FINGERPRINT FRIDAY

I apologize for the amateur photography here, but last night the sky was so breath taking, I attempted to take a picture of the quarter moon. It was about 10:15 at night, and because our days here are quite long now, it looked like a blue sunset. I'll try to take one again tonight, and use my tripod. I'll post it tomorrow if it's any better, but I thought it would look kind of strange if I titled this FINGERPRINT SATURDAY instead of Fingerprint Friday!

I was reminded of the verse:
Genesis 1: 14
"And God said, "let there be light in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years...And God saw that it was good."

Yes, God, very good indeed!!

So look around you and see where YOU can see God's fingerprints. Is it in nature? Kids? Animals? Where do you see them? Thank you to Pampering Beki for hosting this each week! Everyone is welcome to join. To see how to join, as well as find links to other Fingerprint Friday posts, visit Pampering Beki's blog.

CHECKING IN...

I know I've been scarce lately. I can't really explain why except that we have a lot of projects going on around the house inside and out and ,well, the weather has been so nice! I've noticed a few of you have visited and I'm sorry there hasn't been anything new to read. We've been having some landscaping done in our yard, new carpet installed and while I'm not doing the work, of course I need to supervise!

Track season is also winding down so I'm looking forward to seeing more of my son, not driving everywhere for meets and and more importantly not standing out shivering in the rain for 3 hours anymore. We have the finals today and I'm elated to say that it is actually sunny!


The quilted pillow sham project for my son's bed is now finished, you remember the one that I told you about a few weeks ago where I had to rip out all my quilting stitches? Please tell me it looks like Pottery Barn because that was my inspiration. Now I'm feeling motivated to finish a sweater I started knitting last year. When I finish one project I always seem find another one that's incomplete! The disadvantages of being crafty I suppose!

Sales in my shop have been pretty steady this month, and while I won't be paying the mortgage with my profits anytime soon, I'm feeling good about the way it's going. I just added these necklaces to my shop which I've called "Alpha Pendants". The initial is stamped while the Metal clay is in the "wet stage", dried, filed and then fired. I dug through my old scrapbooking supplies for the rubber stamps that I'm using, how fun (and practical) is that? I sold my first pendant within a few days so that's always a plus! Here's a photo of the pendants I've made so far, with the first one being shipped today.

Sorry about my randomness, but that's a little how I'm feeling right now! How have you been in your part of the world? Are you getting out to enjoy the warmer weather, or finishing some projects as well?

PS: Don't you just love my new shoes. I resisted buying Mary Janes for so long but now I think I'm going to live in flats from now on!

SWEET FEELING...

I am beside myself because a treasury I was featured in made it to the coveted front page of Etsy. For the first time ever I get to experience this sweet feeling that I'd heard so much about and it positively made my day! Of course I missed actually seeing when it was up though.

I suspected that something special had happened when I noticed that the number of views and hearts in my shop skyrocketed. I checked the treasury archive and low and behold I'd been on the front page. I have to thank AshleyPaul for creating this beautiful treasury and the 2 sales I received as a result.

By the way, my item is the small hoops earrings on the far left of the second column, (which actually didn't sell).

I can see now how being on the front page, frequently, can give your shop a real boost! Meanwhile I'll keep trucking along with my little shop and enjoy this sweet feeling for the rest of the day, okay?

FINGERPRINT FRIDAY

A Washington state ferry coming in to the terminal.

Would you like to take a walk with me today through one of my favorites places here on Fidalgo Island, Washington? God's fingerprints are all over here! I took these photos this morning during a 2.2 mile stroll along what is called the Loop Road through Washington Park. This 220 acre park sits at the most western edge of the town on Rosario Strait just past the place where the ferries leave for all of the San Juan Islands and Victoria, British Columbia (Canada).

It is so quiet in this green santuary except for the sound of birds chirping, the seagulls calling and the waves striking the rocky shore. I missed taking a photo of a bald eagle coming in from sea to roost in his nest mistaking it at first for a lowly seagull (sorry seagull, I know God made you too!). Oh, well maybe next time. I also did not see deer today but we often see them grazing in the meadow.

Wildflowers

growing by the shoreline.

A carpet of ferns. So many shades of green in the forest.

The 2.2 mile "loop road" takes you in a circle around the perimeter of the park. There are some great hills to give your heart a little workout

You are rewarded at the top of this hill with a gorgeous view of Burrows Bay.

So look around you and see where YOU can see God's fingerprints. Is it in nature? Kids? Animals? Where do you see them? Thank you to Pampering Beki for hosting this each week! Everyone is welcome to join. To see how to join, as well as find links to other Fingerprint Friday posts, visit Pampering Beki's blog.

THE LUCKY WINNER IS...

Today is the day we find out who is the winner of these handmade fine silver earrings from my shop Beadin' By The Sea. First of all I want to say "Happy Mother's Day" to you all! I also would like to thank all of you who wrote in and bragged about your mothers. I was excited to receive 117 entries in all.

