I know it's only January, but I'm ready for Summer....

I was recently asked to fill out a personal survey and one of the questions posed was "what do you like best about your hometown?". Without hesitation, the answer came to me: THE FOUNTAINS!

Kansas City is known as the City of Fountains, and ranks second in the world only to Rome, Italy! Summertime in this wonderful city is a sight to behold as you drive around the entire metropolis. We have over 200 fountains in varying size, detail and magnificence.

I'd love to share some of my favorites:
The most famous fountain in Kansas City is appropriately named J.C. Nichols Memorial Fountain for the builder and architect of our wonderful Plaza. The figures were originally created by French sculptor Henri-Léon Gréber in 1910 for "Harbor Hill," the estate of Clarence Mackay in Roslyn, New York. The four allegorical equestrian figures reportedly represent four great rivers of the world — the Mississippi River, Volga River, Seine River, and Rhine River. The work is enlivened by sculptures of little children riding dolphins in the pool surrounding the main figures.

Although known as Pan Fountain, this sculpture is more likely to be the personification of the Greek god Bacchus holding court. The 10 thousand pound lead sculpture was purchased by the Nichols Company in 1960 and found this suitable home on the Plaza. Bacchus is surrounded by nymphs and satyrs in the center of Chandler Court near the Swanson's building on the Plaza.

Diana, the Roman goddess of the moon, is surrounded by cherubs and is positioned in front of a hotel overlooking the Plaza. The waterfall is 17' tall and 56' wide.


The Mermaids Fountain on the Plaza has 2 mermaids, each blowing into a shell that sends a single stream of water into the pool.



This one is the Volker Memorial Fountain, in memorial to William Volker an equestrian figure of St. Martin of Tours, who had done much to enrich the city. To add a touch of humor, the scupltor has an angel playing the flute from the wrong end and carved a wristwatch on another angel.

Henry Wollman Block Memorial Fountain, honors the co-founder of H&R Block, Inc. - the fountain is located outside of Union Station, which was restored to it's original glory from years past, when it was the railroad hub of the city.

The Muse of the Missouri personifies a goddess bestowing her interest and guidance on the Missouri River.

Also on the Plaza, this fountain depicts Neptune, god of the sea, with three mythological sea horses in movement.




Pomona Fountain depicts the Roman goddess and protector of gardens.



This is the largest and only memorial in the United States dedicated to those who served in WWI and its museum is the only one whose sole theme is that war.

The Firefighters Fountain commemorates the city's firefighters, and memorializes those who have given their lives in the line of duty.

I've given you a brief inside peek at some of the beauty, showing you a few of my favorite spots around town. I could go on and on but at the risk of boring you to death, let me close by showing you my ultimate hands-down favorite fountain in our great city -

Called the Childrens Fountain, it features six sculptures of local children at play. It is one of Kansas City's largest fountains and the dedication reads: "The bronze figures represent children everywhere to whom this fountain is dedicated and the activities that shape young lives making childhood a joy." The figures, from tallest to shortest represent: joy, meeting challenges, ballerina, soccer player, hand-stand boy, girl walking.









             Can you tell I'm ready for summer?

Please join us on the TDIPT Merc

during the entire
month of February

when participating members will donate

100% of their sales

from a select
offering to charity.

This time around,

Make a Difference Rescue
in the Metro Detroit area

will be the recipient of the charity in our hearts.

To see more about this rescue,

and the lives they save,

please visit them by clicking on the links below.

So, mark your calendars and set your reminders
to visit the Mercantile during the month of February.
Not only will you have an opportunity to own some
amazing handdids by very creative artists,
but you will be helping so many
that have no voice and cannot help themselves!

Thank you so much for your support.

 

Make a Difference Rescue

 

Make a Difference Rescue - on Facebook

God Lives Under the Bed...

I envy Kevin. My brother, Kevin, thinks God lives under his bed. At least that’s what I heard him say one night. He was praying out loud in his dark bedroom, and I stopped to listen, “Are you there, God?” he said. “Where are you? Oh, I see. Under the bed...”

I giggled softly and tiptoed off to my own room. Kevin’s unique perspectives are often a source of amusement. But that night something else lingered long after the humor. I realized for the first time the very different world Kevin lives in.

He was born 30 years ago, mentally disabled as a result of difficulties during labor. Apart from his size (he’s 6-foot-2), there are few ways in which he is an adult. He reasons and communicates with the capabilities of a 7-year-old, and he always will. He will probably always believe that God lives under his bed, that Santa Claus is the one who fills the space under our tree every Christmas and that airplanes stay up in the sky because angels carry them.

I remember wondering if Kevin realizes he is different. Is he ever dissatisfied with his monotonous life? Up before dawn each day, off to work at a workshop for the disabled, home to walk our cocker spaniel, return to eat his favorite macaroni-and-cheese for dinner, and later to bed. The only variation in the entire scheme is laundry, when he hovers excitedly over the washing machine like a mother with her newborn child.

