Getting to know you/ BusyBee aka Jeannie

To start, please tell us a bit about yourself. What's your story?
A bit about myself is hard to cover in 60+ years of 'story'. I'll try be brief, I promise. I was born in 1947 is Salem OR as a twin (NOT identical, she had red hair). After 7 years of marriage to my husband, Paul, we moved to Maine. We were there for about 25 years. We are now in Chattanooga TN. Ya' all ought to come to visit, beautiful place with much to do and see. We have 2 children, a boy and a girl, and 8 granchildren, 4 boys, 4 girls. I am a teacher by trade and a crafter by interest, and partially by trade. I expect to be both til the day I leave this world. Who knows, I may be that in heaven one day, also. Which is to say I'm a Christian, but you already know that. The loves of my life are the Lord, my hubby, children, grandchildren, teaching others, and learning and doing new things (especially as it relates to arts and crafts). So there you go, that's the 'bit' about my life. Not too long was it!?!

OH, and a couple of big accomplishments, not including delivering and rearing my wonderful children: I developed, and wrote a cutticulem guide for a vocational child development program which was put in place in Oregon and Washington public schools. My master's thesis, done in the state of Maine, was presented at a Northeast Area conference by my advising professor. That was a really nice surprise!!!

What is your favorite quote?
My favorite quote is "This too shall pass". Whenever I go through a hard time, I realize the the Lord is there with me and has promised never to give me a trial too difficult for me to without a way out. AND, through living as a Christian, I have learned to know that "This too shall pass".

What is your favorite movie?
Rigoletto is my all time favoite. The description states that it is a musical fantasy ringing of truth and filled with mystery and love. You should all see it, it's absolutely wonderful!!!

What is your favorite TV show?
That's a toughy, not sure I have one. Don't like much of what is on TV. I do enjoy watching Joyce Meyer, she really hits us where we should be living.

Do you have a hero, if so, who? why?
When younger, I thought DaVinci was fascinating. He was so very talented and a genius. Then I realized he was an ungodly man. Today my hero would be Jesus Christ. I can't imagine anyone doing what He did for a world that did not love Him and still have perfect love in His heart. I would cherish having perfect love in my heart. Where would I be without Him?


What is your favorite song at the moment?
"It Is Well". I love the story behind that song and IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL!
I guess if I had to choose a secular song, I would say "Wind Beneath My Wings". It's a wonderful song of love and friendship.

What kinds of music do you listen to?
Christin, celtic, some country

How long have you been creating?
Since grade school, so over 50 years

What inspires you?
Nature inspires me in my paintings / the need to learn new things, to design and create inspires me in the other areas of arts and crafts.
In my life, in general, the Lord / my husband / and my other family members are the force behind my inspiration to be the best I can.

Is there any kind of music you listen to when you create?
It is dead silence when I create. I guess the years of teaching with listening to others talk to me constantly, just made me want peace and quiet. Besides the Bible says "Be still and know that I am God". It is those still times that I can really hear God. In fact, speaking of hearing God and music, about 20 years ago, God gave me a song about my life with Paul as I was thinking how special he is to me. I am not a song writer and could never have written it had it not been given to me. 2 days after writing the words, God also gave me the melody. It goes like this (great anniversary song): 1) Maybe as we walk / We can still walk hand in hand / And, maybe as we talk / We can work to understand / This love the good Lord gave us / To have, to hold, to keep / To work at and to cherish / For all the world to see // 2) The Lord helped us to grow / and gave us second birth / And through His love we'll show / That we believe this truth / This love the good Lord gave us / He sanctioned not to end / His love must show through us / Though trials enter in // This love the good Lord gave us / To have, to hold, to keep / To work at and to cherish / FOR - ALL - THE - WORLD - TO - SEE

What's your biggest artistic disaster to date?
I was doing a HUGE wedding cake for our pastor's daughter. I baked and decorated it and placed it in the churches freezers. I had done many than way without problem. However, before the wedding, there was a huge storm and the electricity went out at the church. The day of the wedding, I was putting the cakes together, all 8 of them, on their tiers and almost every one of them had the icing fall off about 1/2 of each cake. I ended up redoing icing and decorations the WHOLE day. I even left a small section on the back side of the cake blank. No one even noticed.
In all these years, I've acutally had a lot of artistic disaster, most of which could be remedied.

What's your favorite piece that you've done?
I guess I would have to say my Croison Pony as it has family history behind it. Check it out: http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=11923721

What's the best advice you were given when starting out?
You can do anything you put your mind to do, if you just try. In reality, that isn't always true. But, we do need to have confidence in our abilities. Others won't if we don't.

Do you have any advice to give others?
Be an optimist. Life is so much more fun if you look for the good in EVERYTHING, and not the bad. Set yourself some goals. If you don't have something to work towards, you will never do anything with your life. And, most of all, Love the Lord. It assures you security and joy now and a great eternity later.

What's coming up for you; any big plans artistically?
My goal is to start a new etsy store with my paintings and etchings. I want to have at least 10 items to display before I set it up. Right now, I don't have the time, but it is somehting I want to do.

Where can we find you? Both online and in stores.
Etsy: http://www.busybeeworker.etsy.com
Twitter and soon on facebook

PICTURES: Paul and I / 4 generations (Paul's Mom, Paul and I, both children, granchildren missing the last 2) / Tasha our German shepherd and newest child