{capture the moment}

Their Perspective

Do you ever wonder what things look like through the eyes of your child?  It is something I am always curious about.  Everything seems larger to them, so their perspective is totally different than that of an adult.  So I decided to let the kids have the camera.  I showed them how to operate it, and let them loose.  I knew the results would be interesting, and they were. Here are my three favorites. Owen’s favorite food right now is sausage & biscuits.  He would eat them three meals a day if I let him!  So, it is no surprise that he decided to take a picture of his favorite treat, while he was eating it.  It is miraculous that he was able to press the shutter button, hold the camera  AND his biscuit, all at the same time! Then there is the swing set.  Hannah’s favorite activity.  Love the angle at which she took the photo.  It really demonstrates how little she is and how she looks up to everything. And lastly, Owen’s cars.  They are his favorite amusement.  I think this photo is cool because the vehicles are arranged just as he left them, as if time had been frozen, just for a millisecond, capturing what he loves doing best. I got prints made yesterday of all the photos they took and have plans to make a mini-book to hold them all.  I’ll be sure to post the results. I know I am planning on handing over the camera more often.  I even considered the idea of having an album dedicated to their perspective of all the holidays, events and trips we go on.  How interesting would that be for them to look back on when they are older?!?!  What’s your child’s perspective?  Hand them the camera today, post a link to your results in the comments section.  I’d love to see what your world looks like through their eyes!

studio

Know Bob Vila?  I'm married to his twin brother.  Or at least you would think so by the amount of handy work David does around the house.  The extra big blessing from all of this?  I get to have my dream studio for very little cost.  Yesterday he installed some new track lighting for me.  He also built everything you see from scratch.  (You can click on any of these photos to enlarge them.) He designed the back bookcase with cubicles in the lower half that perfectly fit the plastic three-drawer units available at Wal- Mart.  Love that.  The shelf above that holds all of my 12x12 paper.  Then above that is my background stamps and tins holding single non-SU! stamps, divided into categories.  Above that is my new Memory Dock system.  So loving that!  On the little shelves to the left of my cabinet are 26 one-pint freezer containers (4 for $1.25, again, at Wal-Mart), one for each letter of the alphabet.  All of my chipboard letters, alphabet embellishments & alphabet stamps are organized into the appropriate tub.  Makes it so much easier to find what I need.  Also on this side, sitting on my desktop is my Tool Turn-About.  Love having all my "necessities" right at hand. To the right of the cabinet are all of my SU! sets.  I just did a major purge and got rid of about 100 sets in preparation for the new catalog!  In my cabinet are plastic sectionalized craft organization boxes ($1.95 ea. at, you guessed it, Wal-Mart).  These are where I keep all of my embellishments. The left & center stacks are broken down by color, the right stack is divided and labeled for metals (copper, silver, gold) and clear.  I love doing it this way because I am almost always searching for "just the right touch" in just the right color, and this system works great for me.  On top of my shelves are glass jars with my Prima Flowers.  Went in with my two best girl buds (Wendy & Melissa, hi girls!) and ordered a big bunch, then split them three ways.  I got my own jars at Hobby Lobby for $1 each.  My favorite aspect of the space?  I have room for two, whether it be friends or the kids, I can have company while I create.  And isn't always more fun when you get to share?  So that's the tour!  This studio brought to you by David A. Heady. The sweetest, handiest hubby around!

I am...

I am: a mother, wife, sister, friend, artist.

I want: my children to grow up with all the happiness a heart can hold.  And for them to know that no matter who or where they are, they are loved immensely.

I have: innumerable blessings in my life, small and large.

I wish: there were more hours in the day

I hate: being late!

I miss: sleeping in paired with lazy mornings.

I hear: normal everyday sounds, that won’t be so normal when the kids are older.  Taking a moment to savor, Owen’s blaring cartons, Hannah humming to herself as she plays dolls, Ethan inhaling & exhaling as he rests comfortably on my lap.

I wonder: what the relationships will be like between my children when they are older. 

