Altered Book into The Techi-Bible...

"the techi-Bible" by Rita Hutcheson-Cobbs

the box cover for the old book altered...

 

the altered book slides out of the boxed cover...

inside The Techi-Bible with compartments to hold technology I carry with me often...

 there are places for all my cords to go and openings for me to reach the buttons of each item...

I hope you enjoyed seeing my latest creation and design...

This fills a need plus uses much of my stash and items that have been given to me...

I totally think this is rockin' awesome...

just wait until you see another idea I have...=)

Thanks to Garrett for naming this device...

Love, Blessings, & {{{Hugs}}}, RHC

----->www.RitaHutchesonCobbs to pre-order your very own The Techi-Bible...<-----

**Video of this creation can be seen at YouTube. **

Core Story & Wish for your 2011...

"just a note" tag by Rita Hutcheson-Cobbs

(materials list at the end of this blog entry)

"simple things" tag by Rita Hutcheson-Cobbs

(materials list at the end of this blog entry)

Core Story: What central story is at the core of you, and how do you share it with the world? (Bonus: Consider your reflections from this month. Look through them to discover a thread you may not have noticed until today.) (Author: Molly O’Neill) reverb10 the final word prompt...

I have a simple story, one that many share. I have faith and love laced with happiness and peace. I pray that my life will forever be a witness of all of these and that I will be an encourager to others in every way everyday. My central story is creativity, art, soul, passion and happiness. I want others to see the smile that I wear and know that I am filled with love for them regardless of where they have been, where they are, and where they are going. If I could sing or speak to the whole world, I pray they would listen to one simple message, the power of love brings happiness beyond understanding for the faith that lives in me makes it so.

Happy New Year and may God richly bless you every moment of every day in the most amazing way...

Materials for the Tags...

Close to My Heart Products: Workshop on the Go "Olivia" X7128B, Designer Brads "Shimmer" Z1349, Mini-Medley Chocolate Shades Embellishments Z1037, A Little Thanks stamp set (15 stamps) D1444, Timeless stamp set (11 stamps) B1355, Inks Chocolate Z2111 & Cranberry Z2116, Distress Ink Chocolate (available in a set of 2 colors chocolate & black); #8 shipping tags and scrap ribbon/fiber.

From our family to you and yours!!

Happy New Year!!!!

Chocolate

Defining Moment & The Gift....

 

"sweetness" charm by Rita Hutcheson-Cobbs

for the February 2011 Charm Swap on

The Scrap Beach

(paper by Close to My Heart)

Defining Moment: Describe a defining moment or series of events that has affected your life this year. (Author: Kathryn Fitzmaurice) reverb10


OMGosh, 2010 has brought so much to my life and so many friends from all over the world. I think if someone asked me what was the most defining moment of my life in 2010, I would say, "hands down, the friendships that I have made this year!"  My world had become so small with my mind, body and spirituality focused on caregiving for my dad and our son Joel as he faced a major health crisis. When I visited ning sites for the first time, I was so excited. Then as streaming live networks, Twitter and Facebook grew in friends and followers, my life filled quickly with deep lasting friendships. I have never had so many people encourage, support and uplift me and I have never met them in person...Life is good and I count it all joy that I have friends to share a cup of coffee with anytime day or night because of the internet. Loving it and loving my friends...

"gold in the snow" charm by Rita Hutcheson-Cobbs

for the January 2011 Charm Swap on

The Scrap Beach

(paper by Close to My Heart)

Gift Prompt: Gift. This month, gifts and gift-giving can seem inescapable. What’s the most memorable gift, tangible or emotional, you received this year? (Author: Holly Root)    reverb10


Counting one of the greatest gifts of 2010, the friendships I have developed is very much at the top. However, the one gift that comes to mind is the encouragement of my family (husband, Jerry, or "Doc" as I call him, our sons Garrett, Joel and Ethan). Each of brought to the table many wonderful ways of encouraging me to grow as an artist and to work full-times creating. Joel encouraged me to write my first novel this year. Doc taught me much about technology and helped me get the best equipment that suited my needs to stream live and make videos. Garrett loves me being home so that he can "take care of me" =). Ethan makes sure I have snacks and plenty to drink and gives me some interesting ideas. I only hope that others experience the since of encouragement if not from their family and loved ones then from me. I want to see more people use what they have rather than buying lots of supplies and the latest and greatest tools and gadgets...to reuse...to recycle...to recreate...You don't have to have fancy things to create and you don't have to have a fancy place to bring artists from all mediums together and be creative or inspiring.  The gift...wrap that encouragement in a bow, look yourself in the mirror and say out loud, "You are an amazing person...creative and uniquely designed by God to do wonderful things." =)


Love, Blessings, & {{{Hugs}}},
RHC
www.RitaHutchesonCobbs.com 

Friendship Tag using Stamp of the Month.

