Live to laugh and Laugh to live

New project just about finished, just needs a back, stuffing and edging, and I have 5 more in the works...
Hand stitching is my favorite pastime, along with Crocheting, reading and snuggling. But I do love putting a bunch of found treasures to a square of pieced fabric, and see what comes out of it.

Busy around here!

Tie-dye has always been a favorite of mine...My appreciation for beautiful fabric, and colors, and color combinations I declare all blessings...truly:)

Lousy pics of the button rings I have been working on...but they sure are fun...I have 18 of them finished! Fun project to share with Jurnee too!
I work a ton this week, so I will be lucky to get much finished, I have a few pillows in the works I plan to share soon!

USA blessing

I have been trying to get this pic to post for days now, finally no issues!
In the event of Memorial Day I do remember those who served in our country. But more than that, I am proud of my my country even though it has been bashed a lot since 9-11. I will tell you why, I love the freedoms our country offers. (Though these seem to be slowly fading away by way of political correctness.) I am so happy that I can openly tell someone I am a Christian and not be put in jail. Or that I can send my children to school, did you know the number one thing that children in Afghanistan wish for is a pen?
Seriously we take our daily lives for granted so. Anyway, I could (and would) go on and on, but I think you may know my strong feeling about some of these issues.
God Bless America!

Blessings update

My Education! I graduated from UW Stevens Point in 1991 with a BS degree in Interior Design. I made a door here as that experience and degree opened many doors for me! I am very blessed to meet some wonderful people along the way, own a business and carry those experiences with me forever!

This blessing is a penny (or my version of it) Yesterday while I was vacuuming, I found a penny on the floor. It reminded me of a time not too long ago that I needed every penny I had. We struggled to pay our bills and buy groceries and pay for gas. We are no longer in dire straights but I feel blessed for that time, as we now are much more careful spending, saving and planning.

I love this blessings project, I will have more to share in a day or two, but today I am focusing on the embroidery class it is already next Thursday the 10th!

Geraniums who would have thought?

While stitching these squares and a counted cross stitch from Herrschners (that I forgot to get a pic of) I realized how important my eyesight is. I could use bifocals or reading glasses or something to magnify these stitches. But I am truly blessed for the eyesight I do have! What would I do without my eyes or my glasses? No stitching that's for sure!

I think Geraniums are a blessing. Particularly red geraniums! The vibrant colors against the wide green leaves, just make me feel comfortable. Reminds me of old summer days and one can bet that I will always have red geraniums in my yard each summer!

Jurnee is getting to be such a big girl! Cannot believe 1st grade is almost over!

Blessings update & Soccer girls

This blessing is Sisters I have 3 of them, Janell is a bit younger than me, and we have so many fond memories of growing up together, she is a great friend and we consult each other on most things! Gigi & Kate were born when I was in High School. They are such blessings in all of our lives. What fun it was to see them grow up from beginning on! What would life be like without them?

This tree represents the beautiful spring we are having! I feel blessed to be able to enjoy 4 full seasons a year! And spring particularly is such an uplifting time in life!

Jurnee and her friends at soccer last week! She is really enjoying the last weeks of 1st grade! Side note, this very field one week prior had 2" of snow on it and the game was canceled! Only in Wisconsin!

More Blessings

My bible is a blessing to me as it explains to me the way the truth and the life. Need I say more?

In Wisconsin, we have not had a lot of rain in the past year, well, this past week we were abundantly blessed with rain! Our trees, grass, and plants are now green! Flowers are blooming, all because of the rain:)

Blessing #1

1st and very important blessing stitched...COFFEE! Yes I am an addict. Coffee makes me happy. Coffee is something I share with a few select friends/relatives who enjoy this also. Coffee is a blessing because it tastes comforting to me. When I am cold, tired, or hungry, coffee will do. Not to mention I read with coffee, stitch with coffee, visit with coffee and blog with coffee. So thank you Jesus for coffee!

