Cross your fingers for me..

Sorry I haven't been back but I think I lost my ability to post.. lol. Almost every day I've sat here and typed out stuff but then when I reread them I ended up just hitting delete. I haven't got an ounce of news since my last past. Sad huh?

So, I'm just basically touching base and letting you know I'm thinking of you all.. I have been reading your posts and catching up on your life.

Today I am going to do something productive so I will have something to share.. yup.. today is the day Stella gets her groove back... lol.

Hope you all have a great day!

Hugs,

I just want to share what I've been working on...

My DH has been gone since last Tuesday with work so I have been busy at my sewing machine. I've always loved this desk deli tote by Quilts Illustrated.. and now I have my very own.. woohoo. I love the way it turned out.. now I just need to find somewhere to go to bring my lunch.. lol.

Next I worked on this HUGE purse. I didn't realize how big it was going to turn out but I absolutely love it. When my dd moved out of her condo I saved the curtains and boy am I glad I did.. they made an awesome purse!! Love it when I can recycle something

like this.. lol. It's a Simplicity pattern #2685.

I just love it when I have the house to myself... turn on the radio and just sew away. Don't get me wrong.. I LOVE my family but it sure is nice to get to spend some time to yourself from time to time.

After I completed the purses I got itchy to do more so I also made 2 quilt tops...

I still have to sew my rows together but I love how this one is turning out.

And lastly I made a pillow to match the first quilt top...

I love this time of year... all I need is a little chill in the air and give me my sewing machine or a good book and I am set.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!!!

Big Hugs

Sorry I've been away so long... I missed you

Well.. I'm not quite sure where all the time has gone. I can't believe I haven't posted since May. Life got a little hectic so I stepped back but now I am ready to face the world again and come out of my hiding place. I have a lot of reading to do to catch up on what's been happening in your lifes. ::big hugs:: I have missed you all. It's nice to know that I could just step in for as moment and experience your joys or woes.... I need to remember that! I have made some awesome friends in the short time I've been in the blogging world.. I don't want to give up any of you.


What have I been up to? Well.. my eldest daughter got married last weekend. It was absolutely beautiful! Time consuming... stressful... and I found I had my hands full with my very own bridezilla.. lol. I have a whole new respect for the "mother of the brides".. lol. My other daughter has informed me she is just going to the justice of the peace.. after watching her sister.. who was once this sweet, loving, giving woman become the female version of Jekyll and Hyde she wants no part of it.. lol.

My grandson stole the show.. he kept touching Heather's dress saying "pretty". LOL.. it was a wonderful day!



Ugh... I've forgotten how to lay out the pictures.. lol. The second picture is all three of my babies. Ok, I'm off to start reading and catching up with you.. my friends.

Got some x'plain'n to do Lucy....

Hello my friends... I can't believe it's been so long since I've blogged. Between my daughter coming home from college for the summer and working on my redo's seems like time has just flashed forward and I missed a couple weeks. Our area is going to be having a Rivah Fest on June 20th so I've been working like crazy trying to get my stuff together so I could have a booth. For those of you who have followed along with me know that I was thinking of selling my redo's in a consignment craft store but I've decided to just hit the local farmer's markets and festivals. I really need to get to know my neighbors... though I don't have a single one in sight.. lol. So I thought it was time to get out and meet some fellow crafters in my area. I actually lucked out though for the Rivah Fest because the local quilt store is letting me set up my booth on their lawn so I don't have to pay the $50 fee to be on the street... she says that having booths on her lawn will bring more business to her store... I can see her point but I think I would of at least charged us $25.. but hey.. it's her lawn.. sssshhhhhh. LOL.

Ok.. first I have to show you my winnings from Angie's giveaway at http://sugarplumpatch.blogspot.com/

I just love them.. thank you so much Angie.. I know we were having some issues with the emails in the beginning.. but I'm soooo glad my goodies made it home. You are awesome! If you haven't checked out her site run on over.

