Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Common Core State Standards....

Wheres Cuomo Flyer

http://www.fixnyschools.com/  PLEASE SIGN as together we can make a difference!!!

This is bad, very, very bad.  If you have done any research on this you already know that.  If you haven't do a search and you will be surprised by the results.  This is the craziest education system ever, it has been called fuzzy to just plain insane.  Created to make "Standards" for our children to make them more College and Globally Employment Ready but yet there are no "Standards for the "Standards" as stated below.

There are several key issues that the Common Core State Standards do not define. They do not identify how teachers should teach. They also do not limit or list all that can or should be taught. There is no limiting factor placed on the nature of advanced work beyond the CCSS. There is nothing in the CCSS that indicates the interventions needed for students well below grade level or the support that should be given to English language learners and students with special needs. Finally, they do not provide everything needed to be college and career ready.

I would love to hear others comments regarding this matter...
Thank you so much
Brenda LaBell



Wednesday, April 18, 2012

A Full Hip Replacement and a Special Hello to one of my Bestest Friends Dede!!!


This is a picture of what my new hip looks like, no not actually mine. I could have scanned a picture of mine but my scanner isn't connected right now. But any hoo, my family says I'm working on being the "Bionic Woman" they are building me stronger and faster than before, lol. So I have been bad, missing here for a very, very, very, very, longggggggg time. You see I have been suffering with this problem for years and it has taken them years to figure out what was wrong with me. I actually had quit my job in 2005 as I just couldn't do it anymore, the pain continued to get worse every year!!! My family doctor insisted it was my back and I kept telling them I don't think so. I finally had filed for disability last July but my family doctor said he recommended that I go back to work and suggested that I get a low impact job such as a "Desk Job" in August, huhhhhhhh. I informed that I had a desk job and that I had to quit it in 2005 because I couldn't do it anymore, apparently he forgot to put that in his notes all of these years, errrrr. By this time I could barely walk across the room or get on or off the toilet!!!! My new pain management doctor said I think you need a hip. She sent me for an xray on October 20th, I was called within the next day or two and was told that they had already made me an appointment with an Orthopedic Surgeon on November 8th. They started the ball rolling and surgery was set for January 20th. The nurse practitioner and surgeon said it was the worse hip they had ever seen!!! Well, ummmmm yeah, I have been in agony for years, thanks to the moron doctors I had, errrr. By the way, they are no longer my doctors after several years of total mistreating!!! They totally blew off my symptoms as I was to young for a "hip replacement", nice huh. I went through this horrible pain for so long that I had bone rubbing against bone 24-7, I had a cyst form between the bones from rubbing against one another for so long and the best part was the fact that I had worn part of my pelvis bone away, yepper, gone, chunk gone!!! Thank goodness for my pain management doctor that took me seriously!!! You see I have an extremely high pain threshold so when I'm in extreme pain, the average person would be in a corner crying. My husband knows this and so if I say I'm in pain, he panics. So now I am feeling much better, I'm still in alot of pain though as the other hip is shot too, ackkk. They did an xray of both hips on November 8th and said the other one is doing the same thing, I already knew that, lol. I have had pain in that leg now for years too but it just hasn't got to my unbearable tolerance level yet. The Surgeon said 6 months after my surgery, the Nurse Practioner gives it a year, ackkkk, I'm hoping for many more years but I know that isn't going to happen since I know now what it is and the change in my pain level each passing year. So we will see, keep your fingers crossed for me that I can make it a few more years. The surgeon did at least say we aren't going to do it until we have to but yet he wants to see it again in June...So I guess all of this explains where I have been, day to day life got really tough over the last year and I expect when it comes time for the next one it will be again the only difference is now is that I at least know what it is. Who would have thought that it would take someone that is only suppose to be helping through the pain!!! She went from pain management to doctor and a darn good one at that!!!
I also would like to take a moment to say howdy to a very special friend. Hello my dear friend Dede!!! One of the sweetest people I know!! She sent me the most beautiful card and letter written inside, I didn't think anyone even knew how to do that anymore : ). Thank you so much you made my day!! Of coarse my granddaughter knows you as the one that sends us Rosie and / or Herman, lol. So I will be sending you letter back soon!!! Doesn't it bring back the days of "Pen Pals", some of you may be to young to remember that, hehehehehe. Just remember though I can't be that old because the doctors thought I was to young for a hip replacement, hay, I didn't say it they did, hahahahaha and I'm running with it, lol.
So there you have it. I will try much harder to post to my blog now that I'm feeling better, sorry I disappeared and I missed you all very much!!!
Ooooo ooooo one more thing regarding hip replacements. I actually received a card while I was in the hospital that shows a picture of my actual new hip and states that I might set off security devices, huhhhhh. Yepper, it says that!! It actually has my surgeon's name, address and phone number on it too, how whacked is that!!! So yeah it is a big joke in my household my husband and my son want to take me to the License Bureau to see if it really does set off their security device, hahahahaha, very funny huh. Okay if it was one of them I would want to do the same thing too, heheheheehehe. But did you know that???? I was shocked. So do I give them my card first or should I wait to see if I set it off????????
Did we ever finish wool?????? Hummmmmmmm......
I hope you all are well, healthy and most of all HAPPY!!
Brenda

