A wealth of riches

Yesterday I came home to this package in my mail box. Des over at Quilt Taffy sent me a bundle of wonderful fabrics!!! I couldn't even begin to pick a favorite so I'll show all of them to you. Bear with me because there's so many of them that it makes for a photo heavy post. I've grouped them into groups that makes sense, at least in my head.




That one at the top is sorta hard to see in the picture but those are little strawberries - so cute! And those owls at the bottom have me on cute overload.


These are set one of the very Japanese fabrics, you know, the more traditional kind. The two kokeshi doll fabrics (second and third from the top) are adorable.


Ok, if you wanna talk about cute...you can't see them in the photo cuz the print is really small but there are sailors and anchors and sail boats and lighthouses...there's even one little sailor boy doing pinafore. too cute!


In this set, the top two have tea pots and tea cups, the next two are florals and the bottom three are more of the traditional Japanese fabrics.

I haven't decided what to do with them yet because I'm still just giddy that I actually won anything. Thanks so much Des! You've got some major good karma coming you're way.

Flickr Favs Friday

I've had a love affair with cupcakes since I was a kid...they are, undoubtedly, the perfect dessert food. Individual serving, loads of yummy frosting, specially wrapped just for you...perfect. I'm also giddy that cupcakes are being used as decorations all over the place!! The best cupcake I've ever had (other than my own, of course) was from the Magnolia Bakery on Bleecker Street in NYC...the frosting is a little taste of heaven. So here are some cupcake flickr fav's (by the way, about 2/3 of these are made by Kylie Lambert of Le Cupcake in Australia - it's enough to make me want to move there)






1. Cupcake and Chai Time, 2. Banana Cupcakes with Fresh Passionfruit Icing, 3. cupcakes for Bridal expo, 4. tea party cupcakes (for bridal fair), 5. Green Tea Cupcake Love (with heart shaped decorations), 6. Bridal Magazine Cupcakes, 7. "minnie "cupcake, 8. signature cupcakes, 9. alice in wonderland cupcakes, 10. Flower & butterfly cupcakes! Not quite finished yet!, 11. Rose shabby chic cupcake, 12. Wedding Cupcakes for a Magazine Shoot!, 13. Cupcake Pops, 14. 21st Birthday cake for my niece!, 15. Black & White Wedding Cupcakes, 16. Retro Cupcake, 17. butterflies, flowers & cupcakes!, 18. wedding cupcake-butterfly

P.s. I'm always forgetting to mention where to make these mosaics but I was reminded when this lovely lady posted about it just today so go here to make your own.

Do you hear the angels singing?

I do!! It's finished...whew! I'm finally finished with my doll quilt and just in the nick of time too. I think I just bit off more than I can chew with my design - considering it was the first thing I've ever quilted, embroidered, bound, & sewn with more than just straight lines. But I am pleased with the way it came out. I do wish I could have done some more actual quilting on the bottom half of it but I just ran out of time. Next time there will be no procrastination (no, really, I promise!). I just hope the person I'm sending it to likes it. That's really all that matters at this point. Anyway, I hope you enjoy it.

Here's the whole thing...



Here's the trunk - with a knot...



I quilted in some clouds all over the top...

and here it is all wrapped up and ready to go.


And that's it. Ready to go half way around the world.

Indiana Jones and Julia Roberts is nuts

I went this weekend to see the Indiana Jones movie, despite my no spending in May (how can you say no to Indy?). It was pretty good, not great, but pretty good. Don't get me wrong, the people at Lucas Films and Stephen Spielberg know their stuff when it comes to all the special effects and even just the feel-good adventure that is what makes the Indiana Jones movies so great. But, either my expectations were through the roof with reality no where else to go but down or it just was not as good as the previous three. I'm not sure which it is. It seemed like I was just waiting for the big wow but it never came. And to be honest, it kinda reminded me of the second Mummy movie, you know the one with Brenden Frazier. It had alot of things in common with that movie. All that being said, it is definitely something you should go see in the theater because with all the special effects and such, unless you have a really big TV with a really good sound system, it's just better in the theater. Of course, the acting was, as it always is, stellar. And, really, Harrison Ford at any age is, well, yummy. Shia Labeouf is a really great young actor and he plays this part decently. So, go, see it for yourself and let me know what you think.

