So Many Memories

I Heart Macro

2012-01-21T21:20:00.000-05:00

There's nothing quite as good as a steaming cup of hot chocolate on a cold wintry day!

Especially with whipped cream and sprinkles!

I'm joining Studio Waterstone for I Heart Macro where you will

find some truly spectacular macro and close up photos.

Thankful Thursday

2012-01-18T23:21:00.000-05:00

Happy Thursday, friends! Every Thursday I share what I'm thankful for. Sometimes it's a serious or big thing and sometimes it's a goofy or small thing. I believe that no matter what is going on in our lives there is always something to be thankful for. Always.

felt hearts

Today I am so very thankful for my heart and that it is healthy. After an EKG that was abnormal, an echocardiogram and two day stress test, the doctor is satisfied my heart is just fine. I couldn't be happier. It's more than a little scary to find out there might be a problem, especially when you have so many risk factors for heart attack or stroke.

I'm also thankful for

* friends who pray

* my warm and comfy house

* heated seats in the car

* a husband who knows how to cook

* Skype so I can visit with my granddaughter

If you would like to link up, just grab the button from the side bar and include it in your blog post or link back to this post. Then link your post to Mr. Linky down below.

What are you thankful for today?

I Heart Macro

2012-01-14T20:54:00.000-05:00

I took these buttons off a blouse and replaced them with the buttons from

last week's macro shot!

I'm joining Lori at Studio Waterstone for I Heart Macro, where you will find some pretty incredible macro and close up photos.

Have a wonderful Sunday!

Thankful Thursday

2012-01-11T21:12:00.000-05:00

Today I'm so very thankful that my nephew is home safely from Afghanistan. His unit came home over the weekend and my sister was so very happy! I'm looking forward to seeing him later this year.

I'm also thankful for
* a wonderful but short weekend visit with my other sister. We laughed. A lot.
* kindness on the other end of the phone.
* insulin pumps
* second chances and sometimes third and fourth

If you would like to link up, just grab the button and include it in your blog post or link back to this post. Then, link your post to Mr. Linky down below.

What are you thankful for today?

Tickle Me Tuesday

2012-01-10T00:18:00.000-05:00

I came across a blog post yesterday that really tickled my fancy. You really must read this post from Crafty Little Gnome.

She transformed her hallway into a forest using Sharpie markers! It is just amazing what she did. There are lots of pictures in the post, so I hope you will take a minute to read it. I promise you will be glad you did.

I'm joining Sarah at Yes Teacher for Tickle Me Tuesday.

What is tickling your fancy this week?

The 365 Project

2012-01-09T06:00:00.000-05:00

One of my intentions for the new year is to learn how to use my camera. I found The 365 Project and it appealed to me right away. They give you a theme for the week along with an educational post with a challenge. You take pictures everyday and post one picture a day on their Facebook page. I enjoyed it so much last week and want to share with you my week of photos.

The theme was Good-bye Holidays and the challenge from the post was to learn how to shoot a bokeh.

Day 1 bokeh

Day 2 reflection in the tv

Day 3 ornament

Day 4 trees in front of the tree

Day 5 the skating snowman

Day 6 the last of the holiday chocolate

Day 7 cookies

Whether you know how to use your camera or not, this is a fun way to get used to taking photos every day. Maybe by the end of the year, I'll actually know what I'm doing!

What is your favorite subject to photograph?

I Heart Macro

2012-01-08T00:47:00.000-05:00

This is a regular shot of a 3/8 inch button. I actually have nine of them for a project.

Here is the macro shot.

What a difference!

I really do heart macro!

I'm joining Studio Waterstone for I Heart Macro.

Go ahead and check out the incredible macro and close up photos!

Happy Sunday!

A Big Thank You

2012-01-07T07:00:00.001-05:00

I want to take time to say a big thank you to Kara Nina from the Etsy shop, Knme, for featuring one of my gift tags in this great treasury. It's pretty incredible considering I have only three items in my shop right now! The best way I can think of to say thanks is to show you a couple of items in her shop.

hand knit scarf

handmade clay buttons

clay pendants

There are so many pretty things in this shop! I hope you will take a few minutes to show her some treasury love and check out her other items.

My sister is coming down from NYC to spend the weekend with me! What are your plans this weekend?

Thankful Thursday

2012-01-04T20:00:00.001-05:00

Welcome to the first Thankful Thursday post of 2012! Every Thursday I share what I'm thankful for. Sometimes it's a serious or big thing and sometimes it's a goofy or small thing. I believe that no matter what is going on in our lives there is always something to be thankful for. Always.

source

I'm thankful for my electric blanket! We had such unusually warm temperatures up until this week but it turned oh so cold over night. I can turn on that blanket before I get in bed and it's all toasty warm when I'm ready to lay down. Really, it's one of the best ever modern conveniences!

I'm also thankful for
* time for myself
* sunshine ~ especially this time of year
* mindless tv ~ sometimes you just don't want to have to think
* facebook friends who like to play Scrabble (let me know if you want to play!)

If you would like to link up, just grab the button and include it in your blog post or link back to this post. Then, link your post to Mr. Linky down below.

What are you thankful for today?

Just a Reminder

2012-01-04T06:00:00.001-05:00

Hello friends! I know you all have something to be thankful for, so I want to invite you to join me tomorrow and every Thursday for Thankful Thursday. Mr. Linky will be up by 9:00 pm tonight to link your post to. I sincerely hope to "see" you here as we share what we've been thankful for this past week!

Happy Wednesday!

Tickle Me Tuesday

2012-01-03T10:22:00.000-05:00

I'm excited to join Sarah at Yes Teacher for another year of Tickle Me Tuesday!

These winter white items from Etsy are tickling my fancy this week!

linen shoe for baby girl

body powder puff

baby's breath photograph

bird mobile

What's tickling your fancy this week?

My Intentions for The New Year

2012-01-02T06:00:00.001-05:00

I have really enjoyed reading about everyone's resolutions for 2012. Some have been laugh out loud funny and some very serious. I've also enjoyed reading the words being used for "resolution". Words like goals, promises, reminders. My favorite is intentions from Lisa at Grandma's Briefs. I think that word best describes how I start each new year...with the best of intentions.

This year, I intend to:
1. Finish Shylee's quilt. I started it before she was born and she will be four in April. Which leads me to #2.
2. Procrastinate less. I didn't used to procrastinate as much as I do these days. So, I intend to do at least one thing each day instead of putting it off.
3. Complain less and be more positive. Not only will I be happier but so will everyone else around me.
4. Learn my camera and photoshop elements. I spent the last year just playing around with my camera and not really learning anything. I also have photoshop elements but kept putting off trying to understand it.(see #2)
5. Create something handmade for each room of the house. I read this on another blog (forgive me for not remembering where) and the idea really appeals to me.

I have many more intentions concerning my business and blog, but a girl needs to keep some things to herself!

What are your intentions for this new year?

I Heart Macro ~ Hello 2012

2012-01-01T01:37:00.000-05:00

Wishing you, my friends, a new year filled with love, laughter, peace, and happiness!

Happy New Year!!!

I'm joining Studio Waterstone for I Heart Macro

Good-Bye 2011

2011-12-31T06:00:00.001-05:00

This year seemed to fly by, but at the same time it seemed to be awfully long!

It was a good year. I got to go to Charleston, South Carolina and see and old friend.

My sisters came to visit and my son-in-law came home safely from Iraq.

It was a good year, but I'm ready to move on to 2012!

I want to leave you with a few of my favorite projects from the year

and some of my favorite photos I took.

We are not partyers on New Year's Eve. We will eat some snacks, drink some champagne, watch a movie, and probably be in bed before midnight! Yes, we really live it up around here!

How will you be celebrating tonight?

Thankful Thursday

2011-12-29T06:00:00.001-05:00

Welcome back my friends! I hope you have enjoyed your holiday as much as I have!

