Washi Tape Crazy

(I was responding to a blog post over at Cloth Paper Scissors, and I got to thinking my reply would make a good post as well. )

I'm washi tape crazy, and if it sits still, it gets taped. I use it to decorate things like clothespins, light switch covers, ceramic tiles, paper mache boxes, as well as paper projects like cards and tags.

I like using assorted colors of painted backgrounds to change the way the tape appears. Try using several colors with the same tape to see varying effects. For example, with my clothespins I ordinarily paint them white before applying tape, but I've also made sets with, say, three pastel colors and applied the same tape. The result is novel because the tape is translucent (most of it.) Here are two sets I made that show what I mean. Each set is decorated with the same tape but the clothespins are painted different colors first.

You have to be careful with knock off tapes because they don't all have the same adhesive qualities. Some will have very little stickiness, some will stick too much and not be repositionable. For most of my projects, I will seal the tape with decoupage glue and/or acrylic sealer, because it will eventually peel off. At the same time, that is one of its redeeming qualities. You can remove it without leaving tape residue. I decorated a mason jar for 4th of July, then removed the tape and reused the jar for another project.

Here's my American flag---an idea I got from another blog, "Washi Tape Crafts."

Most washi tape is sold online, and the prices range from $2.50 - $5.00 USD per roll, depending on if it is true designer tape from Japan or a knock-off from China. Also, don't confuse Korean "Deco-tape" which is plastic, not paper. Some scrapbooking companies are making tape for sale in stores, like K&Co. Because I like to make things that are coordinated, I've been using a lot of the Scotch brand that came out recently. It's available at many office supply stores. Online, Cute Tape has a fine selection and good prices. Here's most of the tape I have. None of my Christmas tapes are included.

How Lovely Are Thy Dwellings

Many of you having been praying for me to discover God's direction in caring for my elderly parents and that the doctors would fix the swelling in my legs. Well, I have a story of praise to share with you. I know it is long, but I hope that you will read it.

My family and I were in Texas, and my husband and daughter went to tour the Longhorn Caverns State Park. Because of the swelling in my legs, which was painful and prevented me from walking much, I stayed above ground while they went below. It was a peaceful place, and I wandered down a quiet park trail. Having read about or heard from people who met with God in a natural setting, I started praying that I would hear that still, small voice. God speaks to us through His word, and I had my Daily Light with me, so I sat on a rock and read. After what seemed like an eternity of silence, I headed back to the park's cafe. It was then that I received a text from my parents: We both want and need you.

I had been waiting for that call for since November when my mother had her first surgery. I had resolved to not rush in with my usual take charge nature and wait for them to want me to help. They, like many their age, were fiercely independent and resisted offers of help. I had made sure to ask periodically if they needed me to come, and the answer was always, “I think I'm doing OK, so not now.”

Was this text God's way of speaking to me? I felt like it was, so I started putting things into motion to make it possible for me to go. I am leaving early wednesday morning and plan to stay until the end of April, longer if need be. It will be a sacrifice for me to drop everything I do, leave my family behind, miss medical appointments, and try to run my business from afar. However, as I told my daughter, God has set my feet upon a path and He will make a way. I just have to trust Him. She had been slightly disapproving of my going, insisting that it was time for someone else to step up to the task. I reminded her that we are commanded to honor our parents---the only commandment with a promise “that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you.”

So, what was I to do about my health issues, particularly my swollen legs and feet? How was I to care for two infirm parents when some days I had difficulty caring for my own self? Again, I am trusting that God will make a way. He is going before me, and as long as I obey, He will see that I succeed. He has many names and facets of personality, and I call upon them for different purposes: Jehovah Jireh, the God who is providing me a way to travel, Jehovah Rophe, the God who will heal me so that I can do my mission, Jehovah Nissi, the Lord is my Banner who gives me victory in defeating the enemy. He is also Adonai, the LORD of my life.

So, it was hardly a surprise when I woke up this morning and had...ANKLES. Let us sing praises to the God, our shield and defender, our place of rest, our strong tower. Let us not be anxious for the future but “come before His presence with singing. Know that the LORD, He is God.” (Psalm 100)

Here are the lyrics to a song I sung as a tribute to my mother who encouraged me to sing. Sing along with me.

How Lovely Are Thy Dwellings

music by Samuel Liddle copyright © 1908 by Boosey & Co., renewed 1935; renewal copyright assigned to Boosey & Hawkes, Inc. 