Part II

Julia Roberts is nuts...not the put her in a straight jacket kinda nuts but more the look at her askance kind of nuts. She and some other chicky were on Oprah a while back talking about how we should use products that are all natural and good for us instead of the usual suspects, ok, I can get behind that. When they came to deodorant/antiperspirant the other chicky was saying that there are products out there that don't have aluminum as an ingredient and we should be using those cuz aluminum is a neurotoxin, which, yeah, better to not have that floating around in your body (I think aluminum compounds are used to stop the sweating, really, I think they use other things for the odor). Then Julia pipes up and says that she doesn't use deodorant/antiperspirant and never has because she just doesn't like it. To which Oprah replies that Julia always smells so nice when she's on the show. But how does she smell when she's filming? I mean have you seen Erin Brokovich or The Mexican? I'll bet she didn't smell nice during those shoots. I dunno maybe she just doesn't sweat? Who knows? Now if any of you out there reading this don't use deodorant yourselves, I don't mean to offend, but if I were to go even a day without, well, that just isn't pleasant for anybody.

By the way, I've tried two different types of deodorant that don't have aluminum in them and neither work.

I love my camera!!!

My sister is back and so is my camera! La la la - this is me singing because I love my camera. In honor of my camera being back home, I did an impromtu On My Desk Tuesday...So here's what's on my desk...

1. My doll quilt that is not even close to being done, even though it's due to go out this week. Don't tell anyone that it's hiding on my desk.

2. Purell hand sanitizer

3. Meyer Lemon Lotion from Restoration Hardware.

4. My Rolodex

5. Paper stuff that I make when I'm bored

6. Miscellaneous pictures

7. Typical office supplies.

I would have taken more interesting photos but there's not a whole lot of good subject matter here at the office so this is what you get.

This is...something I've gotten that I haven't used yet.

Oh boy, where do I start? For someone like me who has ESS (excessive shopping syndrome) this topic is, to say the least, eye opening. I literally couldn't figure out what to pick this week because of all the things that are lying around that still have tags on them. (None of which were bought this month because of the spending freeze...yeah, it's killing me.)

Well, I settled on these shelves...

of which, I have two. I haven't put them up yet mostly cuz I'm lazy and just haven't taken the time to do it. Which is a shame because these jars

and these frames...

and this frame...

are all waiting to be put on said shelves (notice the frames are also unused). Maybe tomorrow...(I think I'm channeling Scarlett O'Hara).

Thanks a lot Flossy-P for this week's topic (did that sound sarcastic?). If you wanna see what other people have lying around their houses that aren't being used go on over to Three Buttons and check it out.

P.s. sorry again for the bad photos...When my sister gets back with my camera I'm not letting it out of my sight! and I'll probably hug it a little - don't tell anyone.

I love Fridays!!!

I know I've said it before, but I love Fridays!!! Working a half day is freakin cool! Any day that allows me to take a two hour nap in the middle of the day is one of my favorite days. There's also so much potential to get so many more things done...not that I do but the potential is there and that's what counts, right? (BTW, that 2 hour nap is why this post is being done in the wee hours of the morning.)

Anyway, just wanted to share that with you. Now on to other business. If any of you out there are inclined to pray, I'd like to ask that when you do, you drop a request in my favor. I'm going on a trip with my church to New Orleans in July where we'll be helping out with VBS (Vacation Bible School) and also helping some local families with their rebuilding efforts (nothing too skill oriented, just some painting and stuff like that). We're in the middle of raising money for the trip and getting organized and all that good stuff right now so a little (or alot) prayer would be greatly appreciated.

