Nice day

This morning I did get to the beach, but only for about 20 minutes. Mom had sinus and there was a slight cool breeze so I pretended to be in a hurry to get home because we were having stone delivered. I knew she was miserable and wouldn't ask to leave. I did find three pieces of glass! Anyway, I am mentioning this for another reason, my friend Marjorie ,posted about how songs can get stuck in your brain for hours, and the song I was mentally singing at the beach was, and don't laugh....."I kissed a girl and I liked it". Do you believe that? I only heard it once, on the Ellen show a few weeks ago. It wouldn't go away for several hours. At the beach, I thought to myself, if only mom would hear this song ,LOL.
Ok, now how many of you have it stuck in your head? Sorry!

When I returned home I wrapped laces and trims on the newly found bobbin spools. Then I had a lollipop! I found these at Michael's and thought they were so cute! I never intended to eat one however.

The stone arrived on time (happy dance) and the delivery man was so nice. He did a great job "tail gating" it through the driveway. I am one of those gals who still enjoy a gravel driveway, also one who dislikes dishwashers and prefers hand washing, and loves to place lilacs in every room as soon as they bloom. Call me old fashioned, but simple things can be more rewarding, let me tell you.

After he left I grabbed my projects and grabbed Angell for a front porch swing stitching party. I poured a small glass of wine because it was hot out....yes, that's a good reason. :-) I wanted to give my students a little Mother's Day gift, so I made each of them a needlebook with an image of part of my CQ on the front. This way they can be reminded to stitch! :>) I sewed two small ziplock bags on one side for threads, beads, threader, etc, and a piece of wool on the other to keep needles. Not the best sewing job, but I never claimed to be a seamstress!

I received more puzzle pieces, so I will update the swap blog and the garden blog in the morning. I can't believe how tall the fern and Peonies grew in two days. It just rained for a bit, so tomorrow they will have grown even taller. Exciting!!! Have a great evening. New Grey's Anatomy is on, gotta go!!!!

Atfire update

FYI~I added 15 new sets of hand dyed 7mm silk ribbons to my artfire shop.....Off to the beach...hopefully I will beat the rain!

last post cont...............

After shopping, I returned home and rushed to put things away so I could mulch and plant a few flowers that followed me home before cleaning up for a meeting.
A purple Aster, Pin cushion, spikes, wave petunias, were all planted as the sunny skies turned cloudy and dark. I continued to mulch as it began to sprinkle. DH arrived home and he and DS headed to town for errands and dinner because I had plans to attend the NANI (needle Artisans of Northwest Indiana) meeting as Marjorie's guest. I had been trying to attend a meeting for months, but weather and life got in the way.

Nervous about traveling in rain to a new place, I decided to leave early and hit the Vogue fabric shop nearby. It wasn't a long trip, and barely rained. I found a few new Dupioni colors and a Jacquard that I needed to play with. I also chose a few beautiful sequin beaded appliques and gorgeous trims. A few Dupioni remnants to share, and I was on my way.

Our plan was to meet at a Chinese restaurant before the meeting. I knew that would relax me a bit before the meeting, and was very happy to be invited.

With such a busy day, once again, I forgot to eat and I felt that hunger headache coming on. Instead of browsing other shops to kill time, I decided to go ahead and eat at the restaurant while I waited for Marjorie and her friends.
I never eat alone in a restaurant, and this was my first time. Imagine that! I enjoyed it as I sat reading the garden section of the newspaper and being served shrimp kow and crab rangoon
(forget the calories). I was feeling better, and way too full but happy the headache wasn't going to ruin my evening.

