Happy Mail!

Just a quicky post--I just had to show off some things I got in the mail --oh, and let you know about a special I'm doing in my Etsy shop.This is Evie! Isn't she just the cutest???! Seriously, pictures do not do this gal justice--she is so cute, I want to pin her to my shirt so everyone can see her, lol!! I bought this from Ginny at iSew--I'd been wanting one for a long time, but was resisting until I saw this gal with her quirky smile and pretty pink cap! Now I keep hoping that my cell rings when I'm in public so I can pull out this little pouch and make everyone jealous!! It came packaged so cute and she even threw in a fat of a lovely soft striped floral fabric. Thanks so much Ginny! Oh, one more thing--the little monkey pin (see it on her card there?) Right away I stuck it on the lapel of my denim jacket, and I noticed that on the other lapel I have an angel pin. It just cracked me up, cuz' it brought to mind the old cartoons where they would have the devil on one shoulder and the angel on the other and they would be arguing with each other---well, in MY world--there is a monkey on one side and an angel on the other! Which, strangely, REALLY suits me --rofl!!AND look at this lovely little bit of goodness here too. Isn't it just ME? Guess where this came from? Ginny again. Yup. She found this absolutely wonderful rayon rick rack-- in the most perfect antique-y shade of cream ever--while she was in England and was so sweet to share some of it with me. She sent it in this adorable little button tin too, which I adore! Thanks Ginny--what a sweetheart you are ((hugs))!!

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ End of the Month Special ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

I feel like running a little special in my ETSY shop--just for fun--so here you go:

Everyone who makes a purchase from my shop between now and the end of September will get their name thrown in the hat. I'll draw a name on October 1st, and the winner will get a beautiful drawstring bag! I will consult the winner as to their style and favorite colors so I can be sure to make one that they will like. Yup! Good luck!

(I don't really make that many sales, so everyone who enters will have a pretty good odds to win!)

Still Here!

Hello! I was stunned to sit down and see that it's been so long since I posted---I've been dying to write, but had a hard time getting to it, lol. WHEW--what a week we've had here! We got Misty all moved into her apartment on Saturday--and she really seems happy there, thank you God!

It turned out to be quite the undertaking, as when we went to get Misty's belongings from where she had been staying prior to breaking her ankle (she was living with a "friend", and I use the term loosely) we discovered that all her stuff had been carelessly tossed into boxes and bags and thrown into the basement, which leaks when it rains. Long story short--the "friend's" teenage kids and their friends went down and stole half of Misty's stuff, broke a bunch of it, and the rest was water damaged and moldy. All her bedding and clothing had to be thrown away. Her books were all moldy. Lots of her dishes and knick knacks were broken. The girl took a huge attitude and started screaming about how nobody had told her what happened to Misty so she had just assumed that she had gotten "stuck with all that SH*T" and it wasn't her problem that it was all wrecked.

What a sad, sad thing when you are faced with dealing with people like that. I was mad as hell at first, but then I just felt so sad. This is another young girl with 5 kids aging from about 2 to 15--and I'll bet she is only around 30 or so herself--living on welfare and foodstamps with an abusive boyfriend who shows up once in a while when he's drunk or wants something from her. It's just grab everything for yourself in their world--no one cares for you and you only care for yourself. Sad.

Wow--that was a downer! lol Sorry to lay all that on you, but there is a happy ending to this story. So we've spent the week trying to get together all the things Misty needs to start fresh. We've gone thrifting and rummage saling--called all our family and friends for donations--and managed to get her set up really nicely. I think the best part of all of this is that Misty got to see what can happen when people help people out of love and the kindness of their hearts. She was really touched, and I think she has a whole different outlook on things now. I ask you to still keep her in your prayers, she still needs them.

OK! lol So, I guess you can tell...not a lot of crafting going on this week! :0D I think I only have one new item for show-and-tell! I have a bunch of these little white buckets that I plan to do THIS with--one down, 11 to go, lol. So, this one is listed in my Etsy shop if anyone is interested.

