City of Hope - the Walk - Sunday, October 2

"Here we go"  this was the day I had been working for. I registered for the Walk, joined a team (Wells Fargo) and got my official walk t-shirt. I made keyfobs and sold them for contributions. My friend, Liz signed up to walk, and my husband Keith was there with us - giving us support all along the way, and taking pictures of us on his I-phone.
   The weather was great - for Phoenix. The walk started at 7:15 am, we actually started about 20 minutes later. The City of Hope said there were about 3500 registered walkers. We walked through the Phoenix zoo. So, it was lots of fun. By the time the day started getting warm, we were about finished with our walk.
  I am a 2-time survivor of breast cancer, and I am very thankful. There were many people and organizations that supported me along the way - I did not survive this journey alone. This walk is one of the many ways that I am paying it forward. I have also walked in the Komen Race for the Cure, The American Cancer Society's Making Strides for Breast Cancer, and I am a member of Etsy's Team Etsy Project Embrace - proceeds from some items in my Etsy shop are donated to the American Cancer Society.  This City of Hope walk raised money and awareness for all womens cancers.
 Here's to a future that is cancer-free for all of us - We can all look forward to that !

City of Hope's Walk for Hope:

City of Hope's Walk for Hope:

I'm in, are you ? I'm walking in the City of Hope's Walk for Hope to raise money and awareness for all women's cancers on Sunday, October 2nd. I am on the Wells Fargo Team here in Phoenix, Arizona. Be sure to "click" on the pink title above to read all the details "City of Hope's Walk for Hope" Thanks !

Back to School

It's that time of the year that all parents love - Back to School.
We can all breathe a little sigh of relief now. Although all that back to school shopping can be a little hair-raising.

I remember when I was in school (many years back). Our school supplies
were usually something recycled (even before it became popular).

We kept our pencils, eraser, pencil sharpener, and rounded scissors in
a used cigar box. I usually kept mine well decorated.

Then there was our book covers. A strict requirement for all our books to be covered. We used brown grogery bags for covers. Then, they were colored and decorated to make them all our own.

So, to all who are returning (or just starting) school - Enjoy it while you can!

Something Blue

Something Blue ...and a lucky sixpence in her shoe!

Treasury

I am a member of team Etsy Project Embrace. We are a universal coalition of artists whose main purpose is to create awareness and support for people who have been diagnosed with cancer - whatever kind it may be.

Something Blue...and a lucky sixpence in her shoe!
This (see above) is my latest Treasury I have posted on Etsy. Most of the shops listed here are members of Etsy Project Embrace. Portions of our sales from our Etsy shops are donated to the American Cancer Society. You can find other members of our team on Etsy by using the search word: teamepe

This is the link to my Etsy shop:  http://patidecaz.etsy.com
Proceeds from the sales of my Pink Bracelets are donated to the American Cancer Society. They were a great help to me, I have had breast cancer twice. It did not defeat me. Not only did I survive this ordeal, but I am thriving!
This year, I was able to celebrate one year "cancer-free". My friends and I had a party to celebrate.

After two mastectomies, I had reconstructive breast surgery. It was a long journey, and I'm glad I made it through everything. It was definately a challenge, at times. I had lots of friends, a great husband, and a wonderful team of doctors - they all helped me throughout this ordeal. I am so thankful to them all!

Ten Days Until Easter....and counting

Well, I'm really proud of myself.  My goal was to make ten Easter bunnies to sell in my Etsy shop. I have now exceeded that goal and have completed 15 (they kept multiplying!) bunny rabbits.  Six of them have found new homes to go to. I have nine remaining, and they are listed for sale in my Etsy store.  I have officially stopped making any more bunnies (for now).  If you read my earlier blogs - and my interview from team Etsy Project Embrace - You would know that I keep my entire shop inventory in a brown leather ottoman in our livingroom -  Well..... the bunnies runneth over - They have taken up temporary residence on our sofa.

One by one, they'll all hop away to new homes

Dorothy has already been adopted, but these two are available

Free shipping (in the U.S.) on all of these bunnies until Easter in my Etsy shop

http://patidecaz.etsy.com/

Hippity...Hoppity....Easter's on its way!

What I've Been Reading Lately....

I love to read! So, I thought I'd share with everyone what I've been reading.

Right now, I'm on page 325 of  (540 pages ) Cutting for Stone. Really enjoying this one.

A sweeping saga which takes place around a small missionary hospital in Ethiopia.  The story begins with the birth of twin boys. Born to an Indian nun and a British surgeon. Quite an unforgettable journey.
It is filled with love, politics, culture, family, tragedy, betrayal and more. The author is Abraham Verghese. Published in 2009.

