Hands To Work

Window treatments

I am almost done with the painting and am ready to look at window coverings. This is the hardest part of decorating for me. I need help! Please send suggestions.

Ladybug Lily

Here is Lily dressed up for Halloween.  With an added accessory.   The tradition lives on...she's as crazy as the rest of us!  Oh yeah, we are proud.

Happy November!

 

Etsy Happyness

I have confessed in earlier posts about my love for Etsy.  It's fun to look at the listings as some of them can be quite odd.  But just when I am sad that nothing has caught my eye, a treasure pops up.  Let me share a few. 

Gina is a letter girl.  She makes stationary, beautiful scrapbook pages and on her etsy site, she sells hand lettered address stamps.  They are AWESOME.  She gave me permission to share some images from her blog.  You will want to buy from her, I promise!

 

 

Gina is having a sale on her stamps right now at etsy.  Go buy some!

Another fun girl is My Market Stall.  Look at this baby hat!

I can't stand it.  I think that is the cutest hat ever.  She has strawberries, apples, leeks, pumpkins.  Super duper cuteness!

Jewelry is a weakness for me.  I love Organikx's shop.  Her jewelry is just beautiful!  Like this: and this:

That's all the fun I have time for today.  Now get back to work!

  
   

 
 

Just a thought

I am a terrible blogger. I am a fairly regular poster on facebook. The lightbulb finally turned on! I post from my phone. I take tons of pictures from my phone. So I'm gonna start doing regular short posts from my phone. It only took me two years to figure this one out!
Stay tuned...

Do You Etsy?

I have found another great way to waste my time and empty my wallet...a fun little place called Esty.  I LOVE it.  Here are some of the most beautious things I have purchased:

  A cool skirt pattern from The Needle Shop .

  Vintage bangles from See Jayne Knit.  These are part of Elisabeth's birthday present.  Shhh, don't tell!

Look at this beautiful yarn from  Wool Candy.  Yummy colors!

    

Found this lovely vintage blouse for Courtney (who hasn't worn it yet).  Isn't it so pretty? You can find lots of cool things from  graceandartantiques.  

That's all for now.  Since I hadn't posted in so long thought I would tempt you to spend a little money with me.  I will try to post some new pictures of Helen if I don't kill her first!  She is trying my patience.

tracy 

Bad, bad blogger

I am so sorry.  Gee whiz, I know what it's like when I visit other blogs and the owner hasn't updated in forever and I get sooooo aggravated!  I am ashamed. 

So this is what I've been up to lately.  1. Put the finishing stitches on my latest release a mere hours before a picture had to be downloaded for The Needlework Show.  No frame.  I was hoping to release two pieces but the second is sitting by my bed just begging for attention.  Note to self: always send designs out to be stitched by more competent needlewomen!  2. Spending a lot of time with Lily.  She is up on her knees now.  And she screeches and screams and laughs.  She will be five months old next week.  What a joy!  3. Working on the yard and flower beds.  I have a pile of plants that need to go in the ground but am working on the soil first.  The beds have been neglected for so long that the soil turned to cement.  For some reason, it's really hard to spend a lot of time on my knees so I'm up and down, in and out a lot.  I can't spend the hours at a time working in the dirt like I used to.  4. Cleaning.  I am trying very hard to pare down and clean out.  Some things go in and out of a garbage bag several times before I can actually let it go.  Maybe I need to talk to someone about that?!

So there you go.  A look into my very exciting life.  And now I'm off to change loads of laundry.  Have a good one!

Catching Up

I got an email from my friend Pat this morning complaining that I hadn't posted in two weeks!  She thought that we were all still sick.  But no.  Just busy.  So I thought that I would share some pictures for your viewing pleasure that should hold you until I have something interesting to say.

Lily and Elisabeth.  The baby is almost four months old already.   She has the cutest hair that sticks straight up as it grows.

Bella in a patch of sunlight on an old quilt.

Lily hanging out on my shoulder. 

Coming up for Hands To Work....I will be participating in the online Needlework Show in April.  I've sent in my application and dues for TNNA and hope to be accepted into the cash and carry market in September.  I will be teaching a fun class at The Covered Bridge Needlearts shop in PA at Shelley's October retreat.  And I have a few pieces of redware that my friend Deb made from a few of my designs.  I will take pictures and post them here in the next few days.  Okay, I'm off to finish up the totals for my taxes.  Have a fun weekend.

