Ever since I started making fabric masks for PPE, I am obsessed with fabric! I cannot seem to stay away from the fabric store! And, even if I go there to get something other than fabric – like thread, elastic, interfacing, or another craft item, I come out with fabric! Today was a case in…
crafting
The Happy Act of Sewing
Today was spent being happily occupied. I was busy sewing most of the day sans a trip to the dollar store, post office, and bank in town. From 8 o’clock until 12 noon, I worked on making more fabric masks. This afternoon, I was back at it again, with the exception of playing with our…
Fabric Mask Making Makes Me Grateful
My boys keep watching me and gently teasing about my “mask factory.” Every morning, for the last week I have started the day by making more fabric masks. I’m well past 50 masks completed now with several local families served. Yesterday, I also shipped out a second order to my sister who works in Buffalo,…
Channeling Grandma: A Gift from the Past!
Over the last month, I’ve thought about my maternal grandmother a lot. She is someone I definitely miss having in my life, despite the fact she’s been gone almost twenty years. You see, I have been sewing masks or PPE using her old SEARS Kenmore sewing machine. This machine, which I’ve owned for a large…
Baking & Cooking Lend Comfort
Over the last month, we’ve been treated to some homemade bread products. Our son, a graduate student, has been home temporarily due to the virus and passing some time working on a sourdough starter, bread, and pretzels. They’ve been warmly received by everyone in our home – especially his younger brothers. We’ve laughed as he…
School, Creativity, and Work: Using all three for Life’s Balance
It took me until I was in my 40’s to discover (or rediscover) my creative side. In school, I was a serious student, striving for straight A’s (usually getting them), and leaving little to chance through unpreparedness or lack of completing the assigned work. From high school, I carried this work ethic through college and…
Conditioning for Anxiety or Creativity ?
Gardening, woodworking, jewelry making, painting, 3-D printing, writing, and music making – these are just a few of the hobbies that my immediate family pursues. Lately, I have spent some time pondering personality traits. For instance, I think that we condition ourselves and our children for anxiety. Sometimes we, as parents, set up unnecessary and…
Ten+ Years of Jewelry Making
Today, I made a decision to close my Etsy shop, Carol’s Jewelry Orchard. It’s been open for ten years! Ten Years! Wow! I seriously do not know where the time has gone. During the ten years of making affordable, handcrafted jewelry, I progressed as an artist. What started as a need to have something of…
Photo Challenge: Any Kind Of Geometric Shape in Black and White
The following are my entries for Cee’s Black and White Photo Challenge on January 3, 2019. The prompt is for any kind of Geometric Shape in Black and White. Although all six of these photos were originally in color, a black and white filter was applied, and they are still stunning! Enjoy some Origami Creations…
Bargain Days
Today is Slice of Life Tuesday, a day of the week that connects us with other writers and authors who post in the like named forum hosted by Two Writing Teachers! Today, I offer a true slice of my world from this morning! As many know, retail establishments run bargain days, sidewalk sales, and other types…









