Did 'Ya Miss Me?!?

Can't believe it's been a month since I posted here...and I'm so sorry!  My health issues took precedence for a while.  I still feel guilty not having a share for November Pixel Scrapper's blog train, but I promise I'm making up for it with December's!  I just can't stop designing stuff for it and it's going to be HUGE even by my standards!  LOL

I hope all of you are having a wonderful start to the holidays.  I know I am!  This last Saturday, my niece, Denise, and my great-nieces, Taylor (11) and Jenna (7), and my great-nephew, Wes III (9), came over for a craft day.  It was so much fun!  We made Christmas crafts, ate pizza and chocolate chip cookies, took bunches of pictures and had a great time!  The girls LOVE to pose and have their pictures taken, but Wes and Mommy...not so much!  The kids are growing up too fast!  They sure wore this old woman out!

Here are some pictures I wanted to share:

Thanks, Denise, for coming over and bringing my greats.  I love you all so much and can't wait for Christmas!

Hope all of you, my faithful blog readers, are surrounded by love, family and friends during this holiday season!  Always remember to have a thankful heart for all you have.

Blessings to you and yours,
Sally
WingedHeartOhio

Thanks, a request, and I'm going to a concert...OH, MY!!

Hey there, everyone.  Just wanted to catch up and make a request of all you wonderful people.  First, thanks to everyone for the thanks on my latest kit!  Maggie, I'm really happy to know it brought back pleasant memories for you!  Holly , thanks for taking time to stop by and leave a comment.  Regarding those "actual instruments" you mentioned, I had almost an impossible task trying to find images of real instruments (not clip art) to use for "The Music of My Life" kit that were okay to use.  If any of you have an instrument around your household, I'd really appreciate it if you would consider taking a photograph of it against a solid background (like a wall or rug), sending it to me, and allowing me to use it for subsequent update kits.  I would be so very grateful and you'd then be able to scrap an actual page with your's or your kid's actual instrument!

I've decided to start, once again, selling a kit here or there to help with the financial end of acquiring images, programs, etc.  As most of you know, I'm on disability and Social Security only goes so far.  I've also decided the first kit I sell will be heritage and genealogy themed, as this has been requested a number of times.  Hopefully, this will happen in January or February.  Also, I had a request in the comments for the music kit to do a friendship theme and I think that would be a fantastic idea.  Not sure if it will be a freebie or a paid kit.  Thanks, JASPER1, not just for your suggestion, but for always leaving me a sweet comment.  Don't worry everyone, even if I do PTU kits, I'll never stop making FTU kits for all of you!  It gives me great pleasure.

Speaking of finances, I giving myself a Christmas gift this year!  On the 7th of December I'm going to a Cleveland radio station's holiday concert with my fave, the uber-talented Adam Lambert (and also Echosmith of "Cool Kids" fame).  My stented and bypassed, little heart is bursting with joy and anticipation.  I saw him back in 2011 right before I ended up in the nursing home.  It is a highlight of my concert-going past, and I've been to everything from high opera to heavy metal!  So few artists are as good in person as they are recorded...and Adam is even BETTER!  I've been a Glambert since the American Idol days back in 2009...in fact I'm officially Glambert #3945 so you know I was an early fan! LOL  It's a perfect logistical situation for me.  In December, as in 2009, he's performing at Playhouse Square.  The Greyhound bus station is only two blocks away and the hotel is right on the Square.  Makes wheelchair travel as easy as it could ever be!  Yippee! Well, I've gushed enough but I could go on and on!

Hope all of you are having a wonderful week.  I'm off now to try and put together something small for Pixel Scrapper's November blog train.  Yikes...I only have three or four days!

Blessings,
Sally

Update, Kit Preview and a Re-Shared Freebie!

