A Dog's Life!

Oh, to live the life of a dog. What a pleasure. Well, if you're a loved-live-in-the-house dog that is! Let me introduce to my three baby girls...

This is Roxy. I acquired this sweet 3 year old Min-Pin from Amy, a friend of my oldest daughter (Jenn). My beautiful baby Penny (also a Min-Pin) had gone to doggy heaven two years ago. After months and months of grieving terribly, I wanted another Min-Pin. But after "pricing" them...I knew they were beyond my doggy budget. (Penny had been a gift to my youngest daughter, Rebekah. When she got married, Penny became my best friend.)
So one day when I was in Austin visiting Jenn, her friend Amy brought Roxy over to visit. Long story short...Amy needed to find a new home for Roxy. I was so excited. Thank you, God! So Roxy and I made the long 8 hour drive back home. She was welcomed by Liberty and Belle. Roxy is my lovey!

This is Belle. She is the Queen Dog...Alpha Bitch...Big Britches of the three. She doesn't know she's the smallest. I acquired Belle from a parent at the school where I work. She was trying to sell the puppies. Again...no doggy-budget! At the end of the day, the sweet mom brought Belle to me and wanted me to have her. Belle is a Dachsund-mix. Belle is my sweetheart.

Meet my beautiful Liberty. Another dog acquired from someone else, Liberty came to live with us when my boyfriend's son, Andres, had to get rid of the wee little puppy he had been given. Liberty, being a Lab and Ridgeback mix, did not stay wee little very long. When Andres could not keep Liberty anymore, I took her in. There was actually a time when she first came to live with us that she could walk under Belle's legs...for a couple of weeks at the longest! Liberty is my precious.

Now why, you ask, am I telling you about my dogs? and how I acquired them? and what kind of dogs they are? Well, some of us are much like these little critters. We came to be where we are in a variety of ways. We may have started out in one place only to find ourselves in another. All the while being loved by many. Sometimes we cause chaos and at other times we are the peace of a gentle snuggle to someone we love. Just like Belle and Roxy and Liberty, we each have our own idiosyncrasies...our lil quirks that make us who we are. Their loyalty and unconditional love are a testament to us all to give of ourselves as they do...expecting nothing in return. (Well, okay...maybe a dog biscuit or treat.) My life has been blessed by these beautiful girls - my Belle, Roxy, and Liberty.

Blessings for a Dog's Life! Hugs to you all. :D

All Things T!m 2010 Calendar Swap

I am participating in a 2010 Calendar Page Swap on the All Things T!m Yahoo group. Each member/participant is making one of the months and I made the cover. We all made 13 to trade and one that the hostess will send to Tim Holtz. (Wow! To think one of my 'artistic creations' will actually be in T!m's home!)
Anyway...these are the 13 for trade...

...and this is the one for T!m. I used the following T!m products and techniques:

* Fired Brick Distress Crackle Paint and Distress Ink on the hand-cut Grungepaper heart.

* Rock Candy Distress Crackle Paint on the tag which was also distressed using Corduroy and Fired Brick Distress Ink.

* Tag was stamped using a stamp from his Stamper's Anonymous collection.

* ATC is stamped using another stamp from his ATC Stamper's Anonymous collection and distressed with Corduroy Distress Ink then edged with Black Diamond Stickles.

* ATC has dots of Tiara Stickles in 3 of the corners.

* Flower is distressed with Rock Candy Distress Stickles.

* The center of the flower is comprised of a washer, brad, and safety pin from his Idea-ology line. (I learned this T!m technique at Creative Escape in AZ in August.)

* 2010 tags were colored with Fired Brick Distress ink and distressed with Black Distress Ink. They dangle freely from the tag which is tied with black tulle.

All papers are by 7 Gypies.

Once the hostess swaps each member's/participant's page, a complete calendar will be returned to us. They will then be bound at the top with the Bind-It-All. What fun it's been! :D

In Our Mother's Memory

With a look of surprise...well, more like glee...my sister, Sherri, accepts the key to the condo she and her husband just purchased in Ruidoso, New Mexico. Our mother loved the mountains and she had a place there that we used to visit for some much-needed R & R.

Here we are - ready to open the front door. Her place is gorgeous...warm and welcoming.

This is her son's, Brett, room decorated in a cowboy theme. Yippee-I-O!

Wow! After a long day of skiing for Sherri or golf for Steve or shopping for both, they can enjoy the jacuzzi in the master bathroom. Now that's the life!

