MIA!

I know it has been a really long time since I last posted so I will try to catch you up if it is even humanly possible. My hubby got injured about a month and 1/2 ago and with him being in the military he has to deal with the military docs which if you know someone in the military you know what I am talking about. To make a long story short he has no feeling in the fingers on his right hand and has gotten really klutzy because of this along with shooting and aching pains radiating from his elbow. The docs thought at first it was carpal tunnel and very slowly they ruled that out and now are thinking it is in his neck! On top of it all back when he was in Junior High School he fell on the ice and totally crushed his right elbow which is the offending limb today. So I think something is going on in that elbow but I am not a doctor so we will continue to play the appt. and test game till they land on the answer! He has had an MRI, cat scan, EMG, and now another MRI is scheduled for tomorrow so we will see. This is only part of why I have been MIA! Many of you already know from reading earlier posts that my Mom had had 2 heart attacks about 2 and 1/2 months ago. Well since then alot has happened and she has gone down hill progressively. About 1 month ago (maybe longer, I have so lost track of time) she fell at my sister Kay's house and broke her wrist. The break was bad enough that they had to put pins into the wrist to stabilize it. It seems like when she fell and broke her wrist that it was also the straw that broke the camels back. When they did the outpatient surgery of putting in the pins for the wrist she totally lost her faculties to the point that she got aggressive and violent with my sister Kay right after the surgery when all Kay was trying to do was get Mom settled and elevate the arm as instructed. But, needless to say Mom would have none of it! She hit my sister and clawed her and kicked her and said some very not so nice things which is totally not like my Mom. So that started the next string of events that began with her going into the hospital immediately that afternoon to find out what the heck was going on. She was in the hospital for about 3 days and was then placed in a nursing home for recuperation (? don't know if that is spelled right and I am just gonna leave it) and healing time for her. Needless to say my Mom is not who she used to be anymore on a regular basis. She has gotten to the point that she doesn't even remember who anyone is or for that matter where she is. She has been diagnosed with Dementia which is progressing extremely rapidly and now they are even thinking it maybe Altzeimers (I know this is spelled wrong but once again it is staying this way) so she has an appt. tomorrow with her internist and that is going to be addressed in the appt.. She was supposed to be going back to my sister Kay's this week but with things the way they are and that the staff at the home has definitely noticed more and more problems with Mom that will not be happening which is for the best in my book. I hate that she has to be where she is but it is definitely for her benefit because none of us could give her the medical care and constant monitoring that she needs right now because along with the mind going she is having way to many problems with her heart. She is definitely having what they call Sundowners problems so no sleeping at night and that is when she is definitely roaming and confused the most. This is such a hard thing for my sisters and I to accept right now but it is what it is and there is no denying it any longer. I think we all wanted to believe that it was just a temporary state of things and that she would bounce back to her normal self as she always has in the past but this time it is just not happening. So that is where things stand as of right now. I think for my sisters and I the hardest part is seeing this happen to Mom especially when this was always her biggest fear. My heart breaks for Mom and what this must be like for her. So if you could keep her in your prayers it would greatly be appreciated. So basically that is why I have been MIA and not feeling very crafty at all! I am trying right now to dig myself out of the deep feelings of depression and dig my studio out at the same time which is a chore in itself! Things have just been accumulating in the studio to the point of no return because of course my depression needed lots and lots of retail therapy which we all know doesn't really help much but it sure feels good at the time! So all those purchases have just been piling up literally on the floor and any available surface so that there is no longer an available surface! And ontop of all that I have actually been having the feelings of needing to create something, I don't know what but something and have no place to do the creating because of the mess! So right now I am digging out and hope to have that all accomplished by the end of the week and actually start creating before the weekend comes. Those are my goals and I sure hope I accomplish them because the state of my studio doesn't help the state of my mind at all! Lol!! Thank you all for being my friends and being there in good times and in bad! Tracy

Fun Weekend!!