First, the update:  My music kit has been slow-going because I'm sick.  I was hoping I was just having my usual flare of colitis, but nooooooo, I have a virus of some kind and I'm miserable.  Nausea, trouble eating, bathroom issues...you get the idea.  Because my health is poor anyway, when I get something like this it really takes a toll on me and knocks me for a loop.  On top of the GI issues, I'm pretty sure I have a sinus infection because I'm having headaches, a lot of pressure in the sinus areas of my face, and I'm dizzy, which is usually a good sign that a sinus issue is affecting my equilibrium.  I'm also running a low grade fever.  Even my eyes hurt, which makes the detailed work difficult. Boo Hoo for me!  Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers.

Now, the preview:   I'm so sorry that the music kit is going to be later than I'd like.  I have, however, restructured this first kit.  Instead of it being focused on classical music, I've decided to make it the general base kit and have classical be the first add-on theme. This first kit is going to be a huge one!  LOL  I've got a good start on it...most of the papers are done (I'm up to 56) and a good bit of the usual elements like frames and bows, etc., are also finished.  I'm now working on most of the images that need extracted and/or need more intensive work.  I've chosen a broad color palette, take a peek:

Here's a few previews:

There's a whole set, in varied colors, like the latter element that explains what musical terms mean.  Well, I hope this will keep you excited for the upcoming "Music of My Life" kit!  It won't be too long in coming; I promise you I'll work hard to make it happen as soon as possible.

And, lastly, the freebie!  Today, I'm re-sharing my Victorian Halloween freebie kit with all of you.  I think it turned out pretty darned good way back in 2007, if I say so myself! LOL  Hopefully, you'll agree.

Here's the previews:

Here's a couple layouts Patti from The Flight Crew made at the time.  That's here in the middle picture of the first layout.

And, here are the links:

TOU and Previews

Alphas

Papers

Elements01

Elements02

Elements03

Elements04

Hope you enjoy this kit and I would REALLY love to see what you create with it.  

Blessings, as always,
Sally
WingedHeartOhio

Just Remembering...

...where I was on September the 11th, 2001.  What a horrible day it was.  I was on vacation and was at Chicago's Midway airport awaiting my flight to Cleveland, OH, to visit my family.  When the news first broke into the TV we were all watching while waiting, many of us thought they were talking about the first bombing at the tower a few years earlier.  It became apparent fairly quickly that wasn't the case.  Just before the second plane hit, they came over the PA system and announced all flights were being delayed. Then, BAM, the second plane hit in front of our eyes and we sat there horrified.  Soon after, the airport became a hub for grounded flights and a lot of people filed in through the gate where we were.  Several of the flight attendants and even a pilot or two were in tears as they knew employees who were on the two planes that crashed into the towers. It wasn't very long until the announcement was made that all flights were cancelled and we had to immediately evacuate the airport and couldn't reclaim our luggage at that time as it was urgent we just leave.

There was pandemonium that ensued after that.  I had to take the train from the airport into downtown in order to get a different train to my apartment.  They were evacuating downtown Chicago and it was hard to even get on the train as it was packed.  Then, every time an airplane went overhead, everyone held their breath until it passed and there were no explosions or anything like that.  Many airplanes were being diverted to Chicago to land and it felt like a scene from a horror movie...just waiting for the crash to happen.  I have to commend the transit system as they decided to forgo fees and were not charging anyone to board.  Of course, many people were panicking and the atmosphere was palpably thick with fear.  I couldn't wait to get home.

After getting home, I was glued to the TV screen.  Watching the towers crumble and knowing how many people lost their lives during the original crashes and now the collapse of the buildings, just shook me to the core.  Then the news about the Pentagon crash and the crash in Pennsylvania compounded the fear and terror.  I knew my family would be afraid for me, especially when it hit the news that one of the terror flights left out of Cleveland and that's where I was flying into.  I tried to call repeatedly but it took a good while to get through to let them know I was safe.  I kept get getting that "all circuits are busy" message.  I still wanted to get home to Ohio, but it took several days for that to happen.  Southwestern airlines refunded our fares in TWO days.  I couldn't believe how wonderful and efficient they were being under the circumstances.   I couldn't rent a car as there were none to be had, nor could I get a ticket on Amtrak.  It was because of everyone landing in Chicago and so many people needing to get home.  Three days later, I finally was able to get on a Greyhound bus and took the journey to Ohio.  

