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Mother’s Day is Coming (soon!)
April 30, 2008 in FamilyMay is nearly upon us and it’s time to focus on Mother’s Day. While there’s still time, here are a few ideas to celebrate your Mom:
Is she a gardener or just loves Spring? I have a great new assortment of garden-theme products available at JoAnn’s to choose from. A garden organizer or watering can along with some gardening gloves and clogs will get her in the right spirit to enjoy a Sunday in her own backyard. Add a few seeds to plant and if you volunteer to help out for a couple hours you’re sure to make her smile.- There are a lot of Moms out there that are crazy about scrapbooking. Add some new papers and stickers to her collection.
Paint a flowerpot in her favorite color, trim the edge with beads and add an easy-to-care-for house plant.
Knitters can never get enough you know what – YARN! Along with a fresh set of needles and a subscription to a knitting magazine, your gift will inspire her next project. - If you make her a hand-beaded necklace or bracelet, she’ll be able to say with a proud grin, “Why thank you, my daughter made it for me,” every time she receives a compliment.
Impress her with your craftiness by making up one of our projects from the website. Just right for Mom and if you get started now, there’s just enough time to whip up the one you think will please Mom the most. Click on our link for instructions to make a Garden Dangler, a decorative Chalkboard or a simple quilt throw. - The classics always work and are appreciated – Sunday brunch and tickets for two to the theater or an upcoming stage show.
- If your Mom is anything like mine, a card that expresses your grateful and loving words that come from your heart is all the gift that she really wants.
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You’ve Been Goated!
April 25, 2008 in Friendship, Pets
We almost had a new member added to our staff today. One of Monica’s friends from “Team Gigi” (from Walk for a Cure) had a little prank up her sleeve that played out at the office today. A couple representatives from the Wishing Star Foundation showed up on our doorstep with the sweetest little goat in arm. With a cute little poem and a bucket they presented Tricia the goat to Monica.
The confused and nervous smirk on Monica’s face was priceless. (of course, we were all in on it- otherwise we would have been equally confused) 
The poem declared that the goat was hers to keep and that she needs to be bottle fed every two hours! You could almost read her mind….”WHAT? Where will I keep it? What will my husband say?” But there was an out. “If you don’t want this pet you can slip us a donation to get out of your situation!” We all ran to our wallets and made our donations to bail Monica out and lend our support to Wishing Star. Don’t worry Monica’s revenge is in play. She sent the Goat, the poem and donation bucket onto someone else from her team. The goat was surprisingly docile and very gentle and only tried to chew up an electrical cord once.
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Behind the Seams – New Book!
April 17, 2008 in Books, QuiltingI thought you might be curious to see what behind the scenes on our most recent book photo shoot looked like…….In the book you see our finished product and a perfectly positioned project and props. But all around the focus of the photo is usually a fair amount of chaos. There are lights, camera, cords and usually an unusual (sometimes bizarre) assortment of props and backdrops that we audition for the photo. More times than not, there is a lot of trial and error for props. OK, let’s try this; look in the camera; and then move it a quarter inch to the left, and this goes on for hours! Our photo team is Tom (awesome photographer!), Carolyn (amazing book editor!), and Monica (dazzling book designer!) and Myself (main responsibility is being picky).
Our photo shoot was actually done in October of last year. It takes us 9 months for us to give birth to a book, from conception to delivery. I can’t wait for you to see the real thing. It’s called “COLORS from NATURE” and is being released (born!) on May 15. I’ll keep you posted and give you a sneak peak before the release. I think you’ll love it.
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Online Fabric Sale!
April 14, 2008 in Crafts, Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores, Quilting
Check it out – Order online and save 50% off of DM Baby & Everyday Quilting Fabrics through April 20. Take advantage for your fun spring projects. If you don’t have a project in mind – here’s one for ya!
Love Grows Lap Quilt
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Idol Gives Back
April 10, 2008 in Current Affairs
I hope you got to watch Idol Gives Back last night. There are so many positive benefits to witnessing a show like this. First of all a well orchestrated opportunity to corral the power of many to serve our world and battle the injustice of poverty. They made it clear to us that no matter how much you are able to give - that it would be meaningful because it will be pooled together to make a real impact. 