How lovely are Thy dwellings, O Lord of Hosts!
My soul longeth, yea, fainteth, for the courts of the Lord:
My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
Yea, the sparrow hath found her an house,
And the swallow a nest, where she may lay her young,
Even Thine altars, O Lord of Hosts, my King and my God.

O Lord God of Hosts, hear my prayer.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God,
Than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.
For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. 

Creative Unblockage---A Little Help From My Friends

As a creative sort, I use up a whole lot of energy on whatever task I'm creating at the moment, and writing a blog post has been sitting on the back burner. I think I need a turntable, or a lazy-susan. It would be sectioned off and labeled "Writing", "Crocheting", "Papercrafting", "Learning a New Craft". I would turn it to the next section and work on that project, then turn again. Unfortunately, it would have a very big section labeled "Maintaining an Etsy Store."

I probably need a whole turntable just for my Etsy store. I used to label days of the week with different activities, such as photography day, listing day, crocheting day, but there weren't enough days in the week. Part of the reason is because I'm so slow.

With the mental and physical fatigue of fibromyalgia, things that used to take me a short time, now take forever. I've read articles about time management that say to spend one hour a day on the internet. That was supposed to include updating Facebook and Twitter, as well as answering emails and blogging. An hour a day gets me answering my email, to give you an idea of how slow I am.

Fibromyalgia Network Closing---Sad News

On a sad note, Kristin Thorson, editor and publisher for 25 years of the remarkable Fibromyalgia Network News, is having increased health problems, prompting her to close the Network.
For more information on the closure of the Network, visit the website by clicking on this link, fmnetnews closing

Living Water Treasury

I'd like to introduce you to a new Etsy team I joined. It is called "Create In Christ". As the name suggests, this group of talented individuals create their items for God's glory. He has blessed us with talents and abilities, so we honor him with our gifts.

Here are just some of the samples of work you can find.

PTL Thursday - Grace

2Corinthians 12:9

What I Learned This Christmas

This was my first Christmas season as an Etsy seller, and it took me by surprise. The volume of custom orders increased dramatically, and I was not able to make any new items for the shop. This year I will have a better plan in place, such as having a larger inventory, not taking so many custom items, and I've learned how to make batch changes to my listings that is a time saver.

Surprisingly, my yoga socks were the biggest seller, and the black ones were the most requested color. Go figure, with all the gorgeous sock yarns out there these days, and people wanted black acrylic. I've got to convince people that wool sock yarn is comfortable year round, comes in beautiful color combinations, and due to its hardiness, it is a good value.

Also surprising is that I did not sell one set of Christmas dishcloths. I really thought they would go fast. Now I don't know what to do with them. Give them away, I guess.

Ellen Brenneman Studio: original works of art

How An Artist Took Charge

As part of my Artists Loft Etsy team  promotional series, I'd like to introduce you to Ellen Brenneman. I am so enamored of her art work, and of her perseverance in the light of  what could have been a depressing experience. She is an inspiration to all of us. Let her tell you herself.

Life Unexpected Leads Artist Back To Her Roots

Many moons ago, I used to be quite the successful artist. I was six years old at the time. Furiously working with lined paper and crayon, I'd sell my wares in front of my makeshift 'store' whenever company came over.

"Grandma," I'd say. " Wouldn't this pretty picture look great on your refrigerator?"
'You're right. It would!" she'd say while handing over a shiny quarter for her newly acquired picture of 'Doggie Asleep on Floor'.

I never really let go of my desire to run my own business. After college, while decorating my walls with paintings, I also ventured into many creative jobs: Mural painter. Illustrator. Furniture Painter. Eventually I fell into private home care and that is where I remained for over a decade.

Introducing Cutting Pixels

Hand Cut Art dedicated to Video Games

I have the privilege of introducing you to one of my favorite Etsy shops, Cutting Pixels. Katrina Mason is the owner, artist, and designer of the items which feature hand-cut silhouettes of video game characters. She has done other characters, such as Precious Moments, but video games are the source of most of her art. Her are her words.

 Riding Epona across beautiful grassy plains of Hyrule. Charging through thick forests dodging panthers and tigers on Azeroth. Navigating warp zones and trampolines with Mario and Luigi. Timing the perfect jump to rescue the princess. Discovering Star World while rescuing Yoshi and friends. Swingin' jungle vines, smashin' barrels, and jumpin' mine carts. Racing the clock to get your strawberries watered and harvested before summer. Wooing the girl of your dreams. Getting up with the sun to take your cows to pasture. Searching darkened rooms for your lost friend amid hostile ghosts. Eating anything even remotely edible you found on the ground.

