Deva Gems

1st Annual Arts and Crafts Bazaar

2010-09-02T20:18:00.004-05:00

This will be my first attempt at being an event planner! OH BOY! OMG!!!!

I have been volunteering at the Florence Lauderdale Animal Control Shelter in Florence, Alabama for about a year. Since I live too far to help out in person on a daily basis, I am the Website Administrator, along with a whole host of other titles and positions.

I really enjoy this type of volunteer work. It feels good to be of service in something bigger than you. I encourage everybody to look at a cause they feel strongly about and then see if you can volunteer your time and talents to this effort.

I attended a small craft fair nearby and while I was sitting there watching the public walk through, I had the urge hit me to want to put together a craft fair of my own. I thought surely this is something I could do! So I sat there daydreaming...and I daydreamed...and then daydreamed some more. Considering I believe that our thoughts are things, I actually was creating the circumstances in which the universe was going to produce these results! So, now I am riding by the seat of my pants! Yipee!!!! I always did like rollercoaster rides!

This event will be October 2, 2010 from 8am-5pm at the Florence Lauderdale Coliseum in Florence, Alabama 35630. We have 44 booths available. No yard sale or flea market items. Local and area artisans showcasing their talents. Makes for wonderful, handcrafted Christmas gifts!

It is my dream that this event will grow each year. Not only is it a boost for the community, it also brings awareness to the plight of so many abused, neglected and abandoned pets that come into the shelter daily. Our volunteer group, SAViA-Shelter Animal Volunteers in Action, comes in daily to the shelter to love and care for these pets. All a pet wants is love. So we pet, walk and cuddle all those that we can. It is sad when we aren't able to save every one. That is the plight of every animal shelter. That's why it is so important to be a responsible pet owner. Please spay or neuter your pets.

2009-02-26T23:44:00.005-06:00

Web Store Up & Running!

2009-02-26T23:22:00.003-06:00

In my ramblings on the Net, I found a wonderful little FREE site for my web store. I have been busy taking pictures and uploading. I now have quite a few of my handcrafts listed for purchase. This jewel of a site is so easy to navigate. I am in the process of learning html for when I do create my official site, though in the meantime, not having to figure it all out for my hobby business is great!

http://devagems.ecrater.com

Check out my little store. You might find that one unique gift just right for that special someone. A plus is that all my gifts are HANDMADE. Meaning NO China assembly! There is a sewing machine taking up residence on one end of my kitchen table.

Speaking of foreign trade...why don't Big Brother (our Government) finally step up to the plate and get a handle on this issue? Big American companies should be FINED or heavily TAXED to take their product assembly overseas!

My Journey Through "Payne"

2008-11-28T00:58:00.004-06:00

As children we never realize until it's too late
And nature behind us closes securely the gate
The very many moments we let life interfere
From saying and showing "we love you"
To the two most important people we should hold dear

As they age and grow feeble and resort to cane or chair
When it's up now to the children for their daily care
They begin to say and do things that slowly grate on our nerves
And we slack up and neglect to show the compassion they truly deserve

Oh, now to be able to sit awhile longer be rocking chair or bed
And to see that they are made more comfortable and surely well fed
To now take the precious moments that are swiftly passing by
And let them speak to us of their "glory days" before they die

Death -The Great Reliever- still always seems to come too soon
For us children who remain behind, alone now to face the gloom
Of a life now to be lived with only memories and cherished photographs
Of the many special treasured moments when these two made us laugh

They leave us fragmented with deep wounds to our souls
With ties that bind us forever til that day for US the bell tolls
When at last we are reunited-all life's lessons having been learned
And we are greeted again at last by the love of these two we have earned

And so -I can say- through my long solitary journey through "Payne"
That it has brought to me the realization of a soul's great gain
To have learned something so simple at the cost of so much grief
That it is only LOVE truly given and truly received
That makes up the greatest of this life's beliefs

By: Nancy Payne Murray (my momma)
October 1, 2006 in honor of the passing of her Dad & Mom

