FarAway Designs Cards

July Sale!

2010-06-29T11:00:00.001-04:00

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JULY SALE!

I hope you are enjoying your visit to my FarAway Designs Cards shop and take advantage of the SALE going on this month! Check out your savings:

* 10% OFF any purchase between $10 and $20 (excluding shipping), plus a 20% OFF coupon on one future purchase.

* 20% OFF any purchase over $20 (excluding shipping), plus a 20% OFF coupon for one future purchase.

* any purchase up to $10 will receive a 20% coupon good for one future purchase.

*** Discounts will be refunded to your PayPal account. If paying by credit card or prefer that I recalculate the amount for you and send you a new invoice, please let me know in a brief convo) ***

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beautiful you...

2010-05-22T16:36:00.001-04:00

Taking advantage of the fact that I did not have to work overtime this weekend, I sat myself down at my crafting table - and had a most productive night! Of course, that was helped by the fact that I was able to take a couple of hours nap, right after we had dinner :)

I worked mostly on fresh colored, bright and bold summertime notecards, embellished tags and regular sized cards, so keep an eye on my post to see them all!

"beautiful you" is a small 3.5in by 4.25in note card, most suitable to add to a gift or drop in a friend's bag. To read all the details, check out the listing HERE.

Spend $5, Get $5!

2010-05-10T16:50:00.001-04:00

FarAway Designs 5 Spot Sale!

Saturday, May 15th Only!

Spend $5 in an Etsy Greetings Team participating shop and receive a $5 gift certificate toward your next purchase of $10 or more!

New Arrival cards

2010-05-02T02:29:00.000-04:00

A happy event is always an inspirational start point on what I will create next for my shop, and so is this! Jim's son is expecting his first child, a little baby boy. As I made a card to attach to the baby gift I am sending Joey, Amanda and baby Chastin, I have decided to create two cards for my shop as well. "Baby Girl" and "Baby Boy" are the latest additions to my "Baby cards" section - so stop on by and check it out!

Meow... Meow...

2010-05-01T16:31:00.001-04:00

"Odd Friends" and "At Play" are two of my latest cross-stitch cards additions. They are simply adorable, are they not? They are the perfect touch to send to any cat lover...

One cat is not trouble, and two are so funny,

The third one is easy, the fourth one's a honey
The fifth is delightful, the sixth ones's a breeze.
You find you can live with a houseful, with ease.
"Why Own a Cat?" ~ Author Unknown

You can keep a dog; but it is the cat who keeps people, because cats find humans useful domestic animals.
~ George Mikes from "How to be decadent"

Teapots stitchery

2010-04-23T14:33:00.002-04:00

These adorable teapots remind me of summer, and sweet iced tea, and heat - too much heat... Check out "Birdhouse Teapot" and "Watermelon Teapot", then tell me what you think :)

Soul nourishment

2010-04-22T08:29:00.001-04:00

Do something silly today, the pure act of being silly can reset our serious nature and help create the shift we need.

Children appreciate all that is silly as a matter of course. Their grasp of humor is instinctual, and even the smallest absurdities provoke joyous gales of earnest laughter. As we age, this innate ability to see the value of silliness can diminish. Work takes precedence over play, and we have less incentive to exercise our imaginative minds by focusing on what is humorous. When we remember childhood, we may recall the pleasures of donning funny costumes, reciting nonsense poems, making up strange games, or playing pretend. This unabashed silliness nourished our vitality and creativity. We can take in this nourishment once again by giving ourselves permission to lighten up and be silly.

Too often we reject the wonderful silliness that is an inherent, inborn aspect of the self because we believe that it serves no purpose or is at odds with the grown-up culture of maturity. We play yet we do not lose ourselves in play, and our imaginations are never truly given free reign because we regard the products of irrational creativity as being valueless. Yet silliness itself does indeed constitute a vital part of human existence on a myriad of levels. Our first taste of ethereal bliss is often a consequence of our willingness to dabble in what we deem outrageous, nonsensical, or absurd. We delight in ridiculousness not only because laughter is intrinsically pleasurable, but also because it serves as a reminder that existence itself is fun. Skipping, doodling, and singing funny songs are no less entertaining than they were when we were children. We need not lose all interest in these cheerful and amusing activities, but to make them a part of our lives we must be ready to sacrifice a little dignity and a lot of fear.

It is precisely because so much of life is inescapably serious that silliness should be regarded as a priority. Through the magic of imagination, you can be or become anything—a photographer, a professional athlete, a dancer, a pilot. Whether you take hundreds of silly pictures, revel in the adulation of your fans as you make the winning catch, boogie down rock-star style in front of your bedroom mirror, or turn your desk into a cockpit, the ensuing hilarity will help you see that lighthearted fun and adulthood are not at all incompatible.

New Zodiac cards

2010-04-08T13:56:00.004-04:00

In the last couple of weeks I have decided that I needed to re-do all my photos in my Etsy shop. As I could not afford a lightbox at this time, I've improvised a bit. Although I am pleased with the way the new photos turned out, I know I am far, far from taking perfect photos. I'll keep working on it :)

Cancer Zodiac and Virgo Zodiac have been added to my cross-stitch Zodiac cards this week; a couple more Zodiac cards are ready to be photographed, resized then listed. However, this terms' classes are sapping all my available time. Working overtime this weekend - although a welcome from a financial standpoint - is not helping me with doing my new listings. I have got to learn the wonders of Time Management...

Do not...

2010-04-06T16:25:00.007-04:00

Do not...
undermine your worth by comparing yourself with others. It is because we are different that each of us is special.

Do not...
set your goals by what other people deem important. Only you know what is best for you.

Do not...
take for granted the things closest to your heart. Cling to them as you would your life, for without them, life is meaningless.

Do not...
let your life slip through your fingers by living in the past not for the future. By living your life one day at a time, you live all the days of your life.

Do not...
give up when you still have something to give. Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying. It is a fragile thread that binds us to each other.

Do not...
be afraid to encounter risks. It is by taking chances that we learn how to be brave.

Do not...
shut love out of your life by saying it is impossible to find. The quickest way to receive love is to give love; The fastest way to lose love is to hold it too tightly.

Do not...
dismiss your dreams. To be without dreams is to be without hope. To be without hope is to be without purpose.

Do not...
run through life so fast that you forget not only where you have been, but also where you are going.

Car woes - Life's answers

2010-04-01T16:33:00.005-04:00

There has been a lot of news coverage on a particular car maker's woes with their cars suddenly accelerating. SUA or Sudden Unintended Acceleration is actually nothing new. It's been going on for decades and not just in cars. We have SUA in our lives when things speed up out of control.

Experts suggest these steps if you experience SUA. As I analyzed the suggestions, they don't just apply to uncontrolled and unintended car acceleration, but these steps apply when things speed out of control in all areas of life.

1. Practice Deliberate Calm
Survivors of major disasters had this one trait in common. They didn't panic. This is the first major rule; stay calm, think and don't do something rash and unwise. Practice deliberate calm.

2. Don't turn off the engine.
The engine provides power to the power steering and brakes. If you turn off the engine, braking and steering become much harder. In life, when situations suddenly change speed, we can be tempted to simply turn off the engine. If something happens at our job that we don't like, we quit. If something happens in our marriage that we don't like, we quit. If something happens in our church that we don't like, we stop going to church. We turn off the engine.

3. Carefully press and hold the brakes.
Do not pump the brakes; press firmly with both feet on the brake. Changing speed and direction often takes time and considerable steady effort. The results of panic or emotion can be inconsistent stops and starts. When we have a health scare we start to eat right and exercise, then a few weeks later we stop. We pump the brakes but don't apply steady and consistent pressure and effort.

4. Shift into neutral.
Disengage from the thing that is causing so much havoc if possible. So many negative situations would be eliminated by the simple act of saying "No!"

5. Move safely into a side lane.
Many situations do require that we exit them when it is safe and wise to do so. When you practice deliberate calm, you can best determine when that time comes for you to shift lanes.

Follow the five rules above whenever you experience Sudden Unintended Acceleration - your life will Thank you for it!