"friend" tag using a #8 shipping tag &...

This sheet from the Close to My Heart

 "My Reflections" December 2010 Kit of the Month ($29.95, #X7130B)

is amazing...when I applied Chocolate Distressing ink ($3.95 for 2 colors in chocolate & black, #Z1296),

 the pattern popped through the ink...Rockin' Awesome!...&...

Close to My Heart January 2011 Stamp of the Month

"Find Your Style" (#D1452, Cost Free to $22.95)

I just wanted to share this with you...I was so very pleased with how the tag turned out.

It is going to look great as a gift tag for my special friend...

Loving it...

BTW...I will be posting completed charm sets in my personal website store

this week....they are beautiful additions to your cards, tags, and mini albums...

Love, Blessings, & {{{Hugs}}},

RHC

www.RitaHutchesonCobbs.com

Achieve...

"the barn" scrapbook 12x12 shadowbox framed photograph

of my Father-in-law Milford Cobbs's barn by Rita Hutcheson-Cobbs.

"the barn" color photograph by Rita Hutcheson-Cobbs

"the winter barn" by Rita Hutcheson-Cobbs

I photographed this on Christmas Day 2010...

Alabama's never before white Christmas morning.

This is the 12x12 scrapbook page prior to framing. I love the embellishments

that offer the vintage appeal while looking fresh and comfort. 

You want to visit this spot, I know you do. =)

Achieve What’s the thing you most want to achieve next year? How do you imagine you’ll feel when you get it? Free? Happy? Complete? Blissful? Write that feeling down. Then, brainstorm 10 things you can do, or 10 new thoughts you can think, in order to experience that feeling today. (Author: Tara [...] reverb10


I would love to create better stronger scenic photography in 2011. I have a great camera but would love to build my equipment, tools and skill throughout the coming year. I love to take photographs and have many of places and objects. It comes easy for me to find the spirit and happiness of a spot and simply click my camera. Painting what I photograph would be a treasured blessing for me as well. However, I can't imagine my being anymore happy, free, complete or blissful...fulfilling this goal in 2011 might cause me to burst...which could be very messy =).


Ten things that I can do to achieve this goal:
1. Research equipment and tools in both quality, review and price so that I can plan my purchases wisely over the coming year.
2. Classes on scenic photography.
3. Download reading material to my Nook, although I would rather read Christmas fiction with a twist of romance, maybe I need to read more about photography.
4. Take some scenic painting classes so that I can paint some of the photographs I take or combine the two into amazing works of art.
5. Take pictures.
6. Learn the different elements of the camera I have by taking more photos =).
7. Join online photography groups and learn from professionals and hobbyiest.
8. Develop a gallery of my photography to date on my website requesting feedback from various audiences.
9. Enjoy more coffee...
10...create a happy place of love, peace and art =)


Now...to get to work achieving one of my goals for 2011...with God as my lens I can do anything...


Love, Blessings, & {{{Hugs}}},
RHC
www.RitaHutchesonCobbs.com

Hair Today Gone Tomorrow...

More "obvious joys"(thanks reverb10 for the opportunity to post two entries for your word prompt) ~ Someone asked me yesterday to post photos of my hair before shaving my head and after. I don't have a lot of photos of my hair seriously long but before I shaved my head, it was down to my waist and extremely curly. I would have to have it professionally straightened which took just over 3 hours to do. I wore it up most of the time, but the convince of hair now far out weighs the possibility of letting it grow back. I cut my hair June 2009 in support of my son Joel who was having brain surgery to stop seizures. Shaving your head is a totally humbling experience. Would I do it again, absolutely! I love my short hair and a day doesn't go that I totally believe it is the best decision I ever made for my appearance...it is rockin' awesome!!!!