This last weekend was a fun one in the scrap area of my life! We won't talk about the other areas! Lol!! On Saturday I worked the Paper Party at Hannah's and got to enjoy seeing lots of my scrappy friends and teaching them some new techniques. Then I worked on a project that Dana had asked me to do for some ad she has coming up for the store. The project was one of the Maya Road Mementos Villas. I have been intrigued by these little houses but was hesitant to step off and get one because I was wondering what would I do with it. Well, let me tell you this little Villa has become my favorite thing I have ever altered and trust me I have altered way too many things to even count! Lol!!! I decided to use the Little Yellow Bicycle "Delightful" line of products to work with on this Villa along with some of the Hero Arts Spring and Summer Flowers. Let me tell you this, I have never been so inspired by a paper line in a long time! I mean it!! Maybe it was the whole needing of some bright cheeriness in my life to pick me up out of the pits that I had been in. Well, whatever it was it worked! Here is the finish project in all of it's bright sunny glory!!






Well, it is time to head back to the studio and my scrap table to see what other kinds of mischief I can get myself into! Lol!!
TFL!!
Tracy

Busy Week!!

I have been busy this last week it seems non-stop! Taxes are due soon and I had to get those finished for my business or else and then my DT stuff for Hannah's needed to be finished! And on top of all that the weather sucks!!!! UGHHHHH!!! I am definitely an all seasons kind of gal but enough is enough! I want SPRING now!! Not 2 days of it but a whole season!! Am I asking for too much?! I don't think so!! Ok, I am done ranting now. Lol!! I just had to release some pent up agression and get it over with I guess. Lol! Okay, so I have one layout to show you today and a close up of the really cool flower that I did. I have been wanting to try my hand at these flowers forever and finally did it! I was doing my usual of checking blogs the other morning when I visited one of my absolute favorites and found the super easy instructions to make these awesome flowers. These flowers are so easy to make your own and instill a little of your style into! Did you think I wouldn't tell you who's blog is my favorite? :) Of course I wouldn't torture you that way now would I?! It is the super talented Vicki Chrisman!! I just love everything she touches and creates!! Her creations just blow me away!! Anyways, here is the layout I did for Hannah's: And here is a close-up of the flower:
I just wish the colors of the papers I used and all the little details would have popped more and been more true to the actual layout! I used the Ancestry line of products from K&Company and as usual did not use the type of photo expected to be used with this paper. Oh well I am just me and I guess this is how I see the world (totally opposite of the norm)!! Time now for me to get back to the drawing board and work some more. I will post more pics of the other projects that I have completed another day!
TFL!!
Happily Scrappin',
Tracy

Layouts......

I finally finished some layouts that I had been working on. One was just for me and the other one for Hannah's. The one for Hannah's has the Kaiser Scrapbook Patterned Paper "Elegance" used on it along with the Kaiser Craft Wood Flourishes in "Butterflies" and "Borders". These were a ton of fun to work with! I used Tattered Angels Glimmer Mists on them, Diamond Glaze, Kaiser Scrapbook Elegance Brads, and Kaiser Bling! I used my Crop-a-dile to punch a hole in the butterfly to place my brad and it cut through like butta'!! Now, here is the one that was just for me. This one is of my Mom and Dad on their Honeymoon back in 1951! I used my Scarlet Lime Main Kit for last month on this one with some added stuff from my stash. I must say I am still loving Scarlet Lime in a huge way!!! I don't think I have ever used a kit so much as I have with Scarlet Lime!! I can't wait for my next one to come!! Oh, here is the layout that I promised....
The weather here in the Midwest is finally starting to show some signs of Spring!!! I have seen dozens of Robins in the last couple of weeks and the temps are finally about 38 degrees! My hubby worked out in the yard all day yesterday and I brushed the cat outside which was an all day task. After a long winter the hair had really built up on the poor baby. I brush it during the winter inside and it makes such a mess so she doesn't get brushed as thoroughly as she should. So in more ways then one I am very happy that winter has started to go away!! Lol!!
TFL!!
Happily Scrappin',
Tracy