Wide-Open Future

2010-03-27T05:17:00.003-04:00

Do you feel the urge to expand your horizons today? You may be compelled to travel; delve into a new discipline; or explore new professional, educational, and personal goals. As you open yourself to new discoveries, try not to engage in self-limiting behaviors. If you are able to approach your broadening worldview with an eye toward unlimited possibilities, you may be driven to pursue goals that once seemed impossible. You can teach yourself to discard limited thinking by exploring the dreams of your childhood. Should you discover that it isn’t difficult to figure out the steps you need to take to attain your goals, your confidence may flourish today.

By looking at the future as a tapestry of unlimited possibilities, you allow yourself to dream and explore without limits. By not constraining yourself, you grant yourself the freedom to explore different prospects and set elaborate goals for yourself. When you view the future as unwritten and thus malleable, you can feel like anything is possible. This freedom can inspire you to joyfully consider lifestyles and perspectives that may have previously seemed unrealistic. You’ll begin to realize that the only factor putting a restriction on the achievement of your goals is your own uncertainty and that your potential is as limitless as you wish it to be. Today, view life as a series of endless possibilities and no course of action will be closed to you.

Easter bookmarks :)

2010-03-05T12:37:00.004-05:00

Two of my favorite bookmarks sold about 10 days ago - I was sad to see them go! Both of them are in my "To Finish" stack, of course... Actually, I have just completed " Easter Cross" yesterday before heading out to work, and started stitching "HE Is Risen Indeed" when I got home this morning. I love those weekends when the "To Do" list is full, but the sun is shining, the coffee smells divine, and everything seems to be falling into place!

Giveaway card I won :)

2010-02-20T07:10:00.003-05:00

I don't often participate in giveaways, because I always end up not winning... lol... However, when I read about the card giveaway on Curious Gravy, I just had to check it out! I've never heard of linocut cards before... I fell in love with this sunny, bright card so I entered the giveaway - and for the first time ever, I finished winning a bit of Sunshine! I am simply delighted :)

Jenn creates her cards from linoleum blocks which she designs and carves by hand in her own studio - and what a fantastic job she does! Check out her Etsy shop, Curious Gravy - hand printed note cards for a awesome variety of designs and colors!

Masculine card

2010-02-19T23:52:00.005-05:00

I will admit: I am not very good at creating cards geared toward the male gender, although I do like the fact that I have to work without lots of frou-frou (bows, bright colors, embellishments, etc). I've used layers in three different colors, a soft yellow silk ribbon and three bling crystals in a smoky brown (though they looked more like metal when the camera flash hit them...)

I've made this card to send to my physical therapist and his office staff; their help didn't solve my back problems, but they cared enough to suggest that they might not be able to assist me at this point in time.

Spring Scrapbook Giveaway!

2010-02-12T17:49:00.002-05:00

Check out this awesome "Spring Scrapbook Giveaway" on Gen's Scrapbook Kitchen blog! I'm so ready for spring crafting, aren't you...?

Doctor's visit...

2010-02-12T14:24:00.004-05:00

Yesterday I went to see a doctor in regards to my back pain - finally! Well, the initial visit was with a nurse practitioner, who took down the details of my fall two months ago, level of pain I am in, what I've been doing to correct the problem, and so forth... I had an Xray done and she showed me what she called bone spurs on three of my vertebrae - resulting from a degenerative disc disease. I have been taught to do some new stretching exercises, this time with moist heat applied on my back. Also, I've got a prescription for two meds, Flexeril & Mobic, to take instead of Tylenol and Ibuprofen. Flexeril is a muscle relaxant (take three times a day) and Mobic is an anti-inflammatory, usually used for arthritic pain (take one pill daily). I took the Flexeril when I got home, and I was still groggy by the time I had to get ready for work... I have not been able to stay awake and aware for more than two hours since 10pm last night.

I'll see how I do the rest of the weekend, before calling the doctor's office for advice...

Halfway through the week...

2010-02-10T13:56:00.004-05:00

It snowed here this morning; there were big, wet , fluffy snowflakes coming down tirelessly when I got off work. Then, I get to my car and the magic stops: doors were both frozen shut! I was lucky one fellow from Maintenance was passing by and being the ever helpful Southerner man, he got the driver's door open so I can get in and go home :)

Sadly, the weather - and my bad, hurting back - keeps interfering with my accomplishing things. I have quite a few cards, cross-stitch and paper crafted, that are finished and in need of photos so they can be posted in my shop. I have also been considering deleting all my linkware web sets and developing my website into a card shop. It does not take a long time to do so (maybe a weekend), but I cannot sit on my office chair for long stretches - nor do I seem to have the energy. I should be looking into taking some B12 supplements, at least until winter is over with...

Raining...

2010-02-09T16:08:00.007-05:00

It's been raining on and off the whole day and it doesn't look as if it will stop anytime soon. It has been so overcast that it looks leke early evening rather than just past 4pm. I love the rain, but this is a bit much - I would love to see the sun for an hour or two :(

I went to therapy this morning; it was my 6th session and my back pain doesn't show any improvement. Last night at work, the simple act of coughing made my back muscles spasm so badly, I could hardly walk for the next 30min. After talking with Danny and updating him on this, he told me he'll discuss with the plant nurse to have a doctor appointment set up for me...

Weight Watchers meeting :)

2010-02-08T17:19:00.004-05:00

Just got back from our weekly Weight Watchers meeting - I've lost 3.5lb this week! Seems that 3lb was what most people lost, with one gal losing 6.2lb and another only 1lb. Following the Points system takes a bit of getting used to, and so does learning what a portion REALLY is. I've bought some aditional booklets, so now I have reading material for lunch time.

Dinner tonight will be grilled chicken breast with couscous and grilled vegetables, plus cantaloupe. Been told I've got to eat ALL the points I have, every day - or might gain (rather than lose) weight... Hmmmmm...

I need to get some more sleep; the two hours I got after work are NOT enough :(

Blessings

2010-02-06T17:40:00.004-05:00

I have found the sentiment on the die cut I've used on this card simply delightful - and so befitting my best friend! So, I've decided to take it out of my shop and send it to her, a "just because" occasion :)

Last night I've worked on a few new cards and tonight will be most likely spent in a similar fashion. I might work on my cross-stitch cards rather than the paper craft cards, but I will keep busy.

It got pretty cold outside, after the rain stopped late last night. We have a day to attempt drying out, then we'll get more rain. All would be great, if only the variations in temperatures wouldn't drive my whole body batty. I feel a cold coming and I'm not happy about it - it saps all my energy!

My physical therapist has changed my exercise regimen, in an attempt to alleviate this persistent back pain. He now thinks that added to the muscle strain after the fall 6 weeks ago, I could have a pinched nerve somewhere. Trouble is the pain is going down the back of my right tight and my toes are numb 75% of the time...

Taking care of myself :)

2010-02-01T17:27:00.006-05:00

My plant decided to sponsor us in enrolling in WeightWatchers and I've decided to enroll. We are having weekly meetings and they will - of course - weigh us in every week... They provide us with items we can - or not - purchase to assist us in our learning better & healthier eating habits, and ultimately, our weight loss. Now, I'm not hoping that I will get to my high school graduation (before getting married and having two children...) weight. But for my well being, I can stand to lose a few pounds...

So, I'm off to read again my booklets and learn about all the foods and the points. It might be bit boring in the beginning, but from skimming through the booklet, the food follows common sense principles: you reduce the amount of sugar, salt and fat, increase the amount of fiber and water, and you will lose weight. So, I'll let you know next Monday how things are going :)

Snow storm 2010 :)

2010-01-29T16:35:00.003-05:00

It's been SNOWING for more than 2hrs here in East Tennessee! The ground is covered, most of the driveway is covered and so are the cars - and the snow keeps falling!

I took a short nap after talking with Jim; now I'm ready to fix some fresh coffee and sit down and make some cards. I have finally received my Stampin' Up order yesterday, after being on the phone with UPS and the driver of the truck that said I was NOT home to sign for my package! I have also received my very first order from Verve Stamps - I have purchased their whole "New Release Bundle" and I have to say I am quite pleased with the whole package, as well as the customer service (one of the stamp collection had a small misspelling, so they will send me a replacement as soon as possible...) Now, all I need is learn how to use my Copic markers and I'll be all set! lol

Coffee... I need coffee...

