Happy Valentine Day!

Valentine art I created in an altered book

 I love my family! Here is a peek into my family life.

Pic collage of my Hubby, Baby and Me

Fire for my love

Ruby my love

Eve and her love

Here is my oldest son and his girlfriend making crazy selfies with my phone that I found later.

Max and his love

umm seriously though MOM!

Jumping fun with Eve!

love the hair

delicious gluten free, agave sweetened heart cake

 Hope you have a romantic and happy Valentine's Day filled with lots of love!

Chandra

Birthday Acts of Kindness / Flying Lessons Blog Circle / Kindness Mission

It was my Birthday so I went on a mission! Last year I heard of this woman who gave Acts of Kindness away for her Birthday. What a great idea so I tried it out. I gathered up my jewelry pieces, some candy and made lunches in red sacks. I found this great tag for the bags that said,"You are the recipient of a RAOK (random act of kindness) "Spread love wherever you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier."- Mother Teresa" 
I posted on FB my mission and asked everyone who wished me a Happy Birthday to give as well. Most agreed they would. Oh yeah, spreading the Kindness!

Before I could give these things away I had to give to my most wonderful Mom who gave birth to me. Without her I would not even be alive to have a Birthday. I baked her peanut butter cookies and we went to a mixed media meetup group to visit and make art together. I also gave away some of my jewelry to my fellow artists there, they loved it! We had fun!

I gave a homeless man one of the lunch bags I made plus some water and a granola bar. Then when I was driving down the road I saw a homeless couple fighting. I pulled over and gave them two bags and water. The woman was happy but the man wasn't. I kept on my mission to find more people to give to and found a homeless man who was shaking, he had an emergency bracelet on and a country accent. I gave him two bags, two waters and granola bars. He read the paper I stapled on the bag about kindness. We talked a bit and he said he needed some juice. I told him there was apple sauce in the bag and water. He asked if there was money in the bag but I said no I'm sorry not this time. I felt so bad because I had a $10 bill in my wallet but I was supposed to deposit it into my bank account so a check would clear. I really wanted to give it to him. So, I prayed for him instead. I drove around a bit more but couldn't find anyone else. It was time to go to a Library to donate some books and attend a baby book reading group with Ruby ( our baby she's almost 4 months old now). She loved it! She was really looking at the other babies and toddlers. The teacher was so great! I met some Mom's and babies. There was a Mom and daughter sitting outside the library after the class so I gave them each a bag with candy and jewelry, waters and granola bars. The daughter was so excited and opened it up fast. She ate the chocolate, opened the tootsie roll pop and licked it then threw it in the bag and got another chocolate out to eat. Her Mom and I just laughed, then her Mom put the pop back in the wrapper. I chatted with her Mom a bit about making jewelry and my mission to give out gifts. She had never heard of Birthday Acts of Kindness but said she was turning 30 this year and was going to try it. 

As I was driving down the street I saw this cool art car. I had to turn around and leave a bag on that car! As I was leaving it and taking a picture the woman who owned and created this masterpiece walked up. I talked to her and her girlfriend for a while about Sacramento and the art scene here. They were so happy to see a happy artist here because they were not having a good time in the art scene so far. I gave them two more bags with candy and jewelry. I told them about the cool tiled house down the street because it has dragons all over, like their car. They said they would check it out, I took pics of them and I went on down the road. 

A friend of mine wanted me to check on something for her at our Buddhist center. This was great because I let Ruby see the Buddha's and we both got a little blessing. While there I ended up running into an Artist friend of mine and giving him a bag of candy. He was happy to see Ruby for the first time. 
I took three bags with me into The Co-Op, gave two to the women in the herbal section who are so kind to me. They said it would help them get through the day. I gave one bag to the best cashier ever. She also makes great clothes and bags. She said oh there's all kinds of goodies in here with a big smile. I talked to a woman who told me all of her children's names and stories of their births and a family with five children, while waiting patiently for my lunch to be made. I left a bag on the car who parked way too close.  Usually I would have got upset that I had to put Ruby in from the other side but I wished them love and went on my way.