AND here is a stitchery that I designed and stitched up. I'm not sure if I like the frame or not.....so I haven't listed it yet. What do you think? I was going for a cottageyfeel with a gently faded look for the frame, but I'm not sure I pulled it off. Maybe it's that the tea stained fabric needs a frame that's not so white? I'm open to your opinions--all my brilliantly talented friends!

Mrs. Mooney

Hello! I hope you all had a great weekend. I was able to hit some garage sales this weekend--which is fun, fun, fun!

I have a drawer in my craftroom that is full of the patterns I have designed over the last 15 years or so, and I felt like making a doll--it's been a while--so I dug around and ran across a pattern for a chubby cute teddy bear and decided to make one up. Once I got it all stitched up, I was trying to decide how to decorate it up---and a vision of the lovely Junie Moon popped into my head!! If you don't know Junie, you should check out her Flickr and her new blog--she is really a sweety and has such a great way of looking at life and of doing things. She has been kind enough to share recipes for home made cleaning supplies, which I think is really wonderful! Be sure to check her out. She recently shared a picture of herself all decked out in her cleaning gear--including a super cute apron and matching head kerchief, and I knew that my little bear would look fabulous in a similar outfit, complete with a little dust rag and a whisk broom! She is now listed in my Etsy shop--swing by and see her and other new items I've recently listed.

I have made a couple other items with the same fabric I used for Mrs. Mooney's apron--it's so pretty . I really love that 1920's style--and the colors are fabulous! Here's a drawstring bag with it and I combined it with another 20's fabric with art deco style roses, rick rack, and a yoyo! AND I also did up a cute little padded snap-on cell phone pouch to match--these are great to snap onto the handle of your purse, your belt loop, or backpack. We finally heard for sure that Misty will be getting the apartment I was telling you about a couple posts ago! Yeah!! I found quite a few things out garage saling that she will be able to use in her new place. So, we've got a busy week ahead of us getting her all packed up and ready to move, and getting her set up with phone, electric, and all that other good stuff. She has come such a long way in a short time and we are so proud of her! Keep on praying for her, your prayers are really working! We will be moving her in on Saturday. It is going to be so strange around here without her, isn't it funny how quickly we adapt to things?

And now for a little silliness.......

I was just over at jessica's blog Euphoria and she did this silly name thingeee---I thought I'd give it a try!


1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & current car) Jeckyll Taurus

2.YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (fave ice cream flavor, favorite cookie) Chocolate Almond Fudge Oatmeal Chocolate Chip (oooh, scary gangsta!!)

3. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal) Aqua Cat (ooh, I like that!)

4. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born)
5. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first) Wit-ka (pretty cool!)

6. SUPERHERO NAME: (”The” + 2nd favorite color, favorite drink) The Pink Cranberry

7. NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers)

8. STRIPPER NAME: (the name of your favorite perfume/cologne/scent, favorite candy) Japanese Cherry Blossom Almond Snickers (lol)

9.WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother’s & father’s middle names )

10. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME: (Your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter) Merry Milwaukee (so cheerful!)

11. SPY NAME: (your favorite season/holiday, flower) Autumn Violet

12. CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing right now + “ie” or “y” Cherry Jammies

13. HIPPY NAME: (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree) Pancakes Sugar Maple

14. YOUR ROCKSTAR TOUR NAME: (”The” + Your fave hobby/craft, fave weather element + “Tour”) The Embroidered Cool Breeze Tour
The birthday boy---happy with his new mp3 player and ac/dc hat! He told me to thank you all for the birthday wishes---soooo "Thanks!"

Happy Birthday Joe!

Special day in our home--it's my baby boy's birthday. He's sweet 16--and let me tell you, he really enjoys it when I call him "baby boy" lol Usually I call him "Bean" but told him, since he is so old now, I'm gonna have to change it to "B-dog". I'm glad he has a weird sense of humor (like his Mom!). He did not want to come into this world--I was in labor with him for 31 hours! Yup, that is not a typo. A fact I like to remind him of on his birthday and other days of the year when the occassion merits it! When he FINALLY emerged, after MUCH effort, he wasn't breathing! Scared the hell out of me. They had to work on him for a bit, but finally we heard that little cry, the most beautiful sound in the world. He's always been a very smiley little guy--he still smiles easily.Here's another of my smiley little guy, all fresh from the tub and ready for bed.This is one of my favorite shots of him. We brought him to the hub's uncle's house on the farm and Joe had so much fun running through the corn field! This shot was of him as he came running out of the end of the row.

In 7th grade at his first violin recital.

My handsome young man around his birthday last year. I like that this pic shows his gray eyes. Oh, did I mention, he has beautiful gray eyes.

Here he is in his ROTC drill ceremony. And, last but not least, I shot this pic of the kids right as they were headed off to school this morning. Happy Birthday Joe--you have brought much joy to our lives and we love you very much!!

Catch-up Time

Good Monday morning to you all on this cool, crisp Fall morning!! Yeah! I love it when the heat of summer is behind us. Did you all have a good weekend? We had some fun and some not so fun stuff going on.

My poor Linds got the stomach flu (plus nerves on top of it) and missed her second day of school! I think she is finally better now and hope this morning goes a little better than the last!

Misty got off her walker!! Yeah! She is in a walking boot now and feels like a new woman. I haven't told you too much about Misty, but she has had a rough life. She had an abusive and clueless mother who made a career out of having kids (she had them to support herself), the only one of her 4 kids who she was even sure who the father was is Misty. My hub was the only father of the bunch who paid child support and her mother sure was NOT going to give up Misty--because there would go half her income! We have been trying to get her to come and live with us for a long time, but her mom told her horror stories about us since she was a baby--plus we have rules in our home-- ( she wasn't really paid much attention to at home so she could do whatever she wanted there)-- and felt too restricted here on the few occassions that she did come.

Well, as you all know, the Lord works in mysterious ways, lol. So she broke her ankle and her mom (who gets no money for her living there now that she is 21) told her that there was no way she was gonna take care of a cripple and feed her and all THAT! So she was basically forced to come and stay with us. She is severely overweight, has osteoporosis, a 3rd grade reading level, depression, and no self esteem to speak of. She has just blossomed here!!! We just love her up and are building up her self-esteem. She was totally convinced that she was an idiot--but I just gave her a dictionary and told her to look up words that she didn't know as she came across them in her reading--and it has given her new confidence and helped her to realize that she is not stupid--she just needs to continue her learning! We've been trying to help her with her "people pleasing"--she lets people run all over her and can't say "no" to people. Well, we've been having her practice on us , sticking up for herself and saying NO--and she really seems to be getting better at that too. We have her going to therapy and to a counsellor(they determined that she has post traumatic stress disorder on top of a chemical depression) and she is on anti-depressants too. She told me the other morning that for the first time in her life, she wakes up in the morning with a hopeful and happy feeling. Yeah!!

This weekend we took her to a small town that is about 15 minutes from here and looked at an apartment that is in a secure apartment complex--far enough away that the free-loaders who were always mooching off of her can't get there easily! but close enough where we can get there and back easily. She loved the cute apartment and is feeling very hopeful and excited about making a fresh start. Yeah!! Please keep Misty in your prayers--she really is a sweet and loving girl and deserves to have a better life!

Wow!! I certainly didn't mean to go on about THAT so long, lol! I also had a fun bridal shower to go to--and I made a gift and bought the card and another gift from Etsy--so I was able to get a little ETSY buzz going on over there! lol

And the Vikings had their first season game yesterday--and kicked butt!! Yeah!

I got some really pretty new fabric--from the Moda line, called "London Lawn". Beautiful roses on a pretty robin's egg blue background---LOVE it! I made up a bookcover and a keychain wallet with itAnd another set of coasters too! Have a great day everyone!

Renee

Today I send both of my babies off to school--high school! I'm feeling a little mixed emotions this morning--excited for them but a little sad--I can't believe how fast they are growing. Joe will be a sophomore this year so he already has a year of high school under his belt, but you know every year has a new and exciting freshness. Linds went to a "meet the school" day yesterday, but today she officially begins life as a freshman! Sigh.

I dug out an old pattern and did up a couple bags in two very different color schemes with it


This one was a custom order for someone and was done up in some prim/vintage colors. I used to do a lot of country/prim, and it was kinda fun to dig up some of my old fabrics.And here's the same pattern but done up in some pretty bright colors- lemon/lime and some bubbly polka dots! This one is available in my shop.

I also took your wonderful advice--which I thank you for, very much!--and added a bookmark to my coaster gift/desk set. It was a really great idea and I think it turned out quite nice--see for yourself:And Jenn Maruska--I love the idea of adding that the clip can be used to hang up your little coaster when it becomes damp! So that was added to my listing. You're so smart!

I've been tagged with a couple new meme thingees lately--one by Mrs. Dragon to do a "7 things" one. That one will require some thought! I've done a few and I'm really not that interesting!! LOL But, I'll try and give it some thought and see if I can think of a few new things to share!!

Then Sheila, of AlabamaKitchenSink tagged me with a middle name meme. This stinks for me because my middle name consists mostly of "e"s--Renee.

RULES: You have to post these rules before you give the facts. Players, you must list one fact that is somehow relevant to your life for each letter of your middle name. If you don’t have a middle name, use the middle name you would have liked to have had. When you are tagged you need to write your own blog post containing your own middle name game facts. At the end of your blog post, you need to choose one person for each letter of your middle name to tag. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged and to read your blog.

R = Reader, I love to read. When I was a kid I loved to grab a raft and float out on the lake for hours reading a book. I would often be found with my head buried in a book. I read out loud to my kids from the days they were born up until about 2 years ago. Every night. Seriously, my singing voice leaves MUCH to be desired, but I have a very soothing reading voice--so that is how I would send my babies off to sleep. I read all the Harry Potters out loud to my kids (except the last 2) cuz' now they are too old--they read to themselves :-( sniff.


E = Exclamation point!! my very favorite punctuation mark. If you read my blog--this should be very apparent to you! lol I can't help it, I get enthusiastic about what I am talking about --so there! lol

N = Nice. Follow the "Golden Rule" and treat others as you would have them treat you. Plus, I just LIKE people! So, I have been accused of being pretty nice.

E = Energetic. I like what I do--being a wife and mom and designing and making my crafts--so I have a lot of enthusiasm for all of it. Most of the time, lol.

E = Excellent. Well, this is not what I am, but what I strive for. But, I have an excellent time trying for it :-)

There. Now...who to tag?
JennMaruska---I see you haven't done this one yet.
HeidiJayHawk---over at the Wise Five.
Joni--- if you can tear yourself away from the spiders and rattlesnakes! yikes!
Kristi--over at her Sunnypond Home!
Carol--over at WIP, can you take a break from your absolutely entertaining alphabet series to give us a middle name thingee??

That was not easy--lol, trying to find people who hadn't been tagged already and who aren't on vacation or whatever! If you've already done one, I'm sorry--just ignore me ;-P

Have a great day!!

Coasters, Coasters Everywhere!

Happy Labor Day people--now I want you all to relax and no laboring at all today--only FUN stuff! HEY! I'm watching you...I said no laboring, and I mean it!

I recently finished up making a big 'ol bunch of my little bird coasters--wanna see?

Aren't they cute--a big flock of little sweety birds!

Now, here's what I've been thinking of....offering these as a gift set. I think they would make nice little gifts, you know, for all those people you just want to give a "little something" to--teachers, babysitter, neighbor, co-worker (ooh, they would be great for a co-worker!), etc. I did one up this morning to show you what I mean. I would pack up the coaster and a little matching clip that has a magnetic backing (so it can be stuck to the fridge or a filing cabinet if you want) into a little plastic bag with a matching header across the top. I have several different stamps that I could stamp across the top with the bird--I did the "for a special friend" on this one, but I also have "merry christmas", "I love you", "thanks", "thank you"---get the idea?!! I'd be able to offer them for about $10.

Sooo.....what do you think? I would really appreciate the expert opinions from all you blog buddies out there--and be honest! Price?? Do I need to do something different for the packaging??

