A Wedding Countdown Jar for Him

Hello!

We've had a lot of snow in New Jersey.

This is the view outside of my studio doors. 

School was closed for three days blessing me with the gift of  time to write lesson plans and craft.

In my last post I shared the wedding countdown jar I created for a colleague. Not expecting to receive one, her fiance said that he would like one with a top hat. I was blessed with the time, so I made him one. 

This is a view from the side. It is only 53 days until their wedding. I probably should have chosen a smaller jar. 53 Hershey kisses doesn't look like much in this jar.

Here's the front of the jar. I think it came out pretty cute. What do you think?

Happy Crafting!

Love,

Terry

A Wedding Countdown Jar

Hello!

Recently a friend blessed me with a Retirement Countdown Jar that she made for me.

I so enjoy counting down my remaining days at work by eating a delicious piece of chocolate every work day, I was divinely inspired to create a jar for someone else. My colleague Lori is getting married in May, and I thought she would enjoy having a Wedding Countdown Jar. So I made one for her.

This was so much fun! I found the ball jar mug at Joann Fabric and Crafts. The chalkboard paint square was already on the jar, but I think it would be really easy to paint it on yourself. I sprayed the tops of both of the parts of the lid with Aleene's Tacky Spray and then covered them with glass glitter. I shook the excess off onto a paper plate and poured it back into the glitter jar. I don't want to waste any of that gorgeousness! I wanted Lori to be able to unscrew the top to get to the chocolate without removing the bow, so I hot glued the bow around the lid. She needed a piece of chalk to change the countdown each day, and again I wanted her to be able to remove and replace the chalk easily. So I glued the ribbon to the handle of the mug then tied the bow around the chalk. The chalk slips easily in and out with untying the bow.

Lori loved the jar, but I think I loved giving to her more. It made me so happy to make her happy! Lori brought the jar home and her fiance Rob said that he would like to have one too. He said that he would want one with a top hat. Of course I am going to make one for him too! I will be sure to post it when it is done.

I think these jars would make great wedding shower favors or use a larger jar and create centerpieces for the shower. Whatever you are counting down eating a piece of chocolate each day in your countdown makes it so much more delicious!

Happy Creating!
Love,
Terry 🎔

Counting Down?

Hello!

I am having a wonderful divinely-inspired weekend!

Before I left work on Thursday I received a text from a dear friend telling me that she had dropped something off on my front door handle. As soon as I arrived home I ran to the front door, and I discovered this beautiful gift bag hanging on my front door. Isn’t the bag gorgeous? It’s made of a nice sturdy plastic that can be used again and again. The bag itself was a gift!

I brought the bag inside, removed the paper, and to my delight found this!

I am retiring this June from 29 years of teaching. Thursday was the 100th day of school, and since there are 180 days in the school year, I only have 80 more days to go! My dear friend Liz made me this countdown jar. She filled it with 80 pieces of chocolate. There was a letter in the bag in which she wrote, “Hope you enjoy having one chocolate each day at the end of each remaining school day as you see the days and chocolates dwindle down!” How fun! I am eager to get back to work on Tuesday so I can start eating my chocolate!
Isn’t this a great idea? Think of all the countdowns for which you could create a chocolate countdown jar! A wedding, a big birthday, a long anticipated vacation, …  Such a fun gift to receive and give! Divine Inspiration is everywhere! I know just the person for whom I will create a chocolate countdown jar! I will be sure to post all about it.

Joyfully,
Terry 🎔

Hello, My Friends, Hello

Hi blogging friends! It’s been a long time since I posted – a very long time – 19 months to be exact. During those 19 months I received much joy from reading blogs from some of my favorite bloggers. (Lorraine from Flower Ladys Musings, Matt from Boy and Bunting, Carol from Art and Sand, Susan Branch from Susan Branch – just to name a few.) I thought that one of the ways I can give back for the joy they have blessed upon me is to blog and perhaps bless joy upon others. That is my goal – to bless each of my readers with joy.

My blog is titled “Sharing Divine Inspiration” and that is exactly what I plan to do. I am soon to be on a new path in my life. All is well – no worries, at the end of this school year I am going to retire. I have been teaching for 29 years. I love my job, but I still have dreams to attain. So, I will be moving forward in the direction of my dreams.

I have been very blessed. Almost all of my dreams have come true. As a child I did not dream of being a teacher or a nurse or a secretary. (Those were pretty much the choices in those days. I also had the option of being a nun.) I dreamed of being a wife and a mother and creating a beautiful home. When I would go to my friends’ homes I would look around and pay attention to what I loved in their homes. I always loved anything handmade.

I am happily married to Gary for 36 years. I have four amazing children. All 29 years old – they are quadruplets. (The kids were part of the dream but the quadruplet part that’s another story.) We live in a home that Gary and I designed and built. We have filled our home with many handmade items. The teaching job was icing on the cake. Life is good!

I had another dream as a child. I dreamed of being an interior designer. However, I did not think of myself as being “artistic". I always loved to create, but back then I believed that you had to be able to draw in order to be an interior designer. So I pushed that dream down deep in my heart, but I never let it go. Now, that I have a better understanding of the field of interior design, I realize that is really not what I want. My dream is to work in the fiber arts world designing and creating handmade items for the home. Maybe even doing a little teaching.

As life goes on I continue to dream. I dream of traveling across the country with Gary. I dream of being a grandma – but that one isn’t exactly up to me. I dream of taking a ship across the ocean to England. I dream of taking classes in photography, knitting techniques, and yes, drawing and painting.

I know that I will continue to be blessed with Divine Inspiration in the direction of my dreams, and that is what I plan to share with you right here on this blog. I have already been led to a few step already. I was led to a class at Vogue Knitting Live NY in designing in knitting. I was led to a vision board workshop. My amazing neighbor at A Mindful Journey gives the most relaxing and inspirational vision board classes. I love my vision board! I have it hanging up right in front of where I drink my coffee every morning. I look at it each morning knowing that the dreams on my vision board are on their way to coming true.

I would love for you to come along with me on this journey as I follow Divine Inspiration to where dreams come true. Remember, “With God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26 What are some of your dreams?

Joyfully,                                                                                                                Terry