The book I just finished reading is by Fannie Flagg - I Still Dream About You. Published Nov. 2010

This story will make you laugh!  The main character is Maggie, a former Miss Alabama, who is selling real estate. She's not happy, too young to retire (at 60), too old to start something new, can't sleep at nights. Then, one day she comes up with the perfect plan about what she's going to do. But, her plan doesn't turn out like she wanted it to. Then, she finds herself in the middle of a baffling mystery. It keeps you mesmerized as you turn the pages to find out what happens .....it's a great story!
Before this book, I read The Year of the Hare: A Novel  by Arto Paasilinna

This book was first published in 1975. Was written in Finnish, and has been translated into many languages. As the story begins, a Finnish journalist and a photographer are out on an assignment one June evening, when suddenly with their car they hit a young hare on a country road. The photographer jumps out of the car to go find the wounded hare who has run off into the woods. He tends to the hare's leg. They form a bond and the two (man and hare) spend the year together. Vatanen (the photographer) deserts his friend the journalist, quits his job, leaves his wife, sells all of his possessions and replaces it all with a life of odd jobs and on-the-road experiences. The hare stays with him all along his new found journey.

One of my New year's resolutions this year, was to keep a creativity journal. It seemed a simple enough task. I make something everyday, often several things a day. Each day, I planned to record in a journal what I was working on that day......I think I lasted about a week. Oh well, can't win them all!  I think I'm so busy with whatever I'm working on that I don't want to take the time to write about it. For now, I will continue to make things, and maybe write then down ....sometimes.

It's beginning to look a lot like...Easter!

Still making lots of rabbits. They're coming along quite nicely.  Listed five of them in my Etsy shop, and one has sold already. She's going to live in Nashville, Tennessee now. Here's the others, some complete, and some still in the "works"   These bunnies are waiting for their nose and mouth to be embroidered, and they still need their dresses and pantaloons. They're so sweet!

All together for a group photo! 

This bunny has just been featured in an Etsy Treasury -  Easter Chic - See it in the sidebar of this blog.


To see them all - Be sure and visit my Etsy shop at http://patidecaz.etsy.com/

Up to my Ears in Bunny Rabbits!

This year, Easter is on April 24th. I have been busy everyday sewing Easter bunnies. I cut and sew them in "mass production" working to get them ready to sell in my Etsy shop.

The rabbits are made of cotton muslin fabric.


Most of them have pink eyes, and a few have blue eyes.

Right now, there are 10 rabbits in production.

  

My grandaughter - Krista  at 11 months old





I have made hundreds of these rabbits over the years.

They have big back feet

Embroidered pink noses and mouth

They're wearing cute little springtime dresses and long pantaloons


One day this week, I'm going to scoop them all up, and take them outside on the grass lawn to photograph them.

Very soon, they'll be ready to go to a new home from my Etsy shop.
http://patidecaz.etsy.com/

Spring into March!

March is here already - wow, this year is hopping by quickly. St Patrick's day is this Thursday, on the 17th. The first day of Spring is on Sunday, the 20th of this month. hope you're all adjusting to the time change. In Arizona, we don't change - our time remains the same all year. The weather is warming up beautifully - we're in the 80's now. The orange and other citrus trees are beginning to bloom, and the air is beautifully fragrant from the blossoms.
I just love this time of year.

Don't forget to wear green on Thursday for St Patrick's Day!

If you're looking to save some green, while you're wearin' the green - look on Etsy.com for great gifts, craft supplies, and vintage items - all at wonderful prices. I buy lots of my craft supplies from other sellers on Etsy. I also have craft supplies for sale in my shop. Look under my shop section titled: Rock/Paper/Scissors. You can link to my shop right from this blog. See the box on the right side column: My Etsy Shop.

Honeysuckle is the Color of the Year

I just read an article lately that Pantone has picked Honeysuckle as the 2011 color of the year

 I wonder if they should have called it Honeysuckle Rose? Wasn't that the name of a Willy Nelson song?

 They said," Honeysuckle is encouraging and uplifting. It elevates our psyche beyond escape, instilling the confidence, courage and spirit to meet the exhaustive challenges that have become everyday life." I say that's a tall order for just one color! Oh, my!

The article continues to say, "The intensity of this festive reddish pink allures and engages. In fact, this color, not the sweet fragrance of the flower, is what attracts hummingbirds to nectar. Honeysuckle may also bring a wave of nostalgia for its associated delicious scent reminiscent of the carefree days of spring and summer."

 "Let the bold spirit of Honeysuckle infuse you, lift you and carry you through the year. It's a color for everyday - with nothing 'everyday' about it."

 I have quite a selection of Pink "Honeysuckle" Bracelets that I have made and are for sale in my Etsy shop. I am also a member of team Etsy Project Embrace. Proceeds from the sale of these bracelets are donated to the American Cancer Society through Etsy Project Embrace.

 "Honeysuckle exhibits a positive power - you can't wear it without feeling an extra spring in your step."

Whatever the "powers that be" exclaim about this color - I just love it in all it's shades of pink!

To see more Pink Bracelets - Visit my Etsy shop at http://patidecaz.etsy.com/

Happy Valentine's Day

1947 Life magazine "Kiss"

Have you read this?  Great book!