Tales of 100 Blessings

This is an announcement for my new blog (Actually I have decided to just post here!) devoted to just the Counting Blessings stitching project

I am so excited to be part of this group! - I will be stitching for the next month or two on this project. I did not need a new project by any means, but I am in love with this idea. Stitching 1"x1" blessings- Awesome challenge!

Other than that, we are buried in snow and I am wondering if we will have soccer in the morning. Otherwise, I am just looking forward to the "real" spring weather to come back and trying to keep up with the busy calendar!

Upcoming Embroidery Class details

This class will be an introductory to embroidery class. Learn some basic "free style" embroidery stitches, while making your own charming wrist cuff. Cost of class is $18 includes materials & tools for project. All you need to bring is a scissors! June 10, 2010 6:30-8pm

This class is presented by The Wisconsin Wool Exchange and will be held at the Tomorrow River Gallery & Gifts

Some of the other cuffs I have been working on. Notice some of my vintage neckties some of my button & jewelry collection and a few crocheted flowers too. Any questions about the class, please send me a note or contact the Wool Exchange or the Gallery.

I have been very busy and have lots more to share, hopefully I can quit slacking on my blog now.

Frothy & Fluttery

So I finished the frothy scarf, I am generally happy with it, I tried sock yarn to see what would happen, and it actually looks pretty fair. The pattern was quite easy I thought, I am ready for a new larger project. In the shower this morning, I contemplated working again on the pinwheel quilt or starting another crochet project. I do have a few flowers to crochet for my weekend getaway, pics will follow about that next week!

The wristlet factory is in full gear around here, getting ready to stock Tomorrow River Gallery and Gifts, planning to reopen in just a few weeks...yikes, I better get my butt in gear. I have embroidered on fabric to get the colors in the butterfly. I like this look very much and you may see more of it again here.

Free time!!!

Rusty took the girls for a few nights to the cabin, so I could get some things done, not to mention, so much needed alone time. So, I fit so much into my couple of days that I am just giddy with excitement. Along with a much overdue haircut, I am getting my craft world organized! Had a craft night with the girls from church, and worked two nights. I was also able to watch "Project Runway" last night. 3 very good designers, with VERY different ideas. I am very inspired by this show. Anyone want to give me a dress form for Christmas?...lol

Found a couple of gret sites for you to visit-On Awesome Avenue and Joy the Baker. Check these out if you can!

This is a pillow that I have finally completed. I began it in China in 2006:( At least it is finished!
Finished up two gifts, working on another one (the afghan above.) Also, I put up a shelf in Sophia's room, did a little Christmas shopping...not going to race around for the Hamster toy everyone is looking for...what a crock that is--

Working on the birds again, and boy have I got plans!!! I should be able to update the finished project really soon! Taa taa!

Stitching like crazy around here!

Busy I am telling you! The ONLY good thing about the flu! I just sat with Sophia and stitched for days!

The snowman is part of a crazy quilt pillow I started and I love!

Easy crocheted flowers for this pillow! Hope you like what I am doing-I did manage to get some things on Etsy this morning, but now I have to get re-focused on my bracelets and photos of them, as I lost many of the photos of the new ones in the computer overhaul.

While the big cat's away...

While Big Cat Daddy is gone, I have been VERY busy with my WIPS and some new things. I am hoping for a totally Handmade Christmas this year! The pumpkin pillow above is finally finished!

I am thinking I should have photographed more detail of the pillow above, I love to mess with "unconventional" ways. Like Vintage and new fabrics randomly quilted together, and then randomly embellished with my creations ( crocheted motifs) or Vintage buttons, or fun trims and embroidery. Keep checking back as I plan to update the blog all week with the fun I have been having! Oh 41 is going to be great!

My latest WIP-

STRENGTH cross stitch from Monster Bubbles. I am working on this along with Becky. I did not buy the suggested fabric, and I hope I do not regret it:) Becky did though, I will be anxious to see the difference.

Quilt finally basted!

