Robyn Randolph Sale

QuiltHome  is having a 50% off sale of all in-stock Robyn Randolph fabrics.  I just placed an order for some basic prints that should readily incorporate into most any project.  I love this site; the customer service is fantastic, they get the orders out to you promptly, and the selections and quality are wonderful as well.  The coupon code is:  QHRPF50 at QuiltHome.  Let me know what you find there...

Sick baby girl...

Jesse has been feeling sickly for a couple of weeks now.  She missed her final exams prior to the Christmas Break due to elevated fever and bronchitis.  On Christmas Eve, we ended up in the ER with a perforated eardrum in addition to the respiratory infection.  She hasn't been this sick since she was about 5 years old- it was in December then, too.  This poor baby is coughing so deeply and consistently that she is unable to rest without medication.

So, for Christmas this year, we have been camping out in my bed and watching movies.  While I wish she weren't sick, it has been really great to be able to just be lethargic and watch movies in between her naps.  

Nathan actually had plans with a friend's family this year.  All in all, it worked out well.  Nathan kept checking on his sister but was still able to go out and be festive, too.  When he got in early this morning, he came to check on her again and make sure she was warm enough.  Somehow, he has developed a fondness for his little sister--- but he probably won't admit to it:)

Overall, Christmas was not what I had envisioned this year, but it was good nonetheless!!!  I like it when things work out as they should. 

Creative Talent

Today, I am still a bit testy so I have been surfing around to various blogs just to look around and see what is out there.  I am amazed at the talent and creativity that I have run across.  I ran across Ryan Walsh and his quilting over a year ago and just happened upon his site again today.  Today, what struck me about Ryan's work is that I am just too afraid... period- full stop!!!  I have all of these lovely fabrics from fantabulous designers but I am afraid to cut into them for fear of messing up my beautiful fabrics.  In looking at a tutorial for a Dresden Mug Rug, I realized----- light bulb moment--- that I can use scraps to create fabulous projects.  Now, I am sure that I could have gleaned this insight from any number of sites, but it just happened to occur to me while at Ryan's.

Are any of you hoarders, too?  Do you just keep building your supply of fabrics 'cause they are so lovely and then you are afraid to cut into them?  Please tell me I am not alone in this:)  Perhaps I need a support group:)

For now, I need to go wrap a few gifts and then check out my scrap box:)  My Mom will surely appreciate a mug rug!

Thanks for stopping by- Merry Christmas!!!

Missing sewing...

Due to life circumstances, I have not been in my sewing room or crafting room for about a year now.  I did get a handful of cards made a couple of weeks ago, but other than that, nothing.  Creating was once therapy for me but it does not seem to hold the appeal it once did. 

Sew, Mama, Sew recently hosted a blog hop with tons of prizes to be given away from various artists and I won a reusable bag and a bag kit from the Green Bag Lady.  So, without doubt, I will be sewing up that kit once it arrives.  I need to pay it forward and make sure others have reusable bags available to them:) 

Chronic illness has really taken its toll on me and I am just plain tired of it and would very much like to have my life back again.  I want to feel good and have energy as I see that others do.  I want to be in a good mood on a daily basis.  I want to be able to do more activities with my kids, although my kids are older and those activities will consist of playing pool and going to the mall- just for the record, I am allergic to malls:)  Eeewwww!!!  Additionally, I really am awful at pool but have fun with it when we go as a family and just knock around the balls for a while.  I just want to be better...

I feel like whining today and really do not care for the feeling in the least.  I don't like being crabby.  So, I am gonna' go hibernate in my room with a movie or three and try to reset. 

In typing this, I have been reminded that it could be worse.  I have a new friend that is pregnant.  While she and her peanut are both doing well, she has been told to limit her activities and will have frequent check-ins with her doctor for the remainder of her pregnancy.  I can only imagine how difficult that will be for her as she already has little ones and a husband to care for.  Please say an extra prayer for my friend that is having a rough time right now.

Thanks for "listening" to my whining.  Next time, I will be in a better frame of mind- with no whining allowed:)

QuiltHome.com

...is having a great 30% off sale for the in-stock Free Spirit fabrics.  The coupon code is: QHFSF30.  Go on over and check it out.  This is my favorite place to shop for my fabrics:)  They will send you weekly sale codes when you sigh up for the newsletter.

