Silent Sunday

I hope you have a spectacular Sunday!!!

Giveaway Winner!!!

The winner of my birthday celebration giveaway is Teri!!!!  This is what she had to say:

teri said...

Happy Birthday .... I would love to be the winner of the bunch of precious stuff.


My favorite birthday was my 17th ,,,, I thought everyone had forgotten and was feeling sorry for myself ... almost refused to go with my friend when she came to rescue me .... and deliver me to my surprise birthday party.So many friends there as well as the boy I had a crush on .... he is my hubby of now 38 years!

Congratulations Teri and thank you to everyone who enetered and for all the birthday wishes!!!!

Take some time and visit Teri's blog, peartreegallery - art by teri and her Etsy shop PearTreeGallery.  She has some amazing art work!

Have a great Tuesday!!!

Silent Sunday

Have an awesome Sunday!!!

The Gates at Sotterly

Gates fascinate me!  I don't know when the fascination started but I can remember taking road trips when I was a kid and when we would pass one, I always wondered about it.  If it was closed, I wondered why.  What or who were the owners of the gate keeping out (or in).  If it was open, I wondered where the road led to.  Most always the gate was across a dirt or gravel road that would take you to who knows where or what. 

On Mother's Day, we spent the afternoon at Sotterly Plantation, where I wanted to work on my photography skills.  These are the pictures I took of just three of the gates at Sotterly!

Enter my giveaway here

I hope you have wonderful day!!

The Old Woman and the Pie

This past Friday my husband took the day off to spend with me to celebrate my birthday.  I originally wanted to visit a distant town that I heard had cobblestone streets lined with quaint gift and antique shops.  It was supposed to be a rainy day so I opted for a movie, dinner and evening at Barnes and Noble instead.

We arrived at the theater and bought tickets for Letters To Juliet, which I highly recommend if you're in to love stories and chick flicks!!  We had about a half hour to kill so we walked over to the Pennsylvania Dutch Market hoping for a place to sit down and get something to drink.  Luck would have it there was a little cafe inside so we sat down and after glancing at the menu decided to order a piece of pie.  Michael got coconut cream and I got fresh strawberry.

9 inch strawberry pie from Shandles

I began looking around at this place I had never been to before.  There was an elderly couple sitting to my left and up a table and the woman was facing me.  She was in my direct line of sight so everytime I looked up I saw her.  The very first thing I noticed about her was how old she looked.  Her face was quite wrinkled with a down turned mouth and pinched lips.  My first thought was that she looked angry and bitter.  She spoke quite loudly and repeated everything because her companion was obvioulsy hard of hearing.  They were the kind of things that made Michael and I look at each other and smile.  Things like her email must be broke because she hadn't got one in a week and that was just a lie!  Her tone of voice matched her angry bitter look!

The server brought us our pie and mine looked  pretty good except the crust was white like it hadn't been baked.  The strawberries were large and covered in a thick red glaze of yummy goodness.  It was the most bland disappointing piece of strawberry pie I've ever tasted!  I ate less than half of it and pushed it away watcing Michael enjoy his only okay coconut pie.  The whole time I was aware of the old woman watching me. 

I have to admit I was stealing glances at her too.  The wrinkles, angry look and bitterness in her voice made me wonder what kind of life she had lived.  What happened to her that made her come across so miserable and unhappy.  Not once did she smile.  Not even when I smiled at her.

As we got up to leave, I sensed her watching me again.  I turned around with my back to her and as I walked away I thought I heard her say, "Did you see how big that woman was?"  I wasn't sure if I heard her right and I knew she was going to repeat it, so I turned around and stepped back towards the table.  "Did you see the size of that woman?  All they did was come here to get dessert".  And just in case EVERYONE hadn't heard, she said it again even louder!  I stood there in shock as all eyes were on me.  I so badly wanted to say something but couldn't think of a thing to say. 

All I could do was stare at her and I wanted to punch her face!  I stared her down and she was squirming.  She would look to see if I was still looking and then look away, fidgeting with her hair and changing her position in the seat.  I was making her uncomfortable but it didn't compare to how uncomfortable I felt standing there.  I was angry, embarrassed and ashamed at the same time.  Even now as I write this, I feel it all over again and my hands are shaking, my heart is pounding and I want to send her false teeth flying across the room!