It's hard to watch this and not be hit with the marked contrast between our lives and the devastation that millions live with. It really does shift the focus from myself and my problems and issues and helps me realize that by contrast - I really am okay. I have clean water to drink and comfortable shelter and the money to buy good quality food, medical and dental services, the medicines I need, and my family and friends are safe and healthy too. And, I'm not living in fear that at any moment these priviledges and securities will be pulled out from under me.
Annie Lenox (who Bono aptly described as an angel) probably moved me the most. She introduced us to to five children living in Africa who have lost their parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles (anyone who might have cared for them) all to HIV Positive. 
The oldest, a 15 year old boy took care of himself and the other children while having to bottle in his fears of being able to hold everything together for his younger siblings. The weight of that responsibility while barely surviving a life of poverty and rampant illness is unfathomable.
Even though there is so much to accomplish, the show and celebrities showcased many of the programs that are in place and how the dollars we gave last year are being utilized to improve and save people's lives. Alicia Keye's commented that you can "Change the lives of people FOREVER for the price of a pair of shoes." I think I could give up buying a pair of shoes to change a life.
Even Simon was inspiring - to see his tender and caring side is uplifting. Sometimes, it's just awareness that makes the difference. I remember watching the show last year. It was clear that he didn't realize how bad it was for so many people.
So many of us watch this show religiously as bystanders and become involved by discussing the drama and the performances purely for our own entertainment. This is a chance to watch and now discuss how we don't have to be just a bystander. You can so easily be involved by sharing just a little of what you have. I hope all my blog friends will take this opportunity to Give Back and make a difference. Keith Urban said it well, "Tonight you can save a Life, tomorrow you can change the World."
www.Americanidol.com
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Quote of the Month
April 8, 2008 in Creativity, Friendship, Quotes
First of all – Wow! - we’re already well into April and I’m getting in the mood to “play.” And, I certainly do feel out of practice. Not that I’m going to go out there and play ball or anything. I’ve long since given that up. 
(Although, I was the left-handed pitcher for a couple years on a B-League Ladies softball team – that was more than a few years ago now)
Kris brings us inspiration this month from Jerry Seinfeld who has always had a great sense of “play” – especially when it comes to verbal quips. I guess we each need to come up with our own version of “Spring Training” so we can “play well” all season long.
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BOOBIES – Hug them-Love them-Save them
April 4, 2008 in Current Affairs, Well-Being
We’re so proud of our Boobies and so glad to have them! We all jumped at the chance to show them off. The saying on our t-shirts says
“BOOBIES – Hug them-Love them-Save them”
We’re wearing them in support of “Race for the Cure” on April 20 here in Spokane. Our Monica (center in photos) put a team together to walk the race, but she didn’t stop there. She and her team (Team GiGi) have created these t-shirts, tanks, necklaces, buttons & bumper stickers to raise additional funds. 
All proceeds taken in will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. Monica, in shock by her Mother’s recent diagnosis of Breast Cancer was inspired to raise money for 
Breast Cancer research and awareness as a way to feel like there was something she could do to make a difference. The good news is that her Mom (who goes by the nickname, Gigi) recently finished chemotherapy and is doing very well. We, here at DM Studio are very proud and inspired by Monica for being proactive and also for using just the right touch of gentle humor to deal with a scary diagnosis. So many of us have experienced a family member or friend who has dealt with the devastation of Breast Cancer and/or live with the fear of negative results from a Mammogram. My mother very bravely dealt with this diagnosis 5 years ago. It was a mammogram that revealed her cancer. 
The good news is that it was caught early which made the prognosis as well as the treatment a little less traumatic. So remember the slogan, “BOOBIES – Hug them-Love them-Save them” and do your exams and get your Mammograms. Check out this link if you’d like to support Team GiGi or get a t-shirt. Grace and Blessings to all who have suffered.
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Cute Idea
April 2, 2008 in Crafts, Creativity
A young girl named Leah, who loves our calendars came up with a clever idea for recycling calendar images after the year is over. If you’re a pack rat like me, it’s hard to make yourself throw away outdated calendars so I always save mine. After years of saving - I have big piles of them now. (I can’t throw away art!!) But it is fun to come up a way to re-use the images. I don’t know if I would mail my bills out this way – but for a surprise note to your Mom or a friend – how cute would it be to “scrapbook” a little card and then use a folded up calendar page for your envelope. It’s dripping in Creativity!!
