Blog
December 2024
December Thought of the Month
"You are never too old to set a new goal or dream a new dream."
~ C.S. Lewis
At this time of year, we're usually focused on holiday tasks: shopping for presents, decorating, travel plans, etc. But it should also be a time of begin preparing for a new year. Without a plan, we are at the mercy of Life's currents.
November 2024
November Thought of the Month
"I have found that, rather than dwelling on the negative, if we will take a step back and consider the blessings in our lives, including seemingly small, sometimes overlooked blessings, we can find greater happiness."
~ Thomas S. Morrison
October 2024
October Thought of the Month
"To live is to choose. But to choose well, you must know who you are and what you stand for, where you want to go and why you want to get there."
~ Kofi Annan
DIY Project: Bunkbeds
The bunk beds I originally purchased for my boys’ bedroom diorama ended up being too big, and none of the options I found online were suitable. So I decided to make it myself.
Materials: clear tacky glue, mini wooden pallets, large and small popsicle sticks, square dowels, I got most pieces from the craft aisle at Dollar Tree and the woodworking department at Hobby Lobby. Tools: jumbo binder clips for holding parts in place while drying; emery board for sanding cut edges; Exacto blade, scissors, and small saw for cutting the wood when needed; ruler and pencil.
September 2024
September Thought of the Month
"No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted."
~ Andy Griffith
I was watering my porch plants the other day when someone pulling out of the parking lot across the street called out to say how beautiful they are. I smiled and thanked her. It wasn't a huge deal for her, only a few seconds of her time and consideration. But those few words really brightened my day.
August 2024
August Thought of the Month
"You gotta write your own hymms or they ain't worth singing."
~ Ray Bradbury from The Day it Rained Forever
Rod Serling, famous for his series, The Twilight Zone and Night Gallery, recognized the evil of stifling individuality. He has multiple episodes in both shows depicting how wrong conformity can be, even if wrapped in an appealing package. Dictator characters praise and enforce conformity, anyone who is different is either forced to comply or cast out, even killed. That is the death of a society.
July 2024
July Thought of the Month
"Few will have the greatness to bend history, but each time a man stands up for an ideal or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope...."
~ Robert "Bobby" F. Kennedy, Sr.
DIY Project: Window Shade
Add realistic non-working window shades to your diorama windows. You will need a sheet of paper with a width or length longer than the height of your window, a plastic drinking straw, scissors, ruler, pencil, and glue or adhesive tape. I prefer scrapbook paper to add a splash of color that coordinates with my project.
These instructions include a pull but can easily be made without. For the pull cord, you’ll need heavy sewing thread, embroidery floss, or other thin cord, a sewing needle, and beads of your choice.
June 2024
June Thought of the Month
"The bad news is time flies. The good news is you're the pilot."
~ Michael Altshuler
The year is nearly half over already. While time moves pretty much at the same pace it always has, we perceive it as flying by. We spend too much of our present dealing with the future. This has made us hyperaware of time and its passing.
Why You Should Never Do This in the Artists Alley
I’ve heard stories of artists who have caught people flipping through their portfolios and taking photos without getting permission. It’s happened to me. These fans may think they are doing no harm but they’re wrong.
Imagine this scenario. A new position is being created at your workplace with a higher salary than you’re earning. You want to apply but it requires skills you don’t have. So you take night classes to gain those skills on your own dime. When applications open up, you submit your updated resumé.