I left a cute note for my husband in the snack shelf. Chocolate eyes! I left a bag for his Mom who's visiting us at the moment. I left a bag in my daughters room as well.

 I went to another store and gave two bags to the cashier and bagger. They were so happy to get a gift and thought it was a great way to spend the day. I left a box of red liquorish on the Redbox box with a note saying, "Take this and enjoy your movie." I gave my daughters dance teachers each a bag. One had her bracelet on immediately with a big smile. I gave two to the Mom's of the dance girls. They said I never get presents and were so happy. It does make you feel happy to give Acts of Kindness. All day I tried to be patient and let others go first, I helped others as much as possible. I was a bit upset with myself for not being able to help this bind woman cross the street because I was in the car with the sleeping baby and it would have taken me too long to get to her, but I did the best I could. Overall it was a great way to spend my Birthday. I came home to a beautiful bouquet of flowers from my husband. I ate some ice cream, watched a movie and my favorite show New Girl ( it was her Birthday episode how cool!) and went to bed. 

Keep on spreading Kindness everywhere you go!

Sincerely,

Chandra

This is a blog circle with my lovely Flying Sisters...


Ginger Deverell - http://redpearcreative.blogspot.ca/2014/01/kindness-mission.html
Laly Mille - http://www.lalymille.com/2014/01/spread-some-love-kindness-mission-blog-circle.html
Sandy King -  http://sandymairart.wordpress.com/2014/01/23/kindness-mission-01-14/
Naz Laila - http://www.agentlerebellion.com/
Kristen Fairgrieve - http://bagladylulu.com/blog/
Lulu Bea (Alaina McGinley) - http://lulubeas.wordpress.com/2014/01/23/kindness-mission/
Karrlin Bain - http://karrlinbain.blogspot.fr/2014/01/thank-you-school-bus-drivers-kindness.html
Kathie Gadd - http://lavenderchalet.com/2014/01/the-kindness-mission
Chandra Merod- http://junipergoods.blogspot.com/ You Are Here!
Lisa Ullrich - http://www.heartsoulcreate.com/kindness-mission/




And this will be featured on Kelly Rae Roberts blog for The Kindness Mission
http://kellyraeroberts.blogspot.fr/2013/09/kindness-missions.html 

Love blog circle

Where there is love there is happiness. 

I am talking about real honest love. The kind of love where you cherish the other person, you wish them to be happy and free from suffering and you help them in any way you can.

Now can you say you honestly have this for another person? It seems easy and it is, if we stop thinking about ourselves all the time and what we want or expect from the other person. These days we say we love another and want them to be happy as long as they make us happy right. Well that's not real love, that's attachment. We care so much about ourselves that we cause all kinds of problems around loving those around us.

Take for instance Valentines Day. The most hyped up day of the year! The true meaning of Valentines Day is selflessness and giving whatever we can to the ones we love. But we have made it a true day of suffering for ourselves. If we have a lover we hope they give us a diamond ring, a huge bouquet of flowers or the biggest box of chocolates. If we don't get what we want we are crushed. "They only gave me one candy", we say sadly, wishing we had another partner. Then we decide they aren't good enough for us. "I got them this big present and they only got me a piece of candy. I have to find someone who really loves me! " It's crazy but we do this.
If we don't have a lover then we frantically search for one just for Valentines Day so we can go to the movies or have dinner, do something romantic. But in the back of our mind we are thinking how they must make us happy, give us what we need.
Then there are those of us that can't find anyone. Lonely, single and depressed, we tell ourselves things like I'm no good because I don't have a lover. It's crazy making how we think it is someone else who brings us happiness.

