![](<img src="http://www.myscrapworks.com/mswdigi/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/lazydaisies_layout1.jpg" alt="sample layout" />)
Lazy Daisies sample layout.
It’s the simplicity of the set that makes it a great kit.
In a Sunday service a few weeks ago we were presented with a thought provoking question: Why is it that when we come face to face with difficulties our first impulse is to lose faith in our capacity to overcome it? Why is it that the more trying the challenge before us, the more we are likely to forget the skills we already possess to face it? (The reason why its called a “challenge” is because you would have to pit yourself against it. If no effort is required, its NOT a challenge but an exercise! LOL!)
Case in point was when Peter so afraid of falling overboard his boat, shouted to Jesus for help. Help from what? From from falling into the water? He was a fisherman for crying out loud! (There was a guffaw in the community when this was said.) He made a living by being in the sea as often as he can! Did Peter actually forget he can swim or did he doubt his swimming skills faced with new factors like strong winds and heavy rain? Was the introduction of two new factors enough to make him forget HE CAN SWIM?
The “happy” Lazy Daisies Set
When I came upon my very own “crossroads” I too had my fears. My first impulse was to “dread the water and forget I can swim.” I was afraid of the unknown before me. Then I remembered that the “unknown” was just another “known” waiting to be unraveled. That I have the skills I needed to survive the toughest of circumstances… That I have my family whom I can lean on for support if I’d ever need their help… and yes, I have you ladies cheering me on to lift me up! (Never had I been blessed with such an enthusiastic set of ‘cheerleaders!’) So what was I so afraid of? Nothing!
Here’s my two cents worth: The “unknown” is just another “nothing” until it is revealed. And when it is finally revealed, it is but another factor you can measure against the skills you already possess. Do you have what it takes to overcome it? Do you need to learn new stuff to overcome it? You wouldn’t know until then — so why be afraid of it before it comes out in the open where you can “measure” yourself against it? The “unknown” is but another “crossroad” like the so many we have “traveled” before and the so many more we will come upon in this journey called life.
I figured I have two choices: I can wallow in fear of what is to come or find joy in the fact that my “journey” continues and I have this wonderful opportunity to discover (yet again!) what I can accomplish. It’s a matter of perspective. A matter of choice. A choose joy — and I hope my kit (Crossroads I and Crossroads II) shows it — the joyful anticipation of what lies ahead of me. (Look at the kits closely and see the progression! LOL!)
Crossroads II
The second part to the Crossroads kit is going to get “brighter” and even more joyful (if that was even possible! LOL!). Why? I’ve recently been given “previews” of what lies ahead in the next few months from my own personal “crossroads” and I feel so blessed to find myself in such a wonderful place. Crossroads II will reflect that.
You see my “love”
Crossroads II is made up of FOUR happy sets. I will be unveiling each set in the days to come. I love surprises and I plan to pleasantly surprise you with Crossroads II so I’m going to do a “grab bag-reveal” kind of kit selling (besides WE are turning a year old at the end of the month and I’m out to keep surprising you until then! We are ONE YEAR OLD!). I will NOT post the entire set (just yet) as I want it to be a surprise (although Patchwork-Set1 will already give you an idea of what kind of “kit” you are buying!).
If you know my work, you can be sure Crossroads II is at par with my work standards. That much I can assure you. Just go “zoom” with every part of the kit and see the “love” I left for you there. Here’s an admission though: Crossroads II contains the most detailed ribbon sets I’ve ever done — and the happiest ones too! I love the ribbons included in Crossroads II – every single set of ribbon and bow in all the four kits!
Good News 1: I made a sampler kit for EVERY set and those in the sampler are not part of the kit that’s for sale. This means that if you are not able to buy the entire Crossroads II set, you will still have something special from the line and if you bought the set, you will still have something to look forward to in the days ahead! That was how much work I put into it.
Gorgeous, gorgeous detailing made possible with your comments!
Good News 2: I will be giving the first CrossroadsII – Patchwork Set (and the felt frame below) for FREE to those who bought Crossroads I. Consider it as a thank you gift for the support you have given me. Wait for my email containing the download links. Give me 48 hours ok?
A zoom view of the frame! Much work, a lot of love!
