Thanks Kim!

OK, for those of you who don't know, Kim at Today's Creative Blog searches the internet for us finding the coolest blogs to showcase. She blogs about Blogs... isn't that nice of her! I don't have ages to poke around finding new stuff everyday, so when I'm looking for a bit of inspiration, or just something new to look at, I just go to Kim. She has never lead me wrong, and is always finding the best stuff!

Today her posting is about The Style Sisters Blog. They seem to have common interests to my own... crafting, thrifting, decorating, cooking, etc. But the post that REALLY caught my attention was their posting on making these two stinkin cute serving pieces. I've been eyeing cake plates for a while now... they just seemed too expensive, so I never picked one up. I have the usual pressed glass one that everyone who got married around the time I did, usually got as a gift. Don't get me wrong. It's basic. Just clear glass. And I've used it a lot. But the cute ones.... those tend to be beyond my cake plate budget. But the Style Sisters have shown me the light! Next trip to Patina, and I'm searching for a few plates and bowls to make my own!!! I poked around on ebay and found these two bowls...



But I'm starting to see the sense of buying local to be "Greener", so I'll keep my eye out at garage sales and thrift stores.

On the Green note... I never really thought much about this stuff... My husband is a petroleum engineer who works for an oil company for peets sake... So basically the high demand for oil has provided my family with a comfortable living for some 10 years now. However, we have to buy gas for our cars too, so lately we've been feeling the same pinch as everyone else. And NO, for those wondering... we DON'T get a discount! That being said, while looking at ways to trim our budget, we've been trying to find ways to be more "Green" too. Just small trades really, that may actually add up one day to help make a difference.... here's what we've come up with...

.... buy veggies at the local farmers market... organic, local, so less shipping and packaging impact (I didn't know that styrofoam and plastic wrap was petroleum based, did you?), cheaper than the grocery store, in season so it tastes fantastic

... carpool...I know, a big DUH! ... but instead of running around aimlessly after drop off, I come home. That's what I'm decorating this sanctuary for, I may as well enjoy it!

.... turn off lights that we don't need, and open up the blinds to brighten our home

...unplugging stuff at night that we don't need, like the coffee pot, sewing machines, etc.

... using what we have (eh... like fabric that I have stacked to the ceiling, instead of buying new stuff every day... which saves the UPS guy's gas too)

... the list goes on, but you get the idea. I guess you can say that we're making a deliberate effort to grow up :-) and quit being so consumer minded. It's a better example for the girls too. Just because we have it, doesn't mean we need to spend it. I've even put myself on an allowance. Sounds weird I KNOW, but come on... 2K in one month from PayPal really IS a bit stupid.

Blogging off for now... Have a lovely Green Spring day and remember... thrifting is the oldest form of recycling!

One Day at a Time

OK, so I don't really think of myself as a Liberal...
nor do I think it to be truthful to call myself a conservative .

I don't vote along party lines... and I don't do something just because someone tells me so. I guess I've always been that way... sorry mom... So needless to say, here in the South, that makes me somewhat of a mystery. Because if there's one thing we do down here, it's discuss politics and religion... good or bad... and why everyone else is wrong! So I guess that's why I've been watching the primary races with a bit of humor... Because honestly, if we can't laugh at these people, why watch. The funniest people are the guys over on Fox News and MSNBC who analyse everything after the day is done. They are so passionate, and so obstinate, that the awkwardness that arises when they agree makes for the best late night comedy!

So, all of that nonsense being said, I've decided that I will take each day as it comes... and make small changes for myself and my family to help us be a better wife/husband, parent, sister, daughter, friend, person, steward of the Earth.

I've decided to:

• drink more water, and offer less sugary drinks to the girls.
• add 5 minutes a day to my jaunt on the new elliptical (because after 9 months of sitting on my behind for my sewing business, my behind is not thanking me for the few bucks I made!

