Franklin The Turtle Box

I created this little box for a wonderful repeat customer of mine. He liked my Bob the Fish Box, but needed a turtle. Not just any turtle, it was a special turtle named Franklin. In his quest for the most "Franklin-like" turtle, we discussed what I had and it was not 'Franklin-like', so he ordered just the right stamp and sent it to me. I used it and returned it with the completed box.

This sweet box now lives with his God-Daughter in France and graces her life. A reminder of love and care. There are many wonderful aspects that aligned in this brief transaction. Overall, it was a gift of love done for one person from another. It is the people who make the effort in our lives, who take the time, who go that extra mile that make all the difference.


Life is not about getting 'through' things. It is about the journey as we proceed.
What we learn along the way coupled with the the final arrival.

This takes time.
Love takes time.
This was a true gift of love - thank you for letting me be a part of it!

Patricia

The Word 'Mom'

Conjures up memories..
of warmth,
daily hugs
safety
passion
fun
creativity
specialness
being loved
feeling whole
understood
accepted.

Missing her brings up
loss
tears
sadness
emptiness
being 15 again
losing a part of me
wondering what she would be like now
if still alive
if well and whole.

So there are days..
when I think of my amazing Mom
and feel like
I'm 15 again
fragile
partial
missing something
ever so blessed I had her for
the 15 years I did.

I love you Mom!
Happy Mothers Day!

Love,
Pat

Nests and 9-11

Today is too important a day to not blog.
Sometimes I have no idea what I will write about until this blank white window opens and the empty void slowly fills. I would be remiss to not mark this date that still draws with it such pain. Today began much like it did 7 years ago, in some ways, and yet it was much different. The sky was clear, the air feeling like the subtle beginnings of fall when we learned raw hell was breaking out.
I need to replace the fear and loss with something more powerful but yet never forget the pain still so visceral.
What can replace such hatred but love?
Sounds simple and it really is. Love and kindness is far more powerful than we will ever know!
Sometimes I'm convinced that the simplest concepts are the deepest but most important to learn.
Before we can learn them, we have to connect the dots.
On that note I will share this.

Last night, on our way to Atlanta for an art fair, we dropped off a table I stamped for a dear friend of ours. He gave me this very old table back in July and asked my husband Jon to strengthen it's structural integrity with his skill and have me stamp it with mine. A true team of structure and surface as we went about making this table strong and useful again.
The name for the table is 'The Peace Table'.
Tables in particular, are furnishings that draw people and ideas together to share, be it nurishment or ideas.
Maybe they are synonomous.
One feeds the body, the other the spirit.

In another seemingly unrelated conversation with a friend today at the show, we spoke of birds and nests. My friend Holly Hambrick uses natural materials in her work and the subject of homes and nests arose. She told me how she'd just read in an old French publication how a mother bird smooths the inside of the nest she builds using her breast. The smooth contour of the nest for the eggs made so by the warmth and curve of the birds breast.
I got goose bumps.
It all came together.
I knew this would be in my blog.
It tied together everything so beautifully.

It's how we build.

We build from our heart.
We strengthen what's damaged, from our heart.
We make our home, from our heart.
We become whole by opening our heart.
So, a day marked by loss, a broken yet fixed table, and a birds nest.
It's about replacing the pain with what's in our heart.

So, on this forever memorable day, find love.
Open your heart and know that when you do,
the goodness flows in, the pain is eased, and what
feels broken becomes whole.

Abundant Blessings~
༺♥༻
Patricia

★ The Best Black Bean Soup Recipe ★

★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
2 c dried black beans (sorted to remove any stones)
8 1/2 c. water
5 bay leaves
1 tsp. cumin seeds
1 tsp groupd coriander
1/4 tsp. dried oregano
thyme
2 T olive or canola oil
1 large onion chopped
small can of tomatoe paste
1 bunch of chopped fresh cilantro
1 bulb of raosted garlic that has been taken out of the pod
3 T tamari (wheat free soy sauce)
optional additions.......chopped jalapeno peppers
sour cream dollops

Sort the beans of any stones and rinse them. Cover with water, bring to a boil and drain. Rinse again.
Add the 8 1/2 c of water and beans to a stock pot. Add the bay leaves. Cover and simmer for 2 hours.

In a small dry skillet, toast the cumin seeds, coriander, and oregano over low heat for 2-3 minutes to highten the oil content. When the fragrance becomes strong, remove from heat and set aside. In the same pan heat the oil, add the chopped onions and cook till translucent or softens. Stir in the toasted herbs and cook for another minute or two.

Stir in the tomato paste and cook another few minutes. This makes a rue. Add this to the pot of beans and stir. Cook on low for another hour. Add the copped cilantro. Add the bulb of roasted garlic. Simmer and serve.

This goes great with some cornbread muffins or garlic bread.

A healthy soup to feed the tummy and making it feeds the soul!
Enjoy!

Patricia

❤ Valentines Day ❤

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
There was a time when Valentines Day was about bringing my Moms decorated cupcakes to class
and having made small post boxes placed on our desks for our Valentines.
Then there was the time it meant hoping a boyfriend would remember and buy you a flower from
the fundraisers in high school.
Then there was the most wonderful Valentine of all.
The guy I was dating in art school made a Valentine for me and brought it with flowers to my apartment.
I was in love!!!
Real love.
This man and a I now share our life together and have for 25 years!
I wake up beside him and know he'll always be there.
That's the best gift I could hope for!

This is my favorite holiday of the year.
It arrives in the midst of dark cold February and brings flowers and love
and hugs to the focus!
Does it get any better than this?

Patricia

♥♥♥LOVE IS IN THE AIR♥♥♥

There's just something about this time of year that makes me love the lead up to Valentimes Day. I try to forget the
overly commercial aspect and focus on the bright colors and lively nature of this holiday of love. It's actually one of my favorite holidays! Has been since I was little. I love pink and red together, love the flowers and hearts and that it's about love. Love of your mate, friends, pets............LOVE!
Does it get any better than that?
So, here is one of TattooDream boxes with charming red feet. It's full of love and good thoughts.......if you find you really need this box to become yours or a gift, feel free to visit my etsy site (link is off on the right side of my entry). It is there you will find other TattooDream collectibles!

Have a most awesome day!! A frozen day here. I'm off to make soup and head to the studio!
♥♥♥
Patricia