Season's Change Second Edition...Fall Week 1

For a whole year I will try to find the awesomeness included in all four Seasons

perhaps the weather or a nature shot...

maybe display the Holidays in turn

who knows?

The sky is the limit.

I was taking pictures for my etsy shop.  I laid my camera down on the counter and it only reminded me that I can't wait to see some fall colors.  Hello Fall.

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Etsy finds...Say Hola to etsy

Some of you already know this, some of you might not but it's no secret that my first language is Spanish.  I though I'd incorporate my bilingual skills on my 'etsy finds section' once in a while!  I will begin with the basics, so 

'Say Hola to etsy'

Hola is Hello

Hola sign by AmericanaSigns


Adios is Goodbye

Scrabble Word keychain by VintageJoysAndJewels

A Dog is a Perro

Luchamal El perro peligroso by StudioLongoria

A cat is a gato 

 El Gato Spanish Cat Greeting Card by soobeeart

Pretty easy stuff ah??

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Letter to my younger self.

Dear Claudia:

I really cannot complain I had a beautiful childhood.  I had my parents together a roof over our head and food on our table.  What else could I have asked for?  Maybe I could but I never did.  I was a happy child and content with what I had.  I shared good and bad times with my two brothers older and younger.  Time that I now cherish.  I won't lie either I remember fighting a lot and them giving me a hard time while I was playing barbies.   I remember I never had a bike of my own (insert a sad face here)while they took theirs apart and build 'new ones'.  One thing I know, being the only girl was great! (Cristina my baby sister came along when I was 13) Me and my mom used to go downtown every Saturday to buy yarn, new fabrics or whatever material needed for our projects.  Then we spent the rest of the weekend working on them.  I only wish I would have picked up some gardening tips from her.

Being the only girl and the middle child wasn't easy at times. They protected me during elementary and middle school years.  Including chasing boys.  Jorge my oldest brother embarrassed me in our teenage years in front of friends doing things like coming out of the house in boxers to tell them it was to late for visitors. More embarrassment when he used to break dance in front of my classmates.  What? was I supposed to do brag that he was my brother?...No way.  Or if I was going out with a boy yelling things like 'Hey she's still  my sister!!" Hello!!! he only picked me up to go to church...well I did like the boy but he was only  an unreachable love. Jorge is know for embarrassing people.

And then driver's ed...oh gosh Jorge no patience at all, no fun.  Eduardo my youngest brother all the patience in the world!  I remember I would ask him how am I doing?  Great he would say even though I was driving all crooked. Many adventures with him like being stranded in the middle of some mountains on my uncle's pickup truck. I remember thinking 'we're never getting out of here' or at least 'I'll never make it to work on time' But we were rescued by a total stranger and luckily I made it to work on time. 

I am so glad I had my two brothers to grow up with.  Also glad that they are here when I need them at this time in age.  I love them and love the fact that our families are close.

One thing I regret now is if I had know that Jorge would love sailing and Eduardo would love fishing I probably would have learned how to swim. Maybe one day.

PS  I know you try to put it in the back of your head but you know you are the one on the right in this picture, yeah you know you looked like one of the boys with your short curly hair.

Love,

Claudia

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Seasons Change Second Edition...Summer week 13

For a whole year I will try to find the awesomeness included in all four seasons,

perhaps the weather or a nature shot...

maybe the holidays in turn

who knows?

The sky is the limit.

Goodbye Summer at least officially, 

is there a like button?? because I would hit it more than twice. 

Don't get me wrong I like Summer,kids

out of school, long afternoons, free time without schedules.

It's the heat that it's the hardest to cope with.

But we've made it.  

So Good bye Summer, 
I know we'll meet again.

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Xavi's rules to relationships

Here is my baby a few years back!

Xavi was telling me his rules to relationships the other day: 

1. Say Hi to a girl
2. Ask to be friends
3. Ask her out
4. Kiss
5. Marry
6. Kiss some more

I think it's great how easily kids make new friendships.  While we waited for his sister after school a couple of weeks ago he eagerly wanted to go say hi to a girl named Taylor. 

She is a classmate. 

On the way home that is when he explained to us 'his rules for relationships'  

He also told us that he asked Taylor to be friends

...Taylor's answer 'whatever'

I guess my little boy is stuck on # 2 for now.  Too young anyways, He will be 6 yrs old in 9 days...when did that happen I ask myself.

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Featured artist...Tami from pillowsbytamilyn

For this weeks's feature please met Tami from pillowsbytamilyn.  She has three charming etsy shops with lovely items!  Please enjoy the interview and her creations.

1. Tell us as little or as much as you would like about yourself.
Hi, my name is Tami Lyn and I live in Rochester N.Y. I grew up in the beautiful Keuka Lake town of Hammondsport. After moving, I met and married my high-school boyfriend, did some Dental Assisting and raised 3 children. We have 2 grown daughters and 1 son. We also have 9 biological grandbabies and 3 new step grandbabies as our son married a gal with 3 children. I love my son-in-laws and daughter-in-law and grandbabies with ALL my heart! Because we are young grandparents we are really enjoying them. “Grammie” is my favorite title by far, and Christmastime is magical!
I love children and have worked with them all my life, from, Babysitting to substitute teaching, school cafeteria worker, Daisy Scout Leader, Preschool teacher, Sunday School teacher, etc..

