Altered Couture - Misellaneous Ramblings and Vacation

Have you ever wondered how to do something with those bits and pieces you have in your closet - You really don't want to throw them out - you really do like them the way they are - then you see one of those You Tube How To's and think - I can do that!


Although I do not have pictures to post today - I am excited about some of my ideas for a whole new added look to my fall/winter wardrobe.  I have gathered over several trips to some garage sale - consignment stores a few items I will be taking apart and making one of a kind Altered Couture - Designed by The EE!  I can't wait.

The pictures and the designing will have to wait until next week - I am flying out to Dallas to have some fun down time with my best friend.  Although I do hope to find some possible unique and wonderful places in the big D to bring back to add to my project. 

To wet your appetite - I found 2 brown skirts one with some type of design with beads running through it and another with some turquoise designs - the browns are basically the same and  I am planning on chopping them up to make one really sensational fun skirt - Hard to picture I know - but just try.


I also picked up a man's sweater - with a great design running through it - I am going to chop it up and make a really cool sweater skirt to wear with black tights and boots!  Drooling aren't you!

Laying in a neat pile for several years now are several pairs of blue jeans that are a mile long and really "ugly" as a pair of blue jeans go.  But I have consulted my awesome creative genus - Dena - on how to really make a great designer skirt that doesn't look like mess.  So that is also on my list of make overs.

Making my list and checking it twice Altered Couture by The EE is going to be HOT for the Fall and Winter!! Be Jealous is all I can say!  You will want to create your own and I will be giving step by step instructions.

Along with these awesome creations I will be showing you how to make the most popular accessory - the "tie" belt with wonderful embellishments and maybe some added one of a kind must have jewelry pieces for added glam!  You don't want to miss these how did you do that EE!  I will show it all when I return. 


Also, I will be posting pictures and how to's for my new art journals I have actually made but have not added the ribbons and rings.  You are going to love them - love them.  You will remember if you keep up with me that I teach and have even posted on some of my previous post "Trashy Happy" Art Journals!  Well some of the finished ones I will be posted also after my mini vacation to the Big D Town!

Thanks for stopping by - If you are new to my blog, you are invited to go to my website to learn more about me at http//.www.twicechosen.net. You are welcome to send me your Altered Couture Design hints at ee@twicechosen.net.

EE has two new blogs that you will what to check out- http://pathswinthejourney.blogspot.com and http://dontstepinthegoatcheese.blogspot.com

A Trashy Happy Weekend

There is nothing better than being able to create a wonderful creation from not so happy trashy objects.

If you know THE EE you know I don't like to "dig".  I like a very neat and clean garage sales or consignment shops, to find wonderful trashy happy treasures, but I don't like to dig.  

A couple of weekends ago  I had a wonderful time going through a friends garage sale before the sale!  It was great. My good friend "The Garage Sale Queen" can find the best "trashy happys" of anyone around and she also gives the greatest garage sales.  She let me come in and look ahead of time for treasures.

I did ended up with numerous finds that I was able to share with others and some fun things myself as well. All in all I think I have now been converted!

Here is my awesome little lunch purse.  When I get a free moment I am going to have it monogrammed no one else will snatch it! Not too trashy but a very Happy Find.

One of my fun finds was a sweater vest that ended up being chopped up to make covers for my camera and lens, along with a great camera bag that just looks like EE.  Stay tuned for the designer skirt I am creating with the leftover fringe.

 Pretty cool.  I use a zigzag stitch to keep the yarn from raveling.  It went together really fast. My new bag has lots of pockets inside and out.

Somehow I "inherited" a vintage 8 mm splicing machine - complements of my son - who inherited it from an antique shop owner.  It may well be our "white elephant" gift that is passed back and forth or it may even become a lamp.  Who knows.

As you can see I ended up with some fun and trashy happy and interesting finds.  There is no telling what I will end up with next!

What interesting finds have you come across lately?  Where is your favorite place to go searching for Trashy Happy Treasures?

