Sharing

As I went to work one morning, the mother of the woman I work for asked yet again if I would like produce from her garden.  I thanked her, and accepted butternut squash and pumpkins.  Later, the offer was for gourds, before eggplant and tomatoes.  She shared with me more squash and gourds than I could take, so I shared with friends and neighbors.  A neighbor offered to share pear tomatoes in exchange.  

I answered the door one day a few weeks ago, and a gal from up the street offered an acorn squash and onions in exchange for a simple thank you.  She wanted nothing in return.  The sweet basket she was bringing around to the neighborhood offered much produce.  

A friend and neighbor offered coffee and a listening ear for my problems without a gossiping or judging ear.  

Such sharing and offering in the spirit of neighborliness is such that I haven't experienced in other than our small town.  I appreciate it, and in the family trial we are going through, I have hope for this town.  The family emergency had me questioning whether or not it would be good to stay here, but the giving and sharing in this town also has me convinced there is enough in this town to uphold our fragile humble state.  

Thank you to all who have shared even the smallest of hope, and here's hoping there is much more sharing from now on.  There is hope where God is.  

Giving when there's nothing left

I write this as I sit during a craft fair at my house's garage, a part of the Midwest Treasure Hunt 2013.  I believe it is the first of its kind, and as all things, it's a few years before it takes on.  This is then the start of my new company, Soaring Eagle Creativity, in conjunction with my husband's company, Kupasch Designs.

Soaring Eagle Creativity, my inspiration, concentrates on the more creative artsy craftsy kind of of things.  Halla makes handmade bracelets and inspirocks, rocks with inspirational words or symbols on them.  I supplement that with wine bottle bud vases, denim bags, butt purses, book sculptures, pencil sketches, and magazine collages.

Pat's company is more centered on carpentry and home remodeling, including handmade foldable wooden stools, custom made cabinets, and other general home remodeling jobs.  He works a full time job, so this part time company is on his free time and the bookwork and organization relies on my expertise.

Needless to say, with my lack of a real full or part time job (I do work a few mornings for a disabled gal), we are hard pressed enough for money that not only have we cut everything possible from our budget as is safe to do, but we have utilized the food bank in the not so distant past.

However, at the urging of our daughter through her Silver Award in Girl Scouts (the second highest award in Girl Scouting), we have committed to sell the crafts and small carpentry items from our companies as well as any donations we receive 100 percent to two benefits.  One, which will receive half of our income, goes to the Mercy Meals of the Orphan Grain Train.  The second benefit, which will receive the other half of our income, will pay for counseling for abused children.

If you have any need for Christmas or birthday gifts, want some creative items for your home, or just want to help out families in need in the area, we are your place to shop.  Pencil sketches can be done based on a favorite photo of yours, the foldable wooden stools are good for camping, fishing, and short term sitting, a wine bottle bud vase is a good hostess gift, the denim purses and tote bags are good for teens and all women alike.  Want to know what I have?  Call me.  I can select for you a unique purse or tote bag.

Just please, help us with our endeavor to make this world a little more giving of a place.  Help us help others, regardless of our own situations.  What a giving spirit my daughter shows us.  Quite the example to display.  Use it to inspire yourself.

At the risk of sending my information to the wrong people, please call me at
402-528-3750 to discuss this, or stop by our house to see what we have.

Julie Soaring Eagle Paschold

How to make a denim Tote Bag

Once you've made a denim butt purse, you have the legs of the jeans to make a denim tote bag.
First, cut open the legs of the jeans along the seam.  Lay them right sides together (the inside of the denim towards each other).  Cut into a bag size rectangle, the bottom of the jeans being the top of the tote bag.  Sew any pockets or decorations on the sides of the tote now.

 Place the right sides together again, and sew around the three edges to form the bag.

Trim the edges after sewing them.

Choose a fabric belt for the handle, and sew (hand or machine) the handle to the sides of the bag.  You may also opt to use two smaller pieces of strong bands and sew them on by hand or machine onto each individual sides for two handles.

Turn the bag right side out, and fill with your goodies or give to a friend!
Here are two examples of my tote bags; they show the two different handle types.

These tote bags are good for larger purses, to carry books or homework, and can be made in a medley of sizes.