Friday, April 15, 2011

Join Me For A Spring Fling Sale on Etsy!!

Whooo hoooo Spring has finally sprung here and I am so happy to see the sunshine and to feel the warm weather that I'm having a celebration in my Etsy Shop!! You will get an additional 15% off on any items all ready on sale too, yipppeeeeeee.

Everything is 15% off when you use code SPFL15!

Be sure to stop by and take a peek, see you there!!


HAPPY SPRING EVERYONE!!

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!!

Brenda

Monday, March 28, 2011

Lavender...Me...Etsy Treasury

">http://

Who hoooo happy dancing, I've been featured in this beautiful Treasury!!

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Have You Seen The Queen Button Bee...

So where have I been????????????
I have been up to my button balls in BUTTONS on Etsy!!
Okay so yes I love, love, love buttons and dyeing them is even better!! I am dyeing buttons in every color you can imagine....check them out...Of coarse I have un-dyed buttons too, lol.
Who would of thought first dyeing wool and now buttons, I am a lucky girl. See you again soon, maybe I'll dye the cat next, hahahahahaha.
PS, has anyone else noticed my new gassy Sheep Banner, did I say that out load, lmao.
Happy Over the Hump Day!!
Brenda

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Wednesday Woes Equals Thursday Thankfuls

Today I am thankful...that Wednesday is over!! Wednesday was not such a great day. It started right off with a virus on my computer and Internet failure. Yep at the same time, errrrr. I spent over an hour on the phone with the cable company to re-establish my Internet connection but than I had to get the virus on my computer fixed so another four hours on the phone with Microsoft and tada, I'm back. Of coarse there were also three appointments yesterday that also didn't go so well. I discovered I had two appointments scheduled for the same time, good grief I don't mind multi tasking but I can't be in places at once so I cancel one. Okay now I only have one in the morning and one in the afternoon work them in between Internet issues, computer virus issue and be sure to pick up hubby from work on time, I can do this. Errrr both appointments the other parties involved with these appointments are no shows, you have got to be kidding me, especially since the morning one was a doctor appointment, huh.....So to say the least I totally missed Wool Wednesday, so sorry. Thank goodness it's Thursday!!
So here we are and I am so ready to PLAY!! Quick recap, we've sorted, we've washed, we've done some dyeing. So next I promised we would do some kettle / pot dyeing.
We're still using food coloring and / or kool aid for this technique. I did use both for these batches. First you will need to let your wool soak in your vinegar water solution for about 30 minutes or more is okay. Pick out the colors you would like to use and as before mix each with your water and vinegar solution. You may need to pour off a bit of the liquid in your pan before you add your colors. To much liquid everything can turn to mud as to much liquid will cause your colors to bleed into one another too much. Don't panic, you will be fine. Heat up your wool so that it is hot but not boiling. Now your ready to pour your colors into the kettle / pan. Let it simmer uncovered, remembering not to let it boil for about 30 minutes. This technique gives you the ability to dye more wool at once than our previous techniques.

I really love this technique!! This technique is a dyeing surprise or as I call it pot luck as you really won't know how it is going to look until you take it out of the pan.
Okay we simmered, now we will need to let it cool once cooled you are ready to rinse in cool water. Just look at all of the beautiful colors that you created with this technique and all in just one batch. I usually rinse mine about 2 to 3 times in the same pot I cooked in and changing the water for each rinse. Remember to remove your wool from the pan, squeezing is okay to remove excess water but no twisting. You will need to do this for each rinse until the water runs clear. Now your ready to dry. It will dry the fastest outside on a nice sunny day but I have dried mine on top of the dryer on wash day and on my registers when the heat is on remembering to rotate several times during the process. You can also set it in an area and blow dry it with a fan. We northerners have to improvise during the Winter months, hehehehe.