Some of the heartfelt comments really brought tears to my eyes, reminding me that I am not the only one who lost her mom at a young age. There are many of you out there who are also going through a tough time and being a support for Moms who are ill and my heart goes out to you. It was a comfort to me to hear the comments from those whose Moms are still around and how much you appreciate what they do and let them know while you still can.

So now let's see who won! My son drew the lucky number out of this handturned bowl.

It looks like the 72nd comment belongs to Brenda, congratulations! Here is what she wrote,

Again, I like to thank all of those who participated... and I hope you all have a Happy Mother's Day!

NO TIME FOR SLEEP!

Just a reminder that if you haven't entered yet for my Mother's Day Giveaway Contest then click here. The drawing will be tomorrow May 10th, 2009 at 4:00 PM PST.

So brag on your Mother and let me know why she is so special! Your entry just may be drawn to win these beautiful "Forget Me Not" Fine Silver PMC Earrings, available in my shop Beadin By The Sea.

FINGERPRINT FRIDAY

When my husband and I were expecting our first child, everyone told us what a blessing it is be parents. I really don't think we had any perception of what it would be like until our son actually arrived. Now, as he is growing up, I realize there are really no words to describe the feeling I have or the pride I feel when he makes good choices, tries his hardest in a race, does well on a test, gives me a hug or simply says "I love you, Mom" even before I say it. Now don't get me wrong, it hasn't all been a bed of roses. There have been moments of frustration, weariness, worry, stress, but those seem so insignificant in comparison to the joy.

God chose to bless us with just one child when what we really longed for was two. Because of this, we have poured enough energy and love for two kids into one and really it is okay, now, after getting over the disappointment of learning we would not have another. I often joke with my son, that I smother him because he is the only one and he has to endure the attention of two kids... his "lot in life" I say. There is a bond between the three of us , Mom, Dad and child that is strong, supportive... inseparable. So that's my fingerprint for today, the blessings of motherhood.

ABOUT THE PHOTO: This has always been a favorite picture of mine, taken on Mother's Day four years ago when my son was eight, my how he has changed!

So look around you and see where YOU can see God's fingerprints. Is it in nature? Kids? Animals? Where do you see them? Thank you to Pampering Beki for hosting this each week! Everyone is welcome to join. To see how to join, as well as find links to other Fingerprint Friday posts, visit Pampering Beki's blog.

AS YE SEW...

NEEDLEWORKER'S PROVERB:

"As ye shall SEW, so shall ye RIP". Author Unknown

No, you read it right. It is not the well known biblical scripture "As ye SOW, so shall ye REAP". I'm talking about how if you expect to get any sewing done you will have to spend some time ripping out. Actually this can be applied to almost every project, whether it's knitting, sewing, needlework, making jewelry, there are times when you feel like you have to take 2 steps backwards to go forward one step.

A few days ago, I took out a sewing project that has been taunting me for the last year. I kept hearing the fabric crying out "Finish what you started, already!" So now, I am determined to finish some quilted pillow shams for my son's bed.

I know that his quilt has been finished now for over a year, a quilt that I pieced with fabrics we bought on a trip to Kauai, and had one of those professional quilters with those awesome long arm machines on ball bearings and a 10 foot long frame, quilt. Not to mention the fact, that my 12 year old probably does not even know or care what a pillow sham is! Oh, but she made lovely even stitches in a beautiful wave pattern and I am trying to recreate it on the pillow shams. Why oh why did I not have her also quilt the pillow shams? Well, because they were not made at the time and I didn't want to drive the 10 miles again to her house to deliver them for quilting. And now, she lives in Kansas and I am in Washington state.

Meanwhile, I am ripping out stitches because I'm not happy with the way they look. And, I don't have enough fabric to piece another piece, unless I go back to Kauai and get some more. (Mmm, I like that idea!) I am determined to finish this so I will promise you all a picture of the completed bed with matching pillow shams when complete. And I will finish, because I bought some more yarn to start a felted knitted bag and I WILL NOT start knitting until this project is done!

Do you have any unfinished projects calling out to you? Feel free to share in the comments below.

FINGERPRINT FRIDAY

Well, they bloomed, they finally bloomed! We've been waiting in great anticipation to go see the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival this Spring. Since we were in Kansas the last 2 years, we feel like tourists in our own town revisiting all the special sights that we missed while being gone. On the tulip festival website it says, "Bloom times dependent on Mother Nature". In my book, mother nature is God Himself, the Master Gardener.

Take a look at the color and the beauty in these... just breathtaking. As you approach the fields, you are greeted by bands of cheerful color and I can't help but feel a smile come over my face. Not just a gorgeous sight, but a wonderful feeling to be home!

Me and my favorite young man, my 12 year old son.

Me and my other favorite man. My son took this one, he's a great photographer, don't you think?

So look around you and see where YOU can see God's fingerprints. Is it in nature? Kids? Animals? Where do you see them? Thank you to Pampering Beki for hosting this each week! Everyone is welcome to join. To see how to join, as well as find links to other Fingerprint Friday posts, visit Pampering Beki's blog.