I regret: Not savoring the college experience and trying to grow up too fast.

I am not: perfect, and the recent realization that it is overrated.

I dance: with the kids when they are rocking out to the latest hit on the radio, and they laugh.  Perhaps that will be a silly characteristic they will remember about mom later on.

I sing: when I am happy and driving alone.

I cry: when I am feeling overwhelmed.

I am not always: as organized as I would like to be.

I make with my hands: art that makes me happy.  Food that brings my family together. 

I write: down meaningful memories so I’ll never forget.

I confuse: being busy with success.

I need: to take more time for myself to relax.

I should: reorganize my studio area.

I start: my day with a smile from Ethan as I lift him out of his crib.  And hugs from Owen & Hannah followed by their answers to the question, “Did you sleep good last night?”

I finish: my day by relaxing with David and talking about the day and what tomorrow may hold.

Ispired by my online muse, Lisa Johnson.  Thanks Lisa!

Celebrating Life

So as of early evening yesterday, I was actually caught up on assignments for the magazine!  And I found myself with free time after the kids went to bed to create whatever I wanted.   Unchartered territory for me in the last few months!  So I decided to dedicate my time to scrapbooking. I got three pages done and thought I would share.

For my Daughter:

May you always find laughter

and a reason to smile.

May you always find beauty

in everything that surrounds you.

May you always find love

within yourself and pass it on.

May you always find passion

in whatever you do.

May you always find strength

to hold your head high.

May you always find perspective

to see the other side.

May you always find hope

when things don’t go right.

May you always find meaning

in your chosen path through life.

YOU teach me (from Donna Downey BPS Class)

David: Make time

When I look at what the day holds, I see all of the tasks at hand. Cooking, cleaning, organizing, creating. You see an opportunity to relax and enjoy the ride. The way you are able to lounge while grilling dinner.  Or the way you linger over that morning cup of coffee.  You are always telling me that the next thing on my list can wait till tomorrow.  And I know to stop and listen to your advice.  Because you’re right.  Today only happens once in a lifetime, and there is always a tomorrow.

Owen: Let go

You are the oldest, so you are teaching me to let go.  Here we are getting ready for you to go off to kindergarten.  Am I a nervous wreck?  You better believe it.  But your excitement about starting this new chapter in your life forces me to move along with you.  The world is such an uncertain place, but you’re ready to dive in head first.  And I will be your cheerleader in the stands, to support you, love you, and most of all let you follow your own path.

Hannah: Remember

Perhaps it is because of your gender, but every step along the path of your childhood reminds me of my own journey.  How fun dolls can be to dress-up and create skits for.  The creative lure of arts & crafts.  The pure bliss of dress-up and make believe.  Secret hiding places and little purses.  Thank-you for allowing me to relive the happiness of my early years again, through your eyes.

Ethan: Savor

Because of you I now stop to savor each moment and realize how fast life can pass you by if you don’t stop to smell the roses.  Because of you I am able to experience having a baby in my life in a whole new light… having the opportunity to enjoy you being little…the little toes & fingers, the unlimited cuddling, the softness of your skin, the way the peach fuzz on the top of your head feels under my chin,  the way your hand wraps around my finger so tightly, the blueness of your eyes and how you love to gaze up at me.  Every moment is different this time around, because I know how fast it will all disappear.

I'll Miss

I knew this day would come…the day you would grow-up.  This was an important event for you.  It meant the end of staying home all day to play, everyday.  I’ll miss getting to sit down and have lunch with you.  I’ll miss hearing you create your roaring engine sounds as you play with your matchbox cars.  And that goes along with the perfect lines of vehicles that always adorn the hallway.  I’ll miss having such interesting conversations, that only you and your five-year old brain could conceptualize.  Like what animals eat or what the name of the song is on the radio.  I’ll miss seeing your smile throughout the day; you always bring sunlight to my day, rain or shine.  I know we’ll still have weekends and school vacations. But it just won’t be the same as having my special boy by my side, as I have grown so accustomed to over the last five years of your life.  This graduation day marks big changes for you, and I for that matter. 6 hours a day, 5 hours per week, I’ll be missing you.

