Igloo Building

Maybe real eskimos build better igloos...but then they have to live in one too. I think this is a pretty good try...and Lincoln practically did live in it...actually for 10.5 hours during one of the best blizzards I can remember. The news said we got 12 inches, but what we measured at our home was 14 inches right on our patio...no drifting. The drifts were much deeper. The creative & interactive play that has been shared at this home over the past couple a days has been wonderful. I think every town needs a good blizzard once a year!!! Blessings for a great day....child free.

Ester....A Beth Moore Study

I recently enrolled in the Ester....Beth Moore Bible Study at my church. I am a member of Sherwood Oaks Christian Church in Bloomington Indiana. This is one of the most enlightening studies I have taken. Ester, I have learned is a remarkable, head strong woman, similar to a lot of women I know today. She had trials in her life that seem too great for me to bear. Raised by her cousin, I can only imagine all that she learned. As each chapter unfolds in this remarkable New Testament story, I can only know that as bold as Ester was, her story is one of great humility & discernment. She 'softly' moved about the kingdom, trusting God to accomplish His purpose in and through her, which is exactly what He did. Oh God, make me like Ester. A beautiful scripture verse that I learned this week is Colossians 2:10...You are complete in Him. I hope that this gives you a sense of fulfillment today. Nothing can make me happier knowing that I am complete in Him. Blessings for a wonderful evening.

Tiny Frozen Charlottes

I love these tiny frozen charlottes. I love the broken-ness of them, I love the dirty-ness of them. I just can't seem to get enough of them. I started collecting these dolls about 10 years ago, not really knowing anything about them. I just knew that there was something special about them. Special to me because I envisioned a little girl lovingly playing with her doll, treasuring it, and the body, badly deteriorated, possibly rotted away after a long storage period in the attic, found by another generation. Some of these doll heads probably have entered our life today this way, but more likely is that these dolls have been found, buried deep, or shallow beneath the earth and placed there before WW1. Buried long ago to preserve them from the ruins of war. Now, generations later, people are un-earthing these treasures and they are making there way into creative peoples hands, for others to love and appreciate. I hope you see the beauty in this....the way that I do. Blessings.

Girlfriends

There was a time in my life when I felt lonely. I think we all feel that way at one time or another, but I felt really lonely. Lindsey & Lincoln were pretty self-sufficient, Jeff was busy with his work and my house was clean. I was boring. I needed girlfriends....not that my 2 sisters weren't good enough girlfriends....but I needed more. I embarked on a friend quest and my life blossomed. So this is to all of my girlfriends, new or old, thank you to all that consider me a friend, and know now that my house is not very clean!! I am richly blessed.

All That Glitters

I got a little reprimand yesterday at Bible Study (The Beth Moore Ester Series). My good friend Stephanie inquired about my horrible blogging skills....horrible because they have been non-existent since January 12! Well, I might have to confess to being a weekend blogger, or most definitely a blogger when I have the time. You see the above bunch of fun, glitter, glue, papers, wall paper, stamps, ribbon, ephemera, buttons & more. These are items that make me sing. These items are music to my ear....and even though Stephanie might want me to blog a little more....she might just be pleased with a fun gift made with all these cool creative supplies. For that...she will have to wait and see. Blessings for a fun & creative weekend.

It saddens me....

that 2 of my favorite magazines are going out of publication. In our tough, war torn economy I know that businesses of all types are struggling. It makes me so upset to think that I will no longer be able to read Mary Englebreit's Home Companion or Country Home. I pray for our country to gather strength and persevere through these tough economic times. Blessings.