TaDa, you did it!! Just look at all those luscious colors!!
Easy again huh!! Now your ready to do some more creating, enjoy and have fun!!
So where should we go next. Well, are you ready to tease your wool???
I hope you enjoyed kettle dyeing as much as I did.
See you soon and happy Thursday everyone!!
Brenda

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Wool Wednesday Update Finally and 4 Weeks of What???

Whewwwwww, I've been teasing wool for the last three days for a special order in my Etsy Shop and my poor fingers are beginning to look a bit like hamburger and I have a nasty blister too!! Thanks goodness I'm almost done!! Okay so finally the cooler weather is here which with that comes Fall and Halloween yippeeeeee!! So that means it is time to dive back in to Wool Wednesday, whooo hooo. Mark those calendars as we are back on track starting Next Wednesday, October 13th!! I can't wait!! PS, wait to see my surprise, hummmm I may be feeling a new challenge coming your way.....
I can't believe it has been 4 weeks since I posted last, where does the time go!!!!

Well, some of it went here. I've been crocheting lots of these little Basket Bowls.

Oh and something new for me...
I totally fell in love with this!!

"Jazzy Blues"

I have been Hand Dyeing my own buttons for my Etsy Shop!!

"Purple Passion"

Oh yeah, did I mention buttons!!
Buttons, buttons and more BUTTONS, lol!!!

Believe it or not, hanging my head in shame here....





All of these buttons are from my own PERSONAL STASH, yes....

and of coarse I have more, ummmm, a few food storage bags full, a small sandwich bag, a canning jar and two 5 gallon ice cream buckets full, well you never know what one your gonna need when your making crocheted decorative pot holders... I love buttons, I have since I was a kid. I loved to play with Grandma's Button Tin, ooooooooo...My grand kids take right after their grammy, they have a great big bowl of buttons sitting on the coffee table here that they love to play with.


Okay, can we say I have a real crafting problem..



So yes, I have begun DE STASHING and listing my over abundance stash in my shop.
I hope it is good therapy for my CCD (crafting compulsive disorder, hehehehe).
Okay, now one of my little secrets is out of the bag, believe me when I say you haven't seen nothing yet, hahahahahaha. Did I mention my surprise, ummmm all 44 pounds of it, hahahahahaha, bet your scared now huh, hahahahahahaha.
See ya here again soon or at least by next Wednesday!!!
Happy Wednesday!!
Brenda

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Whooo hoooo, It's The Grand Re-opening of HalloweenArtists.com!!!

We're new and improved!!
A New Magazine / Market Place!!
A new look, new columns!!
Just a Sneak Peak
We have
You must check out the Artist in the Spotlight, a wonderful and super talented artist!!




Have you guessed who the writer is for the Collectors Corner??? I would recognize that illustration anywhere!!



Yepper Heather of Witch Hollow Primitives is there too, with this fab column!!
Have I inticed your Courious Juices yet???

and my big news that has been killing me to keep a secret
written by
who, yes ME!! Whooo hooo!!
Yes, yes, yes, I am selling there too, I'm over the moon with excitement!! I'm doing the biggest happy dance!!


A New Look, Great Columns of Interest for you our viewers and Amazing Halloween Art!!
It doesn't get any better!!
So what are you waiting for?
Grab your broom and fly on over to HalloweenArtists.com and enjoy the ride!!



Happy September 1st Everyone!!
Brenda

Friday, August 27, 2010

I'm So Dizzy My Head Is Spinning, Your Making Me Dizzy...

Okay, yes, I do feel a bit like this these days, lol. Tis the season to be a bit over whelmed creating with the feeling of being unfocused and not so centered. Although I so love the whole process of prepping and creating for the Holidays it gets a bit blurry sometimes and takes you so out of the loop!! I want to apologize for not popping around to visit all of you, I love our visits and miss them terribly!!

So what have I been doing....



Lots of Crocheted Spiders, Mummy's, Black Cats, Witches and Scarecrows oh my....
Waiting for faces...





