SHARE HANDMADE KINDNESS

 SHARING HANDMADE KINDNESS

THE STORY OF THE BLACK BOX WITH A RED RIBBON

I recently gave an out of town friend, Karen, a gift of a collection of cards.  Karen loved the cards and contacted me to see if she could purchase a collection of cards to give to her friend Mary, who has MS and is not able to get out very much and especially now with the pandemic. I had a very large collection of cards that I was planning to give to the senior ladies at my church as well as to the local assisted living facility. I went through the cards and I put together a collection for Mary. I told Karen that I did not want her to purchase them but to only provide the envelopes.

Last Thursday, Karen delivered the collection of cards to Mary in a black box with a red ribbon on it. She simply dropped the box off at her front door and then messaged her later to tell her it was there. For some reason, Karen’s message was never received. 

Over the weekend Mary noticed that there was a black box with a red ribbon on the porch and she asked her husband why her box of cards was out on the porch. Her husband brought the box inside and it was not opened for a couple of days. 

Karen, having not heard from Mary about the box, called her to inquire what she thought about the box of cards. Mary then opened the box of cards and was overwhelmed with tears. She couldn’t believe how someone she had never met could bless her in such a way. Karen and I were amazed at how the black box was like one Mary had even complete with a red ribbon! It was a blessing to partner with Karen! 

I share this story to encourage you to “BE A BLESSING” to someone and you will “BE BLESSED”! You never know the impact your creativity can have. 

SHARE HANDMADE KINDNESS! ❤️

THE NOOK - WHAT OTHERS HAVE HAD TO SAY

I have been blessed beyond measure to be able to have the Nook (my craft room) and to share it with others over the past 22+ years. Naturally, I would have great things to say about it. But it is always good to get a second opinion. So to that end, some dear friends that have come to the Nook shared their thoughts. I thought I would share them here along with some photo memories. 

When its location was near my vocation, I found Brenda's Nook an essential resource, specifically in the Summer of 2016. That summer, I created a children's curriculum for Sunday School that connected the key stories and stages with Jesus. The concept included an art component that was used each week to illustrate the central idea and to facilitate the children's "hands-on" engagement. The Nook was my laboratory. With her sundry resources and remarkable skills, Brenda made templates, developed concepts and provided patterns for the 13 lessons. The summer experience was enriched by Brenda's talents, abilities and resources. She loves Jesus and her service to the kingdom fostered fellowship among the helpers.

PJ

(PJ, otherwise known as Pastor Jim, was not only my Pastor but before retiring, I was his assistant at our church in California. Jim and Laura are lifelong friends now! He came to the Nook to help create a memory album for the music minister who moved out of State.)

Long before the Kline's moved from California, Brenda was planning the craft room all of you are now enjoying. Believe me when I tell you that it is our loss but your gain.

I received an invitation to the Nook the first time I met Brenda. However, I did not attend right away due to other commitments But in the Spring of 2020 (about the time Covid hit), I became better acquainted with Brenda. (Sorry, Brenda, you asked for a few sentences but are getting more). As you get to know this new neighbor and friend of yours, you will learn that she is GENEROUS!! Her giving nature is expressed in many ways. The Nook is just one of them, Always a patient teacher, she helped me with technology when I assumed the leadership of our senior ladies's group at church. I lost track of how many times Brenda brought cards to these meetings and freely offered them to anyone there. Several times, she made HUGE cards for those who were sick or moving away. Then she made sure people had adequate time to sign them before giving them to the recipients. 

What I treasure the most is the atmosphere of the Kline home, and that gentle peace permeated the Nook. Brenda provided a positive environment for people to craft. Any negativity was quickly squelched. She often said that she wanted the Nook to be a "safe space/" She more than met that goal there. 

When she left California, Brenda gave me many cards that she had made. I am still using them, In fact, my adult daughter when through my "stash" and took several home with her! She also gifted me some storage units. My scrapbooking room has never been so organized!

