Thursday, October 22

testing the waters with my soul sister...

i did say 'grand news' didn't i?
of course after i said it, i began to think about the word 'grand' and what it could mean.
perhaps my thoughts of 'grand' are quite different from somebody else's 'grand'.
therefore you could be popping by today, thinking "oooh, that's right... Tif had something really grand to tell us" and then when i tell you, you may very well think "well that's a load of pants, by 'grand', i thought Tif was going to announce she was eloping with Colin Firth, or perhaps having Johnny Depp's baby"...

now i fear i may disappoint with my 'grandness' of yesterday.
perhaps i should reset the words to 'breaking news', then again perhaps not... for that would imply my news is on the level with eloping or having a baby.
so i think for the purpose of my 'unveiling' i will go with not 'grand news', not 'breaking news' , or even 'earth shattering news' but just good old 'news of the utmost kind'.
i think that's perfect, it sums up exactly what i'm going to divulge to you and probably right now you are wishing me to stop 'twitting' on about whatever blimen' news i have and just go ahead and spill the beans...


but you know me dearest readers, and you know i cannot possibly do that without 'telling a tale'.
so if you have rediscovered your patience with me and are sitting comfortably, then i shall begin...

i am the youngest of four, my three elder siblings being brothers.
although i love them dearly, as a small child i wished for a sister.
i am not sure if i ever voiced this wish to my parents, and i am quite sure even if i did, to comply with such a wish was not top of their list of 'to dos'.

i was nearly 12 when i found my sister.
she was in math class sitting up front, with her pens all color co-ordinated, her hair long and perfect, she stood a foot above the rest of the class and she was beautiful.
i was in awe of her ability to sit up front of class, her non frizzy hair, her color co-ordinated pen set, her 'underlining of relevant' information with said 'pen set' and most of all, the way she carried herself so beautifully.
for close to 30 years this wonderful person named Debbie has been my soul sister, through good times, crappy times and downright funny times... we have been together despite the miles between us.

as we step into our 40's together, she is still organized with her pens, makes fabulous lists in pretty notebooks and remains beautiful, standing a foot above the rest...
i have marvelled over the years as to why i had the good fortune of finding my sister so early on in life and that best of all, she should want to go through her life holding my hand and being the sister i never had. after all, i am 'total pants' at keeping my pens in order, never 'underlined' in my school books, i need my hand holding nearly everyday across cyber space and as is often the case, nearly 'pee my undies' whenever we get together. (and yes, it was a close call for both of us, this past week in my grocery store...)

"so why is Tif telling us this tale?", i hear you wonder and i do feel it is a relevant question, after all i am apt to wandering off when i ramble...
but today dearest readers, i feel my little tale is most relevant, for without Debbie i would not have pushed the envelope so to speak (is there such a saying, where did that one come from?)
Debbie left her little brood in old blighty, to visit moi and my little brood, stateside... so we could plot, devise a plan, map out our future.
she bought notebooks,
i provided the pens.
her notebooks were pretty,
my pens were crappy,
(you know the sort... with the dentist's telephone number on.)
typical.

and our plan?
apart from opening a shop one day together,
apart from growing old and laughing about it together,
apart from ending up in the same retirement home together,
our plan is
to put dottie angel 'out there'...
no 'eloping' or 'celebrity babies' involved,
just paper, pictures and my ramblings.


now of course, technically a few sets of 'every eventuality' cards is hardly taking the world by storm, even if they cover such important sentiments such as
"so sorry you are feeling crappity crap"
and
"thinking you are quite peachy perfect"
but me and my soul sister are going to test the waters by placing some cards in the store next week and see how they are received...


in the meantime our little cogs are turning and we hope to take bigger 'paper' steps in the future,
until then, i shall put in a call for some 'elves' to visit my studio at night for card making purposes
and continue to think myself most lucky to have found my soul sister all those years ago...

she will be back tomorrow with a new series (oooh, the suspense! )... that's if you are still awake ~ Tif

22 comments:

Unknown said...

These are seriously SO cute! I want some! :)

AT said...

Stop it! I looove cards and mail of all kinds and am VERY excited to see what you two ladies have been crafting up! They look a treat from what I can see so far.

