Little by little

Bringing out the projects again...little by little I will overcome! Perhaps if I repeat....

I will get these finished.............(Above will be a Bed doll dress)

I will get these finished...............(Above will be a BOHO bag)

I will get these finished.......some day.

Thank you for your sweet comments. I'm sorry I haven't had time to reply to all just yet but know I appreciate them :-)
Off to see mom, enjoy your day!

Featured in another etsy treasury!!!!

I can't believe one of my ciggy & silk sets was chosen for an Etsy treasury, Gabeadz. Perhaps she enjoyed the little bird on the hat??? I could see this image used in a CQ little girls purse or book bag with a small copper wired bird nest with pink eggs charm dangling from the strap.Thank you Gabeadz!!!!

Another surprise!

I was minding my own business cleaning up the studio when a fun artistic package arrived from Canada.
It seems Lorraine Stobie of Creative daily blog was purging her stash and gathered a lot for me to enjoy.
Hand dyed doily's, threads and fabrics in delicious colorways.
Boho bags waiting to be created. What a delightful surprise!Thank you very much Lorraine. That was really a huge surprise and I love every piece. :-)

Fellow bloggers, if you want some beautiful hand dyed goodies for yourself, Lorraine has an etsy shop here. Called Luscious Layers, and that they are!!!! Scrumpdilyicious in fact!

I already hung everything in the studio so I can grab and sew next week. It seems my muse has returned and I can't stitch fast enough. I took a break today so I could regroup and prioritize my projects. I finished an Inner child doll and mailed it today, I have a bed doll almost finished, a mermaid to work on and a few personal projects to complete. I have nothing planned in the studio and feel like creating some Pink projects for breast cancer awareness month.

I hope you are having a great weekend and enjoying some creative time.

Sharing birthday treats and stuff

This morning I grabbed my camera to get a picture of the sun peeking into the dining room. The house was darker than the photo shows and the sun just lit a small area in the dining room where some of my favorite things were placed from sweet friends.
The hall chandelier was sparkling in an odd way so I had to snap a pic of that too. If you zoom in you can see I've already started decorating for Halloween, (webs) Whoops!Sometimes you just have to capture the moment. It was a start to a beautiful day.

When I arrived home from mom's this afternoon I had some birthday treats from special friends waiting for me. Actually I was a winning blogger on my dear friend Freda's blog last week and since the prize was made by Freda I am calling it a birthday treat :-). This vintage looking sewing kit holds everything you need, and it arrived with the works which I wasn't expecting. Freda tucked in a distressed piece of cheesecloth between the two layers and I think it just finishes it off perfectly. I don't know if you can see clearly or not, but the felt has writings on it...how cool! A lovely velvet flower and leaf with a metallic netting is a pretty accent. There is a mother of pearl heart dangling from the top to remind me it was made and given with love.
Freda is such a thoughtful lady, she also tucked in a vintage brooch for my mother. When I saw it I couldn't believe that it was so similar to one I picked up from the antique mall and pinned on mom's new sweater last week. I must take a picture of them together. It is such a coincidence that we both found such unique brooches around the same time. Freda, thank you so much for hosting the wonderful giveaway and thank Harv for drawing my number :-). I love the sewing kit and mom will enjoy the brooch!!!

The next surprise was from my dear friend Terri . She lives in Connecticut but ventures into New York to attend Martha Stewart and Nate Berkus shows from time to time and manages to "take me along" for little shopping sprees. Now I would be happy as a lark just hearing her describe these outings, but no, she has to buy me goodies, treasures and treats to make sure I "experience" them. And boy do I ever as you can see!!!!

Below Terri filled one of her pretty floral cloth bags she creates to overflowing. Can you believe I haven't opened the Godiva bar yet? Me either! Of course it has only been less than an hour in my possession :-)

Beading threads in fun colors, a gorgeous cabochon,blue glass crystals,magnetic dragonfly charm,beautiful stickers,and amazingly beautiful teeny tiny sequins.......... But wait! I've only just begun to unpack the box...... A huge brownie from the famous Magnolia Bakery was awaiting me. Terri even included a birthday pick. I staged this piece of the brownie for the picture but it will go back into the box until I can properly set a tea time table for myself. Of course Terri included a pretty rose sprinkled tablecloth for my tea table. I love roses!!!!!Although I haven't been to NY other than Buffalo, I do love New York and now I can show it!!!!Thank you for an endless box of birthday surprises Terri. You really shouldn't have but I know you can't help it. Just wait...........