Good News 3: Nice begets nice. My last post was not announced in any digital freebie site. Hence, if you posted a comment in my previous blogpost, it was because you truly take the time to visit this blog and post something nice. THOSE COMMENTS keeps me going during tough days (specially the last few days when I was recovering from THREE HD crashes!). So I made an EXCLUSIVE just for you. This Exclusive is something very dear to me. It took me several hours to finish it with all the tiny little details I made to make it as “life-like” as I can. What kept me going was the fact that ONLY very nice people would get to have it. This is my way of hugging you back!
You see I READ EVERY COMMENT POSTED HERE IN MY BLOG. Every post, even a short “Thank You” is precious to me. The longer the post, the tighter the “hug.” If you posted a comment in my previous post, wait for my email containing the download link to this wonderful freebie within the next 48 hours (I’m still in my post-crash phase rebuilding my system to what it was before — PS: lost all my emails!) . You have no idea how your comments painted a huge smile on my face and cheered me up immensely! Thank you so much!
Click image above for Flickr-zoom!
Thank you so much for your continued support and well-wishes. LINK EXPIRED
Side Note
I have about two “creative studies” since May for the next lines I would like to create. They have been put on hold at the moment as I “work” on Crossroads. I would like to “see” where it takes me – from uncertainty/joyful anticipation to revelation. Im taking you with me. I hope the entire line reflects me and what I’m going through at this point in my life. Thank you for “walking” this far with me.
Thought for the week
“The only people who go to heck are
the people who don’t believe in gosh!” – unknown
August 21, 2008 4:03 pm
Oh My Dear Friend,
This is the Perfect Addition to Crossroads 1. It’s absolutly stunning. You’ve taken my breath away.
I wish I were there so we could just plop in the sunshine for a good old dose of selfish girl time. I believe it would be just the medicine for us both.
Cheer up Dear Friend and I promise to finish that novel of an email in my Drafts folder so I can send it off to you. We’ve had a C-R-A-Z-Y & also wonderful month and I’m dying to share it with you.
Give the Big Lug hugs from us & that way he can return the favor back to you for me. Cool how I’ve got that working for ya, huh?
Love, Hugs & Many Blessings,
Dane Ann
August 21, 2008 5:03 pm
Looking forward to a brighter and more joyful future as reflected in Crossroads II. Thanks so much for the pretty sampler.
August 21, 2008 7:12 pm
Thank you very much, this sampler, again shows your care for fine detail. It’s beautiful.
August 21, 2008 8:05 pm
Mabelle,
Thank you for all you do and I do hope that you get up and running soon. YOu are truly amazing and I love the bright colors of Patchwork! They are BRIGHT just like YOU!
Don’t worry about us, your faithful stalkers, I mean followers, we are not going anywhere.
Many HUGS sent your way from Kansas City, MIssouri, USA.
Tammy
August 21, 2008 9:09 pm
Hi Mabelle!
Just when I am thinking how lovely your work is, your latest is always even lovlier! How do you do it?!! Love, love, love these cheery colours.
Thanks!
juno
xx
August 21, 2008 11:00 pm
This is just beautiful! Thank you so very much for the sampler, but more important, thank you for sharing your view of the “unknown”. It will help me in the months to come.
August 21, 2008 11:05 pm
Thank you so much for the free sampler! Your work is beautiful!
August 22, 2008 12:54 am
Mabelle,
This is so cute and lively! Thank you so much for the surprise. It will be perfect for my first grandbaby due in a few months! You are a sweetheart.
Thanks again,
Sharon
August 22, 2008 12:55 am
Thank you so much for Patchwork. Love all the bright colors. It’s just what I need to brighten my day. I hope you get your computer back the way you need it to be.
August 22, 2008 1:14 am
Mabelle, I love your analogy of Peter. I think it wasn’t that he was suddenly doubting his ability to swim, I think he took his eyes off his goal (to get to Jesus) and therefore was flooded with doubts about being able to get to where he wanted to go without incurring some troubles along the way. I’m reading an incredible book that you might like entitled “Happiness is a Serious Business” by Dennis Prager. It is profound! I highly recommend it. But one of the premises of the book is that happiness is not a feeling, but rather a mindset….
Thanks for the beautiful addition. I’ll be paypaling my money to you later today for the new Crossroads2.