Black Sheep- White Cow – Swimming Against the Status Quo

The English language describes a black sheep as an odd disreputable member or group, especially within a family. Typically this is a negative implication. In other languages the term white cow is the same definition.
From a psychology point of view it defines a group or members of one’s own family who behave in a way such as to jeopardize the groups/family image – an unlikeable member – an embarrassment if you will.

In 1988 Elizabeth Stone stated in her book Black Sheep/Kissing Cousins -''The inclusion of the black sheep testifies to the family's dominant value, which is family unity.'' And she goes on to say ''the black sheep needs to be there for the holidays to remind the rest of the family of how wonderful they are.  'Otherwise, one of the white sheep might look quizzically at someone else and say, 'Hey, you look a little gray.' "

When I look back over my life’s journey I can pretty well tell you I was the black sheep within all my groups – family – school – socially – professionally and as much as I hate to admit it my faith base family.  There are times I think I actually broke the mold of the Southern Bread Southern Belle!

Today, I am somewhat of a black sheep/white cow in many circles. I do not conform to just the “Status Quo” folks but seem to take my individual stand.  Many times my individual stand can rub against the favor of many.

For whatever the reason my childhood, teenage and early adulthood did not go well.  My parents did not know what to do with me or for me, nor did my teachers – there is no doubt for whatever reason I seem to make really poor choices.  The results were not great and many to this day I sadly regret.

The flip side to all of this, it has open doors for me to counsel many young person and women who need to know that they are truly people of worth and value.

In a recent blog I referred to The Help book/movie.  There are several scenes that I truly could relate to as far as rejection, not being a part of and even shunned.

Several years ago, I was in the midst of re-establishing myself.  Finances were at an all time low.  I can remember calling some of my “sisters and brothers” of the Faith.  No one wanted or chose to help.  I can remember asking a couple of my close “sisters” to assist me with toilet paper/paper towels and other essentials. Not only was it degrading emotionally to ask for help, it was even more hurtful to never receive the first piece of paper towel or one role of toilet paper. Within that same time frame in the midst of sharing my “need” two all so humble brothers, promoting helping hands, just flat out told me “NO” there was no help for me. You could hear the contempt in the voice.   Truly these are the moments I knew I was the “Black Sheep/White Cow” of my Faith Base Family!  Why – because I had taken my stand on many issues over the years and many a time not graciously. Remember – People remember the negatives far more than the positives in your life.

Another interesting scenario that comes to mind – Being at the wrong place at the wrong time can also tag you as a Black Sheep/White Cow.  As a young adult I went to stay with some Faith Base Family.  Their “unsaved” son and I went riding around – late at night – noting but hanging out.  It caused a “Big Problems” – the worst was thought – years and years passed and I remember sharing with his mom and another dear friend, wanting to clear the air.  They rejected very clearly what I shared.  They “wanted” to believe what they believed”. A poor but innocent choice as a young adult was never forgiven or believed.  

The stories and scenarios are more numerous than I care to remember.
 
So just why have i chosen  to write this particular blog - what is my purpose?  Because i want to state That it is Not a BAD Thing to Be a Black Sheep/White Cow!  And it is not not to dog those that make one feel like the Black Sheep/White Cow.  For most Black Sheep/White Cows are wonderful - creative people that have rich real life experiences that should be embraced.  We are certainly not Vanilla Folk!!

So for what it is worth - Here are some of my main  lessons learned:

First and the most important lesson is to forgive and move on and to embellish myself with love and forgiveness. I do not try and conform or pour myself into a mold that is not made for me.

Secondly, I have learned to take my poor choices as a platform in order to teach others.  Taking one’s stand as an individual is a hard and sometimes lonely place to be, but if you know you have truth – then stand but don’t push it down the throats of those that have their fingers pointing at you.

Thirdly, I have learned I don’t have to beg those to believe my change – my stand or my conviction. I believe that I do have to make good choices and react to any one with respect for myself.  This one has probably been the hardest lesson and I am not sure even today I do it as well as I should.

As I shared with a dear precious lady whom I respect and love so much – Being a Black Sheep/White Cow is not necessarily a bad thing.  I do believe I am the President of “The Black Sheep/White Cow Club”.