I will NEVER forget where I was that day and my experiences during this terrible national tragedy.  I pray for peace, tolerance, acceptance and love in our world.  May the zealots and radical fringe of any group be beaten down by those who fight to make it so.

Blessings and don't forget to hug those in your life and voice your feelings of love.  One never knows if you will have another chance.

Sally
WingedHeartOhio

Catching up and an apology...

Hi everyone.  I just wanted to apologize to my faithful blog readers for not having a new personal kit for August.  I have not been feeling well and that old, mean son-of-a-gun...depression...has been hitting me hard in the last few weeks.  It's terribly difficult to be really creative when you are not at your best.  However, I am gradually working on the first installment of "Music of My Life," which is classically-themed, and hope to have it for you by the middle of September.

It's beginning to feel like fall here in NE Ohio, with cooler nights and no more temperatures in the 90's (thank goodness!).  So, I'm going to re-release a second older (and smaller) kit at the end of this week.  It's called Fall-O the Dots and, like Floral Beauty, is a former PTU kit that features my own photography.  Stop back and snag it!

I'm really looking forward to re-sharing my holiday-themed Victorian kits with all of my new blog readers in the coming months.  We're getting to that time of the year too fast, aren't we?  I have Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas ones to share.  I'm always itchy to do another Christmas one as there are so many fantastic Victorian images to work with.  I already have two yearly ones, a Christmas Angel one, and my contribution from an old Christmas Around the World blog train, but I just may make another new kit this year!  I haven't made a New Year's kit either and I think I will tackle that also.

Well, as I said, I'm sorry there wasn't a new personal kit for August but I hope you'll forgive me and I promise to make it up to you in the months to come.  I appreciate all of you more than you could probably ever know.

Blessings and much love,
Sally
WingedHeartOhio

Sorry I've been...

absent since I posted Steampunk Gears-Up.  There's been a steady stream of doctor's appointments and I didn't get a very good report from my cardiologist last week.  Until they put a stent in my heart this past January, I didn't have severe blood pressure issues, but now I do.  He added a THIRD pill for BP control a few months ago and has increased the dosages of the first two I've been on since my open heart surgery about ten years ago.  However, my blood pressure was still high in the office, and I've been having chest pain every day.  Scary stuff!  He gave me a new pill for the pain that is like Nitroglycerine but is time-released, and also increased the dosage of the third pill.  I was told if my BP was still high when I see him again the 27th of August, he is going to admit me pronto and look inside my heart again.  Boo Hoo!  That's the last thing I want to have happen and he's giving the newest pill the chance to work with the increased dosage because he doesn't want to go in again.  He said it causes scar tissue each time that causes its own problems.  It never seems to end.

On a brighter note, I've finished my Pixel Scrapper August Blog Train kit.  It's called "Bugs in My Garden."  I still have to make the previews, but everything else is uploading at this very minute!  Like most every kit I do, it's pretty big and is full of all kinds of bugs (including dragonflies and butterflies), birds, flowers, garden tools, etc.  Most of the creatures are from vintage images that I had; I extracted and did other work on them.  There are 50 papers!  I made printed backgrounds using the extracted images that I think are really cool...if I say so myself!!  There are also filled alphas with the images, plus colored ones in all eight colors of the blog train. 

Don't forget to come back on the 1st...only a couple days away.  I can't wait for you to see "Bugs in My Garden," and hope you enjoy it as much as I have enjoyed making it.

Hope all of you are well and are having great summers...or winters depending on where you live!  LOL

Blessings, as always,
Sally
WingedHeartOhio

Three things...and please pray for me!

Hi everyone.  Three things:

Firstly, I have been receiving some very sweet comments here and on Dropbox about "To Be or Not to Be," and I really appreciate them.  I'm always so happy to hear from all of you.