We are the only ones who make us happy, when we change our mind from negative to positive thoughts we can make ourselves happy. Stop thinking they owe me and think how can I cherish them? What can I do to make others happy, can I help in any way? Instead we think only of ourselves and it makes us suffer. We do it to ourselves. If we don't have a lover we are sad, if we do we are sad because we didn't get what we want. All this self cherishing is ruining our lives. If we thought about the other person then we would stop suffering. So instead we think, "I will get them what they want and hope this makes them happy." We rejoice in their good fortune. Then whatever we get there is no expectation, we are happy they are happy. If we don't have a lover we rejoice in others good fortune or we have compassion for their selfish behaviors. We wish all of  them to be happy, and this will bring us happiness. We need to stop thinking of ourselves and think of others. This is the way to really love others. Love is what really matters, love is beautiful- real love, giving love and wishing love. I hope you find the love you seek within your heart.

Love, Chandra

Thanks for your comments!

Here are the others in this blog circle next is Nancy, or see what the others have to say about Love...

1. Becky Cavender

http://beckyinburma.blogspot.com/

2. Amy Riddle

http://onajourneybacktoherwings.blogspot.com/

3. Karrlin Bain

http://www.Karrlinbain.blogspot.com

4. Naz Laila

http://www.angentlerebellion.com

5. Debi Minter

http://dbminter.blogspot.com/

6. Chandra Merod (You are here!)

http://www.junipergoods.blogspot.com

7. Nancy Lennon

http://rainbowlightangel.com/2013/02/lovingourselves/

8. Laly Mille -

http://www.lalyblue.com/2013/02/blog-circle-10-things-i-love.html?lang=en

9. Kathie Gadd

http://www.lavenderchalet.com

10. Gail Haile

http://hailefinephotography.com/2013/02/good-overwhelms/ 

11. Jean Wagner

http://www.jeanfwagner.blogspot.com

International Mixed Media Postcard Swap!

I joined an International Postcard Swap and so I made some Valentines! Here they are...

I was supposed to make 10 but made more they were so fun! I love Love and hearts and paint!

I got some heart punchinella from a friend at the Mixed Media Meetup I hold in the shop. I love it!

I used acrylics, stamps, brail paper ( from another woman in my mixed media group) and cut out magazine hearts. I liked putting the ink on the brail bumps. I had a great time decorating the envelopes as well because Shannon wanted us to protect them rather than send them as a postcard in the mail. I put a cute snail stamp on the other side where the real stamp would have gone. I also had a cute To: stamp that had a mailbox filled with Valentines.

I want to thank Shannon for having this swap! I loved it. I hope those that received them did too!

 Happy Valentines! I love Valentines :) Love,

Chandra

I also love comments! Thanks for stopping by.

In Memory of Marianna...

Lori Anderson a wonderful woman with spunk and creativity galore who has made the most wonderful Bead Soup Party Blog Hops. It's a wonderful Hop where you get bead soup from your partner and then you create something out of it. What a great idea Lori! 

I have signed up for her Memories and Thanks Blog Hop. Here is what Lori said about this Blog Hop...

"You never know what you might mean to someone.

In order to participate in the Bead Soup Blog Party, you need to have a blog.  My friend Marianna emailed me, excited about the party but needed help to build a blog.  No problem.  We talked about what she wanted and I made it for her, and she started blogging.

The Bead Soup Blog Party came and went but Marianna hadn't signed up.  I'd sent her a few emails to see how she was but there wasn't a response.  Then one day, her daughter emailed me to let me know Marianna had suddenly passed away.

That news just took the breath out of me.  I miss her emails and constant cheerfulness.

Then a few days ago, I got a box in the mail from her daughter.  I knew the box was coming, and that it had something in it from Marianna that she hadn't had a chance to mail before her death.  What I DIDN'T expect was for each bead to be individually wrapped with Marianna's personal messages attached to each one, and a card that told me how she valued my friendship.

I can't let that go.

