Hey Everyone!
Just a few more days and we begin a new year.  2012 looks strange to write but before you know it, we'll be  used to it in no time.  A favorite of many this time of year is organizing.  I know I love to arrange and re-arrange my sewing room {okay, maybe a little OCD} over and over but it gives me time to think about what I'd like to create next and see what I have in my stash.  I'm a huge Etsy fan ~ as well as the  Everything Etsy! page.  Today's newsletter was full of great ideas, and even a few Etsy shops to refer to. Take a look at  Organize Your Craft Room and get a jump start on crafting in the new year!
Until Next Time,

M e R r Y * C h R i S t M a S * !

Merry Christmas everyone!
I hope you all have had a blessed Christmas and enjoyed quality time with family and friends and all who hold a special place in your hearts.
The past crazy fun filled days, prevented me from posting much.  Maybe I can catch up soon ~ there has been a lot going on, that's for sure.

Until Next Time,

* Pin Obsessed *

Hey Everyone,
Have you P i N n E d yet ?   I joined this craziness some time ago but honestly, I didn't really have it all figured out.   I mean, I know it's a virtual pin board and it's all about pinning photos you love, organizing them into groups or boards.  You can follow people with similar taste, and re-pin items from their boards on to your board.  Beautiful collages are bound to happen!  I'm not totally up to speed though, there are still questions!  Like, what if I'm looking at a photo I'd like to "pin" but I don't see the "pin it" button next to it ?  Because really, I've got a lot of pictures I'd like to add to my boards that are not in the confines of Pinterest World.  So what's a girl to do?  I suppose I could read the Help menus. But since I was up most of the night pinning away, I'm too tired to read anything.  I did find out I could add the nifty Follow-Me-On-Pinterest button to my blog... which I'll have to do!
Feel free to let me know what you know, if it's more than I know about it  :-)
Not a whole lot of sewing for the shop has been going on due to more complications with my leg.  I'm finishing up a special order today and then I might work on hand sewing projects or other things I can do with my leg elevated. I'm feeling a little frustrated! {and that's not including my phone}  I see the iphone in my very near future.... and maybe a new sewing machine!  Specifically to embroider. This will open up lots of possibilities!
Until Next Time,

21 Shopping Days To Go

Hey Everyone!
How is your Christmas shopping coming along?  I've got a lot of ideas for gifts but nothing actually in hand yet...  Which brings up something else I was thinking about.  Our fur-babies!  They should have something to open along with everyone else! Besides, if you don't keep them occupied, you know they'll just get into things they're not supposed to!  
I purchased this cute little "bone" for my girls last month from Laurie at CREATED BY LAURIE.  She personalized it for me, one side says Mia & the other side Abby.  I can only show you Mia playing with it because she won't let Abby have it!  The second I opened the package and squeaked it, Mia grabbed it and ran.  You'll notice the fabrics are my request too.  Sparkly pink for Abby's side and solid pink for Mia.  Her prices are so reasonable!  You should check out her shop.

I noticed that there aren't any negative comments on the music!  I guess you all use your mute button as well?

"MIA" side of bone

MIA with the bone

"ABBY"  side of the bone

Until Next Time,

! ! ! ! F A I R - W A R N I N G ! ! ! ! . . ;-)

Hey Everyone!
I have to give the "fair warning" alert to you all because in my very last post, I wrote about music on blogs and how most people don't appreciate it. { Personally, my volume is always muted until I need the audio }  Like the usual chain of events in my life, I start out doing one thing and very quickly I'm sidetracked into something completely different. Such was the case about two minutes after uploading my last post.  I was reading a fellow crafter's blog and she had this *free* music widget right there on her page.  Even though my laptop was muted, I could still hear it whispering for me to click on it and download my very own!  How could I resist?  It is sorta cool and it's not like I listen to heavy metal, head-banging, blarring, type of "music" although I know a few of my friends would agree that Country is the same. Oh well, whatever!
The first song "Will you go with me" by Josh Turner, is my all-time fav! I discovered it last summer and could listen to it all the time.  His voice goes SO low! Reminds me a lot of last year's American Idol winner, Scotty.
So what do you think? Music on blogs, yes or no? 
******************************************************************************
Update: Okay so I removed the music player temporarily.  I don't want it playing the same song each time you sign on so until I figure out how to mix it up, I'll keep it disabled.... just thought you'd like to know!
****************************************************************************** 
Until Next Time,

New Items!