Pillows TIME FOR PARIS

2. What do you sell?

I have 3 Etsy shops and love creating! I design vintage and romantic inspired art for your home, gift giving, or to wear. I started Etsy creating hand drawn magnetic paper dolls and clothing for them.
After a bit of that fun, I started creating real clothing and the rest is history ;)
www.tamilyn.etsy.com
www.pillowsbytamilyn.etsy.com
www.photoprintsbytamilyn.etsy.com

3. Why handmade?
 Handmade to me means receiving an item which was created from the heart, and touched with love making it a very personal and joyous purchase to keep or to give.

4. Where does your inspiration to create come from and/or your inspiration in life?
Inspiration can come from anywhere! A walk through an antique store, fabric shops, magazines, as well as upholstered furniture stores. Nature, gardens and the Bible as well.

5. Besides creating what else do you do? Do you have a full time job?
 Faith is very important to our family. I volunteer a lot at our church. Designing for my Etsy shops is pretty much full time along with babysitting my grandbabies to help out our children. One of my favorite things is creating fond memories for my family. I also love to write and have a Children’s Book in my head hoping for a publisher. I have been published in magazines as well as my first book (Raising Stephen One Day at a Time) on Amazon.

Digital Photo Download 

6. When did you start thinking you were an artist?
 When I was about 12 years old I started having hopes that maybe I could become an artist after selling one of my creations to a local gift shop. It was a barn-wood plaque with dried flowers on it.  


7. Who has been most influential in your craft work?
I grew up around many creative souls in my family. But, I’d say the most encouraging and supportive folks today would be my mom, my children and my BFF.

8. Where would you like to be in five years?
I would love to be even more successful with my Etsy business in 5 years! Otherwise, I am pretty happy with how The Lord has blessed me. One thought I’d like to try is teaching a basic sewing class out of my home studio for primary aged children. 

Petticoat Apron Becky Sue

9. Is there anything you'd like to try doing that you haven't done?
crafts, sports, life in general?
I’ve always had a desire to own my own brick and mortar store front, or a B&B, or combination of both. I would love to do pottery on a wheel too! I would love to visit France or Italy one day to explore my roots, and, hey…who wouldn’t want a backyard swimming pool?


10. Besides online where else do you sell
I’ve done craft shows and home parties, but my favorite is online. I just love to pack something in a special way and imagine the buyer wearing or using my item. I’ve met so many wonderful folks all over the world! I also love receiving my supplies via mail, most of them from other Etsy shops! There is nothing quite like seeing a package on your doorstep. 
I will always create and design as long as I am able, for to reign in that passion would just make me miserable!

                                                            ways to contact you:

*etsy shop* *etsy shop* *etsy shop* 

*blog*

*facebook*

*twitter* 

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Season's change Second Edition...Summer Week 12

For a whole year I will try to find the awesomeness included in all four seasons,

perhaps the weather or a nature shot...

maybe the holidays in turn

who knows?

The sky is the limit.

Sleepless nights??  Yes I have those once in a while...too many things on my mind I need to learn to set them aside in order to have a good night's sleep. I also, hate waking up in the middle of the night to go pee because then it's hard to go back to sleep.

I always thought that it is fascinating how ancient people used stars as guides to travel.  I don't have a sense of direction or don't know how to read a map.  

On a compass I know the South is at the bottom because I learned that the North is on top, and the West (beach) is on the left therefore the East is on the right!!  Heck I don't have a GPS but I bet you even if I had one I'd get lost while driving for directions. No kidding! 

I think I can tell the where is the  little dipper.

I've never ever been interested in astrology nor astronomy but I remember while in my teenage years reading the "horroscopes".  Truly never lived by it, specially after a friend of mine who worked at a local newspaper told me how he himself wrote them and just made up numbers and positive things so that people believe them.  Ultimately why trust the stars if I can trust in the one who made them!

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Hello 41

Has it been a year??  It has...I had another Birthday on Sunday.  

Hello 41.

To be honest I had a lame Birthday, I ate something on Saturday that my stomach didn't like.  I spent most of Sunday with a queasy stomach, laying in bed with fever, and in the bathroom.  

But I do thank God for another year and for my family that took care of me!  I am still in recovery mode.

Here are the best presents  received from my kids:

 Xavi made this box himself.  Do you spy dollar bills inside??  yes, he gave me his own $2

Now Sophia made a coupon book for me!

I might start clipping soon!  I love how she drew our hairstyles and the faces she made...

Hello 41!

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Featured artist...Alessandra from mapano

Enjoy this Sunday's feature meeting Alessandra from mapano and her lovely creations!

Tell us as little or as much as you would ilke about yourself.
My name is Alessandra. I live in Italy, near Turin and I am a happy wife and a busy mom of two little girls tempted daily to stay in yoga pants.