It is hard to say good-bye to my dear friend and her husband. But we all share the same faith in our Lord. I knew the Klines were being directed into a new adventure and season in their lives. God makes no mistakes. He is always in the details.

God bless all of you, and enjoy the Nook and the wonderful woman who invites you into her home with love and open arms.

Brenda Garbutt (The "other" Brenda)

(I first got to know Brenda G. when she share about her love of scrapbooking at one of our senior ladies' meetings at church in CA. I knew then that we needed to get better acquainted. 

We were soon a team in the ministry leadership, when she was promoted to the Coordinator position. I was the worship (music) leader. We would tell others that they were seeing double or referred to ourselves as "Brenda squared". 

I left a dear friend behind when we relocated but we keep in regular contact and we know we will be together for eternity!)

We had so much fun in the "Nook". Thank you, Brenda, for your kind and generous hospitality. Being able to use your tools allowed James to create a beautiful pasteboard for his history project about Stanford University. Isabella and Alex had fun creating Valentines for their classmates as well.

 '

Melissa A.  

(Melissa is a friend I met at Church. I love it when students come to the Nook to work on projects for their classes and friends.)

I spent some time in the "Nooks" over the past several years, both in New Hampshire and in California. Having been somewhat responsible for Brenda getting into scrapbooking, many years ago. It was a passion we both enjoy. Her transition to card making, paper beads, etc. have been exciting to watch. A trip to California, a couple of years ago, allowed me to learn the ins and outs of several different crafting options. I do my own card making here at home, but I don't have nearly the set up that she has. A trip to the Nook will be a necessity at some point!

Barbara Flickinger

(Barb is my sister and she took me to my very first Scrapbooking Store in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, and as they say, "the rest is history". Previous to that I had learned about Creative Memories through a friend's daughter and I began taking all of my photos out of magnetic albums and had begun to put them in acid free/lignen free albums. After the trip to the store with my sister, I knew there was a lot more tools and techniques out there!)

Brenda not only opened us her home, but created a space for multi-generation to connect and share a comment interest. I had the privilege to visit one of Brenda's craft Nooks with my mom, when Brenda was still in New Hampshire. What a delight to laugh, create and connect with one another. I wish she was close by so I could just drop in and visit again. Enjoy your new Nook in North Carolina, Brenda!

Love, Karen S

(I met Karen through church in New Hampshire. Originally from South Africa, her extended family visited the Nook when they were in the US. Karen and her family are lifelong friends.)

I was new to the area (less than 3 months) when Brenda invited me to the Nook. I was welcomed by all and immediately felt comfortable and had a sense of community. Cardmaking was an added bonus!  Five plus years later, I treasure those friendships and am disappointed when someone misses our (all to infrequent gatherings at Nook Jr. 

Noel N.

(I met Noel at BSF - Bible Study Fellowship. When I gave the ladies in the discussion group hand made cards, I learned that we share the passion of card making. I was deeply honored, when I relocated from CA to NC, that Noel would take over the leadership of the craft group I had created and was touched that she named it Nook Jr.)

Brenda, I remember coming to you with a request and you graciously helped me with it - a Christmas present for my daughters-in-law. The recipe book turned out wonderful. Memories from the past  of the family and recipes with pictures and quotes. It was a wonderful experience for a person like me who was a quasi-crafter! The girls burst out in tears over the memories. Thank you, Brenda for your patience and kindness.

Cheryl B.

(I met Cheryl through church. Her husband was a retired Sheriff and gifted speaker.  She was very active in the area GOP. In addition to the recipe book, Cheryl attended several Nook events. We enjoyed creating together.)

 

I thoroughly enjoyed my time spent at the Nook! Crafting with some wonderful women, and having fun. I so appreciate Brenda sharing all of her tools and creativity with me.

Lisa W. 

