2 Posts for Today!

FYI I am trying to upload a new blogger template and am having trouble as usual. And if it looks strange or differernt that is why! If you have subscribed or or a follower please resubscribe in a couple of days when I have it figured out please! I am trying to do this without much experience!!! There are 2 POSTS for today, so scroll down to see the other one.

Thanks,
Sonya

Update on Galveston Texas after Hurricane Ike

Here is the promised post on the status of Galveston Island after Hurricane Ike. Unfortunately the pictures that we took last week while were down there visiting were deleted from my camera by that unknown person that lives in our house! So the picture above is the damage that we had. That was a beautiful pear tree. It split and took out the fence about 12:00 am the night that Hurricane Ike came in. Then it split again when it was at the highest winds and the fence on the other side survived and the pool thankfully or it would have flooded the back of the house! We were so blessed to have only this little damage, others were not so fortunate.

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In Galveston we saw the steady clean-up and still in need of repair structures, businesses that were still not open. Hopefully they will be within the next few months. The seawall looks different without the business that were on piers over the water, Murdoch's Gift Shops, The Balinese Room, other small restaurants are gone also. The Flagship hotel was severely damaged and you can see straight through the ground floor, with one of the driveways to the pier gone. Both the 61st and 91st street fishing pier are gone.

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Businesses along the seawall are not all back yet and some look like they are changing owners. The beaches are getting a few feet of new sand to build them back up. Stewart Beach park was deserted and closed. Most of the structures are gone or damaged extensively, except for the large pavilion where the bathrooms, showers, snack shop and gift shop were.

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Going through the island's neighborhoods there were houses still in need of repair and it looks like the people who have returned are trying to get back to normal. Moody Gardens is mostly down as two of the pyramids are not open. The Aquarium is up and running for the most part. The steamboat runs on certain days. The grounds look stripped of most of it's ground foliage, because of the saltwater, as does anyplace that was flooded. Schliterbahn looks like it took a lot of damage also, and there were workers repairing it trying to get it ready for this summer.

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We went to the Strand area and saw that it had 8 feet of water there. Only a handful of the businesses were open, most were not and the ones that were were on limited hours. There was a lot of repair going on in the shops and buildings that were not open yet, and it will be a few more months before this is finished. But they will be opening as they finish.

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A drive down to the west side of the island to see about the Galveston Island State Park and the damage there gave us a delightful surprise! As we drove by the closed entrance there was a sign that said "A new Texas State Park coming soon" Yea! As we have camped there many times and loved the close "get-a-way". The gate was closed and we could see workers cleaning the debris and much of the back rows of the campsites were still intact. We drove down to the nearest beach entrance and walked up the beach to the park. The dune and the bridges are gone as well as the premium beachside campsites that were in back of them. A lot of sand is over the whole park and they are removing it starting the cleanup. The beaches here have a lot of debris from the hurricane so you have to walk carefully! I wouldn't drive down it either. The pictures that you see on the Texas State Parks site for Galveston State Park give a good idea of the damage but a lot of the park is still intact. Unfortunately the headquarters and other buildings are a total lose. They will have to be rebuilt, maybe a stilted design like at Mustang Island Park?

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I wish I had the pictures!!!!! It would show you so much more. Galveston had the look and feel of being wounded and trying to heal. To be expected with what it went through! It still needs help, it's citizen's to return, so the businesses open and jobs, our prayers and help so it can back to life again.

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I also wanted to thank all those who visit my blog and also those who leave comments. I read each one and love to hear what you think about what was posted! I will either leave a response in the comments section or on your site/email.

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Tomorrow I hope to post a picture of a new card if I get it finished (and sort and straighten my craft area!). So until then,

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EDITED TO ADD: If you would like to see more updates on the Galveston recovery, leave me a comment to tell me. I will post updates from time to time if you want them. Also check out post dated, 2-28-09 that has a link to pictures from Galveston 2009.
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Shalom,

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Sonya

Comments are always welcome, drop me one, I'd LOVE to hear from you!

Quilled, Stamped, Scrapbook Page and Cards

So sad, I didn't get picked for the Spellbinders 2009 Design Team :( . But good luck to the 20 who were chosen to continue to the finals! And thanks to Spellbinders for the opportunity to submit my projects. I know the rest of us will be looking forward to seeing the wonderful designs that were submitted by those lucky ones!

