Random Acts of Kindness II

So to get more specific about the contest, I am looking for stories about something you have done, something you have witnessed or something you have received as a random act of kindness. Maybe you know of someone special who constantly gives freely of themselves and is always looking out for other people's needs...

I had a great discussion going on my facebook fan page and then realized that facebook is NOT friendly toward give-aways, anyway, here are the comments so far:

from Krista:
Like you, I am inspired by "random kindness". Often times, senior citizens are lonely so I honestly try to chat, smile and just listen to a senior citizen whenever I have the chance. I work in the public sector and love to chat and joke with them. Smiling at someone goes a long way!! For some people, your smile can make their day! So, whenever you can.... smile, listen and laugh ...... and just be nice to people, in general! Jewel said it best in her hit song .... "In the End, only kindness matters". This is my personal motto and I always try to remember that!
Have a great day and I think you have a great thing going here.
I can imagine that you will certainly make someone's day by sending them some of your beautiful work.

Something else that I do on a regular basis is pay for the person's coffee that is behind you in the drive through line at my local coffee shop. This happened to me once and since then I try to return to favour at least once a month. Really, what is a couple of dollars, but its make the receipent smile. Remember to "pay it forward".
:), K

From Mariana:
This may not seem like much, but the results are surprising: I make sure that whenever I pay a cashier (especially at the drive-thru window, but really all cashiers) that I make eye-contact and smile at them as I thank them. If I have the chance to say something encouraging I do that too, but you would be amazed how their spirits lift just from getting actual eye contact.

I can't wait to see what everyone else posts!

My facebook fans and blogging followers (well, OK, so I don't have much of a following yet...) will vote on the best responses.

The winner will be announced November 13, World Kindness Day, and will receive something special from Songbird Gardens!

Random Acts of Kindness

I love Random Acts of Kindness because it is fun to see something small make a big impact on someone's heart.
I feel they make the world a better place.

I am having a Songbird Gardens Give Away for the BEST Random Act of Kindness posted on my blog. My followers/fans will vote on the best story.

More details forthcoming...

Winner will be announced November 13- World Kindness Day! :-D

When it rains, it pours...wine

Well, I just found out that I lost my job. Fantastic. I am joining millions of other Americans in that floating, abstract void of the dreaded job search.

I loved my job...I worked for an amazing company and I knew I was lucky to work there. Due to budget cuts and lay-offs, I had the least amount of tenure and I was let go.

It has not been easy. After ripping into three bottles of wine with my sweet husband and having a good laugh at myself, I feel much better. Red wine can make you do really stupid things, but you have moments of sheer brilliance (at least they seem brilliant at the time) that makes you feel you have a bit of control over your little world.

I have to take my kiddos out of daycare JUST as they were getting used to their school. Ugh, here is another transition kids. Great!

The drudgery of finding a new job is miserable at times, but I firmly believe that everything happens for a reason and 9 times out of 10, you wind up being thankful for your trials.

I found some jobs that sound cool, but since I do not have an 'in' with them, I am worried my emails and resumes are invisible and will go unnoticed.

Still, I march on in my crafting adventures...keeping my house a fun place to be. I don't want to stress my kids out.

I painted lots of different glass items this weekend. If anything, this will allow me the time to really create and finally get back to that fairy story I have been working on. I wish someone would call me to do a mural in their house. I LOVE painting murals.

Anyway, I don't care that I am basically talking to myself right now. It just feels good to talk.

I find myself making breakfast for dinner and just ordering pizza these past few days. Breakfast for dinner makes me HAPPY. Actually, as long as I have a big fat cup of coffee, I am happy.

If you can remotely relate to anything I am saying, feel free to comment!
xoxo
Songbird

A sample of my new creations

New Rose Earrings
New Modern Garden Pendant


Fairy Wand











Orange Briolette Chandelier Earrings






Polymer Clay is AWESOME. I have been making everything from fairy wands to jewelry using this fantastic medium. I am inspired by my kids and by nature, of course.
Finding time to create is a challenge to say the least.
I work full time and have a wonderful family to take care of as well. Sometimes I long to create something, but I have to give into the fact that my inspiration will just have to wait.
That is so frustrating.
Like most intuitive, creative people, "scheduled creative time" is like an oxymoron. We are go-with-the-flow...not structure and limitation.

If I feel I only have a small block of time to work with, I freeze! I sit there with hundred of ideas flying through my head and I try to figure out which one is do-able in that allotted amount of time. Ugh, forget it!

Trying to squeeze time in to create is difficult, but when it happens, it like magic. I just get in the zone and stay there for hours...turning out creative ideas and loving every minute of it.

I also am working on a fairy story. This would be my very first book and it is a daunting task, but I am writing it because my heart has a story to tell. I do not mind if it will take time to get it right (I have been working on my 1st draft for a year).

Anyway, I want to blog about my adventures in crafting. The highs and the lows...sharing what I find and what successes come my way.

Join me in this journey! If you are a crafting mama like me, no doubt we struggle with many of the same things.

Talk to you soon,
Sonja

Songbird Gardens
www.songbird1.etsy.com

Back from a Trance

Ok, so I was not really in a trance, but it sure feels like it!

I went back to work last year and working with two small kiddos can be stressful. It has wound up being a great transition and we have finally found our groove again.

I have been making jewelry again- www.songbird1.etsy.com AND I have been making fairy wands out of polymer clay!
I will post photos tonight...

So glad to be back...

xo Songbird

A Joyful Heart Makes Joyful Creations!

Well, I am happy to say that returning to work has not broken my heart completely.

I miss my kids so much, but because I love what I am doing, I am actually quite happy. Morning are still difficult with Emma as she wants to be with me and she wants to come to work with me. I got tears in my eyes when she said "Mama, I want to come to work with you. I promise I will be good and I will be a hard worker." Ugh...that made me so sad.

When I get home we play all sorts of games and try to do a craft of some sort, but it is challenging when I am trying to get dinner ready, feed Ethan, finish laundry, etc. I need to blow my chores off and just have fun with her as that is really what she needs. I mean really, is it more important to be remembered as being a great cleaner or a great mom??

I promise tonight I will just be a great mom and blow off the 'perfect house syndrome'.

Anyway, since I am enj0ying work and life in general, I have found that I still have the heart and energy to create. I will write a little later about my latest project...I am creating fairy kits!!!

xoxo

Fairy Kingdom Birthday Party

One of my customers sent me pictures of her daughters birthday party and it is one of the most ADORABLE parties I have ever seen!! The little girls were SO precious...Oh, I LOVE what I do!!