This blog hop is both for Marianna and for those people in our lives who mean a lot to us -- a mom, a friend, a brother -- anyone who has meaning to us.  Create a piece of jewelry that tells that story."

A Heart Ring

In memory of Marianna I made these...

A Heart Bracelet

Marianna liked red. I chose red wire and red beads and went to town! I also made these while thinking of my Mom who is very special to me. She is supportive of my creativity. She loves hearts! I do too, so I made many wire hearts and wire wrapped them with beads that my Mom had brought into the shop. I love that my Mom always brings me beautiful beads! Thanks Mom :)

Another Heart Bracelet

I ended up making two bracelets, a ring (picture is the first one) and a necklace that's still in the works. 

Cherishing you always,

Chandra

I know you would love to see all the lovely jewelry that is made in this Blog Hop here is the list of talented jewelry artists...

Hostess, Lori Anderson       Pretty Things

 Adlinah Kamsir                   Dream Struck Designs

 Aimee Biondolillo               Aimee's Jewelry Treasures

 Alicia Marinache                 All the Pretty Things 
 Andra Marasteanu               Handmade by Indra Marasteanu 
 Andrea Trank                      Heaven Lane Creations
 April Grinaway                   Brooklyn Bead Goddess

Barb Solem                         Vivi Magoo Presents

Becky Pancake                    Becky Pancake Bead Designs

Beth Emery                         Stories by Indigo Heart

Bonnie Coursolle                Jasper's Gems

Cassi Paslick                       Beads: Rolling Downhill

Catherine King                    Catherine's Musings

Cece Cormier                      The Beading Yogini

Chandra Merod You are here Juniper Goods 

Charissa Nesler                   FireStorm Designs
Charlie Jacka                       Clay Space

Christina Hickman              Vintage Treasures Jewelry

Christine Murrow               Charis Designs Jewelry
Christine Stonefield            Sweet Girl Design

Chrizette Bayman               Bead Soup Mix

Cindy Wilson                      It's My Sea of Dreams

CJ Bauschka                       4 His Glory Creations by CJ

Crystal Thain                      Here Bead Dragons

Cyndi Lavin                        Beading Arts

Debbie Rasmussen             A little of this, a little of that

Denielle Hagerman             Some Beads... and other things I like
Diana Gonzalez                  Arte y Poemas

Diane Hawkey                    diane hawkey

Dita Basu                            ankarshilpa

Donetta Farrington             Simply Gorgeous

Dyanne Everett-Cantrell     Deeliteful Jewelry Creations

Emma Todd                        A Polymer Penchant

Erin Kenny                         beadiful therapy

Erin Prais-Hintz                  Treasures Found

Gina Hockett                      Freestyle Elements

Gloria Allen                        Innovative Dreams Jewelry

Heather Marston                 CSW Designs

Inge von Roos                    Inge's Blog

Iveth Caruso                       Creative Atelier

Jacqueline Marchant          Fiddledeedee Jewelry

Jami Shipp                         Celebrating Life!

Jean Yates                          Snap Out of it Jean, There's Beading to Do!

Jennifer Reno                     Musings of a Crafty Jenny
Jenny Robledo                   Peppa's Dream

Jennifer VanBenschoten    Jewelry, Art and Life
Jessica Klaaren                  Cellar Door Jewelry

Jessica Murray                   Whimsical Monkey

Joan Williams                     lilruby jewelry

Jo-Ann Woolverton            It's a Beadiful Creation

Joanne Browne                   josjewels1

Jodie Marshall                    Jodie Marshall Lampwork Beads Wearable Art

Johanna Rhodes                 Fire Phoenix Creations
John Rasmussen                 Rasumussen Gems and Jewelry LLC

JuLee Wolfe                       The Polymer Penguin

Julie Bean                           Blue Pig Blog

Karen Mitchell                   Over the Moon Designs

Karin King                         The Sparklie Things Blog
Karin Slaton                       Backstory Beads