Hey Everyone,
Happy December to all.  I can't believe it's already Holiday time and I couldn't be happier!  I just love Christmas time with all of the music, the lights, the parties, warm clothes, getting my sparkle on, the flood of Christmas picture cards that fill my mailbox and eventually cover an entire door and wall in my entryway. I thought about maybe adding music to my blog, but then I read that sometimes it can be a negative.  Not just Christmas music but music in general. I don't know about you but I can understand that.  We are a vast bunch and one size doesn't fit all. I imagine that I may be a little overboard with my {still going strong} Country Music obsession. I'm pretty sure that the few followers I have would surely hop on their horse and ride off into the sunset if I played what I'd like to! 

Last Friday and Saturday, I spent lots of time in my sewing room.  Here are a few photos of what I uploaded to my shop...

Gathered Craft/Crayon Apron. Front Side.  Accommodates up to 30 crayons.

It's reversible! This is the backside of apron.

 Baby Kimono Bootie and Burp Pad.  Soft Flannel all around. Solid pink side.

Booties and Burp Pad featuring the printed side.

Close up of those adorable booties!!

The Chef Pot Holder/Hot pad. I added Black & White Gingham around the Chef panel.

The reverse side of Chef Pot Holder/Hot pad. A generous 9x10"

The Hot Pad sold right away!  I have more panels with the little Chef guys in different poses.  I'm thinking of making a couple more as well as another idea I've been pondering.
I was sewing until the wee hours of the morning! I looked at the clock at it was 3am.  I called it a day {or night} and slept for a bit and did it again the next day. After a long day, I took a break to put my feet up. Have you ever felt that feeling when you have had a lot of salt & maybe your hands or feet feel swollen? I had that feeling but only in my right leg/calf.  I pulled up my pant leg and ohmygosh, my ankle and calf were bigger than I've ever seen. { I didn't have lots of salt, I actually was so involved in my projects that I "forgot" to eat}. I was thinking blood clot was the culprit.  Afterall, I made the CA-NY & NY-CA non-stop flight twice in four days just last month. My leg was warm to the touch, red, painful, poor refill, couldn't  flex my toes back, and the skin was so tight, there was absolutely no jiggle.  What else could it be? I probably should've went to ER that night but I was busy, tired and kept telling myself, there is no way this could happen to me!  That night I slept with the giant leg elevated. By morning, I could tell nothing was changing and maybe it could happen to me.  Did I go to ER right away?  Nope! Prior plans had been made for brunch that I really wanted to keep. Nurses really are the worst patients!
I dressed appropriately so everyone could check out my calf and ankle and compare my two legs.  Even the triage nurse thought for sure I had a clot.  The blood test was positive for clots so I was rolled off to Ultra Sound.  Guess what? No blood clot!!  What I did have was a Baker's Cyst that had exploded!! ... okay, Burst.  I like saying exploded more.
So I haven't had much experience with this type of Cyst other than it's always behind your knee and usually is found in arthritic people.  Who knew they blew up like that and answered the burning question of where all that fluid/swelling came from.
That was my excitement! I was out of commission the following 24 hrs and then work as usual.  Finally feeling a lot better now.
Until Next Time,  

Cute Little Christmas Trees!

Hey Everyone!

I just had to share a link I ran across a few weeks ago on another blog.  Mini Christmas Trees.

Ohmygosh, aren't they SO adorable? Check out the Tutorial over at the website.
Mini Christmas Trees from Lemon Tree Creations.   I think I need to make a few sets ~ for myself and for a couple gifts.
When do you decorate your home for the holidays?  Traditionally, I like to do it over the long Thanksgiving weekend.  Usually there is extra time, I'm always in the mood, you know, the timing is just right!!  Well this year wasn't the case, as I originally thought it might be.  I spent most of yesterday in the Emergency room at my local hospital, and I wasn't working... it was for myself!  That will be a story for another post.
Until Next Time,

* Lazy * Dog * Daze*

Hey Everyone!
I thought Orange text would be appropriate to use for this Thanksgiving weekend! And I've made the font a little larger as the Orange may be difficult to read.
For us, like many other homes, this is the official weekend to begin CHRISTMAS decorating. I'm so excited. Time to break out the CD's and get the music playing :-)
Before I get lost in that topic, I wanted to post a couple videos of my girls doing what they do when they lay around all day.





