I LOVE MARCH the 2nd! It Dr.Seuss’s birthday! I have always adored that gentleman! March the second is also my birthday. I drove my mother crazy even when I was a little girl because I loved planning my birthday parties, even way back when I was in pre-school. Yes…. I think my mother was beside herself a couple times because I think I thought I new better when it came to birthdays! Poor mom. 
Well, last year, March the second turned a whole new direction for me. My best friend, my mom suddenly and tragically passed away way to early. My heart was broken but I know that her heart was broken from the sudden death of my father that occurred just a few years before from Cancer. She missed him so much and just couldn't get over that. So as I sat beside her during the hours before she left this planet I knew in my heart that she loved me. I am SO grateful that my parents taught me to LOVE life, love the simple things all around me, to find beauty all around, and to find good in everyone. There really is SO much to CELEBRATE on this beautiful planet that we are blessed to life on even though I really know that there is SO much hardship and sadness too. So today, on my birthday, yes, I will shed a tear, or two or three for my mom & dad who I miss more then anything…but I am going to CELEBRATE too! I know that is what my parents are doing. They are likely looking down on me and just giggling away….Yup, that is the way my family seems to roll. So…let’s CELEBRATE!
This week-end my oldest showed up to surprise me and to stay for the week-end! That was AWESOME!!! 
My husband even made my mom’s recipe for rainbow cake…that was a BIG surprise!!!! He never bakes and my mom always made that cake for me!!! SO YUMMY!
I felt so alive today and SO good! I even got studio time in to work on new product design deadline!
ART always makes my heart feel so GOOD!
I wanted to share with you……
Art is SO GOOD for the SOULS & HEART!!!!!
Let me know why you create art.
WHY do you CREATE? Leave your answer at the end of this blog post and one person will end up getting some of my favourite products to create with including:
Susan K. Weckesser Inc. TCW stencil
Susan K. Weckesser Inc. / Unity Stamp Co. Stamp kit – Celebrate the Simple Things
PanPastels – one colour & tool
FaberCastell – Gelatos
Canvas Corp. – Canvas
I also wanted to have fun in my community during my birthday month. So I am so thrilled to announce that I will be teaching a free workshop here in Medicine Hat on Friday, March 21, 2014 at the awesome store One Scrappy Chick Inc. 
More details to come and the products that you will need for the fun class will be available for purchase at the store. If you haven’t checked out Karen Greenstein’s store, you really have to! It is SO cute!!!!
Thank-you for all your kindness today! I can’t tell you how much it has meant to me! I really was worried about today. Your love, emails, messages, comments, phone calls and support has meant the world to me…more then I can ever express!
so, all i will say is …
Thank-you!
You are AMAZING!!!!
big hugs,
Susan xo
First off I'm so sorry for your loss, losing a parent is so hard (I haven't personally experienced it but my sister-in-law just lost her father suddenly). Secondly, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hope you have a wonderful day!!!!!!! Finally, i craft so I can document life the way I see it so one day when I am gone, my son and family can see the beauty in life as I see it. I also craft because it makes me happy, I find crafting calming and how one minute I have papers, embellies and inks, and minutes/hours/days later I have something that I am proud of :)
ReplyDeleteThank-you Rebecca! Thank-you SO much! Crafting really is a wonderful way to document life! My kiddos & I LOVE to look at all my art & craft projects from years gone by! {hugs}
DeleteI just love to create because it gives me such a warm feeling inside. I love to see what my mind comes up with! I have so many weird and wonderful ideas in my head just begging to get out! I have always loved crafting, and couldn't imagine not being able to. I also enjoy giving my projects to special people. I also am even more happier when people keep asking me to make things for them! Happy Birthday sweet Susan!
ReplyDeleteI create because it is peaceful and takes me to my happy place. My mom would knit beautiful sweaters and warm mittens and each of us children own a quilt loving cut, pieced and sewn by hand. I love to sew...do counted cross stitch and scrapbook. Every year for the past 9 years I have been in management I have made homemade cards and gifts for my staff of 60 to acknowledge them and show my appreciation. Many of them have commented since I announced my upcoming retirement in June the holidays and special occasions won't be the same and there pretty sure their next boss won't do for them what I did. But for me it won't stop...I will continue to create and find ways to share it and make people smile. Happy birthday Susan....your mom and dad are beaming with pride.