Secondly, to GERDINA and LYNN, I would appreciate it if you would please email me at wingedheartohio@gmail.com.  Blogger doesn't give me your email addresses so I can't personally respond to you.

Lastly, please send me some positive vibes and prayers, if you are so inclined.  I spent all day (and I do mean ALL day) in the emergency room Thursday.  I have been feeling poorly, running fevers, feeling weak, etc.  I stumbled and fell into the wall early in the morning on Wednesday but just thought it was my usual back issues at fault. However, as the day progressed, I was in so much pain on my right side and around my back that I couldn't even sit up straight.  It was so bad I couldn't sleep at all Wednesday night and, by Thursday morning, the pain became so severe that I pushed my alert button and called for help.  When the ambulance arrived, I was in tears and my blood pressure was sky high.  The guys were so great...and really concerned.  They started an IV and gave me morphine before we even left for the hospital.

Once there, they did every test known to man!  Urinalysis showed I had a bladder infection, which wasn't surprising as I've had one for the better part of three-and-a-half years.  My blood work was off showing the infection and lab work showed my kidney function was lower than it usually is (which is always lower than normal), but still good enough to have contrast for CT scans.  They did CT scans of my chest and abdomen and ultrasound of my left leg (it was swollen, as is usual), to rule out blood clots, kidney stones, etc.

The good news is that there is no recurrence of the kidney cancer I had previously on the right and had part of that kidney removed.  Bad news is that I have pyelonephritis, which is severe bacterial infection in the kidneys, probably migrating up from the bladder.  It causes swelling of the kidney and, if not caught and treated in a timely way, can cause abscesses and worse issues.  As would be expected, the remaining right kidney is affected more than the left.  They gave me a massive dose of antibiotics through the IV, and more to take for a week at home.  Now, this is risky for me as I've had c.Difficile infections in my colon three times; the first time it was very severe and I literally almost died.  Taking strong antibiotics can trigger this infection again as it kills off the good bacteria which keeps the c.Difficile that is always present in check.  This is why I need your prayers and good thoughts...it would be extremely threatening if I were to get this colon infection again and, I have to admit, I am frightened.  When I hesitated about taking the antibiotics, the doctor explained it was absolutely necessary to treat the pyelonephritis, that there was no choice.  He said I would be risking my life if I didn't and, at the least, it could damage my kidneys permanently leaving me dependent on dialysis.  So I am taking them.  I have been ordered to rest, monitor my temperature and, no surprise, drink lots of water.

Sorry this post has been so long, but I really need to know that you are all thinking of me and holding me up.  I am so very tired of being in poor health in general, and of not having a normal functioning immune system.  It really sucks.  I am grateful for every day I have and I know I will continue to fight to stay here with all of you, and especially to see my great-nephews and great-nieces grow up.

Thank you for being part of my life.

Blessings to you and for YOUR health,
Sally
WingedHeartOhio

Thanks for your thanks...

Good evening everyone!  I wanted to stop by for a quick comment to thank everyone who has left me emails and comments regarding my "Ye Olde Dress Shoppe" kit.  I really appreciate your kind words and thank-yous.  They encourage me to keep on going and keep designing!  As I've said in the past, what good would it be for me to do the designing if no one wanted what I create?!?  I appreciate each and every one of you who take the time to comment (and even those of you who don't).

Also, send me some good thoughts, will 'ya?  I'm struggling a bit health-wise again with back and chest pain, as well as having nosebleeds from taking the blood thinners I have to take since having a stent put in my right coronary artery back in January.  It's hard not to let the depression overtake me when I'm in so much pain, but designing again really has helped me by allowing me to be creative and by giving me a purpose.  It's rough on the back and on my right hand (which I had surgery on a few years ago), but worth it to my spirit!

Well, off to continue working on my Shakespeare kit for Pixel Scrapper's June blog train which has a theme of "London."  See you on the 1st!