(I met Lisa at church. She and her daughter came to the Nook. Her daughter referred to us as the "Nook and Grannies", inspired by Thomas English muffins!)

When I recently sent Kathy G some photos in a message, she wrote: "Love seeing the pictures. I am not so good about writing about things, but I definitely always enjoyed the Nook gatherings. A sense of fun and shared faith and sometimes food made all the times together very special."

(I met Kathy G. when I worked at the church office. They had moved to the area and she was a quilter and wondered if there were other quilters in the congregation. I connected her with some ladies and a quilt ministry was begun where lap quilts were given to people who were shut-ins or who were terminally ill. A few years later she moved to the Midwest and we presented her with a memory album of many of the Nook memories. (The ladies always thought I took too many pictures but when it came time for a special gift like that, they were thankful that I had!) 

"The Nook - a nice place to meet new friends and get ideas for making cards"

Lorna E. 

(I met Lorna at church in CA and sang with her husband on the Worship Team.)

I am blessed to have been able to meet Brenda and be welcomed into her home. I found a second home, another happy place, a place to create and learn so many things while at the Nook - so many techniques and forms of card making and crafting. It made me more confident about creating my own cards. I truly enjoyed my time with Brenda and the ladies of the Nook. The amazing group of women, shared my love of card making. The time we spent in fellowship and sharing our loves together was so caring and loving. We shared the love of the Lord. Brenda always showed such unselfishness when it came to opening her home, having the women come over each week, providing meals, planning a potluck or going out to a local restaurant along with teaching new things and sharing her wealth of knowledge was something I will always treasure. She encouraged us as we put our creative ideas onto paper. 

I miss crafting at the Nook since I moved further away from Yuba City and then Brenda moved out of State. I miss her and her supporting husband, Mike and I know that the Nook she shares at her new home will be a blessing to all who are gathered there. Thank you, Brenda, for such wonderful times what will stay in my memory. 

Jensie C.

(Jensie and I met in 2016 at a Michael's 45 miles from my home. She had recently moved to that community. We struck up a conversation as we looked at stamps. I invited her to the Nook. When Mike and I remodeled the CA Nook in 2017, Jensie and her husband came over to help. Jensie and I crafted while Mike and Greg put together the IKEA units. 

While crafting, I couldn't find my red tape which I had just been working with. I finally gave up looking for it. We then went out to lunch at Applebees and when I was getting up to leave after the meal at the restaurant, we noticed the red tape was stuck to my sweater! Whenever either of us sees a roll of red tape, we are reminded of that fun memory!)

Special thanks to my family and friends who kindly share their thoughts. Hope these will cause you to want to come and craft in the Nook or inspire you to do something similar in your own home!

WELCOME TO THE NOOK - North Carolina

On October 28, 2021, we closed on the purchase of our home in the Raleigh region of North Carolina. We relocated to NC in May 2021 after 10 additional years in California, where my husband completed his life long career in Electrical  Engineering- Hydro electricity. Originally from Ohio and Michigan, and having lived in the Southeast early in our marriage, we desired to return to that region of the country.

*****

The Nook began during our years in MA and continued during our years in NH, AK and our second stint in California. For over 22 years, I have invited people into my home to scrapbook, for card making, wreath making and much more. It has been a blessing to many, not to mention myself.

After the holidays, I held 3 Open Houses for the Nook in early January 2022. The three events were opportunities to introduce new neighbors, new friends and acquaintances to my craft room and what it has to offer. 

If you live in the Raleigh area, please contact me and come check out the Nook. 

My Facebook Profile and Nook Group were hacked in the Fall of 2024 and consequently had to be recreated and are no longer public. 

The Nook on Instagram - Nookcrafter

The Nook on Pinterest

From time to time we have special lunches in the Nook. The soup pictured above has been a favorite! I thought I would post the recipe here! Enjoy!