If you use this idea, please give credit to Julie Paschold of Soaring Eagle Creativity.

How to make a Denim Butt Purse

A little how to while Old Man Winter finds his sleeping pills and leaves us alone soon....

By request....

How to make my butt purses.  This may put me out of business since it is so easy.

You need a pair of denim pants and a belt.  The size of the pants determines the size of the purse.  I love my son's little pants, but larger sizes are more functional.

Lay the pants out, either butt or front side up.  With strong scissors, cut along the line where the crotch is.  Keep the legs for another project, my denim tote bag.  (Yes, I use everything.)

Turn inside out.  Then sew along that line to create the purse.  Here is a photo of the purse after the bottom is sewed:

Then turn right side out.

Take the belt (a longer one that is fabric works best) and hand sew on the sides for the handle.  Obviously, a longer belt makes a longer handle.  Or use smaller pieces of ribbon or other straps for shorter handles on the side.

Here are two photos of the finished product.

Now fill with your essentials or give as a gift, and enjoy!  The pockets are natural places for those smaller items you need to find quickly like the cell phone, cough drops, lipstick, and keys.

If you use this, please quote the idea by Julie Paschold through Soaring Eagle Creativity.

Thanks!

I love....

• taking naps with cats
• coffee, black, either cold or hot (or lukewarm)
• the smell of rain
• sleeping
• one on one time with my children
• having time to do my creative expressions
• poetry
• writing on yellow legal paper
• camping
• sitting by a fire
• drawing with a pencil
• reusing items for crafting
• my wavy, curly hair
• painted toenails
• a good bra
• a productive day
• listening to a variety of  music
• live performances
• people who are real
• being liked
• being able to remember what I need to remember
• deep conversations with my husband
• reading in my big armchair
• cuddling in a quilt
• cuddling with my son
• teaching my daughter about anything
• the truth
• knowing what my schedule will be
• cats
• frogs
• catching critters by the pond
• looking for rocks
• collecting pieces of the out of doors
• the creative process
• cheese
• the feeling after a good workout
• taking walks
• my last name
• visiting my family farm
• watching a child discover something
• liking what I see in the mirror
• comfortable clothes
• writing
• being caught up in my to do list
• singing (especially alto)
• being complimented
• people who accept me as I am
• feeling secure
• blue or green eyes
• a man's strong arms and work worn hands
• small feet
• going to the zoo, seeing different animals
• my husband
• my daughter
• my son
• my family
• positive feedback

Success v. Satisfaction

Has anyone thought of the difference between success and satisfaction?

Definition of SUCCESS by Webster:
"...Achievement of something intended or desired; attaining wealth, fame, or prosperity."

Definition of SATISFACTION by Webster:
"...Anything which brings about a happy feeling; the fulfillment of a need, appetite, or desire; a source of gratification."

Of course we realize someone can be successful in our society's terms and not be satisfied, or be satisfied with themselves and not be successful in society's terms.

Is the question--whose success?  On whose terms, whose intentions, whose desires are the measurement for success?  If you use what "everyone" thinks, or what you think everyone thinks, aren't we all set up for failure rather than success?  I've found that I can't be and do all I want to, or all that I think others expect of me.  For me, the problem isn't that I'm not successful, it is that I'm using the wrong source of definitions and desires.  How can I assume I know what everyone thinks?  Yet we all have that idea of what "society" expects of us, and I use it to define what results in my success and satisfaction.

I am working on defining my own level of success, and being satisfied with what I have.  It isn't when others are proud of me that I feel satisfaction, it is when I feel good about what I have done and who I am and what I have tried to do.  I will never live up to perfection or what others hold up for me.  I am thankful that the true family and friends I have accept me at my level, not the level of someone who is over the top successful in the eyes of those who look for comfort in finances or materials or number of friends or popularity.

I am who I am, and am learning to be happy about that.  It is not about lowering my expectations, it is about being real about them.  I am not lowering the level of happiness I will achieve, I am changing how I look at the world and my part in it.  Do I want to try to live up to what so many "Joneses" have established as their success?  Are they satisfied with it?  I wouldn't be, and I've made myself crazy, tired, and frustrated trying to do so.

Happiness brings about satisfaction.  Achievement of my own goals will bring about my own success.