Blessings once again,
Sally
WingedHeartOhio

Re-Release of Victorian Mother's Day Freebie

Hope every is doing well.  I'm feeling a bit better and a little stronger.  Yay!  My niece, Denise,  brought my two great-nieces and great-nephew over Saturday, as well as my new little great nephew who was born late last fall.  He is my niece, Leilani's, first child.  Such a cute and GOOD baby!  I gave them their Easter baskets (yeah, late I know!).  We then baked cookies for over three hours...cut-outs, peanut butter and orange.  They couldn't get over that I made my own icing and had never seen anyone make it before!  Go figure.  We had a ball but boy did it wear me out.  LOL  Now they want to come back and make cupcakes!  Here are a couple pictures:

Are you ready for another old kit to be re-released?  Today I have for you my Victorian Mother's Day freebie kit.  It's another big one!

Here's the previews:

You can grab them here:

Papers 1
Papers 2
Elements 1
Elements 2
Elements 3

Don't forget to come back on Friday to grab my part of the Pixel Scrapper Blog Train kit, Earth's Renewal.  I actually made a kit that is not Victorian!  Figured it was time to branch out a bit.  Here's a preview of three papers:

Well, that's all for now.  Blessings to each and everyone of you!

Sally
WingedHeartOhio

Happy Easter and...

I hope all of you are having a great weekend.  I had a wonderful day on Friday with my BFF, Patricia.  We first went to Bob Evans, which turned into a family reunion for her!  I was running late because I couldn't find my keys, and she was running a bit later than we had planned.  Surprisingly, when we got out of her car, her aunt and two of her first cousins were also entering the restaurant.  It was great meeting them as I have heard some very funny and heart-warming stories about them over the years.  We had great food and great conversation.  Then, we went to Jo-Ann's.  First, let me say that I really appreciate the fact that they have electric wheelchairs for their patrons to use.  We spent way longer than anticipated, but as always, buying tons of scrap paper and embellishments.  Even though I love digital, I am also a paper HOARDER!  LOL  Afterwards, we went to her house where I re-designed her blog for her.  I didn't get home until after 9:30 PM, then spent the night designing.  And I do mean night!  I went to bed at about 6 AM on Saturday.  Jeesh, I really am addicted!

I also did some CU shopping online and purchased Karen's Scrap & Graphics entire store at Digital Scrap Designs for $30.00!  That's, right...her entire store for $30!  You have two months to download everything you want.  In addition to some PU items, included are a TON of CU items.  You'll be seeing a lot of designs by me utilizing her great CU work.  In addition to Karen, several other designers have specials right now on purchasing their entire store.  Karen's usually is $60.  I would have loved to purchase Scrap and Tubes store also (same prices but with reduced time of one month to download) but, alas, Social Security only goes so far!  Ha Ha.  Check out the remaining designers offering "Buy My Store" deals here:  Buy My Store Deals.

Well, once again, Happy Easter and blessings to one and all.

Sally
WingedHeart

WOWZA! 2 1/2 lb. more to go and I'll.....

...have lost 100 lbs.  That's ONE HUNDRED POUNDS!!!  Tooting my own horn, you betcha' I am!  LOL  It has been a loooong battle since I have limited mobility and a non-functioning thyroid.  I went to my endocrinologist today and was weighed.  Three years ago I weighed 396 lbs.  Today I finally was below the 300 threshold and weighed 298 1/2 lbs.  Yay for me...think I'll go have a hot fudge sundae!  NOOOO, just kidding.  ROFLMBO!  I weighed right about 200 lbs. when I graduated high school way back in 1970.  Only 102 1/2 lbs. more to go and I'll be back there.  It might take til' my final days but, heck, at least I'm determined to do it. 

Forgive the indulgence, but I just had to share.  I'm so very happy and PROUD of myself.

Blessings to you and yours,

Sally
WingedHeart

Sad news...and re-share of an old kit.