TACO SOUP

TACO SOUP

Ingredients

Ingredient Checklist

• 2 pounds ground beef 

• 2 cups diced onions 

• 2 cans pinto beans 15.1/2 oz 

• 2 cans pink kidney beans 15 1/2 oz 

• 1 can Mexican-style stewed tomatoes 14 1/2 oz 

• 1 can diced tomatoes 14 1/2 oz 

• 1 can tomatoes with chiles 14 1/2 

• 2 cans diced green chiles 4 1/2 oz 

• ½ cup black olives 

• 1 package taco seasoning mix 1 1/4 oz 

• 1 package ranch dressing 1 oz 

• corn chips 

• sour cream 

• grated cheese 

• chopped green onions 

• picked jalapenos 

Directions

Brown the ground beef and onions in large skillet: drain the excess fat, then transfer the browned beef and onions to a large slow cooker or a stockpot. Add the remaining ingredients except corn chips. Cook in slow cooker on low for 6 - 8 hours or simmer over low hear for about 1 hr in a pot on the stove. To serve, place a few corn chips in each bowl and ladle soup over them. Top with garnishments if desired.

 

 

TEN DAYS AND COUNTING

As of this post, we are just 10 days until the construction of our home is completed and we close on the purchase! It has been over 5 months since I have had access to all of my full inventory of tools. We sold our home in CA in May and began our journey east then. While our home here in NC has been under construction, we have resided nearby in an apartment to be able to watch our future home take shape. We put all of our furnishings and 95% of the Nook in storage in CA. On November 1 the movers will load the van and sometime a week to 2 weeks later our shipment should pull up to our driveway. 

After closing, my husband and I will take a trip to IKEA where we will pick up the drawer units and more that will furnish the Nook. In 2017 we remodeled the Nook in CA. The new Nook in NC will have a very similar set up with more of a footprint! Needless to say, I am very excited about getting the Nook settled and once again have ladies (and perhaps some gents) into our home to craft.

As in the past 23 years, I will have crafting events where card making, scrapbooking, wreath making, paper bead rolling, trivet and coaster creating will take place among other things! As in the past, I will not charge a fee to come to the Nook. I only ask that people bring their own supplies (paper, card stock, adhesives and cutting tools). All other tools will be free to use in the Nook - dies, stamps, and more. As in the past, there will be a box to make a donation to help cover the replacement of the consumables such as cutting mats and cutting plates.

I have been blessed to have my Nook since 1999 and even more blessed to have a supportive husband. The Nook has been more than just about crafting. It has been a place where hearts have connected, friendships have been built and nurtured, creativity has been tapped into and confidence increased, growth has taken place emotionally and spiritually.

if you are reading this and do not live in my community, check out my public Facebook group for the Nook. It has everything there that my private/local group has with the exception of planned events. There you will find albums of things created in the Nook, to files of information useful for crafting. 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1726515610984134

Need some inspiration? Check out the creations of those who have come to the Nook over the years at this link:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/836031833230766/

Finally, I also have things posted in boards on Pinterest and on Instagram.

https://www.pinterest.com/brendakline

https://www.instagram.com/nookcrafter/

Until my next blog entry, have a blessed day!

THE NOOK IS RELOCATING

 

2021 would be a year of change. In May our home in California sold and we packed up our furnishings and household goods and they went into storage. We were relocating to North Carolina.  My husband was retiring and we were going to move geographically closer to one of our adult children.

On May 5, we began our journey transcontinentally. We planned a two week trip from CA to NC, visiting friends and sites along the way.  The house would not be completed in NC until sometime Fall 2021, so a limited number of tools and supplies would accompany us on the journey, to use during our time in a temporary location.  

When we arrived in NC, the foundation had already been poured and the stairs that would lead to the 2nd floor, where the Nook would be located, were on site. We found an apartment that was 5.2 miles from our future home site and at the time of this post we are enjoying watching the house take form and shape.