For within my being are the war wounds from the past and some I will have from the present.  They keep me humble – they keep me real and they keep me the individual Sassy Southern Belle I am.. 

9/11 - The Help - Mary Lou Galloway

On Sunday - September 11, 2011, I realized just how deeply my pain of my life was.  Even though there has been so much emotional and physical healing over my life, the memories that floated through my mind stung deeply.  Ouch! Pain I thought you were gone!!

For all of us 9/11 will forever be deeply rooted within us.  Each one of us have stories and emotions for this day that Changed The World as we knew it.  For 9/11 not only changed me as an American, but it  marked the beginning of every areas of my life being shattered apart, leaving me totally undone.  My professional life, my personal life and even my spiritual life had been shattered. 

Knowing my emotions were already in the ouch stage, I went recently to see The Help.  The book itself had left me somewhat bittersweet for it allowed memories from growing up to spring forth!  The movie was very well done in keeping with The Book.  What I was not expecting was the emotional roller coaster it would take me on.  There were so many scenes that jerked opened memories that had nothing to do with the movie but with my life and those that have been apart of my life. As I told my BFF I could write  side bar emotional scenarios all through.

So with all that being said about 9/11 and The Help I will unfold for you some of my thoughts and I am sure many of you will have your own sidebar thoughts as well.

When my folks adopted me, my mother hired a young girl around 10 - 11 years old to play with me.  Over the years she became a very important part of my life - my whole families life.  My folks regarded her with great respect.  In fact one of the facts about my folks that I must say was a very positive influence in my life was being raised to respect others for who they are, not for their ethnic differences.

Mother's name was Mary and this young lady's name was Mary.  Thus she became to all of us Little Mary.  She was academically very smart - She was very creative - and she played the piano like the keys were magic under her touch.

Mary Lou Galloway - how I wish I knew where you were - I would just say thank you for loving me right where I was - being their for those moments of sadness in my life as a young girl.  I think of you often and would just like to know you are doing well.

Memories of Little Mary are highlighted with Playing "Daddy's Britches" laughing so hard I cried with wonderful delight - learning to play the piano by ear - playing with your doll - hugging me when I failed at so many thing - taking you to college and attending your bridal shower.  You gave to us all so unselfishly.

One of the memories that stands out so vividly that was prompted by The Help, was when we went to South Georgia one summer.  One of my aunts planned an outdoor cook out - and she did not want Mary to eat with us.  Even as a young girl, I was so offended at her - I waited and ate with Little Mary.  In looking back, I wish I could have just slapped my aunt for being so rude.

I don't remember the last time I actually saw Little Mary, I think it was some 30 plus years ago that I actually talked to her o the phone - Where ever you are today - Know that I love you dearly and I thank you all you gave of yourself to me and to my family.

For now I will end   . . .  Would love to hear your thoughts and memories from 9/11 and The Help.

Lens of Life

Have you ever seen a website, read a letter or even heard a statement coming out of a person's mouth and it was like a a slap across the face! A You know what I am talking about - one of those Warning Signals like that of the blast from the Tornado Warning Signal that right on top of you.

Recently I had been looking up information about a Christian Based Non Profit for a new friend to contact. He wanted to give some time giving back to the community while here for several months.

As I began scrolling through candid pictures posted on this website, I could feel the slap hitting my brain hard! All of the volunteers of this inner city non profit - the volunteers - were all Caucasian. The inner city area they were working in was prominently African American.

After pondering this I decided they probably never thought how their website might have been perceived. Knowing these folks as I do, it was never intentional. It caused me to further ponder the question, do we as "Christians" just not think when we are out and about trying to "Win The World"? How do those folks looking back at us see?

This scenario reminded me of my families good friend, who was a minister in the inner city of Savannah Georgia - he related a story about food and can goods collected for Thanksgiving to the families within that inner city. He said - "One afternoon I was standing in the kitchen of a lady who was looking at a turkey so large that it would not even fit into her tiny oven and the can goods that were brought to her were items she had never even heard of."

Our perception of life can be seen from a multiple of different lens. Some of these lens can alter our perception of the reality of the true picture we are looking at. Sad but true.

