Is it a curse or a blessing?

Sometimes, I get paid for my mosaic tile artwork.
Sometimes, I get paid for the knowledge of gluing stuff to other stuff.
Sometimes, I sell some of the many unique items at 225 Water Street Creative Arts.

Unfortunately, I don’t have the luxury of creating, teaching, selling mosaic tile or being a shopkeeper full time. I’d starve:) but…
I do allow myself time, each day {week}, to create, sell or teach the art of mosaic tile and creative arts.

So far, the Jordan, Minnesota Facebook group has 197 strong!
We hope you'll join today!

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/group.php?gid=57206576379

Hope to see you there.
http://www.explorejordan.org

Perserverance 1. steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., esp. in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement

My friend Thomas sat on the steps with me, at 225 Water Street, during the Heimatfest parade. He's an interesting older man that stops into the store every so often...always at the right time.

I really enjoy his take on life.

As it turned out, his appearance was divine intervention.

As we sat down, he kindly whispered to me, "everyone else is sitting on the other side of the street because they don't want to be subjected to the sun.

225 Water Street Creative Arts is hosting another Recycled Art Contest.

This time entries need to be submitted in electronic format (jpeg) and the qualifying entries will be displayed online, as received.

If you are a recycled artist or family that creates unique things out of recycled materials, then this contest is for you.

Entry Form Attached to View.
Entries and images must be owned and created by entrant to qualify.

No Fee to Enter! Cash Prizes!

Mosaic Tile Classes and Mosaic Tile Party Schedules Now Online!

It is amazing what you can accomplish if you don't care who gets the credit. - Harry S. Truman

The 3/50 Project, http://www.the350project.net/home.html created by Cinda Baxter of Minneapolis in March, has taken the buy-local creed across the country from Lake Havasu City, Ariz. to Hoboken, N.J. “It’s really an investment program,” Ms. Baxter said. Customers are investing their dollars in locally-owned businesses, which, in turn, improve their customer service. “It’s making a difference,” she said.

Former Retailer Provides Her Own Economic Stimulus Plan for Main Street (Reprinted Press Release by 3/50 Project - Cinda Baxter)

Having been an independent stationery store owner for fourteen years, Cinda Baxter understood the pain felt by retailers when the economy sank and consumers held back. What began as an economic downturn in the autumn had become a psychological tsunami by March 1st. What the country needed, in her opinion, was a meeting of the minds between two groups that held valuable stakes in the game—small business owners and members of their communities.

If you haven't you should. So far we have heard of three cases of garden and yard theft in Downtown Jordan.

Keep your eyes open for a missing concrete lion, garden gnomes and the like.

Shame on them for stealing these delightful treasures in the night.
Haven't these wayward thieves heard of KARMA?

Word of caution. If you love your gnomes...take them in at night.

A weary mother returned from the store,
Lugging groceries through the kitchen door.
Awaiting her arrival was her 8 year old son,
Anxious to relate what his younger brother had done.

"While I was out playing and Dad was on a call,
T.J. took his crayons and wrote on the wall!
It's on the new paper you just hung in the den.
I told him you'd be mad at having to do it again.

She let out a moan and furrowed her brow,
"Where is your little brother right now?"
She emptied her arms and with a purposeful stride,
She marched to his closet where he had gone to hide.

Washington DC Metro Station on a cold January morning in 2007. He played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time approx 2 thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After 3 minutes a middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his schedule.

4 minutes later:
the violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the till and, without stopping, continued to walk.

6 minutes: