New Years Resolution - 2011

Every year I make a New Years resolution.   Typically it is the same one .... I resolve to be a nicer person.  Well, not this year.   I've decided that this a probably as nice as it gets.

So, after two weeks of thoughts, I'm resolving to give up online Mah Jong Solitare.   Why ... well, because I go in for a game or two and emerge two hours later.   It is eating up large amounts of time (not that I have a whole lot to do),  and it is time I move on. 

In case, you would like to take my place, it's Dark Dimensions.





P.S.  I'm starting to feel much better and hope to return to a state of creativity soon.

Fabric Beaded Necklace, No More

A couple times last year, as you may recall, I created Fabric Beaded Necklaces from a variety of vintage scarves and fabrics.     I took these with me to a couple craft fairs and then put in my CTStudios shop.      A couple sold at the art/craft fairs, and although they garnered a lot of views in the shop, their were no further sales. 

I've been thinking about these for awhile ... along with the charm and fabric bracelet items in my shop.   I mostly think that they are out of par with what I create.   They were a fun little sidetrack, but largely not what I'm about, or what I create.    So, I decided to just get rid of them and then I wouldn't have to ponder the thought any more.     Kind of like one more act of downsizing, I suppose.  

So, I pondered the options ...

• Garbage ... well no, they certainly do not warrant that extreme of a measure ...
• Donate to Grans or Restore .... good option 

and then ..... I was thinking that the other thing on my list today was to get a box ready to ship the Big Blue Rose Vase to my sister.    And, just like that, the answer.  

I took all these sweet little fabric beaded necklaces (that, honestly, probably went out of style in the 90s ... I'm always just a little bit out of date) and stuffed them into the Vase!    I'll send most of them to my sister.    (She is a psychologist at a Veterans Home (Men & Women), and I thought, perhaps, she could give them out to some of the ladies when they were in need of some cheer ... or give to her local Goodwill, or whatever.  I put two in my closet ... perhaps I'll wear them someday, and I put two in Lilly's future dress-up box. 

Whew ... closed up the box and felt so accomplished .... one more act of downsizing and no more seeing something in my shop, that really doesn't belong there.  

McCalls 2360; Strolling down Memory Lane

I was going through the next batch of patterns to list in my shop the other day, and came across this one .... McCalls 2360.   Oh WOW.

As I recall it, Alex was 15 (2001) and going through his Goth stage with big, wide leg black pants.    I refused to pay the $70 pair Tripp Jeans cost and, in a more desperate moment he suggested he could make them himself.   Well, I was all over this concept, being a firm believer that young men should be able to cook, clean and do some simple sewing by the time they leave home.   When the weekend came, we piled into the car and drove to Slidell to Hancock Fabrics.   After a good two hours of contemplation, he picked McCalls 2360 to be his pattern and had selected three different fabrics.    I was so happy; my son actually wanted to learn to sew.  (Perhaps I foolishly equated that to mean he wanted to spend quality time with his mother .... ya right).

Cutting and laying out the fabric went fairly well, but the rest ..  lets just say it went downhill.   He really didn't want my help, and he wasn't much interested in reading the instructions.  His frustration level peaked frequently and he refused to double seam or overstitch (don't remember the actual term) as it was too time consuming and gave in long enough to allow me to put in the zipper for him. 

But, I have to say, he did get them put together.   They didn't stay put together too long, but we didn't talk about that.    I don't even recall what happened to the other two pieces of fabric and the pattern was eventually tossed; it was missing pieces.   

Well, at least he left home with cooking and cleaning skills.   (I put this pattern in my shop, just in case you have a teenager and would like to experience this one yourself !)

Yard Sale Saturday, 7/10/2010

The yard sale circuit is unusually quiet for this time of year. Hardly any ads listed in Thursday paper, which is closely matched with what I find when I go out on my circuit. Hardly any. I do, however, get up and go. It's part of my Saturday morning routine.

This morning there were 4 in my circuit ... of which I found two items of interest. 

This now makes 4 small guitars that I have in my inventory awaiting design.   This one is unique in that it is smaller than the other 3.   This one stands a mere 23" tall, whereas the other child size guitars are almost 32".   These are up soon ...