Are you exhausted yet?
Birthday cards from more dear friends with goodies tucked inside. Judy S, Leslie H,and Terri T, thank you for your thoughtfulness.Last but not least, the beautiful new magazine arrived from my pal Leslie K in St. Joe. Thank you Leslie , I glanced at it but am typing as fast as I can so I can go devour each page. Hope we can get together on Friday the 8th??????????????? Here or there, whatever you want.
I did spy a familiar name...Blog lands multi-talented Gail Schmidt....Cool!
Way to go Gail. Can't wait to read all about it.
So, I am off of here for now. A girl can get spoiled around here with friends like I'm blessed with.
Thank goodness I made chicken noodles for dinner this morning or the guys would be out of luck this evening as I am headed to the porch with my new magazine. Have a wonderful evening and I will give my full review tomorrow.

Happy October

Happy October! In the Midwest, it is a busy month. A time for spiced apple cider, picking the last apples off the tree and dipping them in melted caramel, packing up the warm weather clothes and bringing out your favorite sweaters, cleaning up the gardens for their winter sleep, watching the flocks of birds gather along the roadside wires and fields ready for their journey to a warmer climate, viewing the beautiful color show of changing leaves and foliage, looking up favorite family stew, bread, and fudge recipes, decorating the porch in corn stalks,pumpkins
Altered vintage girl by "Lisa's Altered Art" on etsy.
and synthetic spider webs for Trick-or-Treater's, storing all the garden and deck furniture, cleaning closets to make way for the boots and winter gear, checking smoke alarm batteries, fluffing up the comforters and quilts, plugging in the electric bed pads and blankets, stocking up on soy or beeswax candles in your favorite Autumn scent (vanilla or pumpkin spice), gathering and planning projects for the long winter ahead, the list goes on and on to include all the things we "domestic goddesses" love to comfort ourselves and our families with.

I enjoy all four season's although I always hate to see one end and the next begin. I think it is because I get comfortable in one season and""" poof!"" it changes on me. Not being a big fan of "change", it upsets my little world when I must abide by the season's dictations.(okay, maybe I am stubborn,,,a little too) I took advantage of the warm sunny weather and ventured to the outlet mall for new boots the other morning. I know some of you may cringe when you hear what I have to say next, but please let me stay in the "Woman's" club. I don't like shoes or shopping for them, or clothes shopping for the most part.

If I could wear white shirts and jeans and be barefoot everyday I would be the happiest gal in the world. However, Since this isn't always possible I have become partial to and must have my chunky higher heeled black short boot for Autumn and Winter months. It has been something I have gotten comfortable with for several years now and if I don't find them I become obsessed searching for them.

Again, the comfort, not fashion is my goal although they are stylish in my opinion. Basic and stylish and comfortable.....a lot for me to pull off, just ask my friends who put up with me.I blame my "fashionlessness" on being an only girl with three brothers. After all, I thought face powder was the white stuff kept in the kitchen...
Perhaps I may be a fashion rebel because I had to wear school clothing like this .....nice ears huh? At least it wasn't real fur :-) Yes, I fought off a uni-brow all my life, and the updo...well, it should have been a warning that mom wanted me to be a hair stylist. Yikes! Although I would like to think the fresh stitches on my chin were battle wounds from fighting off mom's clothing choice, it was actually from flying off a merry go round in first grade right before picture day....just my luck.

It is fun to poke fun at yourself and know nothing and no one in life is perfect and that things can always be worse. With that said, I wanted to take a moment to remind you that October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month and to share this little "Pink Ribbon" image link from Patty of Lisa's Altered Art.
Patty offers sheets of various images and sizes to create with. Perhaps you will buy a sheet or two and make some things to show your support of those touched by this horrid disease. I am not affiliated with her shop in any way, I just love her work and see how it can be used many ways in art creations of all kinds.
I hope to make some items for my etsy this month to support the Susan G Komen breast cancer fund. All(every penny) of the proceeds from any PINK item will be donated.

Enjoy your day your own special way!