Kat Douglas                       Washoe Kat's
Kay Bolton                        Toodles and Binks

Kelly Hosford Patterson     The Traveling SideShow

Kim Ballor                          Vitamin C ... A Daily Does of Creativity

Kim Dworak                       CianciBlue

Kim Houston                       The Pink Martini
Kym Hunter                         Kym Hunter Designs

Laren Dee Barton                Laren Dee Designs

Lea Avroch                          LA Jewelry Designs

Leanne Loftus                      First Impression Design

Liddy McLaughlin               Liddy McLaughlin Art

Linda Florian                       Lily's of the Valley Jewelry & Creative Creations

Linda Inhelder                     Must-Haves Jewelry

Lisa Hamilton                      Simply Irresistable Jewelry
Lisa Suver                            Fancee That

Lori Bowring Michaud        Artfully Ornamental

Lori Poppe                           Adventures in Creativity with Lorillijean

LouAnn Elwell                    Southpass Beads

Mandi Effron                       Craft-o-licious

Marcia DeCoster                 MadDesigns

Marcia Dunne                     The Alternative Foundry

Marie Covert                      Creating Interest

Marjorie Savill Linthwaite     bennubirdrising

Marlene Cupo                        Amazing Designs by Marlene

Martha Aleo                           Ornamento

Marti Conrad                          Marti's Buttons -n- Beads

Mary Ellen Parker                  BeeTree by m.e.

Mary Govaars                        MLH Jewelry Designs

Mary Lindell                          Mary Lindell Artisan Jewelry

Maureen Connolly                 Mrs Beadsley's Workshop

Maybeline Tay                       The Jewelry Larder

Melissa Elgin                         The Addicted Beader

Melissa Mesara                      one-eared pig beads

Menka Gupta                         Menka's Jewelry

Michaela Pabeschitz              la mar de bonita

Mischelle Fanucchi               Micheladas Musings

Mona Rae Baroody               Who Does She Bead She Is?

Nan Emmett                          Spirit Rattles -- Spirited Earth

Nancy Pedersen                    Something Heartfelt by Nancy

Natalie Davidson                  NorthShore Days
Nikki Douglas                      Bead It and Weep

Pam Farren                           re-maker

Pam, the Crazier Sister        The Crazy Creative Corner

Pam Traub                            Klassy Joolz
Priya Krish                           Hellopalz  
Rebecca Anderson               Song Beads

Rebecca Sirevaag                 Becca's Place

Robin Kae Reed                   Artistry HCBD

Rochelle Brisson                  a creative chelle

Rosa Maria Cuevas              Helena de Troya

Sabine Dittrich                     perlendschungel

Sandi Volpe                          Sandi Volpe

Sandra McGriff                    Creative Chaos

Sarah Goode                         Pookledo
Sarah Singer                         String a Song of Sixpence

Serena Trent                         All Things Made Jewelry

Shai Williams                       Shaiha's Ramblings
Sharon Palac                        Sharon's Jewelry Garden

Sharyl McMillian-Nelson    Sharyl's Jewelry & Reflections

Sheila Davis                         Stone Designs

Shelley Graham Turner        Fabric of My Life

Sherri Stokey                       Knot Just Macrame

Sherry Baun                         Unicorns Jewels

Skylar Bre'z                         Brising Beads

Stephanie Haussler              Pixybug Designs

Tania Spivey                        Moobie Grace Designs

Terri G.                                Blooming Ideas

Terry Carter                         Tapping Flamingo

Terry Matuszyk                    Pink Chapeau Vintage Jewelry

Toltec Jewels                       Jewel School Friends
Tracy Kruse                         Goldkisses Art

Tracy Martin                        Nutkitten's Jewelry

Zia Parks                              Anzi~Panzi's Work Shoppe

Zoe Marcin                          Beads, Tea and Sweets

Thanks for the comments they are always appreciated! :)