2911 Jeremiah Avenue: roses on my table

I just love swaps - you get to make things and trade them with other people who made things. If you've never been in a swap before, I would encourage you to do it. The creativity that flows through others and right out their fingertips is amazing. What's even better is, you're the one who gets it!
This past year I joined two swaps at Roses on My Table. Zinnia is the owner of this great place and has so many creative ideas. Then she finds wonderful moderators of each of these swaps to organize everyone and come up with ideas. It is such fun! The best thing (for me) is the deadlines because that is what I need to keep me on track. Anyhow, take a look at my newest inchies and my first attempt at paper dolls.

Hope…what is hope? It is a word I cling to when things are tough or when I am waiting for something to happen. Hope is what we wait for.

Each month I will be featuring a Woman of Hope. I have met so many incredible women with powerful stories. They inspire me. I hope they inspire you too.

January’s Woman of Hope

Cheryl Butcher

Cheryl calls this picture circa 1988. =0) I call it Miss Kitty, a.k.a. Cheryl

Cheryl and I share a booth at our local art gallery. Her other alias is Catnap Studio

Please enjoy my interview with this month's Woman of Hope!

What gives you the most hope?

Contentment. I’m at peace with where I am and where I’ve been.

Tell us about yourself.

I was Chief Probation Officer for 20 years. You work with unsavory people, but they become human when you allow them to be who they are. They are just like you and me – human. After all, aren’t we supposed to hate the deed and love the person? Probation is to help them – give them a hand and help them up.

What do you consider your gifts?

I am kind and caring, compassionate, fun, creative and a good friend.

I have enjoyed many of your creative gifts. What is your favorite way to be creative?

I enjoy painting, beading, piano, knitting, encaustic art, mixed media, collaborative art (round robins), but I always come back to beading. I love the computer too – you learn so much.

What do you do to relax?

When I can, I sit and look at the changes of the season. I sit outside on my bench. It doesn’t happen often, so it is really special. I love to read and I like to decorate my home so I can love it again. When I do that I get to remember my things and where they came from.

What is your favorite saying or verse?

Ephesians 4:4 You (we) are all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction, so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly. 4:32 Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God has forgiven you because you belong to Christ.

What color is hope for you?

Green – it is a sign of new life, hope and God giving us another chance to start over every spring. Just the thought that there is peace…

What is hope to you?

Hope is a teenage grandchild that unquestionably loves you and kisses you and lets you kiss them.

When you have learned that you tell your children that you love and hug them and they are special and that I need them. Hope is courage and I didn’t always have the courage to tell my kids that I loved them. I had to learn that because I wasn’t raised that way. Hope is being able to let go of a deep resentment and replace it with love.

Hope means it can get better.