~February Blessings~

It was such a blessing to be able to take January for some much-needed R&R. Sleeping in.....reading books and magazines I've longingly gazed at over the past few months....weekends in the kitchen cooking and baking with Jim.....cozy nites by the fire......watching movies......time with our children and grandchildren. All blessings I cherish more and more as the years fly by.

Among those blessings are my appreciation of the strides modern medicine's taken over the past few decades. My doctor sent me for a CAT scan to try and determine why I had such a hard time fighting off the pneumonia and bronchitis that invaded my body from October to the end of December. (couldn't have had anything to do with working 16 hr. days filling orders, now, could it??) Everything was normal there. However....they saw a mass near my pancreas. An MRI and several ultra-sounds later, it was determined I have a splenal aneurysm that my body miraculously calcified. It re-routed the blood to different arteries, in essence, saving my life! You can imagine how many prayers and rosaries I said over the past 6 weeks. I want to thank everyone who was said some 'heavy duty' prayers for a good outcome. As I've said many times before....prayers DO work!

And now it's back to life as I know it. RoseCreekCottage Studio is humming away. I'm busy filling Valentine's Day orders, re-organizing studio space, and creating new designs for 2011. My Heirloom Collection of hand stamped sterling jewelry has grown much faster than I had imagined, and I'm busy trying to figure out how to continue its growth this year, along with freeing some of my personal time so I can spend it by the sea...and with my grandbabies!!

With coffee in hand.....I'm off to the studio...which is one of my favorite places on earth~
Have a beautiful day, wherever you are in the world~

~Amish Innovations~

My little Amish friend, Katie, spent last Thursday with me. I find myself constantly marveling at how she can walk into a situation, size it up, and begin re-prioritizing and re-organizing the most mundane tasks in order to work more efficiently. And the good Lord knows with upcoming shows on the horizon, I could use all the help I can get on that front! The studio had managed to explode into most rooms of the house!

With only 8 grades of formal education, I used to think that the Amish were not as bright as the ‘average’ schooled American. Boy was I wrong! I continue learning that not only do they think everything through before acting on it, they do it with passion. That’s a totally ‘win-win’ prescription for Life 101.

By the time I drove Katie back to Middlefield, my home and studio was in tip-top shape…..and so was my soul. We talked about everything: Caroline’s recent passing and her widowed husband's struggle to continue on, her group of “Travel Girls” who get together monthly for pot-luck dinners, how the canning and wood-chopping is coming along for the upcoming winter months, the differences between her and her siblings….just everything. No topic is off-limits, and emotions flow along with the unending chatter and laughter.

She was excited for me to see her newly-sided house. Her brothers got together and not only sided the home Katie bought recently with two of her sisters, but also built the girls a spacious back porch, complete with railings, rockers, and planters filled with colorful flowers.

When we arrived, I could see why she was excited. The ‘almost’ century house now looked brand new. Her sisters, Fannie and Emma, were sewing in the huge great room. Fannie, working on a quilt, Emma, on doll clothes for her neighbor’s little girls. No matter how intense the task at hand, when they talk about them, their faces ‘light up’. Chores to us, but acts of love to them.

After chatting about our recent loss of power, my upcoming shows, how many dolls I’ve completed, how my Mom is faring, etc, my escape from the world was over, and I was ready for the 30 minute ride back to ‘my’ life.

As the girls waved good-bye, I rolled down the window when I noticed three cows in the pasture behind their house. Hmmm. I knew about Socks, the horse they recently purchased along with an Amish buggy, but cows??

“Hey…..when did you get the cows?” I asked.

“They’re not ours. We ‘borrowed’ them from our brother”, was the reply…..grins of delight and mischief evident on each of their ‘plain’ little faces.

“Why?” I asked.

“Oh….we got tired of mowing the pasture. They’ll eat the grass so we don’t have to mow it!”. I must say that the giggles erupting from those three sweet girls tickled me to the core.

Can you just picture Brother Daniel, hooking up his team of horses to the flat-bed wagon loaded with his three cows, traveling the 2 miles down the dirt roads to deliver those human lawn mowers to his sisters? Priceless!

Have a gloriously innovative Monday, wherever you are in the world!

**This post was nominated as Post Of the Day over at David's authorblog. Take a peak at the other winners!** Thank you, David!

~Just A Little Behind~

I got up this morning and glanced at the calendar on my desk. Yup....I'm a little behind. I'd be happy if it actually WAS Sept. 13th or 14th. But it's not. sigh. I guess I'd better pour a cup of coffee and head to the studio. I heard a noise earlier. I'm sure those dolls had a party last nite. sigh. I'd better go see what havoc they raised. I hope they're still in their boxes ready to go to Ohio Mart next week or there's gonna be some trouble at RoseCreekCottage, you can be sure!

Have a good Thursday wherever you are~

P.S. I just checked the studio, and they're all in different boxes...and 'someone' has gotten into my jar of Hershey's Kisses and she has a chocolate-smeared smile!

Do they REALLY think I don't notice??!!~

~Truffles & Trinkets~

I've been working non-stop on my new custom jewelry line for children and teens. I'm very pleased with the way it's finally come together. It's called:

"Truffles and Trinkets for Tots to Teens".

The collection consists of recycled scrabble tiles adorned with pretty papers, swarovski crystals for the 'bling' that we girls love, and a monogram of your choosing. They come on an 18" silver ball chain (which is all the rage right now) with matching ribbons. They are packaged in little truffle cups placed inside round silver tins with clear lids. They're also available in Birthday Party Favor Paks.

