July 6, 2012
Hi Guys,
Apologies to anyone who tried to read my last blog. Composed it in word and somehow in the conversion to the blog site my font was a mess and in all caps at that! It was difficult to impossible to read to say the least!
Well, web site crafting had to be put aside so I could make some greeting cards and finally manage some much needed clean-up! You know how it gets sometimes (and then some of you don't) you can't find what you need if it bit you. My workspace is pretty atrocious right now, however, I know where everything is LOL! Haven't even made it to the craft room - that will happen some this weekend. Just had to do the nitty gritty down and dirty bathrooms and all the icky cleaning. Sure feels good when it is finished.
Oh, I guess I did work on the sewing tray some again this week. More like took most of it apart and have started over (not completely). Decided that it was much too involved to do a tutorial on and will save that when I get started back on jewelry designing. I did go through some beads and some bead books and have an idea for a bracelet made with buttons and beads. Of course not an original idea of mine, but the bracelet will be original when completed! I have decided I will get back out my materials I have for some napkin rings made out of buttons and beads too. Those are all sorted and ready to be thread with the stretchie cord and that goes quickly. They are very festive since I used reds, greens, yellows and the traditional beige fillers. Maybe I will work on those one evening so I will feel like I have finished something recently for the website. They are festive, as I mentioned, and just plain summery too! Pretty casual and might be fun for a cook out. Not sure if I designed 6 or 8. Any opinions on whether I should put them on the web site with thin cloth napkins (the polyester ones that you do not iron in all the fun colors) or just put them on by themselves assuming everyone will have their own napkins to use? Could use a few to demonstrate the napkin ring with though. One of the craft stores are displaying handkerchiefs as napkins too when using the solid colors. I suppose you could use print napkins with these napkin rings but they are so colorful already, I vote for solid color napkins.
I took some time this past week to make some greeting cards for friends and family and I need to watch my time doing those. I enjoy making cards so much I lose track of the time I spend on them. I usually don't regret it too much when I'm finally finished -but hey! hours on one card! Must work on time management skills. I think I mentioned in my first blog that I would be making some specialty keepsake cards. Of course I will have birthday cards available, but would like to incorporate some other themes as well. Would love to hear feed back about the kinds of original - one-of-a kind (keepsake-type) cards you would like to send to friends and relatives. Right now, I'm working in Paris and French themes some. I just love the availability of everything Francais! The antique keys, postcard stamps, papers with French motifs, etc. My Dad's side of the family are French and my uncle and his wife traced our family tree back until the Souleret's (my maiden name) still lived in France (tres late 1700's), just before coming to the states to settle in New York and finally near Williamsport, PA. Some French and personal trivia for ya: [Mon nom de jeune fille entier est le francais - translation: My entire maiden name is French - which was one of the first full sentences I learned to pronounce properly]. My full name is Janelle Renee Souleret-Townsend for those who may have not noticed it on the title page. My question to my parents was, 'Did it have to rhyme?' (The 't' is silent so it even flowed and I was teased relentlessly - too funny! So maybe I come by loving the Paris and French themes biologically?? Oui, that must be it! I just found some beautiful creamy pink wrapping paper with a French theme (my aren't I feeling my roots this morning? I'll brag just a little and say that I took 3 yrs of French in school and still remember quite a bit!) I'll write a closure for you (with help, no intention of misleading you here) at the end in French, Oui? 'Yes' is apparently all I remember lol! Anyway, back to the beautiful wrapping paper - I used it to cover my main working table and am thinking about covering some cereal boxes with it to for storage of papers. Would be copying mom's idea there. And several Pinterest ideas as well. Printed all over the paper is everything French: The Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Arc de Triomphe, many fleurs-de-lis and various stamps and postmarks, never to forget pigeons as well! All the print is in black but on the gorgeous pink paper everything pops. It gives me some quiet pleasure in an otherwise unkempt, disorderly crafting/creating area. Who doesn't love fresh new paper of any kind? A Big Chief Tablet can still make me smile and don't even get me started on getting new pens or markers.
