My Old Man

Tom , Hannah and Judy, college moving in day 2008

My old man! We've been together for 34 years! He was the first, and only, boy I ever dated. Our first date? I was 15. We went to see "Young Frankenstein". It was a Saturday matinee. I told myself, " If he tries to put his arm around me I'll slug him!" He says he thought, "I won't try to put my arm around her his this time." That was in February. By May, we swearing eternal devotion!

But there was a problem, right from the start. I was a new Christian. I had received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit in August of that year. And he was not a Christian. We became a devoted couple very quickly. I had to tell him, "I love you! And I want to spend the rest of my life with you, but, I won't marry you if you're not a Christian. And within a couple of months he had, indeed, accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior.

I know, I know! But you know what? We were married four years later and he has been the help mate and head of our family from the very beginning. He loves God! and he knows that Jesus died for him and rose again to fulfill the promise!

He has supported me in every hair brained scheme I have ever come up with. And, you, know, it's not easy living with an artist! And wouldn't you know! Both of his children are artists too!

http://www.judyagoddard.etsy.com/

http://www.measureformeasuregrowthcharts.com/

www.flickr.com/judyagoddard/

Do You Have a Brochure?

Brochures I have known;
Grateful Creation Design, that was my batik tee shirt business.
Judy Goddard, Singer Songwriter, Artist
Judy Goddard Programs, these were my folk music brochures.

Now I'm a Handknitter and Felter.
So, I need a new brochure.

Sales on Etsy.com have been llittle less than slow. And I have been really, really trying to do everything I can do to make my shop a success.

Last week I sent a friend of a friend one of my Little Felted Baskets. She owns and operates a dance school for little girls. It's called "Through the Looking Glass" dance studio, in the Columbia MD area. She emailed me, asking for a brochure to insert into her November newlsetter.

So I sat down and put together what I think is a pretty snazzy pamphlet.

Two peas in a pod

My niece had her twins last week. they were six weeks early. Each weighed three pounds losmething. they are expected to go home in a few weeks. One is Addison Virginia and the other Evelyn Cora. Pretty names!

I attended my niece's baby shower just the week before. My sister asked me to make them a growth chart that they could share. Of course, I said sure! The only stipulation was that it needed to have lady bugs on it. No Problem!

I got my canvas out and primed it and painted it sky blue. Then, up the center I painted a daisy chain, with the obligatory lady bugs. I placed the inch and yard marks up both sides of the chart, instead of just up the right side. And when I was finished, I realized that I couldn't give just one! So I started another one right away! It's the same sky blue but on this one I made a chain of tea roses with lady bugs. But, at the shower, I couldn't cajole the names out of her. So they stayed blank at the top of each.

Now, ny niece and nephew in law can put the names at the top. Addison Virginia, (my sister's name is Ginni.) and Evelyn Cora. ( Joe's mom is Cora). They are indeed pretty names.

Adventures in Felting

I love to knit! And I love the manipulation of fibers that are possible for me through felting. It's such a trip to open up the washing machine and pull out that sodden, lumpy mess, disentagle it from the blue jeans, pull into shape and see exactly what I anticipated! It makes my heart smile.

Of course, sometimes I open up the washing machine and pull out that sodden mess and go, " Oh no! It's too small!" Or "It's so uneven!" Or It's full of holes!" Then I put on my thinking cap and try to figure out how to use this "Happy Accident" in a creative way. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. But the thrill I feel, right before I lift that lid, the thrill of anticipation, makes it worth the effort, even if I do have to figure out just in the heck I'm gunna do with it!

Twitter, Flickr, Blogger, huh?

I decided to try and sell some Handknit Felted Baskets that I had designed and made. So I set up a shop on Etsy.com and started uploading pictures. I was told that to promote myself I would need to spend time in the chat rooms and visit the forums often.

I learned to how sort through the miasma of a crowded chat rooms. I learned how to couch my forum posts in terms that would draw attention to my shop. And I sold a few supplies.

To be fair, I did sell one basket. And I sold one Canvas Growth Chart. All that since April 20, 2008.

So I asked what else I could do. I was told, "Blog!" I set up this blog and now have a new place to direct folks to show off my designs. And I do get some very nice comments. Thank you very much! But no sales of Art, only supplies. (So why and I complaining? At least I'm making sales!"

Next came the suggestion of Flickr. com. And then came the posts telling me to set up a Mysapce account and a Facebook account. Done.

And now I spend many hours everyday punching keyboard pads and squinting at my laptop screen. And still have quite a tidy sum of lovely baskets that people tell me are, "So cute!" "Really Great!" "Super".

I'm getting pretty frustrated. If you pray, please send one up for me.

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http://www.judyagoddard.etsy.com/

http://www.measureformeasuregrowthcharts.com/

My Christmas Look

Is it time? Am I too late? It is, after all October 18th! Yesterday I started uploading Christmas photos on my Etsy shop.

All my Little Felted Baskets are getting a holiday spiff up.

What are Little Felted Baskets?

They serve many happy purposes.

They're little gift holders

little candy baskets

little oranments

lovely little decorations for your table or mantle piece.

Who knew that spending the afternoon taking photos

could be so tiring. But it was fun and I look forward to

continueing with the holiday theme.

If you are visiting this blog, please take a look at my Etsy shop and let me know what you think. Are the photos good enough? Do they convey holiday warmth and the spirit of Christmas?

I know I've got some photos to retake. I'll get it right.

I'll be shooting most of my stock in holiday settings.

www.JudyAGoddard.Etsy.com

www.JudyGoddard.Homestead.com

www.Measureformeasuregrowthcharts.com

It all Started With The Turkey

My family lives on 16 acres of wooded land, right in the middle of New Jersey. Our driveway wends through the woods to the back of the property. 30 feet behind our house is a cedar creek.

About 7 days ago my husband and I had what we like to call a "Turkey Blessing". It was dusk and we were standing in our kitchen. All of a sudden the dog, who was standing by the french doors, began to growl. The hackles on her back went up. As we peered out the doors we saw a wild turkey in our back yard. It was a big tom and his head was bright turquois blue. We watched him saunter through the yard , heading for the creek. All of a sudden he bobbed up and down a coouple of times and lifted off the ground, flying across the creek and landing in a tree on the other side. He was roosting for the night. Then, incredibly enough, we watched 10 others walk into our back yard, bob up and down and fly up into the trees. They each took turns and picked a different tree. It was the coolest thing!!

So, that was the first. Two days ago, as I was standing in the living room, looking at the bird feeder, all of sudden, there was a flash of golden brown! The little chickadees all scattered and a sparrow hawk careened into our plate glass window! He didn't hurt himself, neither did he catch a chickadee. And from 4:00 pm when it happened until the next morning, there were no little birds at our feeder.

Yesteday, around noon time, I was walking out of our local boy scout headquarters and I heard a red tailed hawk, right over my head! I looked up and searched the tree tops, but I couldn't find him/her. I thought maybe I'd see him flying in the clear blue sky, but he was gone.

And, last night, while we were praparing for bed, we heard a great horned owl hoo-hoo- hooing, right out our bedroom window!

I love where I live! I'm so grateful for the gift of this place and the stewardship that has been placed upon me. I think God put the right person in charge of this little wilderness.

NOTE: All photos obtained through Google images.

http://www.judyagoddard.etsy.com/

http://www.judyagoddardartist.blogspot.com/

http://www.judygoddard.homestead.com/

http://www.measureformeasuregrowthcharts.com/