I'm not a petite little thing.  I'm quite a big girl and have been most of my life.  I've struggled with my weight since I was in the third grade.  This was just one more incident in a string of events that have happened since the first of the year regarding my weight.   

You're not going to believe this but on some level that I can't comprehend yet, I'm grateful for that old woman's comment.  It has forced me to admit that my situation is serious and life threatening.  It was the final push I needed to do something about it before it's too late.  I believe everything happens for a reason.  That wrinkled, bitter, angry, unhappy, miserable old woman is going to change my life!

Enter my giveaway here!

Silent Sunday

Enter my giveaway here.

Have a fabulous, restful Sunday!!!

It's My Birthday AND I'm Having A Giveaway AND It's Eat What You Want Day!

Someone once told me that birthdays aren't for celebrating growing a year older but for celebrating you and your life!  This sounds good to me since I don't want to think about being a year older!  The best way I can think of to celebrate with my blog buddies is to have a giveaway!

This giveaway includes a lavender sachet, two vintage hankies and a generous handful of vintage buttons!  The sachet is handmade by me from a vintage hankie and is embellished with three vintage buttons and a strip of vintage lace. 

The deadline for entries is Monday, May 24 and I wll announce the winner on Tuesday, May 25.  Here is how you can enter:

Simply follow this blog and leave a comment telling about your favorite birthday memory!

For extra entries:

Mention  this giveaway on your blog with a link to this post (leave a comment with a link to your post).

Mention the giveaway on Twitter and leave a link in a comment.

Mention the giveaway on Facebook and leave a link in a comment.

Visit my Etsy shop and heart either the shop or an item and leave a comment about it.

Oh, one more thing.  Today is Eat What You Want Day!!!  It was created to give people on a diet a guilt free day of splurging on their favorite foods. But it's back on the diet tomorrow!  Can you believe it?!  I guarantee you it's pretty much what I do anyway and especially on my birthday! 

I hope you have a truly great day!

Mish Mash Monday

It's May 10 and I had to turn on the heater this morning to get the chill out of the house!  It really feels like fall after having 90 degree weather last week. 

I had a wonderful Mother's Day and I hope you did too if you're a mom!  We spent the day at Sotterly Plantation, a local National Historic Landmark located on the picturesque Patuxent River.  I'm trying hard to learn how to take better photos and I knew this would be the perfect place to work on my skills. These are some of the photos I took beginning with my beautiful daughter and handsome son!

I was so excited to learn I had won a giveaway from Pinks and Needles and even more excited when my adorable pincushion and needles arrived.  I wish I had taken a picture of the beautiful packaging but I was just too eager not to tear into it!

An update on my dad.  The doctors removed the cancerous tumor from his bladder and it was in the very early stages.  He does not have to have any radiation or chemo treatments, just a check up every 3 months.  We're so relieved and happy and thankful for such a positive outcome!  Thank you to all of you for your encouragement and prayers!

Be sure to check back here tomorrow.  I just might have a giveaway announcement....

Happy Mother's Day

(Photo courtesy of karen's whimsy)

I hope you have the kind of day that leaves you wonderfully happy and content!

Friday's Fabulous Finds....Etsy's Unedible Edibles

A few weeks ago I featured some of Etsy's incredible edibles. (Read that post here)  This week I came across an Etsy shop that sold miniature food that looked sooooo amazingly real and tempting, that I just knew the fake food would make a good fabulous finds feature!  Take a look at some of Etsy's unedible edibles!

Felt Pumpkin Pie Slices Play Food from mommy24cs

One Inch Scale Cart with Tea Sandwiches, Cake, Wine, Fruit and Bread from creationsinminiature

Vanilla Chocolate Ice Cream Ring from papermache

Shrimp Pasta Salad-Waldorf Inspired Felt Playfood Accessory for Imaginative Play from EvaLauryn Gifts

Carrot Cake Earrings from Allies Minis

Pincushion-Chocolate Cupcake with Emery Cherry in Pink Liner from dottyral

Gumball Machine Pin from Charlieccbb

Strawberry Pop Tart Necklace from fakerybakery2

Aren't these incredible?  As I've said before, it amazes me how creative and talented people are.  And I'm continually surprised at what I find on Etsy when I'm just browsing!

What have you found, on or off Etsy, that was just amazing?