Have a good Memorial Day weekend everybody.

P.s. My sister is away for the weekend and she borrowed my camera and I'm dying without it!!!

I'm so excited!!

I won something!! I sign up for blog give-a-ways semi regularly. Mostly with the ones that have something I can actually use. I mean, yes, I like getting free stuff and winning things but what's the use in winning something that's just gonna sit around and collect dust, right? So I entered a give-a-way over at the Quilt Taffy blog and I actually won something! Amazing, I've never won a give-a-way before. In fact, I never win anything, ever. Awesome!! It's like God is smiling at me, the angels are singing, the sun is shining, birds are chirping. No, really, that's what it feels like. Anyway, just wanted to share the good news.

My Dream Kitchen

Have you ever walked into your kitchen and just wished you could blink it away? This is how I feel about my kitchen. If I could, I think I'd blink these in its place...

or

or, this house, which happens to be my dream home has an awesome kitchen...

Here's a picture of a kitchen similar to ours. Ours is all oak cabinets and no pass through and a lot less light, but similar in size. Also, when you look at this photo, picture in your mind's eye a pile of dirty dishes in the sink, (cuz as all those who know me know that I would rather do anything than do the dishes) and more clutter on the counters.

Being a renter, there's not a whole lot I can do as far as renovations go but I guess organizing and keeping it clean and clutter free goes a long way, I should give those a try. If anybody has any organizing tips please let me know cuz what we got going doesn't work for our little tiny space.

Secret Blogging

Have you ever found yourself in the middle of a work day and all you can think about is how soon you can get to your home puter to do some blogging? That's me pretty much everyday. So I just started blogging at work on the sly. Google and Blogger are two of the very few sites I'm allowed to visit. Google because it's so useful and Blogger cuz 1. it's part of Google and b. they don't know yet how often I really visit. Unfortunately, Ed, the internet nazi hasn't given me access to typepad or wordpress. There are some blogs on both those sites that I am loyal to. I guess, since I am at work, I really should be working, but I'm a receptionist at an engineering firm that gets maybe 1 or two guests a week. I've got a good amount of time on my hands during the day.

Anyhoo, I was just wondering if any of you out there do this same thing or if I'm the only one with a really poor work ethic?

This is how I recycle.

This week's topic has, I admit, brought me a little shame. I'd like to say that I very diligently separate my recyclables but I'd be lying. When I do remember to I'm good about it. Unfortunately, I don't always remember. So, instead of "recycling" I'd rather talk about "re-using". I go to thrift stores and yard sales regularly. But what I really love to do is take old furniture and make it like new. In our house we have all sorts of these projects going on. Here are the two pieces that I've refurbished and that I use the most.

The nightstand that is being used as part of my temporary sewing station, and which isn't quite finished yet, I got at a thrift store for $8. It was your basic oak nightstand but seeing as I love my furniture to be white, I painted it and gave it new handles. The chair in front of it was an ebay find. It had been painted a weird off white / pinky kind of color and had magic marker in the grooves, I think to make it look "shabby chic". I once again painted it white and changed the seat fabric.

I don't generally say no to anybody who has any furniture to offer. If I can't find a place for it in my house, I can give it a makeover and find it a new owner. One of my favorite furniture contributors is an aunt of mine who has fabulous taste but, unfortunately, she moved from a short ride down the freeway to Hawaii. Not so easy to get her cast offs now. :( So if any of you out there have any old furniture to get rid of, you know who to call.

To see more recycling ideas, go on over to Three Buttons and check us all out.

Long Hot Day

It's over...whew. I forgot how much work these craft fair things are. It wasn't as successful as it has been in past years. Usually, the pancake breakfast generates lines that run the length of the school but today there was never a line. Not once all morning. The line is why they started putting the booths out front, along the line route (previously it was out on the softball field). So, it was a long, slow, hot morning (it reached 104 today) but we did slightly better than break even so that's a plus. Of course, selling blankets and knitted items - really not the best thing to do in this kind of heat but oh well.

