Winston's picture

what a great feeling sharing a a new puppy ....

happiness is a new puppy and .....Life is Good

Well we finally did it ...we found our puppy ...Winston is his name and being laid back is his game....his dad is a full blood AKC english bulldog and his momma a boxer. He is so smart and sweet..he is already housebroken ....at 9 weeks and we have only had him 3 days...he is tan and white you can see that in the picture enclosed...

We are very happy and to top it all off...Lizard finally found herself an apartment and moves out as of tonight....Life is good ...

I am working and finally liking it for the most part...John is doing great...
we have our much beloved English Bulldog Puppy and we have the house all to ourselves for the first times in 5 years.

Sunday I will be able to finally get my studio organized so I can really work ...and I do mean work ....I plan on getting all my treasures made and up and ready to put up for sale and adoption.

so for now as its been a long day....

Women who behave rarely make History....

Have a wonderful day and know dreams do come true....

Life ....is not easy ...but it can be

One day we all wake up and realize that we never know when something bad will happen that will dramatically change our lives either a little or forever.

It can be something as simple as you and your best friend having words and you never talking to each other again...until you realize that you miss them and how truly important they are...to you and your happiness in life. Its repairable....

Or something so bad as the word Cancer....told to you as they say Its really really bad....a inoperable tumor ..we can't get rid of it..you only have 2 years...but this is where faith comes in ...YOU let GOD take care of it..and YOU find the best doctors you can and help that person who has cancer beat that nasty thing ...because you love them and can't live without them. and when you do this with positive strength and love and GOD and the faith that brings them all together ...Life can be good.

But then SEPTEMBER 11,2001...wow the average person never ever thought it could happen ....even our government the one before Bush ...
thought we were invincible... and because of that 3000 people died on that day that didn't need to ...and no one could fix it....a trillion tears have been shed and a billion whys have been asked...but no one knows other than hatred of us for what we have and where we are ..and what we do...but what is that...how often do you smile at a stranger and say Hi
or look up at the grocery store and recognize a old lady you see every time you go and smile at her ...do you think that makes her day ...I bet it does and it should make yours too. So you are sitting there going why is she going off on this tangent...Because I was raised in a time where people were friendly and helpful and respectful of others. This has been lost someplace...and The Lord knows we need it back.

So in the memory of those 3000 people smile at someone ...don't worry it might scare them if enough people do it they will understand ....its the way we are suppose to live....

GOD Loves Us he really does ...and when You need HIM ...HE is there.

GOD BLESS AMERICA ....!!!!!

I did not disappear....

Hard to believe my last post was July 4th...or something like that...

well alot has happened...I was selling my work at the farmers market in Manteo NC but some one decided I was a threat to them ..

That resulted in Me having to get a JOB...aka the "REAL JOB"

well I applied for a job at one of the funnest , little gift shops on the outer banks ...called Something Fishy ....it is good pay ...but the hours are long and because of it I have been too tired to be creative ...10 hours a day...it reminds me of when I ran my store...except the hassles...of it all.

I can merchandise the place...deal with the nice customers...

But I MISS being creative....in my art so hopefully I can do something about that soon......

right now what little time I have trying to organize the downstairs studio

bought cabinets family laughing saying I will never get it done ...

maybe but never know can only try ....

when daughter moves out next month I will move studio to her room .... and make the guest room upstairs....She received her grants for college and will start the Professional Jewelry making Associates degree...for the next two years....

Hoping things will calm down when she moves out...

Independence.....????

Our we ever really independent ....we grow up become adults but there are few who can walk this life totally alone... we depend on a doctor to bring us into this world ...we depend on our parents and family to raise us up to be respectable...kind...loveing ..human beings. We depend on our friends to support us and help in times of need as they depend on us to do the same. WE DEPEND on GOD to bless us and let us grow to a wonderful old age enjoying our lives and living through the trials and tribulations of life...and then when the end comes ...we have been raised to depend on the pearly gates opening and letting us into heaven ...as all our sins of the life we led have been washed away by the blood of CHRIST.

so we are never really independent...and isn't it a wonderful thing...

Today we depend on the soldiers fighting around the world to keep us safe from terrorists who do not believe we should live...they do not know what a happy life is ....So on this day I salute those men and women...many too young and some too old who fight to keep us safe


Today we walk this world we live..
because soldiers gave all they had to give...
they made the sacrifices of Life or Limb
So today we stand in a Free land...
So remember why we Celebrate Independence Day
and proudly watch our majestic flag wave...
It is because someone refused to see us suffer in a country
where GOD did not live because they gave all they had to GIVE
GOD BLESS US ALL and
Keep US FREE and BLESS the Ones whom we cannot see.
Lorri Chambers
July 4th 2007

Somedays your Heart Picks your friends

there are days as we walk this path we call life...that meet people some wonderful some so-so ...and some of those I chose for friends...