I am so thankful my family was all together this Christmas and we were able to enjoy the laughs and

fun that is what family get togethers are all about.

I'm thankful for the magic of Christmas when there is a little one in the house. Shylee was so much fun this year.

I'm also thankful for my beautiful daughter who has a birthday the day after Christmas.

She is loving and caring, smart, funny, creative, and the best daughter a mother could ask for.

Next week I will have Mr. Linky up and I hope you will consider joining me every Thursday for Thankful Thursday!

What are you thankful for today?

Merry Christmas

2011-12-24T10:01:00.000-05:00

May your Christmas be merry and bright and happy and joyful!!

Merry Christmas to you all ♥♥

Thankful Thursday

2011-12-22T01:09:00.000-05:00

Every Thursday I share something I'm thankful for. Sometimes it's a big thing and sometimes it's a small or goofy thing. I believe no matter what is going on in your life, there is always something to be thankful for.

I'm thankful for Christmas and all that it means.

What are you thankful for today?

I Heart Macro

2011-12-18T00:37:00.000-05:00

My daughter sent me the most beautiful bouquet of flowers that contained pine

and cedar branches.I was fixated with the cedar!

I took this photo with the 28mm macro tube. I'm still getting used to the tubes!

I'm joining Lori at Studio Waterstone for I Heart Macro

Christmas is just a week away...are you ready?!

Wintry White Gift Card Holders

2011-12-16T06:00:00.000-05:00

My daughter asked me to make her some wintry white gift card holders. I made them out of wool felt, vintage mother of pearl buttons, shimmery silvery white embroidery floss, and iridescent seed beads. Everything is hand stitched and I have the needle stabs in my finger tips to prove it!

Are you ready for Christmas? I'm so far behind. The tree is finally done but no other decorations. The shopping is less than half done and I've done no baking. I know it will all get done in time, but it would be nice to have it done already!

Have a fabulous Friday!

Thankful Thursday

2011-12-14T19:55:00.000-05:00

Today, I'm so very thankful that my son-in-law is home safe and sound from Iraq! We missed him, thought about him and prayed for him every day and it is such a relief to have him home. I won't get to see him until next week when everyone comes for Christmas, but for now, it's enough just to know he's home.

I'm also thankful for
* all the servicemen and women who serve their country and sacrifice so much
* encouragement from friends
* phone calls from my daddy
* orange scones from Panera Bread
* shopping and dinner at Cheesecake Factory with my husband

What are you thankful for today?

Please join me by linking your Thankful Thursday post. Grab the button below or link your post back to this one and add your post to the linky list.

Tickle Me Tuesday

2011-12-13T10:09:00.000-05:00

These vintage Christmas items are tickling my fancy this week!

I'm joining Yes Teacher for Tickle Me Tuesday where you will find all

kinds of fun and interesting items that are tickling someone's fancy!

What's tickling your fancy this week?

I Heart Macro

2011-12-11T01:04:00.000-05:00

Buttered popcorn is my favorite movie/tv watching snack. And I'm not talking the microwave stuff either. I pop my popcorn in a big pot on the stove and it has to be Orville Redenbacher!

I'm joining Studio Waterstone for I Heart Macro.

You should check out the incredible macro and close-up photos!

Thankful Thursday

2011-12-07T22:53:00.000-05:00

Today I'm thankful we got rain and not snow! While other parts of the state is getting the white stuff, it missed us. I enjoy the snow around Christmas, but since I had to be out today, I'm glad I just got wet without slipping and sliding!

I'm also thankful for:
* uneventful dentist visits
* internet shopping
* the pharmacist who took the time to call
* coupons and sales
* twinkle lights

What are you thankful for today?

Please join me by linking your Thankful Thursday post. Grab the button below or link your post back to this one and add your post to the linky list.

A Pink Sachet

2011-12-07T06:00:00.001-05:00

As you may know, I've been working on three sachets my sister asked me to make. The white one is here and the red one is here. I've finished the third one and it's pink.

Just as with the other two, I used the corner of a vintage hankie. I used vintage mother of pearl buttons, rick rack, lacy trim, decorative machine stitching, hand stitching, french knots, seed beads, and a gossamer bow. It is stuffed full of lavender and smells divine!

My sister will be giving these as gifts and I hope her friends like them. The next project is gift card holders that my daughter requested. I'll show you those when they're finished.

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Tickle Me Tuesday

2011-12-05T23:26:00.000-05:00

I am really tickled this week with these burlap Christmas items!

What's tickling your fancy this week?

I'm joining Sarah at Yes Teacher for Tickle Me Tuesday

A Red Sachet

2011-12-05T06:00:00.001-05:00

After my sisters bought all the lavender sachets I had in my shop, one of them asked me to make three more. The first one was all white and you can see it here. This red one is the second one.

I used the corner of a vintage hankie that had this embroidered flower attached to it. I added french knots and vintage mother of pearl buttons.

I also added french knots to the point of each scallop. I like how that gave the scallop a little more definition.

I really like how this sachet turned out. It's bright and cheery and makes me happy to look at it! I'll be sad to see this one go. I've started on the third one. It's pink, my favorite color!

What kind of craftiness are you up to?

I Heart Macro

2011-12-03T22:12:00.000-05:00

The last of the mums in my daughter's garden

To see some incredible macro and close-up photography, visit Studio Waterstone for

I Heart Macro

It Caught My Eye

2011-12-02T06:00:00.000-05:00

There are millions of items on Etsy. So many items, that you will never see all of them. That's why I enjoy reading blog posts featuring items that have caught someone's eye enough to share with the rest of us. It's how I see items I probably wouldn't have otherwise. These caught my eye recently.

pink polka dot clutch

Has something caught your eye lately?

Thankful Thursday

2011-11-30T21:00:00.001-05:00

If you are a regular follower of this blog, you know how excited and happy I was to get to see my sisters over Thanksgiving weekend. I am so thankful for the time we were able to spend together. I'm thankful for the love, support and encouragement they give me and for the memories we share.

Today I'm also thankful for
* continuing warm temperatures
* health insurance
* the smell of brownies baking in the oven
* Shylee's (my granddaughter) hugs and kisses
* the holiday season

What are you thankful for today?

Please join me by linking your Thankful Thursday post. Grab the button below or link your post back to this one and add your post to the linky list.

A White Sachet

2011-11-30T06:00:00.000-05:00

When making plans to meet with my sisters over Thanksgiving weekend, they asked me to bring the lavender sachets I had on hand because they were interested in giving them as gifts. I took all I had and they bought every one of them and asked for more! This is the first one I've made.

It is all white with a lace corner from a vintage hankie, some pearl beads, decorative machine stitching, embroidery stitches and french knots, and a yo-yo flower with a vintage mother of pearl button for the center.

One down, two to go...

A Memorable Thanksgiving

2011-11-29T00:18:00.000-05:00

Hello dear readers, and welcome back! I hope everyone had a wonderful time over the Thanksgiving weekend. This was one of the best Thanksgivings ever and also one of the most memorable. It started with my son and daughter fixing a Mediterranean menu that was just one of the most delicious meals I've ever had!

It included lamb and orzo stuffed peppers, couscous with a butternut squash stew, sausage and fennel stuffing, roasted fingerling potatoes and a spinach salad. It was just the best non traditional meal! There was a pumpkin pie for dessert but we were so full we didn't have it til the next day!

While the kids prepared dinner, I kept my granddaughter entertained (actually it was the other way around), and my husband ended up going to the urgent care clinic. He had an ear infection and a muscle spasm in his neck. Poor guy just wasn't feeling that great.

On Friday my sisters came for a visit. It was so much fun to just hang out at my daughter's house and get caught up. We laughed so hard we cried and snorted and couldn't catch our breath! After dinner we went to the hotel and stayed up half the night talking. They left on Saturday morning and I miss them so much.

I planned to go home in the early afternoon Saturday, but Shylee took a tumble down the stairs and we ended up in the emergency room for three hours. It was the most awful thing to hear a scream, see her legs in the air, hear the thump and tumble down wood stairs and see her land on her head. But she is just fine except for a big bump and some bruising.