These are the scenes I cherished. When it was too dark to play outside anymore, my sisters and I fought over whose turn it was on the console.

Though I have always had a passion for the arts, my actual ability was never very high. I took art classes every year until I graduated despite my inabilities. I continued to love arts and crafts as I started a family and grew older. I've tried many different types of art, but nothing has ever clicked for me until now.

I stumbled upon a blog post featuring a paper cut artist. Though I love art, I've never felt moved to purchase any specific piece. But I had to fight the urge to go over budget and purchase several pieces of this artists work. I spent days gazing at her listings on Etsy. I loved her work so much, I began to feverishly look into other papercutting artists. After spending two weeks reading about the art of hand cut paper, I decided to try it. I had an X-Acto knife already from one of my many passing art attempts, though the blade was incorrect. I pulled out some construction paper and my knife, and attempted a free template.

A stitch in time...

...saved my mind.

(This is the post I wrote which was published by the Susan, the Crochet Addict back in September)


There is no way I could have known when I picked up my crochet hooks after years of not touching them, that I would become a different person. Several years prior, I had been diagnosed with fibromyalgia. The pain and fatigue that I lived with had robbed me of vitality to the point that my employer "suggested" I take a leave of absence. That was a wake up call to a new life.

Soon after returning to work, on a scaled down level, I met a woman that knitted. She inspired me to crochet a few stitches. And of course, I was hooked.

She took me shopping for yarn after I found a pattern for a simple cardigan, and was I ever surprised at the glorious selection of colors and styles. And this was just at Michaels; we hadn't even been to a yarn store yet! We started attending groups together, like Stitch and Bitch, and I began honing my rudimentary skills learned at my grandmother's knee.

PTL Thursday

Acknowledge the Lord and He will acknowledge you

Psalm 1:6

Luke 12:8

1John 4:15

My Guest Post and Recent Listings

Your very own Cozy Corner Crochets was invited to be a guest blogger on a popular British crochet blog. You can find my post here. Please take a moment to go by and read it. While you're there it would be nice if you left a comment.

Also, if you are looking for patterns, Susan has quite a few published on Ravelry. She has a Ravelry button on her blog, so it's easy to get to the pattern page.

In case you haven't been over to my Etsy shop, let me share with you a few things I've been making. I've got this craft show coming up in 2 weeks, so I've been a creating fool.

Cotton Spa collection with towel, washcloth and four scrubbies

Kitchen dishcloth

Kitchen dishcloth

Hot air balloon stitch markers

Turquoise heart stitch markers

Soapy Layne Bath and Beauty Giveaway

Win a $50.00 gift certificate!

I can't believe Alecia is getting married next week. At 24 years of age, she already owns a 5 acre farm in upstate NY. And she does everything. Here's what her profile says about her:

I sew, paint, crochet, craft, garden, farm, belly dance, cook, read, learn, collect and imagine.

Oh, she didn't mention that she also has two blogs. Well, imagine me winning this giveaway from her blog "Chicken Scratch". To enter the contest yourself, head over to the Soapy Layne giveaway page and submit your entries. Better hurry, because the wedding is next week, and I don't know when she is going to have time to select a winner. Maybe tomorrow?

Cutterstone Jewelry

One of the elements used in Cutterstone Jewelry is the lowly cuttlebone. I used to buy them for my birds to gnaw on. I'll never look at one the same again after viewing the remarkable pieces of jewelry in this shop. You will have to read for yourself the intricacies involved.

Here is the artistic work of John and Deni Boardman.

Cozy Corner Crochets: What are the names and addresses of your Pages, Blogs, and/or  Shops
Cutterstone Jewelry:

• http://www.etsy.com/shop/cutterstone
• http://cutterstonejewelry.blogspot.com/
• https://www.facebook.com/Cutterstone

CCC: What is your primary craft
CJ: Jewelry making and repair work
.
CCC: What materials do you work with
CJ: Silver, gold, precious and semi-precious stones

Pendants made from cuttlebones

CCC: How did you get started and where do you see yourself headed
CJ: My husband is a self-taught jeweler, it’s a great story and you can read it here: Cutterstone/About. I was a full-time accountant that was allowed to retire when we got married, and got involved in his work which he is ecstatic about. For me, I would love to start learning more of what he does, and do my own designing. He would love to open a brick & mortar store, but now is not the time, and here is definitely not the place!

Gents Ring

CCC: Where do you get your ideas
CJ: John loves the ocean, and many of his designs are inspired by that. He loves the more modern, geometric, and bright pieces, while I am more of a simple, not to crazy kind of gal.