Hearts for Haiti - part 2

2010-01-28T16:27:00.002-05:00

Today I've decided to donate two more cards to Hearts for Haiti. These two cards are similar to the cards I've posted today in my Etsy shop, but with different stamped sentiments.

As of January 27, 2010 "Hearts for Haiti" raised over $20,000 in sales from donated items!!

Physical therapy

2010-01-26T10:54:00.002-05:00

Five weeks after slipping on a puddle of oil at work, my back is still a mess. It actually hurts worse now than a few weeks ago... We've tried conservative treatment, we've tried Biofreeze, we've tried a series of exercises meant to strengthen abdominal and back muscles... Nothing has helped so far, so the nurse at work sent me to start physical therapy. After the assessment, Danny hooked me up to a neat little device and placed some pads on my lower back - then the fun began! Creepy-crawly sensation that lasted 15min! Thank goodness I was laying down on the heat pad! Almost fell asleep :)

I have two more appointments this week: Thursday at 9am and Friday at 9:30am... This week we started working a 9hrs shift, which means by 7am I'm pooped, so going to therapy will end up in my falling asleep, at some point. Oh, well - they'll wake me up when time is up :)

Checkered Hearts :)

2010-01-24T15:14:00.004-05:00

As I seem to be in a "Valentine's Day" frame of mind, I just had to do something else than a card - so here it is: a Valentine's Day bookmark!

Most of last night, while Jim was peacefully sleeping (sadly, with the aid of two Tylenol PM... lol), I sat down to my recently cleaned craft table, went through my stash of cardstock and patterned paper and created three designs of Valentine's Day cards. They might end up having different sentiments but they can be used for many occasions. I do have to confess, it was not easy working on those cards - I would much rather hoard said cardstock and petterned papers, but alas, I am running out of space to store them! They are not finished yet, but I'll get them posted as soon as I get the sentiment labels stamped and cut :)

Hearts for Haiti donation :)

2010-01-23T14:05:00.007-05:00

One of my card donations to Hearts for Haiti, "Wagon full of hearts Cross-stitch card", sold this morning! My very first Canadian customer EVER - even if not directly from my shop! LOL... Monday will be a busy Post Office day...

Stampin' Up :)

2010-01-20T09:22:00.008-05:00

I absolutely love the Stampin' Up! products, though I never thought I knew enough about card making or stamping to order any of their awesome products! Well, today I decided I just had to order some of their specialty paper; I did and then some! LOL

This weekend I am planning to create some cards to donate to Hearts for Haiti. It will be my first such venture, but it is for a most worthy cause :)

Well, got to finish my laundry, get more coffee, eat some breakfast then attempt to get some rest. Y'all be good now and stay warm and dry (it's an absolutely beautiful morning here, but we are expected to have two days of heavy rain...)

First week...

2010-01-15T18:06:00.005-05:00

...back on 3rd shift is over! It wasn't that bad, I crashed no machines - though a clamp came loose and the drill went through it like butter... lol... But it felt great to be with people I used to work with, and see the sun rising each morning when I leave the plant :)

Here is my latest addition to my Valentine's Day cards - this one has a fun little surprise inside the pocket that IS the actual card! It was quite fun to do - though I need lots of practice. More photos can be seen HERE :)

My college advisor called me today to let me know I need to fill out another LOA form, an extension to the form I submitted in October 2009. The original form did not cover the few days in March, when my term actually starts... lol... I found it funny, but I'll fill it out and email it to him so he can take care of things on Monday...

Well, gotta go: fresh coffee, a half stitched card and "Becker" are ALL waiting for me

Learning curve...

2010-01-11T15:27:00.004-05:00

Trying to keep my promise to myself to learn and try new things... As Valentine's Day is just a month away, I've decided to try my hand at creating a Valentine's Day card that is NOT cross-stitch. I've used watercolor, dimentional piecing, punches, diecutting labels, stamping - even sponging edges and embellishing with brads and bling! I like the way it turned out, even if I can see areas I can improve on. You can see it HERE :)

Forever Adore Pocket card

2010-01-09T02:32:00.007-05:00

In the past, I have never really thought that burnt orange and light blue would work together, but looking at these latest cards I realized that the colors used offer contrast and POP!

Another pocket card, with a stamped and embellished tag tucked away inside a decorated side-cut pocket.

You can take a closer look at this and other photos HERE.

Valentine, Valentine...

2010-01-08T09:14:00.004-05:00

I have been working on Valentine's Day cards and this is the last card listed in my Etsy shop - here is where you can take a detailed look. Though is not created in the traditional white, pink, red (and the occasional black... lol) color pallette, the sentiment stamped on the pocket tag says it all!

Trying new things...

2010-01-01T21:43:00.009-05:00

One of my New Year resolutions (besides the usual one regarding healthy eating, weight reducing and activity increasing... lol) is to get over my fear of trying my hand at new things. Than includes working with stamps, coloring them with watercolors or my Copics, and learning the awesome braying techniques of Michelle Zindorf's of Freedom in Creating. So last night, after finishing 5 cards, I took a Manila tag, and did a Wrinkle Free Distressed look on the front of it (Sherry Cheever's tutorial). On the back I've tried my hand at brayering (check out any of Michelle's tutorials).

It turned out OK, especially the watercolored rose - but I am a far ways to go before reaching an intermediate level. However, in the process of learning all these neat things I've realized that I need to spend some serious money to get the necessary ink pads & reinkers... LOL

Well, fresh coffee is waiting for me, as it will be another long night :)

Jim's toss pillow :)

2009-12-29T18:23:00.005-05:00

One of Jim's gifts this Christmas was this cross-stitch "toss pillow". Well, not exactly a traditional size toss pillow, at 14" by 32"... LOL... It's firm enough to support his lower back or the whole length of his back, yet smooth and comfy to rest his arm on or take a nap - and he tried all those things while enjoying the Christmas TV programming! OK, OK - he slept through the day!! It took me quite a long time to complete it (almost a year...) and that was before I had an Etsy shop. I have another pillow like it in the works, but sadly it might take awhile before I'll finish it... I might just have to work on it one day each weekend... LOL

How cold is it, really...?!

2009-12-29T11:18:00.006-05:00

It's a sunny, yet frigid Tuesday morning here in East Tennessee! I have to brave the 32F weather and go to the Post Office to mail out some packages. My toes are going cold just thinking of that :(

On January 1 and 2, 2010 my shop will go in "Vacation" mode, so I can get my inventory updated - though necessary, it's such a boring thing to do. I have been working on a couple new cross-stitch cards that need photos taking before inventory day... Oh, well it will be a fun couple of days - and then I return to work on the 4th! I was hoping to go to 3rd shift, but apparently that will not happen. Our 2nd shift team will get another technician, though, which is great because too many times we had to run by ourselves a "two techs" loop.

Well, got to go. Happy New Year, everyone :)

Check it out!

2009-12-24T03:06:00.003-05:00

I've decided to have a little SALE in my Etsy shop, starting today and ending December 31st! ALL my existing cards - cross-stitch and paper crafts - are on SALE for 25% off for the next 8 days, so why not check it out and see if you can find something you might like...? The discount will be refunded to your PayPal account upon completion of transaction :)

Happy New Year card

2009-12-20T11:32:00.010-05:00

In a few short days, we will celebrate the beginning of a New Year with our friends and families - may it be a better year than 2009 was!

This card took me a longer time to complete than usual; looking back, I realize just how very tired I was due to work... Now, I am really looking forward to our Christmas shutdown in 3 days. It will give me a chance to rest and to hopefully complete a few of the projects I have in the works. Anybody else out there that is working on a few (and I mean more than two... LOL) projects at the same time...?

Got to go and grab some more coffee; the one cup I had this morning at breatfast with Jim was hardly enough! Y'all keep warm now :)

Brrrrrr...