And now here's some new "do's" I've acquired since I've seen you last. I keep telling myself "no more buying" until I can get some of this stuff done.. but I swear I hear the TS calling my name as I'm trying to mind my own business and just drive by. My car just gets a mind of it's own.. I mean.. "I" am steering the wheel straight but vroom.. the car becomes Christine and I have no choice.. if I don't get out of the car I am forced to listen to Don Ho non stop until I do.. Isn't that just crazy?!

I love the cabinet and the the candle stand.. I'm trying to figure out what to do with the black box, the purse emblem is actually tile.. any ideas?

Actually after looking at these pictures I guess I've been to the TS more then I thought, I know I have newer stuff hidden somewhere.. lol. I'll have to look around and see what I can find. I did get the blue box for free because it has a combination lock and no one can get it open.. sounds like a good project for one of the kids.

And now.. Drum roll please Mr. Ho.... my grand finale..... I got my soap all packed up and ready for sale and I packaged some fixins that smell out of this world.. I am a proud mama..

So far I've packaged Vanilla Frosted Grahams and Homemade Sugar Cookie.. mmmm 2 of my favorite scents.. my girlfriend said it smelled like walking into Yankee Candle.. so I will take that as a compliment.. lol.

Well, that's it for now, I need to get back to my redo's and paint some more signs.

I hope you all have a wonderful Memorial Day and have some fun and enjoy your families! I've missed you my friends....

Hugs,

I found my mojo.... woohoo

I got my mojo back. I was beginning to get depressed because I have all these wonderful TS finds and I was getting overwhelmed with them.. and when I do that I tend to not do anything. I know it sounds nuts but I almost feel like I am going to hyperventilate when I look at it and try to find something to do.. and there is just soooo much I don't know where to start.. so.. yesterday I walked into my craft room and just grabbed the first few things I could find.. the hardest part was not allowing myself to start walking around the room looking for a particular item because I knew that I would defeat myself before I even started.. so here is what I got....












I found the blank sign and the wooden flag at the TS for 25 cents each and the candle holder was $1.. not bad for $1.50.... and I had some boards cut for signs so I made up 3 .....

here is the "after" of my days work..........



Sorry Janene.. we gotta all tilt to the right again.. lol....



I just added gel stain to the flag, I really like how it darkened it and made it more prim.. I stenciled the saying on the wooden board and then added a daisy, which I need to fix.. it didn't seem to like the stain.. and then 2 candle holders which I painted, sanded and then stained.. I think they all turned out pretty good..

Now for my signs...












































This one isn't exactly prim but it just makes me smile.. and I know someone who it would be perfect for.. lol... besides myself of course.







And I have to tell you.. I was feeling so good creating that I made a couple loafs of banana nut bread and a pot of Sue's (our really empty nest blog) potato soup... I know it's not exactly soup weather but I was in need of comfort foods and they hit the spot..

Banana nut bread anyone?
I just realized I cut into the one that had fewer nuts.. and I didn't realize they had evidently all sunk to the bottom.. oh well, it still tastes like nanner bread... yummy.





I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend and I can't wait to see what you are all up to.. you are my inspiration.




Hugs,

I'm off to the races..

Good morning Ladies.. I just wanted to stop in for a moment to wish you all a wonderful weekend.. I'm heading out to Richmond to watch my "other" man.. Jeff Gordon.. woohoo!!!

See ya all tomorrow!

Hugs,

Book Club News

First I want to thank you all for the wonderful birthday wishes. I had a wonderful day and when I saw your messages I was touched. You are a beautiful group of women... thank you.

Now... with a new month drawing upon us it's time to start our new book for our online bookclub. This month I have chosen the selection.. and I'm ashamed to say that I chose the book by the cover.. lol.. it looks like a fun read.. I hope I am not going to be disappointed.. if any of you would like to join us just jump over to http://literarysisterssociety.blogspot.com/ .. I hope you do. It's a new group, this will only be our 3rd book so come on and read along with us. My choice this month is Lorna Landvik's "Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons"..

the cover looks cute.. so we will see.........

I hope you are all having a wonderful week. I need to get back to my redo's to post.. I've been working in the garden all week so I still haven't finished my redo's.. shame on me....

Hugs,

I won!! and it's only just begun....

