I know across the US, it has been a sad and traumatic year for many of you.  The economy and job losses hit the country hard.  Too many people have had to readjust their lives and learn to cope with the stress.  Even if your situation did not change, I think everyone has family or friends who lost their job.  I personally know way too many who had this happen to them.

My wish for 2010 is that the economy improves and that new jobs are created. My magic wand, if I had one, would be to sprinkle these jobs all over, along with laughter, happiness and health.

I want to thank all of you for visiting my blog and website and for your comments and emails throughout the year.  And I wish each of you a very Happy New Year.

Phyllis

I’m excited to show you a new addition to my studio - a ribbon organizer.  Clip it Up was a new  exhibiting company at the Houston Quilt Market and Festival last month.  They had a supper display in their booth of wonderful organizers for ribbons, scrapbook supplies and just about anything you have in your stash!

I loved all of the organizers, but especially fell in love with the Ribbon Organizer.  I chose the one that is 36″ long.  It has 40 clips to hang remnants below the organizer and has storage on each end to hold scissors. It also comes with a tape measure decal that applies to the organizer for easy hands free measuring.

I hung the ribbon organizer over this table in my sewing area, behind my sewing machine, so that the ribbons and trims will be in easy view and reach.  I have boxes of ribbons, but only put my favorite ones in the organizer.  I didn’t fill it up so that I will have space for new ribbons that I have my eyes on for immediate purchase.  You may also notice my Sizzix Big Shot die cutting machine.  I have it close as well for cutting fabric dies for applique as well as paper cuts.  I love color so I have color coded boxes to hold supplies.  (I can’t remember numbers, but I can definitely associate colors with the contents of each box.)  And I also keep my button stash close at hand in a huge jar that is not nearly big enough.

I love attending Quilt Market and look forward to the Spring Market.  There are always fabulous finds at each show and I am treasuring my ribbon organizer.

Enjoy and display your stash!

Phyllis

PS, I just found out this news after emailing ClipItUp to let them know that I loved the ribbon organizer and blogged about it.  It will be on sale the weekend after Thanksgiving Nov 27-30 for almost half price!

Frequently, I am so focused on what I’m doing, I loose track of time - you know, a few hours.  But this week, I lost an entire day.  I have really been focusing on creating new art and designs.  I did not pay attention to the calendar on my computer or any of the other ways I keep track of time such as mentally noting each day.

Yesterday, as I was working, I wondered if it was Tuesday or Wednesday, hoping for Tuesday, but really knowing it was Wednesday.  So this morning when I woke up, I asked my husband if it was Thursday.  To my surprise, he told me it is Friday.  Gee, now I’ve got to go double time as I’m behind where I had planned to be at this point.  My husband insists that I was present and accounted for each day, no alien abduction.

So, back to the “drawing board”.

I wish each of you a great and safe 4th of July!  I do know that its tomorrow, since its on Saturday and today is Friday!

Phyllis

While searching through a closet recently, I found a box that contained some letters I had saved from years ago. I read letters written to me by my mother and aunts at various stages of my life - collage, as a newlywed, and as a new mother. I also saved several letters written to me on Mother’s Days from my very young son.

As I looked at their handwriting and read their words, memories came flooding back at each instance they wrote about. I remembered my mother sending me recipes when I first got married because I didn’t know how to cook anything other than eggs and mashed potatoes (not together, of course!). When my mother passed away, we found stacks of letters that she had saved from my brothers and me and our children as well as letters from her friends, sisters and other relatives.

When I was growing up, long distance calls were expensive, so writing was the norm. Emailing is now the norm. With the ease of emailing and social media such as Facebook along with inexpensive calling to anyone from anywhere,  keeping in touch is immediate, fast, convenient and easy.

The instant communication and connection is wonderful. However, the art of hand writing a letter has almost been lost. Emails are easily deleted or lost when a hard drive crashes. Even if printed out, an email looks so impersonal.

Without the personal handwritten letters, a part of our own history is lost to ourselves as well as to future generations. Our children, friends, brothers and sisters, spouses will not be able to pick up letters we’ve written many years before and relive these memories, or just feel the feeling that comes when seeing a love one’s handwriting.

Several years ago, my mother gave me a letter my father had written to her right after I was born. She also gave me a congratulatory telegraph sent by a close friend after my birth. Although the telegraph is not hand written, I know that the effort that it took to send it was more personal and involved than a quickly written email. I treasure these.

Although our lives are fast paced, we need to take a few minutes to write a letter or note to someone dear, just to say hello or to comment on a special occasion or event and actually use snail mail to send it.  And you can be sure that it will bring a smile to your face while writing it as well as to the person receiving it and each time in the future it is read.

Happy writing!

Phyllis

(c) Phyllis Dobbs