But then there are those that without me realizing My HEART picks them for a friend ...One of them is Sandra P. I met at Caring House last year..she is so special and full of love for the Lord and her fellow humans...

What ?? is the difference you Ponder....???

A friend you pick is one you think of now and then ..wonder how they are doing...and wish a blessing on them.

But HEART picked friends are special because your heart thinks of them everyday with out you even realizing it ...they are there in your mind's eye and you just pray with all your might they are having a good day.

Every one has friends like this ..yesterday I worked a local farmers market ...and met many wonderful people in that 6 hours...One couple I met I believe her name was Patsy and I know her hubby was Chuck have a heart friend going through breast cancer right now...and before I knew what was happening my heart was telling them about caring house and the bead tray and how it really helps cancer patients and caregivers to work with beads while they are undergoing their treatment. Patsy and Chuck said that was exactly what their friend needed and they would get the supplies together to send her...well my heart said not good enough and I got some bags of mixed beads and memory wire plus one of my ATCs(it said inspire) together in a bag and gave it to them to mail to their friend...our hearts linked ..I may not see them again although I hope I do ...I want to know how their friend is doing she has a long hard row ahead of her...

Then when I got home a box arrived with pieces of the most glorious fabrics from a heart friend ..named Sharon ...aka Laff...the special thing about our heartship is we have never met in person...we have talked on the phone once in a while ...but we talk almost every morning for the last almost 7 years in a online game room...we support each other when times are rough and we have had a few too many of those...we miss each other terribly when we don't connect in the morning ...Amazing how your heart can do that ...(but not really because GOD lives there)

I have met a couple of more people I know to be Heart friends ...again without meeting them in person....

Gayle in Florida and Christina in Ohio ...both fiber artists we get to talk about the wonders of our art and our lives...and support each other.We are not as close as Laff and I are but give us time....

Gayle's hubby is fighting cancer too right now ...he will beat it he has her in his world and she strikes me as a very strong person ..it is us strong women that can bring our hubbys and our children and families through tough times ..although there are times we find it hard for us to believe.

She is also an amazing artist ...

Christina lives on a farm with her hubby and kids in Ohio ...they need rain for their crops right now and I can imagine that is difficult to have your family depending on something so uncontrollable ...

I have to tell you one thing I kinda find funny my friend Laff used to live in Ohio and now lives in Florida ...so now I have another friend in Florida and one in Ohio.

anyway back to Heart friends what do all these people have in common

STRENGTH...they are some of the strongest friends I know ...I have many, many others but these are the ones who my heart screamed loudest about today....

Have a day full of sunshine and blessings and a little rain

But remember Let your HEART pick friends too....You will be so happy you did....

hhhhmmmmmm what to say what to do...???

you know sometimes you just need to sit down and think ...

today was one of those days yesterday I spent the day flying getting alot of my trades done for my Artist Trading Card group and Subsurface design

I love making little things of art...you can do so much in a short period of time ....and its amazing how cool they turn out.

so today was a day I had to run errands ...mail out my "pretties" I love the reaction of the people at the postoffice....

I have to get some of my Victorian Fiber Art pictures done for the local gallery they sold 3 pieces so far....there is nothing like it anywhere is my own technique... The require alot of work but worth it as they are so pretty...and unique

Very cool .....

I love making all of my treasures and pretties....

now just have to get them making me a living ....

remember you are only sinking if you think you are ..if you believe you can fly you will ...I prefer to Fly

Some days we walk some days we fly

you know there are days that we walk,,,those are the days that we spend running errands, cleaning house, doing laundry the everyday things of life that we must do .

But I love the days I get to fly....those are the days when I leave a note on the washing machine saying"gone being creative... see ya" ...

Lately life keeps getting in the way ... and even tho being creative is also my job it is hard to justify the time.

Last week I was so sick with a upper respiratory nasty ... that I slept all week ...well what a waste...but once it was gone I did feel better..sometimes your body says enough is enough.

anyway today was a flying day ....I belong to a couple of wonderful groups where I get to trade bits of art ...that I make for ones they make ...and what beautful stuff we make. But I had not allowed myself the time to fly lately...so today I did... and it was magnificient..a made a summery beach day journal page for friend over in the Netherlands what is so great about this my GGGGGGGGGGrandma was from there...she and GGGGGGGGGGrandad came here in 1732 to Pennsylvania ...