• twice a week, we will eat a completely vegetarian meal. b/c dried beans are cheap
• put myself on an allowance and not keep charging up the Disney Rewards card on silly stuff like craft supplies. Seriously, those buttons probably cost $50 more after the interest!
• Grow veggies and eat them... again... cheaper... have you seen how much those English cucumbers cost?!?
• Stop getting take out food b/c again... it's expensive to eat out all of the time, and we'll save the gas from the trip... and my behind will stop growing exponentially!
• Do something fun with the girls each week. Yesterday we saw Nim's Island... just us girls.
• Go to bed a bit earlier
• Do laundry twice a week, so our piles don't get so high, and our weekends aren't spent doing chores
• Floss every day.... I KNOW.... I try!
• Stop living off of caffeine.... just one cup a day! Sorry Tassimo!!!
• replace each burned out light bulb with the energy saving CFLs
• and the list goes on...

You get the idea.... Just taking each day for what it is... a blessing from God... and live it to the fullest that we can THAT day. And in the evening, I'm watching the news... because everyone needs a good belly laugh each day.

La Dolce Vita!

Tales from the OB/GYN

OK, so THAT title should reel in some strange google searches! But, never the less, I had my wonderful annual visit to the OB/GYN.... of whom I actually haven't seen since giving birth 4 years ago... I seem to always be on the nurse practitioner's schedule. Which, honestly, I don't mind... She's young, a newly wed actually, and we seem to get along. While waiting patiently for her in the lovely paper robe, I started scanning the pages of the March Country Living magazine... I was pretty into my reading when she came in, and she commented on how much she loves vintage things..... So, with my feet up, I continued to read and tell her about my adventure to The Royal Standard... and while "The Sista's" were being checked, we both gabbed over this amazing article on a Petite Department store called McMaster & Storm. They do not yet have their e-shop going, but it's on the way! And let me be the 1000th person to say, they will do VERY VERY well. It looks like you've stepped into the pages of Country Living itself! I could spend hours looking in all of their nooks and crannies.... if I weren't having all of my nooks and crannies looked in.

OK, so while we're all trying to rid ourselves of THAT visual, let me just say that you never really know who you'll run into in blog-world... But when we find those gems of people, who are honest and good, you should add them to your favorites list quickly. In this harried and crazy world, it's nice to have access to something so lovely and someone so inspiring at the click of a button. And dare I say.... I hope that I'm that gem for someone.

You all have a great weekend with your family and friends... Enjoy the renewing Spring weather while you can!

Whipped

OK, so this may date myself a bit.... but I am a HUGE Indiana Jones Fan... Harrison Ford is just about the hottest older actor out there.... Sorry Sean Connery... I'm so thrilled that the new movie, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull will be released May 22nd!!!!! And, if you don't mind my saying.... Indie is a Hottie!!!!! He's just a rugged, Manly Man.... and boy oh boy....... do you suppose he wears that hat home?..... ...... ...... Sorry, I was in fantasy land there... Now, I know that the kid from Holes will probably be a big draw for you Youngin's out there, but trust me.... Indie is the real attraction here.... mmmmm.... like a fine wine..... ;-)
Go see the movie site!.... I'm going to go dream about Indie!

MMMMMM.... Vino.....

OK, so my friend Beki blogged about having a nice glass last night..... and made my mouth water just looking at her picture!

It's been a while since I've had a REALLY nice glass.... actually about a year. I SOOO fell in love with the local (but alas, non-importable) table wines that we had at some of the smaller restaurants in Italy. They were the Be All and End All of great red wine... My tastes probably aren't the most sophisticated, but I know what's good with a perfect cut of steak or carbonara... and folks... I'm sorry to say... it's not ANYTHING you'll find over here in the states. Even the vineyard that we visited in Provence had a (gasp) great WHITE.... (double gasp!!!) It was truly brilliant... but I digress....

One of my favorite shops here in Mandeville is Martin's. They have a very knowledgeable staff and have never lead me wrong. This is my favorite Pinot Noir.