Mom

Everyone has been asking how Mom is doing so I figured I would do a special post and update everyone here. On Easter Sunday night she went back into the hospital having a hard time breathing and having pains again. This time showed no signs of a heart attack but showed signs of pulmonary edema (?not sure I spelt that right). So basically she is filling up with fluid from the heart not working like it should yet. And when she fills up with fluid it is happening suddenly not progressively so medication for keeping the water off would not do the job of keeping it off. While in the hospital she also went into what they call atrial fib which is where the heart rate sky rockets suddenly and can be very taxing on the heart. Again, I am not a doctor so I am just relaying what I understand so please forgive me if I am not using the right terminology, etc.. They have started her on alot of new medications and she was finally stabilized by this last Wednesday that they were able to let her go home which is where she desperately wanted to be. So as of now she is home and will be starting back to Cardiac Rehab this coming Monday. I keep praying that they have finally given her the right combo of meds so that she can live a quality of life now and not have to worry so much, as she is very much so a worrier, that this will happen again to her. She was very much upset that it could come on so sudden like this and that there was nothing she could do to keep it from happening so she has been worrying that it will happen any minute. I just want her to have some peace of mind and be able to enjoy this life while she still can if you know what I mean. We have a new baby coming into the family sometime in April and she so very much wants to be here for that and be around to show this baby how great her love is which to me is a very good reason to keep on keeping on and fighting the good fight! It definitely has given her a reason if one was needed. All of your thoughts and prayers have done the job and I don't know what I would have done without all of your prayers lifting her up into the healing hands of the Lord! I want to thank you all so much for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers because without you I don't think we would have been able to get this far! Love, Tracy

Kaiser Craft!!!

I have been working with this companies product alot lately and I must say that I love how you can totally make it your own. They have all these really cool home decor and craft room stuff made out of wood that you can totally alter with just about anything you want. For the Design Team this month I was given the Scrapbook Organizer for on your scrap desk to organize your ribbons, scissors, glues, paints, etc.. I could pick out any papers that I wanted to use on it so I picked out Kaiser's line of paper that the store had just gotten in entitled Elegance. I thought this paper would best fit with my Shabby Chic Eclectic style that my studio is. It is finished and is in the store on display and has been for the last couple of weeks. I am happy with the way it turned out, now I just have to wait for awhile before it will come home again and get to be put to use on my table! Here are some pics of it so you can get the jist of what it looks like. Again, my pics did not turn out the greatest and I am seriously considering getting a better camera because of course it must be the camera not the user right!! LOL!! Yeah, right!! Maybe I should consider learning about my camera more....hmmmmmm.....that is something to do! LOL!!




TFL!!,
Tracy

Happy Birthday Amy!!

Amy's Birthday was this last Saturday and we got to spend the whole day together just being us and having fun!! We started our day out by going to this really cool little tea shop in Antioch aptly named Infini-Tea!! We had made reservations to have the Royal Treatment which was absolutely mind boggling and stomach filling!! Here is a pick of the layout that I did of our adventure at Infini-Tea......
Next we went over to Hannah's (of course we did!) to see what new had come in to the store that we absolutely needed to have and let me tell you we, as expected, found lots of fun goodies to add to our stash. Plus, as an extra bonus we ran into Carla and Cathy who we got to meet in person for the very first time! It was awesome getting to meet them!! Can't wait to get together Carla and crop!! Next, Amy and I headed out for Archiver's where we cropped till 11pm and just chilled and had fun! That by the way is where I printed my photos of our day and scrapped them. Amy and I had both gotten the Scarlet Lime Kit for this last month and we took it along with us to play with! I must say that this kit has got to be one of the funnest kits I have ever gotten before!! It has such bright and cheery colors that you can't help but enjoy the process when working with them! Can you tell I have found a new happy place with Scarlet Lime?! This kit definitely helped me to stretch myself and try some new things that I normally wouldn't have put together but, once I started playing, it all became so natural! Needless to say we had such an awesome time that it was so hard to say goodbye at the end of the night. We both didn't want the fun to end. I am so happy that I got to spend the day with Amy for her birthday!! Love ya Girl!!
Happily Scrappin',
Tracy

Happy Easter!!