God has blessed our families in so many ways. May you have many wonderful memories, my dear sister and friend. Luv ya!

BTW...I'm currently working on getting a smaller...much smaller...place in the mountains also. :D

Blessings to you all, denise

Giving Thanks!

Happy Thanksgiving to each and every one of you! God has blessed me in so many ways. Yesterday I was sad because Thanksgiving dinner was only going to be my daughter, Bekah, and me. My two oldest children, Jenn and Chris, weren't able to join us. Too expensive to fly...not enough time off to drive. My plan was to just go eat at Luby's - no cooking, no dishes. But then Bekah said, "What is Thanksgiving without cooking and dishes?" So we cooked..and did dishes! She invited some of her friends and we had a delightful time. They are now watching the Dallas Cowboys game. Go, 'Boys!

The little trinket/hot pad above was my dear mother's. Every holiday meal at her house was served on her collection of various hot pads. Though she could never claim fame to being a good cook, she made up for it in her creativity. Just had to include one of the hot pads in the centerpiece for the table. I love you, Mom. Did they serve turkey and ham in heaven? :D

Lunch cooked: 5 hours. Lunch eaten: 20 minutes. Kitchen cleaned: 30 minutes. Now cheering on the Team of Texas - the Dallas Cowboys: priceless! Love that Belle!...

...and my sweet baby Roxy! Thank you, God, for our abundant blessings.

Give thanks, denise

Yeah, Bekah!

I am one proud mama here! My baby Bekah graduated recently earning her medical assistant certification. She plans to continue on and earn an associate degree and then a bachelors degree. She's one awesome kid!

That's my baby...She has worked so hard for this day. Yeah, Bekah!

Ain't she a cutie? I love you, Precious!

Through many struggles, she is a survivor. Thank you, Lord, for Your grace and understanding. I'm so proud of my Rebekah Larae.

God is good...Blessings to you all, denise :D

New Books Using Tim Products!

Hey, check it out! I found these great books yesterday at my LSS (The Stamp Act in El Paso, Texas) which use the Tim Holtz line of Idea-ology and Ranger products. They are published by Design Originals. Of course I had to buy all three. Now I'll have to check out Design Originals website to see what else they may have. :D

This one has card making ideas. Too cute...I luv it! Can be a "just because" card or for a special holiday or celebration.

This book has home decorating and accessories ideas. Luving it, too!

This one is my favorite. It has jewelry projects. I see gift-giving ideas here. Oh, boy!

We can never have too many ideas for Tim's terrific stuff. I'm anxious to see what he has coming for us in January. Yeah, Tim...Luv ya, Baby!

Give thanks for our many blessings. Hugs, denise :D

Happy Birthday, Vista Ysleta United Methodist Church

Today we celebrated the 100th birthday of our church, Vista Ysleta United Methodist Church in El Paso, Texas. We enjoyed a yummy catered bbq lunch...shared fond memories...recognized our "old" members...and had fun with skits and special music.

The Ladies Aid Society presents a skit remembering the good ol' days of the church. (That's me with the white hat on the far right.)

"Oh, my. Those bygone days were hot with no air conditioners in our little church."

We were treated to beautiful music by a string quartet during our lunch.

Our oldest member is 101 years old and has been a member of the congregation for 69 years. Wow! Many other "old timers" we recognized as well.

Happy Birthday, Vista Ysleta UMC. May God bless us for another 100 years and more. May we always be in His service.

Teaching Tim's Talent...

I had the opportunity to teach my first ever stamping/scrapbooking class yesterday at The Stamp Act in El Paso, Texas. (Thanks, Polly!) Our morning class was the Tim Holtz Journey Journal from Creative Escape 2009. Polly and I picked some lovely brown and blue papers with flocking for our version of the book. In the afternoon, I taught a version of the Tim journal that I designed entitled "Home For The Holidays". It used cute paper with houses, another with presents, and another with trees. All nestled in one of those cute lil' suitcases. Polly had some wonderful poinsettias for the pages to add that warm Christmas feel.

Some of the ladies in the afternoon class show off their finished books. Thanks, Gals!
Adding the finishing touches...lots of wonderful idealogy goodies and Tim hardware.
Having fun distressing...and de-stressing. Lots of stuff to distress in this lil' book.

More distressing..Totally Tim!