CCC: What gets in the way of you pursuing your dream
CJ: Unfortunately, the economy and the location where we live would not allow us to open a brick & mortar store, which is John’s dream. When Mervyn’s closed, he purchased all their jewelry cabinets which are still sitting in our garage.

Earrings

CCC: What do you do to relax and have fun
CJ: We love to get into nature as much as we can. We like to camp and hike. Right now though our time is consumed in remodeling our older home. John is doing most of the work himself, he’s a well-rounded man, but of course I am biased!

CCC: What did you do “in your other life”
CJ: John has worked mostly on his own, but for many different jewelers over the years, even a high-end Palm Springs jeweler. He has won a couple of awards for gem-cutting that he doesn’t like to boast about, but I do (teehee). I used to be a controller for a Honda dealer. I’ve worked just about my whole life in the automotive field.

Chain Maille bracelet

CCC: Is there anything else you would like to share about yourself
CJ: We are very happily married, and have 4 children and 10 grandchildren between us. We are very grateful to our Lord Jesus Christ and try to live our lives according to His teachings.

Becoming a Geophysicist---NOT! And Happy Birthday, Molly

September 11 - What was your least favorite subject in school?

First, I have to get two things off my chest: today is my beautiful daughter's birthday. She turned 11 in 2001 which brings me to the second thing: May God give comfort to all who were affected by the events of 911. Also, I pray that the Muslim extremists will turn away from their jihad and learn to live in love and tolerance.

Photos of Molly that I recently scanned. In these photos, she was aged 2- to 4-years old. She still loves to cook, ride horses, dance, and play dress-up.

Molly from 17-years old to 21-years old.

 One of these days---yeah, right---I'll get more photos scanned. Oh, wait, I just thought of another one I'll share, since it is just between you and me. This is the day Molly was born, all 9lbs 14oz of her.

Mike is giving me something to push against.

Regarding school---I loved school, I was just such a procrastinator that I would not get my homework turned in on time. I did flunk my second year of Latin because of it. Now you know why I can't get my blog posts done on time.

One of the things I found out after I graduated high school is that my parents had put me in advanced level classes. I got upset because everyone would rave how my friend got As and I didn't. Well, come to find out, she wasn't in the advanced classes. I would have gotten As too---while I slept. I did have a terrible time with trig in college so I gave up on becoming an geophysicist.

Quick Breads, Morning and Evening

September 8 - What is your favorite, "go to" cooking recipe?

Recipes wax and wane in my appreciation, depending on my mood and/or pocketbook. There was a time when I didn't think much about buying fresh seafood from the market and whipping it up "Southern Style" (that means fried) for dinner. Of course, that was when I lived on the coast, and it was before we had kids. Now, I'm too broke and too far away from the coast to have fresh seafood. It is still my favorite feast though whenever we do get down to the Gulf.

Now, I'm more likely to turn to a pot of beans served up with homemade cornbread for a go-to meal. My cornbread recipe is an adaptation of the one that's on the blue-and-yellow box of corn meal. But it works at 5000 feet elevation. Here is the recipe as I shared it with my daughter.

Anna's Favorite Cornbread

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Prepare an 8x8 inch pan with cooking spray and set aside.
In large mixing bowl, mix

• 1 1/4 cup whole wheat or unbleached flour
• 3/4 cup yellow cornmeal
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 3 Tbsp sugar

In 2-cup measuring cup, mix thoroughly

• 2 eggs
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• Add milk to the 2-cup line and mix.

Add liquid ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix well with fork; do not beat with mixer or bread will be tough. Break up large lumps with fork.Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake for 18-20 mins, until knife inserted into center of bread comes out clean.

This recipe works for almost all "quick breads". Make delicious muffins by substituting oats, bran, cereal, etc., for the cornmeal. Add nuts, fruit, applesauce, etc. Bake in prepared muffin tins for 15-18 mins, or in loaf pan 45-55 mins.

For example:

• 2 cups flour
• 2-3 small ripe bananas, mashed well
• 1/4 cup pecans, broken
• cinnamon

or

• 1 1/2 cup flour with 1/2 cup oats
• 1 cup blueberries

or

• 1 1/2 cup flour with 1/2 cup bran
• 1 cup raisins
• brown sugar instead of white, or honey instead of sugar (mix with liquid ingredients)

There have been many mornings when muffins and milk were our breakfast. I like to use buttermilk or yogurt too, in place of the milk, just remember to replace the baking powder with half a teaspoon of baking soda.

Anybody Here Seen My Old Friend John?

