My life

I am a mother of two wonderful children, Josh and Caitlin.  I haven't always been the perfect mom, but I have always tried to be the best mom that I could.  We have had our share of laughs, tears and frustrations.  Life isn't always easy, but we make the best out of every situation, learning along the way--always growing and changing. 

My mother is responsible for getting me interested in art.  When I was a child, her and I would go to our local Dairy Queen to get a hot fudge sundae, then we would drive to the levee that was behind our home in Belle Chasse.  We would spend a few hours painting and drawing the scenery.  One of my first paintings was a watercolor of a fish.  I enjoy the fact that the gift of creativity was instilled in me by my mother instilled and that I can use that in my career.   
I have been teaching art for 15 years.  I enjoy my job, but sometimes it can be a little trying.  I would love for everyone to enjoy art and the process as much as I do, but that is not always the case.  But every year, I get a handful of kids that amaze me with their natural talents and that makes it worth the while. 
Crafting is something that I have always enjoyed.  I enjoy learning new techniques and seeing how other people utilize different techniques.  YouTube has become a site that I use often to learn new techniques or brush up on some that I may have some familiarity with, but need to tweak my skills. 

A couple of years ago my mother-in-law gave me my first Cricut machine.  I started out by making simple cards and cutting images to use in my classroom.  This past Mother's Day I was gifted the Cricut Expression and I have really enjoyed learning how to use the machine. 

About three months ago I started making handmade journals and also learned how to make the Word Book photo albums.  I have been spending the last couple of months gaining more experience with working on the Word Books, which I have found I enjoy creating very much. 

I think the biggest reward of crafting and creating is seeing the smiles on people's faces when they are presented with a personalized gift.  Knowing that something I made will make someone smile is worth every minute, not to mention the time I get to spend doing something that I really enjoy.