Monday, November 30, 2009

Why?????

OK, I'm warning you in advance this is going to be a depressing, anger filled post that has nothing to do with crafting, but has everything to do with what is in my heart......

When does the killing stop???? Four officers brutally murdered as they sat in a coffee shop. They didn't do anything to deserve this. They chose to work for their community, to serve and protect, to keep us safe, and they paid the ultimate price. All because the system failed. Former Governor Mike Huckabee of Arkansas let him out on clemency; the judges and criminal justice system there failed to keep him in prison after he violated parole time and time again. Our local judges for allowing him bail. His family for bailing him out of jail. Whoever allowed him access to guns. The family and/or friends that continue to help him and obstruct justice. I could go on and on. The system isn't working and it needs to be fixed. If you get sentenced to 3 years or 35 or 95 years, you should SERVE THAT SENTENCE!!!!! To heck with clemency. I don't care if you were 16 when you committed that crime. If the jury and judge saw fit to give you that sentence, you should serve it. So often the system is ruled by money and influence----if you have money and influence, you can afford to do anything and everything to buy your way out of trouble. If the State doesn't have money, it makes releasing criminals from jail a priority, regardless of the safety of the public.

This hit way too too too close to home. While I did not work with these particular officers, I did work with many of the surviving officers of Lakewood PD so this is "family". I am so afraid for other police officers in our area....actually officers of any jurisdiction----who knows when some other psycho is going to decide he wants to shoot some more cops. I am grateful for the class and professionalism of my department as they investigate this senseless crime.

Sorry for ranting on. My sincerest thanks to my friends Mert and Lisbeth for volunteering to handle my craft booth on Sunday after the tragedy happened. You are wonderful and I really appreciate the support.

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Another one done......

Another craft show in the bag, and I am soooo glad!!!! Not a bad show, but the drive back and forth is a killer. I-405 is a mess, no matter what time of day it is.

Sold lots and lots of ornaments, so guess what I am painting today!!! The little kids loved the Santa ironing board, lots of giggles as they stood next to him and compared their height to Santa's!!

The weather outside looks icky again today, so it's a good excuse to sit inside and paint all day.....or most of it. I'm going to see the new Sandra Bullock movie "Blindside". I'm not much of a movie person (I think the last movie I saw in a theater was the last installment of Star Wars.......) but I couldn't resist this one. And then the grocery store is calling......our cupboards look like Mother Hubbards, so if we expect to eat, gotta go stock up.

Forgot the camera when we went to Renton, so no pics of the booth----was a pretty standard set-up anyways.....but hope to show off some new ornies and a couple of other pieces soon. Be back in a day or two!!

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Spanaway Lake Show

A few of the new things I did for the Spanaway Lake show. I love Kim Klassen's designs!!
Didn't have electricity, so the ornaments on the tree didn't show up as well as I would have liked. Check out my "repurposed" CD ornament at the top.
Another view of my booth at the Spanaway Lake show last weekend. Had a great time, was really nice to have Mert, Lisbeth and Pam just across the gym.

I'm off to Renton Community Center this weekend, a Friday/Saturday show. I don't know why I thought I was prepared to do 5 shows this season.........

Still painting new things, hope to have more pics in a few days.

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Signs of the times.........

My previous blog posting was very depressing, so I decided I needed to light things up a bit....so getting into the holiday season is the way to do that!!

I love to paint signs, and at this time of the year, I paint alot of 'em!!!!
The top two designs in this group are by Kim Klassen, my absolutely favorite designer.
The bottom sign is adapted from a Sue Allemand design (another one of my faves).

Frantically painting my fingers off to stock up for my upcoming shows. Every year I say I am going to be more prepared, but as usual, I am scrambling in the last few days/weeks......
My biggest problem is I find too many things I want to paint.....Kim Klassen's "weekly eDition" pattern club is the source of a lot of the new things I have painted (including the 2 featured above) and since she is sending out a new design every week, I have alot to paint!!

Sunday, November 1, 2009

A sad day.....

Some of you that follow or view this blog may not realize, but I have worked in law enforcement for over 20 years. So the news today that Seattle Police Officer Tim Brenton was murdered last night hits hard. An officer, a husband, a father of two....gone in a barrage of gunfire.

I am not an officer (I work in evidence management) but I and every person that works in law enforcement is part of a community, a family of sorts, linked by a common purpose---to protect and serve the public. Officers such as Tim Brenton put their lives on the line day after day, night after night, to ensure that we may be safe.

I ask that you keep Officer Brenton's family, friends and colleagues in your thoughts and prayers.

Keeping busy on a beautiful fall day.....

Today was absolutely beautiful....a little cool, but clear blue skies. A nice break from the ugly gray rainy days we have had lately!! I really shouldn't complain.....lots of my relatives in Colorado are buried in snow!!

I should have been outside enjoying the sunshine and pulling weeds, but I was in my "cave" painting, as usual. I just can't resist painting!!! Just finished Kim Klassen's two newest "weekly eDition" patterns, along with a Sue Allemand piece. Next show is less than 2 weeks away, and I have sooo many things I want to get done!!!

Somehow I managed to delete my upcoming events off the blog, but I will get Chrissie to fix tonite....back soon!!