scrapologie

a necessary luxury

 

 

On a trip to Walmart the other day, I found a small treasure in the floral section - dozens of long stemmed roses for $5.00. They weren't the youngest of blooms --- and some were a bit faded at the edge of the petals but I couldn't help but select a dozen lovely fuchsia blooms. Even though we have to be careful with our spending right now, there is something about having a vase full of lovely blooming roses that fills my soul with blissful happiness, and makes me feel as though I walk in a garden even in the dead of winter. They bring sunshine to my soul.

I was busy with creating with the JBS February kit all weekend. The kit debuts Tuesday... and it's a lovely one... you won't want to miss it. Here's a peek. Have a great week ahead!

 

Once Upon a Time

 

This was circa 1970, in a beautiful home in Providence, Rhode Island. My father had emigrated to the United States months before bringing us here. That's me -- three years old, in the blue dress at the far right in this photo. My mother is in the silver saree holding my baby sister. And my big sister is in the back in the red dress. I remember this house vaguely. I do remember that it is here that my six year old sister first went to school, and came home with a black eye - she was beaten up because we were one of the few non-white families at that time. Providence has changed since then. We still have a photo somewhere of her smiling up at the camera through her swollen eye. Despite that sad incident, we moved to Cincinnati and my father made the acquaintance of some wonderful people who taught us that not everyone in America would resent us for being different. One of his friends, Norb Schutte, would later visit India with my father and become my Dad's dear friend. Norb and his wife (then girlfriend) Patti would visit us every Christmas and bring gifts for everyone in the family - our first lessons about Christmas and giving. They were truly kind and generous and embodied the spirit of love and friendship in every way. Norb would go on to become a medical doctor and they would have a beautiful family of their own. The landscape and face of America has changed so much since then - the immigrant experience today is not nearly what it was back in the '70s. But I struggled growing up with being different. Through it all, my older sister took the brunt of it - being beat up and getting into verbal altercations with other children who didn't like us, protecting me when I was ready to go to school. She is still sadly suffering the impact of that childhood today. I have some of my own sad memories - too personal to share. But I wouldn't change my Dad's decision for anything. Despite our early struggles, we persevered. We made friends and found the goodness in people. Most of all, we realized that we are American too, and America is part of us. And we realized that here is where we belong.

How to be Beautiful, by Audrey Hepburn

 

"For attractive lips, speak words of kindness. For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people. For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry. For beautiful hair, let a child run their fingers through it once a day. For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone. People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone. Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of each of your arms. As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands; one for helping yourself, and the other for helping others." - Audrey Hepburn

Seven Gypsies - CHA Winter 2011 - Sneak Peek

 

Introducing... Lille from 7 Gypsies. This is one of the new (and my favorite!) collection from 7 Gypsies being released at CHA. I love this beautiful collection and am so excited to see it being released. Seven Gypsies product has a way of inspiring wanderlust in even the most staid homebody. Every collection draws inspiration from the destinations traveled by the gypsies. It's enough to make you want to pack your bags and set out to travel the world. I had a chance to work with these products and they are just beyond gorgeous. If you're going to CHA - be sure to check them out. The design team did an amazing job with this collection. You can see more at the Gypsy Blog.  
Here are closeups of the individual papers:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

 
Some coordinating products:

 

 
 

 

 

Here are some more detail shots of the project I did with the new librarie drawer and the 6x6 Lille papers. My computer crashed in early November, right in the middle of this project, so I ended up not being able to use the pics I wanted to use. Fortunately, I had some older photos printed out and in a big bin - just extras from previous projects, and was able to use those to finish the project. I'm happy to say my computer is repaired now but that was a LONG computerless month!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

You know I hate to post without leaving you a vintage image, so I hope this one will suffice for today. And thank you, so much, for all your kind words and encouragement about Bob's job loss. I am beginning to see it's not the end of the world and I so appreciate all of your thoughts and wishes. It's especially comforting to know you have been through tough times as well, and persevered. Thank you so much. Wishing you all a blissful weekend. Keep safe and warm!

 

 

The test of faith

 

Apparently, the universe heard me, in my last post. A few short days after posting, Bobby lost his job in a layoff. I was devastated at first, as we were coming off of an exeptionally tough year in 2010 anyway. But I can't help but feel at times that it is the universe's message to both of us, to push us in a different direction, and to help me to strengthen my faith, to find courage in tough times. He wasn't happy where he was and I knew in my heart it wasn't the right place for him. Once we got over the initial shock, I began to see that it might be a message from the universe telling us that it was not where he was meant to be. I've done a lot of soul searching since it happened and through my sorrow have realized that when one door closes, it is because another is meant to open, somewhere, somehow. Thank you all for your very insightful comments. I read them all and am comforted knowing that I am not alone on this journey. I'll try to post more but am swamped in CHA projects just now. So in the meantime, here's a valentine card I created for the JBS Inspiration blog.

 

 

 

A cup of faith

 

Being that I am not a religious person, (which is not to say I am not a spiritual person), it's a bit ironic that my word for this year is faith. I think I need an extra large helping of it. I happen to work with someone who comes to work every day, with a smile on her face and a spring in her step. I had to stop and ask her what enables her to live in light each day. I suspected it was her faith, and it turned out I was right. I felt it was a lesson for me. Though I grew up with a very religious grandmother and parents who always were open with me about their faith, I couldn't understand why I had a hard time connecting with a higher power. But as I have grown older, I have begun to realize it's what is missing from my life, and why I feel so discombobulated. Having said that, I am not a good candidate for any kind of organized religion. It's a much more private connection for me. I feel very uncomfortable wearing my faith on my sleeve, much less even discussing it on my blog. But I am throwing it out there today, sort of an SOS to the universe that I am ready for introspection, for meditation, for connection with a higher power. And that will be my charge this year, to find that which connects me to every other living being on this planet and to take comfort in knowing that I have a purpose, that there is meaning to this life.

"There are only two ways to live... one is as though nothing was a miracle...the other is as if everything is..."   -Albert Einstein

                                                  

 

 

A brand new year.

 

Wishing all of my readers a very happy, prosperous and healthy new year! 2010 proved to be an exceptionally stressful and tough year for many people, me included. I am so glad to be saying goodbye to 2010 and ready for a fresh beginning. I wish you all the very best in the coming year!

Here are my contributions to the January Gallery at JBS Mercantile, and a vintage image for you as well.