He does not seem dissatisfied. He lopes out to the bus every morning at 7:05, eager for a day of simple work. He wrings his hands excitedly while the water boils on the stove before dinner, and he stays up late twice a week to gather our dirty laundry for his next day’s laundry chores.

And Saturdays—oh, the bliss of Saturdays! That’s the day my Dad takes Kevin to the airport to have a soft drink, watch the planes land, and speculate loudly on the destination of each passenger inside. “That one’s goin’ to Chi-car-go!”Kevin shouts as he claps his hands. His anticipation is so great he can hardly sleep on Friday nights.
And so goes his world of daily rituals and weekend field trips. He doesn’t know what it means to be discontent. His life is simple. He will never know the entanglements of wealth or power, and he does not care what brand of clothing he wears or what kind of food he eats. His needs have always been met, and he never worries that one day they may not be.

 

In my moments of doubt and frustrations, I envy the security Kevin has in his simple faith. It is then I realize that perhaps he is not the one with the handicap. I am.
My obligations, my fear, my pride—all become disabilities
when I do not trust them to God’s care.
 

His hands are diligent. Kevin is never so happy as when he is working. When he unloads the dishwasher or vacuums the carpet, his heart is completely in it. He does not shrink from a job when it is begun, and he does not leave a job until it is finished. But when his tasks are done, Kevin knows how to relax. He is not obsessed with his work or the work of others. His heart is pure. He still believes everyone tells the truth, promises must be kept, and when you are wrong, you apologize instead of argue. Free from pride and unconcerned with appearances, Kevin is not afraid to cry when he is hurt, angry or sorry. He is always transparent, always sincere. And he trusts God.

Not confined by intellectual reasoning, when he comes to Christ, he comes as a child. Kevin seems to know God—to really be friends with him in a way that is difficult for an “educated” person to grasp. God seems like his closest companion.

In my moments of doubt and frustrations with my Christianity, I envy the security Kevin has in his simple faith. It is then that I am most willing to admit that he has some divine knowledge that rises above my mortal questions. It is then I realize that perhaps he is not the one with the handicap. I am. My obligations, my fear, my pride, my circumstances—they all become disabilities when I do not trust them to God’s care.

Who knows if Kevin comprehends things I can never learn? After all, he has spent his whole life in that kind of innocence, praying after dark and soaking up the goodness and love of God. And one day, when the mysteries of heaven are opened, and we are all amazed at how close God really is to our hearts, I’ll realize that God heard the simple prayers of a boy who believed that God lived under his bed.

Kevin won’t be surprised at all!

The story you read was in an email that I received and it touched me so much and left me deep in reflection of our faith. I would invite you to join me in prayer. That's all you have to do. This is powerful and prayer is one of the best free gifts we receive. There is no cost, but a lot of rewards.

If you would like to read more from the author of this letter, check out her blog at:kellyadkins.com

As the Holiday Season is upon us,

I find myself reflecting on the past year

and those who have helped to shape my desire

to create loving handmades. 

I truly value my relationship with you

and look forward to an exciting 2013,

full of hope and prosperity and peace.

Cookie (Karen)

Curds-and-Whey

This Christmas...

Are you willing to believe

that love is the strongest thing in the world -

stronger than hate, stronger than evil,

stronger than death?

And that the blessed life

which began in Bethlehem
nineteen hundred years ago
is the image and brightness of the Eternal Love?

Then you can keep Christmas.

- Henry Van Dyke

Merry Christmas, dear friends!

Quite a dapper fella

My newest creation is completed just in time for the TDIPT Mercantile upload.

 

Meet Dan, the suave and dapper man :)

 

While I'm at it, I wanted to share my adorable new Christmas decoration, made from vintage baby shoes and red jingle bells!  I thought this was the most adorable piece and wanted to recreate it for the TDIPT Mercantile offerings.

Be sure to come over to the TDIPT Mercantile tonight to see all of the amazing creations being offered!

Every year, a custom carries on that was started by my dear Mother-in-Law years ago: we wake on Thanksgiving morning and flip on CBS to watch the Macy's Day parade
as we busy ourselves in the kitchen, preparing a family feast.

Several years ago, I was half watching The Morning Show with Harry Smith,
who narrated a segment with Anne Graham.

Anne read a prayer from her father, the Reverend Billy Graham.
I couldn't believe what I was hearing on television...
it moved me to the very core of everything I believe,
and I wanted to share it here with you again this year.

Each year, I come back to this post and each year,
it's as poignant and real for me as ever it was....  it goes like this:

“Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance.

We know Your Word says, ‘Woe to those who call evil good,’ but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values.

We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery.

We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare.

We have killed our unborn and called it choice.

We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable.

We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self-esteem.

