Where has the time gone?

I have realized that as I get older, time goes by faster.  Maybe not news to many of you, but when you are looking back, you realize just how much has occurred when you weren't paying attention.

Take for example ... my blog!
Mercy, has it really been this long since I posted anything?  The TDIPT Mercantile has been closed for months now and as sad as it was to see happen, time marches on. 

In the course of the last year, I have gone through many life experiences... some good, some not so good, and some downright heartbreaking.  I have laughed, cried and fallen to my knees at times in total dependence on God's mercy.

My husband lost his job in the fall and was laid off for over 6 months. It was a struggle for me watching as he was trying to grapple with the fact that he was unemployed.  Darrell has run some of the larger construction crews, building some of the great landmarks in Kansas City like the Sprint Center. When things came down around him, it was particularly hard for me because I knew there wasn't much I could do besides quietly and solidly supporting him and continually lifting him up to the Lord. During those 6 months, I never doubted God was in control of even this - and was confident He had big plans for Darrell. Because God cares for His children, it was no surprise that Darrell was offered a job with the Kansas City school district the very same week he got notice from the state saying unemployment had run out and he would have to refile.  God remains Faithful and True.

In March, Sully turned 3 years old!  So hard to see this precious boy growing up before our eyes but his mom and dad had a grand birthday celebration for him.  His dad, Darby was starring in a local play called "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" and they invited the entire party to the Landing in St Joe, Mo to watch the play and celebrate with milk and cookies.  What a fun day!

In May, my heart was broken when we had to put our sweet Tuck to sleep.  We tried for several months to relieve the pain and discomfort he was suffering in his back leg and after many visits to 4 different vets and a trip to the specialists, we learned he had bone cancer. I knew it was time one morning, when I realized our sweet boy had diarrhea and was not able to get out of his sick bed to make it to the potty box.  With a very heavy heart, we said goodbye to our precious Tuck. I think I have shed a million tears and I know this sweet boy will always have a special place in our hearts.

 

 

 

 

And that brings us to the current....

I have high hopes for a new venture with an online selling group

that I have long admired. 

 

I will share more about that in the coming weeks,

but you can look for more news and I hope you will join me

 as I venture forward.

Tonight's the night....

Be sure to stop by the TDIPT Mercantile tonight

to see what all the amazingly talented ladies have to offer!

 

I have been creating up a storm due to the blizzards last week,

so its especially nice that something fun can come from my time off  :)

 

 

This guy has been up to his neck in the carrot patch

and decided to come up for air!

 

 

 

 

Love the primitive Rooster Weathervanes too -

mounted on oil cans!

 

 

 

Sure hope to see you tonight at 7pm cst on the TDIPT Mercantile.

SNOWPOCALYPSE vs SNOWMAGGEDAN

I know.... it sounds like a cheap Japanese thriller from the 60's with monsters busting their way through downtown with their tails knocking over skyscrapers on the way. I used to love watching these movies because their mouths would still be moving 3 minutes after the dubbed voice-over stopped.

However, it's what the recent and upcoming storms have been dubbed by us midwesterners who havent seen snow like this since I was a kid and looked forward to the school days!

The weather forcasters had been predicting a doozy was headed our way and while we watched with doubts swirling (we've heard it all from weathermen before with results that never came to fruition), we still waiting, watching out the window for something to happen.

And boy did it.... the morning started out calmly enough ...

but 45 minutes later, we were in the throes of Winter and before the day was over, my husband measured 12" of snow in our front yard! 

                                

Now, he had purchased a mega-monster snowblower 2 years earlier so he wouldnt have to kill himself shoveling and it wasnt until last Thursday that he had the pleasure of breaking it in. 

Wow... did he ever have fun!  He did our 3 car driveway, likety split - and then proceeded to head over to the neighbors and help out there. Before he made it back home, he had cleared 5 neighbors and offered to do another one.

So, this left me sitting in the house with an upcoming Mercantile upload and a snow-day on my hands.  What could I do but get busy!?!   And getting busy was just the ticket for that storm - I have been busy creating and feeling accomplished all along the way!