ReplyDeleteI create because since I was little I found that I loved to be creative and I had a passion to share that with others. I find that over the years I have enjoyed many different varieties... painting, paper carfting, card making, scrapbooking, playing with clay, sewing and recently quilting.... There is a great release to create and then to give those works of love to others just makes your heart sing! Nothing makes you smile like making another person smile!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Susan and hope that you have a great day!
Happy Birthday! I'm not the greatest crafter but it's something I love to do. Crafting makes me HAPPY.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday. So sorry for your loss, but I know you carry them in your heart to be with you. I love to craft, and through the years have learned so much with new products, different techniques & new ideas. Crafting takes me to a quiet place that brings me peace, but can also be thrilling, especially when I look at something I have completed.
ReplyDeleteHappy Happy Birthday to you and Dr.Seuss! there are so many reasons I create...first its like therapy I just my art journal to experiment with new techniques and to express my emotions.. I do scrapbooking to honor my family and to help me remember those I have lost (also great therapy) now cardmaking is a whole other thing..I love making cards but the best part is giving them away..weather it be for a swap or charity (like Chemo Angels..I love sending handmade cards to chemo angels!) all in all it everything I create helps relax me and keeps me sane
ReplyDeleteHaving lost both my parents I can relate, but having lost one on your birthday has got to be so hard. I know that when I create I am channeling my mom, so making art is therapy for me! Hugs and birthday wishes!!
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry. On your birthday had to have been so hard for you. I know the feeling of loosing someone close and the feeling never goes away. Hugs. I create because I have always liked drawing and doing creative things. It started when I was young. But I really did not start getting into it until recently. Oh I did the usual cards and cross stich but I recently found mixed media and fell in love. It is relaxing for me. I am not the greatest at it either but we all create differently and that is the beauty of it. No two peoples are alike. Happy Birthday and I hope you can find some joy on your day.
ReplyDeleteI lost my dad on Christmas morning.. in 08.. to say it gets easier.. depends on the person.. and their relationship. I love the idea that your husband made you the rainbow cake.. Nothing like warm.. happy .. new memories to hug the heart and embrace the soul and spirit of your mom that lives within each of you.. especially if it means giving it YOU.. on your birthday. Happy Birthday to You!! :) I craft to be myself.. to be happy.. to share what I live with those I love. With crafting I am never bored because there is always something new to learn or to make... I'll never run out.
ReplyDeleteGiving it to you...(typo) share what I love.. not live... Sorry for .. on my cell
DeleteThank you for sharing your story. You are an inspiration. Wow. Art does help so much. So sorry for the sadness but so happy for your joy.
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday! I am so sorry for your loss. I craft to keep me sane. It's a form of therapy for me...it's a great stress relief and a great way to express myself when I can't find the right words. Thank you for the chance to win.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Susan. When I create I feel closer to my Dad, who passed away late last year. He was a painter at heart, but had promised Nan he would give it up when he married Mum, as it was not a suitable career. Mum never knew. He was so supportive of anything creative I did & one of our last conversations was about a 3D mini album I was making :-) Theresa x
ReplyDeleteHappy Bithday Susan. I'm so sorry to hear that you lost your Mom last year. I am so glad that you have such a supportive family around you. I create as an escape on the days when I find things too overwhelming. Barbara x
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday Susan. The loss of parents are difficult to handle, but I know my mom is looking down daily and watching what I create and even sending feedback when I need it. I create for the love of creating and because it is a stress reliever - it removes the dust of every day life!.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday! Why do I create art? That is a good question. All my life I was the math and science kid. The twin with no artistic talent. At now as I am older( way older) I have started playing with paint and doing mixed media canvases and art journals. I struggle every time i start a project because I worry that it is not good. When I let those feelings go, I can play and have fun.
ReplyDeleteI create (when I can) because it's something for *ME*...and often for others in the end product. It lets my creative brain have a chance. I spend so much of my time as a wife/Mom/etc taking care of other people and their needs (WHICH I LOVE!), but the creative/crafty part of me is such a relaxing outlet! It has been since I was a kid!
ReplyDeleteAlso...Happy BIRTHDAY to you!! :D
DeleteHappy Birthday, My children and grandchildren grew up with Dr. Susses, and I still have his origianal books, I love the green ham a eggs...
ReplyDelete