Father's Day Album

I just finished this project up this morning.  I made David a super cool scrapbook for Father's Day this weekend, inspired by a design created by the talented Ali Edwards. It is a tribute to him and what a fantastic father he has been through the last 5 1/2 years.  

 
What I like best is that the photos ARE the pages, which really makes them the emphasis.  This compact little book holds a total of 26 photos, all featuring David doing different things with the kids. 

 
The photos are divided into three chapters, which graduate in size making the book more interesting and unique.  The only thing I bought to create this album was the three 1-inch binder rings and two pieces of chipboard.  Everything else is just cardstock, photos, glue and a little ribbon for good measure.  

 
I really enjoyed sanding the photos for a cool antique look.  It adds a nice homey, weathered feel that I love.  

 

All of the patterned papers are from American Crafts, my favorite company right now.  It took a total of 5 hours to make, after I already had the photos gathered and copied.  I'm anxious to give it to him!  I know he will really enjoy reminiscing about how much the kids have grown and changed over time.

In honor of Father's Day, I thought I would share my research for this album and the great quotes I found regarding fatherhood.  I thought maybe one of you might find them helpful and use them in a creation of your own!

"It is not flesh and blood but the heart which makes us fathers and sons."

"A Father is someone you look up to no matter how tall you grow."

"A father is someone who walks in front of you when you need footsteps to follow... behind you when you need encouragement, and beside you when you need a friend."

"A father sees himself in his child's eyes."

"A father's love is Like a rainbow--you can never find it's end."

"A father is neither an anchor to hold us back. Nor a sail to take us there. But a guiding light whose love shows us the way."

"Any man can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a dad."

"As many drops that are in the ocean and as many grains of sand on a beach may still not amount to the vastness of the love between a father and his son."

"Blessed indeed is the man who hears many gentle voices call him father."

"Dad; a sons first hero, a daughters first love."

"Sometimes it's better to put love into hugs than to put it into words."

"Life doesn't come with an instruction book; that's why we have fathers."

"My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person -- he believed in me."

"My heart is happy, my mind is free. I had a father who talked with me."

"No music is so pleasant to my ears as that word--father."

"That is how I would remember my father. There was never a place he walked that was not better for his having passed."

"There is something ultimate in a father's love, something that cannot fail, something to be believed against the whole world."

Perfect Portrait

"Mommy, look.  I drew you a picture of my dolly."  This is the type of phrase I hear all the time from Hannah.  She is so content when she has a pen in hand.  Usually I smile and look at her scribbles and ask her to "interpret" them for me.  Nod.  Smile, and tell her what a great job she did.  Today is different.  Her drawing DOES look exactly like her doll.  When she handed her little drawing to me, full of pride, it was all I could  do not to cry!  Her drawing even included the pom-poms.  Could a mommy be more proud?  It may not be the Mona Lisa, but to me it is worth it's weight in gold.

The Kiddie Pool

Bits and pieces make up childhood.  And sometimes it seems as though the same bits and pieces repeat, no matter what generation you refer to.  It always fascinates me how my children find the same delight in things I enjoyed when I was a child.  For example, there is the kiddie pool.  Coming in a variety of colors, they always seem to be around, never going  out of style.  The perfect way to cool off on those hot summer days, no matter where you live. 

My sister (Jen) and I.  August of 1986.  Canaan, Maine.  The green turtle pool.  Complete with a slide. 

Then there is Owen & Hannah.  August of 2003.  Olmstead, Kentucky.  The blue inflatable pool, sitting in the shade of our big oak tree.

Followed by August of 2005.  Clarksville, Tennessee.  The big blue pool.  Featuring a built in car track, slide and sprinkler system.  And the clever idea by Dad to put the pool at the bottom of the big slide.