I'm crafter and creative and I like everything is original and unique.

Framed Home Decor

What do you sell?
Last year I opened my little shop on Etsy, MAPANO', with some creations entirely designed and assembled by me.
3D framed wall ornaments, home decorations, baby dummy keepers, hairbands and fiber jewelry decorated with delicate fabric flowers, copper spirals, beads and pearls.

Cotton, linen, silk and lace, but also twine and burlap are my favorite materials.

What's Mapanò?

MA, for MAMMA in Italian (mom in English)

PA, for PAPA' in Italian (dad in English)

NO, for NONNO in Italian (grandfather in English)

Mapanò is a project that includes ideas and skills of all three!

A beautiful way to live my family and create something unique with people I love!

Why handmade?
Above all I love handmade because is free expression of own imagination and creativity. Noone is able to handmake something like another one. All handmade creations are always unique and unrepeatable.



Romantic Flower headband

Where does your inspiration to create come from and/or your inspiration in life? Who has been influential in your craft work?

When I was just a little child, I started looking at my mother sew and it looked so funny! She teached me to use needle and thread and to create something new using only fantasy and my creativity.

My mother has been a big source of inspiration for me. Simple and always present, she teached me to be honest and to work hard and properly. She died 8 years ago after a long illness but she's always with me and in every smile of my daughters.

When I sew I lose my head and my imagination runs away in a romantic French cottage where I find my inspiration.

I love everything is country style and rustic but elegant and chic likewise.

Jersey Long Necklace

Besides creating what else do you do? Do you have a full time job?
When I'm not creating fabric flowers, I love listen to music (Broadway musical soundtracks, in particular), eat and cook (maybe too much!!) and dance like a crazy with my little two daughters.

I have a full time job. I'm Front Office and Event Manager in a five stars hotel in Turin.

I love my job, I love meet different people everyday and help them to organize their events.

This is a different way to live my creative passion!

French Rustic Home Framed Decoration

Where would you like to be in five years?
At this moment I not know exactly what the future holds for me.

I'll probably have to leave soon my full time job to follow my daughters (very very hard if your husband works far away all week long...), so it's possible that Mapanò, started like a creative hobby, will become a real job.

I'm thrilled and scared at the same time!

I'd like to be a mom that reads a story to her daughters before to go to bed and then works until midnight sewing in the silence of the night! Wow!

Ways to contact you:

*etsy shop*

*facebook*

*twitter*

*pinterest*

E-mail geninatti.sandra@gmail.com

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Happy Mail

This is some outgoing and incoming mail lately:

OUTGOING:

 Postcard sent to Priya in Burbank, CA

 Cardiff by the Sea is a beach community in San Diego County, I sent this postcard to Nebraksa.

I have been using my typewriter to write letters.  The machine is a little rusty and so am I.

I keep trying to hit the backspace when I make a typo!!

Postcard sent to Dear Micaela who 

is soon to be a mom of a baby girl!!  

Micalea from DolceVita came to my etsy shop some years ago, she said she would be back and she did.

I don't know how she found my blog but was one of my very first followers oh and she also found me on facebook and liked my page.
I've followed her story ever since.
 I am so happy for her new bundle of joy.

I love what this card says 
and I think it fits the Maxham's perfectly :)

Postcard going to Kansas.

INCOMING:

Postcard received from Kansas

DeGray Lake Resort Postcard From Lori...hey I wouldn't mind to stay here for a week or so :)

 Crater Of Diamonds State Park postcard also from Lori, who unfortunatley said it is very hard work searching for diamonds on high temperature :(  bummer, maybe next time!

At last a cow was found!!  My penpal Maria found it, I think this cards fits us perfectly!!

 Postcard from my penpal in Kansas.

Card from Priya in Burbank CA

Close up so you can read the card

 I'd love my own post office!

Hope your weekend is great!

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Season Change Second Edition...Summer Week 11

For a whole year I will try to find the awesomeness included in all four seasons,

perhaps the weather or a nature shot...

maybe display the holidays in turn

who knows?

The sky is the limit.

This has Summer has indeed been a crazy one and extremely hot!  But then again if you know me I'd probably say that every Summer :/ Summer is not my favorite season.

Last week it poured on us!  But only for about 20 minutes, then it was more hot and humid than ever. The kids got very excited I let them get wet a bit again.  Xavi said it was like a free car wash!  Let it rain!!!!

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Quinceañera

A Quinceañera is a celebration of a gilr's fifteen birthday.  You can read more here, if you've never heard of one...it's like a Sweet Sixteen Party.  I myself never had one, never cared and never will therefore Sophia will not have one :( face for her, because I know she would like one. 

My husband's cousin invited us to her daughter's Quinceañera.  These type of parties are nice because it reunites the family.  Nobody wants to miss a Quinceañera. This was a real nice one.

We drove two hours to where the thanksgiving mass took place.  Then we went to the reception but had a couple of hours in between.  We stopped at this Mexican Plaza where I took some pictures.  Here is a picture overload.

I won't deny some party people ended up on the floor!  We really had a nice time

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