MSCE 4/11: Recycled paper Easter basket

Considering I was making this between errands, coloring my hair, and getting ready for a combination Easter/first birthday party for my grandson, it's not half bad. Every bit came from the recycle bin (shopping bag, bottom of card box, used paper plate for the cutouts, tissue paper for the grass) except the green bow, which I snagged from a cookie tin. Anyhow, the kids liked it.

MSCE 4/10: A writing and reuniting kind of day

This was one of those very busy-busy days in which I had lots of great ideas and no time to implement them--for instance, a beloved niece with whom I've been out of touch for way too long (not by choice) found me online and we had a fantastic reunion. She and I share a birthday, and I've missed her keenly. Naturally, I spent the time with her that I would have given to making some foofie or other for MSCE--and happily so!

However, I did create something this morning before the day got away from me: a Good Friday poem which I shared on my other blog and will reprint here. It's a contemplative expression of my faith, but also of the hope of new life that Spring represents. Tomorrow I'm doing some cool Easter things for my darlin' little grandboys, and I'll be sure to post them. Happy Easter, everyone! Life is beautiful!


BEFORE THE GLORY

Before the Glory is revealed
There is suffering and scourging
Spitting and cursing and untold shame
Bloody betrayal and no companions who remain
Not overcome by presumption of misspent faith
And terror of complicity.

Before the Glory can be seen
Before lilies can burst open, rejoicing
And transformed men forget their own lives
And disconsolate women see past their own pain--
One being no less miraculous than the other--
Life must turn its face away
And disinherit all hope.

A grave-lust must be satisfied
The seed fallen in darkness and forgotten
And shadows, prematurely triumphant,
Swallow Light alive
And crow in celebration
At the presumed victory.

Before the Glory sunrise brings,
First comes the stone
Of Reckoning.


© 2009 Sharon L. Shannon All rights reserved

Floral divider courtesy of Webweaver's Free Clipart

MSCE 4/9: Cutie-patootie card earrings

Using the 7 of Diamonds from that 50-cent teeny deck of cards I mentioned before, I whipped up today's offering. I just cut the card diagonally, then covered all sides with clear packing tape. A few jump rings, earring hooks, and seed beads later, I got these:



Aren't they just the cutest?

Free is better: Dover samples

Sign up for the Dover email newsletter and get beautiful sample images every week! I've built up quite a collection of these. The Dover folks are legendary for their vast pool of vintage and other images. Their books are amazingly affordable--and we all know, cheap is great!

Welcome to my kitchen

It's a galley, too small for more than one person to fit in at a time...a happy little nook of clutter. Yep, those are dirty dishes in and around the sink, and clean ones in the drainer that need to be put away. I'm too busy writing in blogs, updating on Facebook, soaking in grandbaby love, and fiddling around making stuff. Who's got time for spotlessness? I do love to cook, though--meaning, seeing what's in the cupboard and putting it together. The fun is in the challenge. Plan ahead? Not much. Whatever ingredients are on sale/in season in any given week end up in some humble but (I like to think) tasty dinner presentation at Castle Shannon. In 34 years, I've only had one memorable failure: As a newlywed, I tried mixing sauerkraut, hot dogs, and mushroom soup. Not recommended!

Tonight I think it's chicken thighs with soy sauce, peanuts, and and peaches. The King will have a nice baked potato and my side will be a yam with pumpkin pie spices. A simple salad will tie it together.

Here's what hangs over my stove:



Words to live by!

MSCE 4/8: Button & tassel hair clip

I found this wonderful blog and this one, too, last night and signed up right away for Make Something Cool Every Day. Here's my first entry:

Hair clip: On hand
Tassel: Salvaged off an old fridge magnet
Button: From collection


A little hot glue and (as we say around here) VIOLA! Simple but fun. I'm wearing it right now:

Latest gleanings

*COOLNESS! A pile of old wooden alphabet blocks, circa 70's. Are these ever gonna get a lot of use!

*FABULOSO! An artist friend casually asked me if I could take a half stack of 12x12 scrapbook papers, all in zany blacks/reds/greens/abstract florals/wild stripes off her hands. Well, DUHHHH! Thank you, Tanja!

*REPURPOSE MADNESS! Hit the rummage sales this weekend! Little gift books from the 60's to alter/take apart and reuse...several odd sized picture frames with no glass...4 National Geographics from 1952-'53...a teeny, tiny deck of cards...20 die cut game cards, 2" square with rounded corners...a children's book in French...

Remember the Crafty Bag Lady motto: "Cheap is great; free is better!"