September 7 - Where were you when...?  Describe what you remember

Every so often, there is an event so catastrophic that people can tell you to the moment what they were doing when the event happened. If you live long enough, you may be unfortunate to have survived more than one of those life altering moments. I can think of a couple during my lifetime: 911, the Challenger disaster, and the assassination of  President John Kennedy.

President Kennedy was our 35th president and was visiting Dallas, Texas, on November 22, 1963. I was nine years old, attending La Mesa Elementary school in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Our school did not have a cafeteria, and if you didn't bring a lunch to school, you had to go home to eat. Luckily I lived only two blocks from the school. My mother and I lived in a small, u-shaped apartment complex of about 10 homes. The woman on the end often looked out for me since my mother worked full time at a bank.

President John F. Kennedy riding in an open limo with his wife, Jacqueline, and the governor of Texas and his wife, John and Nellie Connally, on November 22, 1963.

When I came home for lunch that day, my neighbor took me aside and said that I probably ought not go back to school that afternoon. Obviously, I was curious, and she explained that the President had been shot. What does that mean to a 9-year-old but a day off school? However, I sat fascinated in front of the TV with my neighbor, and later with my mother, as the pictures rolled in.

There was the cavalcade coming around the corner, people's heads turning at the sounds of the rifle shots, Secret Service men leaping into the open limo. Later, we saw photos of Jack Ruby killing Lee Harvey Oswald as Oswald, the alleged assassin, was being transferred from the police station into a waiting police car. Even later, forever etched into my memory, thanks to Life Magazine, is the image of Caroline and John Jr. bravely standing in the line for the passing of their father's horse drawn coffin. Caroline became an attorney, married, and had children of her own. She is almost four years younger than I am. Sadly, John Jr. lost his life at the helm of his private plane in 1999.

Jacqueline Kennedy, widow of  President John Kennedy, stands with her children, Caroline and John Jr., along with the president's brothers Robert and Edward, during the funeral procession.

A Bucket List of Books

September 6 - Make a list of books you want to read next year.

I rarely read these days, partly because in my other activities I'm so slow that they take up all my time and more. Also, because of the fibromyalgia, I experience extreme fatigue and sleepiness (which contributes to my slowness). Consequently, when I do sit down to read, I fall asleep or I don't remember what I just read.

I was a voracious reader. Losing that ability has been a thorn in my side. I struggle to accept that reading is no longer part of my life. I still collect books, saying to myself that I will read them, but they languish on my bookshelf. However, I am listing some books that I would like to read---or finish what I've already started.

• Non-fiction

1. Holy Bible
2. The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren
3. You Can Understand the Book of Revelation by Skip Heitzig

•  Fiction

1. The Shack by Wm. Paul Young
2. The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Down by Neta Jackson
3. The Help by Kathryn Stockett

I have some different versions of the Bible on my Kindle Fire. My favorite is the New King James MacArthur Study Bible. It is easy to navigate, I can highlight verses, look up definitions, and type in notes. And the study feature is excellent and gives meaning to otherwise confusing scripture.

I have a few books by Max Lucado that I want to finish as well as some Bible study helps and daily devotional books. The devotional books have one page to read per day, so I can accomplish that much. I have also had luck listening to books from the library on my computer (not the cds, but the downloadable ones.) I can do that while I'm crocheting. I guess I will try that again because the selection at the library has improved. The last book I listened to was Island Beneath the Sea by Isabelle Allende. I highly recommend it. Maybe The Help is available. That would be cool. Off I go...

PTL Thursday---Strength

Psalm 105:3,4

2Corinthians 12:9

Deuteronomy 31:6

What is a Parrothead?

September 5 - Write about your favorite play or concert you've attended.

Urban Dictionary's first entry for the definition of Parrothead is this:

A Parrothead is a fan of Jimmy Buffett (there is no other meaning). The typical parrothead is pictured to wear a Hawaiian shirt, flip-flops, and other tropical attire, and to enjoy drinking margaritas on the beach. Parrotheads often decorate their homes in tropical motifs. In general the life of a parrothead is one of relaxation and being on a permanent mental vacation even while at work.

 Parrotheads even have their own official website and issue "State of the Phlock" yearly reports.

Now, I bet you can guess what my favorite concert has been. You're right---Jimmy Buffett. We've actually seen him twice. The first time was in Tempe, Arizona, at a small, outdoor venue around 1983. We brought in jugs of wine and sat on the grass while Jimmy and the Coral Reefer band played. Nobody knew at the time just how much of a following Jimmy would gather as the years passed.