Family Tree

“If you look deeply into the palm of your hand, 

you will see your parents and 

all generations of your ancestors. 

All of them are alive in this moment. 

Each is present in your body. 

You are the continuation of each of these people.”   

Thich Nhat Hanh

Family...that one word can bring so many emotions to the fore front...it can span from love and caring to the other side of the spectrum...

For unknown reasons to me, my ancestry has been not talked about...so many years of my life I have wondered about my family...who where we, where did we come from? My palms were empty.

For me, knowing where you came from lends itself to who you are...it gives you a foundation, a solid footing...I believe with out it you are floating...

Your present life gives you roots...but your heritage gives you the soil in which to nourish and grow. The understanding of what makes you tick!

I have been so fortunate after so many, many years, to connect with a cousin, Mary. I just can't tell you how my heart feels, I am thrilled and touched. Mary and I share the same Grandmother Ignacita.

I have found out that the generations before and now have been very artistic...that's where it came from! My Grandmother loved to sew...They loved clothing...dresses, scarves, shoes... shoes...shoes...see honey, I can't help it, it just in my DNA...

 Mary

 

can't you see a family resemblance??

I feel that my family tree is within reach, I can see it over the horizon...firmly planted in the soil...

and now I wonder who are we and where are we going!! So many wondrous things to learn and discover! I will share more with you about this discovery as time goes on...

My Aunt Rosanne, Mary's Mother

 My family is coming into focus in my palms!

Life is to be cherished...

“Be who you are and say what you feel

because those who mind don't matter 

and those who matter don't mind.” 

Dr. Suess

New Issy Blog!!

New ROotie News Posting

Shotgun Houses

My friend, Julie, sent me this you tube video on a family that lives and works in a shotgun style house...

...this prompted me to figure out what is a shot gun house???

A shotgun house is a nickname for a long narrow house with sequential rooms and no hallway. The nickname comes from the idea that if you stood at the front door and fired a shotgun the buck would fly out the back door without hitting the house. 

 

These houses were commonly built in cities before cars made suburbia popular. They also took advantage of lower property taxes because many cities based the tax rate on the lot width so when your house is only 12 feet wide you saved a lot of money. Another advantage was that as families grew more rooms could be easily added.

 

These tiny houses emerged in the south, specifically New Orleans, but you still see them today all over America from Key West to Chicago to California. In some cities these shotgun shacks are being replaced by urban renewal projects and in other cities they are being preserved.

 

These wonderful little bits of architecture have brought interest in their history, especially after the New Orleans hurricanes...

 

 This is a video of Larry Sass and his reinvention of the Shotgun House..

 And last but not least...if you want to build one...here are home plans!  My favorite is the Charity...

Next year, 2012, the plan is for NIADA to be held in New Orleans...my camera will be ready and I will have my walking shoes on to scout out some of these beauties!!

Pencil to Paper

“The act of putting pencil to paper encourages pause for thought, 
this in turn makes us think more deeply about life, 

which helps us regain our equilibrium.”

Norbet Platt

One of my dear friends sent this to me this week.
I thought this was so fabulous, 
I so needed to share it with all of you!

Be sure to read the 5 important lessons at the bottom of the page.

We all need to be constantly sharpened. 
This parable may encourage you to know 
that you are a special person, 
with unique God-given talents and abilities. 

 

 Only you can fulfill the purpose 

which you were born to accomplish. 

 

 Never allow yourself to get discouraged and 

think that your life is insignificant 

and cannot be changed and...

...like the pencil, always remember that the most important part of who you are,is what's inside of you.

A PENCIL MAKER TOLD THE PENCIL 

5 IMPORTANT LESSONS JUST BEFORE PUTTING IT IN THE BOX :

1.) EVERYTHING YOU DO WILL ALWAYS LEAVE A MARK .

2.) YOU CAN ALWAYS CORRECT THE MISTAKES YOU MAKE.

3.) WHAT IS IMPORTANT IS WHAT IS INSIDE OF YOU.

4.) IN LIFE, YOU WILL UNDERGO PAINFUL SHARPENINGS, WHICH WILL ONLY MAKE YOU BETTER.

5.) TO BE THE BEST PENCIL, YOU MUST ALLOW YOURSELF TO BE HELD AND GUIDED BY THE HAND THAT HOLDS YOU. 

~~~

 

Radishes

My newest class is Ruby Radish...and I thought what does a radish look like??...how would it make a nice head for a doll??

So I set out to find images of radishes...beautiful ruby red radishes...

In my search, I found this fabulous recipe for green beans with radishes. I made it the other day and changed it up a bit with grilling my green beans and instead of dressing used this wonderful Tuscan herb olive oil ...it was easy and really yummy! (Also like this olive oil as a dressing- by itself- for those of you with the yeast-vinegar sensitivities)

So...back to the doll...I needed ruby tipped fabric, so I dyed some nice wool felt using procion dyes.

 

I looked at the shape of the radish and had to think of it more three dimensionally. 

It took me a  few tries but finally got it! I had to have a seam down the front for needlsculpting and needed more roundness in the back, so added a gusset in the back to fill out the back of the head.

Here is the final...Ruby Radish- who ,by the way, is Pumpkin Girl's best friend!!

Pattern ready for sale Wednesday June 15th
email me to pre-order $10 + shipping.

Pumpkin Girl