Oh yes they can! :) I guess I am living proof of that after all these years. ;D But another younger generation is saying the same thing and I say bravo to Shona Cole for that! The Artistic Mother available at http://www.amazon.com/Artistic-Mother-Practical-Fitting-Creativity/dp/1600613489/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1267309935&sr=8-1 It is a wonderful thing to be able to create your own version of art and to care for your children--at the same time! You don't have to give up one for the other or wait for the children to be grown to get creative. Do it now. Don't be so hard on yourself --or your kids. Create with them and for them and enjoy the process. It can be done. I have been crafting all my half-century of vibrant life. I have gone from mud pies and hop vine baskets with my sister on the farm to the writer, teacher and artist of today. I have been crafting with my two children at my side for almost 25 of those 50 years. I ran a very successful in ho...

It was a fun birthday party and here are some highlights above. :) Some of us scrapbooked, some quilted, some beaded, and some just came to say hello. We had cake and trifle and a great meal and it was a blast. Plus I got some adorable pages done too! A giant Thank You to all who participated --and to all who wished me well-- as I turn 50 years young! :)

It's a milestone for me (Rockester) today as I celebrate my half-century mark birthday today with a 15 hour crop at our local store. I have made decorated water bottles with stash, I have made darn cute treat bags from coordinating stash as well. I need to stop and get the cake. The rest of the day will be fun and easy....but I need to remember to take my camera! Don't forget to get YOURSELF in the picture at least once a month...hand the camera off and have someone else snap a few for you. Too often we are so busy with making sure the day is great for others that we forget to GET IN THE PICTURE! :) Today I am going to take my own advice! hugs Rockester

Happy 71st birthday to my mother. Today is her birthday. Since I am thinking of her, I decided to make her a little token that will also serve her well this coming week. I made her 4 Valentine cards in a gift box so she can send them to her 4 children! (Me included!) I hope I do get one back again. LOL I am including seals for the back flaps and postage stamps to make it extra east on her to mail out these cards regardless of WHO she sends them to. :) I used STASH of course! You all know me by now. I am on a 2010 mission to use even more of my stash for gifts this year. Everything seen here was already in my studio and much of it on my desk! I used up an OLD OLD valentine/love Frame Ups set that some of you will recognize from years ago. It was in my hearts and Valentines folder of accents so there is no better time than the present--for a present! Here are the cards (above) This is just a reminder to pull out those embellishments that are just too cutesy for layouts and perhap...