March is National Craft Month

March is National Craft Month

National Craft Month was created by the Craft & Hobby Association in 1994, it was designed to help people learn about and re-discover the joy of crafting and all its many benefits.

March went by way to fast for me.  So much was going on that I didn't get to do my March National Craft Month!  Maybe I'll have to pick a different month to celebrate "crafts." 

There were so many websites/blogs that participated in the National Craft Month -  I just couldn't get to them all nor did I have the time to locate them all!  Ergo if you know of a great site just comment below so I can "hop" over and discover what they did to celebrate!  I would surely appreciate your discoveries.

Spellbinders™ just finished a awesome blog hop and HERE  (Facebook page) is where you can see some the list of participating blogs that "hopped" - when you "click" on the artists name you will be taken to their site where their project(s) are featured. 

I wish I had read my email in time so I would have seen the blog hop sooner.  I only got to enter 2 days and NO I didn't win any Spellbinders™ dies... I'll just have to keep on trying!  I like blog hopping except it takes so much time going from one blog to the next.  But the benefits out way the time... I get to see so much talent out there; so many blogs and so many artists.  Don't forget to see what else that particular blog has done.  I usually go through their past posts or see if they have a gallery or tutorials.  Then I visit some of their "favorite" blogs... and before I know it it's 2:00 am!!!  LOL. 

One of the blogs I like to visit is Our Daily Bread.... Becca Feeken is one of their designers. 

In honor of

"March is National Craft Month"

Spellbinders™ had a "Bunny Hop!" 

Becca was featured on the second day of the Spellbinders™ Bunny Hop!  Becca Feeken's project is shown below - the one in  pink.  

Becca always does amazing work.  She does the best ribbon tying... I wish I had that talent! 

If you ever get a chane watch her how-to videos they are very well done and I highly recommend them.  

Becca used : S4-209 Tulip Pendant, LF-168 Grand Large Labels, LF-114 Grand Circles, S4-161 Labels One, S4-322 Grommet Tags, to make these projects...



Becca utilized torn cloth for the bows... great way to go "green"



HERE is another beautiful card by Becca (look at the bow tutorial)...




Score Tape Ribbon



Score Tape Ribbon Tutorial

I also need to tell you about

Cool2Craft LIVE interactive TV show

Tune in LIVE on Mondays to watch their complete shows.

http://apps.facebook.com/cooltocraft or

Go to http://www.cool2craft.com

Also, become a Cool2Craft Facebook Fan - they're looking for all you cool crafters out there - http://www.facebook.com/Cool2Craft.

THE PRAYER

with Lyrics Celine Dion & Andrea Bocelli

I saw this video on YouTube and thought how beautiful the graphics, lyrics and duet were...

Please Enjoy...

There is a small "advertisement box" in the video...just "x" out of it ;)  YouTube is free yet so this is how they can make money.  Anoying but better than paying for YouTube!

 LYRICS

I pray you'll be our eyes, and watch us where we go.

And help us to be wise in times when we don't know

Let this be our prayer, when we lose our way

Lead us to the place, guide us with your grace

To a place where we'll be safe

La luce che tu hai

I pray we'll find your light

nel cuore resterà

and hold it in our hearts.

a ricordarci che

When stars go out each night,

eterna stella sei

The light you have

I pray we'll find your light

will be in the heart

and hold it in our hearts.

to remember us that

When stars go out each night,

you are eternal star

Nella mia preghiera

Let this be our prayer

quanta fede c'è

when shadows fill our day

How much faith there's

Let this be our prayer

in my prayer

when shadows fill our day

Lead us to a place, guide us with your grace

Give us faith so we'll be safe

Sognamo un mondo senza più violenza

un mondo di giustizia e di speranza

Ognuno dia la mano al suo vicino

Simbolo di pace, di fraternità

We dream a world without violence

a world of justice and faith.

Everyone gives the hand to his neighbours

Symbol of peace, of fraternity

La forza che ci dà

We ask that life be kind

è il desiderio che

and watch us from above

ognuno trovi amor

We hope each soul will find

intorno e dentro sé

another soul to love

The force his gives us

We ask that life be kind

is wish that

and watch us from above

everyone finds love

We hope each soul will find

around and inside

another soul to love

Let this be our prayer

Let this be our prayer, just like every child

Need to find a place, guide us with your grace

Give us faith so we'll be safe

Need to find a place, guide us with your grace

Give us faith so we'll be safe

È la fede che

hai acceso in noi,

sento che ci salverà

It's the faith

you light in us

I feel it will save us

Always Keep Your Candle Burning Bright!



'til next time,

Con

PS:  I just blogged on Fuller's Kidswear!  HERE!

