Guest Blogger ~ Monika Drake of My European Touch

This week's guest blogger is Monika Drake. I met Monika through an Etsy group, the Cottage Style Street Team {cssteam in etsy searches}. At first I noticed her amazing home decor mosaics {be sure to visit her shop} and then as we visited more on the online group, I saw what a kind, caring lady she was ~ always having uplifting things to say to everyone. Please welcome Monika in the comments at the end of her story... a story that will leave you in tears as it did me.

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~ Monika's Gifts ~

As human beings we so often make plans for our life’s and I think sometimes GOD just smiles about our ignorance…

I have to speak about our gifts given by the grace of God. I have been singing God’s praises ever since I was 2 years old.

In October of 2008, going through anterior cervical spine surgery, I was told that there would be a 98% probability of vocal damage and my voice would be gone. Singing; I should not plan on it ever again.

The surgery was successful and the surgeon WAS able to safe my speaking voice. What a blessing. Now I was praying and hoping that my ability to sing God's praises would come back. Nothing happened! Even though I was told and warned that this could happened before the surgery one is never prepared for this when you have been singing in church for 55 plus years. I started mourning my loss, grieving; I practically had tunnel vision and could not think of anything else. My sorrow and cries were so deep, part of my very essence and who I am- was gone. After month of such emotional, painful grieving process I could not handle this anymore without something breaking in me. One evening I said my prayers and just gave my pain to GOD. I fell asleep and awoke startled, felt emotionally lifted and light, I had a vision of the most beautiful gold beaded triple cross, a Chrismon Ornament I had seen somewhere. The Crosses at Golgotha. I had vision in my mind of our poor Christmas tree from the year before, it was not pretty at all.. GOD had reminded me of the other gifts he had graciously given to me, creating with my hands. Immediately I jumped out of bed, stumbling to my craft closet. Remembering 2 large glass jars of pearls beads I had for 5 years not knowing what to do with them, and started beading on a piece of fabric. I did not quit until 3 AM in the morning and was so delighted and happy.

GOD had heard my cries, and his answer to my pain was totally different, unexpected, but filled me with joy and lifted me. Essentially that was the beginning of my Chrismon Team, stitching for Christ. We made 195 Chrismon Ornaments, I was able to teach some of them who never held a needle in their life’s, 17 lady’s met with me every Friday afternoon faithfully.

I really do know that GOD has HIS plans for all of us and we just have to do his bidding. This time, and so many other times in my life GOD has shown me the way according to HIS plans and not mine. I don’t know about you, but I forget so easily that GOD is in charge and asked me to use all the gifts I have been given. They are not mine to keep, I need to share.

It is now over a year after the surgery and GOD has blessed me again with my Singing voice. How rich I am to receive such a gracious gift from GOD a second time in my life.

Monika S. Drake

Find Monika here:

Etsy Shop ~ http://www.etsy.com/shop/myeuropeantouch

Blog ~ http://myeuropeantouch.blogspot.com/

Twitter ~ http://api.twitter.com/Myeuropeantouch

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Monika, thank you so much for sharing that inspiring story with us! :)

Take Care and God Bless,

Lana

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Simply Amazing!

We Have a Winner!!!

Congratulations!!! :)
Henria O.'s last comment

( Henria O. said...

I like #22!
sazzyfrazz at gmail dot com
November 07, 2010 12:24 AM )

was #61 ~ the number chosen by the random number generator at random.org.

I'll be contacting you by email in just a few minutes with your CSN Stores code.

Thanks so much for playing along everyone!

Take Care & God Bless,
Lana
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Guest Artist ~ Jenny Batt of Hank + Hunt

Welcome to the second Guest Artist post! This week I'd like to introduce you to Jenny of Hank + Hunt. I first met Jenny back in September when she did a blog post about my Simple Joys Paperie shop. When I visited her blog to read the post, I was immediately draw to her lovely fabric garlands and knew I'd want to feature her as a guest artist. So... here are the 5 questions Jenny chose to answer, along with photos of her work:

1. Why do you do the art that you do?

I love finding the perfect decorations for parties. I usually make my own because I can never find the color or pattern I need. I am sometimes overly ambitious. One day I was playing with my new sewing machine goodies from last Christmas and the lovely that came out looked like garland to me. I had never seen fabric garlands before and thought it would be a great idea. They are durable and more enduring than paper streamers, which I have ripped countless numbers of right before the party. I love touching them and knowing I will still have these lovelies years and many celebrations from now. I also REALLY love to share things…so Hank + Hunt was born.

2. List your 3 favorite colors.

Martha Blue, Kelly Green and any range of white.

3. What is your earliest memory of crafting / creating?

The first thing I ever sewed was a fabric spatula. I don’t know why, but it was ninth grade and my best friend and I were feeling crafty. It makes me laugh every time I think about it. But what I really remember about it, was that I sewed without a pattern. I still have that sewing style. I will usually make it up rather than sewing from a premade pattern.

