hi.

Dear Little Blog.

I have missed you.  

It's been too long.

That's all.

the real life "Up" story.

I read this story this morning and it touched my heart.  I hope you will enjoy it as well.  xoxo

Dear Ikea.

You have some of the cutest items showing up on your web site but sadly, are not available through your online store.  

I was just wondering.  From a consumer to a fabulous store ... would you please consider either offering more items on your web site or possibly moving a bit closer to me?  :o) 

So ya.  

Moving closer would be such a happy thought!

I hear you have great meatballs too!  ;o)

Thank you!

Your's Truly.  a humble shopper

wha?

I have some quilty goodness to share today, however every time I try to upload an image it pixelates like crazy.  Is it blogger??  Are any of you experiencing the same thing?

happy valentine's day.

Wishing you a beautiful day full of love.  xo

popping in.

I just want to drop by today and say how touched I am by your sweet well wishes regarding my accident.  The pain is pretty much gone, until I bump it.  When that happens I want to wail like a banshee!  So I do a good bit of babying my finger.  I didn't realize it at the time, but noticed yesterday that I managed to cut part of my nail and nail bed off as well (which makes me a little light headed just typing this).  Oy!  The redressing is no fun.

Needless to say, Tuesday was a no sew day.  I was pretty much parked on the couch watching the History Channel.  Yesterday, I got back behind my machine and will put the final touches on a quilt top that I pieced for publication.  I will show you when the magazine comes out.  Until then, it's hush hush.  

Is it really Friday tomorrow?  My goodness this week has flown by.  I hope you are having a super week!   xoxo

not for the squeamish (that includes me)

Well today started off a lot differently than I had planned.  While squaring quilt blocks, I cut a hearty chunk of my left index finger ... off.  Once I got the bleeding to stop without throwing up or passing out, the throbbing pain set in.  Which I enthusiastically welcome above the other two.  So needlessly to say, there will be no sewing taking place today.  For that matter, nothing that requires my left hand.

I sympothize with those of you who are also squeamish and I hesitate writing this post but for the caution to others who use rotary cutters.  I was using a brand new blade on a new cutting mat.  The mat is going back and I will reorder the type of mat I am use to using, with many more grid marks, that won't require my fingers being so close to the blade.

I hope to return with a much happier post in a day or two.  I hope your week is off to a great start!

merry christmas.

 from my home to yours

xoxo

in the nick of time.

grocery shopping.     check.

quilts finished.     check.

cards mailed out.     check.

presents wrapped.     check.

stocking stuffers still hidden away 

in my closet.     check. 

crossing my fingers that I won't forget 

them there.  again.  

like I have in the past.

I think I am ready. 

How about you?

ok.  I still need to mop.

just for fun.

I.LOVE.TECHNOLOGY.

It was so much fun watching this performance on the music awards.  Especially with MC Hammer in the end ... a little old school music and dancing.  Can you guess what year I graduated high school in?  ha ha ha.

Anyhow, I know this isn't everyone's taste of music, I hope you don't mind.  I like so many genres.  This type keeps me young.  Oh and gets my house clean real fast. 

calling in sick.

I will be back in a few days.  

xoxo

just for fun.

Our USA Olympic swim team made this super cute video.  I have had so much fun watching it (over and over again), thought you might like it too.  Hmmm... maybe I can make this my ring tone for Woody.   

The swimming team was one of our family's favorite Olympic sports to watch this year.  Enjoy!

odds and ends.

Burning an "autumn" candle only brings me that much closer to fall.  It is a season I long for.  Cooler days, plenty of outdoor time, working in the yard, baking more often, opening the windows to let the breeze blow through our home ... it just doesn't get any better than that.  

For now however, the longing continues, the a/c runs, the grass grows at a fast pace, the rain falls, and the flip flops are still on my feet.

My chubby half dresden pincushion is in full use.  

It makes me giggle every time I look at it.  I just want to say, "It's so fluffy, I'm gonna die!"  Like on "Despicable Me".