A dogs life... so easy,right?
Until Next Time,

*~* My Sweet Girls *~*

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!
I know I'm a little early but that's okay.  I had a list of things to blog about today but time has flown by, like it often does on the weekends.  Today we had a nice "rain storm" lasting more than an hour. Of course that's when I pick to go shopping!  Nothing like making mundane chores more exciting.  Maybe it will be more relaxing as the week unfolds and I'll have extra blogging time but for now, I have to post this picture of "My Girls".  Their Fall Portrait taken by Alex at our last I.G. play-date.  The Fall IG Play-Date that our Biggy~Iggy Mia, took a walk on water.

Abby {L} our 1st rescue 3yrs and Mia {R} 2nd rescue 2yrs old

 I posted this same photo a few minutes ago to my personal Facebook page.  I can only imagine the clever comments I get to read when I'm done here.  Apparently, most of my friends don't treat their little doggies as if they were the grand babies.  Ha.  {Guess my boys will need to get me some real grand babies after their weddings next summer!} 
Oh, I can see the notifications popping up now in the corner of my screen...comments made on my recent picture. This should be good :-)    
Hope you all have a short work week like I do, or better yet, no work at all.  Enjoy!
Until Next Time,

Hot Pad and A Knitting Needle Roll

Hey Everyone!
Just a quick post to show you a couple new items that I made this past weekend.
First, a friend in the U.K. wanted a Knitting Needle Roll for all her needles.  Here's what I put together for her...

All Rolled UP!

 

The Inside Roll

The Outside Roll

I hope she likes it!  What do you think?  

I also wanted to do something with strips of fabric I put together. Mainly PiNk and Green,of course!  I plan on making matching Apron and Hot Pad sets and I had a couple yards of InsulBright in my stash. I cut up the strips and added a sash or two and here's what I came up with!  

 * Pot Holder/Hot Pad * Front Side *

* Back Side of Hot Pad *

* The Pot Holder Loop *

* A Little Heart In The Middle *

* In Progress *

This was fun to make. I love quilting!
Thank you for stopping by.
Until Next Time,

Mid-Week Misc

Hey Everyone!  I'll try to concentrate as I write but I have to admit, I'm also watching the CMA's.  EEeeek, I'm so excited.  I've been waiting all week for this night. I've turned into a total Country Music lover. Not so much the twangy older music but it's the current music I can't stop listening to. I have a dream to make it to Stagecoach in the spring. {we'll see if that happens!}
On to sewing news. I bought a cute coin purse pattern from KEYKALOU shop on Etsy. I think they are so adorable and something everyone could use.  I've made a couple so far but still need to add to my shop.  Take a peak:

Owl Coin Purses

I know, my phone should remain my phone and not be my camera.  Sometimes it's so much easier to snap & send off to my computer since it's always in my pocket. Here's a shot of a few currently in progress.  Should be up this weekend.

Coin purses in progress

  In other news, you may have heard me mention once or twice {or a million times} about my darling Italian Greyhounds. They are the most awesome little creatures ever! This past weekend we went to the Fall I.G. Play-date.  {Yep you read that right. We do play-dates for our fur babies}. One of the gals in the rescue group opens her home & back yard to us. Sometimes up to 40 or 50 adults and just as many I.G.'s. It's hard to resist rescuing just one of these precious pups! The dogs are real social and really enjoy hanging out with their own type. The adults get to hang out and enjoy great food and conversation.  Usually there is a raffle and money raised goes to help a specific pup in need.  It's really a wonderful organization and not limited to just California.  Take a look at this basket of donated items... a doggie bed, a doggie themed lined basket filled with scented tennis balls, pull toy, natural biscuits, shampoo, two red ceramic bowls, Paul Frank leash & matching martingale collar, to name a few.

