A Hodge Podge

My Flickr Fat Quarter swap package arrived for March...just look at all this yummy blue-ness!!

Also arriving this week was my Potholder Swap all the way from Holland!! Thanks Monica for hosting this awesome swap!! This lovely package from Monique took almost a month to arrive, but it was well worth the wait. Hubby's family is Dutch so this was very exciting:) He remembers his Opa eating that same black licorice. My links are not working so I'll have to post the link for Monique's blog tomorrow.

I participated in the Great Fabric Challenge that Miss Mary Ann did - you send her a yard of fabric and she makes some goodies for you, then she'll send you a yard of fabric and you make goodies for her:) These are the awesome items she made for me and I can't wait to start creating with the fabric she sent me:)

I recently got a gift card from Barnes & Nobles from a dear friend - one of the books I bought with it is this AWESOME Paul McCartney book from his last US tour...it is fantastic! The pictures and text are incredible. I really wish I had been able to see him on this tour....I last saw him in 1990...but there were no venues close and no extra money to travel to see him. But Hubby knows that when he tours again I WILL be going no matter what:)


Lastly, I just HAD to watch Dancing with the Stars Monday night cause look who is on it this season:

Heather Mills - the soon to be ex-wife of my adored Paul McCartney. She was introduced as a charity campaigner whose goal on the show is to inspire the disabled. Not exactly the way I would introduce her....since I have disliked her from day one! She did dance fairly well, but I just can't even hardly stand to look at her anymore!!!

I have one more Map atc left if anyone is interested!!! Have a great evening!!

I Love Me Some ATCs

Miss Vallen sent me this awesome atc a few weeks ago - after I had sent her one of mine:) Isn't it fabulous:):) It has found it's home one of my Beatles shelves in the office....


A Fab Four atc for my Fab Four figurines. It fits in perfectly. Thank you Vallen!


Today I made these atcs for a new group I joined - Southwest ATC artists through Yahoo Groups. The theme this month was Make Your Map and I am so pleased with how these turned out. Of course, I made extras:) so there are 4 available to you, my lovely friends. Just leave a comment with your email address if you would like one.


Have a wonderful Saturday and Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

Spring Fever and Photo Overload

Spring has sprung in Albuquerque. Just look at these lovely blossoms on one of our trees in the front yard.


I finally have a good picture of my thrifting find of the year for you...while I was in San Diego I had a chance to stop at a Salvation Army for a few minutes that was right next to our hotel. Some of you may know that I am a huge Longaberger fan...before Miss S was born I pretty much spent all my spending money with them:) Now I can only afford to get one basket every year or two as they are darn pricey (but worth every penny:)). I spied this beauty buried in a pile of cheap Easter baskets at Salvation Army. It was one of those finds where your heart skips a beat but you ever so casually saunter over to retrieve it so as not to make a scene:) The best part was the price - $2.50!!!! It's the 2001 Peony May basket with the liner and protector and probably retailed for about $75.00 if not more. Needless to say I was thrilled:) In all my years of thrifting this is the 3rd Longaberger basket that I have found.


I'm off work today - a little St Patricks Day treat from the bosses - so I spent the morning cleaning house. I can see the top of my dresser for the first time in months and my toilets are sparkly clean. I met Hubby for lunch and then made a nice leisurely trip to Hancocks and Hobby Lobby.

At Hancocks I bought this blouse pattern and this fabric to make the short sleeved version. After putting away a bunch of clothes this morning I realized I had better get busy sewing cause I have very few spring/summer shirts. If I like how this one turns out I hope to make several more.


I also bought this shirt patterm from the new Khaliah Ali line for Simplicity. I really like these and I'm anxious to see if she has any new designs for summer. I bought the fabric at Hobby Lobby - it's very silky, satiny and was only $2.00 a yard. I already have brown pants and purple pants that will go perfectly with these tops when they are done.


And these fabrics just leapt into my cart while I wasn't looking - I'm not sure what they will be yet. I think I will make a bag for my best friend, Tammy, out of the coffee fabric. She is a coffee junkie.


Yesterday I received a wonderful package from Mary Ann....it seems she found a magical box that just spilled forth goodies without end.

All manner of crafting goodies, ribbon, buttons, cards, a beautiful beaded blue bracelet she made, pink floral scarf, chenille rick rack, magnets...


zippers, an "R", magnet, notepads, stickers, cards made by her and cards for me to make, an AWESOME Beatles calendar (I have the perfect spot in the office for it)...


The awesomest purple bag (I have that SAME fabric in blue:)), corsage pin, headbands for Miss S, bunny ears too which Miss S has already taken off with, handmade quilted coasters...


