Thankful Thursday A Day Late

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

La Maison de Floria

feltmates

VINTAGEhaberdashery

Charming by Nina

What's tickling your fancy today?

I'm joining Yes Teacher for Tickle Me Tuesday

I Heart Macro ~ Peacock Feathers

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!