So, since I haven't been chosen I can know post my submission to the contest. The first was a 12 X 12 layout and I chose to use the clock and butterfly die from Spellbinders. It inspired the "Time Flies" - "Too Fast" idea and I used the butterfly flying away with the clock and then then progressive pictures of Christine growing up.

Next we had to submit a card and I chose to quill a medallion in red, black and cream. I used my Nestabilities scalloped and regular rectangles to double mat behind the medallion. You can see that card at the beginning of this post.

A stamped card had to be submitted and I chose one of my favorite flowers the hydrangea to stamp in gold embossing powers and colored with Prismacolor pencils and OMS. Inside the card I put a pocket cut out of the Nesties and put a tea bag and a bookmark stamped with the same stamp. It has the sentiment of "A Cup of Tea" , "A Good Book", and "A Good Friend". I accented it with crystals and Fairy Dust glitter.

The fourth project that was submitted was an altered item. I chose to alter a frame, and what better way than with quilling. I have been wanting to do one in shades of purple and lavender and this seemed like a good time. It has a hydrangea in it of course, made from petals,punched coffee filter paper and painted with Twinkling H2O's. It give the flowers a dried sparkle appearance. I also punched accent flowers from lavender vellum with crystal centers, and pearlescent paper with pearl centers. Double stacked quilled flowers, leaves and fringed flowers complete the design. I think I will put a picture from our cruise in it!

I enjoyed making the projects for submission and don't envy those that had to judge them! Thanks to my daughter Cassandra who took the pictures of my projects for submission. I hope you enjoy, and I am off to play with my new stamps and dies!

Until the next post,

Shalom,

Sonya

Comments are always welcome, I'd love to hear from you!!!!! Really!

Is America a Democracy?

Please give me grace, this is not going to be a post about quilling or paper arts. I have not posted about politics, government or such things, but now as it is a topic of much concern I have jumped in and offer caution in these dire times. After reading many articles, blogs and their comments I have seen that there is much confusion on what government is and what it's use is. This video can clear up a lot of what we have forgotten in our high school government class.




In these tough economic times many have looked to the government as a way out. The government does not control the economy, yet. Nor do you want it to. What is economics? The short definition is the buying, selling and trading of commodities, goods and services. In other words you and I buy, sell and trade. We make the economy either good or bad, not the government.

Think about the government controlling the economy. What would that look like? Do you want the government to control what you buy, how much it will cost, when you can buy it? As a business person, do you want the government to regulate and control what you can sell, how much you can produce, or even if you can start a business? It is heading in that direction now. I am not advocating anarchy but the responsible use of government. We the people made the economy the way it is now, and the government and contol cannot get us out of it, only we can, unless we want a scenario like in the above video. It will take time to fix and we are reaping the rewards of a lifestyle of getting what you want, when you want it, and not expecting to have to pay for it now.

Unfortunately we are having to pay for it, now. People are loosing their jobs, health care (if they had it to begin with), and homes. The old saying is true, what goes up must come down, and it is coming down hard. We cannot expect to live that same fast and furious lifestyle of consumption at any cost. We have to be responsible and not trade our freedom for protection or freedom from poverty. The proposed stimulus plan is reactionary and has been tried in history and failed (easily researched). This is not about Democrats and Republicans, it is about our future and our freedom. It doesn't matter which "side" we are on the problem is the same, the needs are the same. Our Constitution is our government by law. Is it perfect, no, nothing ever is. But it is the best solution, let's keep it, the other options are worse.

Now is the time to tighten our budgets and take care of each other. We can get through this together and not with governmental control and interference. Let's pick up the pieces and make a better solution for ourselves responsibly. These are tough times and tougher ones are ahead of us. Let's look for balanced solutions to our problems and not take the "quick fix", that never is a true solution.

Don't go along with everything you hear from the media, politician, or governmental representatives. Let us research what is in these "economic stimulus" bills and ultimately what it will cost us. Let us research at what cost health care reform will take and what the form of health care will eventually become. Read this article: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601039&refer=columnist_mccaughey&sid=aLzfDxfbwhzs

Who will be those "worthy" of care, who will say what medical treatment that you deserve or need? There is a possibility for great misuse in this health care reform bill. Time and debate are needed to fully solve this problem and keep our freedoms intact.

We must be responsible and not reactionary or we will loose our freedom for the price of "bread and circuses" as the Romans did. History repeats itself if we are not careful. Our Constitution is being trampled upon "for our best interests", "for our protection" and many other "good" reasons. Yes we have great needs and problems in our country, but we do not need to give our freedom away to solve them. Let's look within ourselves to see if we have been a part of the problem(s) and to see ways that we can be a part of the solution. It is a hard look in the mirror, I know, I have and it isn't pretty. Change starts with us, not the government. Keep America free, be informed, be involved, let us work together!