HAPPY ST. PAT'S DAY! Consumers please “buy local”

My family lives in a small community of Durand.  I have been involved with many organizaations within our community...school, government, retail, volunteer...  I see too many small-towns fading away. Have you looked around at the buildings in your area...are they falling in disrepair?  No Jobs - No Money.  Sad times for everyone escpecially our youth.  America needs to be a place where one can "Dream" again.

We have service industries in Durand.   ... almost every one needs to drive at least 15 - 40 minutes to get to work. 

The "Durand" link above is for our DARTS organization.  The purpose of DARTS is to enhance the opportunities for local businesses to grow and the community to grow. It does this through sponsored activities that create greater awareness of the community. So I encourage you to go to the site to see what is happening in Durand and come and enjoy our Village! 

We also have a new business co-op in town called

It's Just Between Friends.

I encourage you to read the Info page...

they have a lot of different services to offer.

They also are a part of Veterans Helping Veterans.

We have many other services and stores in town but the following provide our biggest sales tax revenue... a grocery store, auto dealership, home improvement and a nursing/retirement home.  If it weren't for these businesses our city government and school would suffer; so utilize them and thank them for being here.

Grocery:  Pacemaker at 101 Center St... WEBSITE

 

 

Auto Dealership:  Bryden Ford of Durand at 303 Center St.... WEBSITE    

Bryden Ford in Durand! We're Closer Than You Think!

 

 

Home Improvement:  Barker Lumber Co at 202 W Howard St...  WEBSITE

 

 

Retirement Home:  Medina Manor Retirement Center at 402 S Center St... This facility also provides extended-stay nursing care to seniors with varying levels of disabilities

FACT:

When you buy from a locally owned business you are supporting yourself!

Local business people live in our communities. They pay property, income and business taxes in our communities. They spend nearly all the profits from their business in our local communities, fueling economic growth. They work hard to make sure that the products we buy are of significant quality. They beautify our downtowns and enrich our lives. Their stores often carry items that we are unlikely to find anywhere else. They offer the personal service that makes buying a pleasant experience rather than a chore. They greet us with a smile. They remember our names. In short, they make shopping a pleasure and living in or near our community part of a wonderful way of life. AMEN

Today's locally owned businesses can offer us something just a bit different than other merchants...

WHY I SUPPORT OUR SMALL-TOWM MERCHANTS

1.  Less frenzied venue; I dislike lines and waiting.  I can browse in peace.

2.  Offer harder-to-find collectibles, antiques and handmade items, among other quality goods...*  Making home-made items don't make them less expensive! I should know because I craft.

3.  Higher gas prices - shop in town and save gas; it's greener too if you walk or ride a bike

4.  Losing a local retailer, even a corporately owned retailer, is a loss for the community as a whole...This one is important!  You would lose a lot of community services!

5.  Merchant takes the time to greet you and get to know who you are

6.  Someone takes the time to inquire to what your interests are, and then they help guide you

7.  They hire locals especially high school kids

8.  Community Government/Schools rely on sales tax - with a higher percentage of money staying in the community, small-towns can afford to have public services and better supported schools

9.  Local merchants spend their money at other local businesses... Enhances the wealth of the community by working with local businesses, which may in turn make our area more pleasant to live in

10.  Reitalize downtown business districts

11.  Srengthens our ties with neighbors and business associates

12.  Willing sponsors for community and school fundraising events

YOUR MONEY stays in the your community, rather than traveling outside of it!  We need to show a commitment to our community, and an intent to form a stronger economic base for our home region. 

When we need goods that are not manufactured in our community, we can still buy them in independently owned local stores, and support the local economy. 

Yes, sometimes - it may be more expensive in the short term to buy local, it may have positive long-term benefits which should not be overlooked.

*I often ask myself why people who live in small-towns believe that a small-town store should lower their prices.  Small-town merchants pay out fees too...rental, utilities, insurance, paychecks, promotionals, taxes, etc.  Just because the town is smaller than a city...doesn't mean that the quality of our product is lower.... I would say most of the time it is better.  These small-town stores are not a charity!  They need to make a profit too.  We need to remember that when merchants buy wholesale all is not equal.  The bigger the chain store the lower the product price...small stores don't get this "lower" price.  It's not fair but it's true. Small-towm merchants work hard and long hours to provide us a wonderful service to our community.



FACT:

If you live in a rural community, you need to understand that our grocery store is arguably one of the most important businesses in town. It is also one of the most important social places in town;)  The lack of a grocery store means residents have less access to healthy fresh fruits and vegetables, and the elderly and others without reliable transportation will tend to buy their food at convenience stores with more limited selections or go for longer periods of time between visits to the store.

In the United States,

Consumers should be encouraged to buy goods made in the USA.

I think I've had my "soap box" stand for the day...

 

'til next time,

Con