We have abused power and called it politics.

We have coveted our neighbor’s possessions and called it ambition.

We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography

and called it freedom of expression.

We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers

and called it enlightenment.
 

Search us, oh God, and know our hearts today;

cleanse us from every sin and set us free.



Amen.”

As families gather for the holiday,

please remember there is no reason to have a holiday called Thanksgiving

unless there is Someone to thank.

Thanks be to God and Jesus Christ His Son for all the blessings on our fair land.

Remi and Rudy

Remi is my newest creation ... a sweet little Snowgirl.

She's a bit shy, so she brought 

her favorite ragtag baby, Rudy. 

 

 

Remi even has a removeable backpack with drieds

 

  

 

and wait...

who is that stowaway hitching a ride??

 

From the tip of her head right down to her clay shoes,
there is much attention to detail on this little girl.
She is lightly glittered with mystical snow and
her pinafore has been hand embroidered in great detail
and her arms are wired for posing.

Remi is ready for her premiere
on the TDIPT Mercantile this Wednesday night. 

She's a keeper, for sure!

The time has come....

We knew it would come to this eventually ...

even with time to prepare our goodbyes, it doesn't make it any easier.

 

 

You see,  Fall is our favorite time of year here at my home - and Rex is hesitant to give up his space on my workbench!

 

I must say, Rex may be my last punkinhead for the season - but I won't forget him anytime soon!

 

From his wool felt top hat right down to his boots with little socks sticking out, I have

so enjoyed creating this boy.

He whispered to me very late in the evening

how much he loves bats - so I thought it was

the least I could do to make his last wish come true.

Love you, Rex!

 



 

For the record, Rex has a job on his hands...

keeping timely company with this sweet dew-drop

as they make their way

to their new home. 

 

 

As Rex puts it: 

"it's a dirty job... but someone's got to do it"  :)

A few things for the Mercantile

I've been fortunate enough to have some 

"dungeon time" in the last few weeks.

 

That usually happens when riding season starts

to slow down  and I'm really glad to be back in it.

 

I love creating and have a few items loading up

on the TDIPT Mercantile for October.

 

I do hope you will stop by and check out these

and all the other amazing offerings from

the TDIPT Artists!

 

Little Punkinhead has totally captured my heart!

 

And of course, what is the Thanksgiving season

without a moment to "Give Thanks"?

Slow Down... Look Around

Lisa Beamer was on Good Morning America some time ago. She is the wife of Todd Beamer who said "Lets Roll" and helped take down the plane over Pennsylvania that was heading for Washington DC on 9/11/11.

She said it's the little things that she misses most about Todd, such as hearing the garage door open as he came home, and her children running to meet him.

 
Lisa recalled this story: 

I had a very special teacher in high school many years ago whose husband died suddenly of a heart attack. About a week after his death, she shared some of her insight with a classroom of students.

As the late afternoon sunlight came streaming in through the classroom windows and the class was nearly over, she moved a few things aside on the edge of her desk and sat down there. 
With a gentle look of reflection on her face, she paused and said, 'Class is over. I would like to share with all of  you, a thought that is unrelated to class, but which I feel is very important.
Each of us is put here on earth to learn, share, love, appreciate and give of ourselves. None of us knows when this fantastic experience will end.
It can be taken away at any moment.
Perhaps this is heaven's way of telling us that we should make the most out of every single day.
Her eyes, beginning to water, she went on, 'So I would like you all to make me a promise. From now on, on your way to school, or on your way home, find something beautiful to notice.
It doesn't have to be something you see, it could be a scent, perhaps of freshly baked bread wafting out of someone's house, or it could be the sound of the breeze slightly rustling the leaves in the trees, or the way the morning light catches one autumn leaf  as it falls gently to the ground. Please look for these things, and cherish them.
For, although it may sound trite to some, these things are the "stuff" of life - The little things we are put here on earth to enjoy... The things we often take for granted. 
The class was completely quiet. We all picked up our books and filed out of the room silently. That afternoon, I noticed more things on my way home from school than I had that whole semester.
Every once in a while, I think of that teacher and remember what an impression she made on all of us, and I try to appreciate all of those things that sometimes we all overlook. 
Take notice of something special you see on your lunch hour today. Go barefoot. Or walk on the beach at sunset. Stop off on the way home tonight to get a double dip ice cream cone. For as we get older, it is not the things we did that we often regret, but the things we didn't do.

Scratchy, Itchy, Icky even....

I've been wearing suspenders since the day of my birth,
only now they're much bigger, because of my girth.

I wear burlap pants as I haven't much money,
so it's not a fun time when the day's hot and sunny.

I shopped for a belt once, and my size they had not,
so I tied two belts together and became overwrought.

So it's back to suspenders with my hot, burlap pants,
they're unpleasantly scratchy, and I've noticed a rash.

(author unknown)