Love, Blessings, & {{{Hugs}}},
RHC
www.RitaHutchesonCobbs.com

Ordinary Joy...

Ivy Garden Bracelet handmade by Rita Hutcheson-Cobbs

Pattern coming soon to my website...keep watching...

I love the clasps with a tiny flower each piece...

 Beads are from Bella Beads...be sure to tell Jennifer that I sent you over =).

Ordinary Joy ~ Our most profound joy is often experienced during ordinary moments. What was one of your most joyful ordinary moments this year? (Author: Brené Brown) reverb10

When asked what was on of my most joyful ordinary moments that I experienced in 2010, I am not sure I can pick just one. My mind is cascading over the months past and nothing is singled out per say, but maybe it was the self-discovery of creating. I seem to refer back to that repeatedly as I write this month using the reverb10 prompts but in truth that has been my amazing 2010 realities which makes me smile wide and long =).

I have loved the creative process of this year. I owe so much to my father who passed away in August 2009. I was slap worn out to the point that my body got very sick with every cold and winter illness imaginable. My immune system was shot and I was put to bed with a number of medications and encouraged to stay indoors. I read and reread books that I had stashed away and finally visited YouTube to see if there was anything I would be interested in watching..the rest has been told, the rest has been written. In January, my life turned to art and creativity as my respite in continuing the caregiving process of caring for our son Garrett.

I love ordinary joys wither they are getting that close parking place or hearing Garrett say how much he loves doing laundry "It's my life" and he being happy about it or knowing that laughter and love and happiness sprout out every pore of my being. I am loving all the ordinary joys and aha moments of my life. Bring it on 2011...I can't wait....

Love, Blessings, & {{{Hugs}}},
RHC
www.RitaHutchesonCobbs.com

New Name to Everything's OK to Photo Present to totally Soul Food=)

"the music travels" by Rita Hutcheson-Cobbs

Granddaddy Newton, Doc's 95 year old grandfather wrote this music.

I scrapbooked it in a shadowbox frame for my mother-in-law for Christmas.

New Name Let’s meet again, for the first time. If you could introduce yourself to strangers by another name for just one day, what would it be and why? (Author: Becca Wilcott) {Future tool: Chris Guillebeau’s How to Conduct Your Own Annual Review. For the next 9 days as you round out [...] reverb10


I dreamed of changing my name when I was a little girl. I had an aunt that forever pronounced it in correctly, wither on purpose or to be fun I never knew, it was only when my mother pointed it out to me that I noticed. Then when I was in my twenties I said that one day I would like the name Rita and the name Rita only, less complicated that way, still think I might change it to just the four letters one day...think how creative that will look on my tombstone or obituary. =)  However, since we are pretending maybe I will pick another name for today...but I can't think of one, so let's go with this, "Hi, my name is Rita! That's right, just four little letters. I makes me simply creative and artistic that way." Then I smile and feel the happiness of my name, which btw, I have always liked...I was the only one in my class in school with this name, I like it. 

Doc & our son Joel (the one grounded at age 21 for NOT wearing a hat)

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Everything’s OK What was the best moment that could serve as proof that everything is going to be alright? And how will you incorporate that discovery into the year ahead? (Author: Kate Inglis) {Future tool: Gwen Bell – How to Create Your Personal Manifesto. For the next 8 days as you [...] reverb10


I am not one to state simply "everything is ok" instead I love to say with excitement and enthusiasm, "Everything is Great (or) Rockin' Awesome!!!" However, I have such amazing proof from this past year that everything is great AND rockin' awesome because my creative soul is bursting with expression, happiness, and most of all love that I know, that I know, that I KNOW it will carry over into 2011 and beyond. I am so excited about what my life will be as I create and explore the many ideas flowing through my soul and my mind as I wait patiently to put them all into reality for the January 1st explosion of a new year...God is awesome that way...He created so much happiness within my being that I can hardly contain it. Today, as I look out my window, I see the evidence that miracles happen for our Christmas Eve with temps of 54 degrees, we still got up to see a white Christmas and today...it is STILL snowing...how awesome is faith and love than that? wow....

Ethan & his cute snowy smiley face...