A Clean Tool is a Happy Tool

Regardless of your area of expertise, you probably have a variety of tools that you use for creating your beautiful items.   Some of those tools you use regularly and some less frequently.  As a seamstress, I have more tools and gadgets than I can list, but the most necessary is obviously my sewing machine.

As you know, taking care of your tools is essential for many reasons.  Some tools are quite expensive and routine maintenance is needed for optimum performance and long life.  My sewing machine is very easy to maintain but I have neglected it since the holidays.  So yesterday, I took the time to clean it and boy was I glad I did! 

         

After taking out the removeable parts, I used a small brush to clean all the nooks and crannies.

Look at all that fuzz and lint!  Too much of that can actually cause a machine to stop working.  I really must remember to do the cleaning after each project, no matter how small it is.  I think her humming sounded cheerful and there was a bounce in her stitch when I started sewing!

What about you...do you clean your tools as often as you should?

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom....Never Give Up!

Have you ever watched the process of a two year old learning something new?  It's fascinating.  The determination and resolve they have is something that comes natural to them at that age.  I have watched my granddaughter time and time again go through the process of mastering a new skill, and frankly, I want to be like her!

Shylee never gives up!  She might get frustrated and throw something, or walk away and do something else, but she always come back to the task.  That doesn't mean she masters the skill in a day.  It might take several days or weeks, but in the end she is triumphant and proud of herself.  Then it's off to something new! 

What a lesson for us grownups to learn!  When you are working hard to reach a goal, you're going to get frustrated.  You might try throwing something if that happens, but I recommend walking away and doing something else for a while.  Come back to the task at hand and know that as long as you don't give up, you're going to reach that goal.  Also know that it might not be today or tomorrow but next week, next month or next year.  The point is to not give up.  That is what today's quote is about.

Life is too short to trudge through it depressed and defeated.  You are never defeated, nor can you be defeated, until you give up.  There will always be unforseen obstacles in life.  Never give in and never give up.    ~ Ray Lammie

It took Shylee umpteen tries before she got out of that laundry basket!  It then took just as many to get back in and do it all over again!

A Glimpse of Things to Come

Fabric is my weakness.  Addiction might be a better word.  If I know there is a fabric store in the vicinity of where I am, I can hear it calling my name, beckoning me to walk through the doors.  You see, if I go in, I'm not coming out empty handed!  How could I?  The colors, patterns and textures conspire to make me fall in love with them and bring them home!  Just look at what I was recently forced thrilled to bring home and call my own!

This fun fabric will be reservisible placemats. (I think!)  Really perfect for a coffee themed kitchen.

I found a quilt shop in Williamsburg and wasn't about to leave empty handed!  However, I did leave with an empty wallet!  Probably, these will become placemats or maybe an apron or two.  Haven't quite decided yet.

Here's a glimpse of a project I've already started working on.  I found the vintage table scarf in Williamsburg and the fabric after I came home.  I can't wait to show you the finished project.  It's something new for me but something I've wanted to do for a very long time!  I hope it turns out!

Here's something else I found in Williamsburg at the antique center.  It's not vintage but that's ok!  The important thing is that it was only $8.50 and was perfect for another project I've been wanting to try! 

Look at the gorgeous detail at the top!

                           

 That should be enough to keep me busy for a while.  If only I didn't have to do the laundry, clean the house, cook meals, run errands......

Mish Mash Monday

Can you believe it's Monday already?  And not just Monday, but May no less!  I realize as I get older that I move slower and time moves faster.  It's just not fair sometimes!

If you like giveaways, check out 31everything.  Fern makes custom photo cards for any occasion and you can choose the one you like.  Her cards are really cool and she will tweak it for you too!  The winner will be announced May 17.  Here's just one of her cards.

If you like sales, and honestly who doesn't, head over to Vintage T for a 'name your own price' sale!  Yes you read that right!  She is closing her vintage shop on Etsy and you better hurry before everything sells! 

I tried another great recipe from Janet at The Empty Nest.  The Rustic Peach Crostada was just delicious, but mine didn't turn out as pretty as hers!  I really think she should write a cookbook!   

I added another lavender sachet to my Etsy shop.  I used a vintage fingertip towel with eyelet trim and just added some decorative stitching and trim and irridescent seed beads.  It's gathered at the top with ivory ribbon and has a removeable sachet pillow!  This is my favorite sachet so far!

  
                           

I hope you have a marvelous Monday!!!