Now it's time to gear up for Christmas. I'll be putting up the tree this week and doing some shopping and working on some custom orders for the shop. It's going to be a busy week!

What was most memorable about your Thanksgiving?

Thankful Thursday

2011-11-23T21:00:00.001-05:00

Today is the day set aside for reflecting on all that we are thankful for. If you are familiar with this blog, you know I do this every Thursday.

Today I am thankful for:
*my family and the time we are able to spend together
*food, shelter, clothing...the necessities
*the extras
*pumpkin pie
*friends who accept me and don't judge
*the kindness of a stranger in the midst of a bad day
*this country and the freedoms I enjoy
*most of all, I'm thankful for a God who provides and keeps His promises. A God who is the same yesterday, today and forever. A God whose love is everlasting.

I wish you a wonderful and happy Thanksgiving!

Please join me for Thankful Thursday. Grab the button or link back to this post and then link your post below.

Strange Customs

2011-11-23T06:00:00.001-05:00

My kids have never been a big fan of the traditional Thanksgiving meal. Over the years, we have eaten out or fixed steamed shrimp, because that's something everyone could agree on. Last year I wanted traditional, so I fixed turkey and dressing and all the trimmings.

This year, we're going to my daughter's house, and she and her brother are going to cook the non-traditional meal of their choice. The menu will include stuffed peppers with orzo and lamb, couscous with butternut squash, sausage and fennel stuffing, spinach salad, and I'm bringing pumpkin pie. This is definitely something different!

Imagine what a laugh my husband and I had when we went out for Chinese food last night and this was his fortune!

What will you be eating for Thanksgiving?

Tickle Me Tuesday

2011-11-22T01:26:00.000-05:00

I am so excited I can hardly contain myself. I have two sisters and both of them are coming here on Friday. One of them lives in Arkansas but works in NY and I've been able to see her three times in the last year. It's been three years since I've seen my other sister who also lives in Arkansas. The two of them will be in NYC for Thanksgiving and then they're coming here for a day! I can't wait!

Since sisters are tickling my fancy, I went looking for sister items on Etsy. These are my favorites!

Pendant

vintage pin

What's tickling your fancy this week?

I joining Sarah at yes, teacher for Tickle Me Tuesday

More Thank Yous

2011-11-21T06:00:00.001-05:00

Welcome back everyone! I hope you had a great weekend and rested up for this busy week and holiday ahead of us. I'm not cooking this year except for a pumpkin pie that I'm taking to my daughter's. In fact, my son and daughter are doing the cooking, so things are going to be different this year!

I was so thrilled to be in three treasuries last week, so I want to feature something from the shops of each of the treasury curators.

Adris from Adrisboltja featured my gray and yellow sachets in the treasury, My Favorites in Green. You will find fabric and felt jewelry, ornaments and more in Adris's shop. I really like these ornaments.

Hand embroidered Christmas ornaments

Yana from Wine Country Life featured the red and white birthday gift tag in the treasury, Happy Birthday, Natalka. In Yana's shop you will find handmade cards and gifts from Napa Valley. I especially like this bookmark.

Erin from Bartley Dannan Designs included the 'hope' sachet in the treasury, Stocking Stuffers For Her. Erin makes the cutest dresses and outfits for little girls. I can see my granddaughter in this Christmas twirl skirt.

It takes a lot of time to make a treasury, and I'm always honored to find out one of my items is in one. So a big THANK YOU to Adris, Yana, and Erin!

I hope you have a marvelous Monday!

I Heart Macro

2011-11-19T23:45:00.000-05:00

A lone azalea in the middle of November!

I'm joining Lori at Studio Waterstone for I Heart Macro.

Go on over and see some fabulous macro and close up photography!

Have a wonderful Sunday!

White and Sparkly

2011-11-18T06:00:00.001-05:00

I started some new projects this week and they are all white and sparkly! This will be a lavender sachet made from a corner of a vintage hankie.

I also started making Christmas ornaments. Originally, they were going in the shop, but I think they would make a nice thank you gift with orders. Or I might just have to keep them for my tree!

The ornaments have been fun to work on. I'm using cookie cutters for patterns and using wool felt that is so nice to work with. And although I love the all white look, I'll have to make some with red and green just because!

What are you working on?

Have a fabulous Friday!

Thankful Thursday

2011-11-16T22:00:00.001-05:00

I'm thankful I was able to witness the most spectacular sunset I've ever seen. I'm thankful for the reminder that God is in control in this crazy world. I'm thankful for my sight that allows me to see the beauty all around me.

I'm also thankful for
my blog buddies
recent sales in my shop
a good night's sleep

What are you thankful for? Please join me by linking your Thankful Thursday post. Grab the button below or link your post back to this one and add your post to the linky list.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-11-16T00:16:00.000-05:00

A foggy fall morning

I'm joining Aquariann's Wordless Wednesday

Tickle Me Tuesday

2011-11-15T00:28:00.000-05:00

I'm a member of the Southern Maryland Etsy Team. There are some very talented artists on this team and they are tickling me this week!

tea bag holder or ring dish

Ring

cutting board

I'm joining Sarah at yes, teacher for Tickle Me Tuesday

I Heart Macro

2011-11-12T22:10:00.000-05:00

I love roses!

I'm joining Studio Waterstone for I Heart Macro where you will find some incredible macro and close-up photography.

Kreativ Blogger Award

2011-11-12T06:00:00.001-05:00

A big "Thank You" to Sarah at yes, teacher for passing on the Kreative Blogger award to me. And in her words, "it's so nice to know that I'm not just talking to myself when I blog!"

I'm supposed to tell you seven things about myself and pass the award to seven other bloggers and let them know I did so.

Seven things:
1. My favorite TV show is Dancing With The Stars
2. When I was a teenager, I was madly in love with Donny Osmond, David Cassidy, and Michael Jackson
3. My adult crush is on Jon Bon Jovi
4. My favorite holiday is Christmas
5. I don't like oysters, clams or calamari
6. I love shrimp, crab and lobster
7. I'll be making pumpkin bread today

The hard part is choosing only seven blogs to pass this award to. I enjoy all the blogs I read, so I pass it on to you if you are reading this post! Feel free to grab the button for yourself or leave a random fact about yourself in the comments!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Veterans Day 2011

2011-11-11T06:00:00.001-05:00

Military life was the norm for me for forty years. My dad was in the army, and a year after I married Michael, he joined the army. My father-in-law, son-in-law, three brothers -in-law, and two nephews have served or are still serving. I am so very proud of all of them. Thank you for all you have done and are doing.

Please take time today to thank a vet and say a prayer for those who are serving. Also remember their families who also sacrifice so their loved ones can do their job for us.

I hope all of you have a fabulous Friday!

Thankful Thursday

2011-11-09T23:24:00.001-05:00

Today I'm thankful for the warm temperatures. Probably not what you expected! We've had warmer than normal temps so far this fall and I couldn't be happier. I don't like being cold or wearing bulky sweaters or sweatshirts to keep warm, so the longer I can put that off, the happier I am!

I'm also thankful for:
rain instead of snow
answered prayer
cold medicine

What are you thankful for? You're invited to join me here. Just grab a button or link back to this post and add your blog post link below.

Just Want To Say Thank You

2011-11-08T23:57:00.000-05:00

I'm always thrilled when I find out one of my items has been featured in a treasury on Etsy. Last week two of my items were featured in beautiful treasuries and I want to show my thanks by featuring something from each of the curators' shops. I've read about this on other blogs and I think it's a wonderful way to say thank you.

Maria from mayabijoux featured my gray and yellow sachets in her beautiful sunny days treasury. You will find crocheted scarves, fingerless gloves and jewelry among other things in her shop. I love the colors in this scarf.