Thanks for letting me digress from art and such and have this soapbox for a few minutes. My prayers for all of us and our country, may God guide us in these troubling times.

Until the next post,
Shalom,
Sonya

Comments are always welcome, I would love to hear from you.

Quilled Photo Mats

Hello again, here are the three other quilled photo mats that I wanted to post before but couldn't get to upload right!!! I did these earlier last year but never posted them. My ever increasing quilling and paper art supplies are getting out of control and I need to do some fancy organization today so that I can actually FIND all of what I have so that I can use it!

These three photo mats are for 5 X 7 photos and have folded roses, fringe flowers, quilled flowers, leaves, hydrangeas, and punched flower accents with pearls. I just love making these photo mats. I found a bunch of these in the rectangular and oval shapes at a local dollar store and they are just as nice as the more expensive ones! I was so happy because I can quill them to my hearts content and not worry about the cost of the mat.

I am still having problems with the position of my pictures and will have to do some searching for what the "user error" is that I seem to be making! Sorry for the quality of the pictures also, I took them! My daughter usually comes and photographs them for me but I decided to try and do it and you see the results, lol! I need to get her to teach me a few Photo Shop tricks so that I can edit them a little better.

Tomorrow I will post on our day trip to Galveston and have some pictures of how the rebuilding is going. Until then,

Shalom,

Sonya

Comments are always welcome, I'd love to hear from you!

Quilling and Paper Art

Again I have been neglecting my blog, so sorry. I have been getting ready for a design contest for Spellbinders Paper Arts. I can't post the pics of the entries just yet because of possible publication. I won't know if I have made it to the "semi-finals" until Feb. 9th. I am up against some very talented and experience people, So wish me luck!

So, for now I have posted some pics of some smaller quilled keepsake photo mats, and of a quilled flower trellis. Edited to add: I am having some trouble with adding pics to this post so this is the only one!

I wanted to share with you a blog for a wonderful artist. Her name is Jerri Jimenez and her blog is at: http://jerrikay.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/ . Her water color technique is absolutely gorgeous!!! And now she has posted a wonderful tutorial on how to do it!!!!! It is very generous of teachers who post either a video or picture tutorial on their sites. It takes a lot of time and they are not charging for it, they do it out of the love of the art and want to share it with the rest of us. These tutorials are great because unless you live close to the artist or they happen to give a class close enough for you to join you would probably never get to see these techniques taught.

Other blogs that have a great tutorial sections are: Gina K. Designs at http://blog.ginakdesigns.com/ . She recently lost her father and I hope you will join with me in sending prayers for the family.

Another great site for card making tutorials is: Dawn's Stamping Thoughts at: http://www.dawnsstampingthoughts.typepad.com/ . Dawn has some great youtube video tutorials.

Check them out and their blog links to other fantastic card and paper artists. There are a lot more and so may talented card and paper artists out there. When you see their work you will know why I call these imaginative people "artists"! I will post more of my favorites again. Until tomorrow.

Shalom,

Sonya
Comments are welcome if you have the time!

A Nod to my Czech Heritage

I have been doing some genealogy investigation on my fathers side and have found out that my great-grandfather and family immigrated from Bohemia, before it was a part of the Czech Republic. I am still trying to find more info but while I am running down any leads I decided to try make some Kolaches a fruit filled pastry made in that region.

I used this recipe: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Kolaches-II/Detail.aspx and also some of the fillings from this one: http://www.recipezaar.com/Sweet-Kolache-Recipe-39387 . My first attempt is pictured above. The dough was light and very soft it came out perfect! I didn't put them close enough together to get the square sides as you traditional see but they came out great anyway. I made a second batch for our congregations Hanukkah party and made them smaller more bite size and put them closer together and they came out great also. But, the night that I made them it was VERY humid here in Houston and the dough was stickier than usual, I should have put a little more flour in the dough, so adjust if needed. I also "glazed" them with a liquid powdered sugar glaze, but they are great with out it if you decide not to!

Have fun and give them a try, it's a great recipe for beginners and they taste great! If you haven't already search out your heritage and try out a recipe from it! If you try making Kolaches post and let me know!

Until the next post, Shalom!

Sonya

Comments are always welcome I'd love to hear from you!