Not only should we keep our lens clear - free of those clouded lenses that alter our perception, we also need to make sure that when those that look back at us see us through a clear lens as well

What lenses are you wearing today?

The Malignant Cancers to The Spiritman

Today's world is hard to ignore looking at all circumstances surrounding us, as well as our own circumstances. Even Christians speak doubt - speak with fear - fear of the world more than speaking what The Word of God says.

Once our eyes focused on the circumstances, the whys and "the should of - could of - would of" instead of on THE TRUTH OF GOD'S WORD, Opening the door for Doubt to loom over us screaming. Immediately fear, anxiety and other negatives evades our thoughts - our actions and our reactions reflect Forcing The WORD to move to the back seat as theses Malignant Cancers begin rapidly feeding away at our Spiritman!

If not stopped these killers grow and will literally eat away our Spiritman! Fatal to not only our Spiritman but to our mind, emotions and our body, effecting our total well being.

In order to understand exactly what we are dealing with we take a piratical look at the definitions of - Doubt, Fear and Malignant Cancer, and how important it is for us to sink our teeth into The Truth of God's Word to escape!

Doubt is defined as being be undecided or skeptical; to fear. To "feel" uncertain. Disbelief - distrust.

Fear is defined as a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid

Malignant Cancer is defined a cancer disposed to cause harm, suffering, or distress deliberately; feeling or showing ill will or hatred, very dangerous or harmful in influence or effect, tending to produce death.

Have you noticed that today the media has gone to the extreme in putting doubt and fear into our normal everyday lives? Daily we are bombarded with News on Wall Street - Financial Instability - Earth quakes - Youth Rebellion - Tragedies in Families - Movies of Fatal Destruction - the list goes on and on. Doubt and Fear on Steroids non the less.

The foundation of the Church over the past number of years have been shaken as pastors, priests and many leaders have been exposed to hidden secrets. Leaving many to question the stabilization of Christianity.

What is the Cure for these Malignant Cancers? Is there any help for us or are we just doomed as many would like us to believe?

The answer to these questions is YES!

The Cure! The Word of God. The Blood of Jesus. The Name of Jesus.

At this point just what have you to loose? If the World is going to hell in a hand basket and your Final Destination is everything you fear - then why not.

It works - It heals - It keeps you healthy - Mind - Body - Soul and Spirit!

Character DNA _ Who Controls Yours?

Recently I was visiting my brother, I had the rare opportunity to sit in total silence - - no television - no radio - no talking - only the gentle hum of the air conditioning unit - an occasional car going by and a lone bird chirped in the distance welcoming the day.

It had been two years since I have been home. It was good to be back. Not matter how often or how long it has been, I always allow my thoughts to thumb through the scenarios of the past, the present and even thoughts of the future. This rare extravagant ritual gives a cleansing of my soul and a renewal of who I am and where I am going.

This particular morning my thoughts focused on all the influences one is bombarded with from moment we arrive in this world to the time we leave this present world - Each and every one impact the shaping who - what and why we are. Thus forming the DNA of our Character.

Character Mr. Webster says is the mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual. The distinctive nature of something.

DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) is said to be the self-replicating material present in nearly all living organisms as the main constituent of chromosomes. It is the carrier of genetic information

As I continued to ponder, it became clear that our Character DNA is also unique to each one of us just as our physical DNA is unique. It is the carrier of our character information. Character DNA has one unique quality that is so awesome unlike physical DNA.

Character DNA can be changed and filtered/changed totally on how any and all influences affect us. Very Cool! The choice of how our Character DNA can be controlled by our own self only if we filter in the good and filter out all those negatives that want to paralyze our whole entire being. Good or bad right or wrong it is our choice.

Since that rare quiet morning in Atlanta, I have continued understand all the different influences we experience and how many times we allow these influences effect our every day life - thus affecting our Character DNA.

So I would then ask, Do we just become puppets allowing all those influences to keep us from taking control? Do we even want to have control over our Character DNA?

