Raige Creations

Quilting. I have done it before, learning a bit more each one, always using what I have found or saved.  My first quilt, from vintage fabric found in my mothers basement , for my wonderful In-Laws. The second was for my flannel shirt loving hubby while we were in cold Western New York. The third for my little girl (not so little by the time I made it) made with her favorite clothes and fabrics through her childhood years - the Stages of My Little Girl . And, I am at it again. This one is for my youngest, tee shirt only wearing son.  Choosing My youngest, who wore the same skull shirt until it was 2 inches too short and no longer black, seen in every picture snapped of him over probably 6 years of his younger life. Seriously, every picture he had the same shirt on, for like 6 years all through elementary school. It is the very faded worn one in the second row, 3rd from the right. This was jet black when new. Now, so loved and worn and absolutely included in this quilt.  C...

When it came to decorating the tree this year, there came a load of emotions and memories. It was the first year I decorated the tree without the kids. They are all out of the house now, and it is just hubby and me for the holidays this year. A quiet house this year, unlike almost every other one we have had since we were married. ( Here is one from several years ago, boy did we decorate then!) It used to be that he brought the live tree in and got it in the holder and made sure it was straight, and then his job was done. He never actually puts one on the tree, unless it was that crazy spinning cow above the tree the kids loved when they were little, or the octopus star that one year.  He generally he finds other things to do while the decorating is going on, and this year was no different. Just paying attention from the sidelines, when he wanted to add comments to my reminiscing and laughing and nod and agree to my ' aww look how cute ' comments.  Christmas 2020 That is some...

 Aimlessly scrolling this morning, while I enjoy my coffee, I came across this: I sang it to hubby, and yup, he said bang bang . No finger guns though. Perhaps he wasn't the finer gun type. But me? Well.... Now -  I am the warrior ...well I am the warrior...and heart to heart you'll win...if you survive..... Finger guns and all. I am right there, back in 1984, with my besties...back then we didn't call each other that. We called each other sisters, BFFs perhaps. We were a group of 8, then 10. The Great 8 Plus 2 . Inseparable in those crazy years, gathering at one of our houses (whosever parents were out of town, preferably, but not necessarily. We could cause a bit of trouble with or without parents around).  I even had the half a head of short hair, half a head of longer hair, hair cut - oh so 80's style. One of my friends cut my hair in this "hip" style, and cut part of my ear along with it! I am missing a little bit of my left ear. We were definitely shooti...

A wonderful memory that came back to me, thanks to my sister. Our Dad playing this song throughout our childhood, a memory of his from his teenage and young man years. Our dad was a musician, among other things . His mother a piano and organ teacher, back when jobs for the wives and mothers were unusual unless in times of economic need. Which was the case back during the Great Depression, when my father was a teenager. She taught him the skills, and he was a very decent pianist and organist. She taught us too, when we were little. Though I never practiced like I should have, and it was evident during my lessons. I think I was 5 years old or so. No surprise there that practicing was never long enough or serious enough. There were too many other things to keep me occupied when I was that age, like the fish tank that was right near the piano. Hard to stay focused on boring scales when little fish-ies were so much more interesting. But this song was a favorite of our dad. He pl...

Well this year I am trying it. A Good Things Jar Good things jar. Strategically placed. For years we have seen this idea, but I bet no one has really ever done it. Well, okay not no one, but really, do you know anyone that has ever done this? Just do a quick  Pinterest  search and you will find a bunch of Jar Ideas. Source - Pinterest I never have started a jar, but always thought it was a good idea. This year, I finally put one out. Strategically placed next to the fridge, on top of our antique medicine cabinet, in plain view. (a photo of my mothers now in the background, near our duct tape because you never know when you will need duct tape, and emergency flashlights and candles which we need more than you would think because the power goes out that often. Ah island living.) I still need to put scraps of paper near it with a pen, so it is easy to add the good things. All in an effort to ensure this year, setting the tone for the next decade, will be differe...

An 80's flashback to start the week. A  quintessential 1980s song in a quintessential 1980s film . This was requested by my hubby, who must be feeling a bit nostalgic. Or a bit sentimental. Either way, this is always a great song to chill to, it sets the mood immediately, and makes us just ease in and enjoy. So settle in, enjoy the memories, the proufound lessons learned from the movie, and sing along. (scroll down for the lyrics) Dear Mr. Vernon, we accept the fact that we had to sacrifice a whole saturday in detention for whatever it is we did wrong, but we think you're crazy for making us write an essay telling you who we think we are. You see us as you want to see us, in the simplest terms, in the most convenient definitions. But what we found out, is that each one of us is a brain, and an athlete, and a basketcase, a princess, and a criminal. Does that answer your question? Sincerely yours, The Breakfast Club. Won't you come see about me? I...

source  via Pinterest 'Think outside the box'   Yeah, right! Until all you do is try to fit your life inside boxes. Which is what you have to do when you move, which we are. All I do is figure out how to fit my life in to boxes!  How can I think outside the box?!?!?! Perhaps my goal should be this: source I am sick to death of boxes.  I may just get rid of them all!