Erin from Bartley Dannan Designs featured my hostess apron in a Thanksgiving treasury. Everything in this treasury is from members of the Southern Maryland team. Erin makes the cutest pillowcase dresses and outfits for little girls. How adorable is this Hello Kitty dress?!

Thank you, Maria and Erin! I'm honored you featured my items in your treasuries!

Have a wonderful Wednesday and don't forget to link up tomorrow for Thankful Thursday!

Tickle Me Tuesday

2011-11-08T00:54:00.000-05:00

White fudge covered Oreos are my most favorite Oreos of all. They're available for a limited time each year and I was all kinds of excited when I saw them last week. They really do tickle my fancy!

I'm joining Sarah at Yes, Teacher for Tickle Me Tuesday

What's tickling your fancy this week?

I Heart Macro

2011-11-05T21:00:00.000-04:00

Lavender I use for making sachets

I'm joining in the macro/close up fun over at Studio Waterstone

The Good Fairy Flora

2011-11-04T06:00:00.001-04:00

First, I have to apologize to those of you who were looking for yesterday's Thankful Thursday linky post. After being out of town for a few days, we returned Wednesday afternoon and found we had no internet connection. We were without it until Thursday night and I'm so sorry I wasn't able to get started this week. I'll try again next Thursday and hope you will still join me!

After Wednesday's post of my granddaughter, there were some emails and questions about her Halloween costume. So here are some more photos and explanations!

She was the good fairy, Flora, from Sleeping Beauty. Flora gave the gift of beauty to the baby Princess Aurora when she was born. My daughter Erin designed and made the costume. I thought she had bought a pattern but she didn't. If I had known this before Shylee was in bed that night, I would have taken pictures of the incredible details.

The hat is made of styrofoam and is not heavy at all. The problem Shylee was having with it was that it wouldn't stay in place. Every time she moved her head it would lean to one side or the other. It wasn't long before Erin was carrying it!

The wings were made from a wire clothes hanger and shimmery gold stockings! The only thing she didn't have was a wand. But that's okay because Erin would have ended up carrying that too!

Erin dressed up too!

Have a happy Friday and a wonderful weekend!!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-11-02T06:00:00.001-04:00

Bippity Boppity Boo!

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Tickle Me Tuesday

2011-11-01T00:16:00.000-04:00

banner

mini note cards

bowl fillers

I'm joining Sarah at Yes, Teacher for Tickle Me Tuesday

What's tickling your fancy this week?

The End ~ Blogtoberfest Day 31

2011-10-31T06:00:00.001-04:00

Kathy, this one is for you!

I can't believe Blogtoberfest 2011 has come to an end. I was determined to blog every single day and I actually did it! I admit to struggling a couple of times with what to blog about, but it wasn't as hard as in the past. There is just tremendous personal satisfaction when setting a goal and achieving it.

What goal have you reached recently?

I Heart Macro ~ Blogtoberfest Day 30

2011-10-30T00:35:00.000-04:00

It's a pine cone!!

I'm joining Studio Waterstone for I Heart Macro

Hot Rod Annie ~ Blogtoberfest Day 29

2011-10-29T07:00:00.001-04:00

Yay for the weekend! I'll be heading out later to spend a few days with my daughter and granddaughter and hopefully see my son as well. I hope you all have something fun planned, perhaps a party or two before trick or treating on Monday!

source

Yesterday's fun blog post had some of you wanting to know more about Hot Rod Annie. When I was a senior in high school, my family moved to White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico which is in the absolute middle of nowhere. The high school was thirty miles away in Las Cruces. It was a very long bus ride and when our parents would let us have the car, my friends and I would pile in and make an adventure of going to and from school.

It was during that year I discovered the joys of driving FAST! I would roll the window down, crank up the radio and fly across that highway to and from school. It was equally terrifying and exhilarating for all of us and I felt like I could do anything. Kind of like I was queen of the world! My friends nicknamed me Hot Rod Annie. (My name is Annette)

I have loved driving fast ever since. I was in heaven when my husband was stationed in Germany and we could drive on the autobahn. While some parts of the autobahn have no speed limit, most stretches of the highway do. Even so, I could drive way faster there than I could in the US. I drove our poor Ford Taurus into the ground!

I'm much better today! I might not always follow the speed limit, but I don't drive nearly as fast as I used to. But every now and then, Hot Rod Annie gets that urge to fly...

What about you...do you like to drive fast?

My Life From A To Z ~ Blogtoberfest Day 28

2011-10-28T01:51:00.000-04:00

Because I know you're just dying to know more about me, here is my life according to the alphabet. I'm borrowing from Sarah at Yes, Teacher

A. age: 50ish

B. Bed size: king

C. Chore that you hate: cleaning the bathroom

D. Dog: Annie, our black lab mix

E. Essential start to your day: a cup of tea and checking email

F. Favorite color: PINK!

G. Gold or silver: silver

H. Height: 5'3

I. Instruments you play: none :(

J. Job Title: Owner and CEO of So Many Memories

K. Kids: a son and a daughter

L. Live: Southern Maryland

M. Mother's name: Allene

N. Nicknames: Nette. When I was in high school it was Hot Rod Annie!

O. Overnight hospital stays: more than I want to remember

P. Pet Peeve: people who don't/won't make eye contact when talking to me

Q. Quote from a movie: "Take me to bed or lose me forever" from Top Gun

R. Right or left handed: right

S. Siblings: 2 younger sisters

T. Time you wake up: between 8 and 9

U. Underwear: yes, everyday!

V. Vegetable you hate: I don't hate it, but my least favorite is eggplant

W. What makes you run late: my husband

X. X-rays you've had: both knees

Y. Yummy food that you make: Chocolate chip pecan cookies

Z. Zoo animals: polar bears

Have a fabulous Friday!

Thankful Thursday ~ Blogtoberfest Day 27

2011-10-27T06:00:00.000-04:00

Every Thursday I share something I'm thankful for. Sometimes it's the big or obvious things and sometimes it's the small things. I believe there is always something to be thankful for!

ear trumpet portrait

I don't know about you, but I don't really pay attention to my body and how it works until something hurts. I've had an ear infection for over a week and it has made me very aware of my ears and hearing! I am so thankful that I can hear. I know too many people who deal with hearing loss and I can't imagine how frustrating that would be. Or how scary. My niece has to wear hearing aids and shared how scared she was during tornado season. The night of the Joplin tornado, the part of Arkansas she lives in also was dealing with tornadoes. She couldn't hear the storms or the sirens and she has a three year old. I don't want to take anything I have for granted, including my hearing.

What are you thankful for today?

Next week will begin the link up for Thankful Thursday. That is if I can figure it out and make a button! I hope you will join me in sharing what you are thankful for each week.

Wordless Wednesday ~ Blogtoberfest Day 26

2011-10-26T00:09:00.000-04:00

A lone colored leaf in the grass

I'm joining Aquariann's Wordless Wednesday

Tickle Me Tuesday ~ Blogtoberfest Day 25

2011-10-25T00:24:00.000-04:00

Pink and gray is one of my favorite color combinations!

Stitchin Stash

cuff bracelet

neck warmer

I'm joining Yes, Teacher for Tickle Me Tuesday

What's tickling your fancy this week?

Unexpected Diversion ~ Blogtoberfest Day 24

2011-10-24T07:00:00.001-04:00

My daughter and granddaughter came to visit yesterday. We've been having a wonderful time. They were going to leave this morning, but decided to stay another day after we stayed up all night talking about tattoos, Barbie and North Korean tourism! They are the reason this is all I could do for a blog post today! Gotta love Blogtoberfest!

Have a marvelous Monday!

I Heart Macro ~ Blogtoberfest Day 23

2011-10-23T00:08:00.000-04:00

I didn't get to get out with the camera this week so I pulled up this photo from a couple of months ago and played around with it in Picnik. This is with the HDR-ish effect.

This is the original before playing with the effects. This is pretty but the first one is just kind of cool with the details.

I'm joining Studio Waterstone for I Heart Macro.

