June is my Birthday Month!  Yay for Special Days and Celebrating.

Celebrating birthdays can sometimes be tedious.  Depending on the frame of mind one has.  The age old adage, "you're only as old as you feel"...and other great sayings can leave one feeling older than they really are.

This year, I am turning 59!  Yup!  It's a big one.  Not ready for retirement, but viewing it off in the distance.  When I think of retirement, I really don't know what to think specifically.  Does one really retire?  Retire from what?  Living?  The "promise" of something better in retirement shadows the present. The scene similar to hanging a carrot in front of a rabbit.  Teasing.  Taunting.  Causing dissatisfaction with current situation.  I don't want this to be my focus.

I've decided that today, right now...I'm going to live in the present.  Not exerting energy into speculating, what the future may have.  I feel mentally stronger, and accepting of my place and position in life.  I want to move forward confident in this acceptance of self.  Focusing on contentment, not discontentment.  Finding things to be grateful for, and appreciative of.

Recently, I've been able to work on new art pieces.  You can see some of the pieces here:

The words and verses on these art pieces are all meaningful to me.  This has been my process.  When you view these pieces, you can see what I've been thinking on, and where the direction of my life is heading.  Check the shop to see when these pieces are listed: here

As I look forward to my 59th year of life, I am excited.  I am anticipating great adventures and life lessons learned.  I am learning to see Immanuel's (God with us) presence in everyday moments.  I'm full of joy and expectancy as I look forward to what lies ahead on my life journey.

Sharing smiles with you straight from my flower garden.  Do you see them?  The little smiley faces in the middle of the daisies?  I just love how happy these make me.  Hope you enjoy them as well.

Thank you for joining with me and being a traveling companion on this adventure.

Spring is Here...feeling GRATEFUL

 After a couple of bouts with sickness this past winter, my body and mind are rejoicing that it is Spring.  Winter felt long and hard.  I was forced to rest and care for my health, which isn't a bad thing. 

I am a doer.  A "go-getter".  A planner.  Sometimes, I don't know when to stop.  Thankfully, my Creator God, has allowed me to experience sickness in order to stop and rest, and regain health; as well as learning to be more grateful for the health I do have.

In between sleeping, and coughing, I had some moments where I had mini inspiring creative moments.  Wanting to work in my planners, and get them spruced up, I came up with some designs that would help me be more organized.

 Recently, I started embroidering again.  Using wool blend felt shapes, and acrylic felt shapes gives me a great "canvas" to practice my stitches on.

 Here are some pictures of projects that I worked on while recuperating.

Hand-stitched basket of flowers
journal notebook book band.

Travelers Notebooks (TN) book bands. Elastic bands stitched with
decorative wool felt shapes.

Jumbo paper clips with decorative fabric shapes.

Stitched rabbit journal notebook band.

 














Yesterday, I was able to go for a nice walk with my daughter and grandson.  As I was walking along, all of a sudden, I realized..."I'm grateful!"  Grateful for the beauty of creation that surrounds me.  Grateful for movement, and the ability to walk.  Grateful for the company of my daughter and grandson...having family close.    Sharing these moments together, fills me with JOY!

I hope the season change to Spring has allowed you some time to capture and rehearse being thankful and grateful.  Thank you for reading and traveling with me on this life journey.

Business Boutique and Planners

What an exciting year it has been so far.  We began the year anticipating our first Live Event at the Business Boutique in Sacramento, California.  Many days were spent preparing, and creating for this fun opportunity.  And what an opportunity it was!  We met Christy Wright, the founder of Business Boutique, and we were challenged, inspired, and encouraged by her.  Dave Ramsey also spoke, in his down to earth style.  Both Terri (my sister) and I were stretched in our thinking. 
We were affirmed.  I definitely received a "shot in the arm" to continue down the path that God is leading Pear Creek Cottage.  I would highly recommend attending a Business Boutique event if you have the chance.  They give sound advice and encouragement to women on how to make money doing what you love. 

Terri & I @ Business Boutique

We have developed some brand new listings in our Etsy shop!  Terri and I, both have re-discovered our love for planners and organizing our days, calendars, and lives.  For me personally, it's like documenting my daily life, and my faith, all in one.  Remembering birthdays, bill payments, commitments, and other life events.  All of this is done in a Scrapbooking style.  Bits and pieces of cute cut outs.  Quotes I want to remember.  Inspirational sayings, and life changing moments are all being recording in my planner/agenda book.  So, the new listings were developed, because I designed them to use them in my own planner!😁

We have three new offerings of planner clips/bookmarks and chipboard dashboards.  The nice thing is, you can use the "dashboards" for templates, for ornaments, magnets and more.  The same with the paper clips.  You can turn these cute images into whatever you would like them to be.  Package toppers, gift tags, pin brooches and more.

I'm including the links for you to view the different styles in the shop:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/501256524/bird-clip-bookmarks-dashboard-birdhouse?ref=shop_home_active_20

Coffee clips

Mason Jar



As always, thank you for joining me in this journey of life.
Blessings~

New Year = Brand New Pear Creek Cottage Newsletter

As January is wrapping up, and February close behind, I wanted to share some exciting new things happening at Pear Creek Cottage.

For some time now, I've been wanting to start a Shop Newsletter.  I have met so many great and wonderful people in the almost 7 years I've been open.  Pear Creek Cottage has introduced me to lots of new things that I was not aware of: such as the huge, Tutu craze that was so popular with not just children, but adults too.   Also,  I learned about Scentsy.  Having never heard of the company before, and now, enjoying the benefits of knowing so many wonderful people who sell Scentsy products.
I now know first hand, what neat gifts that Scentsy warmers and wax make as Christmas and birthday gifts.

As a way of staying better connected to my customers/friends, I thought a Newsletter would be a great way to keep up to date on specials, promotions, and just the happenings in day to day life.

So, I'm launching the first Newsletter and asking folks to sign up to automatically receive the latest up to date info, right in your email!

As an incentive, and "Thank You" for being the first to sign up, I have a FREE offer for YOU!

For everyone who subscribes to my Newsletter, I will send you a Coupon Code to the shop.  You won't want to miss this one!  You will receive $5.00 off your entire purchase of $25.00 or more with the Coupon Code!

Once you sign up, the Coupon Code will be revealed.  This deal is a limited time offer, so don't wait to sign up for the Pear Creek Cottage Newsletter.

As always, thank you for supporting me, and journeying with me as we inspire and encourage each other.