The Date is Really Feb. 15, 2010

Did you know you could buy white thread (and black) at the Dollar General store? When desperate, you take desperate measures. And there on the shelf was a package of two white spools and a black spool for $1.00. I bought two packages for emergency backup. Now tomorrow I can finally finish my mini-wall hanging.




It is snowing again! This is the third time in two weeks and we live in the south. We are supposed to have between 4 and 6 inches overnight. The Dude is on his way here now to be "snowed in with Grandma and Papa". He says he packed for three days - he is counting on Monday being a snow day. It may well be because we do not have the right snow removal equipment in North Carolina and they cannot let the school buses be on the road if there is the slightest snow or ice residue.


We got a valentines day card from the Little Miss. As you can tell she signed it herself - not bad for 16 months. (Do I sound like a proud grandmother - you bet!)
















Roses from the Big T - aren't they beautiful - so is he.

Back to the sewing studio tomorrow. I was not able to even go up there today - other priorities get in the way once in awhile. I did think of a way to solve my problem with the black and white so I'm anxious to see if my plan will work. More about this after I try it. However, I am quite happy with the "baby dolly quilt" I made for the Little Miss.



I went to the book store the day of the snow and got three really neat quilting books: Dream Landscapes by Rose Hughes; Liberated Quiltmaking II by Gwen Marston; and Masters Art Quilts by Martha Sielman. I had a 50%, 30% and 20% coupon from Borders and saved as much as I spent. So there's my snowy afternoon curled up on the couch with a cup of tea and my new books. Bookstores are like fabric stores - I cannot walk out without buying something. We also picked up books for The Dude and the Little Miss (fantastic sale at $1.00 per book).



Hugs to all you you who put up with my ramblings as I continue to explore my creativity.


Marie

Getting Ready for the Holidays

December 15, 2009

All right, I gave up and ordered “Google Blogging for Dummies” from Amazon. Everything I try beyond simple posting takes far too long for me to figure out. Of course, if I weren’t such a control freak, I could ask for help. But no, I have to figure it out myself.

I am so excited – Big T and I were browsing a bookstore today and saw a book co-authored by our older daughter (M). It was front and center on a center aisle shelf. There was her name and her book for the whole world to see.

The holidays are here. I finished my homemade gifts for everyone and am busy wrapping. I have not even sat at a sewing machine in almost a week. I am too busy finding the things that Big T and I acquired for everyone throughout the year and stashed in a safe place. Every year I say I am going to keep a list; but that’s Big T’s job and he does it well. I think everything has been found and is either wrapped or sorted to be wrapped.

We are having multiple holiday celebrations – one here and then one in San Diego. Yes, we are going back to San Diego again. We are ALL going this time so the entire family will be together at the holiday season. What a special treat for all of us.

My Christmas cactus is blooming. The first bloom was spotted the day after Thanksgiving. Big T and I started this one from a single stem cutting (I won’t tell you where we got it though). The last two years it has bloomed at Christmas. (Of course, it also bloomed last May.)

I am working on my plans and goals for 2010. I don’t like to call them New Year’s resolutions because I have never kept them in the past. Why would I think things would change this year? I am very goal oriented so I will approach things how I work best.

I need to start focusing on building up my readership of this blog. Any suggestions from you would be appreciated. If nothing else, it would prove there is someone out there reading this. Sometimes I feel as if Big T and I are the only ones reading this (and I’m not really sure about Big T). Leave me a comment and let me know you exist.

During our walk through the arts and crafts show on our last trip to CA, we sampled some delicious quick breads from a bakery called Mama Houli & Sister T. The breads were absolutely great. Their website is www.mamahouli.com. Check it out. My favorite was the lemon ginger bread – I think I went back several times for samples.

I have taken several e-classes online the last month or so related to embroidery and appliqué. The classes at www.embroidery.com are a perfect way to learn a new technique. I like the concept of sitting at my desk watching a demo on my PC while in my grubbies, barefoot and no makeup. This is the only way to learn - beats those college lecture halls with 200 students and a professor who was microphone-shy and couldn’t be heard past the 3rd row. You will start to see some of these new techniques on www.hummingbirdtreasures.etsy.com in the coming year.

From me to you, lots of hugs and thanks for joining me in my new adventures of learning to be creative and artistic. Happy holidays to all of you!

Marie