Check them out over in my Etsy shop right now! Let me know what you think of them. I have a feeling I won't be able to make as many as I'll need for my fall shows! Off to the studio....have a great week!

~July Blessings~

As July comes to a close, I find myself reflecting on this month's happenings: the good things, and the not-so-good things. July brought lots of changes here. The fireworks that opened the month brought many unexpected blessings at its end: a family wedding, a planned trip, a surprise visit from an old friend. It brought renewed joy in meeting my Mother where she is….not where I wish her to be. That’s a big thing. I’m now paying closer attention and rejoicing in her smiles.

There were lots of changes, and for me, change often brings fear. The changes in resurrecting my business have been monumental, starting with this blog. I’m actually enjoying it. My fears of failing at it were quickly put to rest. As the orders and emails quickly filled my mailbox I actually had to say “No” to a sweet shop-owner from Colorado. For now, that’s a good thing! I’m fighting to keep this a “One-Woman” show….never wanting to grow it to the frenzied way-of-life it was in the 80’s.

Back then I was almost tripping over the unshaven hair on my legs and didn’t remember that dental floss wasn’t to be used solely for tying bends in little dolls’ arms and legs! I experienced the terror of arriving at a wholesale show to find my product and entire booth set-up hadn't shown up. I remember the days of looking at my sister and saying, “What day is this?”, “What city are we in?” and the infamous, “Are you sure we ate, ‘cause I’m starved!?”. Nope: I don’t want to go back there. Not ever.

Don’t get me wrong. There were highs: lots of laughter, and a few near-heart attacks sprinkled in. Like the time we arrived in Chicago to find blizzard conditions, decided to turn in our rental car at the close of the first day of the 5-day Beckman’s show, and ended up wandering into a high-class (we think!) bordello. Or in our rush to make our plane after a record-breaking show in Valley Forge, we discovered I'd left my briefcase with all its orders, in the booth at the Italian restaurant. Thanks to our sweet waitress running after us as we pulled out of the parking lot, nothing was lost. Another time I watched as my sister literally chugged Pepto-Bismal on our way back to the airport in Baltimore....praying that she wouldn't throw up on the plane!

In those days, my boys knew that whenever they smelled freshly-baked chocolate chip cookies when pushing open the back door after school, that their mom was feeling like she wasn’t “mothering” them enough. Their next questions were always: “Oh no. Where are those over-ripe bananas?” or “Do I taste that ‘bran stuff' in these?” Jim bought me the painting you see posted above, at one of the art shows we did. It hangs in the back hall. I'm sorry I cannot read the artist's signature to give her credit. It's beautiful and very meaningful.

Now I have time to breathe. To dance. To smell the roses growing in my garden. To wake up in the morning and head outdoors to walk in the woods, instead of greeting employees. Now I have time for grandchildren; time for a book club; time for the gym. (okay….I intend to fit it in come August!) Time to pray more than I ever took the time to do during those frenzied days. And with each prayer, I discover more blessings. Everywhere. I wonder what new ones August will bring?

~Christmas In July~

It's Christmas-in-July at RoseCreekCottage. I'm busy designing Santas and Christmas pins for my upcoming fall and Christmas shows. I've cleaned, arranged and re-arranged my studio areas more times than I care to admit. Storage is always a problem when you have accumulated jewelry and doll pieces/parts for so many years! The studio photos you see here are just a small view of the drawers and bins that house my ever-growing collection of charms, findings and miniatures I use as an integral part of my whimsical jewelry! If my studio were neater, I'd post more....but for now, this will give you a little idea of what needs to be continually updated in the storage department! In the coming months, I'll post photos of the bead area, the quilt and fabric shelves, and the sewing and doll areas. I designed the studio myself, and hired Amish workers to come in and make my dream a reality. I couldn't ask for anything more. It's nice to have it right here at home, tucked into the five acres of woods, roses, and perennials. I LOVE going to work!The sweet Cottage Rose Santa is already sold, but stay tuned for more to come in the days and months ahead. Be sure to check Etsy and EBay as I'll add new items as quickly as I can create them. Remember that I specialize in Custom Orders. Just email me for details!

~New Creations~

~Back in the Studio~

I've been creating like crazy these days....trying to keep items on both sales sites, as well as setting stock aside for three upcoming fall shows. It was necessary to set my business aside 6 years ago, when both my parents became ill. Dad passed away 5 years ago, and Mom lived with us on-and-off from then on. As she began to require more and more assistance, taking care of her became impossible for us. Last year, we moved her into a beautiful assisted living facility. It ended up being a gift from God. She's happy, I'm happy, and it's time to resurrect my business. My body seems to be fighting me all the way, as my energy levels and bones are older! For 20+ years, I did between 20 and 30 art shows a year, in addition to wholesale shows around the country. It was a lot back then.....but right now....it seems daunting! How did I ever do it?? With two boys headed to college, the choice was clear. But now? Going into the retirement years?? I just don't know. Time will tell. My heart is willing. I get great joy out of creating. Working in my studio makes my heart sing. Can I do this again? Time will tell.

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I've been hesitant to set up a blog, as my knowledge of computers is shamefully limited to what my son, Tom, has painstakingly taught me. So....I'm muddling through this on my own. I'm not much of a "Risk-taker", as I think these first attempts may reflect!

Spreading my time between dreaming about the next time I see my two grandbabies, and creating & selling on EBay and Etsy, has been a challenge....and adding a blog?? Well.....let's see how it goes!