You know those EZ Up canopy thingies that you just push up and bing bang boom you got yourself some shade? We don't have one of those. We have the kind that you have to actually put together. it comes with 30 or so different metal pole pieces, labelled 1, 1b, 2, 2b, and 3b (I have no idea what happened to 3!) and the instructions are, for all intents and purposes, in Sanskrit. We started putting it together around 6:30 (the breakfast officially started at 7 and my sister, being a teacher there signed up to work for an hour right at 7) by 7:15 I gave up (threw loud clangy metal pieces on to ground cursing under my breath while trying to remember this is a Christian school and there are small children in the vicinity) because I still hadn't put out all the goods on the tables.

I was soooo ready to chuck those poles under the next passing car but I refrained and good thing too cuz right when the shade from the neighboring canopy was about to disappear, my sister decides to give it another go. This time we had 5 people putting this together and finally managed it in about 10 minutes. We decided that as soon as we were done there, we were heading straight to the store to buy the EZ Up kind. Which we did and if any of you out there need one but are put off by the crazy high price and you're near a Rite Aid, go there and get yourself one right this instant cuz they're on sale for $50! What a deal! We bought ours with some of our earnings from today.

So, now I'm exhausted and going to try and get some sleep. Nite.

Hot hot hot

It is HOT! I believe it was around 90, 92 today. Tomorrow it's supposed to get hotter and Saturday, the day of our outdoor craft fair, it's supposed to be around 100 - 105. Hmmmmm...heat isn't my favorite. I'm more of a winter person. It'll be interesting on Saturday.

Around here, it's been busy busy busy getting ready for the fair. Sewing, sewing sewing, and for a novice sewer, that's alot of sewing. But I'm really enjoying it. Strange, cuz in my teen years I thought sewing was just a total waste of time and energy. Just shows how much teenagers know.
Anyhoo, tonight I decided to make these pincushions. They're a little bigger than your normal pincushion but I thought if there isn't anybody that sews at the fair, there might be someone that will want them as decoration.


Well, it's late so I'm signing off, after Saturday I'll do some proper posting instead of this short bizniz.

Procrastinaton lesson #5693

I signed up for a doll quilt swap quite a while ago and am, as usual running behind on finishing it. Mostly because I didn't even start it until this past weekend. It's due at the end of this month...yikes! Why oh why don't I ever learn? Anyway, here's a glimpse at it. I don't wanna give away the whole thing cuz I want it to be a surprise, in case my swap partner is reading.



and here's a slightly closer up shot.

This is...my mom.

This week's theme is in honor of Mother's Day. Three Buttons suggested "this is what reminds me of my mom" then there was the suggestion of "this is a picture of my mom and the best advice my mom ever gave me." And since I like to see the sight of my own typing I'm gonna do it all.

These first 2 pics are of my mom before I was born. I believe this was the last time she ever wore heels or had long hair.



This pic is how I know my mom. Tanktop, pants, short hair. Comfortable and easy to take care of. She's a very no-nonsense person, my mom.


Here are some of the things that remind me of my mom...

1. Craning for a book, 2. La sarten y el perolo, 3. mmmmm, 4. Harvest Time=) 3, 5. Light Painting #52 (Dad’s Microscope), 6. Merino Sock Yarn

She's an avid reader, she's a great cook, she can't go a day without coffee, she loves to grow things - anything really, she worked in a lab almost all her whole adult life, and she is never without some knitting or crocheting in her bag.

As far as advice goes, her best morsel and the one that has stuck with me more than the others is not to require another person to make me feel complete. Spouses and children are life's bonuses, not requirements.

And that's a glimpse into who my mom is. To see other Mother's Day posts visit Three Buttons and see who's playing along.