Now a piece of my artwork is going over there.

I hope she likes it I know I sure do ...next week after I get all the stuff done for my show and its over. I am making me one of these pages....

Well have a great day and remember to FLY ....Haved a Blessed Day.

The journal page has a front and back with a pocket in the center to hold a CD of piano and ocean sound music. I also plan on putting in some postcards from the Outer Banks. It felt so good to get this page done ...and ready to mail...

But more than that I had a day to fly....and I will fly tomorrow too ...because I have a show next weekend a wonderful friend just wanted me to be in. So she made sure I got in. She has silver wings made of soap...because that is what she makes....

But because of that I get to fly all week getting ready for the show...making earrings, keychains, ATCS, Postcards, pictures and more.

I always wonder what color wings I have ...when I fly not sure ...but they are so quiet...no one would ever know.

The reason I wrote this today is because so many people refuse to let themselves have a day to fly. But we must always remember to...make that time....writing this blog is flying for me to share my thoughts and my heart with you ....

So remember spread your wings and do what you WANT to!!!

Gold Star day.........

Ok I was suppose to subsitute teach today but was cancelled at last minute so I came home and decided to do something just for me...

So I got out a bag of fiber goodies been hoarding for awhile and made me sit down and have fun.....So I made a beautiful fabric postcard...

Layers of tulle (sheer fabric) all colors over a silver sun.... with a hillside and mountains ...yup that is it up there ....took me over 2 hours but what a gorgeous little piece of art......and yes I am keeping this one its proof I can get something done just for me....

I have been so busy creating little treasures to sell and give away but not to keep for me .

You have to remember as you walk this path that you deserve to be loved by yourself...you are a good person.

Life is good.....

ALL CLEAR....beautiful words

March 2006 horrible words ...we are sorry but you have lung cancer...that is what they told my wonderful hubby... March 27th ...you have two years to live....I told that Doctor not good enough...we ended up at Duke April 18th ...the Doctor there said don't see why we can't get rid of this ...and you know what they did...October 31st...ALL CLEAR....!!
January 4, sorry you have a brain tumor from the lung ....March 12th after surgery January 16th and follow up radiation ...ALL CLEAR...
MAY 1....CT Scan ALL CLEAR....

what does this mean and why would I write about it...because it is the most wonderful thing in the world...my hubby is my WHOLE world....

and because we thought positive, found great doctors and kept the faith ...as well as the prayers of many many people ...

So whether you are fighting cancer or another illness or a bad day think about what is most important and fight your way to it...

Its good to be the Momma

I spent the day getting my 2nd daughter ready for prom ...I missed my oldest daughter's great event ...(long story) but not my dear Lizard's

She was so beautiful tonight ....I mean it absolutely amazingly gorgeous....her hair ...her dress the antique jewelry her sister found for her ...the makeup her Aunt Laura did...and then we went to the local gardens and sat her in this butterfly chair ...Oh my goodness thought I would cry right there...

My girls amaze me they are so beautiful , Laureta my oldest was glorious in her black and white polka dot dress ...matching shoes ...and red cats eye glasses ...she was going as the paparazzi for the 50's elegance theme red carpet night . could not have been more than I wished for my daughter's prom...they are going to be partying all night dancing until midnite then they change clothes and go bowling ...then the Y till 5:30 am ...once they are in they are in...

So glad I got to share this time with My girls....I love them so much

keeping life in stitches

one of the great things I found out last year was how relaxing hand sewing could actually be ...I am not talking the meticulous paying attention to a pattern cross stitching still don't think I could do that.

But taking fabrics and yarns and beads and funky threads and creating something truly unique and fun then passing it on to someone else.

Most of the pieces I made last year I gave away to patients and friends I met while sitting the many long hours in waiting rooms, with hubby while he underwent his treatments.

One particular day I met a young lady, a mom of a 9 year old who had been fighting ovarian cancer for 3 years...she was having a particulary bad day and too long of a wait for chemo. I gave her a bracelet ( I always carried things I could share hoping to brighten a bad moment) and she smiled for the first time in hours,she put it on and her very concerned husband just winked at me a wink of thank you. He commented on a small art quilt I was hand quilting of Pink Flamingos and how his 9 yr old daughter loved anything Pink...but especially pink flamingos.

I worked diligently and gave it to him before we left that day.