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Photo – a present to yourself Sift through all the photos of you from the past year. Choose one that best captures you; either who you are, or who you strive to be. Find the shot of you that is worth a thousand words. Share the image, who shot it, where, and [...] reverb10

This photo captures me...shortly after we shaved our heads in support of Joel's brain surgery to stop seizures, it was my day of realization...I will be "me" from this day forward. Not feeling guilty about my decisions or my choices. To be creative and love what I do, doing it with all my heart. I will stand firm in what I believe and have courage to share my faith and my story. It matters not what others think nor if my house is clean or if the dishes are done or if my house is fancy or lived in, God is here and so are smiles and happiness but most of all love. This photo was taken at a bookstore with my camera phone...I loved the refreshness I see on my face and the humble smile I am wearing...the blouse totally rocks as do the pink glasses too btw...=)

Mamaw Cobbs's Tea Cakes that I made a few days ago...

Soul Food What did you eat this year that you will never forget? What went into your mouth & touched your soul? (Author: Elise Marie Collins) {Future tool: Sark’s MicroMOVEment Support Sheets. For the next 6 days as you round out your year, we’ll share one tool each day to help you [...] reverb10


OMGosh...when I think of comfort food I think of chocolate and a Starbucks iced coffee or Chai' Latte, hands down these are my favorite along with Doc's famous homemade from scratch cheese cake. However, food that sooths the soul and fills it with total comfort and wraps you in love and puts a smile on your face is Mamaw Pauline Cobbs's tea cakes...OMGosh...you can't eat just one and the dough melts in your mouth! I have to double this recipe so that there is enough to bake after everyone continuously comes through the kitchen sampling the dough! I find inspiration in a lady who created a memory for my husband that he mentions every Christmas...a silver Christmas tree decorated with blue ornaments...someday I will have one of these trees to go with many others decorated for Christmas and under it will be a bunch of tins filled with these cookies to give guests that come through our door. What a welcome that would be and a soul food envelope to wrap them in snugger than a coat ever could.  Loving it...


Love, Blessings, & {{{Hugs}}} for allowing me to catch up on my reverb10 word prompt posts from the last couple of days...we have been too busy enjoying the relaxing holidays and the wonderful white Christmas snow...
"Rita" ~ RHC
www.RitaHutchesonCobbs.com

Penguin Christmas Tree Skirt...

When I saw this pattern in a sewing magazine, I had to make it for our friend, Rachel, who collects penguins. We teased her that she could wear it a cape...thinking of making one next year just for that purpose!

I loved the brightness of the colors and the penguins seem to come alive and look so happy...

One penguin design wore skates which I embossed so that they would glitter...

I alternated penguin designs with a skater and a walker...

I set up an assembly line to put the penguins together...

This was the "lander" penguin...

I offered to take this Penguin Christmas Tree skirt to someone else but for some reason Rachel wouldn't let me LOL...

 Rachel works with Doc and also with our son Joel at UAH in Huntsville. So Doc got in on the act of "helping" me with cleanup. =) There is one thing for sure, either you love penguins or you don't, there is no straddling the fence...I must say, that I am hooked into the happy penguins...they make me smile.

I like finding something like this and make it for someone who loves the theme it is created with...making another one now...fun...totally fun...

Love, Blessings, & {{{Hugs}}},

RHC

www.RitaHutchesonCobbs.com (where you can order your Penguin Christmas Tree Skirt)

Living Christmas Tree at First Baptist in Huntsville Alabama

All photos are by Bobby Saint of Saints Photography in Huntsville Alabama...

 

 

Our son Joel on the 2nd row, 3rd from left...

Twenty-one years ago, a co-worker gave us tickets to see the Living Christmas Tree. Doc and I attended along with Joel who was due the following April. So literally he has been attending each performance even before he was born. =) Eight years ago, I called the church to ask if I could perform with the LCT and was welcomed with open arms. Then six years ago, we began attending FBC after Doc retired from the music ministry and have performed for most of those six years (Joel six years, Doc, five years, and all but the past two years, I have performed with the LCT). It is a blessed experience and I look forward to returning this coming year...

Love, Blessings, & {{{Hugs}}} to Bobby for taking amazing photos and sharing them on Facebook for us all to enjoy.

RHC

www.RitaHutchesonCobbs.com