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MG_donor_interval2

More PowerPoint presentations from Diane Korb

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http://www.authorstream.com/Presentation/dkorb-1392601-mg-donor-interval2/

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Moving

Moving to a public blog site.
http://poindextr.wordpress.com/

Lingerie inspired slipcover

The fun never ends here at Beecham Circle (sort of like Beekman Place, isn't it?)  OK maybe not.

Regardless.

In another episode of diy home decorating, my previous success with the parlor chair slipcover propelled me toward another sewing adventure of that genre.  In the guest bedroom, the chair is more structured, but the feel is still relaxed and feminine. 

And after many hours of hand sewing, it looks like a keeper.

Halloween photo fun

photo embellishments courtesy of the picnik extras available through google picasa-web

Banner love

After removing the wedding decorations from our house, I somehow neglected to remove the little white nails that had served to secure all those heart garlands.  They're still everywhere, but thankfully, being white, they are nearly invisible.

And also, thankfully, two of them came in handy last weekend when we had a small birthday celebration for my sister-in-law.  Cristybella purchased a colorful happy-birthday banner at Target, hung it and decorated it with streamers. 

I left it up to enjoy for another day or two while incubating an idea for a new banner for that particular spot.  A surprise welcome-home banner for my sweet Cristy.  She'd been out of town on business all week,  

And here it is, made from used/recycled birthday and greeting cards.  I envision many more banners in our future.  This was easy and sweet.

Design notebook

Cristybella has a particular affinity for the seashore and treasures from the ocean.  Seaglass doesn't wash up along the beaches of the Texas gulf coast, but on her travels to other shores, she has been fortunate to find a few pieces.  She also expanded her collection through a highly strategic eBay acquisition.

While in Warrenton last Friday, we noticed plenty of yard sculpture.  One in particular was a little metal item resembling a leafless tree, just the branches.  I didn't even notice it amongst the millions of other products lined up as far as the eye could see.  But Cristy pointed out that if we hung seaglass from that little tree, it would be a pretty addition to our house.  I hadn't considered it before, but had to agree.

On the other hand, why not just use natural branches?

So we did.

And this is the result.  One final touch will be to add sand to the bottom of the vase, that crucial element, that when combined with a broken piece of glass, an endless ocean wave and abundant time will produce a beautifully rounded frosty droplet of sea glass.

The face of poverty

The third Saturday of each month I make a trek to the northern fringe of downtown, the location of the Houston Food Bank warehouse. I pick up four boxes of food (non-perishable pantry staples) to deliver to the four clients I serve: senior citizens living in poverty. I started volunteering in 2002. The seniors on my route are very personable and all extremely grateful for the moderate amount of food they receive to help them make it through the month.

Last Friday, I received an email from the nonprofit organization that runs the Food for Seniors program indicating that it may be canceled at the end of the calendar year. So I decided to take my camera along the next day to start creating a little photo diary of the experience. Point in fact, one of my clients had asked me to bring a picture of myself for her, and I thought a picture of us both together might be much sweeter.

The decision making process regarding the tenure of this program at the parent organization is undoubtedly a complex one and I don’t pretend to have access to all the facts. The only thing I know for certain is that the seniors on my route live a truly impoverished existence and they need the supplemental food this program provides.  Whether they get it from this organization, another similar one, or not at all remains to be seen.

I lived in an urban neighborhood for 15 years, only a mile or two away from most of the seniors on my route. But the similarities between our lives ended there. I have never known poverty and it occurs to me that attempting to document this harsh way of life in images is nothing more than pretense. In fact, when I look at these images, they seem pleasant. Perhaps I edited too carefully, selecting out the photos troubling to the eye. Perhaps in the months ahead, time permitting, my camera and my conscience can be more honest.

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