This is not the chipper TGIF kind of Friday post.  I am sorry to put a damper on your excitement for the weekend, but today I am finding I miss those 'good old days' where we didn't have worries other than lava on the floor. source: Pinterest I am not feeling that chipper! Instead, I am facing a day of unpleasant tasks. Though it will be good to have them done and out of the way so I CAN enjoy the weekend, I am not enjoying the worry and sour mood these tasks bring me. So pardon me for putting a damper on your joy at rejoicing the favorite day of the week. Though I may get to sleep in tomorrow, I am still dealing with the stresses of the stupid health care crap, and this other one pesky problem. source: imgfave.com Some day soon I know this problem will be solved, but in the meantime, I would much prefer to jump on the couch a little.  This would be a better pastime than the other 'game' we made up as a kids. I hate to even admit it, but our game wen...

Greeting Card from NobleWorksCards.com We all have our 'I can't remember where I put that' moments. I have them more regularly than I like. I get teased relentlessly for it. You might remember if you follow me on Facebook , that I went searching for my Kindle , with no success.   Many, many months ago I misplaced my Kindle . I searched high, low, in between. I looked everywhere I thought I would put it, safely. I looked everywhere I thought I would put it that made no sense. I looked under the couch (found far too many hairballs), under the bed (found some socks), cleaned out my closet (where I found far too many clothes that I don't wear anymore). No luck.   I was teased, lectured, and felt completely terrible, like an idiot. I could not for the life of me remember where I put it, but I KNEW it was in the house, somewhere. I just could not for the life of me remember!   We STILL have boxes that were't unpacked from out last move. photo courtesy of Rai...

Though I didn't get to blogging during the week, it was one full of recovering (working over 30 hrs in 3 days with the Bele Chere Festival going on) , planning, month end close and working. Today it occurred to me that I really should take at least one day, or even just part of the day, to enjoy the simple pleasures. Although life changes, and there are difficult times, it is these simple pleasure that remind us what is important.  Yes, I have mentioned before enjoying the small things , taking notice of the beautiful life around us.  But today it occurred to me, as I am working and planning some more, that I really need to enjoy the simple pleasures much more than I have been. The stresses have taken a much larger part of my existence, and the pleasures have been too few and too far between. It is easy to let these things fall by the wayside. We are busy, we are stressed, we have deadlines, bills to pay, work to do, kids to worry about, house to clean. The days go by...

I understand that it's not Monday, and that it is not November either. But in an effort to get the first two posts of NaBloWriMo in before I get further behind, I am posting this very special song. November Rain , by Guns N' Roses , came out in June 1992, just over 20 years ago. It was that summer, that my life took a turn I wasn't expecting. It was that summer, and during this song, that I knew I was going on the best adventure ever. I met hubby that summer, and he introduced me to this song. We listened to it alone, in a dark room, and it was then (or thereabouts) that I knew  that he was someone I always wanted to be with. We just celebrated our 19th wedding anniversary, but really celebrated being together for 20 years. So I could not think about way back then without thinking of this song. A beautiful song with a sweeping orchestral background that leaves quite an impression, especially in a dark room with just two people in it.  I...

The principle use of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath, but along with that, it served as a holder for removing hot pans from the oven; it was wonderful for drying children's tears, and on occasion was eve used for cleaning out dirty ears. Old Time Kitchen Vintage Waist Apron From the chicken-coop the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven. Vintage Christmas Smock Apron When company came those old aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids; and when the weather was cold, grandma wrapped it around her arms. Brown Checked Smock Apron Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent over the hot wood stove. Chips and kindling-wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron. Cottage Country Vintage Waist Apron From the garden it carried all sorts of vegetables. After the peas had been shelled it carried out the hulls. Bright Blue Vintage Smock Apron In the ...

It hadn't occurred to me that people have already started travelling home for Thanksgiving until someone mentioned it to me.  But then again, I am not one of those that is travelling. Since our move, our holidays have been small affairs, just me and hubby and the kids. We haven't had to travel to celebrate and we haven't had to entertain. I had told myself that holidays are much less stressful that way. That is true, but this year suddenly, I find I am missing those holidays. The bustle of packing the car with the dish to pass, making sure the kids have things to do to keep them busy during the 'boring adult time', the good food and drink with the extended family, the abundant leftovers. This Thanksgiving will be another holiday that I only have to entertain hubby and the kids. I probably wouldn't have thought much about that if my youngest hadn't suggested this song, by Bob Crosby , for today. I asked him, "Where did you hear THIS song??" It ...

Another blast from the past!  Eye of the Tiger ,  by  Survivor . What other song  would fit the introduction  of my newest Toekini's? The Purple Tiger Toekini's new at Raige Creations The tiger , a majestic and noble creature,  paired with royal purple, is a winning match.  And perfect to show on your strong feet. It's the Eye of the Tiger It's the thrill of the fight Rising up to the challenge of our rival And the last known survivor Stalks his prey in the night And he's watching us all With the Eye of the Tiger What better way to showcase  the Purple Tiger Toekini's   than with some Rocky , Survivor ,  and some boxing ? Roar.

Let's Take a Walk Down Memory Lane the art show we went to This past week has been full of memories for me.  Starting with our family going to an art show opening last Friday.  It had been years since we have attended a function like this. I hate to say how many years. It was a big deal for us, especially since in our former lives, we put on art shows like this on a regular basis when we owned an art gallery. So I had to dig out my dress clothes . They were still in a suitcase since our move last August.  In there, I found all my skirts and clothes I used to wear when I had to look nice on a regular basis.  My Toekini's - Blue Rose on Black These days, jeans and a tee shirt are the wardrobe of choice, so seeing all these dress clothes was like being in a time warp . I found a skirt I barely fit into, made a set of Toekini's to go with the outfit, and dressed up for the first time in many years.  I found a dress I had worn to my first prom in that ...