Raffle Basket for Italian Greyhound Rescue

Isn't this a wonderful basket?  Guess who won?  Our little Abby and Mia won! They were so thrilled and couldn't wait to play with their new toys and use the pretty new bowls.  
We did have a little incident that day while at the gathering.  Mia {our "biggy-iggy} decided to walk right into the pool.  I happen to see the whole thing from the other side of the yard. I think she thought she could walk on water or something.  It happened so fast!  And with a big "Plop", Mia was in the water. Sinking fast. Everyone heard the noise and luckily, one of the Dad's went flat on the deck and reached for her. He missed the first time but was able to catch her collar the second time. I don't get it, the doggie paddle instinct never kicked in. You could see all four legs just hanging straight down and she was following! We laugh about it now but at the time, it was so scary. Mia didn't seem bothered by the mishap, she carried on the rest of the day like nothing happened. No spitting or sputtering either, so I presume she's a good breath-holder. 
That's all for now!  I hope to show off Christmas goodies in the very near future. Enjoy the rest of your week.
Until Next Time,
T

* Trying something new *

Hey Everyone! I'm so happy it's Friday. No huge commitments this weekend so I plan on lots of sewing.  Or, maybe some crochet time... I can knit and crochet, in a straight line but the skill ends right there.  How lucky for me that a co-worker can do circles!! She taught me a couple new stitches {which I promptly forgot the name/abbreviation} but I think I have the technique mastered.

The beginning of my hot pink beanie!

Looks better this way, the "holes" aren't as noticeable!

 I also have a book & DVD to help with technique but you know how it's better to be shown something as detailed as this, instead of reading words? My co-worker said that she learned from YOUTUBE, 
I may end up there as well once my skill level moves past the "dummy" phase.  I think the little flowers I see around ETSY {and have even purchased} are so adorable and I'd really love to learn that next.  I may improve so much that I could offer little crochet hats in * My Shop *  but do allow ample time for that!
Until Next Time,
 

Boutique News!

Hey Everyone!   I had such a great time yesterday participating in a local Boutique held at a nearby high school gym.  This was my first event. Wow, did I ever learn a lot.  I joined two online/Etsy friends, Laurie from FlutterbyConnections and Laurie from CreatedByLaurie. Their talent leaves me in awe.
Our booth was HUGE and right at the entrance.

I learned so much from these amazing ladies! There wasn't a huge turn-out but we all sold a little bit and enjoyed a lot of great conversation!

The very, very best part?  I was covered in glitter from head to toe for the 2nd day in a row! 

Until Next Time,

* W e D D i N G * STuFF *

Hey Everyone!  Yes, I've been absent lately - but that doesn't mean not much is going on. Quite the opposite... mostly work and after that, not many hours are left.  What I did do last weekend was go shopping for Wedding Dresses with one of my future DIL {Daughter-In-Law}. It was such a great day!  We started out at 9am, I loaded into the truck with the Bride's Mom, two Sisters and we headed north to our first stop and to meet up with the maid-of-honor.   

So Many Choices !!

The first shop was nice. So many choices, I don't know how the Bride's do it these days! DIL definitely had a style in mind and we all pulled out dresses that we thought met her criteria but after almost an hour and a half and many try on's, she did not say Yes to the dress.  Back into the truck to travel further north to Fullerton.  We arrived early to our appointment with the Dress Consultant so what do six women do with extra time on their hands?  Eat and Shop!  We had a great lunch, quenched our thirst and checked out a couple nearby antique shops.  Then it was time to explore more dresses!

The choices were amazing once again.  This shop actually had  "THE" Dress !  The beautiful Bride had seen a particular dress {which I cannot describe at all, not even  a teeny detail} online and in a magazine.  She was on a mission when we first arrived ! About 10 dresses were pulled and the fun fashion show began. She made each dress look so beautiful but when she walked out in THE dress, the room lit up with such a glow.  We all knew that she was going to say YES to THE dress!!  

Just a few of the many choices of beautiful dresses.

Close up of bead work.

While none of the above pictures are of THE dress, I couldn't resist posting the beautiful lace and beads of other dresses.  It was such a fun day!

This weekend I will be in my very first Boutique! I will be home all day today preparing for this exciting event.  My next blog post will be all about it!
One last picture or two - since Halloween is right around the corner...

I didn't make these little hats that the girls are wearing {sometimes I do purchase items for them}  I thought they were so cute.  I'm not sure what they will wear but hopefully I'll decide on the perfect outfit soon.
Until Next Time,