The second find was the 5 X 7" picture frame.   I looked at Target and Belks but couldn't find anything I liked ... but this one seemed just right; a few lines but nothing overpowering.
 

This is my son Alex and his love, Mary.  I think the frame fits them perfectly.  

Love Bug Dress

Last time Lilly visited, she was drawn to one of the pieces of fabric sitting on a side table.   She brought it to me a couple times.   So, after she went home I selected one of the patterns from my Mostly Pattern Shop, and put together this little dress.  I selected a piece of corresponding blue fabric for the chest pocket and wrote in 'Love Bug' with pearlized fabric paint.

I must confess, this is the first dress I've sewn from scratch in at least 15 years.  Although it is certainly not a masterpiece, it's bright and colorful and fits her just fine.

Lilly loves to Swing

 Lilly loves to swing and when she comes to visit I like to take her to Kids Connection Park at Koop Rd.    They have those special swings that little ones can safely sit.   I put her in there and she swings and swings and swings.   Ten minutes or so will go by and I'll ask her if she wants to go to the sandbox (her other favorite) and she'll shake her head no and we'll repeat over and over.   Somewhere around 40 minutes, my arms will get tired and I'll pull her out and we'll head for the sandbox.   She swings high and low and smiles real big.   

Gosh, I love this girl.

Honoring Mom on her Birthday

My mother died in May 2006 and is interred in a nice shady spot at a Cemetery not too far up the road.   On her Birthday, March 25th, I like to take the opportunity to bring her flowers and have a visit. 

Happy Birthday Mom

Apparently, I'm in the pattern business

It started innocently enough.    I decided I'd collected too much of some items and opened up my TodaysTreasure shop on Artfire.  The plan was, here, and sell those items that I'd collected too much of, or no longer wanted because my interests had moved in other directions. 

 I suppose the pattern business started with the initial find, back in October, 2008.   Then, last summer, a similar experience where I purchased 5 huge boxes for $40. as there appeared to be a good variety of vintage purse patterns.   One by one, the majority of these patterns ended up in my shop.

Selling patterns online is quite time consuming.   First, you have to check to make sure the pattern is complete, photograph it, process the photos and then list it in the shop.   Then, figure out how to store them in a safe and numeric order.   After that, you wait for an order.   Then, you package it, print the postage and haul it down the driveway for Bob, the mailman, to take away.   

At first, I was planning on using the profits to finance my own art/craft supply interests ... funding the next yard sales, those items I might need at Hobby Lobby, etc.   Then, started thinking that I wanted to do something bigger with the dollars.    After alot of thought, I decided on a Smart 529 Education plan for Lilly.    Now, as each pattern gets handed over to Bob, I think, "Okay, perhaps that will buy a couple pages of a college book for Lilly", or, "perhaps that will buy Lilly some lunch as she rushes between classes", or "Another 100 patterns and we'll have tuition for a class (which will hopefully grow into multiple classes if the Fund grows well). 

The whole idea pleases me.    I'm in the pattern business for Lilly.

Last Saturday, at the Hosanna yard sale I picked up about another 300 patterns ... I'll start processing them later this week.

Vacation Planning

Before we go on vacation, I had to set-up a visit with Lilly.    I so treasure our time together.     Our big surprise for this visit was kisses.    That little sweetheart learned how to kiss!.   We were on the floor playing musical instruments and she walked right over and kissed me.   Good thing I was on the floor !     When you only see a child monthly, every visit renders new surprises and amazements.    It's so much more than growth on a chart, it's personality developing.   I love her so much it's like my heart is a sponge just soaking it all up.       I know I'll be setting up another visit as soon as we get back.   

Tomorrow we start vacation.   The concept is mostly loose.   We spend a week driving to Ft. Lauderdale, where we'll catch an 8 day cruise and then spend another week driving home.    Other than the cruise, there is no scheduled events or set itinerary.   We'll go where we are drawn.

So, today is a day of getting ready.  Packing what's needed and then, packing the car.   Then, comes the cleaning.   Beau is not real up on the cleaning for vacation part, but, generally, he's a good sport and humors me with a bit of vacuuming and sweeping.   I suppose it stems from childhood.   My mother always required we clean house before we leave with the solid statement "it's so nice to come home to a clean house".   Beau's correct really, in that our son will be here quite abit, and I'm sure some of his friends will come and go.  So, no matter how much we clean, it's not going to be exactly the same kind of clean when we get back.   But, it's a compulsion, now, and we must clean.   

Stella got a tutu for Christmas

I had decided to make tutu's for the favorite little girls in my life .... Stella (who lives in NY) and my granddaughter, Lilly.        I knew Stella would like hers as 5 is such an imaginable play age,  and I expected Lilly to love hers, based on the many tutu makers out there in Etsyland.   (Apparently those are sold based on mama's wanting to take pictures)

Well, Stella loves her tutu.   As for Lilly, ho-hum, who cares.   She let me put it on her, refused to pose and, within 10 minutes, started trying to figure out how to get it off.   I took it off of her and put it away ... we'll give it another try in a few months.   

Lilly

Lilly came to visit for a couple of day.   She's such a joy ... and a big helper too !

Alex & Lilly

Such a beautiful day,
Outside to play,
My Daddy & Me.

I ran across the yard
with him right behind
and suddenly,
with hardly a jump,
He's laying on the grass,
right in front.

As I skid to a stop,
He scoops me in his arms,
and we fly back across the yard.

Outside,
On a beautiful Day
My Daddy and Me

Lilly's Week

It's play week here.   A whole lot of fun and mess making going on here; but very little in the world of arts & crafts.     Lilly's momma, Nikki, is having a baby this week (with her new husband), and Lilly is staying with us.   She came last Wednesday, Momma is having the baby today and she'll probably stay a couple more days, at least until Momma gets home. 

So, we've been swimming in the hot tub every day, playing lots of ball, and petting the cat (who's an incredible sport).   Daddy & Mary have come to play a couple times and we took her to Destrahan for the LSU football game on TV; family party.  

It's been great, but grammie (me) is learning a whole new interpretation of exhausted.   Keeping up with a 14 month baby takes quite abit of energy (patience, fortunately, isn't one of my problems).

Lilly & KidsKonnection Park

Lilly is here to visit for three days and I'm so excited. I put away all my stuff and I've committed to do nothing but play and have fun with her. Part of our day was a trip over to the Kids Konnection park in Abita Springs. (A most spectacular park). Nikki, Lilly's momma, said this would be her first time in a swing ... at first, she didn't know what to think, but then she caught on, and I think, had fun. We also had a good romp in the sandbox ... I sure love this girl.

Happy Birthday My Dear Friend

We were both wrong
We both lost,
Years of Laughter
of Sharing,
of Comfort,
Each Other

I speak to you Daily
Both High and Low
I Miss You
I Love You

Lillian Doesn't Mind Wearing Grandpa's Hat

Just the Ones I make.

Oh ya ... remember those grocery bags I was working on last year ... here's a couple in use. They are like a weekly conversation at the grocery. Everyone wants one ... (Although not really ... or, they want one, just don't want to pay for one).

Lilly likes hats best in the 'off' position

Many times I put the hat on Lilly and almost as fast, she'd reach up, pull it off and drop it to the floor. (Nope, didn't even play with it ... right to the floor). Between Beau & I, we took a good 20 pictures trying to capture her with the hat ... mostly a blur, or the lining was sticking out, etc. etc. etc. This is as close as we got ... Lilly in the 'pulling off the hat' position.

Oh well ... the hat's big on her. We'll put it in her room and try again in a couple months.

Lilly is 10 Months Old today

Today is Lilly's 10 month Birthday. Happy Birthday you sweet little girl !!!!

(Since I've suffering Lilly withdrawals, here Momma was sweet enough to send me a picture to hold me over)

Can't wait to get home and see her.

Lilly time is special

Things are really piling up and nothing, I mean nothing, is getting done. But, who cares, I'm spending time with Lilly (who just happens to be 9 months old today).

Happy Birthday Alex.

Yesterday, my son turned 21. That sweet boy has turned into a handsome young man.

May his adulthood be a happy one.