What keeps us from putting a stop these influence that want to paralyze us - keeping us from trying to control our Character DNA? Knowing full well that it also keep us from enjoying everything in our life? Are we too lazy? Do we not care enough about our own selves? More often than not, we allow our selves to fall prey to those influences. We fall prey to the "The Puppet Syndrome" and our Character DNA is out of control - not controlled by ourselves. The truth is, the majority of folks accept the "Puppet Syndrome" and those outside influences to control their Character DNA.

We have spent billions of dollars on books, magazines, we have watched hundred of hours of talk and reality shows, searched out websites, blogs of thoughts and opinions of the why and what that makes us what we are. We buy into it running and searching and spending our hard earn dollars to find out how to fix us and how to break free from The Puppet Syndrome.

Now don't get me wrong,some of these sources are really excellent, but others just enhance those negative - paralyzing influences - adding even another layer of tangled strings that bind us.

WARNING! Taking control of our Character DNA might actually free you of all those puppet stings and you will begin enjoying your life - enjoy who you are!

As I see it, it is so simple and it is so clear! We can make these three simple steps and we are on your way to having a very healthy Character DNA! But it is not simple - some of us have been Puppets for a long time.

Although I do love those 3 little monkeys - You know the ones I am talking about.



Watch your eyes - Watch your mouth - Watch your ears.


Don't LAUGH ME OFF NOW. That wise old adage - The three little monkeys - Speak No Evil - Hear No Evil - See No Evil! It is a great rule of thumb in living our everyday life and controlling our Character DNA.

NO DON'T BURY YOUR HEAD IN THE SAND !

OK - Let me ask you some simple questions - be very honest with yourself. . . .













Your Mouth:




Do you allow your mouth to speak negative words about your life - about others - about just the simplest events in your life? How do you "feel" afterwards"?

Do you spend time tell others about all the bad - negative happenings - how angry you are - whether personal or otherwise. Do you feel better afterwards? (I am not talking about confiding in that one accountability person) Are you telling anyone and every one that will listen?

Do you just grumble and complain about the littlest experiences? Do these little experiences throw your whole day - your whole week off?







Your Ears:




Do you allow yourself to be influenced by what others tell you - what you hear on the news - talk shows, etc. What the weatherman says? Afterwards did you wish you had not allowed them to influence you but it is too hard to change now?








Your Eyes:





Do you allow yourself to be influenced by what you read - watch on TV and Internet? Are you seeking out shows and books and websites you would not want anyone to know about?

Are you allowing the events and circumstance of everyday to have such an effect on your life that you become fearful - negative - angry - bitter?

If you have answered yes - then you are allowing those influences to put puppet strings on your life - begin to tangle and control YOUR Character DNA.

STOP NOW! Take Control of YOUR Character DNA!!

As Joan Rivers use to say, "CAN WE TALK?"




For more years than I would even like to admit, I allowed circumstances, other people, events in my life to attach many puppet strings. I became a tangle mess. I did not know who I was - what I was or why I was. . . The harder I struggled, the more tangled the mess - my Character DNA was so overloaded with Life Puppet Strings it was choking the very emotional - spiritual and physical life out of me.

Anger Strings - Forgiveness Strings - Pity Party Strings - on and on - tangling and tightening every day!

How I wish I could tell you that my fairy godmother came in and waved her magic wand and I was totally transformed. Even when I took the right steps, it took years to grasp and understand that I did not have to allow any influence to put negative poisonous DNA strings into my Character.

Yes - Many times I would take one foot forward and then fall back and allow old strings - influences to reattach themselves.

Even though we are not totally void of influences, we do have the ability to choose how those influences feeds into it. We can cut all strings and influences - we are able to be the unique person we were created to be and our Character DNA can accent our life.

Remember we DO have a choice how any influences is going to affect our choices, our actions and our reactions. You CAN CUT YOURSELF FREE!!




Finally, just let me add - controlling your Character DNA is not a one time shot. Everyday one must keep a good check on their Character DNA.



Look at yourself!


What has influenced your Character DNA - Are you allowing the past - those folks who hurt you - angered you - being done wrong - to control your Character?