A gorgeous and dainty pink floral apron with lace detailing, stickers and paper, blue striped scarf (in the right corner), a little stuffed birdie, and peeps - my FAVORITE Easter time confection.


And last but not least, a darling little altered notebook. The one Mary Ann made for me is open and the yellow one is one that I made for her! Great minds think alike. Thank you so much Mary Ann - these goodies are so beautiful and thoughtful. I love you!!

Good Readin

Saw this on Lain's blog, who got it from Ragan's blog, who got it from...you get the picture:)

Look at the list of books below:
* Bold the ones you’ve read
* Italicize the ones you want to read
* Leave blank the ones that you aren’t interested in.

1. The DaVinci Code (Dan Brown)
2. Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen)
3. To Kill A Mockingbird (Harper Lee)
4. Gone With The Wind (Margaret Mitchell)
5. The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (Tolkien)
6. The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring (Tolkien)
7. The Lord of the Rings: Two Towers (Tolkien)
8. Anne of Green Gables (L.M. Montgomery)
9. Outlander (Diana Gabaldon) – ONE OF MY FAVES!! I used to work with both her niece and her sister-in-law (Jamie’s SISTER!!!) (at two different jobs)
10. A Fine Balance (Rohinton Mistry)
11. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Rowling)
12. Angels and Demons (Dan Brown)
13. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Rowling)
14. A Prayer for Owen Meany (John Irving)
15. Memoirs of a Geisha (Arthur Golden)
16. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (Rowling)
17. Fall on Your Knees (Ann-Marie MacDonald)
18. The Stand (Stephen King)
19. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Rowling)
20. Jane Eyre (Charlotte Bronte)
21. The Hobbit (Tolkien)
22. The Catcher in the Rye (J.D. Salinger)
23. Little Women (Louisa May Alcott)
24. The Lovely Bones (Alice Sebold)
25. Life of Pi (Yann Martel)
26. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (Douglas Adams)
27. Wuthering Heights (Emily Bronte)
28. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (C. S. Lewis)
29. East of Eden (John Steinbeck)
30. Tuesdays with Morrie (Mitch Albom)
31. Dune (Frank Herbert)
32. The Notebook (Nicholas Sparks)
33. Atlas Shrugged (Ayn Rand)
34. 1984 (Orwell)
35. The Mists of Avalon (Marion Zimmer Bradley)
36. The Pillars of the Earth (Ken Follett)
37. The Power of One (Bryce Courtenay)
38. I Know This Much is True (Wally Lamb)
39. The Red Tent (Anita Diamant)
40. The Alchemist (Paulo Coelho)
41. The Clan of the Cave Bear (Jean M. Auel)
42. The Kite Runner (Khaled Hosseini)
43. Confessions of a Shopaholic (Sophie Kinsella)
44. The Five People You Meet In Heaven (Mitch Albom)
45. The Bible
46. Anna Karenina (Tolstoy)
47. The Count of Monte Cristo (Alexandre Dumas) LOVED LOVED LOVED this one!! He’s my second favorite author.
48. Angela’s Ashes (Frank McCourt)
49. The Grapes of Wrath (John Steinbeck) – My All-Time Favorite Author!
50. She’s Come Undone (Wally Lamb)
51. The Poisonwood Bible (Barbara Kingsolver)
52. A Tale of Two Cities (Dickens)
53. Ender’s Game (Orson Scott Card)
54. Great Expectations (Dickens)
55. The Great Gatsby (Fitzgerald)
56. The Stone Angel (Margaret Laurence)
57. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Rowling)
58. The Thorn Birds (Colleen McCullough)
59. The Handmaid’s Tale (Margaret Atwood)
60. The Time Traveller’s Wife (Audrew Niffenegger)
61. Crime and Punishment (Fyodor Dostoyevsky)
62. The Fountainhead (Ayn Rand)
63. War and Peace (Tolstoy)
64. Interview With The Vampire (Anne Rice)
65. Fifth Business (Robertson Davis)
66. One Hundred Years Of Solitude (Gabriel Garcia Marquez)
67. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (Ann Brashares)
68. Catch-22 (Joseph Heller)
69. Les Miserables (Hugo)
70. The Little Prince (Antoine de Saint-Exupery)
71. Bridget Jones’ Diary (Fielding)
72. Love in the Time of Cholera (Marquez)
73. Shogun (James Clavell)
74. The English Patient (Michael Ondaatje) – I thought this was really boring
75. The Secret Garden (Frances Hodgson Burnett)
76. The Summer Tree (Guy Gavriel Kay)
77. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (Betty Smith)
78. The World According to Garp (John Irving)
79. The Diviners (Margaret Laurence)
80. Charlotte's Web (E.B. White)
81. Not Wanted On The Voyage (Timothy Findley)
82. Of Mice And Men (Steinbeck)
83. Rebecca (Daphne DuMaurier)
84. Wizard’s First Rule (Terry Goodkind)
85. Emma (Jane Austen)
86. Watership Down(Richard Adams)
87. Brave New World (Aldous Huxley)
88. The Stone Diaries (Carol Shields)
89. Blindness (Jose Saramago)
90. Kane and Abel (Jeffrey Archer)
91. In The Skin Of A Lion (Ondaatje)
92. Lord of the Flies (Golding)
93. The Good Earth (Pearl S. Buck)
94. The Secret Life of Bees (Sue Monk Kidd)
95. The Bourne Identity (Robert Ludlum)
96. The Outsiders (S.E. Hinton)
97. White Oleander (Janet Fitch)
98. A Woman of Substance (Barbara Taylor Bradford)
99. The Celestine Prophecy (James Redfield)
100. Ulysses (James Joyce)