Big Hugs and remember “Life is A-Musing”
August 22, 2008 1:18 am
Dearest Mabelle,
Thank you so much for these wonderful additions. That frayed ribbon is absolutely FABULOUS! Now I’m off to purchase Crossroads II, so I will have the complete collection! BTW, I can’t wait to hear what your news is! I’m excited for you!
Hugs and prayers,
Vicki in Texas
August 22, 2008 3:38 am
Thank you so much for the Patchwork Frame and Sampler set! What an incredible collection you are working on – very impressive! Love the story about Peter and how we doubt ourselves, too – especially the line, “Did he FORGET he could SWIM?” LOL!
August 22, 2008 3:54 am
This new gift from you via our email is just wonderful. How talented you are. Thank you.
August 22, 2008 4:35 am
I wanted to thank you once again, Mabelle, for an awesome gift! I love the texture on Crossroads II, it is beautiful and looks as if it would be so soft. THANK YOU THANK YOU and wishing all the good things for you that you deserve!
August 22, 2008 4:39 am
details details and DETAILS! they’re simply georgeous! I bet you put alot of time in it as well as your heart while making them; since they are the Happy set!! I love them all; especially the safety pin;
Do take care!!
Hugs~~
August 22, 2008 5:10 am
Awaiting your news with bated breath. Thank you for the Patchwork sampler, frame and the set. Beautiful work. I really love the brown ribbon in the sampler, and as in Sprouts, the flowers are just so representative of people to me. And Vicki is right, that frayed and folded ribbon is da bomb!
I think we all had that Peter lesson recently! If i remember correctly, this was one of the stories where Jesus was not in the boat originally, but was on his way to the boat. If Peter saw Jesus coming, why did he think he had to leave the boat? Yes, fishermen swim, but they also know that it’s probably better to stay in the boat than go hying off into the tempestuous sea! But Peter is so “us”, isn’t he, so human! Wanting to prove himself in the face of his fear, wanting to rush to the right hand of God rather than being still knowing that God was on the way, already there. And how wonderful, saving really, that Jesus does not let Peter drown for his lack of faith, doesn’t let us drown for our lack, but simply brings us back to the boat, if we will. HMMMmmmm didn’t mean to go on and i hope i haven’t been offensive, sometimes it just spills, LOL. Don’t mind me!
August 22, 2008 5:27 am
Dearest Mabelle,
What can I say, your work as always is stupendous!!!…Your ability to put your words and feelings into your work just amazes me…I feel guilty at times for taking what you offer for free because the quality and creativity is so wonderful that I feel you should get paid for all of your work…And not only do you share your talent with me, but you share your heart as well…that in itself is the greatest gift of all…
I know you live in the Philipines and I sure hope all the hurricanes have passed you and your family…You have been in my thoughts and prayers alot of late, with the news and such…
Thank you Mabelle for the wonderful creations you shared here and in my e-mail box…your kindness always surprises me and leaves me with a huge smile on my face!!
:::hugs & sisterly kisses:::
Angela in NC
August 22, 2008 6:03 am
Oooh Maybelle…this is so lovely. I am so excited for your new addition to Crossroads. I think I will have to grab it to add to my already wonderful kit. And all these wonderful add-ons!! You are way to generous. You will always have my support over at my place. Stay sweet…we love you!!
August 22, 2008 8:36 am
Mabelle, Thank you so much for the exclusive and the patchwork sampler. It is just such a fun set, and I love the tag!!! So cute.
I also loved you sharing your lesson about Peter. That was great. We had a different lesson on Peter this week. Really interesting, about how Peter and the disciples slept while Jesus was praying in the garden.
Luke 22:45 And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow.
I always thought that they were just being lazy and not staying awake to pray. But they were so full of sorrow that Jesus was going to die, they fell asleep in their sorrow. Like we sometimes do when we just can’t handle the problems that we face, sometimes we just say I am going to sleep so I don’t have to think about it or worry about it. I thought that was interesting.
Hope that you get back to normal with your computer. I have heard so many people having the same problem. My husbands HD just died a couple of days ago, and it was new!
August 22, 2008 9:14 am
i’m so sorry about your hds- Sounds like my kind of luck! Hope things start looking up soon! Thanks so much for sending the special downloads-I sure appreciate it! Love this kit and will have to try to purchase it after payday- once a month makes it hard to budget!