BTW, I took a picture of my mom today when we took her out but she's making a really funny face and kinda looks like an english bull dog so I didn't think she'd appreciate me posting that little jem.

Bad news.

The Bub had a vet appointment yesterday and we got some not-so-good news. He has periodontal disease and he has to get some teeth pulled. That means alot of pain for the little guy and I really don't want to put him through that, but I know it'll be better for him in the long run. Not to mention it's hugely expensive, which should be the least of my worries but it's always on my mind.

More flickr favs

Some flickr favs...I really like pinwheels, they take me back to those childhood moments at parades, the county fair or even just going to Thrifty's or Coronet (local stores that no longer exist). Enjoy the eye candy.



1. pinwheel, 2. New pinwheel for my darling, 3. thousands of pinwheels, 4. Pinwheels, 5. Pinwheels, 6. Pinwheel frustration, 7. Pinwheel, 8. Black pinwheel hairclip/brooch (front), 9. pinwheels, 10. Pinwheels Through a Window, 11. Red Pinwheels at the DMZ, 12. pinwheel, 13. Pinwheels of my mind, sunday by the zoo, 14. Pinwheel, 15. Pinwheels of Peace, 16. Pinwheels

Doncha hate that?

Don't you hate when you have no cash on you (you have plenty o' dough in the bank or on credit cards just no cash) and you really want something from somewhere that only accepts cash? Grrrr...this is very frustrating. Why, oh why, didn't I go to the ATM?

That's all, just wanted to share.

p.s. I just noticed there's a rating thing-a-majigy at the bottom of each post now...what's up with that?

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Happy every Cinco de Mayo everybody! We had a potluck here at work in honor of the day and I was gonna take a pic of the spread cuz it was quite impressive but the vultures were circling and by the time I remembered to grab my camera it was too late.

Anyway, grab yourself a cerveza, grab your marachas and party!

On the 17th of this month my sister's school (she's a teacher, not a student) is having their annual pancake breakfast. Each year they also have a craft fair so my sis and I signed up for a booth. We've had other booths where we sold anything from handmade backpack purses to our pottery. This year it's going to be a mish mash of handmade items - hair thingies, a couple of blankets I've pieced together, some blankets, wraps, scarves, etc. that my mother has knitted/crocheted, and who knows what else we'll come up with. So, if you're reading this, wish us luck and here's a sampling of my hair thingies (cuz that's all I have completed at this time).

These are just the normal barrettes that most little girls wear. I'm not sure what their official name is but I call them bumpy clips cuz of the sound they make when you open and close them.

These are all head bands. The black ones I found at Wal-Mart in a pack of 8 or 10 and I thought they could use some embellishment, same with the thin elastic ones really. They all just looked so plain that I couldn't help but put the flowers on.

That's just a sampling really of what were going to have. The next two weeks are going to be a frenzy of sewing and stuff. Wish us luck.

This is...?

This week's This Is is a two parter. 1. This is the pair of shoes that I would sleep in if I could, 2. Put up pictures of ourselves pre 1985. Now since I am a shoe horder and I happen to think I was a particularly adorable child I thought these were very good ideas. So...

I love these shoes. I don't have too many things that go with them so I don't wear them too often. They make me smile every time I look at them.


And...


This is me on my first birthday, 1974. I love this picture because it shows how much of a ham I naturally am and look at all that personality...that kid oughta be in the movies!



Here's me, 1979, "graduating" from kindergarten. That yellow number was my favorite dress ever.


And, last but not least, here's me in 4th grade, 1983. I'm lookin' a little redneck in this pic, what with my trucker hat and cut off jeans shorts with that (awesome) Ford pickup in the background. Now, I'm just wondering about my fashion choices...sweatshirt and shorts and a trucker hat? Hmmm



So, there you have me before 1985. Good thing the really embarassing photos all took place between 1986 to, well, the present. Thanks to Love&Afros for this week's shoe love. If you wanna see more, head on over to Three Buttons and check out all of us that are playing along.