So,... if you ever run across it.... buy it by the case... it's THAT good. Not super cheap, but fantastic.

Might have to go pay a visit to Martin's today......

Have a lovely day, and join me for a glass (or 3) in spirit, tonight!

Mom's Day Out

OK, so it's been a while since I had a bit of time away by myself... so yesterday, as a way to return my younger sister home from her Spring Break stay with me, I met my older sister in Baton Rouge. We met at the Mall of Louisiana and shopped there for a while, but then we left to find the MAIN reason we went shopping.

The Royal Standard. I've never been here before, and there are two in Baton Rouge. The shopping in here is FABULOUS! (remember Ace Ventura)... I found loads of things, but especially loved the old leather bound French books... (I tried to find Jane Austen, but didn't have enough time to search all of the shelves). Great purses (and LOADS of Vera Bradley) I even found more pieces of my luggage! Hurray!


They had great sugar molds,

amazing stuff to decorate the house with, great garden things

and even had a fluffy powder puff like my Maw Maw used to have...

We teared up a bit at that memory, but I may just have to go back and get my sister one for Christmas...

MMMMM...... This ain't your Mama's Kool-Aid...

OK, so if you are a child raised in the 70's or 80's, I'm sure you saved your share of Kool-Aid points.... to get that Oh-So-Kool Kool-aid pitcher and cups.... or a jump rope or whatever. I still like a bit of Tropical Punch every now and then, but this summer is officially going to be our summer of fresh squeezed lemonade. I got this UBRE cool juicer from ebay...


This picture doesn't do much for it, but when I got it home, it's this amazing jade colored vintage looking juicer with stainless steel parts. I've been burning through the bags of lemons ever since! I thought I would share my recipe...

Sugar Syrup for lemonade...
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
Bring to boil and stir until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and let cool

Meanwhile......

juice 6-8 sm. to med. sized lemons... and I also like to throw in a lime or two just for the extra flavor...enough to get roughly 1 to 1 1/2 cups of juice.

In 2 qt. container, combine lemon juice, sugar syrup, 2 cups of ice, and enough water to fill the rest of the pitcher... stir well.

So there you have it! The girls want to do a lemonade stand at our subdivision pool house this summer to raise money to donate to St. Jude's Children's Hospital. This is the lemonade we'll have and hopefully it's just yummy enough to bring out the check books! I figure we'll just give it away and ask for donations.

Happy Squeezing!

Oh Happy Day!

Alright, a bit of background info... ages ago the girls got onto my sewing room computer and did SOMETHING to iTunes. After that I couldn't update the iPod, so sadly, I just sort of gave up on it. MONTHS later, I asked Levi if he would check it out again with "fresh eyes" to see if he could do something about it... (otherwise, I was going shopping soon!).

Hallelujah! It's fixed! I bought 3 new audio books and have started listening to The Thirteenth Tale... It's FABULOUS! (by the way, when I say fabulous in all caps like that, you should be hearing Jim Carrey's voice from Ace Ventura... ) Anyhoo! While sitting in bed last night nursing my cold, I listened to Part 1 and made all of these little beauties!!!!





Kind of funny... now that I've added all of the daylight lamps to the sewing room, my pictures are a bit too bright! I guess what's good for sewing, isn't so good for photos... But after I took all of the individual pics for the etsy shop I was not about to retake these!

They are just SOOOOO much fun to make! Kind of mindless, keep my hands out of the cookie jar kind of fun.

Hope you guys all made something pretty to post this weekend!

Too Much Fun?

Ok, is it even possible to have more fun than this....


I really don't think so. ! I hate to pass this one on, but I did make it for a friend.... So now I guess I'll have to say goodbye. And then come straight home and make one for myself! :-)

Tag! Your it!

ok, so Tine tagged me yesterday but I saw it on my email... not the blog... so when I just checked her blog for the morning, she explained it! Ready for a big international game of tag?

I've been tagged by Tine at Sodeste so now for my 6 quirks... This shouldn't be hard to figure out... ;-)

1. ever since I was pregnant with my 1st baby, I can't look at raw meat... so Levi cooks that...

