RUSTIC HERBS SIGN MUST SEE!

Denise, of http://www.changingdesigns.com/ and her husband created this beautiful, rustic HERBS sign for me as my Christmas gift this year. Their talents are unending! Denise is an avid artist in so many different mediums I've lost count and Mike is continuing to excel in his woodworking talents. Together they are unstopable. As many of you know I'm a Master Gardener and have several flower and herb beds. This sign will be a beautiful addition. The photo above shows Denise and Mike holding the HERBS sign and in the spring I will show you how beautiful it looks in my herb garden. I can't wait! So hang on...spring is around the corner...right?? (as I type we are starting to get an ice storm) With gratitude, Laurie B.

Faith Smiled At Destiny

I

first heard this song the day my niece Tendai was born. Although she isn't pictured here the song keeps her close to my heart) The year in review is such an amazing journey for me to take. I hit some real benchmarks with my business, tackled some serious health issues, rekindle so many friendships from (gulp) 30 years ago by embracing Facebook, and had both my sons married within 6 weeks of each other! The gabmit of emotions ran from fear to pure joy. Being a human on the face of this earth can be such a challenge. The political climate was a tough one for me and drove me inward towards my art. Some burdens were lifted while new ones took their places. I continue to reflect most days on my blessings, enjoying small wonders and celebrating even the hardest moments this life hands me. I tried my best to honor the past, and live in the present and create the future. Did I stumble and fall, of course, but I told myself that at least I fell. That means I'm moving forward. I remind myself that as with anything in nature, when we stop growing, we die. So my friends, here's to continued growth! With gratitude, Laurie B

PROTECT THIS WOMAN

I created this Protect This Woman angel for my dear friend Keri Joy Colestock. Her story is amazing, complicated and through it all...she smiles. She was recently in the hospital (a-gain) and I put my mind to making this for her. She is home now, blogging away on her blog, Walldancers at http://walldancers.blogspot.com/ She was actually ridiculed on her blog recently by someone I've come to know and love as Mr. Snarly.....you'll have to read her blog as it's quite unbelievable! I laughed and told her I was glad I had sent her "protector" as it appeared it was just in the nick of time! At any rate, this strong, talented artist is one of my favorites and I was so glad I had the time to create something special, just for her! Please visit her blog. You'll just LOVE her to pieces!!

I'll be listing Protect This Woman on Esty for customizing to specifications soon. With Gratitude, Laurie B.

A Birthday Gift for a Friend

This is going to be a quickie post! I'm on my way out the door to meet my best sista/friends! I just had to snap this pic and send it. This is the first of many passitonplates and mugs that I'm going to be making for friends and family. I drew the passitonplates logo on the mug and plate and above the passitonplates logo I wrote INSPIRE! Then I just added the website on the bottoms. I used white china for both. You really need to go to the site, Pam's link is on my sidebar. This is such a fantastic way to reuse plates, dishes, and other kitchenware. Pam sells the plates, the special markers, the adorable covers for the plates and more at her ETSY shop. She's been my guardian angel through this new advertising campaign, sharing ALL of her knowledge about Project Wonderful in her posts. I can't thank her enough for all of her time and effort. Okay...I really need to hit the back roads! Thanks Pam for all you are and all you do for so many of us! Can't wait to give this to my friend. My OFFICIAL plate (with registration number) is still waiting to be given with goodies to another friend that lives up north. With Gratitude, Laurie B.

THE QUEST

Good evening friends! I was cleaning up my computer system and stumbled upon something that I typed up well over a year ago. It is the opening dialogue from HEROES...I remember being moved by it at the time and at the time of this posting, it has taken on a new meaning for me. Little did I know when I typed it up where I would be in this moment in time! Life is SUCH a journey!! I want to share it in the hopes that it touches your heart the way it touched mine. THE QUEST Where does it come from This quest? This need to solve life’s mysteries When the simplest of questions can never be answered. Why are we here? What is the soul? Why do we dream? Perhaps we’d be better off not looking at all. Not delving. Not yearning. But that’s not human nature. Not the human heart. And That is not why we are here. Yet still we struggle to make a difference. To change the world. To dream of hope. Never knowing for certain who we will meet along the way. Who among the world of strangers will hold our hand? Touch our heart? Share in the pain of trying? We dream of hope, of fire, of love, of death And then it happens. The dream becomes real. And the answer to this quest, This need to solve life’s mysteries Finally Shows itself. Like the light of a new dawn. So much struggle for meaning and In the end We find it is in each other, Our shared experience of the fantastic And the mundane. The simple human need to connect and To know in our hearts we are not alone.

NICE IDEA-NOW DO SOMETHING WITH IT

I have submitted a business idea to ideablog.com at http://ideablob.com/ideas/2618-Stained-Glass-for-Re-use-Re-cy

and I need as many votes as I can get. This submission is for up to $20,000.00 in seed/grant money.

Please take a few moments and go to the link above and cast your vote for my submission. Thank you! Laurie Beggin (PS. This piece was made with 97% recycled, reclaimed glass)