While on Houston we went 3 hours over into Louisiana and met about 25 of his cousins and family members!  And, Glen - one of the spouseS- earns extra money by rebuilding and fixing lawn mowers!  I guess family members now look for then around where they are for him!

i like hearing that people will fix, repurpose, and do these things!  His eyes lite up at being able to do this tinkering....( I guess he had serious back issues, so being able to do this keeps him happy).  I can’t imagine not being able to do my quilting....

bornblesse2 said:

I can’t imagine not being able to do my quilting....

I completely agree!

He doesn't rehab old tractors, just works on the farmer's older machines.  And they are John Deere!

Marcia and Ellen, I thought I could never have a life without quilting, too, but life can hold surprises for everyone. That's why I have been showing forum members how much fun a person can have creating with polymer clay.

Fiddling around with clay obviously is not the same thing as quilting but it is a reasonably good substitute because there is satisfaction in creating with color, being traditional or weird and original, making useful things or silly things and there is one hidden surprise ... a lot of clay things can be made very quickly.  Oh, and it is much less expensive than buying yards of fabric and a pricey computerized sewing machine. 

I was always wretched trying to draw or paint but for some reason I've had no fear with clay. Then again, I am not trying to sculpt doll babies or teapots or small dragons. Those items are created in awesome detail by people with fine arts backgrounds.

Sometimes I create what I call flowers by Disney on Drugs.   Since they don't look like real blossoms they cannot possibly be wrong.           

judyinohio said:

That's why I have been showing forum members how much fun a person can have creating with polymer clay.

I'm doing the same thing with paper crafts: card making and scrapbooking.  Both serve a useful purpose,  feed my need for creating something from nothing and having it be pretty, and last beyond my lifetime.

I've now stockpiled a modest (compared to some) inventory of stamps, dies, paper, inks, machines, and sundry supplies.  Using my quilting experience as reference, I realize that I really do need to **use what I have** instead of constantly buying MORE!  NEW! stuff.  :-)

How to make some ones day. Dial an old phone number.

I have been working on our family history.  Last week I was at mom's and she had finally found a letter from her cousin that I wanted to see. The letter was written in 2005. At the end of the letter was the cousin's address and a phone number.  I stepped out of my comfort zone and called the number, it still belonged to her cousin.  They both enjoyed a lengthy conversation after 15 years of o contact and I have permission to call this cousin to pick her brain regarding some of my great aunts. 

Jo

whoohoo!! that was fun...its nice when those kind of serendipity things happen!!

Yea for dialing that number!  We resentLy met a whole branch of DHs family and while I wasn’t scared, I did wonder how I would do.  I don’t know enough family history to even ask conversation questions.

turned out I had nothing to fear!  They were ecstatic to meet us and immediately made us family!  Even spouses were loving, gentile (not a word I use, but fits this family!) and we all talked about ourselves to get to know each other!  So glad we did!  We will go back!

How fantastic to be able to resume old relationships seamlessly!

and how *terrific* to have another brain to pick with respect to family stories and memories!  oooooooh!   And she might have new photos for you!

 

definitely a blessing that you've found another creative outlet that doesn't cause pain and gives you joy.  Hobbies are wonderful things.  And it's good to have a couple.  Does organizing and cleaning out things count?  I find though I don't have time for sewing right now, it makes me feel better to do a little bit of cleaning.  I know, weird.  My life is so chaotic at work, it's nice to have a little bit of order at home.  We've recently started remodeling the house, so that doesn't help matters.