Thursday, January 31, 2013

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

Your purchase will help so many without a voice!




Wednesday, January 16, 2013

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?

Tuesday, January 15, 2013


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.

 

Sunday, January 6, 2013

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