Marjorie and three other members of NANI arrived and we had pleasant conversation. One of the members happened to be a sweet lady I met from the quilt show last Oct, Karol. She just finished an amazing wolf cross stich that will take your breath away. I got to see it last night. WOW! I will be teaching her and another new friend and NANI member, Lelia to crazy quilt this month. Yeah, sure, me teach them??????
During dinner, Marjorie kept pulling all this wonderful stuff from her bag. I think it is a magical bag of some sorts???? She made an adorable felt cake from a kit that looked so real that even with a full belly I was tempted to take a bite. She also had pendants she made from a class using Swarovski crystals. Gorgeous! Where was my camera???In my purse...duh! Then she gave me a piece of the mustard yellow felt from which she made one of her puzzle pieces with. How sweet was that? She also made a wool name tag for me because all NANI members wear name tags....hmmmm is she hinting at something? :-)Actually I am considering joining NANI, so I will be all set with the pretty tag. Than you Marjorie. You certainly think of everything.The puzzle piece is so cool too! Aside from hosting the Pieces of friendship swap, I see how my life is a puzzle, and each piece is falling into place. The following event will prove that. But first I must say I had such fun sharing my CQ with the members and viewing their work. A warm welcoming group that I hope to get to know better. Also, I was so surprised to have won the door prize!!! It really shocked me, and I must have looked like a deer in the headlights as I sat there stunned. I had quite a choice, but selcted the certificate to my favorite thread shop, House of Stitches in LaPorte. Thank you everyone for a perfect evening!!!!!

Ok, remember the comment about serendipity and the armless bisque doll???????????
Marjorie had magazines she no longer wanted to share with her group and I took one to look at while waiting (it calms me to get my mind off of a crowd of starngers) I chose an issue of Belle Armoire that for some reason I didn't own. On the last page, was an image that gave me chills. The doll I found earlier that morning was perfect for the necklace I was viewing, AND..... the doll necklace was named PEARL! My grandmother's name. You know what will become of the little orphaned armless doll now. I hope to wear it next month in hopes of showing the vendor just how loved she was.
Now that my friends, is SERENDIPITY!
I am now exhausted from reliving such a busy and wonderous day. I am off to the garden with a project. Have a great day!

busy days cont................

Yesterday was like living a dream. It happened so quickly yet was packed full of wonderful happenings. Almost unreal to tell the truth. It all started with a trip to get mulch and a few groceries. As I was making my way into the store I overheard a discussion about the monthly flea market at the expo only two miles away. The one I attended last month and enjoyed so much. Well, I turned around and headed South! A few minutes is all it took and there I was facing a basket filled with vintage laces with a $1.00 price tag. The dream begins...............The vendor was interested in what I would do with the laces and I gave her my web address. She wants a quilt of some sort made from her vintage hankies and laces. I came away with delicate beauties and a happy heart.

Next I stopped at a booth selling beautiful painted gourds and there sat one of my CQ students, Flo. Flo was helping her friend tend her booth and showed me the smallest gourd necklaces made into bird houses. Knowing I didn't have tons of cash on hand because I didn't know I would end up at a flea market, I decided to wait to purchase one. I do need to get one because they are so cute. Luckily, the creator lives in the next town, and Flo will help me obtain one. Flo had her CQ project with her to work on which made me smile to know she was really interested in her work.

I then came across a booth filled with vintage men's stuff. This is whee I discovered these little watch part bottles. I have been so tempted to buy some of these on etsy and ebay, but held off because the prices seemed too high for what I wanted them for. I love containers of all shapes and sizes, don't quite know why, just do. I had to find the vendor to get a price and as he was giving me the history of them I ust knew they would be way more than I would pay. I told him I wanted to alter one for a necklace and he offered to sell them all to me for 25 cents each. What? Yes! Score! I love them.


Next I meandered over to an elderly woman's booth filled with fabrics. I chose a fabric and at her checkout there was a bin of yarn/thread spools. We talked about fabrics, crazy quilting, and I told her the spools would make nice holders for my trims however I would need them all. At $2 eah, I couldn't buy all 50 of them. She asked if I would buy them all for $20.00. They came home with me. :-) I can't wait to put the trims on them which fits nicely in this large basket I found in the closet.

Next stop, vintage postcards. Had to have these. I would love to have been alive back then and receive such a card.

Now comes a story of serendipity...as Marjorie stated. I happened upon a booth with beautiful pricey items. Well worth the money. This little armless bisque orphan doll caught my attention. I has just found a plastic armless doll, and wondered why I am attracted to these pitiful creatures. I asked the price and the woman said she was waiting for someone to take her into their heart and give her a home, so 25 cents was the asking price. I couldn't believe it, and adopted her. The woman was really hapy to know she will be loved again. I really have no idea why I choose broken things and am more excited than if they were new or whole. I just do. You will learn more about her in a later post...hang in there please :-)

I didn't NEED any of these things, but with little money, I certainly had a super fun morning. Off to buy groceries, mulch and a few plants.