As for me, I was in Paris, France one night, by accident, in Oct of 2003. I was traveling home from Italy and my plane was delayed in Paris. Being all alone and feeling quite intimidated by the years past since I had read or written French - much less conversed with anyone, I stayed at the hotel airport. I thought about getting a cab to see what I could by just driving around but exhaustion and common sense (what I named it at the time) one out! It was very late at night and pouring down rain and an unplanned stop to say the least - so I had a hot cup of tea and tried to understand the news on the tele and dropped into bed from the exhaustion of traveling, especially internationally. (And I thought jet lag just meant being tired - naahh- a real thing and worse than just being tired). My main concern was to wake up on time to catch my flight back to the good old USA. Now, do you wonder if I ever regret that decision I made to stay safely at the hotel airport? You bet your bottom dollar I do and very much so. I was young and healthy and I would have just thrown caution to the wind if I had the opportunity again. Why? When we hear about the atrocities that can happen to women - and men - when out of our wonderful country? Because I should have realized that such happenstances only happen once in a lifetime and only sometimes do we get 2nd chances! And I would have had a little more faith in myself and my God and just 'manned up' (or 'womaned up') enough to take the risk and go for it. Most French people know enough English to get by darn it all! Talk about wanting a 'do over!' But something tells me to believe in 2nd chances! Because it will probably roll around and I will not even blink. Ironically, when I was in school, I had the opportunity to be a foreign exchange student to France but my mother would not give me her permission. Her reasoning was partly the cost, but mostly because -her words - "I just don't feel good about you being that far away by yourself in another country where we don't know anyone and you will be all on your own - your not old enough!" I threw one conniption fit at the time and stormed around the house for a week or so. I was trying to grow up and have an adventure and she was holding me back, so I thought. Secretly on the inside, I was relieved. I do distinctly remember that feeling of relief that accompanied the tantrum I threw by not getting my way. But my mother has always known me a little too well. In less than two weeks I would have been miserably homesick and I know I would have had a difficult time with culture shock. I learned that about myself when I became the aforementioned Army wife and moved all over the place. So I can dream of Paris and be proud of my French heritage for now right here in good ole USA. But France for a second time is on my bucket list. I even feel like I need to defend the French at times when I hear certain comments or stereotypes used. I can even take offense when 'the French' are referred to as (thinking) they are superior when they are merely a proud and serious people who take their arts and culture very seriously too. Now, make no mistake, I do not completely romanticize Everything Francais and European. I traveled extensively through Italy and that will give you a good sense of what European culture consists of. It is both wonderful and humbling all at the same time. Not to say that Italia is anything like France - do not want to offend anyone - but I can appreciate each one independently of the other - one has no other choice. But in most of Europe you will probably stand in line for a pay public dirty toilet and you will be one lucky girl if you make it out without pigeon poop in your hair or even in an ear! I guess because my dad's side of the family are so proud of our heritage and namesake I first took an interest in learning about the country and it's rich history and culture. Within 2 years of meeting all of the paternal side of my family at my grandmother's funeral, I enrolled in French I. Possibly, I do romanticize parts of France that I have seen pictures of and read about. The quaint little cafes and shoppes we see in pictures to the rolling green countrysides we see in films. Both the country and the city is a place that does hold some mystery for me, just as it has countless others before me. When you stop and think of all of the artists, philosophers, etc. and just common citizens as well, who have walked those same streets and countrysides painting some of the same portraits as artists decades before them ---well, yeah - it is kind of romantic. But mainly it is just a plain miracle and downright amazing that after the world wars it was always restored to it's original beauty. The buildings were restored or completely rebuilt and the French have earned their pride. And don't even get me started on the kind of lovers they have always been rumored to be: Lovers not Fighters, right? Both since we mustn't forget N. Bonaparte --uugghh won't even go there! But even he had a tortured romantic soul! Romance and the French just go together like peanut butter and jelly on white bread don't they?
My father would be having his 78th birthday if he were still alive on the 19th of this month and I have him on my mind of course with that event coming up. Who knows why all the French influences have got my insides stirring but whatever the reason I am going to leave you with a few phrases in Francais - which my son now takes in school. He will be in his 3rd yr in the fall, so if nothing else maybe I will impress him a little - like he'll really read this! Please forgive my lack of using certain accent marks, as the blog does not seem to have the symbol capability I need for that part of my grammar.
J'aimerais entendre votre conseil a mes questions et remerciements de la lecture.
[I would love to hear your advice to some of my questions and thanks for reading]
See French is easy to learn because it is so similar to English like 'lecture' for reading. I practiced how to conjugate some of my verbs even -woohoo - just a little more...
Quant a moi, je dois fermer et me preparer au travail.
[As for me, I must close and get ready for work]
Ayez un week-end grand!
[Have a great weekend]
Au revoir pour maintenant mes amis...
[Good-bye for now my friends...]
NOTE: French phrases dedicated to the Souleret's having all the July birthdays (still in PA) and to my dear aunt and uncle Bill & Jean Souleret who had their birthdays in May (VA) and did the family tree as well as the family newsletter for years. Mostly for you dad who was always proud of me for studying French. (And thanks for the dollars when I brought home the A's) Happy Birthday a little early- I miss you.
Lastly,
I'll leave you with a couple of thoughts until next time:
If you want the rainbow, you've gotta put up with the rain - Dolly Parton (gotta love that gal)
and a personal fave...
Tough times never last, but tough people do - author unknown (but sure sounds like John Wayne - ha!)
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