Once in our apartment, I set up my mini-Nook where I could continue to be creative even with limited tools and supplies.  

We were thrilled when the steps to the 2nd floor were finally in place and we could ascend them and get a look at what would be the Nook and more.

The Nook will be situated in the large bonus room on the 2nd floor - the largest space that the Nook has been in to date. 

By the end of July, the house was sided and a pre-drywall inspection was scheduled. 

As this blog entry is written on August 4, we look forward to learning soon what the targeted date of completion of the home construction will be, most likely sometime in October 2021. (The three windows in the photo above are the windows in the future Nook. 

QUILT CARDS

I LOVE QUILTS!  

But I am allergic to sewing machines! Not really, but I would sooner sing a solo in front of 1000's of people (which I have) than put my hands on a Singer, Brother or a Bernina!  Believe me, if I did, the products I created would not be works of art.

Not long ago I discovered some great dies and have added them to my Nook inventory. 

Pictured above are a sampling of some of the Gina Marie quilt dies that are in my Nook.

The card above on the left was created with one of the newest Gina Marie dies that I have. The middle card was created using Silhouette cuts. The card on the right was created with Cricut cuts.

Here are some examples of other cards that have been created in my Nook by me. Quilt cards have become one of my favorites to make!

I have also added some smaller quilt dies that I purchased from Amazon.  Here is the link to Gina Marie's shop:

GINA MARIE'S

If you haven't tried creating quilt cards and you enjoy putting puzzles together - try your hand at these card designs - the possibilities are endless. 

Check out the clever way I created this card from Cricut cuts:

Those that receive your quilt card creations will love the warmth in their designs!

NOOK REMODELED - SPRING 2017

In March 2017 we began the task of remodeling the room which was my Nook - my craft room. We had the carpet taken out and in it's place we had laminate flooring installed which matched most of the rest of the house.

Since I established the Nook in 1999 in Massachusetts, I have had women into my home to craft - mostly to do scrapbooking or card making. 

It is and has always been my desire that being in the Nook and in our home would be a blessing to others. We have always wanted our home to be a haven. A place where people are nourished physically, emotionally and spiritually. 

Let's go on a tour of the remodeled Nook!

This is the first bookshelf as you enter the hallway to the Nook. It hold theme albums such as Christmas, School Years, and Home Construction among others. There are also "how to" books - how to create borders for scrapbooking and more, how to create things with punches and more.

The next bookshelf holds my alcohol markers and my personal inventory of decorative papers.

Photos of Family and Friends grace the walls of the hallway.

 The shadowbox is of all of the States where we have lived. I was born in MI. and Mike was born in OH. We have lived in IN, VA, WI, CA, MA, NH, and AK. We are now back in CA.

The Cat's Meow wooden figures on top of this book shelf are of Mackinac Island, in Northern Michigan, where Mike and I met through Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship.

The Cat's Meow wooden figures on top of this shelf unit are of my birthplace and hometown, Coldwater, Michigan.

As you near the entry to the Nook, to the left are these cupboards. It is where I store my collection of rubber and clear polymer stamps.

On the left side in the drawer units are what were my rubber stamps. I recently unmounted them from their blocks so they could be used in the MISTI - Most Incredible Stamping Tool Invented. On the right side are the clear, polymer stamps. All are organized by themes - from Animals to Weddings!

Above the doorway to the Nook, you will see a sign that says "CREATE".

Upon entering the Nook, directly to the right is the first of my chronological memory albums.

This is the view of the room as you enter it.

We have two cats, Mocha and Latte, which we call the Nook mascots. Mocha is pictured below. She is seated on top of one of the Ikea Alex drawer units which houses the wafer thin card dies - such as flips its, standup, easel, , accordion and others. The We Are Memory Keeper Punch boards are also stored there.

These are the shelves on the right side - southern part - of the room. The hold various tools and mediums to work with such as Perfect Pearls, Pan Pastels, Creative Medium and more. There you will also find the Fuse tool, the Heat Wave tool, the Minc machine and more.

