Jill's-All about me!

Our 2010 Christmas Picture

I have to start with my roots. I'm a Kentucky girl. I bleed blue (University of Kentucky) all the way. I'm a proud alumni!

I love living in Georgia, but I will always be a Kentucky girl at heart.  I think Ashley Judd put it best, "Tough girls come from New York. Sweet girls, they're from Georgia. But us Kentucky girls, we have fire and ice in our blood. We can ride horses, be a debutante, throw left hooks, and drink with the boys, all the while making sweet tea, darlin'. And if we have an opinion, you know you're gonna hear it." We aren't southern or northern, we are just Kentuckians!

I married my high school sweetheart, Chris.  May of 2011 will mark our 10 year anniversary!  Chris is a wonderful husband and fantastic father.  I couldn't ask for a better man.   God blessed me with  my better half.  Chris is the Associate Minister at our church.  He works really hard to balance time in ministry and family time. (I don't have a picture of just the two of us.  The last time we had a picture made of just us was 10 years ago!)

I have three little blessings that call me Mom.  Ryan (4), Evan (2) and Anna (almost 6 months).  They are all 25 months apart. (We didn't plan it that way either). I never knew how happy and fulfilled having kids would make me.  My kids bring me so much joy, laughter and love.  I understand God's love for me more now with my own children than I ever did before.  Some people think I am crazy for having three kids, but I love it.  They keep me busy and are the best free entertainment!  After the kids go to bed at night, my husband and I just laugh at all the funny things they did that day.

Ryan

Evan

Anna

Our Family 2010

Before staying home with my kids, I was a Middle School teacher.  I loved teaching those sarcastic, hormonal teenagers!  It definitely takes a special breed to teach Middle school.  I say that I am retired for now, but I know I will eventually return to teaching.  It has been nice staying at home as it has given our family more flexibility to spend time together.


My days are busy.  I am shuttling Ryan to preschool, running errands, meeting up with friends, eventually getting the house clean and laundry completed, crafting, blogging, playing with the kids,  napping, making dinner, spending time with the hubby, and staying up late crafting some more!

My love of crafting started at a very young age.  My great-grandmother taught me to crochet at around 7 years old.  Unfortunately, she died when I was 12 and I lost my knowledge of how to crochet. During my senior year in college, I picked up a book on how to teach yourself to crochet and voila, I am back in the swing of it!  In addition to crocheting, I grew up doing cross stitch.  On our family vacations, my sister and I  would do cross stitch in the backseat as we drove to our destination.  

I didn't start sewing until I was married.  I asked for a sewing machine for my birthday and once again, I'm self-taught.  I cannot do a pattern for the life of me!  I think it is my self-diagnosed ADHD.  I just can't seem to follow the directions and do it just like the pattern wants me to.  Instead, I like to examine other products and try to figure out how to make it.  I do better at that.

I love to take every opportunity I have to learn new crafts.  About 6 months ago, Shannon told me about the Silhouette cutting machine.  Now, I am a Silhouette junky!  It is so nice to be able to cut any shape or font and make some beautiful creations.  I have lots of projects in the works to show you.

If you can't tell, crafting is my outlet.  I can't just sit still.  I have to be doing something.  After the kids go to bed, I am either working on the computer or crafting in some way.  It is my stress reliever!

I am looking forward to new craft adventures and all the friends we make along the way!

Shannon's-All About Me!

Our family Christmas 2010

Everytime I visit blogs, I wonder about the people who write them.  It's such a bonus when they have a little biography.  It puts a person with their "craft".  I like that.

Jill and I thought you may want to learn a little about us, so here goes.

I am a mother.  I have two beautiful daughters, Mariella (2) and GraciAnn (4).  They are the best thing I've ever done!

GraciAnn's a big sister!

One of my favorite pictures of the girls. 

I love to dress them in matching outfits! Mariella has the sunglasses too. They just wouldn't stay on her face.

Bath time!

Halloween 2010

Cocoa Beach 2010

I am a wife.  I have been married for seven years.  My husband, John, is truly my soulmate and my best friend.  He is a home remodeler and is very crafty himself.  He'd tell you that he's the best thing I've ever done and I guess he's kind of right.  Without him, I wouldn't have those girls.

My sweet husband, John

I am a daughter. My parents have always been my great support system and are the best Grandparents EVER!  Just ask my girls.

Our family picture 2009

I am a sister. I have a brother who is one of my best friends.  He was there when both of my girls were born. My daughters are his biggest fans!

Darren with the girls and me at GraciAnn's third birthday party.

Darren and GraciAnn November 2008.

I am a friend.  I have so many wonderful friends.  I am so lucky.  I know it! I always try to be the best friend I can be.  Unfortunately, I stay so busy with life, I don't always give my friends the attention they deserve.

My best friend from highschool, Robin

Robin's sister Mandy.  She's always been like a sister to me!

My dear friend, Amy

Jessica and Jayce, Jamie and Ryan, and Mariella and me!

***There are many dear friends I don't have pictures of on my computer.  That will change and I'll share them with you soon.  My friends are very important to me! ***

I am a stay at home mom and I have never been so busy or loved a job so much!

I am a teacher.  Right now my students are my children.  But, before I became a "Stay at Home Mom" I taught for fifteen years. One day, I'll be teaching others' children again.

I am one of the few "True Floridians".  I was born and raised in FL.  The first time I moved away was when I went to college for a year in North Carolina. I also spent 4 months of my senior year of college doing an internship in England. My home base was FL until 7 years ago when my husband got a promotion to the Atlanta area. He said we would be here for three years.  Ha!  I don't see us going anywhere anytime soon.  I'm okay with that.  I like having seasons, none of which are too harsh.  I like my friends, most of which I met through my children.  I like my daughter's school.  I like our doctors.  It's a great place. I left my family and many friends in FL.  I miss them.  I like that I can drive and see them in a day.  I wish we were closer; but, I'm pretty positive I never want to live in Florida again. It's hot!

I am a crafter.  Or at least I try to be.  This blog is a place for me to share all my creative crafting, copy crafting, and craft fails that are sure to happen. I haven't always been crafty.  I guess it all started when a friend of mine got me into stamping about 15 years ago.  My stamping came to a screeching hault when I got married and had kids.  Thanks to my crafty friends and supportive husband, I'm back in it and I'm doing my best!

I am eager to share my ideas, get ideas from others, and form new friendships in blogland!