Alamo Area American Gold Star Mothers

   Here is the first American Gold Star Mothers Chapter here in San Anotnio, TX.  On May 14th, a group of wonderful & loving women chartered in San Antonio the Alamo Area American Gold Star Mothers.  The mission of these caring women will be to honor our Heros who have given the ultimate sacrifice, serve the American Veteran & their families, & comfort the souls left behind after a Hero dies while serving our great nation.  What a time honored tradition the American Gold Star Mothers is.  There have been so many mothers over the course of time who has lost a son or daughter in the line of duty.  Her heart continues to beat after such a horrific loss.  Her heart needs to find peace once again & giving back for many of the mothers is the answer.  With this strong group of heroic & loving women, there will be many good & nurturing things waiting on the horizon.

  In the picture from front (L)  Leonor Saenz,  Alice Babine,  Ruth Holler,  Jane Fleischer,  Norma Alldabagh,  Debbie  Agnew,  Mary Aguirre
                       from front (R)  Kimberly Rairdan (Me),  Carmen Danna,  Cecilia Pena, Reesa Doebbler

Christmas Eve 2010

Christmas Greetings!  Today is Christmas Eve 2010.  It is amazing that this day has arrived at our doorstep so quickly this year.  I've always loved the holidays until 5 years ago when our eldest son was killed in Iraq with 30 other men.  I have come a long way since that terrible moment in time, but there are still the hurdles of special occasions & the dreaded holidays.  This year, I have had a particularly difficult time prepping for the celebration of "Our Savior's" birth.  I started listening to Christmas music early in the season (Octoberish), yet, the path to being excited about the holiday has been ever elusive. 
There have been the gift giving exchanges & the Christmas cards signed, sealed, & delivered, but with little fanfare.  The Christmas baking was at a minimal with only a few selected recipes created to indulge in & share.  I just never found that "Christmas Spirit" this year.  I'm not giving up yet...it's only Christmas Eve.  LOL
Don't let your Christmas be bogged down with worry, doubt, & saddness.  There is still time to find the joy, the love, & "The Spirit".  I'm still looking!
Christmas wishes to you & yours!

Christmas time is Here!

     Believe in the moment, believe in the wonder of the season, believe in the miracle of His birth.
Merry Christmas to one & all.  May your holiday gatherings be filled with love, tolerance, & joy.
   
I found this wonderful blog & want to share it with you.  If you are a Cricut user & love all the cool things you can do with it, check this out...
http://svgcuts.com/blog/?=7798

Upcycling Halloween Treats

Up-cycled Halloween Treats

  What do you do with those left over paper towel & toilet paper roll tubes?  Well, you up-cycle them to make a new & fun treat to share with friends & family.
My husband works for the US Government & his job is with protecting the environment, reusing, & training the Air Force on how to best do this.  In our home before this job, we always were conscience of what our waste can do to the planet.  Now with my Sweetie's job, we try to make it an effort to reuse, recycle, & make do with what we have on hand.  One of the huge draw backs with making "Green Crafts" is the storage of the recycling items until you find a use for them. LOL  It is amazing how few bags actually go into our garbage can for weekly pick up.  Almost everything either goes to the recycling center or washed, dried & stored in my studio for future craft projects.  Try to get a mental picture of that will you. The pile is growing each day.  I think I have to get in there & start to break down & send a bunch of my "Saved" goodies to the recycling center.  The pile groweth, but I'm just not fast enough to use them all within a reasonable time frame.
Make recycling a part of your daily existence.

Spooky Halloween Creations

Smiling Jack  Retro Pillow

   Halloween is just around the corner (in the Crafting World).  It is one of my most favorite times of the year.  There are so many happy memories for me surrounding this fun holiday.  I know that many folks do not celebrate Halloween due to it's "Demonic" undertones.  For me this holiday brings back fun & happy memories of my Mother always having her special way of getting all five us, my brother, sisters, & myself dressed in home-made costumes,  creating our feast of the traditional "Chili Dogs" for our Trick or Treat dinner, & out the door for our frolicing Trick- or-Treating fun to beg & preform for our bags full of yummy candies.  What fun & what fond memories!  I wouldn't change a thing about those ghoulishly fun nights with my sisters & me running from house to house.  So, when this time of year approaches I dig up those precious memories that spur me into fun & festive creating to share & sell to my customers.
  This year so far, I have had a few inspiring creations that have made their way up to the shop at Alamo Craft Company.  Look for more to come!

Hexing Helga
Hand-made Paper Mache Headed Doll

Skeleton Sacks

Kyle's & Amanda's Wedding August 2010

     A beautiful day, a wonderful time with family, a joining of 2 happy people. 
I know, I am not what you would call a constant of anything, especially of keeping up with my very own blog.  There are so many excuses I could give in my defense, but in reality, it's all about being able to be consistent.
   Aren't these two just too sweet for words?  They both looked so great & I pray they stay happy within each other's embraces & in each other's lives.  Marriage is a great thing, but it takes some work as most of us know.  I hope they keep each other the main priority in each other's lives. 
  So world...let me introduce you to Kyle & Amanda Rairdan.  I'm a little late, but here they are!
  Love you two....keep smiling!

Memories for Keeps ..."Willie Bear"

  Here is a a creation that I was commissioned to help with.  A dear friend's sister wanted a personal keepsake to give to her daughter for her upcoming birthday.  This cute bear has a shirt made from the shirt of a departed loved one.  the importance of this shirt was one that there needed to be a pocket to hold this man's eye glasses & that the shirt be made to resemble one that he wore on most days due to his job.  I will say that I was quite pleased with how it came out & was very happy that with all that I tried, I was blessed with very few problems & an end result that I was proud of.  Some things just seem to fall into place and this project felt very right almost from the onset.  Now, I just pray that the young woman who receives "Willie Bear" will have wonderful memories envelope her each time she embraces this cute teddy bear.  I hope that she will find peace within it's meaning.  What a fun & thoughtful gift her mother commissioned.  Something to think about for future gifts of sympathy & thoughtfulness.