Making New Friends....

Sometimes, when we LEAST expect it, the Universe sends someone across our path that really makes a difference in our lives. Sometimes it's a small kindness that makes your heart sing. I recently met a sweet, wonderful woman who helped me ease the transition into a new experience.

I have been an accountant for longer than I care to admit and I really enjoy what I do. In March of 2008 I was laid off from a job I had held for 6 1/2 years. I loved my job and I loved the people I worked with and it was so sad to think I wouldn't be seeing them on a daily basis. I took some time off and then started looking for another position.

Mind you now, my working outside of the home is merely in a effort to support my mosaic addiction and something I would NEVER let get in the way of my passion. But a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do, right?

I interviewed with a local company a few week ago and last week I started a temporary Accounting Manager position at this company. I had spoken with the receptionist briefly when I had interviewed. However, when I walked into work on my first day, there was another woman behind the reception desk. I had forgotten the last name of the person the agency had told me to ask for so I gave the new receptionist only the first name of the person. She looked perplexed and asked me if I knew the person's last name. She told me that she was filling in for the receptionist who was on vacation and this was her first day. I told her that it was my first day too! She told me her name was Linda. Linda figured out who I was supposed to report to and she let that person know that I was in the lobby. While I waited to be escorted to my new desk, Linda and I chatted for a few minutes about how it was the first day at a new job for the two of us.

I was a little nervous to be staring a new job, with a new company and with new people. Linda made me feel comfortable and I liked her immediately, in that way you bond with someone who is sharing something similar in life at the same moment you are. We chatted occasionally during the day and I learned that we lived very near each other.

This morning I arrived at work a little earlier than usual and Linda was waiting outside the door. She had forgotten her door key so I opened the door and held it open for her as her arms were full of stuff. I noticed she had a cute little box with her and I asked her what was in it. People who know me say I'm kinda nosy like that! Linda opened the box and showed me a bunch of WONDERFUL 4th of July postcard that she had made. They were so PATRIOTIC! I asked her more about her card making and asker her if she would mind bringing in more cards for me to see. Well, this darling woman went home on her lunch hour (half hour actually!) to bring me a TREASURE TROVE of things that she had made!

Here's the 4th of July postcard that caught my eye:

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With Linda's permission I wanted to share some of her other beautiful creations here. She probably thinks I'm nuts but I was so enamored of her work that I just had to show it!

Here's another of Linda's vintage inspired cards. She even makes the envelopes, which are beautiful in themselves.

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Here's a little bit about Linda and pix of her cards:

Linda has been crafting since childhood & she loves to learn new techniques & skills. She will try pretty much anything that catches her eye! Her skills include rubber stamping (which she's been doing for about 18 years), decoupage, card making, crepe paper flowers & "firecracker" boxes. She also makes jewelry - bracelets & necklaces from "found objects" and old re-purposed jewelry. Linda recently learned to solder. She makes boxes & frames that she decorates with shells & sand. Last summer, she learned to do mosaics (which was a life long dream) and enjoyed it very much.

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Linda's main focus is making and selling greeting cards and envelopes utilizing everything from old photocopies photographs, lace, antique buttons, collage, rubber stamping, old sheet music and just random things that she finds. In the past few months she started selling her cards and has sold about 200 cards at $5.00 each. Her goal is to use up all the supplies she's collected!

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Every year, Linda participates in the "Dia de Los Muertos" in her area. This Mexican celebration means "Day of the Dead" and is a day to remember & honor our ancestors. This year running from November - December 2008, Linda is proud to be part of an exhibit called "Columbarium" at the Oakland Museum in Oakland CA. She is currently working on a piece of art for the exhibit.

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Linda is always busy cutting or gluing something. She has a room in her home that is dedicated to her crafting and she spends a lot of her time organizing it and says her biggest challenge is keeping everything in its place!

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Linda - I want to thank you for your friendship those first few days at my new job. You made it a lot easier to get through it! I'm so glad that I got to know you and learn about your art.

If you want to contact Linda to inquire about her cards you may email her at LMarglon@gmail.com