He was so thrilled to have something good to take home to his daughter on such a awful day. A day that I suspected would only occur a few more times...as a Angel was circling his beautiful wife...to take her home to a heavenly life. I didn't know for almost a month ..and because of patient confidentialy I couldn't ask...but I had to know and so I asked and the nurse said indeed she passed. Not long after I gave her the bracelet or

the quilt for her daughter. But she is at peace and I know her daughter will always know her mom was loved.

Love under Construction

I just got off the phone with a God sent Friend ...we met at Caring House this past summer ...while my hubby was undergoing his cancer treatments...she was there undergoing treatment too. At first she was real quiet like a mouse just too her self...and then one night something emotional happened and she needed a friend, and that was it...Sandra and I were buds...I started people beading and finally got her to try it one night she got a few bracelets made but more important we each heartprinted ourselves through the love of our LORD. She helped me later thru a very rough time when I was scared...when hubby was found to have a brain tumor (which is Gone) we just support each other and know when one needs to talk.

We were talking today about how often people tell each other they love them..your kids ...your hubby...your mother..etc...

Please get in the habit...of saying I love you to those special people in your lives as people who deal with cancer and know you never know how long you have or when something tragic may hit...those should always be your last words to share.

Our love is the concrete foundation of life ...we are birthed out of love and we should die in love. Yes its hard at times...but so is the knowing you didn't say or do something and you never get the chance.

Ok that is my philosophy lesson for the day...GOD Bless you...and I LOVE you..

Creativity under way

These are examples of some of my beadwork they are done in Peyote stitch ...all original designs. I just sit down with my beads with a idea in mind...and well end up with fun one of a kind art jewelry. Some pieces may take hours and others may take weeks...Painting with beads what fun .

Caution Working Artist

I am a working Artist .....But for 5 plus years here on the beautiful Outer Banks I was the proud owner of Ocean Beads Gallery...I opened it in a 400 square foot store with my oldest daughter ...in 2003 we moved it to a 2000 square foot store so we could have more room to teach. It was such a blessing to be able to teach so many people to think outside the box that they can use the key of imagination and opened that box and make something of beauty they can be proud of....We had a wonderful following....But in 2005 we were told our lease was not to be renewed and that all of the small businesses where we were was being told to leave.
In order for a Big Box Store to move in. I put everything in storage hoping to relocate in spring of 2006...but alas was not to be ..my wonderful hubby was diagnosed with lung cancer...(which he beat with the help of the Lord and Duke Hospital)...It was then I started on this journey of concentrating on my Art ...and loving my husband as he is my world.

My father started me painting and drawing when I was 4 years old ...he was a wonderful artist. As I grew .. I continued to "draw" upon his teachings and all of my other art teachers..but also found things other than paper and paints and pastels to use to create Art.

I found tiny glass objects with holes in them .......beads glorious beads...and fabrics...and old jewelry....OH MY what wonders I could create with them. and I did ...When I was 18 I designed teddy bears that people wanted to collect...and I made them for 15 years. But the reality of real world jobs and family came along and they fell to the side.

When I moved here to the Outer Banks it was only temporary I thought ...move on travel enjoy the beauty ...But no there were other plans a wonderful man, a artistic community and people who I wanted to share what I knew about being creative with.

So now as my hubby has beat the cancer....knock on wood...I want to work as a artist so I can spend my time with him being his soulmate and his wife....

I am creating art of all kinds but I love my fibers ,,, fabrics,,, beads and more.

I will be posting pics of things I am working on so you can see....how fun it is to live and love life.

Not all of us can be Cinderella ....

But some of us can be Fairy Godmothers....now you may think what does this mean ...it means we all have a inner beauty and kindness that we can share. Whether it is a simple smile at a stranger in a grocery store or trying to help a mother with a crying child ...or helping someone put groceries in their car....

I was raised in Virginia and spent summers with my Nanna...who taught me love and looking out for others. She came from a family of 14 ...13 who grew to adulthood working hard on the family farm and whom I was blessed to know ... her mother my great granma lived to be 98 years old.

I love working with my hands and my heart .sharing what I create either
as a gift or for money as a working Artist. Last summer I gave away many of the pieces to people I met while my wonderful hubby was undergoing cancer treatment. just little things to make them realize someone cared.

We stayed at a place called Caring House in Durham it is a place for cancer patients to stay ...I started a bead tray and taught patients and caregivers how to bead bracelets and relax through creativity.
The tray is still there and its mission continues from donations received for my Artist Trading cards I create.

Life is good Hubby has beat cancer twice now ...and I lead a life of Faith.