You may remember Sophia's quilt, from March.hmm...hmmm Anyway, the goal was to have the top pieced in the month of March. Which included the 24 embroideries, mostly from Wee Wonderfuls. Well, I did that, but I could not get the border right for anything, so I put it away for awhile, and Sunday I was able to get the binding on, baste it, and now I am actually tying it. I planned to send it out for quilting, but I think there is enough "busy"and I did not want to take away from the embroideries. And this is only a large twin size. So anyway, I will let you all know when I am done!

I love fall, and so do my girls, if you look closely, you can actually see Sophia's pigtails! First time on Sunday, and this is a milestone I am telling you! Her passport is almost two years old, and I dug it out the other day, and she still looks EXACTLY the same! she was very proud of those pigtails too!

Embroidery love

So today I had some time on my hands (sort of) and I worked on this pumpkin embroidery. This is the first of a few fall/winter Crazy quilts blocks I am working on. I really do love embroidery, and I really do love quilting, so this is how I am trying to put it together.
I am still working on my craft room, but so many exciting projects waiting for me. I am tired of Sophia's quilt-
staring me in the face, so I just started on it again. I sewed the borders on wrong one too many times and just got frustrated. But it is such a cute quilt. I really hope to get the thing finished one of these days.

Wish me luck.

Oh yeah...Have you been told that THE INSPIRED ROOM has moved? She is having a week of celebration! Go re-check her out! This is probably one of my fav blogs. Everything is always done just right there! Plus she has REALLY good taste!

Finished project.whew & puppy love!

Part of a shower gift I have been working on, finally finished!

Close up of the most boring pattern I have done in a long time, whew! Glad it is over!

Jurnee & Sophia "babysat" the neighbor puppy today, so cute these two girls were. So glad I can send the puppy home after a few hours though!

Jurnee just loves animals, she would really like one of her own with "fur" but I think we are going for another hermit crab.
I cannot believe just 19 more days until Kindergarten. I am teary just thinking of the days without her.

Crazzzy Quilting again

So last night, I got a little stubborn with myself, it seems I have lost my creative mojo. So I thought, "What could I do that might inspire me?" ( and the fact that I have nothing patriotic in my house.) So I went back to crazy quilting for a project. I used some scraps from my grandma's stash and my friend Natalie also gave me some of her stash. So I melded them together and I am going to take this country fabric and try to "hip it up" a bit. So we'll see. I finally took my sewing machine out of the dining room, and it is nice to see the table again.
Today we are off to swim lessons and grocery shopping ( my absolute worst job EVER!!) But I have to feed my family nonetheless!
I will keep posting this block as I finish it. It will be a pillow for my kitchen chair.

Botched up embroidery UGHHH!!!

How annoying! I had a knot in my thread, I took off the hoop to take care of it, and crap...when I put the plastic hoop argh!!!! back on, RIP so here I am so very annoyed with this project, this is one of those for the back burner, or the "deal with it another day" box!

Spring is finally here and we are busy working int he yard. We have a lot of winter kill in our grass, so we have been seeding and stuff like that.

My clematis is growing so well, I was very worried about this because late last summer we had a pretty good wind and because of the weight of the plant, the trellis bent and tipped over. I could not salvage the plant so I cut it to the ground and prayed for the best! Prayers answered, growing strong...I will have a photo when the thing blooms in a month or so.



Also, we just got word a few moments ago that my incredibly ill 66 year old father-in-law has to have his second leg amputated. Now this man has squamis cell cancer, he is diabetic and already missing a leg, an eye, two pointer fingers, 3 kidneys (lost the transplant kidney,) an ear (from the cancer,) essentially rods hold his back up (due to an infection that ate away the vertebrae,) and he takes kidney dialysis 3 times a week.

This man is no quitter, not Tom, and he is going to keep living as long as he can see and talk to his 4 grandchildren, and witness for Jesus Christ.

He is a very strong man, and his wife, even stronger!