Christmas glitter

Christmas comes on gradually. First, there's a little glitter in the air, then it falls like snow. Finally, just a little lingers around you like a light perfume. Then it's gone and we seem to forget all about it until the day after Halloween when shopkeepers start decorating and advertising once again.
I love Christmastime because the major way I show love is to give, and the celebration gives me the excuse to shower those I love with crafts, gifts, and food. Too bad this type of love-showing is so expensive, and yet I know that my family would feel loved even without the crafts and gifts. I doubt that they would like to be deprived of the food, though. Nothing says "You are precious to me" like a bowl full of raviolis (a recipe passed down through my Italian ancestors). I won't put it to the test.
The best Christmas of my life, however, had nothing to do really with gifts or food, although they played a big role. When my children were small my husband was laid-off during Christmas. We had barely enough money to buy each of our three children a gift or two, so we were still very happy. We still had a little shopping to do a day or so before Christmas eve and had put on our coats when we heard carolers at our door. I opened the door to enjoy the music and one caroler after another came into the house loaded down with groceries and gifts, and then left. My husband and I just sat speechlessly on the couch for about an hour still wearing our coats. Christmas would have been ok without the help of the singers from my church, but their generosity brought something even more into our house, something strong: a visitor named Jesus. It was a though they left Him behind to sit with us. He wasn't wrapped in a goose-down coat. I'll bet He wasn't as hot as we were.

Chicken for a day

Call me a "Jack of all trades, master of none." I love to cook, too. My sister-in-law is one of the best cooks around. She gave me this very easy, fast, delicious chicken recipe recently. Here's what you need.

4 or 5 chicken thighs (skinned)

2 or 3 sliced carrots

1/2 diced onion

3 potatoes cubed

1 small can tomato sauce

salt

pepper

garlic

Place all of the ingrediants in a baking dish. Pour on tomato sauce and spice to taste. Cover with tinfoil and bake for an hour at 350. So easy, yet so good...and all in one dish!

Countdown to Christmas

A day late and a dollar short, I have finally opened an Etsy store...too late for the Christmas rush. Oh well, this way there is no rush to get my products on the website before NEXT Christmas rolls around. To be honest, I love creating so much that I often don't worry about how I'm actually going to sell it. Sometimes I love my stuff so much (creating art is like giving birth) that I want to keep it myself. The trouble with that is our house can barely contain my husband and I let alone piles and piles of completed arts n crafts. I'm beginning to feel like one of those obsessive compulsive packrats that never throws anything away (at least art is colorful and not just black and white and red like newspaper covered in pizza sauce.) So.......PLEASE BUY MY STUFF AT: loosesparrow.etsy.com. There.

People Watching

I am a "people watcher." I love people. The stranger the better. I try not to stare, comment, laugh, or talk to the strangers, but they enchant me. Especially at Christmastime. People come out who usually hide themselves away, with some seeming a little awkward about being "out on the town."

I went to a discount department store with my grown daughter the other day, and waiting in line I spotted a middle-aged lady about to buy a bra. When I buy any type of underwear I usually tuck it out of sight in the cart and try to head for a female checker. I realize I was raised in the Victorian era of modesty unlike most, but this lady was displaying her 42DD bra across the child seat of the shopping cart. She seemed to be thinking one of 3 things:

• I'm lonely. Let's pretend this bra is filled with my best friend.


• I am bigger than yooooooouuuuuuuuu!


• No, really. I am a 42DD! No, I'm not enhanced...They are real and FABULOUS!

I am easily amused and got a bad case of the church giggles. My eyes started to water because I was trying not to laugh at my own thoughts. Yes, my daughter thinks I am crazy and will be glad when my holiday shopping is done so I can resume hiding myself away.

Do you spoon?

Hi there,
This blog is like a new toy. I'll bet I'm not posting nearly every day a year from now. Anyway, since this is mostly an arts n crafts blog, I thought I would show you what I've been working on lately. You see, I have this crazy love for crafts made with silverware-especially those made with silver and are tarnished. Years ago, I was obsessed with making silverware chimes. Now I'm painting, glittering, and hanging spoons with decorative wire and ribbon.
I hope you can see enough detail.

Words: My First Love

As a lover of art, I discovered early how to paint with words as well as with other mediums. This is one of the first serious poems I wrote.

Wiled Away

Winter's a highborn lady
Dressed in furs of white.
Icy, hushed, and elegant:
Wings too cold for flight.

Spring is a young lass
Shaking out bright curls.
She turns pink cheek and blue eyes
On a color-hungry world.

Summer is a vixen
Showing shoulder bare.
Green leaf and bird song:
Her woman arts are fair.

Autumn's a Spanish dancer-
A sunset wild on fire!
Bronzed and fey,
She twirls and spins:
Too soon she goes away.

They board a Gypsy wagon,
One maiden at a time,
And blow a kiss
Down the ribbon road
To the one they've left behind.

Jo Lucero

Hello Out There

My first post. Whew. I've been thinking about this for a long time. This will mainly be a place to post information about my arts n crafts, but I am also full of opinions and deep philosophical thoughts that I'd like to share once in a while. I come from Utah where many people craft. Our local craft stores are full of teddy bears dressed in lace and lettered-vinyl signs touting happy family life. I'm not about that. My arts n crafts are a little more alternative. I love to study culture and my work reflects this, hopefully. I work with themes like the Day of the Dead, Frida Kahlo, Catholic and other religious symbols and images, and vintage ladies (some are kinda' naughty). Last year I was working as a junior high teacher in a charter school. I began experiencing some strange health problems and my family and I decided it was time for an "extended rest." I do miss getting up every day and heading out of the house with a purpose, but I am also excited to stay at home and do what I've always dreamed of.....DABBLE IN THE ARTS.