Have a great weekend-
Donna
August 22, 2008 10:22 am
Mabelle,
Thanks so much for the beautiful sampler and the wonderful email goodies! I’m looking forward to CrossroadsII; I know it is going to be fabulous! I’m off to send you an email…
(((hugs)))
August 22, 2008 11:33 am
thank you so much for everything you share..
August 22, 2008 12:28 pm
Thank you so much for another lovely sampler! You are an incredible lady and artist. Your sets bring a smile to my heart. I love the new perspective on a challenge. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
August 22, 2008 12:30 pm
Thank you so much for the lovely gifts. Happy to see you back and looking forward to what you bring out next!
Loved your story about Peter and it is just what I need as I think about a job interview I have next week and my fears about “can I do the job?”. Of course I can! Thank you for the comfort and the inspiration! At age 55 I am still trying to move ahead at work into bigger and better things, just when I think I might be ready to just kick back and enjoy until retirement, that ambition gene starts working on me again.
Hopefully I can connect in while on vacation after next Thursday and see your delights!
Hugs, Nancy
August 22, 2008 12:35 pm
Oh my gosh!!!! You NEVER run out of wonderful ideas Ms. Mabelle!!!
You know what, I love reading your “thoughts” somehow it really get through me and right now, I am in desperate need of “encouraging” words of wisdom! hehehe I would like to take a few lines but I just realized EVERYTHING fits me to a tee! YOU ALWAYS lift my doubts away, you know that? Thank you so much!!!
Take care and God bless!
August 22, 2008 1:08 pm
I really love all the colors! So cheery and bright. I also love what you wrote about being afraid, I swear, sometimes, that is what keeps me from being and doing what I want. The fear galvanizes me into inaction. Thank you for sharing that piece of wisdom and your experience.
You always take care and God Bless.
August 22, 2008 2:59 pm
What beautiful work!!! Thank you so much for sharing.
August 22, 2008 9:37 pm
The patchwork part is so bright and cheerful. I love that yellow color.
I have been standing at many crossroads, confronting many challenges and when I am thinking of it now, I have never been afraid. If someone asks me if I am a pessimist or optimist I will answer: A REALIST. And this definition is so simple but oh how true:
“You don’t see the glass as half empty or half full. You see what’s exactly in the glass.
You never try to make a bad situation seem better than it is…
But you also never sabotage any good things you have going on.
You are brutally honest in your assessments of situations – and this always seems to help you cope.”
So when I am in a “crossroad” I consider the facts -good versus bad- and then make my decisions on the basis what is best for me and my family (and that is always not the easy way out).
To put it simple:
YES I REMEMBER HOW TO SWIM AND I WILL TRY TO RESCUE ANYONE WHO IS IN THE SAME BOAT.
(As an OLD scout I really have been practicing that….LOL )
Hugs and love
Carola
August 22, 2008 10:00 pm
Thank you Mabelle. Again you amaze me with not only your beautiful work but your life lessons. Reading again the comments left for you I realize that I am not the only person in the world that feels like life is just to overwhelming to go on sometimes. Your offerings cheer me so. Just returned from vacation and was delighted to see your new work, soooo incredibly beautiful. I will certainly be buying your new sets. I also was not able to add a comment to the previous post so I will say thank you at least twice and send lots of luv and hugs to you.
August 23, 2008 4:47 am
How lovely and sunny! Thank you so much for sharing your beauty Mabelle
August 23, 2008 6:27 am
Mabelle,
Yes….choose “Joy in the Journey” especially because you have God and friends by your side!!!!!
Thanks for the gifts!!!!
Tonya
August 23, 2008 11:11 am
OMG TYVM…….for your loving kindness for patchwork felt.. its so beautiful when you unzip the file. ~~ HUGS ~~
August 23, 2008 12:53 pm
Dear Mabelle,
I lost my feeling for scrapping for about 6 months ago, but I love your work so much that I have download some of your wonderful freebees but I haven´t leave a comment to you. I´m sorry for that. 
I´ve been a very, very “bad girl” for a long time
Thank you so much for your hard work and for every wonderful thing you made. I will try to start scrapping again and maybe I can get enough with inspiration to do some LO:s and show you. Big hugs from Pia in Sweden.
August 24, 2008 8:36 am
Thank you so much, Mabelle, for the lovely sampler and for the life lesson. I hope you don’t mind that I wrote the questions down in my diary. Hope you have a wonderful weekend and that your computer problems are well and truly behind you now.
Hugs