Goat Sign from Above

2008-10-26T15:23:00.003-05:00

Just had to share this FREAKY story with the world. My Grandfather Payne passed away in 2006. My mother (Grandpa Payne's daughter), asked for a sign when he passed that he was alright. A sign that she didn't think she received. He promised her that when he passed, he would rap 3 times with his cane to let her know he made it and was okay. Well, we figure he didn't take his cane with him! It was still by the chair. This year, my mother begins asking for her sign from her Dad a week before the anniversary of his birthday. She tells him there is no excuse for not letting her know he is alright. That he better be figuring out a way to give her a sign! Everyday for a week, Momma makes this request. Momma wakes up on the anniversary of her Dad's birthday and standing at the front door looking in is a GOAT! Mom is like, "What the hell is a goat doing here!" Thinking someone has lost a farm animal, she calls the neighbors to find out if they have lost a goat. None of the neighbors own a goat! Momma begins to ponder on this strange appearance. Then Momma remembers! When she was taking care of her Dad during the last 2 years of his life, he would do things that would get on her nerves. Not all the time, just sometimes. Momma would let a few choice words fly at Grandpa and he would just reply, "Nancy, I am just an old goat!" There was her SIGN! Momma says Grandpa better be finding a way now to tell the goat she got the message and to MOVE ON! :) Coarse, we all know how hard headed a goat is! There's not room for Momma's garden and Grandpa's goat!

"Homer" A Rooster Story

2008-10-17T01:25:00.001-05:00

Not too long ago, a fat, white rooster comes tumbling off a highway embankment into our yard and into our hearts.

It was as if this rooster knew that he had found a home far away from the threat of a skillet. A most certain fate had he not escaped from his crate aboard a truck bound for...well, you get the nightmare he was faced with.

This rooster had a few bumps and bruises but overall he was well and FREE! We offered our new guest room, board and some feed for which he was most appreciative by gobbling up as fast as you could toss to him.

In the days to follow, rooster began to show his most true nature. A dog trapped in a roosters body! Where his masters went, he followed. When the master was working on a vehicle, rooster was right there to provide his two cents worth or rather his crow's worth. Rooster loves to be petted and stroked. Rooster even likes to be held! If rooster had a tail that would wag, it most certainly would!

Rooster earned his name, "HOMER", by Mr. Master. We have had alot of fun watching Homer chase a weiner dog and hump mom-in-laws pit bull/border collie dog! Like I said, a dog trapped in a roosters body is what we have here.

I guess mom-in-laws dog was so embarrassed by Homer's sexual advances that one morning the dog nearly plucks Homer alive! Poor bird! He survived. Homer is tougher than a pine knot. I did have to powder his ass till his feathers grew back in to keep the bugs from eating him alive with all that bare hide!

My Latest Crafting Projects

2008-10-17T00:02:00.008-05:00

I am still working on my book but in the meantime I am making handmade purses, diaper bags, key chains and earrings.
I have always been crafty. I watched my mother make all kinds of things while growing up. I can remember going with her, door to door, while she sold her hand crafts.
Crafting is my creative outlet. I remember art class in high school. My teacher, Susan Mestan, introduced me to Calligraphy. You know, that fancy writing with a quill and a bottle of black ink. Now you can just buy the markers, which makes it a lot cleaner! I must of had a past life as some kind of writer. The Calligraphy came so easy, like some forgotten memory.
I would love to try using a pottery wheel. Glass blowing even fascinates me. Drawing and painting pictures, not so much.
If you would like to see some of my purses you are welcome to visit my Google site. It is: http://www.devagems.com

In Mommy's Footsteps

2007-10-20T23:20:00.000-05:00

I am currently putting together a manual for new mothers. I am collecting hints, tips and shortcuts from veteran mothers to be passed along to new mothers. I would love to hear from all 50 states! Please feel free to post your hints, tips and shortcuts! Please include your initials with city and state. If you have a favorite doctor in your home town, include the name and location. Any websites that were most helpful to you, during motherhood, for useful information should be listed.

I appreciate your participation!
In Light and Love,
Diva Gem