Still Sick....

Well, everyone here is still sick.  This is bordering on ridiculous.  I know that others have this problem every winter but we don't do sick here.  Now it's the stomach virus.  UGH!  The only silver lining is that now maybe I can get in my skinny jeans. 

Thought I would update everyone on my decision about a retreat.  I am not going to have one this year but do plan on one for 2009.  I'm concentrating on getting more designs done and have a lot of family things as well.  Plus I would love to have Barb and Alma return and they are booked for 2008.

Sure wish I had something fun to share.  No pictures, no movies.  I'll see what I can do for this coming week!  Have a good weekend.

Today

The wind is fierce this evening.  It's surprising that my husband is still at home.  I thought he would work all night.  Instead, he is hogging the bed and snoring loudly.  Hence, I am playing on the computer.

My mother crochets beautifully.  She has made me many things over the years.  Some I keep out all of the time and others get put away.  I've had the "hmmm, what can I do with this" bug lately and remembered a box of crocheted snowflakes that Mom left here.  I dug them out, coffee stained them, sewed them together and made a snowflake garland for my kitchen window.  Before taking the picture I noticed water spots on the window and quickly wiped them away.  I don't want everyone to know how I really live!  Sadly, I made it worse.  But I'm too lazy to take the picture again.  So there you go. 

It's so cold and windy outside that Tucker, my rescue kitty who rarely spends the night inside, decided to lounge on the settle in the family room.  He was disappointed that there was no fire, but he managed to enjoy his time anyway. 

Finally, here is my progress with decorating for Christmas.  This took two days to do.  I've lost the Christmas mojo it seems.  I need to put holiday music in the cd player and bake.  That usually gets me excited. 

Happy Birthday To Me!

Wow.  47.  Shocking.  I certainly don't feel 47...more like 32.  But the gray hair, wrinkles and extra weight around the middle remind me that yep, it's really 47.  My son turns 26 today.  He was a week late to begin with and I was in labor in the hospital for almost 24 hours.  I tried to pop him out on Father's Day but he stubbornly refused and waited until after 1 a.m. to make his arrival.  Happy Birthday mommy!  He's a great kid and we have a special relationship.  Happy Birthday Matt!!!  Whew, that's a lot of birthday talk.

Have you seen Kathy's new designs on her web site???  That show towel is awesome!  Her creativity and drive is amazing.  After all the years, her designs are fresh and so dang cool.  How does she do it???

I know everyone is anxiously awaiting news on the retreat.  Alma is going to be giving me a price on the class that she and Barb are teaching and as soon as I get it, I will post the price.  I know several people have commited and have even reserved their rooms.  Thanks guys.  That is so cool.  Keep your fingers crossed that I can finalize everything in the next few days.

Okay, here is my big news.  Not the way or the time I wanted to announce it but it is what it is.  I'm going to be a grandmother.  My youngest daughter Elisabeth is expecting and Lily Paige is due November 13th.  I am trying to be restrained and not go crazy buying things and have done well so far.....but Carol Sims keeps tempting me to go shopping.  She's such a bad influence!

Speaking of shopping, I found this super nice girl that makes stamped charm necklaces.  I bought one and it's so nice.  Check out Lisa's blog and see pictures of her necklaces.  Her prices are good and you get your order super fast.  And she is a sweetie!

My designing has been nonexistent.  I open up my designing program every day and work on it but not much has come out of my playing around so far.  I know it will come back as it always does but my designing is very much tied to my stress level.  When I'm overwhelmed and super stressed, the creativity totally shuts down.  And that's where I have been for months.  I'm hoping to get a little vacation in early next month and maybe getting out of the house for a few days will help.  Sure couldn't hurt!

I'm babysitting the girls (Chloe and Violet, the great danes) since yesterday.  Didn't get much sleep last night as Violet was on the bed, off the bed, on the bed, licking my face, laying on me, wanting outside, wanting outside again.....she will sleep like a rock today.  Ugh.  My poor kitties hate it when the dogs come over.  And Maggie just tolerates them but sure is happy when they go home.  I think Courtney will pick them up later this morning.

Alrighty guys, happy second day of summer.  Hope you have fun days and lots of stitching time.  Check back soon for more retreat information.