"Yes. We Have No More Peanuts"!

I just give up! There is to be no more introspective pondering about why on earth I am compelled to make things that really haven't any reason to be made other than their cuteness needing to be revealed.

No more obsessing over reasons to explain why a grown adult woman would spend her time making such child like things. No more pondering if Mary Englebreit has relatives who just don't understand her need for cute.

Creativity seems to have a mind of it's own in whatever form it takes. Like this elephant, it is persistent beyond reason. "Yes! We have no more peanuts"!

I am secretly proud at having filled an entire binder with patterns I have created on my own.

I am beyond excited when others will tell me they were thrilled to find one of my characters come to life in their own hands.

My new attitude is "If you can't find peanuts one place, look someplace else"!

I declare this blog to be mE! (thereI'vesaiditoutloud)

If you are looking for peanuts. This is the Place to Be!

Invitation in Hand

Whenever I am invited to an occasion, I always have my invitation in hand when I arrive. It's not that I think the hosts will have forgotten they invited me, but it is a chance to acknowledge the thought they have put into the invitation sent.

These little party goers are leaving nothing to chance as they arrive at the festivities appearing on my craft room shelves.

Each character consists of purchased pre-painted wooden beads for the head, (I painted hair on this one) pipe stems for the body. A paper base allows the characters to stand.

This little witch's dress is made with pinked pleated crepe hot glued in place.

Tag along brothers appear ready for fun in their Cute as can Be costumes.

Pinked strips of orange crepe are Mod Podged directly to a small sized Styrofoam ball after inserting pipe stems for head, arms, and legs.

Leaves are cut from several layers of crepe, vine from twisting crepe between fingers.

I have a penchant for Red Devil costumes but only if the are as Cute as Can Be. EAKS! Fashion Police Alert! Two Red Devils at one party! My little red bird seems to be processing this information.

One bent pipe stem is inserted into head bead to create body base and legs. Body: coil stem around a pen, cut with wire cutters, slip over legs to form body. Arms: length of stem is slipped between body coils. Sleeves are formed by coiling stem around candy stick. Cut and slip over arms. Pants: same as sleeves.

Hat: Two inch circle of felt is folded in half, cut widows peak. Hot glue from center of circle to edge, pinch with fingers until sides adhere. Fit to head and trim back of hat.

Hot glue length of ribbon to back of head bead at an angle. This secures ribbon in order to tie a bow. Hot glue hat in place. Hot glue horns.

I absolutely adore crafts made with pipe stems. They speak to me of my Uncle Howard who smoked a pipe, the smell of cherry tobacco filling a room.

You haven't an invitation, you say?

That's okay! We know a party goer when we spot one!

Lawn Couples

Saturday's are the day my husband and I spend out of doors working in our yard. I love to think that passersby who have seen us over the years have come to expect if they see one of us they will see the other.

There is a camaraderie among Lawn Couples in our neighborhood, and it is not unexpected to stop curbside to chat about the amount of watering that was needed over the summer in relationship to the amount of rain that fell. We might not know anything else about the couple, but still we look forward to their friendly waves of greeting when seen together in their yard.

So please, if you should be anywhere near Delaware in the Heart of Ohio, and see an older couple happily working in their lawn side by side, do stop and say "Hello!" We will be so glad to say "Hello!" as well.

PATTERN NOTE: 4th of July Miss Liberty pattern to make clown.body and head here. Features can be easily cut free handed.

Rosie on a Pink Saturday

I haven't always liked elephants. In fact as a child I avoided at all cost any reference to the wrinkly pachyderms for fear the connection would be made, "E" for Elephant, "E" for Elizabeth by classmate's wandering attention from the teacher to the alphabet picture chart above her head.

Thank goodness my persistent yearly prevalence to my mother to officially change my name was met with the same decline. I now adore elephants with their long memories and old souls.

A Rosie elephant of my own to reside in my beloved craft room was just the perfectly perfect craft to make in celebration of Pink Saturday.

That there just happens to be a Circus in progress on my desk top is just the best coincidence ever!

Who wouldn't extend a "Join Us!" invitation to someone who can carry their own baggage.

Well maybe "some" need a little more convincing ...

when you are likely to become the star of the Big Top.

But even Vernon knows a circus is like a big family, and there is always room for one more.

Truly, this Pink Saturday could not have a Rosier ending!

The Boundaries of Faith

How extraordinary that my across the street neighbors in the Neighborhood with the Hills being Mormon, Christian Scientist, Jehovah Witness, Pentecostal Apostolic, Jewish, and Baptist would have the profound result of creating in me an unwavering curiosity about the Boundaries of Faith.

Rules of separation meant to keep me away only increased my desire to have a better understanding of why the Purcells had so many children? Why would the Kennedy's not go to the hospital. How did the Smith's speak in tongues and why did the Greenwalts go to church on Saturday?

As an adult I have been drawn to individuals whose faith shines through their very demeanor. I immediately feel as I did as a child wanting to know about the differences that keep their friendship with me at arms length. 

God must have known this about me in his sending Joe to find my Twirly Swirly Girl. Of all the faiths Joe's family could be, it is one with many boundaries.

Thirty-two acres of rolling Ohio landscape, not another house to be seen. A driveway cresting atop a ridge to reveal a home built to hold a very large family. Garage door entrance, remove your shoes, dozens upon dozens already lined neatly in a row. Handshakes only, one after the other, skirts to the floor, hair that has never been cut. Voices so sweet from faces made all the more beautiful unadorned, overwhelming curiosity trying to take it all in.

My daughter who has been through so much in her young life could only be loved by someone who understands what it is like to be so different from others.

It can't be by accident that the Boundaries of Faith have brought two mother's children together, one of whom wishes to embrace their differences. Wedding Picnic,  a very special day!

DO NOT PIN THIS PATTERN TO PINTEREST
I have made my own pattern of Bella Dia adorable mushroom house. It is for personal crafting purposes only. The red and white polka dotted fabric can be found at JoAnn's Fabric. The circle mushroom cap should be a 12" circle. (I have made mine 10" so that it will fit on my cute as can be gnome shelf.)

"Step Right Up! Get Your Thank You Here!"

Thank you so very much for all the lovely birthday wishes! I had such a wonderful day with my husband who surprised me with a cake, a beautiful card, and a dozen red roses.

You will not believe AGAIN I have gotten a year younger. All year I have thought I was turning 54, and wouldn't you know ..... I am 53 today. I tell you there are some advantages to being clueless! Just look at the expression on Peanut Vendor Vernon's face. He looks a little wary about this craft room's mistress.

It truly is a three-ring circus here at Creative Breathing as I work to finish last minute crafts I am excited to show my sisters-in-law. They have never seen my craft room before.

It is late at night here in the Heart of Ohio as I make mental lists of all that I need to do in preparation of our wedding picnic on Saturday. It is such a funny thing to live with a man who is a flight attendant and is used to ordering scads of food. He will throw into our cart what I call "Airplane Food" such as shrimp cocktail and red curly lettuce for lining our food trays. "Hon! We're having hamburgers!" I say to him.

Don't even get me started on the breakfast he has planed for Sunday morning. "We don't need fruit trays! A few bananas will do!" Can you just hear us in the grocery store?

When Joe's Mom called me this evening to ask what I am bringing to the picnic, I replied, "Baked Beans". I was too embarrassed to mention all that my husband will be bringing.

Again, thank you for letting this Creative Breather pick herself up again and again.

PATTERN NOTE: RING MASTER USES UNCLE SAM PATTERN
Please do not Pin pattern to Pinterest.