A gazillion Crocheted Angels, Knitted Lipstick / Chap Stick Slipper Holders, Crocheted Dish Cloths, Crocheted Christmas Stockings.....
Must sew, add ribbons, pull ends, add decorative touches, make pom poms did I mention I absolutely hate to make pom poms, ewwwwww, lol...






Crocheted Petite Sachets and Small Doily Sets made with crochet thread...
I haven't made doilies in years, had to cure a sudden craving, lol...






and
These little foil armatures are awaiting their skin, lol.
Whewwwww, I wish I could say this was all I had in progress but ohhhhhh noooooo where would the fun and stress be in that!!




So

this year I am taking a vow. Come December 1st this Grammy Bear is going to take a Family Winter Hibernation Break all the way through January 1st 2011!! Every year it feels like the Holidays come and I missed them, ughhhhhh, I can do this....
I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...
So back to work I go, sure hope I get that vacation December 1st, lol.
Happy Creating Everyone
Enjoy the process
and
Remember to stop and smell the Holidays!!
((Hugs))
Brenda

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

This Summer Slacker Is Finally Busy with Handmade Treats and some Halloween Art, yipppeeee...

Coming Soon Some Yummy Cat Nip Treats
No not for you, for your kitty of course, hahaha.

Laundry Sets
Now in my Etsy Shop
I love these!!



Oh yeah and some Art too, whoooo hoooo
Hows about some Magic!!

This was my entry for our current MHA Cat Challenge, lol, I know my cat picked up some strays, hehehehe.

Did you know that you can find MHA (The Magical Holiday Artists) on Etsy and NOW ON EBAY TOO, whooo hooooo!!! We are MHAE on Ebay, be sure to look us up!!




The Cat, Moon and Pumpkin were sculpted and applied to the glass.
I love how this piece came out!!



and one Candy Corn Ornament, my entry for this months SEHA challenge.
There is a lot of great entries this month, be sure to check them out on Ebay by placing SEHA in the search bar!!
This little cutie is currently listed on Ebay
and so many more things in progress...
So back to work.
PS, Wool Wednesday will be returning this Fall!!
Hope your having a wonderful week!!

Brenda

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

The Wool Wednesday Challenge Comes To An End.....

A beautiful Mixed Media Piece by Maggie of Just Add Glitter and Stir. Be sure to check out Maggie's blog and all of the details she included in this up cycled treasure trove piece!! Check out her amazing Pink Wool Bouffant Hair Doo, loving it!!


Lori of Flossie Kat's Korner, this is the most beautiful hat and your needle felted Rose takes it from casual to elegant!! There is nothing more classic than Earth Tones and your creation just proves it!! I love it!!

So there you have it!! Each and every creation was amazing, beautiful, unique and created by some of the most talented people!! I had so much fun offering this Challenge to each of you!! Thank you for joining me!!
Hats off to each of you!!
Keep creating, have fun and remember wool isn't just for blankets and socks!!
Brenda


Thursday, July 29, 2010

GI Joe Pimps a New Ride! And A Couple Of New Creations From Me Too!!

Designs by Eddie, 6 years old and Tonya, 5 years old.
Eddie is still looking for the perfect wheels.
Here's a pic of the grand kids latest creations with a little help from grammy.
Tonya has a car for her Polly Pockets to but she hid it on me, lol.
A double seater car boat for GI Joe and a pair of binoculars made from those handy dandy toilet paper rolls. Got to love toilet paper rolls, I swear you can make anything with them!! Caution when using scissors to poke holes for sticks and seats please have an adult to supervise the adult, lol. I sliced my finger wide open during this project, ackkkkkk.


And a couple of
sneak peaks
of my latest creations...



These ornaments will be for sale soon, somewhere new for me, fun, exciting, stay tuned for more info and front view pics, hopefully, lol.
Mumble, mumble, grumble, grumble, I hate taking pictures, darn camera, darn lighting, Yes, I'm sure it's not the person operating the camera, hahahahahaha.

PS, we still have three more Wool Wednesday Challenger Creations coming soon. Can't wait to see them Lori, Maggie and Sherry!!
And a Mystery Guest from London, England with a few Wooly Creations made with my Wool Fuzz and Nubbs, just wait to you see!!
Welp, I'm off. I have been eyebrow deep in wool, so many things to finish and get listed, whewww.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!!!

