Music Monday! Today Is Mine

Today is a day of remembering. A day of appreciation. A day we think of those we have lost who have given us a gift so precious.

My father, before he left for the war.

Today, I have been thinking about my father, who gave us this gift. He served in WWII in the Armored Division. He entered the war on the beaches of France, and traveled across Europe until they reached Germany. He never spoke about the war to us kids. He always became quiet and pensive when the topic came up. 

My father, on some R&R
 in France during the war.

After he passed away, we found these pictures and learned little bits about his time serving his country. We finally understood ~ he was protecting us from the horrors of war. 

He served his time so his world, and his future children could be safe. It was as simple as that and there was no need to discuss.

It got me to thinking how 'small and unimportant all my troubles seems to be, and how lucky another day belongs to me'. Jerry Reed wrote and sung it so beautifully. 

In memory of all who have given us a gift we can never repay, I give you this song today. We can only 'take each day as it comes and live the best way we can'.

Today Is Mine

When the sun came up this morning I took the time to watch it rise.

As its beauty struck the darkness from the skies.

I thought how small and unimportant all my troubles seem to be,

and how lucky another day belongs to me.

And as the sleepy world around me woke up to greet the day,

and all its silent beauty seemed to say:

So what, my friend, if all your dreams you haven`t realized.

Look around, you got a whole new day to try.

Today is mine, today is mine, to do with what I will.

Today is mine. My own special cup to fill.

To die a little that I might learn to live.

And take from life that I might learn to give.

Today is mine.

With all men I curse the present that seems void of peace of mind,

and race my thoughts beyond tomorrow and vision there more peace of mind.

But when I view the day around me I can see the fool I`ve been.

For today is the only garden we can tend.

Today is mine, today is mine, to do with what I will.

Today is mine. My own special cup to fill.

To die a little that I might learn to live.

And take from life that I might learn to give.

Today is mine.

~Jerry Reed

Walking on Wednesday - Sledgehammer

The perfect thing to grab when someone who you have been nice to storms off because he didn't get his way, saying as he is leaving, 'have a nice f*%king day'. 

Yes, go grab that sledgehammer and pound the crap outta that two by four. 
(that did happen to me, some guy who walked in off the street told me to have that nice f&%ing day after we wouldn't hire him to help us with this demo project. Nice, huh?)

See the bottom right? Okay, I missed the 2 x 4 a few times,
but I smacked that bottom board like no tomorrow.

De-constructing. That is my crew - hubby and son.

If you have never pounded something with every ounce of your strength with a sledgehammer, I strongly suggest you do. There is nothing quite like using every effort in your body to make two heavily nailed boards come apart, swinging something heavy to achieve separation. It is actually exhilarating! Especially the first few swings. What power you have! You have exerted energy from your core, and look at that damage!

Yes, tile is heavy.
And hubby takes forever to shoot the picture.

Then, after the fifth or sixth swing, well you have exerted just about everything you can exert, and damn you are tired. Time for a break. I guess you should carry out the mess you just made and throw it in the dumpster. Which, by the way, means you have to lift that pile to shoulder level, the thing is 4 ft tall and at slightly over 5 ft 1 inch, this is pretty high to lift something, and toss it above that to get it in the dumpster.

They must have slathered glue across
the whole floor to glue down this carpet.
Yes, they glued the whole thing down.

Ripping up carpet and pulling up tile are other great ways to get out some pent up stress and frustration. You need to pull with all your might, from so deep down you almost make that grunting noise.  And you need to lift and carry loads of heavy tile along with all that carpet, to throw in that 4 ft. tall dumpster. 

But you do feel so free after swinging a sledge hammer, after pulling up carpet. You can see the damage you have done. You have truly expended from deep down, where you seldom pull from. It sets you free!

I would even call it a stress-reliever. You have no energy for stress when you are done with this kind of hard labor. 

I know it is not every day we can swing a sledgehammer and cause damage of this kind. But if you have the opportunity - give it a whirl. I think you will be surprised at how you feel when you have pounded it a few times. 

I know I was. Though I am glad we are done with this demo, my back and legs are certainly glad, I almost wish there was more to destroy. I could really enjoy a weekly sledgehammer session. 

I think the world could be a much nicer place if more of us had sledgehammer sessions......

Featured Artisan from the On Fire Team ~ Armored Hearts

Chaimaille creations always intrigue me. Their intricacies are impressive, and when there is a pop of color it really keeps my interest.

Fran, the creative brain behind Armored Hearts, has mastered the intricacies and adds just the right pops of colors to her creations like in this piece, the Pink Passion Hair Pin. 


 Are you On Fire for Handmade? http://onfireforhandmade.com

This week's Featured Artisan is Frann Ramales - Armored Hearts! Beautiful Chainmaille creations by a very talented lady! You can find Amored Hearts on:

Etsy

Facebook

Blog

Grab the code for your blog HERE

Music Monday! Two for Tuesday!! Bang on the Drum All Day - or Ukelele

Yes, that was how Monday was for me - I just wanted to bang on the drum all day.
No work - no accomplishing anything.
I think I was not alone in this, as I saw postings all over Facebook about how no one wanted to work, no one accomplished anything, etc.
So here's to banging on the drum all day! It does us some good to do just bang on a drum, slack, relax, accomplish nothing, at least once in a while.