2009-12-17T08:23:00.006-05:00

It's getting colder by the hour... Temps have been dropping 4 degrees in the last 3 hours. It's a chilly 27F right now. I was hoping the weekend will be a tad warmer, especially now that I know I don't have to work :)

Still working on a new card; not sure what exactly possessed me but I've decided to work on 3 cards at the same time - which means it works far slower than I like it. With a bit of luck - and if I am not too tired after work tonight - the cards should be done by morning... Well, I am hopeful :)

Going to finish my laundry now, then get myself some breakfast before I attempt to get some rest - again. My grandma always said "You know you're getting old if you cannot sleep as you once could". I think I'm there! LOL

Y'all be good and stay warm!

What a mess!!

2009-12-16T07:17:00.002-05:00

The planned combining of Machining lines 4 and 6 started yesterday morning, with the transfer of machines from line 4 to their intended - and final - location to line 6. On paper, things were looking effortless... Needless to say, reality is completely different! Line 6 does not really have enough floor space to accept all the machines from the 4 stations (Rack Housing, Cylinder Tubes, Valves and Mounting Brackets).

As it is, the Valve stations on both lines are inoperative. Yes, we did bank quite a few thousands of valves in the last week, but apparently not enough for the daily ship-out orders. It's a mess at this point, and it is likely that in the next week it will only get more and more confusing and frustrating for us, Production Techs. I can only hope that this will all be ready for us by January 4th, when we return from Christmas shutdown - I get a headache just from getting moved from one line to another, trying to run the needed parts... LOL

Well, a pot of fresh coffee is waiting for me. I am trying to get a few New Year's cards stitched and listed in my shop, so I will be working on that for a few hours :)

Ready for Christmas...?

2009-12-15T05:41:00.006-05:00

Well, I'm not! Looking forward to Christmas shutdown on the 24th. We will have 10 days off to celebrate Christmas and the New Year, and then it will be going back. Quite possibly, after the 1st of the year I will go back to working 3rd shift - which is much better for me, especially when my February/March school term starts :)

We had some peculiar weather 'round here - it was (and still is...) in the high 50s temp; for the last two days we've had a warm drizzle (not quite sure what happened to the cold and the snow... Don't get me wrong, I love the warmer temps, but it just does not look like Christmas when it rains outside!

I have been trying to replenish my shop, but it seems I am too tired to focus on that, no matter how much coffee I ingest, I cannot stay awake long enough to do anything of any importance. Oh, well, hopefully I'll feel better in 10 days (yep, I am counting down the days to shutdown... LOL) Tomorrow night I will get out my Christmas tree, and attempt to get it decorated before Christmas...

Well, I'll get going - y'all stay warm and enjoy your Christmas celebrations :)

Winter is here

2009-12-10T08:52:00.006-05:00

... and I'm just not ready for it! LOL... I love the snow if I don't have to drive in it; the cold does not bother me much if I stay inside; ice on the roads would not affect me if I would not fear hitting a patch of black ice when driving home from work.

This afternoon we have a fire/tornado drill at work. Which means we'll have to all rush to get outside in the cold, until the siren goes off. Then we get to hurry and get into the tornado shelters we have in the plant - again, until siren goes off. Though I realize the necessity of such drills, it really interferes with work... LOL

Well, a hot pot of coffee is calling my name. Y'all stay warm now!

Stormy weather

2009-12-09T06:13:00.002-05:00

It was raining so hard last night when I left work, I got soaked before getting to my car! Needless to say, driving wet - even with the heater turned ON - did not do a lot to my spirit... The hot shower, however, changed all that! LOL

I am looking forward to our Christmas shutdown, December 24th to January 1st. We're returning to work on January 4th to some plant changes, lines moved around - getting re-assigned, possibly. I guess change is good...

Newly listed cards

2009-12-01T08:12:00.008-05:00

I love Winter and Christmas time! I am lucky enough to live in an area of East TN where it does not snow too much, or gets extremely cold - and I like it that way :)

I was able to stitch these little beauties - as well as a few others - during our Thanksgiving long weekend. "Mistletoe" has a few pearly white seed beads; "Snow Happens" just makes me laugh each time I look at it.

The plant seems to be getting ready for the new Chrysler and Nissan lines we will be getting after the 1st of the year. One of the five machining lines is completely done with the Lexus production, while a second machining line will be moved half-way across the plant and combined with another smaller line, so that the Camry production will come from one line only. The move will start December 19th, last weekend before the Christmas shutdown and should be completed before we return to work January 4th. Hopefully, things will go smoothly - a move like this can set us back due to engineering being unable to reprogram the machines... LOL

Well, I will return now to my coffee and my stitching. Y'all be good now :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-26T00:42:00.004-05:00

I am thankful today for family and friends, for having a job that might not be easy to do, but puts a roof over my head and food on my table. I am thankful for being able to continue to education. I am thankful for my blessings and for having in my life people that think I do matter as a person. And last, I am thankful for having a long weekend.

I started cooking as soon as I got home from work: the ham is in the oven (someone please tell me why did I grab the spiral sliced one...), the chicken and dumplings (Jim's favorite no matter the occassion... lol...) is simmering... The turkey breasts and all the trimming will be done later on today... It promises to be a busy, busy day :)

Happy and safe Thanksgiving to y'all!

Pencil Rules

2009-11-22T17:49:00.008-05:00

1. Everything you do will always leave a mark.

2. You can always correct the mistakes you make.

3. What is important is what is inside of you.

4. In life, you will undergo painful sharpenings, which will make you a better person.

5. To be the best pencil, you must allow yourself to be held and guided by the hand that holds you.

This was shared with me today by my friend Jules and they will get embellished and printed next week, so they will always inspire me :)

Happy Sunday!

2009-11-22T03:49:00.003-05:00

It was a loooong night at work last night! After the last break, my knee started hurting as much as it did a month ago - it really made that last rotation awfully painful! First thing I did after finishing my workload and cleaning up the machines was to get into my locker and take 2 Tylenols and 4 Ibuprofens. Yeah, I know it's a lot but I would not have made it to the car without them...

But... It's 4:00am on Sunday; I just woke up after a 2hrs nap and got myself some coffee. I've got a few things to do and not enough time, but then it's never enough time! LOL... Plus, I've got to start thinking about Thanksgiving menu...

Well, enough talk - it's Java time! Hope everyone has a wonderful day!

Christmas Angels cards

2009-11-21T07:45:00.009-05:00

In the spirit of Christmas, I've stitched three Christmas Angels last week. Well, they haven't lasted long in the shop... LOL... I will be the first to admit I was not as prepared as I should have been for the holidays. It was my first holiday season with an Etsy shop, so I have a few ideas for next year :)

I will be working overtime tonight - first OT since the recall. There really isn't much work for second shift to do in the plant, not enough to warrant OT anyways. But the whole plant is working an extra day, as we will be getting a paid long weekend next week.

Well, I'm off to finish a couple more winter cards - hopefully, I'll get a chance to post them tonight. Y'all be good now and have a great weekend!

Weekend comes...

2009-11-14T16:59:00.002-05:00

...and goes by too quickly!

I've had a difficult workweek; my bad knee works OK most of the times, for which I am grateful - but when it has had too much... Well, let's just say that trying to walk for few hours on a knee that keeps on "popping" painfully brings tears to my eyes. Not much I can do, but push on through it and hope for the best, at least until I will be forced to have a knee replacement...

I took Jim with me today shopping for new steel-toe workshoes. I've decided to go with the slip-ons this time, instead of the lace-ups. I wonder if I'll be so clumsy that I will walk right out of my shoes, when online... Wouldn't that be something to see...?! LOL

We've got only eight workdays till Thanksgiving, which at my plant is a paid holiday/long weekend. Then, after less than 4 weeks, it's our Christmas shutdown from December 24th to January 4th, for which we get 4 paid days. Not bad working at my plant, is it...?

Well, got to go - Jim got dinner ready! Y'all be good now :)

Follow up visit :)

2009-11-09T09:15:00.002-05:00

Seems that my arthritic knee is doing as well as expected, so Dr. MacLellan did not have to do anything more than poke around a bit. I should have taken some Tylenol before going there, because his probing HURT! I know there was no other way for him to locate where the pain is localized, but boy did that hurt!