A Petite Box Swap

Okay...Okay I know 2 posts in one day....what am I thinking? I am just too excited to contain myself though. Many of you know that I am computer illiterate...and I don't spend a lot of time on the computer...or watching TV...or cleaning my house or the little mundane activities that many people find themselves bogged down with. Call me SPOILED...but I like to call myself CREATIVE. Most of my time is spent creating. Well being on the computer all changed this weekend. I have been reading blogs...and I have been LOVING it. I signed up for 2 swaps and I committed myself to make a tag-book where each week of this year I will make a tag with a special reminder word on it. The first word is wish. My sweet blog & Bella Sister....Suzanne Duda swears it will only take 5 MINUTES a week and that is why I am doing it....to force myself to create something in only 5 minutes. If mine looks as pretty as hers I will be thrilled. The other swap is a puppy love swap where I will make 6 tags to send to make a little tag book. Artwork from all over the country. It sounded so neat...I just had to sign up. The swaps were so fun at SILVER BELLA that I just want to do more swaps. The other swap, as featured above is from the Speckled Egg blog. We have to make petite boxes for trinkets and craft supplies. We are going to use match boxes, not the really little ones...but the larger ones. I think they are called kitchen matches, but I will have to measure...I want to do it just right. Like I said I am very excited...I can hardly contain myself. Blessings for a wonderful & dream filled night.

When you have a million & one things to do....

What do I do when I have a million & one things to do? I create a piece of jewelry that the picture really doesn't do justice. I could have finished my laundry....but then I can always finish my laundry. I could have vaccuumed up the 1/4" of dust that has been accumulating as a result of the kitchen remodel. I could even have done the dishes....but NO....I did what any Bella would do....& I CREATED! I love pearls & the more mixed up and varied the more I love them. I love anything vintage...and while the vintage pin I used to make this piece may not be really, really old I did purchase it at an antique store. I love it...it is chunky and would look just fabulous with anything black. So I will go back to the stash and see what other baubles I can drum up for more interesting pieces. Blessings for a wonderful...creative evening.

Arnold Douglas Habbe...a lasting tribute

It always seems strange to me that important family information can just vanish. Maybe someone of the younger generation has misinterpreted family history and has re-told stories that simply weren't completely true. That is usually the case with me. I tell partially true stories and probably re-create history. Of course not meaning to, but simply just hearing stories as I was growing up and then repeating them in my own way. Maybe embellishing, maybe just repeating as a child might repeat something. With the recent death of a great aunt, I would like to start putting down some family history and before anyone gets their panties in a bunch, I am not starting with someone more special than someone else, just someone I have special information on at my fingertips. Arnold Douglas Habbe, my father's father was a very creative and talented musician. I personally never encountered his music making but am assured that talent thrived with this gentleman. By checking with some historians at Indiana University I have been able to document that Arnie, as we called him, was an Alpha Tau Omega during the 1926-1927 school year. During his stay in Bloomington he played in a band with Hoagy Carmichael. On Wednesday May 2, 1928, Arnie was one of 8 musicians who played with Hoagy and recorded 7 songs, 2 of which were released. The songs recorded that day were: "March of the Hoodlum's", Walkin' the Dog" (Arnie appears to be playing the guitar first, then a banjo), "To a Wild Rose", "One Last Kiss", "One Night in Havanna", "Shimme-Sha-Wabble", and "Smile". It appears that Arnie was aquainted with Hoagy as early as 1925 because it is Arnie that is supposed to have suggested the title for Hoagy's song "Boneyard Shuffle" which was recorded in May of that year. Arnie also played in a band called 'Hitch's Happy Harmonist' which was led by a gentleman by the name of Curt Hitch whom is believed to be from Evansville, IN where Arnie was from. I never knew the musician Arnie, just the loving kindness of a man who was soft spoken, funny and loved to do the cross word puzzle. The only musical talent I got from him was when he taught me to whistle when I was 8....a talent not soon forgotten. I hope you have enjoyed a little piece of my family history. Blessings for a wonderful evening.

I Love High School Basketball

We are having a thrilling season here in Bloomington. Bloomington High School South (BHSS), which is where Jeff & I graduated from is doing great in it's basketball season. We are currently ranked first in Indiana and 11th in the country. Of course, I don't know what any of this means, but I am telling you, I sure do have a passion for this team. These boys are driven, and are they ever fun to watch. I also have my favorite players....this is excitement at it's fullest. Their personalities just shine on the court and I squirm with excitement as I await the next game. Since I am so into this season....I made some of the basketball mom's little basketball bubbles with their sons number on the back and their initial on the front in our famous purple. This was my way of showing my team spirit! Blessings for what ever rev's you up in your life.