The ironic thing in this is that Todd Rundgren played all the instruments on this track. That was hard work.


Then he became a resident of Hawaii, and took it a little easier with this version of his wildly popular song.



A slightly goofier version of the original.


Here's to no work, being goofy, and banging on the drum all day!!
Have a great Tuesday.

More Bubbles! A Collection to Keep Me Busy

Well, I guess it's Bubble Friday!
Here is a Bubbles Collection to Keep Me Busy - and it is a gorgeous day to go outside and enjoy blowing bubbles. 
If I could just finish some Toekini's....Enjoy!!

Bubbles

  Curated By: RaigeCreations

ArtFire.com

Handmade Gifts

Bubbles - a Zibbet Exhibit

I have been thinking about Bubbles lately. Naturally, a Zibbet Exhibit - Bubbles - reflects this recent obsession. Enjoy.

Daydream I  by Art and Stuff by Nicole	Blowing Soap Bubbles engraving c. 1897  by Surrender Dorothy
Dirty Martini, Shaken, Not Stirred – Vintage Bead  by Adorn Me Jewelry	Lotsa Copper Bubbles  Wire Art Cuff Bracelet  by Seattle Chic
Fabric painted Baby Bubbles appliqué patch  by New CreatioNZ	Luscious Black Cherry Blast Soap  by Lucky Girl Boutique
Green Bubble Cupcake Wrappers   by Yummy Cuppy Crafts	Lavender Bubbles Crochet Ring  by Cat’s Wire
Bubble Link Necklace  by From Me To You	Bubbles Pendant  by Dragon’s Spark
Bubbled Photo Pet Tag  by Ebonypaws	Bubble Pendant-Black and White  by Agustina Fernandez
Circle Bubble Applique Messenger Bag  by Tenthavenue Soapworks	Contemporary Modern Abstract Art  Circle Wall Sculpture by Diva Art 69 Studios  by Diva Art 69 Studios

Maybe this weekend, you can go outside, blow some bubbles, and pop them. 
There is nothing quite as satisfying as popping them and feeling the splat of the soapieness on your skin. 
A part of Spring that felt great as a kid, and still does. 
Have fun.

All the Raige at Big Love

It was a beautiful Sunday, 2 Sundays ago here in Asheville, filled with lots of love for the local businesses. It was The Big Love Fest

I was lucky enough to share a booth with Fuzzy Leaf Felting - she makes felted soaps, and absolutely beautiful hats, fedoras, and the coolest bracelets.  Lindsey is such a fun booth-mate too! We loved people watching....





I also got to introduce Turn Peace Around to Asheville with some great TPA products. Luxurious hand towels with Turn Peace Around symbol and Peace in beautiful flowers letters by Grandma Carolyn's Everything Else shop. Plus, a great selection of Key FOBS from Terri's POP Embroidery.

I had an eclectic mix of things, from Toekini's (of course) to Jewelry by Bridget, to Mosaics and plants.


<- This is what people saw walking by our booth. A little bit of this, a little bit of that. 


The mosaics are now happily at the Farmers Market shop Locally Grown. 







The banner was perfect - made by Anne's Helping Hands Graphic Design shop. 


As you can see, I was also lucky enough to share my space with a parking meter....

Jewelry by Bridget was a crowd-pleaser. 

She sent some gorgeous new copper pieces, some incredibly creative serving silverware, and some great new rings and necklaces. 





The back section of the booth showcased my mix of crocheted items. The bamboo blinds worked perfectly for a display - I am so happy what was in my head worked in real life. 

The only problems arose when the wind picked up a bit. Imagine a sail. We tied down the bottom of the blinds too but the wind still caught it and moved it. Amazingly it didn't affect the viewing of the items.
 

There is nothing better than happy customers! 

Plus totally awesome that Toekini's are loved by all ages, with shoes or without. 

My first sale was the wonderful woman on the left. She was so excited to take her shoes off to put on her new Toekini's - and she put her shoes in her purse and strutted out of the booth barefoot and happy. 

modeling her mom's
Puppy Dog Mask

The cutie-pie customer on the right and her sister were my best advertisers. They were seen wearing their Toekini's playing in the grass, a festival-goer told me when he found my booth. 
Their love of Toekini's is a wonderful compliment for me because their mother is the very talented person behind Seven Feathers Tribe. A super fun shop, with super fun handmade treasures.

The Stick Shift Cozies were popular too - I am so happy every time I sell one of those because that is the one item hubby thought would never sell - yet I keep selling them. He is tired of hearing about that....


It was a wonderful day, and I met so many awesome people. I definitely felt the love at The Big Love Fest. I am already looking forward to next year. 

I just hope I have such great help again. Thanks to my daughter for setting up the entire back wall of the tent. I am so glad she was there for another reason too - she was part of the beginning   of the Raige, and it seems only fitting that she was there at Raige's first show. 


'Till next year, Big Love - we loved being there.