Brenda

Saturday, July 17, 2010

And A Pic Of My Latest WIP...

I'M
SO


Are you, lol?
The image above is a sneak peak of one of my latest WIPs, wicked cruel aren't I, hahahahahaha
Try to stay cool!!
Brenda

Thursday, July 8, 2010

We're Off to Woodstock, Ireland, A Mad Hatter Tea with Pumpkin Man and your Goody Bag awaits You, It's Time for More Wool Wednesday Challenger Treats!

Before we begin our travels today you may want to tuck your credit cards or other magical treats in this Goody Bag!! Created by Dede of Brightest Blessings Wiccans!! She even created the handmade button, totally awesome Dede!!

Maybe we'll run into this guy at the Mad Hatters Tea Party today, you never know....
I adore this Pumpkin Man Ornament!! He was created by Becca of Magikal Seasons!!

It's A Mad Hatter Tea Party Today and Robert of Halloween Fanatic created this Fab Mad Hatter for the Special Occasion!! Be sure to pop over to Robert's Blog today for his Mad Tea Party!! He came out wonderful Robert, I will be popping over for some fun today!!

A blast from the past and we're off to Woodstock!! Created by Chris of Magical Fairys!! Isn't she beautiful, love her and her Peace Sign, what a great touch!


Are you ready to party with the Irish Green!!! Hang on to your Shamrocks and away we go...
So what happens when you mix an Irish Farmer with the Black Sheep of the Family, well this of coarse, lol.
Here is Sarah's Creation of Cottage Garden Studios!!
I love green, emeralds and this guy!!! Fantastic Sarah!!

Whoooo hoooo folks for some of the most fabulous creations I have ever seen!!
Will there be more, yes indeed, so hold on tight this ride isn't over quite yet!!!





I also wanted to apologize for being late again this week, this crazy heat, I've been suffering with my first ever heat rash and had to have two teeth pulled last week, acckkkkk and I spent most of the day yesterday with my 6 year old Grandson who is so sick, my poor baby. He has been running a high fever and throwing up, so when he called Grammy yesterday to tell me he felt like he was going to throw up and he didn't feel good well off to my Eddie's house I went. We ended up taking him to the Doctor's and they didn't feel it was heat related nor did they think it was step so we are still waiting for the test results today. Grammy tends to drop everything when it comes to her Grand Babies, sorry folks!!


Today is showing progress though, yipppeeeee. I am playing with Kool Aid and more food coloring, OH YEAH!!! More on that very soon!!
Happy Wool ummmm Thursday All, lol
Hope your all having a wonderful week!!!
Brenda

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Happy Birthday America and

Happy 39th Birthday to my wonderful sister Kim!!!
Remember I'm smiling because your my sister
I'm laughing because you don't have choice, hehehehe.
But it could have been worse, if Dad had gotten his way you would be...

Cindy Puff, ROTFLMAO
Love ya!!

HAPPY 4th OF JULY

Enjoy your holiday weekend everyone!!!

Brenda

Thursday, June 24, 2010

I'm Late, I'm Late...For Wool Wednesday!!!

I know I said we would do Kool Aid dyeing next but I decided I really needed to finish processing the dyed wool I had already done before I dive into more so I have spent the last four days doing just that. It is now finished and ready to be listed in my Etsy Shop. Tomorrow, I will work on getting my wool goodies listed, whoooo hooooo. So now I am finally ready to start the Kool Aid dyeing, yummy.....



I wanted to share a few awesome treats created for our Wool Wednesday Challenge so far!!! I am loving these and what you folks are coming up with for this challenge is blowing me away!!! How beautiful and fun!!!
Cat from In The Light Of The Moon has already created two mixed media items with her wool!!
Loving them Cat!!!

1st she created this fab textured book!!
then...
she created this awesome pendant, what a great idea!!!




Robert of Halloween Fanatic, now has a new passion, yep wool!!


Robert created this mischievous sculpted witch Delores with beautiful woolen locks!!
Mischief is written all over her face, lol.
Love her Robert!!!

I am loving this challenge!! I can't wait to see more of your wonderful creations!!
and I will leave you with this.....

I started playing around with an idea for my woolly creation tonight made from the scraps, lol, we shall see......
Have a GRAND weekend everyone!!!
Brenda