I just wanted to pop in today and wish everyone a very Happy Easter!! We are spending a very quiet day at home this year just putzing around and relaxing. It actually feels good to just stay still for a day if you know what I mean. Hope your Easter Sunday is filled with peace and joy! Happily Scrappin', Tracy

It Has Been One of Those Weeks!

Sometimes life just throws stuff at you that can be so overwhelming that you just become paralyzed by it! This weeks was one of those weeks! On Sunday night my 75 year old Mother had a heartattack! She was rushed into the emergency room and later was admitted. Thank God they were able to do a heart catherization to repair and unblock the damage. She came home in fighting form on Wednesday to my oldest sisters house and is making her way back slowly but surely. I am so proud of her and her strength. She just amazes me with her energizer bunny attitude! She is like Timex "takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin'"! The scarriest part is over but I don't think any of us will be the same and or stop worrying. This paralyzed me and made my think what would I do without my Mom? Nothing was the resounding answer because this literally locked me down and made me not even want to deal without out her in my life! I love her so much and she has always been a huge part of my life! Her leaving would have left such a huge hole that I just don't know if I would have survived it without unimaginable damage! I am so happy to say that today is not the time to have to go through that and I pray that it won't be anytime soon. I know we all have to go someday but please let it be a long time away. I guess I needed to get that off my chest and than some! Now, I need to show you a layout that I did of my Mom and her sister when they were little back in 1933. She loves this layout and kept asking me when I was going to put it on my blog. So here it is Mom, just for you!! I love you Mom with all my heart!!
Tracy

UGHHHHHH!!!

More snow that is what the weatherman is calling for again tonight!! I really don't know how much more of this stuff I can take and that is saying alot for a girl who is usually the happiest girl on earth when it starts to snow!! I have just reached the end of my proverbial rope per say and can't take anymore doom and gloom! Lol!! I did do something fun this weekend even though it is so blah out. My BFF Amy and I along with my Mom went to our local Archiver's for Scrap Mania and scrapped our little hearts out! I start to get really crabby when I don't get my scrapbooking time and let me tell you it was a much needed night away! I didn't get anymore then my total of one layout done but for the slowest scrapper in the world that is an accomplishment!! I used to go to these crops and only get a layout half finished so in my book I am definitely cruising now!! Ha Ha!! It was alot of fun at the crop as always and I was even lucky enough to win the layout contest! Here is the layout that I did and I have to give Amy some credit here too because the idea for the layout totally came while watching her work on her layout the last time we cropped together.
I just loved the way she was layering her patterned papers that she was using and I thought WOW that is perfect!! She was using a totally different line of paper but you know what I mean by "when you see someone using paper and putting it together a certain way that it just makes that little click noise in your head and the lightbulb comes on!!" well, that is totally what happened! This hobby is so awesome in that manner that we feed off from each others creativity! Amy is such a talented designer and I totally think she is my muse!! Love you Girl!!

Now, I have to tell you, I can't wait till this coming Friday Crop at Hannah's!!! I am just dying for it to be here already!! It is going to be a blast!! This will be the crop to be at in this area, let me tell you, because we are having one of the head Fiskateers coming and co-hosting the crop!! That means lots of goodies and learning some new techniques (which I can not live without!) along with it being time to crown our new "Queen of the Crop"!! Is it Friday yet? Lol!!

OK, enough of my madness for now!
TFL!
Happily Scrappin',
Tracy