There is a new little crochet pincushion in the shop just waiting for a good home.  I will be working on several more for a custom order.  I just love making them!  So relaxing and perfect handwork while watching the Olympics.  We have thoroughly enjoyed the swimming and gymnastics!  Have you noticed all the mom centered commercials?  I may have been brought to tears a few times!

 

I cut my thumb while chopping strawberries, but this adorable little Hello Kitty bandaid makes it all better!  I hope I am not committing some age appropriate faux pas by wearing them, they are just so stinking cute!

have a lovely weekend

xo

fried.

(on the snack menu for today-has nothing to do with the post)

Amongst the electronics that were fried when lightening hit our house yesterday, is my sewing machine.  ghah.  The washer and drier gave off a terrible "burning wires" sort of stench at the initial hit.  Kinda scary unplugging them as lightening continued to pop around our house.  It's all good though.  No one was hurt and my sweet kitties were not napping on the washer/drier when the lightening struck.  Also, I ran both washer and drier this morning and they are both working.  Whew.  This could have been much more expensive.

Still no internet (I am at the local library on my lap top), no sewing machine (placed an order through Amazon - new machine will be at our house tomorrow), no tv or movies.  

Ya.  It's that kind of day.  

On a good note.  Nathan and I played marathon Uno games by a lantern and ate junior mints, last night. 

Making memories!   And we will be making those indoor s'mores today too.  Hopefully I can regain my dignity at some games of Uno today.  Nathan beat the pants off of me last night!

my very own button.

So.  Notice anything different?  Woody and I have been working on altering my blog to something a bit more ... timeless.  Something that will stay as is. In some regard, I feel like I have "found myself" in blog land and I wanted my blog to reflect that.

I am fortunate to have a husband who knows how to do the whole html thing and has his own domain.  My button is hosted from it.  (wink wink Clara)  Free for the taking, if you so wish.

The weather stinks today.  Rain.  Warm.  Blah.  I am so ready for autumn.  Don't hate me.  But the weather here is HOT in the summer, and we don't have a pool or in close proximity to something fun to do.

So in making the best of the situation, I am getting lots of sewing done, Woody is ironing some pants for work (while sitting in a chair with the ironing board down low), and Nathan is creating a wallet from duct tape.  Pretty cool huh?!  Thank you Amy for the suggestion.  Teenage boys don't want to do the "crafty" type things like they did when younger.  This is a great fit for us.  

I hope you are having a great

day where ever you are.

xo

free shoes.

Budgeting has always been a way of life for my husband and I.  That sometimes means we do with out our want at the moment in order to reach our goal for the future.  

I am a pretty frugal shopper and wait for sales with list in hand, trying to stretch our pennies as far as they will go.

With that said, Kohl's often times has what is called "Kohl's Cash" deals.  You spent $50.00 and you get $10.00 in Kohl's Cash.  Last month I was desperate for ... well ... never mind.  And so I bought 6.  Ladies if you are following me, you know that prices of said item can be a bit steep.  It really worked out, buy one, get one 1/2 off.  In addition to that, I was able to earn $20.00 in Kohl's Cash.

I had my son go through the sale items on line and pick out something he has been wanting (a Nike work out shirt) and I was able to purchase these shoes for FREE.  

Aren't they too cute?!  If you know me in real life, you know how much I love gingham, and these will be such a fun shoe to wear, my feet covered in gingham.

Do you have any penny pincher tips to share today?  What methods do you apply to your budget to stretch your pennies?  I also love to barter.  Do you barter?

Source: ebay.com via Debbie on Pinterest

have a wonderful day

love.

 

Happy Valentine's Day

with love.

a question for you.

 Bless your hearts.

As many questions as I ask you ladies.

What are your thoughts on quilt kits being sold, with blocks already made?  The blocks pictured are not fully pieced yet.  I have 42 of them, just waiting for the last bit of sewing, and then could be made into a quilt.  The one purchasing the blocks has the option, at that point, to either put a border around each block or leave as is. 

I really appreciate your thoughts and ideas.  I look forward to hearing them!

hello 2012

Wishing you all the very best for 2012.

I am looking so forward to sharing it with you.