted HS junior who always has a dazzling smile and laugh for everyone, the 8th grader who is ready to challenge the world with brains and beauty, and of course my little man....the precocious one of the bunch. Is he 9 or 19? Always has a funny response that is way beyond his little years and always has a hug for his momma!
On to this week. For those of you who missed it, I am holding another beach suitcase class this Saturday at Scrap n' Savvy. This wonderful mini album has tons of stuff. You can see the other pics of the album in the last post. I was totally impressed with the ladies in my last class....they did wonderfully! There are quite a few steps on this one. Their suitcases turned out beautifully. Could not have asked for more.
This week I will be working on projects for next quarter. I am excited about a few of them already. The others need to completely "gel" in my mind. This is one of my favorite parts. I have an idea in my head and now need to turn it into something that people will want to make. I have had a few flops but mostly manage to have projects that people like. The beach suitcase was a homerun. Here's hoping I can have another one!
There are so many new things on the market now. CHA was a few weeks ago and now all those new items that were introduced are making their way into the stores. Keep your mouse ready.....I will be playing with a few and naturally will share with you this week. Since my kids are back in school I plan to be better with posting here (adding videos maybe?!)
I would love to see your favorite project that you have made. Share a link to it in the comment section. Have a great day everyone.
To start with, it is an 8 hour drive (maybe a bit more with snack stops). We left early Saturday morning. Just hubby, college child, and myself. All the others stayed at the house. My little man has been crying for 2 weeks just because he is going to miss his big brother. That alone has put me on tear alert. Like I needed an excuse! I mean really.....I'm going to miss his big brother too! Anyway, after the day long drive we finally arrived. A friend told me that sometimes they let the kids move in the night before but that is "unofficial" and we just have to show up. Armed with that tidbit of info I suggested that we drive by his dorm to just take a look. Yep. Won the lottery on that one!!! No lines. Parked right in front of building. Unloaded all the stuff. Got first pick of beds in the tiny room. College kid got first taste of what life will be without mom and maybe a bit of vice versa.
I think the last sentence there is important. I tend to be a crier. I cry when I'm happy, when I'm sad, when others are happy, when others are sad, well, you get the picture. I cry. It's me; just who I am. My mom is this way too. So, I have been trying very hard to focus on all the positives. I don't want the boy to think his momma is going to cry the whole time he is gone (or at least he doesn't need to know that!) I think that the unloading of all the stuff then having the evening and the next morning to just chill with him was the absolute best thing ever. I was not stressed about having to battle the lines of students or chaos that happens on move in weekend. It was nice. Also, having had a good look at the room we realized a few little things we had not brought with us so there was time Sunday morning to pick them up.
So, sometime around noon yesterday, we left. Left my beautiful baby boy at college. I shed a few tears but managed to keep my composure for the most part. Last night, alone in my closet, is a different matter entirely! This is an amazing time for him I know but I sure am going to miss him. He is an incredible person that brings rays of sunshine to our home. Hubby and I fondly remembered some of our college days. He brought up that our boy has some opportunities that we did not. Neither of us lived on campus. I was really glad to hear hubby say that it is good for him to live on campus because I really pushed for that. Being so far from home, I felt he needed to right in the middle of it all. I enjoyed that wonderful conversation with the hubby. It made me feel like I pushed for the right thing. Now home to the wonderful 4 rays of sunshine that are there: the amazing HS senior that nothing is to big of a challenge for, the big hearted HS junior who always has a dazzling smile and laugh for everyone, the 8th grader who is ready to challenge the world with brains and beauty, and of course my little man....the precocious one of the bunch. Is he 9 or 19? Always has a funny response that is way beyond his little years and always has a hug for his momma!
This week I will be working on projects for next quarter. I am excited about a few of them already. The others need to completely "gel" in my mind. This is one of my favorite parts. I have an idea in my head and now need to turn it into something that people will want to make. I have had a few flops but mostly manage to have projects that people like. The beach suitcase was a homerun. Here's hoping I can have another one!
There are so many new things on the market now. CHA was a few weeks ago and now all those new items that were introduced are making their way into the stores. Keep your mouse ready.....I will be playing with a few and naturally will share with you this week. Since my kids are back in school I plan to be better with posting here (adding videos maybe?!)
I would love to see your favorite project that you have made. Share a link to it in the comment section. Have a great day everyone.
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
My favorite
Who says you can't choose a favorite? People do it every day. I mean, it's not like I'm choosing between my children or anything. What am I talking about you ask? Well, let me show you...
This is my next class project. It is a vintage suitcase that holds a few little surprises inside.
The outside is distressed and has a few little touches to lend a vintage flair to it. Notice the lock on the front and the key dangling from the handle?
Ooh la la!!! This is the inside. The right side has a shelf that holds some beachside keepsakes...a couple seashells, a miniature tropical painting, some sea glass, fish netting, and more. The left side holds a mini album! I was amazed when I completed the album to see how many pics I could actually put in it!
This is a closeup of the inside of the mini album (of course with a pic of my little guy!).
Now do you see why this is possibly my most favorite project ever? I absolutely love the way it turned out!!! I love the paper collection (Authentique's Fresh collection) and especially all the little things that make it look like a real suitcase. When you see it closed and sitting on a table you really think it is a small suitcase!
I don't know about you but sometimes when I am working on a project I have misgivings about how it is looking. Many times I don't even like what I have done until I see the whole thing completed. Other times I love bits and pieces of what I am working on but then like the whole thing in the end. There is just something about this one that I really loved all the way through. It was a process of finding all the right elements (and the miniature hinges and latches were the most time consuming to find!) and making sure they fit the image I had in my mind.
This is my next class at Scrapp n' Savvy. I will teach two sessions for this project and the first is this coming Monday. Interested? Go to the link and sign up! I would love to see you there. Don't live here? Leave me a comment and I can get a kit to you.
I hope you love this little beauty as much as I do. I'm off.....I have 5 little favorites to get moving. School starts in 5 days!!! Can't believe summer is already over for us. Looking forward to having some structure to my day but not looking forward to having kids gone all day. It's always a catch 22!
Be inspired today. Leave me a comment and let me know what you think of the suitcase.
Now do you see why this is possibly my most favorite project ever? I absolutely love the way it turned out!!! I love the paper collection (Authentique's Fresh collection) and especially all the little things that make it look like a real suitcase. When you see it closed and sitting on a table you really think it is a small suitcase!
I don't know about you but sometimes when I am working on a project I have misgivings about how it is looking. Many times I don't even like what I have done until I see the whole thing completed. Other times I love bits and pieces of what I am working on but then like the whole thing in the end. There is just something about this one that I really loved all the way through. It was a process of finding all the right elements (and the miniature hinges and latches were the most time consuming to find!) and making sure they fit the image I had in my mind.
This is my next class at Scrapp n' Savvy. I will teach two sessions for this project and the first is this coming Monday. Interested? Go to the link and sign up! I would love to see you there. Don't live here? Leave me a comment and I can get a kit to you.
I hope you love this little beauty as much as I do. I'm off.....I have 5 little favorites to get moving. School starts in 5 days!!! Can't believe summer is already over for us. Looking forward to having some structure to my day but not looking forward to having kids gone all day. It's always a catch 22!
Be inspired today. Leave me a comment and let me know what you think of the suitcase.
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