List it Tuesday!

Ok all you list writers and readers. Today's list from Artsyville is 'Been there, Done that'!

Many years ago and friend and I had a funny, as in odd, conversation. I said that I was in awe or really, jealous of her because she has had the same job now for over 40 years! WOW! Who can really say that now-a-days. What an awesome feat... and did I mention..pension.... there's a mighty fine reason to be jealous.

Well, it turned out that she was jealous of me for the many many different things I had done over the same number of years. Who knew? We lived at opposite ends of the spectrum, always wishing we walked in the shoes of the other.

Most of those reasons she wanted to walk in my shoes are my Been there, Done that...

• made jewelry, had a rep
• started own successful business from scratch...two times!
• supported self with craft making
• had an almost brush with fame... my former dance partner became one of top 5 international ballroom & Latin dancer for many years
• never succumbed to peer pressure 
• drove a 26 foot truck filled with everything I owned, to uncharted territories to start a new life
• started a 501(c)3 non-profit arts organization
• had my "That Girl" moment
• gathered a gaggle of the most wonderful & talented people in the world to call 'friend'
• made peace with my shortcomings & embraced my strengths
• learned to live with crazy health issues so people think I'm 'normal'
• found relatives I never knew existed via the internet
• had the idea & wrote proposal for two of the areas biggest events...and I mean internationally known (ding!)
• hung out with Mark Anthony, Los Lobos, Santana, Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Eddie Palmieri, Helio Castroneves, (ding, ding!)
• visited the burial site of my great grandparents who fulfilled their dream to spend eternity in the holy land

I've had a great life so far. I have walked in the shadow of some truly great people. I am a blessed child. As always Aimee.. thank you for giving me the opportunity (or push) to be introspective, thankful and to grow as a person and artist.

ADDITIONS TO LIST: after reading other peoples lists I am reminded of so many things that maybe I should mention... not so much for you readers, but for me. Holy Cow! How could I completely forget:

• camped out in the Blue Ridge Mountains...was fun till I saw a bear one night.. yipes
• was passenger driving thru mountains while driver took turns at Parneli Jones speeds :(
• potentially saved a family's life via Craigslist
• went to quilt show in Sisters, Oregon and spent a week hitting every quilt shop I could find (ding!)
• went on an amazing road trip all thru the east and as far north in Canada as you can get
• traveled thru a hurricane in progress... twice.. very scarey
• been so shy I wouldn't speak in front of other people...to those that know me, yes it's very very true
• showed art work in galleries as a child !
• have known the kindness of complete strangers many times over....
• somersaulted down a very large horses neck as a kid.. no I was not in the rodeo
• been collecting fabric since 1956 (ding, ding, ding!)

Find more about Aimee and Artsyville @ http://artsyville.blogspot.com/

Flea Market Friday - classes??

Well, it has come round again very quickly. . . Flea Market Friday.

Even though taking classes is not exactly flea market.. good prices are. And who doesn't like a good bargain. I found the Craftsy website a while ago and have been meaning to take some of their online classes. I've been a bit busy as you know. As things are calming down I'm trying to decide where to start.

What I like about Craftsy is the wide variety of creative classes they offer and that they never expire. You can log on any time, anywhere. Working in my jammies at my own speed works for me every time. Classes range from gardening, fiber arts, garment making, food and paper crafts and lots more. You can even give a class (or classes) as a gift for that hard to buy for creative person in your life!

Now that things are settling down a bit, I am looking forward to getting started. Which one, oh which one will I start with? Click on the banner above to take you directly to the website and get started. I'm going to.

Check it out.. get in on that bargain now! Sale prices are good for just a few days.. but really... these classes are a bargain all year round!

List it Tuesday!

Today's list is: Wish List! WooHoo...

That can really get a girls mind going.... 

I gave myself the challenge of 'off the top of my head in 2 minutes'.

Here are the first things that come to mind. I bet I'll be adding more......

My wish is:

for everyone that has passed that I love, to come back, even for just a day
to know what it's really like on 'the other side'
for the time to create, preferably all day and night - every day :)
to be able to execute the creative ideas in my head to my satisfaction
to travel to exotic places
to change my thumb from black to green
for my body to cooperate...no allergies or other health issues
to be able to jump up and dance when my favorite songs comes on
to carry a tune..omg, bad, bad, bad
to never have to worry about finances
to play a musical instrument..proficiently
to understand and enjoy things that I just don't get 
to never have computer problems again.....
....... and never have to talk to call centers around the world
to turn back the clock to a time when life was more fun and innocent

and...
    corny I know, but... peace, love and success to everyone!

Gpysy Cricut for Sale.. Never opened!

Heads up all you crafters... Get creative! Just in time for the holidays! Create your gift cards, note cards, gift tags, books, scrapbooks, calendars, mix media collages and so much more. You will LOVE this Gypsy!!