And I too am one of the blessed who found a soul sister quite early...I was 5 and we met on the way to school, trudging on a wet cardboard box. It was soggy, mulchy fate, and we have been attached at the hip (even though sometimes an ocean separated us, though no longer) ever since. I can't imagine living with only "acquaintance friends" or "work friends," or even "friends of friends," and the more I see how rare this kind of bonded sister-friendship is, the more blessed I feel.

Here's to all the soul sister friends!
Best wishes!

misselaineous said...

I've been lurking around your blog recently, but had to comment today. I, too have, a very best friend that at times feels like having a sister. I always wanted an OLDER sis, and Mom couldn't quite explain why that could not happen :o} Steph & I have been friends for almost 40 years, & she & hubby just moved to Florida, 1 mile away from me. We plan & laugh & cry and one day hope to have a shop called..."Steph 'n E's". Hope it happens...& hope you do well with the cards...they are fabulous!! *elaine*

yarning. said...

But this is Grand News!!! :) Very grand in fact. Sooo gorgeous!! Hope those elves are working hard cause these will be snapped up fast! Sooo... when exactly will these 'hit' your shop??? :)

Sarah - Red Gingham said...

You know we love your ramblings! Way to go Tif!!! Those cards are fabulous indeed. I love how you have your own photos on them and your special talk too. Wishing you luck on your new adventure.

edward and lilly said...

I just found your blog and it's gorgeous. This is such a great post, sounds like you have an amazing friend and I am totally smitten by those cards. Wishing you huge success :)

martha brown said...

Oh, I'm sure that they will be well received indeed! I, for one, will most definitely be looking for them in your shop next week.

Hear Me Roar! said...

My heart is leaping with joy! I'm so excited to see your wonderful cards, and I guarantee they'll be perfect stocking stuffers for EVERYONE!

Cary said...

love it... especially the "sorry" card. i love that picture of the two of you. priceless.

Leah said...

Love them, they are beautiful. Please consider a calender...pretty pleeease. I would love one to bing some Dottie into my home.

dottie angel said...

i am wondering if the elves are reading this, looks like i will need them for more than one night :)

you continuously help me to believe in myself with your lovely words of encouragement and for that i thank you kindly...

Tif x

Kylie said...

They are just wonderful and I love them and I can't wait till they are in the shop... :) K

Jamie said...

Definitely on my wish list!!!! I can't wait to buy some "sorry you are feeling crappity crap" cards and other lovelies!!!!! Yay!!!
And yes, that's GRAND news!!! Don't ever doubt it!!!

Greedy Nan said...

Let's hope that the elves come with good old ethic of hard work [and plenty of it] so that we can all have the opportunity of making such a purchase.

jungle dream pagoda said...

The cards are dee-lish and all the better because they were made from the love of 2 soul sisters! I have a soul sister too,she gave me a roof top baby shower and was in the room when both of her goddaughters were born!
As she is about to take NYC by storm with her one-woman Betty Davis play,I think I need to get her one of your cards!!!
Hurray for our sistahs from other mistahs!!!!

elizabeth & harriet said...

tif, wonderful job on the cards ... it makes me wish i had a friend feeling "crappity crap" ... well almost ... i wouldn't be much of a friend if i wished that on someone would i ...

i am blessed to multiple soul sisters in my life and a blood one too ...

makes the world a brighter place ...

* said...

fantastic!

(couldn't you make fab cards *and* have mr. depp's bebe?)

Francesca said...

oh tif tif tif! i have been lagging behind old blogworld for a week or so and look what i almost missed! they look fantastic. you have so perfectly translated dottie angel to paper. good old debbie, what a pal! i promise i won't almost miss any more! xxx

Ben Hughes Art said...

Hey Tif, and there was me thinking I'd done enough by wearing dresses and having wrestling matches (did I ever let you win?). Love the cards - you're making us all proud - ol' brother.

dottie angel said...

little brother, i do not recall you ever letting me win at wrestling... i'm not bitter though, 'cause i wasn't made to wear the mustard yellow flared trousers in public :)

Luisa said...

beautiful cards Tif. I would buy 'em!

~ Junkyard Jennifer said...

Love the cards! They're so 'Dottie Angel'--just perfect. :)

~ Jennifer