A COUNTRY GIRL'S INSPIRATION

I live in the RIO GRANDE VALLEY, in beautiful south Texas. It is the land of cowboys, cattle, and farming. We are deeply rooted in a dual-culture of Tex-Mex. I find many of my inspirations for my arts and crafts from the local flavor.

SPRING BREAK 2009

Catholic Teen's ACTS Retreat

I want to thank the wonderful A.C.T.S. brothers and sisters who served on the retreat team at the March 2009 Teen Retreat in Weslaco. I sincerely admire your adoration of our glorious father God, and I appreciate your service to our youth, especially my teen son. Many of my friends and relatives have attended an A.C.T.S. retreat and it has been a life-changing experience. So many others have gone on to serve our community by serving as retreat team members. An A.C.T.S. weekend retreat is designed to help the retreatants enter into a new or deeper relationship with our Lord and fellow parishioners. This is accomplished through Adoration and daily prayer, the call to Community in one’s parish as a member of the Body of Christ, and Theology in encouraging the study of scripture and our Catholic Faith. All of these which emphasize and encourage the virtue of Service to our Lord, our parish and one another. My life has greater purpose and direction since my A.C.T.S. retreat in Nov. 2008. I am forever grateful to my sister Angela for bringing this retreat to me. Angela attended her retreat first. When I saw her peace and joy, I knew it was going to be something very special. I highly recommend this retreat to everyone! Contact your local Catholic Church for more information. Everyone is welcomed! You do not have to be a member of the Catholic Church; you just need to be open to a deeper relationship with God. Make the call, we are waiting!

MARCH 2009

March brought more sewing innovations. I turned the dinning room into a sewing room. My son Vinny calls it a "sweat-shop". I fully extended the dinning table. I purchased a couple of beautiful wrought iron mannequins. I am on way to great creations!!

I found gorgeous pillowcases at a local discount store. As soon as I saw them I knew they would make the perfect eclectic apron, which I named "Freedom of Speech". My fabulous friend Kay helped me sew men's aprons this month. We found the perfect sports-theme fabrics and made pockets out of them and put them on full-size black aprons.

During March I also bough an awesome book, A is for Apron. It was totally fun reading. I got a lot of ideas that I'm sure to use.

Also during March my daughter Gina got the creative-bug. She is making decorative felt "stuffies". We bought so many colors of felt, buttons, threads, and much more. She has donated several felt sheets to me for my apron designs.

Jessica signed up JOY Marie's Boutique to participate in our local Onion Fest next month. That means I need to get busy!!

FEBRUARY 2009

OMG - I have bought so much fabric, embellishments, and accessories, that I'm getting to the obsessive point. My kids say I need an intervention. I have two wonderful teenage children, Vinny & Gina. They are still my priority and ultimate joy.

My sewing machine gave me problems early in the month but by the grace of God, it worked. My friend Kay suggested that I read the sewing machine instruction manual. Funny how things work out when you follow instructions!

I made two cupcake full-size aprons for a mother and daughter baking team. It was much fun creating such colorful aprons.

JANUARY 2009

JANUARY 2009 - Joy Marie's Boutique opens for business and aprons were brought to life in south Texas. I prayed to God for passion and purpose, and he answered my prayers. At the age of 13 I hand-stitched my very first apron. It was a red skirt apron. We kept that apron for a very long time. At the age of 40-something, my sister Jessica invited me to join her successful business at http://www.joymaries.com/ and the fun started.

I have to also thank my dear friend Kay from Iowa. I met her January 2009 but it seems like I have known her a lifetime. She guided me towards greater serenity when I needed it the most. Kay also helped me improve my sewing skills and she gave me an appreciation for fabrics! Kay and I hit the craft stores in January and must have spent hours shopping around.

The Victorian Princess apron is the very first apron that Kay and I made in January. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=21769858&ref=em

My friends please be sure to keep coming back! I can’t wait to talk to you again. ~~ Yoli

Welcome from the Apron Senorita

Hello friends, I am Yoli Kalkofen from beautiful south Texas. God is wonderful and he answers prayers. I asked for passion and purpose and he gave me aprons!

I hope to share my thoughts with you. I invite you to join and share your thoughts too. Keep coming back!

Yoli :)