4. What time of day (or night) are you most creative?

Usually anytime during the day, when I should really be doing my errands or chores I will have a great idea. I have to make lists (a lot of them) or else I would never get anything done!

5. Of all the pieces you have created, which one meant the most to you?

It’s not garland. I just made this little monster; well, okay…he’s almost as big as my 3 year old. I made him to go with his little monster birthday party. He loves it. It makes me feel all proud inside to have him insist on bringing it with us everywhere and to bed. I made it and he loves it. I can’t describe how wonderful it makes me feel.

Thank you, Jenny, for sharing a bit about yourself!

Please be sure to leave a comment to welcome Jenny.

You may visit her at these online places:

Hank + Hunt etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/hankandhunt?ref=seller_info

Hank + Hunt blog: http://www.hankandhunt.blogspot.com/

Hank + Hunt twitter: http://twitter.com/hankandhunt

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You have a few more hours to enter the CSN Stores $55 Voucher Giveaway:

http://honeysucklelane.blogspot.com/2010/11/csn-stores-giveaway-enter-here.html

I'll be closing comments and announcing a winner later in the day.

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Take Care & God Bless,

Lana

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Guest Blogger ~ Suzanne Davis, Pear Tree Primitives

I met Suzanne a few years back on an eBay group, Simply Primitives. We became online friends, chatting nearly every day, talking about our families, our faith, our work, our dreams... and finally in 2008, she came all the way from Idaho to Tennessee for a visit! Suzanne is as sweet and as dear a soul in person as she is online. I asked her to be my first Guest Blogger to share a story with my readers. I'm sure all of you will enjoy her guest post and when you are finished reading, please leave a comment for her and then visit her shops and her blog to see all of her wonderful work! :)

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Home is Not Where Your House Is ~

My husband and I have purchased four homes in our 23 years of marriage. We’ve never experienced the joys (and I’m sure, ‘frustrations') of having a custom home built, nor have we ever purchased a "brand-spankin’ new” model home. But each time we’ve moved and started the exciting and sometimes disappointing adventure of house hunting, the perfect house for us has always been found, and I believe God had His hand in every "find".

With each purchase, the house always needed lots of love and lots of fixin’ to eventually become the “perfect house for us"...but we are both blessed with either an ‘eye for potential’, or at least a gullible denial of reality, along with a healthy dose of "can-do" spirit!

(We did paint the outside a cottage-y white with dark blue trim)

Tiny Green House #1~ Tiny, as in 700 square feet, but it did have a detached garage and mother-in-law apartment we rented out for extra income. Fixer upper?-definitely!

We were newly married and on a limited income, so we had to be very resourceful with our money. We gutted the bathroom to the floorboards and gave the house a pretty new bathroom. And this house is where I began my passion for painting and stenciling on walls.... partly to disguise flawed walls. The end result was a cute CLEAN place to live for three years.

(We were so sad to leave this one!)

Medium-sized House #2~ Loved, loved this home! With 1600 square feet, we literally doubled the size of our first home. This home had character and cuteness just because of its age. It was built in 1901....claw foot tub and all!

Of course, because of its age, it didn’t have the amenities of central heating. So, we put that in...this southern girl couldn’t live in the Northwest without heat!

(Our Brady Bunch House)

Larger-sized House #3~ This one didn’t have any character, but it did have space. 2200 square feet of space for our growing family. Remember the Brady Bunch house? That is what this one reminded me of. It was a split level and it had an upstairs, basement, and a main living area. We lived in this one for nine years and remodeled just about every room. By default and with no desire of his own to become one, my husband was an expert on bathroom plumbing after remodeling the three bathrooms of this house!

(Our Colonial Cottage)

The Current House #4~ Having to move once again, we were caught in the declining economy. So when searching for our latest house we had to make some tough decisions about size and affordability. Going in reverse, we now live in a house half the size of house #3. And a happy medium between house #1 and #2, but with the “UN” characteristics of house #1 and #3....well, you get the idea, and we were prepared for this house. We knew how to remodel it to make it our own and to make it the “perfect house for us”. We also came to realize that size really doesn’t matter. Yes, there are days a second bathroom would be heavenly...my own private spa would be even better! (But, I don’t really miss cleaning three bathrooms!)

I think I can safely claim that it isn’t the size or square footage you live in that makes a house a home. We’ve found that our family can adapt to just about any space as long as we are ALL living together under one roof.

"In my Father's house are many mansions: if [it were] not [so], I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you." John 14:2 KJV

Suzanne Davis

Suzanne's website ~ Pear Tree Primitives

Suzanne's blog ~ Painter of the Past

Suzanne's Etsy shop ~ Pear Tree Primitives on Etsy

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The CSN Stores giveaway is still going on! Visit this link to enter:
http://honeysucklelane.blogspot.com/2010/11/csn-stores-giveaway-enter-here.html

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Take Care & God Bless,

Lana

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