2. I read Pride and Prejudice back to back to back... I'm always SOMEWHERE in that book

3. I kick ass at Scrabble. :-)

4. I can't do math... not even to balance the check book... Sorry Mrs. Winston! (I really do PROMISE that I used to do honors math and physics.... maybe it's one of those "use it or you'll loose it things!)"

5. I detest fingernail polish, but HAVE to have my toe nails painted...

6. I'm a nut for all kinds of music... but LOVE mournful sounding classical... hence the YoYoMa on my playlist... And probably the main reason I LOVE the movie Pan's Labyrinth.

I'm tagging Beki, Nikki, Tonya, Vanna, Mo, and Heather (just because I'm feeling a bit lucky today ;-)

And here are the rules:
1: Link to the person that tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself.
4. Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs.
5. Let each random person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website.

A is for Apron

Hey guys! Well, I think my book habit has been well established in the last posting... but I just went to Barnes and Noble last night... again... I walked in, and on the very front fabulous book filled table I found this...

Now, tell me how fun THIS is! and I totally love the green shoes! I also got the Pincushions and Potholder books that I skipped out on last time... These really are some GREAT inspirational books.

I went into this great home decorating fabric store yesterday and found the BEST FABRIC EVER for my pin cushions... Just you wait... by the end of the weekend, you'll see the funniest, cutest, most outlandish Prissy pin cushions you've EVER seen!

I finally finished organizing my ribbon on the new fancy (but practical) Ribbon Rings. I think I grossly underestimated the size of my ribbon stash... I thought I would have loads of room for new purchases and out of 90 cards and 5 -2 1/2" rings, I only have 3 or 4 cards left. Thank goodness I doubled up some of the cards!

Y'all have a lovely and creative Friday!

For the love of Literature

Last night, as I was putting away my newly finished book -Eat, Pray, Love, I thought that it would be fun to share some of my favorite books with you guys. At any given moment in time, I'm usually reading about 3 different books. First and foremost, I ALWAYS have a copy of Pride and Prejudice going. Always. Then I usually have some type of English History book going. I have a slight passion for anything involving the Tudors (hence my love affair with Showtime's series... well, that and the gorgeous men on the show!). And then I have some type of leisure reading... Something easily read at night, when I'm winding down. Like Harry Potter, or any of the Phillipa Gregory books. So there you have it. I'm a book geek. I can't help it, I've always been one... I think my obsession with reading started around the 4th grade. Thanks Mrs. Ann! She would give books out as awards for in-class contests... I also go a bit crazy with children's books for the girls... and how-to books... everything from how-to be pregnant (What to expect...) to how to organize a sewing/craft room. I must also say that despite my love of reading, I'm a horrific speller. So please be nice if I happen to misspell anything. ;-)

I've posted a link list on the right so that you can see what I'm reading... the list is long, and will take me FOREVER to finish, but I'll try to add to it regularly. I am always looking for a great new book, so please feel free to comment on something you like!

Yet another...

OK, so these little cuties are quite addictive... but I have an entire cake stand that I want to fill! (and too much scrap fabric to store!) I am also trying to make sure that I can make them well before I post any to etsy... so you COULD say that I was doing product development! ;-) I'm quite sure that Beki has at least a closet full of purses, right? ;-) Gigi, THIS is why I bought purse pins last night!!!! I can't wait to put them in this cushion! (We should team up! and list them in sets!)

Prissy Pincushion

ok, so this evening while basking in the glow of my newly organized studio, I decided to make a little eye candy. You know how you have these fabrics that you fall in love with and you save even the smallest scrap possible, just so you can look on it lovingly... uuhhh... just nod your head and agree, alright? Anyway, while looking through some magazines to find some room inspiration, I ran across an article on how to make these fabulous little (objective) pin cushions using yo yos. And since I recently discovered how super fun and easy the yo yos are to make, I decided to give it a go! Get a load of my UBRE Prissy Pincushion! It even has some of my super cool new pins from Pinks and Needles! I used some fabulous lime green linen, pale purple silk, and a sweet floral that I've always liked. These may make it into the etsy shop... I feel the need to look for some other silks and velvets. How cool would that be!