So, I'll go take some pills now and have some coffee. I was hoping to finish yesterday's Custom order before heading for work today - but that might not happen now :(

I often wonder...

2009-11-08T14:42:00.003-05:00

... if most people really understand just how much love, energy and time goes into creating any piece of artwork...? Be it jewelry, a card, a painting, or a quilt - a crafter puts a part of themselves into everything they create to sell or give away to loved ones.

Some artisants consider they craft their job, and work at it far longer than the 8.5 or 9 hrs a regular "Joe" or "Jane" put into their "real jobs". We all have bills, rent/mortgage, and food to pay for, so lots of artists work DAILY outside the home as well as on their art - so why would anyone think it is OK to tell a crafter to get a "real job"...? Might be because they understand little of how long it takes to do what we do... It saddens me to see that people I appreciate for the beauty they create get their feelings hurt because a non-crafter carelessly tells them to get a "real job". I happen to work a full-time job and put as much time as possible into my crafting, and I know many artisants that are in the same position. I know people that work 10 to 15 hrs/day on their art... How sad that what we do seems to be so little understood...

Guess I just needed to vent; I'm off my soapbox and off to start on my custom order... Y'all have a great week :)

Ready or not...

2009-11-04T08:51:00.002-05:00

... I might get put back on 3rd shift in the next couple of weeks. Being a night owl, it works better for me - though I am a bit concerned that the higher workload and overtime might work against the slow recovery of my knee... Oh, well, no sense in worrying about it right now, is there...?

I have had a few almost normal nights at work: hardly any pain (though I twisted my knee a couple of times... lol) and - what is better - no more dizzy spells... I still wonder if starting to drink coffee made that happen... Hmmm...

Well, I've got to get going: today will be a pretty long day. We have "Open Enrollment" at the plant, something we do every year. So far, I know they are switching from Blue Cross/ Blue Shield of Tennessee to Cigna for medical, and hopefully our providers and premiums will stay the same. I have not heard anything about changes in the dental or vision plans... I've got to set up some appointments... Oh, joy!

Y'all be good now!

Custom Order finally finished :)

2009-11-01T03:45:00.008-05:00

It is almost 5am, but I am finally done with the larger of two Custom Orders I have to complete! I hope that the recipients will enjoy the cards as much as I did creating them :)

I've learned a lesson this first holiday season as an Etsy seller: I've got to start on my Christmas cards much earlier than October. I had to turn down an order because - between work and trying to deal with other issues - I did not feel I can finish it in timely manner. It really was hard to accept the fact I would be running out of time :(

Today is my daughter's 27th birthday, so "Happy Birthday, Oana". Knowing her, I am 100% positive she will be working and my phone call might not find her at home - though I will be trying to catch her anyway! LOL

Now I really should get some rest, but between the Ghirardelli Hazelnut and Lindt Pecan Pie chocolates Jim bought for me today and the coffee I kept on sipping while cross-stitching, I am not a bit tired... Plus the knee did not bothered me as much today, either! So it was a good Saturday... LOL

Funny weather we're having...

2009-10-31T06:22:00.002-04:00

... here in East Tennessee!

The wind was blowing quite strong when I got off work last night, and it kept at it till about 3am. I was starting to wonder if one of the trees across the driveway might actually end up on top of my car! Now it's raining - started a few minutes ago, and it looks like it's going to put a crimp into my morning plans of shopping and stopping by the Post Office. LOL... It doesn't matter really, I've got to get things done this morning, even with 100% probability of rain :(

Coffee is waiting for me, and so is my cross-stitching... and my laundry... and my dishwasher...

Gone in a FLASH!

2009-10-30T07:29:00.004-04:00

As I did my last post 5 hrs ago, I renewed one of my favorite cross-stitch cards: a whimsical little bee, atop a flower studded with French Knots. A colorful card and an adorable gift for someone you love! Well, it sold in a couple of hours and I know it in my heart it found a wonderful, loving home in London, United Kingdom!

We are two months away from Christmas, can you believe that...?! I am two cards away from finishing my Christmas cards order as well as the 3 bookmarks for my best friend. This weekend will be a most productive one in that aspect. I am glad I am not working any OT this weekend; being at home with Jim and cross-stitching is a whole lot more fun than working the production line, even at $24/hr! LOL

Time to brew myself a pot of coffee, start laundry, and watch the morning news - while keeping my hands busy :)

Y'all have a great day, and stay dry and warm!

Almost ready to turn in...

2009-10-30T02:47:00.002-04:00

Been having an awful time at work this week: around 6pm I would get extremely dizzy, almost to the point of passing out. I am allowed by my team leaders to take a few minutes until I feel better, but sitting down when I am supposed to be working is just not my thing! I made sure that I was not dehydrated, also that my sugar levels were not getting low - still no real improvement...

Until this morning, when I decided to drink a cup of coffee. I was amazed to realize that I did not go through all those awful symptoms tonight - though I never thought that caffeine withdrawals would cause anything more than headaches. Guess I'll have to make sure I drink my coffee everyday, eh...? LOL

Well, it's time for me to attempt getting some rest. My knee is hurting less, I can walk almost normally, and I can put more weight on it that a week ago. Of course, the worn out cartilage will cause me future pain, but at this point I'm glad to be able to walk :)

Y'all have a good night and remember - "Fall Back" one hour this weekend :)

And the doctor said...

2009-10-26T02:22:00.002-04:00

... that indeed there is some significant wear of cartilage in my right knee, plus my kneecap is about 1in higher than it's normal. X-rays showed nothing more than that, so he told me that a steroid shot might benefit me at this point - or at least make it more bearable.

So, I got a cortizone shot with a Novocaine chaser, and thank goodness it was in the same shot, because it hurt to tears! He gave me about 10 min, than had me walk around the office couple of times; I was actually able to put a bit of weight on that right knee for the first time in 10 days...

Bad news? The Novocaine only lasted for about an hour. Good news? If the steroids will work, I should be relatively pain-free for about 6 months. I have a follow-up appointment on November 9th; until then I need to "be mindful of how I walk"... Well, that will be interesting considering I work a production line... LOL

I still have to take Tylenol and Ibuprofen, but at least I am able to push it to every 7hrs instead of 4hrs, as I had to do last week. Jim got me a heating pad, and that helps a lot. My knee still "locks up" and hurts when I get up from a sitting position; hopefully that will go away in a few more days...

So, these are the news from my neck of the woods. Y'all have a good night now!

Most Precious Antique...

2009-10-25T12:58:00.005-04:00

Everyone has a friend more precious than anything we can think of, aside family - don't we...? Although this piece was created a couple of years ago, it was made with my best friend in mind - though she'd chase me for the rest of my days if she thought I was thinking of her as an "antique"... LOL

I am thankful to my dear, old friend - for always seeing the best in me, even in my not so bright moments. She's most certainly one of a kind!

Waiting just a little longer :(

2009-10-21T13:12:00.002-04:00

My appointment got re-scheduled - apparently, my doctor had to go in surgery this afternoon. So, I got bumped to Friday... Drats! My knee is not doing any better, no matter if I keep it straight or bended or elevated - not much helps... I woke up in pain about every hour last night, just to move around a bit so my knee get bit more comfortable - then I cannot fall asleep again. Got two Tylenol Arthritis and an Ibuprofen 3 hours ago. I'll go and take my Glucosamine pills, sometimes they offer some comfort...

Well, I'll go do some crafts - maybe will take my mind away from this painful mess...

Off to the doctor I go!

2009-10-21T01:38:00.005-04:00

I was so glad to return to work last Monday! However, I have overestimated myself and underestimated the damage the steel grids will cause me. Needless to say, at the end of the week I could hardly walk on my right knee - unless I hold on to something.