Since I have changed how things are stored from my earlier version of the Nook, I created a Directory. Not only will help visitors to the Nook locate specific dies, punches and more, it also is a reminder for me where things are!

Here is a sample of one of the entries. This is for the Punch Station - which has three 6-drawer units with casters, which are A, B, and C from left to right.

The Cricut Cartridges which are stored in the closet are in numbered cases. Here you see cases 6 and 7 and the Directory pages for those.

One of the decorations in the room shows the birthdays and anniversaries of our family members, nuclear and extended.

As you proceed to the front of the Nook, you will see this wall decor from Creative Memories. Miscellaneous things can be posted on it.

The Punch Station is directly in front of the window. 

On top of the punch drawers are the Silhouette Cameo, a desk jet printer and the Cricut Expression.

As you approach the corner of the room to the left of the Punch Station is a Lang Calendar and more wall shelves.

The wall shelves house more tools such as:
Top Shelf: Die and Coordinating Stamp sets, Flower shaping tools, Quilling supplies and tools and the Sew Easy and Sew Ribbon tools. The Bottom shelf holds over 400 embossing folders

The five drawer Ikea Alex units hold the themed wafer thin dies and steel rule dies for card making and themed shape embellishments.

On top are 3 manual die cutting machines, the Big Shot Pro, the Big Shot Plus and the Big Shot.

Chronological memory albums continue on this book shelf.

These are two "bowl snowmen" that I decorate for each season or holiday of the year. They rest atop a 9 drawer Ikea Alex unit where various supplies are stored.

The colorful drawer unit holds 12 x 12 plain card stock of the coordinating colors to the drawers.

A scrapbooking clock purchased from CafePress is on the wall next to the closet and above my college diploma. I have a BA, in Psychology - and unlike previously, I have a Ph.D - Projects Half Done!

I have never charged ladies (or others) when they come to the Nook. I only ask that they bring their own papers, card stock and adhesives. Any donations go towards the replacement of blades, mats or cutting plates.

 In the closet you will find the inventory of Cricut Cartridges, colored card stock (8.5 x 11) and various other tools and supplies such as: heat embossing, water colors, buttons, brads, stencils and more.

By the way, just down the hall from the Nook is our Guest bedroom. If you live out of town, you have a place to stay comfortably. Mocha thinks this is her bedroom.

 Latte is pictured below. Both cats love when the ladies come to the Nook every Thursday. The Nook comfortably seats 2 so when we have groups of 3-10, we congregate in the dining and living areas. I am able to set up additional tables to work on.

Let's finish the tour!

 Behind the door of the Nook are my die ink pads, refills and coordinating markers.

When my husband finished putting together all of the Ikea Alex Drawer units there were 13 in total - 3 Six Drawer caster units, 2 Nine Drawer units, 3 four drawer units and 5 five drawer units. One 4 drawer and one 5 drawer unit with a table top also purchased at Ikea make up the center island work area. 

 On Easter weekend, the final installation was completed and that was the new lighting fixture - replacing the one that was on the ceiling.

Since this blog was first posted, there have been more changes in the Nook. All of the rubber stamps that were mounted on blocks have been unmounted. Stamps can now be used in the MISTI or Tim Holtz and other stamping platforms.

Wafter thin dies and stamps are now stored in sleeves and in plastic storage containers - similar to what Jennifer McGuire has done in her craft area.

 When I am in the Nook on days other than Thursdays, and  would like to invite others to the Nook, I post the image above on Facebook!

 Friends gather in the Nook. It is a place where friends make new friends, too!

 I am thankful that ADT protects my investment!

To learn more about the Nook go to this link:

Welcome to Brenda's Scrapbooking and Card Making Nook

Don't forget to check out the other posts in the Blog!

Blessings to you for taking the time for the remodel-tour!