My stepfather passed away.  Mel has been my stepfather for 52 years!  Mama passed away a little over 18 years ago, on Halloween in 1996.  I spent most of the day on Monday at the nursing home with him and was able to say goodbye and thank him for always treating myself and my two sisters as his kids, and for loving our mom so very much.  I told him to tell Mama that I loved her and to tell my baby sister, who passed away in January of 2015, "Happy Birthday" for me.  She would have been 58 on the 24th of March.

Mel was in great pain and was taking morphine every two hours the last two days.  His lung cancer had returned for a third time, and he had a brain tumor.  There was nothing to be done and he wouldn't have wanted anything.  He made sure we new his wishes as he had a living will.  He was an ornery son-of-a-gun and was flirting with the nurses and aides until he was too sick to do so!  I will miss him greatly and I feel like an orphan.  I was blessed with two great step-parents and a wonderful mom.  My maternal grandparents and two maternal aunts were also big influences in my life.  They are all gone and I miss them so much, and I feel so alone without them, especially at the holidays, on their birthdays, etc.

I was blessed with Mel's presence in my live...he really was not my stepfather, but my father.  I love him very much.  Please keep him and us in your prayers and send us good thoughts.

On to happier things.  I'm re-uploading my old kits and I'm going to share them again with new links.  Instead of making everyone go to the old posts, I'll make new posts as they are ready to be shared.  Today, I'm going to share my "Victorian Easter" kit.  Thought it was appropriate to share this one first.  Here are the previews:

 Download "Victorian Easter" here:

Papers 1
Papers 2
Elements 1
Elements 2
Quick Page Album Thanks, Charles, for the heads-up on the problem with this link.  It's been corrected.


PLEASE NOTE NEW TOU'S:  All my older kits are now freebies but they will have to remain personal use only.  I had a hard drive crash and lost a lot of info as to whose actions, templates, etc. that I used.  Some are mentioned in the old TOU's that are part of the zip files.  Updated TOU's are also included with the files.  In all the kits using Victorian graphics, they are royalty-free, in the public domain, commercial use graphics from a disc that I purchased years ago (and, thank goodness, still have!).  One thing I have noticed is that a lot of the CU designers I used regularly are no longer in business, like Atomic Cupcake.  I had a subscription to her site and have almost all her actions.  It broke my heart when she stopped designing.  I also especially miss Fishinmom.  I wish I had joined her Creative Team earlier than I did.  It was a blast. 

I welcome any and all construction criticism, but please be kind as they are old kits and were created before a lot of the new trends came into play...things like clusters, tattoo-type graphics, etc.

Happy scrapping and blessings,

Sally
WingedHeart

Back once again -- hopefully for good!

Jeesh, here I go again saying, "I'm back!" After the last message I became quite ill again and have been struggling. I finally left the nursing home/assisting living facility on the 4th of December of last year. I feel SO free! LOL I'm really still having health problems and in January had a stent put in my heart. There are so many issues I could talk about, but I'm trying to forget that the doctors told me my health is "precarious." Whatever that is supposed to mean.

I want to say that I appreciate everyone of my past customers, whether freebie or paid, and hope to see all of you on my blog again. As well, I hope to make a lot of new scrapbook friends. I really have the desire to scrap and design again and just found a site I really think I'm going to love. It's Pixel Scrapper Digital Scrapbooking.  They appear to have a great community of scrappers and are much more "personal and up close" than any site I've seen. They do still have freebies, in fact over 300 of them! You do have to join the site to access them. Also, they have a point system where you earn community credits for being active on the site and also you receive download credits every day just for showing up on the site. They do not accrue so you have to download something daily. I am going to join a paid program they have. You can choose from personal use only for $10.00 a month, or commercial use for $20.00 a month. You then have access for everything! Go check it out, I don't think you'll be disappointed.

I have to take the time to refresh everything on my blog. I have to fix some links and make sure all the blinkies actually still go to sites that are still up. I am thinking of making a small Vintage Easter freebie kit for next month if everything goes well. Check back and we'll see. If not a kit, I'll at least do some elements. Well, blessings to all of you. Stay safe, play nice with others, and scrap your hearts out! 

Sally 
WingedHeart