I thought that by this Monday (and two days of rest...) I'll be good to go, and was seriously planning to be far kinder to my body. At least until I got used to walk for 8 straight hours on the grids. Well, my body refused to cooperate and I got sent to the company Doctor, which decided that I am to be on a medical leave this week. He also set me up with an appointment to see an orthopedic doctor tomorrow. As far as he can say without X-Rays or MRI, is that all the pain is caused by a possible arthritic knee - worsened by 8 months of inactivity and weight gain... Well, duh - I did not need to pay a $20 co-pay to know that inactivity and extra pounds have a major say in what is going on with my knee...

Anyway... Tomorrow I will have either X-Rays or MRI to see the damage on my knee; I might need to have a steroid shot to reduce the inflamation. At this point, I am on an unpaid FMLA (unpaid because due to the furlough, I do not have the 1250hrs worked to get a paid FMLA). Plus, the hours I am missing will count against me, attendance-wise. Oh, the joy... Hopefully, they can patch me up and send me off to work :)

Flowers Collection and School

2009-10-13T00:32:00.006-04:00

I have just finished relisting my "Flowers Collection". I particularly love Carnations - always did, even as a child. Only upon coming to the United States I have discovered that it also was my birthday flower, so to speak... Coincidence...? I think not!

I finally took got some sleep after dinner; I have been awake since 3:00am this morning, and after 8 tedious hours in Orientation, my brain was mush. Now, it's almost 1:00am and I am wide awake (and that is why I should be working 3rd shift, NOT 2nd shift. LOL

My sixth term starts tomorrow; I know I will love my Algebra class, my Dreamweaver/Web Design class will teach me a whole lot more about web designing that I know at this point. I am not quite sure what to expect of my Critical Thinking; I flipped through the book but nothing caught my attention. My eyes did not exactly glaze over, but almost... Oh, well... I will find out as soon as the course becomes available, in about 2 - 3 hrs.

Y'all have a great night :)

Orientation day!

2009-10-12T18:35:00.004-04:00

Apparently there is nothing that cannot happen today.
~ Mark Twain ~

So, today was my "Orientation Day" upon being recalled to work. As you can imagine, it was all dry and boring, until we got to work with gages and calipers and measure diameters in microns. That was awesome! Well, for me it was - but I am one of those strange people that love math, algebra & numbers! LOL

I have my job back, my health, dental and vision benefits, 401K, life insurance and other good stuff; the only thing I've got some problems with is working 2nd shift... I hate that! It's like wasting the day away... Hopefully, I can go to 3rd shift in a few weeks...

I'm off; I need to have some dinner - other than the can of Mt. Dew and 100 calories cookies I had at lunch... And I need a nice, hot cup of coffee, so I can fall asleep... LOL... Yeah, I know...

Pillow Trouble!

2009-10-10T18:49:00.003-04:00

A couple years ago I've stitched a few toss pillow covers. Two of them, being smaller in size, I was able to finish - stuffing and all - and sold them in my Etsy shop with no problem. Today, I decided to finish the two toss pillows I have as well as the framed cross-stitch.

Well... The pillows are just NOT cooperating!! Either they are conspiring against me, or I've completely forgotten how to do this. Very aggravating, I assure you...

Of course, I could take the easy way and get some pillow forms and just stitch the cross-stitch pillow cover to its backing - but I cannot allow a couple of toss pillows to get the better of me... LOL

Coffee... I need coffee... Coffee will fix my dilemma :)

Back to Work I Go!

2009-10-10T12:13:00.005-04:00

After few long months of furlough, I have been recalled to work to JTEKT. Monday is the orientation, then it is back on the 3rd shift. That part is good; the 10hrs shifts and working in Assembly - not so much. LOL

I will most likely have to drop my Critical Thinking class until next term, though I much rather have a full class load... I will see how it works in about two or three weeks.

Well, I'm off to work on Dianna's custom order; the weather has been so gloomy that it took the wind out of my wings :(

My Bookmark in a Flickr Gallery

2009-10-08T15:40:00.003-04:00

Sometimes, the surprises keep on coming... LOL

I started reading my email 15 min ago, and came upon a message notifying me that one of my bookmarks was added to a Flickr Gallery... I wasn't even aware one can do that on Flickr... LOL

Although the bookmark has sold last week, and can only be replaced after Betty and Dianna's custom orders are delivered/shipped out, you can check it out here "Bookmarks in cross stitch". The rest of my bookmarks can be seen here "Bookmarks by FarAway Designs".

I hope it shows up for y'all, without needing a Flickr account (I know I have seen other people posting Flickr links to albums and such - but then, I know little about it...)

Well, I am off to work on my custom orders.

My Bookmark Made It in the Bookmark Collector!

2009-10-06T11:58:00.005-04:00

Good morning y'all! I woke up this morning feeling a bit funky... Could be the flu, could be the gloomy weather, could be the lack of caffeing in my bloodstream - who knows... LOL

Checking my GA this morning, I came upon a link I have never seen before, so I've decided to check it out and TA DA! one of my bookmarks got a mention on the Front Page of "Bookmark Collector" (under Bookmarks For Sale > Etsy) How cool is THAT...?!?

Well, off I go - got lots to do today, starting with a trip to the Post Office.

I hope everyone has a wonderful day!

Psychology Discussion

2009-10-03T15:03:00.003-04:00

Last week of this term, and one of the discussion topics is "Is it ethical to genetically design a child for artistic, athletic or academic achievements"? Let me tell you, it stirred quite a debate in class! Most people say that genetics should only be used to correct health/medical issues. Others think that, as long as the technology is there, why should we not use it to create a Beethoven or a Mozart or another Einstein...

What do you think...?

So unhappy...

2009-10-03T05:39:00.002-04:00

...with my computer!

I had to turn in my Illustrator Final yesterday - and what do you know...? Darn thing would not work with the program! Everytime I made an attempt at applying Shape Modes, the program would freeze then crash... I had to create two more files to add to my Final folder, and NOTHING!! Grrrrrr... I could only turn in the JPG files - no AI nor EPS files. My grade is going to be so messed up :(

I am SO ready for vacation! LOL

New listings

2009-10-02T09:01:00.003-04:00

Good morning, y'all :)

You can find my newest listings HERE and HERE. I have a couple of relistings, too if you care to check them out. My shop got a bit busy, all of a sudden - my inventory goes out far faster than I am able to replenish it! Yeah, I know it's a good thing - but it takes days to replace something that sold in matter of minutes! Plus, I have lots of custom orders to take care off before inventory... Sigh...

I've got only 3 more days of this school term, then it's vacation time! As you can see from the above statements, I'll be far to busy to rest. Though I am thrilled to start working with Dreamweaver, scary as it is...

Friendship Cake

2009-10-01T11:13:00.001-04:00

A delicious recipe - save it, print it, have a slice or two each day!

1 cup of greeting
1/2 cup of smiles
1 large handshake
2/3 cup of love
1 tsp sympathy
2 cup of hospitality

Cream greetings and smiles thoroughly.
Add handshake separately.
Slowly stir in love.
Sift sympathy and hospitality and fold in carefully.
Bake in warm heart.
Serve often.

More Baby Cards

2009-09-30T11:01:00.003-04:00

Here are the other two baby cards I just listed in my Etsy shop - you can find them HERE and HERE.

I had to deactivate about 6 cards, until I finish the whole series of 12... Being in a bit of time crunch this week, though: I have to finish, polish, revise and post all my finals; I need to work on the custom order for 3 bookmarks (no due date on this order, but the sooner it's done the better); I am working on some new Christmas/Winter/Holidays series which is going to take me some time... It looks like it's going to be a really busy vacation...

Well, off I go - lots to get accomplished!

Wednesday Quote

2009-09-30T10:59:00.001-04:00

We only go around once. There's really no time to be afraid. So stop. Try something you’ve never tried. TEACH it. DO it. RISK it.

- Jon Blais

New Baby Cards

2009-09-29T09:46:00.006-04:00

Good morning, folks!

I hope your day started better than mine; a few things require some immediate attention and what do you know - due to finals this week, I am running extremely short on this precious commodity names TIME!!!! ughhhhh...

Here are two of my latest baby cards; I had a few that expired and my Baby Cards folder was getting a bit sad. I have a few more planned for the rest of the week, but I will post them as I get them listed. You can check out the listings HERE and HERE.