One of my projects was this sweet bunny and babe -  from a pattern by Lottie Laycheck. "Mama B" is mounted to a pedestal and ... shhhhhhhh.... we dont want to disturb her sleepy baby.

This sweet dancing rabbit has taken up residence in the trencher on my kitchen table. She is mounted on an awesome chippy spool I found last weekend when I was out "junkin".  She has a deep red velvet heart pinkeep sewn to her backside - just clear of the sheeps wool tail.

    

I have a couple of other items that will get polishing touches put to them before the upload on Thursday night - and then, my next project is to finish this special order who is just waiting for some clothes.  Sure hope she doesn't catch a cold from the drafty dungeon  :)

If you are interested in anything here, I'm happy to share my snow -

or give you more information on any of the rabbits listed.  :)

just a little smudge....

Admittedly, I know very little about Catholicism.
All I knew about Mardi Gras was that a huge party went on in New Orleans! I had no clue what Fat Tuesday or Ash Wednesday was about growing up but that all changed one Wednesday a few years back.

I worked for a company in Kansas City and was part of the screen actors guild. We shipped movie posters and trailers to theatres all over the country. We had a 5 story warehouse downtown packed with current and upcoming movie posters with 2 full floors of very vintage posters, ranging in sizes from 22x28" to 40x60" large.  I do have a few posters that might hold a little value - among them, an original Wizard of Oz, a 50th anniversay Gone with the Wind, 3 Stooges around the world in a Daze and 3 Stooges meet Hercules (which I gave to my brother).

But, I digress.... one morning I got to the office and was enjoying a cup of coffee while I visited with the ladies before work. One of our older associates was the sweetest little lady by the name of Mary Lou. Well, Mary Lou was running late this particular morning and I began to get a little concerned about her safety.  It was totally out of the norm for her to be tardy so when I saw her car pull up, I sighed a bit of relief and watched as she came into the building.

Now you have to understand, Mary Lou was never anything but perfectly put together when she left the house in the morning. So when I saw a smudge of dirt on her forehead, of course I only wanted to help her out and wipe it away before anyone else saw it.  Why.... you'd have thought I had just tried to steal her purse by her reaction!  Little did I know that grayish black area had very special meaning and she was meant to wear it until it wore off.  I think I was as stunned at her utter horror when I tried to help as she was horrified that I would even think of wiping away something so sacred to her!

Suffice it to say, she educated me there and then - and I never ever ever attempted to wipe anything from anyone since!  :)

 

Rolling out the TDIPT Red Carpet ....

It's going to be such an exciting time over on the TDIPT Mercantile tonight!

I've been very busy creating some new things to offer

and cannot wait to show them to you.

I love working with paper mache'

and have created some unusual cupboard hangers to sell.

I also have a lovely sunflower cupboard hanger for sale...

guaranteed to bring sunshine to a cloudy day!

I call this piece "Hang in There, Love" and it's adapted from

a Kentucky Prim pattern.  To add to it's allure,

a couple of field mice have joined in.

LOVE STINKS

is a fun piece I created ...

of course more field mice got into the act

and wanted to find a nice warm

(and stinky) place to hang out!

Last but certainly not least ...

the TDIPT Mercantile is holding a charity auction with several artists participating.

I have created this sweet little prairie dress with a puppy theme for our

TDIPT Charity "Kindness Matters Big and Small charity.

100% of the proceeds will go to 

Make a Difference Rescue in the Metro Detroit area and

Branch County Humane Society in Southern MI.

please make plans to join us tonight at 8pm cst on the

TDIPT Mercantile.

Your purchase will help so many without a voice!

Just one of those days....

Woke up quick, jumped out the bed.

Got tangled in the sheets and I bumped my head.

Had to be at work five minutes ago.

If I'm any more late, it's no call, no show.

Looking for my keys, God help me please!

I can't find my wallet or my cell phone, jeez!

Throwing on my clothes like never before.

With my shirt on backwards, I was out the door.

Laughing at myself as I was driving away.

Man oh man, it's just one of those days!

by David Greenwell

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!