Addendum--thanks so much for the helpful and thoughtful feedback so far-- Junie, Kristi and Rachel! I do appreciate it very much. Kristi--I love the tag lines! Very clevah! lol

I wanted to add this little bit to explain why I made the set with a clip--I guess I was thinking along the lines of a "desk set"--maybe for a teacher, office worker, computer desk, etc. with the coaster for your desk and a clip that matches to keep your papers in order or maybe clip together all those orders from your Etsy shop (yeah!!). That said--I LOVE the idea of a book mark!!! Hmmm....gives me something to think about!! Thanks, you gals are sweet!

A Quaint Poem of Old--and some knitting bags to go along with it!

I recently got my hot little hands on an old copy of Needlecraft magazine, March 1922. It has this wonderful little poem in there titled "Knitting" and I thought I'd share it with you. I've interspersed the verses with pics of some of my knitting or project bags.

KNITTING


by Alicia Carew Stuart

Our Peggy was knitting a stocking
Busy and blythe as a bee-
A dear little, pink little stocking
To fit her dear brother of three.
For Grandma had taught her the stitches,
Holding both the small hands in her own,
And guiding them gently till Peggy
Felt sure she could "go it alone".
Stitch followed stitch on the needles,
Row after row was arrayed,
As Peggy sat knitting like any
Long-ago little puritan maid.
Then, ere one could guess what had happened,
Came a quick, sorry gasp of dismay,
For two of those mischievous stitches
Had slipped off and ravelled away.
Discouraged, she brought the wee stocking
And laid it on Grandmama's knee,
Her eyes brimming over with teardrops:
"Oh dear! it's all spoiled: don't you see?"
But Grandma said, "No--we will mend it,"
A smile on her kind, loving face,
As she picked up those runaway stitches
And brought them right back into place. I smiled as I listened; and pondered
How like to our knitting is life,
Sometimes running smoothly and joy-filled,
Anon marred by sorrow or strife.
Yet, if we will take to the Father
Each trial and blunder and care,
He surely will pick up the stitches,
And help us make life's pattern fair.

This, that, and some other stuff

Look at this adorable little cutey!! It was made by the sweet and delightful Theresia of Minori Design--and she is also at Etsy. So I now have a new little friend to hold my pins and needles for me so I don't stick them into the arms of the couch!! Make sure to check out all her adorable little critters--they are as cute as she is (almost!).
AND look at this adorable clipboard and all the extra goodies I got from Angela at Norththreads. I Love, love, love it all! I think this may actually give me the incentive to clean up my computer room (which is disgusting, but don't tell anyone-- sshhhh). She is such a talented crafter and seamstress and a junker extraordinaire! Stop by her blog, she's such a sweety and her blog is a lot of fun to read.
AND guess who had an item on the Etsy front page this morning?? Yeah! See my little coaster in there? It sold before I got to see it in person, but Lorenzstudio was kind enough to send me a screen shot so I could show off!!

And the delightful Teresa of Cedar Junction gave me the Rockin' Girl Blogger!! yeah!! Being the old fart that I am---I very seldom get called a "rockin' girl" so this was a double thrill for me, LOL!! Teresa makes really cute altered art items and you have to check out this Dust Fairy--it is so cute---I really need to get one of them for my home! Check out her shop, she has lots of really cute things!

So now I get to award this to who? Seriously, I can't choose. Really. I'm not just saying that to be cute or whatever, I just really think you all ROCK--all you, and you know who you are, all of you who's blogs I frequent and who come here to visit with me and leave me such nice comments. Thanks so much for your friendship--I ♥ you all. You Rock!

Oh, and one more thing. I added a couple new things to the bottom of my blog. There is a new Etsy mini that features items from my Favorites list at Etsy. This changes a lot as I find cool, beautiful new items there all the time. AND second--there is a SLIDE guestbook!! PLEASE sign in there and leave a pic and a comment--put your web addy or blog addy on there so other's can find your marvelous selves! C'mon, my little birdy is getting really lonesome down there and is starting to think that her deodorant may have lost it's potency. :-)

OH!! and ANOTHER one more thing---if you want a good laugh, you have to go and read Ben Can Dance--all about his quest to find a gal. This one had me laughing till I cried!