I've got to run to the Post Office to mail the 10 custom ordered bookmarks and a second package of 7 cards. Sometimes, it feels I sell these cards faster than I make them. Well, it's actually true - cross-stitching takes quite a bit of time to complete... And it takes me even longer, as I try to divide available time into many projects... I really need my vacation next week - 10 glorious, homework-free days!!!

Camouflage Bookmark

2009-09-28T15:40:00.005-04:00

After finishing my custom order for 10 bookmarks, I've decided to create one for my own shop. Although my customer decided against the camouflage look, the one I did for my shop is in these awesome shades of olive green and creamy cocoa brown. It looks great IRL. Now I've got to make the envelope for it on my Crafter's Companion.

I have a few new listings coming up in my shop: a few baby cards (paper crafts), 3 winter related cards (cross-stitch), a romantic card (cross-stitch), and a Peach Rose/Thinking of You card (paper crafts). Not quite sure what time I have available - this week is my last for this term and I've got finals in all 3 classes. Don't get me wrong, since I've started managing my time a bit better, I am having more fun in class - but I AM ready for a short, 10 days vacation!

I am planning to work on refreshing my watercoloring techniques so I can apply that to my cards. So, I have been watching my DVDs, and getting my supplies ready (I can hardly find quality watercolor paper around here... grrrrr).

Well, it's time for me to get back to cross-stitching - my best friend wants 3 personalized bookmarks for her grand-daughters. No particular occassion, they are "just because" gifts. I LOVE that thought!

New Term Classes!

2009-09-24T09:34:00.003-04:00

Yesterday I had to confirm my classes for the next term and order my books. I think i will very much enjoy next term: Web Page Design, Creative and Critical Thinking, and College Algebra II.
Not quite sure what the Creative & Critical Thinking is about, it's part of the Humanities courses we have to take.
I hope my Spellbinders "Nestabilities" Assorted Dies Classic are getting here today; the Bazzill cardstock I have ordered the same day got here in 4 days. I'll have to get some Scalloped "Nestabilities" soon - they look so much better layered...
I am almost finished with my bookmarks custom order and I am actually adding one to my inventory (it's camo colors, too...). I haven't done much stitching these last couple of days - not quite sure where time went, really...
Well, I'm off to... somewhere... I'll start with a large glass of Cranberry-Raspberry Juice and then my regular mug of delicious, fragrant Kenyan coffee. Life IS good - as long as it's saturated with caffeine!

Good Morning!

2009-09-24T09:32:00.000-04:00

I want to share my breakfast with you today.

A plate of love.
A bowl of peace.
A spoon of hope.
A fork of care
and
A glass of prayer....

Two more cards :)

2009-09-21T15:36:00.003-04:00

I really wish I took better photos - I am never happy with the way they turn out... These two cards can be found HERE and HERE. It's not likely I can take any photography classes any time soon, but it's on my WishList :)

New listings

2009-09-21T15:19:00.003-04:00

Here are my latest cards, completing the Aqua & Brown/Get Well collection. They can be found HERE and HERE.

It's a drab, rainy day here in East Tennessee; it rained most of the night and it looks as if it will start again. We have been under a Flood Watch/Advisory since 11pm Sunday night... I wonder if I should get my boat ready...?

Week 7 ended pretty good; I had to create an original mock up for either a beverage product or a video game. Obviously, not being a video game type person, I choose to create a beverage label/package mock up. Of course I selected COFFEE, is there any other beverage as perfect as that...?? I think not! I had to do a sketch, hand drawn sketch - that's even worrse than Illustrator. LOL... I have to work on perfecting it in Illustrator, though I am having some trouble deciding on the right kind of fonts right now.

This week, I have to critique the work of 3 of my classmates - I hate doing that, I just do! It's hard telling someone that what you see it's not what they saw when they did the layout... Ughh

Sunshine & rain

2009-09-18T08:25:00.001-04:00

Don't get so busy preparing for a rainy day that you miss today's sunshine.

More Get Well Cards

2009-09-17T06:03:00.005-04:00

The other two "Get Well" cards listed in my shop: the triangular "Feel Better Soon" can be found HERE. The assymetrical "Get Well" card is listed HERE - I actually had to make a gift box for it, with an open acetate window. It was a bit of a challenge, but it ws not fitting nicely in any envelope I had! The flowers on this card have been colored with Copic markers, then sprayed with a bit of Shimmerz for an extra bit of sparkle!

Get Well Cards

2009-09-17T05:53:00.003-04:00

I have some new "Get Well" cards in my shop.
The "Get Well Pop-Up" can be seen in more detail HERE. It has a cute little gift box, with an open window and acetate. The "Get Well" card with the huge multicolored, glittered flowe can be seen in more detail HERE. I really liked the color combination.
I have just ordered some Bazzill cardstock - I hope I can find great colors like these in the stacks!

My First Interview!

2009-09-16T09:53:00.002-04:00

I am so jazzed up about this!

Margaret, of "Knit 1 for the Road" offered me the opportunity for my very first Etsy artisan interview - how exciting is that! Why not take a couple of minutes and check it out "FarAway Designs is Delightful".

Last of the Mini Samplers collection

2009-09-16T09:42:00.004-04:00

And here are the last three of my Mini Samplers! I cannot believe that the end of another year is getting closer and closer every day!

Well, week 7 of the 5th term has started; lots of Illustrator and Psychology work... I am positive that the Psych textbook I have is for a student that majors in Psychology - we are on chapter 17, already... LOL... We skipped 4 chapters, and there are 5 more chapters after the one I study this week...

I'm ready for some coffee. I should be eating some breakfast, but coffee will do... Maybe some more Cranberry-Rasberry juice :)

Green On This Side

2009-09-15T05:32:00.006-04:00

What if it's not greener on the other side?
Maybe past the fence it's still the same ride.

What if the ultimate joy always exists in the now?
Maybe every moment should take it's own bow.

What if the apex of happiness was always just here?
Maybe we don't have to guide, we don't have to steer.

What if that's why children always laugh so?
Maybe they're able to just let go.

What if they know happiness is not a thing to be achieved?
Maybe they can feel that being open to it, is all that we need.

What if we've become so "wise" we've forgotten that realization?
Maybe once in a while we should give our brains a vacation.

What if happiness is more about our hearts and our souls?
Maybe we can be happy with the now and still have goals.

What if the grass isn't greener, what would you do?
Maybe it's time to let happiness be the thing that fills you.

~ by Brian Beard ~

Love

2009-09-14T06:17:00.000-04:00

It is easy to love the people far away. It is not always easy to love those close to us...
Bring love into your home for this is where our love for each other must start.
- Mother Teresa

Three more Mini Samplers

2009-09-13T14:02:00.002-04:00

Here are the next three months from my Mini Samplers collection. It was fun to go from one month to the next, as if I was travelling through seasons faster than ever!

Still working on my Custom Order; I have 5 of 10 bookmarks completed so far. This weekend hasn't been too productive - I had lots due in Illustrator, which takes lots of Do's and Undo's. I am finished with those assignments, so I can focus on my order, then later on on my inventory. LOL... It's not easy jumping from one thing to another.

Yesterday I decided to enjoy the last sounds of summer and put couple of handfulls of sunflower seeds on my back patio. This morning, there is this brown colored cardinal (a female, I assume) chirping up a storm right next to the seeds. It only started eating after another cardinal flew over. I poured myself a cup of fresh coffee and enjoyed my morning... I'm thinking that maybe I should get a bag of birdfeed for the winter :)

Love

2009-09-12T10:29:00.003-04:00

Love is the ability and willingness to allow those that you care for to be what they choose for themselves, without any insistence that they satisfy you.

© Dr. Wayne Dyer

We can't keep someone's love for us when we've made them prisoners in our homes and hearts.

New Mini Samplers

2009-09-11T13:46:00.004-04:00

Three more of my Mini Samplers have been listed on my Etsy shop. I'm not feeling very well; it could be the weather... Or a bad, bad stomach flu... Yuck!