Go on over and see the incredible macro and close up photos!

Have a wonderful Sunday!

The Ears Have It ~ Blogtoberfest Day 22

2011-10-22T06:00:00.001-04:00

I haven't been able to concentrate or focus on much of anything the last two days. I have an ear infection and the pain is unbelievably distracting. However, I didn't want to skip a blog post during Blogtoberfest, so I did a search on Etsy for "ears" and found some fun items!

Baby Hat

Feather Ear Cuff

1896 Anatomy of the Human Ear

1930s Mug

Fantasy Elf Ears

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

It's Official! ~ Blogtoberfest Day 21

2011-10-21T06:00:00.002-04:00

My Etsy shop, So Many Memories, is officially open for business! After closing up shop last April, I've been thinking and rethinking what I want to do. I don't agree with all the decisions Etsy makes and I especially don't agree with how they announce (or don't announce) the decisions. But I enjoy what I do and and I especially like being a part of the Etsy community. I've met some incredibly talented people and been inspired in ways I never dreamed of.

I've begun listing items, and working on new ideas, and obsessing over views, and all that goes with having an online business! My expectations are more realistic this time around and I'll work hard to keep it that way.

Have you had to rethink a decision or change your expectations? I would like to hear about it. We can learn a lot from each other!

Have a fabulous Friday!

Thankful Thursday ~ Blogtoberfest Day 20

2011-10-20T06:00:00.002-04:00

Hello dear friends and welcome to another Thankful Thursday. No matter what your days are like, I believe there is always something to be thankful for, no matter how small.

Earlier this week I had a chocolate craving. I was craving M&Ms to be exact. So I went to the store and bought a big bag. I didn't open it right away after I got home. It was later in the evening when I settled in to watch a favorite TV show. By then, I really wanted them and was practically drooling at the thought of the chocolaty goodness. I opened the bag and poured them in the bowl. Right away I noticed this white stuff that looked like cake crumbs that covered the candy. When I picked it up and rubbed it between my fingers, it melted and was greasy like butter. I don't know what it was and I wasn't going to taste it, so I dumped the bowl of M&Ms in the trash.

Are you wondering yet what I'm thankful for? I'm thankful that I didn't eat a whole big bag of M&Ms! I was in just that kind of mood where I would have mindlessly eaten them til they were gone and that's the last thing I needed to do. By the next day the craving was gone anyway! See, there's always something to be thankful for, lol !

Beginning Thursday, November 3, Thankful Thursday will become a linky party. I hope you will join in!

What are you thankful for this week?

Wordless Wednesday ~ Blogtoberfest Day 19

2011-10-19T00:17:00.000-04:00

Chesapeake Bay at Point Lookout, Maryland

I'm joining Aquariann's Wordless Wednesday

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Tickle Me Tuesday ~ Blogtoberfest Day 18

2011-10-18T00:29:00.000-04:00

I'm joining Sarah at Yes, Teacher for Tickle Me Tuesday. Why don't you join us?!

iPad case from Studio Waterstone

Earrings from Silver Rose Designs

Hand embroidered wrist cuff from Waterrose

What has been tickling your fancy this week?

Point Lookout ~ Blogtoberfest Day 17

2011-10-17T06:00:00.001-04:00

At the southernmost tip of Maryland's western shore is a peninsula formed by the Chesapeake Bay and the Potomac River. It's known as Point Lookout. We spent Sunday walking around the park and enjoying a mildly warm albeit windy day.

This is the Potomac side. That is a lighthouse on the left and is not in use anymore.

This is the Bay side. It has much less beach than the river side, but has a couple of fishing piers.

While on the Bay side we found deer tracks

While on the river side we saw deer.

It was fun to come across this while walking on the beach before the tide washed it away.

The park is full of pine trees. Pine cones covered the ground and reminded us of the time we lived in North Carolina. I brought a couple of them home, but I might have to go back for more for holiday decorating!

What kind of fun did you have over the weekend?

Have a marvelous Monday!

I Heart Macro ~ Blogtoberfest Day 16

2011-10-16T01:13:00.000-04:00

I got a macro extension tube set for my camera, and boy does it take some getting used to! I took 100 photos of little acorns and got 2 that were okay. I have to use manual focus and couldn't get the whole acorn to focus at once. This was my favorite shot. If it wasn't 1:00 am, I would play a little more!

I'm joining Lori at Studio Waterstone for I Heart Macro.

Why don't you take a look at the incredible macro and close up pictures.

Have a wonderful Sunday!

A Big Apology

2011-10-15T17:38:00.000-04:00

The post for today with links to blogging and business tips is currently down. I'm sorry for any inconvenience this may cause. If you want any of the links, please contact me and I will be happy to provide it for you.

Thank you,
Annette

A Is For Apron ~ Blogtoberfest Day 14

2011-10-14T00:44:00.000-04:00

This apron was so fun to make. I pulled the fabric from my stash because I thought it was pretty, but I had no idea what I was going to do with it. So I piled up fabric with similar patterns and colors, vintage hankies, vintage lace of all sizes and vintage buttons. I wish I had taken a picture of the table! One by one, I chose each element, and when I was done I saw an apron.

I used four vintage hankies cut in half diagonally and gathered at the waist. Each one is different and each one is trimmed in beautiful lace.

The ties are white roses, leaves and vines on a sweet pink background. It is the perfect compliment to the pink roses on front of the apron.

The bottom is trimmed in a double row of gathered vintage lace that has the perfect pink edging. Vintage mother of pearl buttons line the top edge of the lace.

I waited all week for the sun to shine so I could get some good pictures, but it didn't happen. I was just too impatient to wait any longer to show you my newest creation!

I'm joining

My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday

2805 for Potpourri Friday

Thankful Thursday ~ Blogtoberfest Day 13

2011-10-13T06:00:00.012-04:00

Hello and welcome back! I hope your week is going great so far and you have something to be thankful for. No matter what is going on, there is always something to be grateful for.

Today I'm thankful for my son, Sean. His birthday was yesterday and we were all together last weekend to help him celebrate. Sean is and always has been a quiet, gentle soul. That doesn't mean he didn't get into his fair share of mischief! He was quite good at that. He is funny and smart, sometimes cynical, and always a joy to be around. I don't see him often enough, but am grateful for the times when I can.

I'm also thankful we could all be together. It's been too long. I enjoyed seeing my Sweet Pea and letting her help me make Sean's birthday pie. She's at the age to get excited about birthdays, so we're doing candles and decorations again for her sake.

I'm also thankful for

the beauty of the season

encouragement from friends

the last outing for ice cream while it was still warm

music that brings back memories of falling in love

not seeing anymore frogs

I have been thinking about making Thankful Thursday a weekly linky party if enough people are interested. Please let me know if this is something you would be interested in. It would start the first Thursday in November.

What are you thankful for today?

Wordless Wednesday ~ Blogtoberfest Day 12

2011-10-12T00:04:00.002-04:00

From a grocery store bouquet of roses.

I'm joining Aquariann's Wordless Wednesday

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Tickle Me Tuesday ~ Blogtoberfest Day 11

2011-10-11T00:07:00.000-04:00

I have a love for all things vintage but especially linens. I use them in my sewing projects and enjoy seeing how others use them in their projects. Here's what I found.

Vintage hankie wall hanging

Vintage hankie bunting

Vintage tablecloth bird

Vintage tablecloth purse

I'm linking up with Sarah at Yes, Teacher! for Tickle Me Tuesday.

What's tickling your fancy this week?

Not One But Two Packages On The Porch ~ Blogtoberfest Day 10

2011-10-10T06:00:00.001-04:00

Happy Monday, friends! I had a wonderful weekend with family, celebrating my son's birthday that is this week. It's been a while since we were all together so it was a fun time.