I feel like a Rock Star!

In my new sewing studio that is...! I JUST finished the project and I had to of course take pictures to share! It took many hours of planning and browsing through the internet and magazines, and then a little over 16 hours of manual labor... but it was SEW worth it! Have a look around...

Here's the giant "Before" mess... I took the playroom away from the girls... hence the dusty Disney princesses... And Tinker Bell's fairy dust above the window...



And here's the After!


Here's some new shelving that I put up... complete with my Maw Maw's old cast-iron iron, and my original Auntie Cookie collage! I'm determined to fill that prissy cake stand up with even MORE prissy pin cushions...;-)


The ever dreaded closet shot


My desk area where I do all of my embroidery designs and blogging :-)


This is the view from the door... Isn't it an inviting space? I love it! I love it so much that even though I'm DOG tired I think I'll get off of the computer and sew something!



and yes, I kept Tink... it felt like bad juju to take away the magic fairy dust!

Happy creating!

Patchwork love...

My friend Beki is published! Congratulations to her and all of the people who put together this new series of books. I found my first one at Barnes & Noble yesterday. It has some really great projects inside.... Better go get one! They were running low on this one, but still had the potholder and purse ones available.






While sitting in the decorating/craft book section, I also found a book... which I regretably didn't purchase. It was like one of those "planets all in line" kind of moments... I FOUND MY DESIGN STYLE! YEAH!!! I just thought I was a bit crazy and "eclectic"... but NOPE! Turns out I'm Creole Thrift! (and by the way, on my next venture out, I WILL stop by and get this book!)

I also bought a load of new organizational magazines.... You know what that means.... Time for a Studio Redo! I've been dreaming about it all night.... Perfectly organized fabrics, threads, papers, and all of the rest of my crafty little things. It may take me a while to get it underway, but once I do, WATCH OUT! I think I'll go scrounge around in the thrift shop today to see if I can find anything particularly fun to use. Then, to the dual-mecca of projects... Lowes and Home Depot to get some ideas!

Y'all have a great day and create something lovely!

New School Clothes

Hey Guys!

Well, I don't know if it's Spring Fever or what, but both of my girls are outgrowing their clothes by leaps and bounds. And I don't even want to talk about the SHOE issues! Yesterday while working on one machine, I multi-tasked and got Jillian a dress put together for school today. ... and honestly, it's really Abby that needs the clothes. This was just easier to get done quickly! Please ignore the damp straps... I had to take out the water sol. ink AND still have enough decent daylight coming into my sewing room for this pic! :-) The fabric still looks dark... it's actually closer to the color of this type than the actual picture of it!



My good friend Vana at Le Papier Studio kindly posted a link to this fantastic blog called Folio Hello. Hopefully, with a bit of practice my pics wont look like crap anymore! She's also been a busy bee for me! Yeah!!! It's been a WHILE since I found really great cards... and I LOVE personized stuff. She's working on the girls some cards too. HURRAY! Now that will for SURE be a happy in the mail! Thanks Vana! Now quickly, everyone jump from my blog to hers and look at her stuff...! It's amazing! See you all soon!

Etsy Love

Look what came in the mail!!! I love getting small little sweet packages in the mail. Could it be that cute little pin cushion I found? Or will it be my Snapfish prints? Anyway, yesterday afternoon, while my favorite UPS driver was delivering my coffee (FINALLY!) I got some sweet little happys in the mail. Too fun! For anyone who's been living in a cave, go shop Etsy! You can find some really awsome things.

These are little masterful works of art from Gigi Minor of Pinks & Needles. How much will these brighten my sewing room up!



And this adorable locket necklace is from Susan Scherer at BirdzNBeez...