I'm Teaching a Tim Holtz Inspired Class

Here I am with the Terrific Tim Holtz at Creative Escape 2009 where I had the opportunity to make this too cute journey journal in a mini-suitcase. Luv it...and Tim!

Now I will be teaching this class to other wonderful women. Thanks, Tim!

So I then made a "Home For The Holidays" Christmas Memory Book...

...complete with poinsettas (dusted with Rock Candy Stickles) and Christmas gifts paper.

...and pockets to place those treasured photos.

Check it out at The Stamp Act in El Paso, Texas. If you're in the area, we'd love to have you join us! The more...the merrier!

Hugs and Kisses to you all...especially Tim!

Relaxing and Refeshing Ruidoso

In the mountains of Ruidoso, New Mexico during the Aspenfest Weekend...

Meet my new friend! :D He was visiting outside our cabin...with his fish to share!

The splendor of the aspens as they change colors...brilliant and breath-taking beauty.

Saturday morning along the Ruidoso River. Cool, clear mountain water. Blessings...

Little cabin in the woods...Forest Home Cabins in Ruidoso, New Mexico. So cozy.

My boyfriend/significant other and I spent a wonderful relaxing and refreshing weekend in the mountains of New Mexico this past weekend. We drove up Friday evening and stayed in a wonderful cabin on the Ruidoso River.

Then on Saturday we had a delicious breakfast while waiting for the Aspenfest parade to pass through town. Went to the wonderful store of DeCarol Jewelry. Of course I couldn't resist taking home one of her gorgeous rings. :D Love the cross on the side...

Next we went to the Aspenfest Arts and Crafts Show in the park. Cool and rainy, but such fun. Had hot chocolate...with extra whipping cream...and pistochio carmel popcorn from a local pistachio farm. Yum! Bought some wonderful cashmere and silk shawls.

Then we drove the beautiful winding mountain road over to Cloudcroft, New Mexico were we went to another arts and crafts show...and visited more little shops full of unique finds. More awesome handmade arts from people with like passions - giving of their hearts through their hands.

God's glory was everywhere. Thanks, mi amor, for sharing it with me. :D

Look who's a winner!...

Congrats to the four lucky ladies: Margie, Shannon, Shermala, and Sandy! I couldn't pick just one of you and let the other three be sad. :( So each of you will receive a bag/box of goodies. :) Send me your address at deex355@aol.com.

Thanks for visiting my blog. Hugs, denise

Wanna Win?...

Who wants to win something?
Here's what you gotta do...Leave a comment to this post no later than Friday, October 2. I will draw a name on Saturday to see who the lucky winner of a box of goodies perfect for the upcoming holiday creating.
Good luck! Hugs...denise

Chalk the Block Art Event

What fun we had at Chalk the Block Art Event

Just to give you an idea how large these works of art were. Gorgeous!

This past Sunday we went to Chalk the Block - an art event in downtown El Paso. Area artists had drawn various works of art on the sidewalks outside the art museum, but the heavy rains on Saturday night pretty much washed away their beautiful creations. We were able to get a few pictures, so I thought I'd share...

Art indeed comes in so many forms...just like artists!

Color your world happy!

May God shower you with His abundant love. denise

Hannah goes to the hospital

Today began with church, sang in the choir, guest pastor delivered a wonderful sermon, and ate lunch with my daughter, Bekah. Drove to the home of my church/choir member friend, Tori, for a nice afternoon of scrapbooking. Was going to work on my memory book from Creative Escape. Well, God had different plans. Tori's brown lab, Hannah, got bit by something. Her little eyes were swollen almost shut and her muzzle was HUGE. So off we drove to the animal emergency hospital - Hannah and Tori in the back seat and me driving the "doggie ambulance." After several hours...and many friends...two shots...and some TLC from the wonderful staff, Hannah was on the road to recovery. She was quite a popular girl! As we were leaving, people in the waiting room were saying, "Bye, Hannah."

Have you ever noticed how God has different plans for us quite often? Through Hannah's trip to the hospital Tori and I were able to meet many other dog and cat mommies and daddies. We witnessed the love they had for their "fur family." Some had happy endings...and some did not. We experienced the kindness and caring of the staff - even with the long wait. The doctor had an emergency surgery to perform. Her gift from God - saving the lives of animals. And last, but certainly not least, Tori and I were given the opportunity to become better friends.

So...thank you, God, for Hannah's trip to hospital. :D