I told you last week about a package waiting for me on my porch one day. A couple of days later, there was another one! Yes, two packages in one week. I can't tell you how excited I was. Both of them contained fabric, so how could I not be excited? I entered two different fabric giveaways and won one of them. The one I won was hosted by Maureen from Maureen Cracknell Handmade. One of her sponsors, Moona Fabrics, was giving away some of Anna Maria Horner's Hugs and Kisses fabric from her Loulouthi collection. This is what I won.

Isn't it just gorgeous? It's so pretty to look at, I don't know if I can cut it! I have some ideas about what to do with it, but nothing has been decided yet. I think I need to just enjoy the cheerful colors for a little longer!

The second box of fabric came from my long time bloggy buddy, Janet, from The Empty Nest. Janet had a giveaway on her blog for a gift certificate from a fabric shop. I didn't win, but Janet chose three lucky ladies to receive some fabric from her personal stash. I was thrilled that I was one of the three. If you have seen anything she sews, you will understand my excitement! There was beautiful decorator fabrics fun juvenile prints, and a princess fabric that screamed Shylee's (my granddaughter) name when I saw it.

Doesn't that just make you want to be a little girl again? Shylee loved it and thought it was a blanket! I'll have to figure out something extra special to make her.

I have to say, that was a good week! I will be sure to share with you whatever these beautiful fabrics turn out to be!

What have you been excited about lately?

I Heart Macro ~ Bobbins ~ Blogtoberfest Day 9

2011-10-09T00:31:00.000-04:00

My box of bobbins.

You will find some incredible macro and close up photography at

Studio Waterstone's I Heart Macro.

Have a wonderful Sunday!

A Pinterest Recipe ~ Blogtoberfest Day 8

2011-10-08T07:00:00.001-04:00

I gave in and jumped on the Pinterest bandwagon and it's been a love/hate relationship ever since! It is so addicting yet so inspiring. One of my favorite things to look for while I'm there is recipes. I have three boards dedicated to food and I start drooling just looking at them.

The first recipe I tried wasn't so great. We ate it but wouldn't make it again. However the second one is a keeper. It's Mexican Chicken Casserole and the recipe is originally from Cooking Light December 1998 and can be found at My Recipes. It's a great base recipe that you can change up to suit your own taste buds.

1 cup fat free, less sodium chicken broth

2 (4.5 ounce) cans chopped green chiles, divided

1 3/4 pounds bonless chicken breasts

2 tsp. olive oil

1 cup chopped onion

1 cup evaporated skim milk

1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

1/4 cup tub style light cream cheese

1 (10 ounce) can enchilada sauce (I used medium for a kick)

12 (6 inch) corn tortillas

1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1 ounce tortilla chips, crushed (about 6 chips)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine broth and 1 can of chiles in a large skillet: bring to a boil. Add cicken: reduce heat, and simmer 15 minutes or until chicken is done, turning chicken once. Remove chicken from cooking liquid, reserving cooking liquid: cool chicken. Shred meat with two forks and set aside.

Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium high heat. Add 1 can of chiles and onion; saute about 3 minutes or until soft. Add reserved cooking liquid, milk, Monterey Jack, cream cheese, and enchilada sauce; stir well. Stir in shredded chicken and cook about 2 minutes. Remove from heat.

Place 4 tortillas in the bottom of a 2 quart casserole sprayed with cooking spray. spoon 2 cups of chicken mixture over tortillas. Repeat layers twice, ending with chicken mixture. Sprinkle with cheddar cheese and chips. Bake for 30 minutes or until thoroughly heated and bubbly. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. Makes 8 servings

This is how I changed it up:

I used regular chicken broth

I added 3 minced garlic cloves with the onion

Couldn't find evap. skim milk but found evap 2%

For the Monterey Jack and cheddar cheese, I just used a Mexican blend

I used more that 1/2 cup of cheese for the topping

I used way more than 6 chips but will probably eliminate them next time

I added about 2 tsp. ground cumin and a couple shakes of dried cilantro when making the sauce

Are you on Pinterest yet? What is your favorite thing to look for?

Sewing Room Happenings ~ Blogtoberfest Day 7

2011-10-07T06:00:00.001-04:00

Happy Friday, dear friends! I know it may be Saturday for some of you, so wherever you are I hope you're having a wonderful day. After running errands I will be working in the sewing room. Here's a sneak peek at a project I started yesterday. I won't tell you what it is, because I have to save something to show you next week! Isn't she pretty?

Here's another gift tag. I'm really enjoying making these. I've been looking for Christmas cookie cutters to use as patterns for some holiday tags. Last year when I was ready to make cut-out sugar cookies I couldn't find mine. I still haven't found them and I haven't found them in stores yet. In the meantime, these are fun.

And here is a set of lavender sachets. I really like the gray and yellow color combination. These are plain and simple and will be sold in a set of three. They smell so divine!

I've set the target date of October 18th to reopen my Etsy shop. There is so much to do before then, but I'm ~~panicking~~ excited and trying to stay focused!

Are you working on anything exciting?

Thankful Thursday ~ Sunshine ~ Blogtoberfest Day 6

2011-10-06T06:00:00.000-04:00

We get caught up in the business of living our day to day lives and sometimes forget to stop and be thankful. And some days, when it seems like the world is against us, it's really hard to find something positive to focus on. Every Thursday I share something I'm thankful for no matter how small.

Found on Pinterest

Today I'm thankful for the sunshine! After weeks of dreary, gray, dark, wet, gloomy days, the sun is finally shining and I couldn't be more thrilled. My mood lifted just like the gloominess did. I need the sun!

I'm also thankful for

boxes that arrived on my porch (goodies I'll tell you about next week)

the ability to laugh at myself

a good night's sleep

my son's safe travels on a cross country road trip

What are you thankful for this week?

Wordless Wednesday ~ Blogtoberfest Day 5

2011-10-05T00:07:00.000-04:00

Lancaster, Pa

May 11, 2011

I'm joining:

Aquariann's Wordless Wednesday

Tickle Me Tuesday ~ Blogtoberfest Day 4

2011-10-04T00:11:00.000-04:00

Since fall temperatures have arrived, I have been forced to let go of summer. There was no easing in to it. One day it was 88 degrees and humid, the next it was 58 and breezy. The positive side of this is that the critters I talked about in my last post, won't be coming out to terrorize me!

These fall items from Etsy are tickling my fancy this week.

needle felting kit

primitive candy corn

tissue garland

I'm joining Sara at Yes Teacher for Tickle Me Tuesday.

What's tickling your fancy this week?

Salamanders, Frogs, And Critters ~ Blogtoberfest Day 3

2011-10-03T06:00:00.001-04:00

Friends and family who know me, know that I am afraid of any kind of critter that I can't step on or smash with a fly swatter. Bugs and spiders don't bother me so much but really I prefer they stay outside where they belong. If there is a mouse in the house, I'm the one on a chair doing a little dance trying not to be hysterical.

When we lived in Hawaii, the geckos ruled the house, and I was always the one to see them. I would just freak out and totally lose it. When Michael was away, the neighbors would come over and do a gecko check for me. I was so glad when we moved from there! So imagine my surprise when last summer, I spotted a salamander running across the patio. I could have died!! I've lived in Maryland for twenty years and never knew they lived here too.

We also have lots of little green tree frogs. Until this summer, I never saw one during the day. They always come out at night and hang out on the kitchen window. That's fine, because there is glass between the two of us. Only once did I see one during the day hanging out on the patio.

A couple of weeks ago I got in the car to run errands and as the garage door was closing, a salamander went running into the garage. I had a minor melt down. Then I decided I would just start going in and out through the back door. That was working fine until the day one of the little green frogs decided to come inside with me. When I realized what happened, I had a major melt down! I was frozen in place and we stared at each other for a minute til he jumped and I screamed! I couldn't move but I could reach the phone and I called Michael at work! He came to my rescue within ten minutes. Now I keep thinking I'm seeing things out of the corner of my eye!

Did you notice there are no photos today? That's because I was looking at photos to use and it just creeped me out too much to pick one out! Yeah, that's how much these critters frighten me!

