Saturday, June 26, 2010

TattooDreams Zodiac Boxes


What's new from TattooDreams you ask? These zodiac boxes are new and will be awaiting buyers at Boston Mills Artfest. Held at the Boston Mills Ski resort in Peninsula, Ohio. I will be there July 1-4 in the North tent with lots of boxes and Tattooed ephemera! My boxes make great gifts for yourself or someone special.

Not yet listed to my etsy site, these zodiac boxes will make their debut! I have limited quantities and will be taking orders.

Patricia

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Margarita Rubber Stamped Salt Box


Summer may now begin!! I just listed this fun new box to my etsy site. Margarita Rubber Stamped Salt Box- This handmade cherry box measures 5" wide x 5" deep x 6" high (12.7 cm x 12.7 cm x 15.87 cm ). Perfect for the tequila lover or margarita aficionado. The top opens by way of a lift off lid. The 'knob' is a wooden lime wedge!
Salt on the rim- no problem! I've added sparkly 'salt'--nifty huh!!
This box is unlined and designed to hold salt or what ever other party needs you wish to have on hand.
This small box looks great on a kitchen counter and will be the life of the party! Laughter and tequila- does it get ANY better?

PEACE LOVE & MARGARITAS

WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU LEMONS, ASK FOR TEQUILA AND SALT


A great hostess gift for that special summer party!
Also makes a great wedding gift with a bottle of the finest agave tucked alongside!

More boxes can be found on my etsy site:

It's almost the weekend- treat yourself, jump start the economy and have fun!!!!

If you're in Salina Kansas at the Smoky Hill River Festival in Oakdale Park, come by our booth and see all our TattooDream boxes. We're in booth #12

Saturday, June 5, 2010

༺ A Family Reunion ༻


On Memorial Day weekend, my family gathered in New Jersey, the epicenter of Swearingens! There were 18 of us. My cousin Kathy and her daughter Izzy from the UK, my brother Ken and his wife Michele from Florida and Jon and I from Indiana.
This was the first time some of us had met. To all come together to reconnect, meet, laugh and cry was cathartic to say the very least. When my Father died unexpectedly on Easter, I think the feeling was that we all needed to come together somehow. This was the time and this was the place. My Aunt and Uncle and their children, my cousins, made it possible.

In recent years, my Dad would drive to New Jersey from his home in Georgia for summer visits. He made memories there that I'm hearing about now. He met his nieces and nephews children and their partners. He reconnected with his only brother and his wife and he had a good time.
This time the party was without him, but his presence was very much there.

On Memorial Day a red twig dogwood was planted in his honor. As the soil was being prepared, the sky grew dark, thunder rumbled and his plant was entrusted to my cousins yard. My Aunt felt their yard represented the 'future'. My brother and Uncle carefully turned the soil. I cried.
Swearingens are particularly gifted with green thumbs and gardening. What flashed through my mind were vivid memories of my Grandfather with his snow white hair, my Dads Dad, tending to his yard. The citrus trees he grafted and the tropical flowers he grew. It was his place of peace. It was like he too was there in seeing his now white haired son, my Uncle, prepare this ground for his brothers plant. Hands and shovels in soil turning the rich earth. Amazingly cathartic. The sky darkened further, thunder rumbled and the winds picked up. It reminded me of my brother Ken and I playing on our swing set before a storm. I loved it then and I love it now! The energy palpable. We were all feeling this emense release of joy and sadness all at one time in concert with the energy of the approaching storm.
I want to remember this moment like I remember the clarity I felt the day Dad died.
The air, the wind, the aliveness of all around me.
A few words were spoken, nothing formal. My little niece said "sleep well Uncle Ken".

That's all that really needed to be said!
Rest in peace Dad- you're loved!

Love,
Pat