Almost Wordless Wednesday - Back in Stock

As promised...these are all back in stock :)

Click each photo to be taken to the listing.

Grandma and Grandpa

I've made quite a few Grandma and Grandpa albums lately and a few variations as well :) These make great gifts, are great for remembering a lost loved one, or just as a keepsake to store your photos of Grandma and Grandpa :)

I love this color combo! This was a custom request for a memorial album, but you'll be seeing this color combo in my shop soon! I've already started on more like it :)

Do you have a nickname for your grandma or grandpa? I can make these in any variation for you :) (Nana, Granny, Poppy, etc.)

Nonno is the Italian word for Grandpa. Does your culture use different names for Grandma and Grandpa? I can do that too! (Opa, Abuela, etc.)

I can't wait to get these back in my shop! They're each so special and so fun to make!

Be sure to stop by A Bird in the Hand Art today! Jenny was nice enough to feature my work!!!

All in the Family

I hope all the dad's out there had a great Father's Day on Sunday! We took Jesse's dad air boating and had a great time! You can also see the card I sent my dad here :)

One thing I've noticed selling well lately are my Mother and Father Word Albums. I sold 2 Father Albums and a Daddy Album as well as 4 Mother Albums this year. I've also had good luck with my Grandma and Grandpa Albums as well! I love finding a new theme of album that people love :)

I would also like to add Sister or Sisters Albums and possibly Brother Albums. (Not sure if Brother would sell as well or not. I'd love your thoughts on this.) I know I want to add other variations to my current albums like Mommy, Mom, Dad, Nana, etc. I love giving people options :)

What have you made lately that's been a hit? Link to it in the comments and tell us about it!

Friday Features-Get Well Soon

My grandma has been in the hospital for over a week now! But I'm happy to report that she is doing very well! They thought she had a stroke, but now they think her potassium, calcium and sodium levels are to blame for her problems! Either way...I just hope she gets better soon!

And I think these finds would help her feel better fast :)

Get well soon - Wool Felted Bird

by woolville

Get Well Soon - Medical Themed Cookie Bouquet

by Baileysdozen

Little Bluebird Get Well Heart shaped ring dish

by wiseimpressions

Get Well Soon Handmade Card

by justdandee

Happy Grandparent's Day

I came across this photo recently and knew I had to add it to my collection :) I love finding photos of my grandparents from when they were young!

And at 79 and 87, they still act and feel young (most days)! They travel for the winter. My grandpa still farms. They dress up and go to theme parties every year. My grandpa golfs and my grandma plays bridge. It's so great that they are still active and able to do the things they enjoy :)

I thought today was the perfect day to share it with you being that it's Grandparent's Day :)

War Medals

While my parents were back earlier this month, my mom and I sat down with my grandma and went through her jewelry. I wanted to know the stories behind the important pieces and know which ones came from family. I took notes so I will always remember how special each piece is :)

While going through Grandma's jewelry, Grandpa asked if I wanted to see his jewelry. Of course I did :) What he brought out was even more special than his jewelry. He showed me his original dog tag (seen in yesterday's Wordless Wednesday post), one of many medals, and his wings that go on his hat. I told him that I would really love to have his dog tag someday! What a special piece of family history!

What special heirlooms do you have from your grandparents?

More Birds

After posting yesterday's Wordless Wednesday photo, I decided that I wanted to show a couple of other photos I took that day. My grandma gets the prettiest, most colorful birds! I missed the cardinal, but got these two shots:

Looking at these photos got me to thinking that this was probably the last time I will get to sit in my grandma's living room watching the birds. My grandparents are moving into an apartment soon and won't have the beautiful yard and bird feeders that attract the birds. Makes me even happier that I got these photos that day :)

Wordless Wednesday-Bird Watching at Grandma's

And The Treasures Keep Coming!

Before I took my grandma to the airport this past weekend, she called me into the house and told me she had something she wanted to give me. I'm always up for gifts :) Imagine my surprise when she came out with this beautiful necklace!!!

And what's even better...it was my great grandmother's. My grandma had given it to her mother as a Christmas gift some years back and thought I would like to have it! Not only is it a treasure...it's very stylish!

In fact, I think I'll wear it out to eat Saturday night...I like it against this black turtleneck :) I might throw on a jean jacket with it too.

I told my grandma that I would like to sit down with her when she returns home and hear the stories about all of her jewelry. That way when it comes time (hopefully many years from now!) for me to choose what heirlooms I want...I will be able to choose not just the prettiest ones, but the ones with the most meaning :) I encourage you to do the same...sit and chat with your parents or grandparents and hear the stories of their treasures :)

Grandma Mary

I've been away from my computer for quite a few days now. I have found in the last week that there are far more important things than sitting at the computer pretending to be busy....like spending time with family!

This past Thursday, my boyfriend's grandma passed away. I was so glad that we had gone to see her on Wednesday night. And I was glad the whole family could be there when she went. She was surrounded by so much love it was an amazing event.

Being with Jesse now for over 9 years, I considered Grandma Mary as my own grandma. She was an extremely special lady...a true one-of-a-kind! She was the kind of grandma that everyone met and wanted as their own! She had great taste in clothing, she drank Busch Lite, she always had something funny to say, and she could put a smile on your face at any given time! I am so fortunate to have had her in my life :)

Even though I am extremely saddened by this event, I am happy she did not have to suffer. I am happy to have known her. I am happy she raised such wonderful children to continue her legacy. I am happy we got to celebrate her life the night of her passing. I am happy to have SO MANY fond memories of her :) And I am happy I can call her Grandma!!!

So even though I know our computers are important and necessary...go visit a loved one now and then! I know I will be going to see my own grandparents today!

Wordless Wednesday-Grandma's Garden

Blog Carnival: Recipes

At my family gatherings, we always do potluck style feasts. The funny thing is, every time, everyone brings the same dishes :) This way we know what to expect and know we'll love what's there. Last year at Thanksgiving I gave everyone recipe cards I had made and had them fill them out and bring them back at Christmas with their dishes. I photographed every dish and have a corresponding recipe card to go with it. My plan (eventually) is to put them all into an album...and hopefully make one for every family.

One of my favorite dishes is my Grandma's ham balls. They are just great :)

Ham Balls

• 3 lbs. ham loaf
• 1 can tomato soup
• 1-8 oz. can tomato sauce
• 1/4 cup vinegar
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2 tsp. dry mustard

Form ham loaf into walnut sized balls and place in a 9x13 pan. Mix sauce and pour over ham balls. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

The best part about these ham balls is the fact that they are so easy. They don't just have to be made for special family gatherings. They can be whipped up on a busy week night. Just mix everything, pop 'em in the oven, and go get some work done for an hour :)

Here are the cards I made:

And here is the pic I took of Grandma's ham balls....YUM!