And in case you're wondering, yes we have the slithering critters too. We just don't mention the "s" word in our house!

Have a marvelous Monday!

I Heart Macro ~ Blogtoberfest Day 2

2011-10-02T00:06:00.002-04:00

Last week's photo was a close up of a rose petal. These photos are of three of the roses from the bouquet.

I'm joining Studio Waterstone for I Heart Macro.

You won't want to miss the incredible macro and close up photos!

Have a wonderful Sunday!

I'm Doing It Again ~ Blogtoberfest 2011

2011-10-01T06:00:00.001-04:00

Call me crazy, because I just signed up to do Blogtoberfest for the third year in a row! Blogtoberfest is a challenge for those who sign up, to post daily to their blog for the month of October. The first year, I found it to be just what I needed to get in the groove of blogging consistently. Last year I blogged for the first two weeks and found it to be a real chore. We'll see what happens this year!

I started blogging two and a half years ago at the urging of my daughter. She thought it was the best way to promote the items I make and my Etsy shop. I'm not a writer and had no idea what to write about. But I started, and even though I get weary of it sometimes, I enjoy it. That is the bottom line. I enjoy it and I've met some incredibly talented, warmhearted, funny, and inspiring women through blogging.

So, I would really like to know.....
1. Why do you blog?
2. How often do you blog?
3. What do you do when you get in a blogging rut?
4. What advice would you give someone who is thinking about starting a blog?

Let me know in the comments or blog your answers! I'm truly interested in what you have to say!

Have a wonderful Saturday!

Thankful Thursday A Day Late

2011-09-30T06:00:00.001-04:00

Yes, I know it's Friday, but we can be thankful on any day of the week. Right? We can be thankful for little things and big things. We should always be thankful for something!

I don't know who to give credit to for this photo. If you know, please let me know.

Today I'm thankful for my life. Doesn't this photo just put it all in perspective? My life isn't perfect, I'm not always happy, and things seem to go wrong more often than they go right. But I have a good life. I have everything I need and a few things I don't. I have family and friends who love me. I am not alone. I am not hungry. Yes, I'm thankful for all that I have and all that I am.

What are you thankful for today?

Sewing Again

2011-09-28T06:00:00.001-04:00

Hello dear readers. I hope you're having a great day. It's still gray and gloomy here but the sun is supposed to come out by the end of the week. I might have to have a party to celebrate!

I finally made it up to the sewing room and have been working on a new idea for the shop. One of the many bins in that room is full of small fabric scraps. You know, the pieces that are too big to throw away but too small for much of anything. Well, I had the idea to make fabric gift tags. It would be something that could incorporate hand stitching and embroidery along with the machine sewing. This is the first one and it's not quite finished yet. It still needs the ribbon for hanging!

I'm also working on new sachets. The sewing room always smells so good when I pull out the lavender.

What are you working on?

I Heart Macro ~ Rose Petal

2011-09-24T22:59:00.000-04:00

Earlier in the summer, I had a bouquet of roses that were just gorgeous. The petals were quite thick and the veins were very obvious. When they were fully opened, they were 5-6 inches in diameter. The odd thing about them was the lack of scent. That is until they died and there was the most heavenly aroma throughout the house. They also turned from a coral color to a beautiful shade of pinky rose and were just as beautiful as when they were alive. I'm saving the other pictures for later!

I'm joining Studio Waterstone for I Heart Macro where

you will find some incredible macro and close up photos each week!

I hope you are having a wonderful Sunday!

Rain Rain Go Away

2011-09-23T19:53:00.000-04:00

It's been so gloomy and dreary lately. The problem with that is it affects my mood in the same way. I have no energy or motivation and find my self being very unproductive. I hope the gloom lifts soon.

Thankful Thursday ~ Sunsets

2011-09-22T06:00:00.001-04:00

Every Thursday I share something I'm thankful for. It's not always easy to find the good and positive in a situation, but it helps my attitude when I do. This week I'm thankful for the beautiful sunset I unexpectedly saw out the window of my sewing room.

My sewing table sits under the window and I have a great view when I'm sewing. I was sewing away, and I had to get up to get something and this is what I saw out the window.

It took my breath away. I had to run downstairs and grab the camera and get out to the porch. We don't usually see this from the living room window because of the porch and trees, and I'm not usually in the sewing room at this time of day. I think I've missed a lot of breathtaking sunsets!

I'm also thankful for
being rescued from a frog in the kitchen (another post for another day!)
a pleasant doctor visit
Annie dog and her unconditional love
the phone call from my son

What are you thankful for today?

Today's sewing tip: Prewashing the fabric before using it will cut down on shrinkage when you wash the finished item the first time.

Repurposing A Shirt and A Pair Of Jeans

2011-09-21T06:00:00.001-04:00

A couple of weeks ago was my husband's birthday. I don't know what it's like for you, but for me, I never know what to get him for a gift. This year was no exception! I just could not think of anything to get him and he wasn't giving any hints.

Then I thought about the shirts and pants he had given me when he cleaned out his closet. I was looking through them all and remembered how he likes to have a laundry bag with him when he travels. And he does do a lot of traveling for work. So I picked a shirt and a pair of jeans and and came up with a laundry bag.

I cut the shirt straight across right under the arms and straight across at the bottom to cut off the shirt tails. I left the buttons buttoned and sewed the shirt closed down each side of the buttons. Next, I cut the legs off the jeans and got out the seam ripper to open the inseam seam. Using the widest part of both legs, I cut pieces for the top and bottom of the bag. The last step was to make a casing and insert the cording for the drawstring top.

The best part is he was surprised and very happy with it. Not only did I come up with the perfect gift, but it didn't cost anything!

I've been forgetting to leave you with a sewing tip at the end of each post to celebrate National Sewing Month. I remembered today though, so here it is: If your project requires a lot of cutting straight lines, it is easier to use a rotary cutter and quilters ruler on a self healing mat than it is to use scissors. The cut is cleaner and straighter doing it that way. It's also much quicker.

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Tickle Me Tuesday ~ Pincushions

2011-09-20T11:13:00.000-04:00

Hello again! I hope your day has been a good one so far. I am behind already this morning, but that just seems to be the norm anymore. Does anyone ever really get caught up?

I thought I would continue the theme today with National Sewing Month and show you some pretty fabulous pincushions. All of them are handmade and can be found on Etsy.

What's tickling your fancy today?

I'm joining Yes Teacher for Tickle Me Tuesday

I Heart Macro ~ Peacock Feathers

2011-09-18T00:37:00.000-04:00

Peacock feathers on a headband

I'm joining Studio Waterstone for I Heart Macro.

There are some incredible macro and close up photos you won't want to miss,

so go ahead and take a look!

Have a wonderful Sunday!

Thankful Thursday ~ Distractions

2011-09-15T06:00:00.007-04:00

There are days it's hard to find something to be thankful for. When you're having a bad day, week, month or year, it is easy to focus on the negative, to find fault with everyone and everything. I've had one of those weeks and I've had to force myself to look beyond my circumstances and find the good and the positive.

Today I'm thankful for distractions of any kind. Playing games on the computer, pinning on pinterest, watching TV, and making ~~and eating~~ cookies have kept me from dwelling on things I can't change. I didn't get much of anything else done, but that's okay today.

I'm also thankful for

the sunshine after days and days of rain

the beauty of a harvest moon

the sunroof in my car...I can pretend I have a convertible!

What are you thankful for today?

To celebrate National Sewing Month, here is today's sewing tip: When choosing a thread color, remember that the thread on the spool is darker than it will appear on the fabric. Choose a spool of thread a shade lighter than your fabric.

Have a great Thursday!

