JOR Volunteer Craft Day

This is what it's all about. Today we had our first ever Volunteer Craft Day getting ready for next weekend's big Shake 4 Jake! I really don't think I realized how successful it could be. After all, in a way, it was my first pseudo art retreat!

We made it wide open for adults, kids, teens, preteens, whoever!

I gotta tell you... this was pretty priceless! Check out Zach's shirt! Attaboy!

Our big girls loved playing with him.

At this point, I believe Ellie Sue is asking Zach if they can play boyfriend and girlfriend. She said,"You be the boyfriend and I'll be the girlfriend. But I am going to be the older girlfriend, ok?" I swear... I have NO idea!

Bless Gabbi's little heart. She can just sit over in a chair and play all by herself. And have a full on discussion alone too. Sweet baby girl!

Ok, so let's discuss our crafts. This is our second shift! Polly on the right and Veronicia who started and ended the day with me, Staci, and JinJin. They are making fabric rosettes on cuffs. They will be tied on wrists. We plan to sell them at our JOR gift shop.

I found this on our kitchen counter. Emma did a little art of her own. How sweet is this?!

Here she is with Kaitlyn, Jessi's girl, and another neighborhood friend.

They went over to give Katherine a hand with the jewelry making station.

It went pretty smoothly. I had all the jewelry stuff on the kitchen table. I was handling painting on the kitchen island, the fabric rosettes were being whipped up on the bar in the kitchen and the fabric cuffs, requiring sewing, were in the art room.

As people came in, I asked them their skill set, and if they didn't know it, I assigned them one!

Paula did a little rosette work, then mysteriously disappeared. She ain't never gonna tell you crafting is her thing! But I did appreciate her coming over to give a little of her time.

This is a little sampling of the earrings which were made today. We have got some goodies, believe you me!

Veronicia took over the fabric rosettes when our first half of the day's crew left. She went from sewing room, to rosettes, and finally even assisted a little in the painting department.

She did a few backgrounds for me.

I particularly liked this one. I think we are putting this with a Halloween package we are doing, including a decorator coming to your house to put up fall decorations. Pretty great

deal, huh? And see taht pastel Christmas canvas? Staci has a feather tree, I think pink? or white? So, we are going to put together a package of girly Christmas stuff. I think that'll be so cute.

I made several Christmas canvases, as they tend to be popular and can be easily paired up to make a cool package with several other donated items.

Of course, the same can be said for fleur de lis and Peace signs. THey are both so popular right now.
I LOVE that little house canvas. It says, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

As for Katherine, she had never even seen a pair of jewerly pliers, and look at the work this girl cranked out! I gotta say, art retreats will be easier than I thought. She learned this lickety split!

Then, I just gave her accesss to the beads and turned her loose.


It has gotten to be sort of a contest of sorts to see who can doll up their Shake 4 Jake tee shirt (which 90% of the people wear to the event) the most. I think Lisa may be in the lead with her spray painted lime green boots with glitter and heart with wings. That was pretty classic.

And was it last year she wore the lime green cat eye glasses?! well, we are just giving everyone the opportunity to snazzy up their tee shirts with these handmade heart with wings necklaces. Annelise, Katherine, and Sarah rocked it out in this section today.

These are some of the rosettes cuffs all stretched out. You center the rosettes over your wrist then tie the fabric on the underside. They seriously turn out so cute!

And hey, Suzy. LOOK! I have new cabinets in my art room. I don't have the shelves in them yet though.

Oh, and I finally have curtains in there, as well as three little red desks for some little girls who LOVE to hang out with their mom in the art room.

I turned my art table sideways and cannot believe how much room it gave me. I am going to try to move a second table in now, and I swear... somehow, someday... I am going to give little mini retreats, classes, whatever. And it will be similar to today... but everyone will take all kinds of goodies home with them! I think it'll be so awesome. Today just got me more excited about the possibility of it all!

More on this to follow.

And my I say Happy Father's Day to my daddy! He always encouraged me to just do it all and have fun doing it! He' s a very laid back dude, and for sure knows how to have fun in life. Thanks, dad, for teaching me that life is short... so LIVE it! I am very glad you are my daddy!

MO