Cricut Gypsy Machine - NEW IN BOX - STILL SEALED

Product Description:

Life shouldn’t slow down when you get inspired with a good design. Now it doesn’t have to with the Gypsy handheld design studio for Cricut.

Whether you’re on the road or just in the backyard, you can escape, be creative, and have fun. Intuitive Cricut App allows you to search, design, group, weld, rotate, slant, stretch, flip, and more. Comes with 2 exclusive Cricut cartridges pre-loaded—Gypsy Font and Gypsy Wanderings. Gypsy stores all your Cricut cartridges, making it easy to search and find just the right shape. Gypsy works easily with any Cricut machine and provides hours of rechargeable battery life—just connect and cut. Design anywhere with Gypsy from Provo Craft. 

This machine is perfect for artists & crafters of all skill levels.

 . . . . . . . . . . . .

Ever buy something you were so sure you'd get tons of use out of ...but never crack the seal on?? Well, that's what's I did.

A number of years ago I bought a Cricut, which I have used. I planned to load up the Gypsy and use it on the road, but if you've ever read this blog, you know that my life is full of twists and turns and ... well...not the crafting time I thought I would have. So that leaves me with the Cricut Gypsy to sell. Check out the Ebay link below !

http://www.ebay.com/itm/200848972181?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

List it Tuesday

Sorry to cop-out... I just can't quite wrap my head around a new list today. I'm just trying to regain some normalcy to life while cleaning out 'Pops' stuff.

Just know that I am with you in spirit my fellow list makers :)

Best funeral ever?

Who says 'I loved that funeral', or 'that was a fun funeral' or 'best funeral ever'? It's weird and creepy and crazy and, it seems disrespectful. But that's what I heard over and over again on Sunday afternoon after the funeral. Yes, my special guy passed away, quietly and peacefully in his sleep, with my husband and I at his side.

It was a tough road, watching him cry out in pain as he did so many days and nights. But through it all, he never lost his sense of humor. When nurses would talk to him, he look right at me and stick his tongue out, or when he couldn't talk, he wink at me. And when his nurses and caregivers would give him hugs and kisses, he said, 'wow'. The fun we had with the fart app I put on my phone just to amuse him was ridiculous. Even in an almost comatose state, he still smiled if I pushed the button. When he was in better shape, I had him push the buttons and we'd blame the noise on who ever was in the room. It was adolescent, I know. But geez did we ever get a lot of laughs out of it. I guess it's true, boys never grow up. This boy was well educated, creative, a visionary, well known and loved by many..... and at 88 years of age and wanting to die, and he still laughed at fake farts.

So, back to the funeral.... a brass band played some kickin' New Orleans style music at the beginning and end, with a rousing eulogy by his favorite pastor. This guy was great. I want him to speak at my funeral! He spoke from the heart about himself, the world and his friendship with the departed one. There were no tears at this funeral.... odd... but it was such a celebration of a wonderful man and his wonderful life, that I guess we forgot for a moment he was no longer on this earth.... but instead somewhere having a wonderful time reuniting with his wife, who passed one year earlier and missed so much.

Am I going to miss him? Yes, I am having withdrawals. We were together at some point every single day for months, and for the last 4 weeks, every day and evening. Who will I play the fart noises for now? Who will I take shopping? Who will I go for walks with? Who will I sit and rock in our favorite recliners with, while we watch tv or talk? I guess I have to go to Margarita Monday by myself this week... love you Pops... will miss you terribly....

Thank you for letting me share your last months so intimately. You thought enough of me to tell me your secrets, your fears, your memories, your wishes and best of all, the laughs. Though I have not done massive amounts of crying, my eyes burn from the inside out....

So once again, in the spirit of Ms. Artsyville Aimee's list making... here are a few things I can tell you about my father-in-law:

• He was silly and mischievous . . .  right up to the end
• I loved seeing the sparkle in his eye when I'd show up and he'd say 'WoW. Looks who's here'
• He was fiercely disciplined... unless it came to ice cream and Dewars (scotch)
• We laughed together till it hurt, every single day
• Though he hob-nobbed with some of the most famous people in the world, he was very down-to-earth and humble
• I loved it when he tried to use his age and authority to get his way, even when he knew it wouldn't fly
• He was always excited to hear from former students, learn about their lives & proud of their successes 
• He let his personality speak not his accomplishments
• He hugged me, kissed me and told me that he loved me every day
• He lived life to the fullest and chose just when and how to end it, and on his terms

The video below is the Motor City Street Band playing

'Oh When the Saints Come Marching in' at the end of the service.

He was a life long trumpet player. Still performed in two bands until this past July (when the photo above was taken). His trumpet has now been silenced.... but the wonderful memories of him and his music will live on in the hearts of all who knew him.

Thank you for letting me table my creativity while I went on this journey. Thanks too for going with me......