Looks like I have a lot of reading in my future! I would say 90% of the books that are italicized I have already, but have not had time to read them yet. I am a sucker for books - especially hardbacks - so I usually limit my buying to second hand stores. I also cannot bear to get rid of books after I have read them so you can just imagine what my bookshelves look like. I'm going to have to get over that eventually cause I have just about run out of space:)

Good Goodies:)

Just look at these lovelies that have arrived here in little old New Mexico last week and this week while I was gone:

First, from the lovely Miss Em - not one, but two packages in as many weeks. Miss Em sent me some awesome paper and a post it note pad. Then this week arrived an awesome "R" notebook and bookmark. Thank you!! Miss Em lives in Colorado Springs - about 6 hours from here so I'm thinking a get together should be in our future!




Then from the lovely Miss Kelli - a CAOK CD full of wonderful songs. I'm saving it to listen to on my drive to work tomorrow. I think if you click on the picture you should be able to read the play list. Thank you!! I love new music to listen too:):)


Miss S also had a wonderful surprise waiting for her - she and Mary Ann's daughter organized their own little swap and her package came while we were gone. She was so excited to open it that she could hardly stand it. I'll post pictures of all her goodies, but suffice it to say that the jump rope has been the hit of the party so far:)

Lastly, I subsribed to Adorn magazine and wouldn't you know that the first issue I received is one I've already bought - I HATE it when that happens. But lucky for you, the first one who would like it, gets it:) (It's the spring issue pictured below) Just leave a comment with your email address. If there is more than one person interested I'll have a little drawing for it tomorrow night. Have a fabulous rest of your Sunday!

Home Sweet Home

After a very uneventful travel day, the BEST kind, Miss S and I are happily home:)

Here are just a few highlights from San Diego:

Old Town San Diego - very cool!! It was just like being in Mexico.

Three of our monkeys at the Zoo - Miss S with two of her cousins.

A delicious dinner at Joe's Crab Shack. Aren't those bibs awesome!!! And don't you love what the humidity does to my hair!

The kids playing at Pacific Beach.

And I saved the best for last - the girls in the dresses that I made for them.

The skull tatoo on Miss S's arm goes perfectly with her beautiful dress:)

I am so pleased with the final results of these dresses. Rachel will hopefully be able to wear hers next year for her baptism and Miss S will wear hers for Easter this year too. I would highly recommend this pattern - I posted in a previous entry - the directions were very straghtforward and easy. I did not add the net slip though - I think they are poofy enough as they are:):)


I received some wonderful goodies in the mail while I was gone - it was so nice to come home to those and not just bills:) I'll be posting about those in the next day or two.

Here's What I've Been Up To....

eating out and eating WAY too much....strolling on the beach...shopping....watching tv and knitting....entertaining a 6 year old and a 7 year old....taking tons of pictures....I have to say that San Diego is wonderful! This is my 3rd trip here but the first trip that we've actually just had time to relax and explore a little. The weather is perfect - not too hot and not too cold. The s looked so beautiful in their dresses and they fit perfectly. My brother, his wife and two of their kiddos were able to come down today and have lunch with us (they live in Temecula) and we ate dinner last night at one of my top favorite restaurants (Joe's Crab Shack). I'm sad and excited to have to go home tomorrow - we both can't wait to see Hubby and the dogs. But I'm not looking forward to going to work on Monday. I have lots of pictures to share and I hope to start doing that this weekend. Have a wonderful Friday!!!

And We're Off!!

Miss S and I are heading to the airport in less than an hour and I'm so thrilled that I have little butterflies in my stomach!!! The dresses are done, the bags are packed... YEAH!!! We'll be home on Saturday. Have a wonderful week my dear friends!!! LOVE YOU!!!