QuiltHome

Wow

It is hard to believe that it has been an entire year since my last birthday.  Some days, it seems as if time creeps by at a snail's pace and other days, it seems that the time flies right on by.  Even at this early hour, a couple of my online friends have already posted birthday wishes on FB.  It is so nice to be cared about and remembered by friends and family.

I hope that we all have a great, warm, and safe Friday:)

Sew, Mama, Sew

For the past several days, I have been to bunches of blogs.  I am amazed at all of the talent I have run across in the world of blogging.  For each of you that hosted giveaways, thanks from the bottom of my heart.  Not only do I have the opportunity to win some great stuff but, more importantly, I have glimpsed the lives of some fantastic people.  It doesn't hurt that I am getting a great number of ideas of how I would like my own space to be. 

...it's late- night y'all...

Be careful what you ask for....

Computer illiterate that I am, I asked my other half to help with my blog as he is practically a computer genius.  Over the past several days, I have visited hundreds of blogs for the Sew, Mama, Sew event.  In doing so, I have gotten scores of ideas for my own blog and asked Greg to help expedite the process.  Now, thanks to his generosity, I have a whole page that I can dedicate to my imaginary chinchillas:)  Aren't they kinda' like rodents?  Certainly not my cup of tea!!!  

Wasn't that nice of him to be so incredibly helpful?  While I do know how to delete the comments, I suspect that there is someone out there that might get a good laugh out of his antics, so, for now, at least, I have chosen to leave them.  This will likely surprise him speechless- and that will make it worth it!!!

Now, having gotten that bit of a disclaimer out of the way, Greg did get some of the "stuff" implemented that I had requested.  My time stamp now seems to be set for EST- YAY!  I have additional pages with the promise of more when desired.  I cannot even remember all that I asked for... guess there might be more surprises in store for me later today, huh?

Until then, have a Blessed day and stay warm:)  I think I might need some snowflakes on my home page.....  Oh, Greg......

Arrived!

Last weekend, I placed an order at Peachy Keen for some winter stamps and they arrived today!!!  HooRah!  I bet I will be playing with my new toys tomorrow.  I am really loving the snowman ones but the Snickerdoodle Gift Elf is probably the cutest elf in the world:)  I wish I wasn't too tired to play tonight...

Brrrrr...

OK, now, enough of this cold already!  I live in Georgia and am a serious temperature wimp.  For the past several days, it has been in the 20's and we even had a snow flurry or two on Sunday.  I am all done with this coldness, now:)  Yep, really, I am!!!  Poor Maggie just came back in from her potty break and her ears feel just about frozen.  She is shivering and walking in circles to warm back up.  I guess I need to tuck her back into bed with the electric blanket, huh?

Stay warm, everyone and have a Blessed Tuesday.  I am making pecan pie for a get-together this evening.  Yummy!!!

Emboss It

OK, as it will soon become obvious, I've no idea how to begin blogging.  However, I would like to begin chronicling some of my creative and chaotic bursts in a centralized locale.  Peachy Keen stamps is responsible for my attempting this endeavor.  They are sponsoring a challenge that I want to submit an entry for and I thought it would be nice to try my hand at setting up a blog to showcase my card for their challenge.  Sooooo, here we are:)  Bear with me, though; I am pretty computer illiterate.

 

I used both heat and dry embossing here.  The tree is actually green with stardust embossing powder but I haven't been able to get a picture to capture it adequately.

This is probably my favorite card that I made for Christmas.  The silver embossing on the silver cardstock is quite striking and the simplicity of the design really appeals to me:)

I clear embossed holly leaves onto the DP for added depth.  I used stickles on the ornament but it doesn't seem to show here.  I will keep working on it, though:)

Edited:  Please laugh with me!!!  I forewarned you that I was computer illiterate but it also seems as if I have some major camera issues.  These cards really are pretty; I just don't know how to show it to you yet.  When I figure it out, I will correct it:)  Until then, please bear with me- a lot!!!  Melissa