Two of my nieces, my nephew and their mother are sick at home with the dreaded swine flu. Keith, their dad and the oldest girl, Nikki are OK at this point. The little ones are dealing with fever over 102F, poor little babies :(

Thoughts, Words and Deeds

2009-09-11T06:31:00.001-04:00

Kindness in words creates confidence.
Kindness in thinking creates profoundness.
Kindness in giving creates love.

New listing - Mini Samplers

2009-09-10T14:01:00.003-04:00

I have finally finished all 12 Mini Samplers! WooHoo! Between schoolwork and my recent custom order for 10 bookmarks, there just wasn't enough time to work on shop inventory. Fortunately, I seem to be getting much better at managing my time - the LESS I sleep, the MORE time I have for school and stitching! Magic, isn't it...?

Classes are going well; I am not too happy with my progress in Illustrator, though from the looks of it, I do better than half of my classmates... I am trying to be positive here, and NOT think of the other 50% that are far, far better than I am! Well, practice makes perfect, right...?

I just shipped a two card order - time to work on more bookmarks and select some Holiday themed patterns :)

Thursday Quote

2009-09-10T10:37:00.000-04:00

Laugh when you can, apologize when you should, let go of what you can't change, kiss slowly, play hard, forgive quickly, take chances, give everything, have no regrets.. Life's too short to be anything but happy.

Echoes of a Woman's Soul

2009-09-08T00:33:00.002-04:00

A very dear friend of mine, Dianna Doles Petry, received an awesome review for her first published poetry book. I have had the book for months and every so often, when my soul needs to surround itself in beauty, I open "Echoes of a Woman's Soul".

If you love beautiful poetry that will touch your very core, read Nancy Silveria's book review HERE. Then stop by on Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble and grab yourself a book that will become a favorite :)

Etsy Feedback :)

2009-09-08T00:00:00.003-04:00

One of my customer, actually my very first customer when I opened my Etsy shop in April, 2009, left this feedback for me last month. I LOVE my customers :)

"Always Very , Very Happy here . Always check in to see what is new . I appreciate your work , just as you do my purchase. Thank You for the Gift "} . That was very kind ! "
"
I adore these designs as are the Best I have seen in folk stitch and designs. Service was Fast & Excellent which is why this seller stays in my Faves ! ~ "] ~"

"I bought 3 of these as Colors are so Bright and Pretty .Perfect and very Happy finding Patriotic cards for friends / relatives in the Armed Forces . They LOVE them too ***"

"Wonderful FUN card ! I love this card !! The wine charm is a wonderful charm ! I hope you make more of these as I know a few , who would get a huge :] from. Colors are Beautiful +++"

5 Simple Rules To Be Happy

2009-09-05T06:31:00.002-04:00

Remember the five simple rules to be happy:

1. Free your heart from hatred.
2. Free your mind from worries.
3. Live simply.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less

Tuesday's Update

2009-09-01T21:44:00.004-04:00

Well, no - I have not fallen off the face of the planet!

Not quite sure why, but I have been totally worn out for the last week or so... I cannot sleep, but I cannot stay fully awake, either. It completely messed up my homework, and this is a really big week: 10 page essay on Domestic Violence, creating/designing a comic book character for a poster, magazine cover or T-shirt, plus a Psychology study of Erikson's Phychosocial Dilemmas/Life Stages... Aghhh...

I haven't done much cross-stitching, either. I am working on completing a series of 12 mini samplers cards, but it's not going well - at all...

How strong do I have to make my coffee to stay awake long enough to study...??

You Must Keep Going!

2009-08-30T08:29:00.001-04:00

Sometimes you must keep going.

Life punches you in the stomach. It knocks your breath out and leaves you bowed and gasping.

You lose a job. . . you must keep going.

You find out you have a serious illness. . . you must keep going.

You have a headache. . . you must keep going.

Sometimes the things in life are not serious but they affect you nevertheless. . . you must keep going.

You have a big argument with your spouse. Neither of you feels like talking and maybe not even looking at each other. . . you must keep going.

Your son rebels and you have a blowout with him. . . you must keep going.

The bills seem to never end and the money seems to never start.

You must keep going.

There are times that make us just want to curl up, stick our heads in a hole, and make the world go away.

We can't, because we must keep going.

Life is full of those circumstances.

Many of you when you woke up this morning, for a variety of reasons, didn't feel like getting out of bed, but you had to.

You must keep going.

In times like those, and we all have them, remember the blessing.

The blessing is not in that we must keep going.

The blessing is that we can.

~A MountainWings Original ~

Two more cards :)

2009-08-29T15:27:00.003-04:00

I love these two cards! I wanted to add a bit of sparkle to the dragonfly's wings, so I mixed some Liquid Pearls and Diamond Stickles, both from Ranger Ink, and applied it to its wings. Then I added a Crystal gemstone for its eye. For the sun, I mixed Diamond Stickles and Distress Antique Linen and applied it to the sun and its rays. It's hard to see how nicely they sparkle in these static photos, though...

I hope you've enjoyed your visit to Faraway Designs on Etsy; hope to see you soon!

New Cards added!

2009-08-29T02:55:00.003-04:00

Not quite sure why, I have been in a "maritime" kind of mood lately - fish, boats, ocean - you get the idea... Come visit my shop and check out the other additions to my cross-stitch cards! LOL

I've been sort of avoiding working on my Illustrator homework; we are supposed to draw a comic book-type character, name it, give it supernatural qualities... Well, what do I know about comic books or superheroes? NOTHING, absolutely NOTHING! I wasn't born nor raised here; my children were never interested in comic books or supernatural qualities... Therefore, this assignment completely stumped me. I have no idea where to start or how... LOL... Guess I will figure something out in the next two days :)

$250 Shopping Spree Contest at The Scrapping Cottage!

2009-08-26T05:18:00.002-04:00

Fantastic opportunity to win a $250 shopping spree at The Scrapping Cottage! Check it out and see how!

Kissy Face Fish - photos :)

2009-08-26T02:13:00.005-04:00

Finally! I'm not sure why I have been having so much trouble uploading photos to Blogger today... But here they are, my "Kissy Face Fish".

Kissy Face Fish

2009-08-25T17:43:00.002-04:00

Apparently, I cannot upload any images at this time, but you can check out the newest cards here and here. I'll try posting the photos later, when everything cooperates with me :)

The Neighbors!

2009-08-25T06:43:00.002-04:00

Sometimes I really wonder about the three young men that live in the duplex next to mine. No older than 25, all three driving loud sport-type cars that they love revving up at 3:30am, with a predilection for living a nocturnal life... Up until a month ago, they were practicing their skateboarding "tricks" at 11:30pm; I had to ask them repeatedly to stop skating under my office window at such a late hour... Their short term memory is quite possibly shot, because they would do the same thing the following night, at the same late hour! LOL

Well, early yesterday morning I finished working on some school stuff about 2am. I still had to process some photos for a couple new cross-stitch card listings, but I was going to do it after I had a nap. I woke up around 4am, and I had no Internet connection! I checked the phone and the cable TV - they worked fine. When the Internet problems were still present at 10am, I called for service - and they schedule me for FRIDAY, August 28th! I think not! After stating my opinion to a supervisor about such delayed service, I get re-scheduled for same afternoon between 3:30pm and 4:30pm. That's more like it, I said to myself :)

After the two guys checked my modem and my inside wiring, they went outside only to discover that my cable had been spliced, to provide cable access to the apartment next door! I was shocked, to say the least: I have heard of things like these happen, but I always thought that the people around me (even my very young neighbors) would have more integrity. Apparently not! The cable guys fixed the problem, cut off the next door spliced connection - then went next door to let the boys know that the law takes matters like these seriously and they might end up in jail, if this happens again. They boys denied doing it, of course - but the cable guys had no doubt that they were the "criminals"... LOL... And for what...? All I have is Basic cable "no frills, no thrills". That really amused me, but it aggravated me, too. So, now I am debating if I should inform my landlady about this; I have never told her about the nocturnal skateboarding incidents, after all... Oh well, I'll give it some thought...