The Generation That Saddens Me

2011-09-14T06:00:00.001-04:00

The majority of the blog posts I read on Sunday, September 11, were about the terrorist attacks. Some of them told of where they were and how they heard the news. Others were about how life has changed since then. And then there was one from a young adult, probably in the 17-19 year old range, that grabbed my attention like no other.

via

On that day, she was old enough to realize something bad had happened but not old enough to understand the impact. As a result, she had mixed feelings about the the incident and events that have happened in the last ten years. To her, this was just something else to read about in the history books. It wasn't personal to her and she wrote of things she can't possibly understand.

At first, I was shocked at her attitude. She came across as flippant and disrespectful and that made me angry. However, the more I thought about it, the more I realized she is part of the first generation that doesn't know what life was like before 9-11. Her generation and generations to come will see that tragic day as just another day in history. Their 'normal' is certainly not what our normal was.

via

This was a real eye opener for me! My anger melted away and I was left with a sadness for the generations to come. Generations that won't know what it was like to live without the threat of terrorism, without Homeland Security, without security at every event, airport, public, and government building. It was just something I had not thought about before. And it makes me sad.

To celebrate National Sewing Month, I'm ending each post with a sewing tip. Here is today's tip from Maureen at Maureen Cracknell Handmade: just give it a shot if it's something you've always wanted to do --it will change your life!

Tickle Me Tuesday ~ Sewing Machines

2011-09-13T08:53:00.000-04:00

Since it is National Sewing Month, I thought it would be fun to browse Etsy for vintage sewing machines. These are some of my favorites.

once upon a time

ojoyvintage

VintageGene

I'm joining Yes Teacher for Tickle Me Tuesday.

In honor of National Sewing Month, I'm sharing a sewing tip at the end of each post. Here is today's tip.

Clean your sewing machine after each project is finished. Cleaning out the lint and threads ensures your machine will perform at it's best. Follow the manufacturer's directions for specific cleaning tips and oiling times.

If you have a sewing tip, I would love to hear from you!

Have a wonderful Tuesday!

I Heart Macro ~ Remembering

2011-09-11T01:07:00.000-04:00

One of a dozen roses from a grocery store bouquet.

I know everyone has a story to tell about where they were, what they thought, and how they felt when they heard the news and saw the images of September 11, 2001. I don't think any of us will ever forget that day. The families of the victims will certainly never forget. So today, I will remember. Today, I will remember to pray for the families and the survivors of that tragic day. Today, I will hold my loved ones close and tell them I love them. Today, I will remember that life is short and I should live as if it were my last.

God bless you today and every day!

I'm joining Studio Waterstone for I Heart Macro

Thankful Thursday

2011-09-08T11:03:00.000-04:00

Every Thursday I share something I'm thankful for. It's so easy to get wrapped up in the problems of every day that we sometimes forget that we have something to be thankful for no matter how small.

Today I'm thankful for my husband Michael. Today is his birthday! I won't tell you how old he is, but I will tell you I met him shortly before his 21st birthday and we are well on our way to growing old together!

I'm also thankful for:
safety through the storm
A God who keeps His promises
friends who keep me distracted
buttered popcorn and chick flicks

What are you thankful for today?

In honor of National Sewing Month, I'm sharing a sewing tip at the end of each blog post. Here is today's tip:

Press the seams of your project as you go. Whether you press them open or to the side, the finished project will look neater and professional when it's finished.

Do you have a favorite sewing tip? I would like to hear it and I might just use it in a future post!

When a Granddaughter and A Hurricane Change Your Plans

2011-09-06T06:00:00.001-04:00

I had grand plans for the month of August. I was going to focus on sewing and reopen my Etsy shop the first of September. It didn't happen. It wasn't for lack of trying though.

The first obstacle was going and spending a few days with my daughter and granddaughter. Erin had bought a new sofa bed and wanted me to come and try it out! In the past, I stayed at a hotel when visiting her so I was anxious to try out this new bed. It would be nice to go and stay more than a night or two. I stayed a few days and went home and two days later, Erin and Shylee came to spend the weekend with us. Erin wanted to leave Shylee with me for a week so she could focus on looking for a job since she had enrolled Shylee in preschool. I agreed to keep her and then one week turned into two weeks.

I started working on a sachet while Shylee was here, but that was all. And three weeks from August was already gone. I had another week and I knew I could get something done but it wasn't meant to be.

Two days after Shylee went home, I was making the trip back up there to see my son! He was going to leave for a month long vacation and it had already been a month since I had seen him. If I wanted to see him before he left then I was going to have to meet him for dinner one evening. The particular day I chose to go up there was the day we had the earthquake. I'm driving along when the car starts acting funny. It was kind of like rocking back and forth and felt like the traction control kept coming on. I had just gotten new tires so I just thought I would remember to mention it to Michael. Five minutes later my phone was going nuts with text messages from everybody wanting to know if I was okay because there was an earthquake and did I feel it. So THAT was what the rocking car was all about!

I spent the next day recovering from the day trip. It happened to be the Wednesday before Hurricane Irene hit on Saturday. The power went out on Saturday night and came back on Monday night. We had two trees uprooted and one of them took out the neighbors fence. We were very lucky. Every yard in our neighborhood experienced down trees or limbs. Power lines were down everywhere and I've never seen so many trees down at one time. And they were huge old trees too. There was flooding in the county and there are still homes and businesses without power. It was scary and something I don't want to go through again.

Just so you know, there are a lot of photos and some of them were taken through the windshield of the car!

This is the lawn of the community college

I'm hoping to make a few things and reopen my Etsy shop soon. I'm not making any promises though!

Have a terrific Tuesday!

Labor Day 2011

2011-09-05T06:00:00.001-04:00

If you are fortunate enough to have the day off, I hope it is a peaceful and restful day.

Or maybe just a fun filled day!

source

Happy Labor Day!

I Heart Macro

2011-09-03T22:11:00.003-04:00

While taking a blogging break during August, I missed "I Heart Macro" the most!

My granddaughter and I made chocolate chip pecan cookies.

They were REALLY good!!!

I'm joining Studio Waterstone for I Heart Macro.

Come see the other fun macro and close-up shots!

National Sewing Month

2011-09-02T06:00:00.001-04:00

Where did August go? It's September already and that means it is National Sewing Month! If you check out the website, you will find great sewing projects, discover how to buy a sewing machine, and find information for the 2011 sewing contest. You can also view the entries from the last two contests. I've decided to enter the contest this year, but I'm not sure what I will make yet!

To celebrate National Sewing Month, I will post a sewing tip at the end of each blog post. Please feel free to leave your own sewing tips in the comments or email me and I will use it in a blog post. You can read the sewing tips I collected last year here and here.

I have lots to tell you in future blog posts and look forward to getting back in the groove of blogging.

Sewing tip: Invest in a good pair of scissors for fabric and use them ONLY for fabric. They will get dull and nicked when cutting other things and then will not give you a clean cut on the fabric.

Have a fabulous Friday!

Taking a Break

2011-08-01T06:00:00.001-04:00

As I was toying with the idea of taking a blogging break during the month of August, I came across this idea of posting picture posts for the month. It's like taking a break but still being present in blog land. You can read more about it and join in here.

Back in April, I closed my Etsy shop. I was frustrated with Etsy for the way they were changing things without any kind of notification or explanation of the changes. After my cooling off period, I've come to the conclusion that Etsy really is trying to help us, the seller, so we can be successful with our business. At the same time, Etsy is doing what is best for Etsy as a company.

During this time I sort of lost my motivation to create. Until I made an apron for a friend last month, I had no interest in sewing anymore. Since then, I have made a couple of other things and have so many ideas for projects. So during the month of August I plan to focus on creating and open my shop back up in September. I'm pretty excited about this because I realized how much I enjoy being part of the Etsy community.

You might not read much from me this month, but I will still be here and still reading and commenting on your blogs! I will leave you with this photo for today.

I Heart Macro

2011-07-31T00:22:00.000-04:00

How often do you unwrap a perfect Hershey Kiss?

I'm joining Lori at Studio Waterstone for I Heart Macro.

You won't believe some of the amazing macro and up close photos!

Happy Sunday!