Crazy busy days...several posts starting at beginning

It has been non stop crazy busy since Friday! Class went great. The gals learned basic embroidery stitches and we were so busy I forgot to snap pictures. I will get pics of everyone and their boxes on Saturday. I know some won't be finished, because being new at embroidery and where to place what can be challenging and I know they want a box to enjoy, not resent. So, I bribed them with a prize drawing next Saturday. I told them if they finish embellishing, their name goes in a drawing and they will have a chance to win a CQ prize. Little do they know,but everyone will be a winner. They worked so hard and had so much to absorb in three little sessions. Surprise gifts just makes the world more pleasant don't you think? It will be fun. I just have to whip up four more gifties and I will be set.

On Sunday we moved our son home until he decides what his next step will be. Finding a job is top priority. It is good to have him home, perhaps I can fatten him up a bit? LOL

His moving home prompted me to clean out the studio closet which has been something I avoided at all costs for a few years now. I had to make room for a chest he no longer wanted in his closet, and I needed the storage . Therefore...the studio organization began.

What an ordeal! I was never so exhausted in my life. Two days of tossing, organizing and donating clutter. I was embarrassed for myself to see what all I had hoarded. It feels so good to have it all under control.
My reward for cleaning the closet, aside from more storage space, I found my little rubber doll with bird that I found in Bell Creek, West Virginia many years ago. The creek that mom played in as a girl. Isn't she sweet? She is clean, but the stains remain from living in a creek bed for who knows how many years. She now lives on a shelf in the studio, dry,warm , loved, and safe.

A sweet new friend I recently met online , Elizabeth, sent me the info on the origin of the Primrose she shipped to me last week. She tossed in some Wampum too. I put the info in my garden journal. It is a special thing to own, and was written in the woman's own handwriting, which I will pass on to a gardener in my family one day. Thank you Elizabeth, you are so sweet.The other day I picked up the magazine, Where Women Create, and loved reading the article on Marie's studio several times.

Speaking of surprise gifts, my friend Karen Hurd from CA included some gorgeous dragonfly charms and buttons in her puzzle pieces and then the next day (yesterday)I received little puzzle charms from her. She wrapped everything in a beautiful fabric and tied it with pretty green print wired ribbon which will become leaves. Waste not....want not!
Thank you for my surprise Karen. You know these will make my future personal projects! :-)

Twitter anyone?

Yes, I was tempted by Twitter. You can find me under my name, Pat Winter.I am not sure what my feelings are about it. What is the difference between blogging and Twittering? I know Twitter is short updates on your actions, but if that is all, what is the attraction? Any comments? Blogging allows you to journal for yourself and share with friends. Just another thing to take up your time I think. Just had to comment on that...now on to better things!

Harvesting eggs....dyeing class ribbons

Yesterday was spent dyeing silk ribbons and harvesting eggs for my bird nest charms. It seems I didn't have enough eggs to fill my nests. :-)

I used alcohol inks to dye my pearls for eggs. I didn't have oval pearls, but these worked fine. You have to work fast with the ink on pearls because alcohol melts plastic. You want to paint the pearl and move it away to dry. Do not let it sit in the ink mixture or it will dissolve the pearl coating off your bead. Ask me how I know! I hope to finish these up tonight so I can ship them all off tomorrow. I also need to make a quick trip to buy tiny lobster clasps. I didn't realize I only had five of the tiny ones :-) So those of you who have a nest charm coming, they will be there next week.
I thought it would be nice to have newly dyed ribbons for my class to choose from if they desired to purchase any. In my neck of the woods, silk ribbon is hard to find unless you want to choose from five colors of hard crunchy Bucilla. So I spent the rainy day dyeing.
When I was hanging the last bunch to dry, the sun came out!!! Really, it did. I took the opportunity to walk around the garden to snap a few pics for my Blissful Gatherings blog which I will post next. Here are the ribbons for my gals to choose from.I'm sure I will have plenty left over for Artfire and etsy. There are more colors underneath each pile. I had to scrunch them together for a pic. I will also pass out nail files before they begin working with the silk ribbon. I thought if they were in their kits, they would have thought they were to manicure their nails before next class,LOL.

Earlier this morning the sun was out, but it looks like more rain. A good day to run for clasps and a class treat. I also have to post new puzzle piece arrivals on the swap blog today. They are all so pretty. When I receive Marjorie's tomorrow, I will take a pic of them all pieced together :-)