Both generations spent hours playing in their respective pools.  The cool water.  The hot sun.  Floating bits of grass, that you can never seem to keep out!  Splashing.  Jumping.  Sliding face first. Squeals of delight.  Wrinkled fingers & toes.  Purple lips and chattering teeth.  A welcome dry towel.  Mom sitting by in a lawn chair keeping an eye out.

So did YOU have a kiddie pool?  Or do your children have one now?  Post a comment below and share your story! I want to hear all about it!

hydrangeas

I know. The first thing you’re thinking is “It took you long enough!”  This week has been a “deadline” week for Paper Crafts and I’ve been busy working on a lot of projects for them.  I’m ready to take a deep breath and revel in the calmness I feel when I get to capture a moment.

So before I even get into that, I had to share my latest project.  It was an assignment from Donna D’s class through Big Picture Scrapbooking.  It is a small three ring binder that I altered, lovingly entitled “Alphabits”.  Inside are pocket files.  One holds a print out of all of my fonts, one with samples of all of my alphabet stamps, one with samples of my greetings stamps, one with fav. font combinations & one with font sites and a running list of fonts I want to find online. It has been a great reference, and it is just so darn cute to look at too.  Can’t wait to see what my assignment is next week!

Take a deep breath and imagine you are on a small island off the coast of Maine, thick and green from a recent rainfall.  You can practically taste the salt on your lips.  In the distance you hear the water lightly rippling in and out with the rolling waves.  Gulls fly above, soaring on the gentle sea breezes.  The engine of a lobster boat can be heard idling by as it hauls in it’s traps.  These are my thoughts whenever I see a hydrangea bush in bloom.  Little Diamond Island is old, so therefore vegetation has had plenty of time to thrive and flourish.  To me, a home on this island cannot be considered a full fledge “cottage” without a hydrangea bush.  There, they are as tall as trees and are filled with blossoms as big as salad bowls.  The breed obviously loves its environment, and reciprocates with picture perfect ivory stems year after year.  I have admired them all of my life.  And because Little Diamond is such a special place to me, in turn so are the hydrangeas.  Shortly after we bought our new home two years ago, Grandma sent me a check and an article carefully cut from a magazine.  The article was titled “How to Care For Hydrangeas”.  She knew how much the flowers meant to me.  And that I had always dreamed of having bushes of my own.  So here is my beloved bush.  It has finally established and is doing wonderfully.  It is full of beautiful blooms for the first time.  Whenever I go outside to admire it, I am immediately struck with how much Grandma loves me and the time & thought she puts into making me feel special.  And I am also taken back to that small island off the coast of Maine, licking the salt from my lips, listening to the water rippling in and out with the rolling waves and watching the gulls soar overhead.  Thank-you, Grandma.  Love ya and all you do.

~N

From Baby to Little Lady

I took this photo of Hannah last week.  As I was going through my photos this morning, it caught my eye.  When did she grow-up?  I missed it somewhere and there it was right in front of me.  She no longer has a baby face, the chubbiness gone from her cheeks.  She acts like a little lady, crossing her legs, saying please and thank-you.  She is fashion conscious and particular.  Gone are the days where I got to pick out what she wore. She has developed her own personality, and I can see traces of me within her.  It makes me smile when she asks if she can “craft” with me.  I always wonder if she will pursue the arts when she is older.  Whether or not it will be an activity and common bond we will hold when she is a teenager and adult.  I’ll never forget the day she was born.  The doctor held her up promptly and stated “It’s a girl!”  I just repeated it over and over in my head.  The little girl I had always wanted was finally here.  And now here we are, as she is creeping up on her fourth birthday.  Growing, maturing, changing everyday along the way.  It is hard to fathom that it has gone by so fast.  And I am sure the pace will just increase from here on out. So I’ll hold her hand today and absorb all of her hugs & kisses into my soul.  Creating a special spot in my memory for the here and now.  Today is only here for a short while, for soon it will be tomorrow and we will be another day closer to her adulthood.  I need to be sure that I cherish this experience I have been blessed with.  The experience of mother and daughter, a bond like no other.