Changing careers

I think I want to go to law school. What am I thinking? I really do, though. In all this stuff surrounding the new immigration law and being a Spanish teacher and seeing how this affects students and families, I really want to help these people take the steps to be here legally. It breaks my heart.

I'm not saying that they aren't breaking the law, and I understand that some immigrants are dangerous people. But in researching today, lots of first-born Americans (parents were illegal) and those who came here illegally but then got proper papers and citizenship have gone on to be some of our nation's best inventors, writers, doctors, etc.

They come here for hope, promise of a better life. Jesus said we are to love our neighbors and not turn away the foreigner. I want to be an immigration lawyer to help this community get the necessary help and paperwork processed so they can start their lives over in a better place.

He wants me to write

He wants me to write. I don't know what I'm supposed to write about but lately I have had many signs and dreams and overwhelming instances that God is putting in my path. It has not been revealed to me what I should write about but I am just going to start because that's what I feel I need to do.

I am a Christian woman who loves the Lord. I was raised in a Church of Christ family but now I am a member of a United Methodist church. I have had many lessons in my life and I'm still learning. After all, He's not finished with me yet. There is still something for me to do here on this Earth.

I need lots of prayers and I am praying myself for the revelation of my topic - the "it" that I feel I am being urged in so many ways to write. I love to write. I always have. I have written several children's stories, one of which I self published and illustrated. I sent another manuscript to a company who needed a large investment from me that I have fallen short of providing. It was also a children's story. These stories will be shared one day. Maybe that's it. Maybe God really wants me to finish publishing that one or change it a little. I don't know. I just don't know.

I need to change the name of this blog if I'm going to truly write down my thoughts and ideas. One Crafty Lady just doesn't get it. I'll pray about that too. In the meantime, I think I'll just change it to something simple.

Have a blessed day!

New Name

Those of you who actually read this blog may have noticed (or not) that I changed the name. I have decided that I am just one crafty lady who enjoys making things during my spare time and that running a home business is just not what God wants for me right now. So, the name change is my acceptance of the path I am on at this moment. I still sign all my art and craft items with "jen c" but I'm not going to continue spending money to stockpile tee shirts, fabric or notions to make sell-able items that simply sit around my house and take up space. I do still sell on Etsy but it is basically a custom order based business.

So, tomorrow, I will share a craft project that this crafty lady has recently done!

Crafts to try

Well, I know I said my list might change but I didn't think I would change it that much.

First of all, I never found the time to paint an Easter decoration for my front door. Actually, I haven't had a lot of time for any art. I did make some cute pillows (shown in my previous post) but I don't know where to put them yet.

As for April, I still have time to make that moss wreath but I'm low on cash and low on time to get to the craft store. I'm going to try.

My daughter has decided she doesn't want a daybed made from old doors; she wants a bunkbed playhouse that she saw in a popular, high-priced catalog. So, her daddy and I are going to try to build one ourselves. But that craft project is scheduled for August so we have the summer to work on that.

I've been very inspired lately and really hope that I can use my summer vacation to jump start my projects more than ever and build a nice emergency fund for my family and then begin paying off debt and saving for college. I feel like God has been giving me a bigger voice in my art and craft ideas recently and I'm really excited about being out of school soon so I can have more time to get some of these things going.

Just keep crafting!

It's craft time again! Pillows!

For this craft, I used some leftover fabric from a vintage pillowcase that I had used to make my daughter a top. It was just enough for two pillows. I used plain white cotton on the front so I could paint something cute on it.

If you have a sewing machine, this is simple. Cut the fabric to the same size with right sides facing. Using just a running stitch on your machine, stitch all the way around but leave a hole large enough for you to stuff the pillow. I like to use my back stitch in the corners just for extra reinforcement.

Turn the pillow form right side out and begin to stuff with polyfil. I stuffed mine pretty firm but still soft and squishy. Not lumpy.

Using a needle and thread, whipstitch the hole and tie off.

You could certainly stop here but I like to add a little whimsy and personality. I used acrylic paints in red, pumpkin orange, and bright blue to add flowers to the white fabric. These are the colors in the vintage fabric that's on the back. Then, I let it dry just a little and used a black paint with a writing tip to outline my flowers. Wonderful way to perk up your sunroom, porch swing, or patio. Just be sure if you use these outside that you bring them in during inclement weather and keep out of direct sunlight as that will fade the fabric and the paint.

It's Crescent Rolls for dinner!

OK, so I have not had time to do any crafts lately but hopefully soon. I did not meet my goal of making an Easter painting for my front door but maybe I can by Sunday.

I did, however, resist the temptation to order out for dinner and cooked what I had available. So...crescent rolls with a twist.

First, I cooked some cheese pizza crescent rolls for the little ones. Spread the rolls out flat in a pan and bake according to directions. I took them out about 4 minutes before the oven beeped to add the marinara sauce and pizza blend shredded cheese. Then, stuck it back in the oven until the timer went off. Actually, I had to leave it in for a couple extra minutes to melt the cheese completely. I would have added a little garlic but the little ones don't like that as much as I do. Still, it was pretty good.

Then, I made some giant pigs in a blanket. Simply wrap half a hot dog in the crescent roll and bake according to directions. I did have to cook these for a few extra minutes also to get the dough cooked all the way around the "pig".

Simple Friday night, stay at home dinner that made everyone happy.

Count your blessings!

Jen

New crafts I want to try before the end of 2011

I know it's odd to make a list like this but there are some things I want to try before the end of this year. And by making a list, I hold myself accountable and will remind myself to make the craft and post it here.

By the end of...

March - make an Easter canvas for my front door. (OK, not really a new craft, but something I need to do.)

April - make a moss wreath (saw a cute one in the shape of letters for your last name)

May - homemade facial cleanser

June - poolside table made from the wood I found at the lake

July - driftwood shelves

August - make a daybed for Jessalyn out of doors (hopefully I can find some cheap at a yard sale)

September - big rug made from old blue jeans (saw this on a Disney show my daughter watches)

October - painted plates to hang on the wall

November - banana pudding cupcakes

December - make Archer's tee shirt quilt (not a new craft but something I definitely need to get started on)

OK, so there's the list. It might change a little. I'll post as I complete and I may not complete them in this particular order. Those are just my personal deadlines.