Yeah.. I won Angie's giveaway at http://sugarplumpatch.blogspot.com/ I'm soooo excited.. I just love her stuff and can't wait to display them in my home.. I'll be posting a picture once they get here and have a little time to get rid of their jetlag.. lol. Check out her blog if you haven't.. she is awesome.

And while I was posting my comment to Angie the dog's got excited and started barking which of course out here in the middle of nowhere can only mean one thing..... company!! Ok.. it was the UPS man, but out here everyone is company even if you are only here for a couple minutes... lol.. and guess what he brought me?..............let me show you....

Aren't they beautful? Sunday is my 45th birthday and these came from my husband's company in California.. (they do know the secret.. keep me happy and I won't nag (as much) about him traveling all the time..lol).. I just LOVE sunflowers.

I do have to apologize, I know I promised to show the finished redo's but life got in the way and I haven't finished yet.. so that's what I'll be working on today.. but I will show you my latest finds.....

I got this 3 bottle wine rack, a tray is hidden underneath, this large candle shelf, the old cake pan which I can see many pantry cakes being made in, the metal tray and a couple candle pans... I have really got to get busy redoing all these great finds, they are starting to stack up.. and I know me, once they do I will get overwhelmed and never do them.. lol. Keep me motivated ladies!! I love reading your blogs and seeing your "do's".. that motivates me.

Here is the tray that was hidden under the wine rack.. I just love it.. I can see candles and fixin's sitting in the little wells....

The quilt the items are sitting on is one of my latest quilts I've completed.. I just love this pattern. I was going to send it to my brother who retired after being in the Navy 20+ years.. but.. well.. it's still here.. he did get a nice card... lol.

Ok.. I'm off to read your blogs and get motivated for the day.. I'll be back soon and show you what I've got accomplished. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Hugs,

I love the smell of Lavender.....

I have to tell you, I was scared opening up the soap mold to see how my lavender soaps turned out but they came out awesome.. I was quite impressed with myself.. I turned out the mold and used a taping cutter I found in the hardware section of Lowe's and they cut like butter.. now they have to sit 2-3 weeks and they are ready for use. I'm so excited, I could definitely get carried away with this stuff.. but since I live in a teeny tiny house I don't think DH is going to like so many aromas going on at once. So I have to learn patience.. though my mother always told me I have the patience of a flea.. lol.


Here's my soaps... I'll post a pic again in a couple weeks when they are ready for use, I already have an idea how I want to decorate them but I'll save that to show you...















They are still a bit opaque but according to the directions they will whiten up as they dry.. so we will see.

With DH out of town I played today with some of my finds.. as you may know, those who keep up with my blog, I am debating selling my goodies at a local consignment shop. I still don't know which way to go.. I think you've all pretty much convinced me that $40 is a big debt to incur when you are first starting out. So.. I am just going to continue making things and then either sell them online or take them to her and have her buy them outright (I think my hesitation on that is she won't want them.. lol.. I am terrified of rejection.. whereas if I had the booth myself I could put anything there).. Anyway.. here is a sneak peek of what I am working on today.. I will show you the finished items tomorrow...







I hope everyone is having an awesome Monday.. see you tomorrow.





Hugs,

Rainy soapmaking dayz...

Woohoo.. another craft notch on my belt. Thanks to my blog buddy Carmen and a few frantic emails back and forth I made soap today. The first batch I made came with the soap mold.. it has brown sugar, cinnamon and oatmeal.. yum... then for the second batch I made Honey Almond and Oats that smells so fresh and clean. Here's what they look like:




I just love this mold I ordered. My favorite thing next to roosters is sunflowers and when I saw this mold I just had to have it.





Since I was on a roll and having so much fun making soap I decided to try out a cold process recipe for lavender soap that I had already ordered months ago and had never dared attempt. It certainly takes alot longer but I love how creamy the soap looked as I poured it into the mold. It has to sit 24 hours before I can show you the final product but here it is after I poured it into the mold...





It doesn't look very good in the picture but it smells heavenly.. I hope it turns out half as good as I'm hoping.. lol, I have high hopes.



Thank you again Carmen for all your help. This was soo much fun today. You are an awesome teacher.



Hope everyone is having a marvelous and craft day!



Hugs,