I don't know if I've mentioned it before, but me and Aaron are your go-to-guys when it comes to dog sitting, cat feeding, plant watering, bringing your trash cans to the curb when you're out of town, bringing in your mail, watching the kids, etc...And not because we excel at any one of those things. It's just that we're always around to do it. When family or friends go out of town they know just where Aaron and I will be...right here! You can call Aaron at most hours of the day and say "I'm outta gas about thirty miles east of anywhere...can you come get me!?" More than likely he'll be able to come get you. If Walt desperately needs help with a school report he put off 'til the last minute...I can be there, pencil in hand, in ten minutes. Living near your family and being in business for yourself can feel like being a surgeon on-call. Everybody knows we can shift our schedule around...because we make it up as we go!
I bring this up because this past week we've had my sister's tiny little dog Jack (whom we only call Jackie, and my sister HATES it!). Missy had been down in Mexico and Me and Aar are really the only two viable long term babysitters when it comes to Jack. He's a little dog and like most of his kind he despises being left home alone...at all. Since we work from home, we're a perfect fit for entertaining the 'lil pipsqueak for a week. So counting Carlos the Chihuahua, it's been the four of us this week, and although Jack's 6 am pee schedule is taxing, we've been having a blast with the little guy. Last night, around midnight we picked up Missy from the airport and tearfully gave up little Jackie. Oh yeah, that's another thing, you can ask us to pick you up at the airport at 4 am and we'll oblige. We won't exactly love the experience, but what the heck. What's funny is that I KNOW that so many of you blogging maniacs are the same way! I know that you guys are those people. The one's who get called last minute, in a pinch. And the secret is...we love being those people ! Life goes by in a blink and if you've got your head in the right place you'll find that the most meaningful moments are those that you spent helping your family and friends. The efforts that come without rewards are often the most rewarding. Anyway, I'm making it sound like I'm Mother Theresa just because I babysat one of the cutest little pups you'll ever see! I don't mean it that way! What I mean to say is that when it comes to giving a hand to friends or family...the pleasure is all mine!
Ok, another instance when the pleasure is all mine is Swapping with Kimla! All of these are the masterworks of Kimla! We did a one on one swap and I feel a bit, shall I say...humbled! Since the moment I opened my package from her I've been mumbling "i just can't believe these...i just can't believe these..." I'm speaking of the prize ribbons of course! Yeah, she sent all that other good good stuff, but let me first address those ribbons! First, take a look at their center pieces! That's a Frozen Charlotte on the cream colored one with the daisies...a vintage celluloid doll with a tiny party hat on the turquoise one...and I can't even handle that vintage Easter bunny. I'm seriously getting the sainthood application in order so I can send it off to...the Craftican...(sorry, it's a far stretch from Vatican but you get the point!) The trims alone, on these beauties are worth their weight in gold (but wait, that doesn't quite work, because the trims are very lightweight...again, you get the point!) Really, seriously, I'd be floored if the Materials she used came to my door in a crumpled-up brown paper bag. Which reminds me of a story Kimla told which you can check out on her blog. She is such an amazing hunter gatherer when it comes to perfect vintage stuff that she's got bags of it, forgotten and buried in her workroom! Stuff you or I would swim the English Channel for! She's got it lying around for months and she doesn't even know it! If there are cat burglars in the world who only steal top of the line arts and craft supplies then I'm sure they're surveying Kimla's cache as I type this. Well, ok, Kimla is Godlike in my eyes and I think the pics speak for themselves...but ummm, can you even stand the Silver Bella picture frame?! Kimla is gonna be there and whether she likes it or not she just earned herself a knock-the-wind-outta-her hug upon our physical meeting! She really really hooked me up! The birthday cupcake candle, the macaron candles, her fabulous bunny tag made by Kris Hurst! And, straight from her plentiful plethora of vintage goods, she included this dazzling array of nostalgic adverts! Well, I have to close the subject of Kimla's stuff because if I gush as much as I'd like to I might have to relocate to Yellowstone! Thanks you so so so much Kimla!!! You are too amazing for words! :)
My Flickr friend Carol from Germany is such an amazing talent!. And because I'm such an untraveled American I immediately associate her talent with "the old world", "the motherland", simply because she's from Germany! But I do see some truth in it. She's one of those ubercrafters who can collage, solder, papercraft, bejewel, etc. etc... She sent me a pic of this piece of jewelry and I nearly fainted...I swear, it was within a day or two of The Well Read Raven's debut and she already immortalized him behind glass! This is a two sided piece with our Charlotte on the other side...and it's large! If not worn it can be displayed in the home. As soon as I saw thephotos I needed it! The Luftpost could never be fast enough! I love it! And since it's my artwork I treasure it like my bronzed baby shoes. Also, that Dresden foil bunny tag is from the hands of Carol, as well as that little selection of German crepe paper he's resting on. Believe me, German crepe paper is far superior to any of ours (feels almost like fabric and is amazing for nutcup making!)...because it's "old world"! And I'm only half kidding when I say that! It is true that all this kind of stuff is made better over there. Anyway, I'm so grateful to Carol for her beautiful work! Love love love it!!!
I can't believe how fast the time has flown...how quickly the week with little Jackie went. I have to tell you about picking up Missy at the airport and the details of all that in the next post...tequila is involved! Before I sign off, I want to thank all you guys again for all your sweet comments on my Blogiversary. I'm gonna tell "my lady" just how great all you guys made me feel!
xoxo Jenny