Sewing Love

I spent the better part of Sunday working on two dresses - one for my sweet Miss S and one for her niece...I'm making the one pictured in yellow here.


I have the tops done and just have to do the skirt. The purple one is for Miss S and the white is my niece. The fabric is a beautiful satin with silver sparkles which don't show up here. I'm really excited at how nice they are turning out so far. My niece has requested a matching wrap and crown for both of them though I don't know if I'll have time for that:) They both have to be done by next Tuesday when Miss S and I leave for San Diego for a few days. I can't wait. I really need a vacation and to spend some time with my family. My mom, Granny, Dad and Stepmom and my sister's family will all be there:) I have plans to hit Ikea and the San Diego zoo. Does anyone know if there are any Japanese book stores in San Diego? I need to do a little research on that.

Sweet Treats

The crud has hit out household big time! Miss S was sick last week and this week hubby and I have been sick. Unfortunately, what little patience I do have goes out the window when I am not feeling good....I'm afraid I have yelled too much at both Miss S and hubby this week as a result. I hope this next week will be better. My beaner, Tammy, and her friend will be here for a short visit on Friday and then next Tuesday Miss S and I fly to San Diego to visit for a few days with my mom, my granny, and my sister and her family. I cannot wait!!

So here's the sweet part of my week - Miss S and I participated in mommycoddle's mini swap and Miss S's package arrived this week from the fabulous George:

Just look at all these lovely treats!! A felt doll kit, paper dolls, stickers, cards, books, crayons, colored pencils, milk chocolate hot fudge sauce (we can't wait to use that!), hair clips, artwork by George, pom pom animal kit, and a bracelet kit for me. Such wonderful and thoughtful goodies! Thank you so much George (and Dawn:)).


And I won Monica's giveaway for her new blog location...a gorgeous little Japanese quilting book. She figured it was destined to come live with me...notice the little Dutch girl on the bottom right corner - my hubby's family is Dutch and we are completely enamored with all things "Dutch". Thank you Monica! I was even miraculously paired with a Dutch partner in Monica's Potholder swap:):)


And a new blog friend sent me this surprise - a little photo album just right for postcards as it shows BOTH sides:) She even filled it with several postcards for me. She also included a little pincushion she made. Thank you Miss Tola!


Lastly - this little bundle arrived just before Valentine's Day - my goodies from Amy's Valetine's ATC swap. I received atcs and goodies from Regina, MaryAnn, Dawn, Deborah and Susan. Thank you ladies for these wonderful treasures!!


So....heres

A Marvelous Mini-Meme

I'm participating in the current What's Cookin apron swap...this round is an apron for your little one. All participants have been tagged with this cute little meme.

1. What is your first food memory? Hamburger Helper and jello - a very common dinner when growing up:)
2. What was your favorite dish/food as a child? I love jello....jello with fruit cocktail....jello with sliced bananas...jello with shredded carrots and raisin. Yes, I'm weird.
3. Name one of your mini's favorite foods: Pizza
4. What was your mini's first solid food? Did they love it or hate it? I would say her real first solid food (that was not baby food) were McDonald's french fries and she LOVED them
5. What was something you were excited to make for your mini for the first time? Sugar cookies - or as Miss S calls them - cookie cutter cookies
6. What is your favorite food memory? Oh this is a hard one....family dinners at Golden Corral. With 8 of us, buffet was the way to go! Everyone got whatever they wanted and however much of it they wanted too.
7. Your mini's birthday party : All out theme with perfect kid food ala Martha? or Quiet family home party with scrumptious cupcakes? Something in-between? Something in-between, with heavy leanings towards ala Martha.
8. Name one thing you absolutely love to make and eat when you are feeling like a kid again: macaroni and cheese - the classic Kraft one in the blue box.
9. Name something you ate as a kid that you now look back on and wonder "what were my childhood taste buds thinking??" : See #2 - the jello with shredded carrots and raisins.
10. Name 3 things your mini loves (doesn't have to be food related): She loves Disney princesses, Hello Kitty and candy:)

Love is in the air....and some snow too!

I hope you all had a wonderful Valentine's Day!! We woke up to this scene on Wednesday morning...another winter storm! I took this at about 6:15 am and it continued to snow until about 1 pm - 4 to 9 inches fell throughout town. School was cancelled so Miss S enjoyed her snow day with some friends. Her fever finally broke Wednesday morning. But today hubby got a call from the school nurse right as he was heading out to work - the fever was back. I think hubby was happy to finally get to call in:)


Anyhoo....this is the apron I made for Miss S for Valentine's Day - I was inspired by this lovely apron. I just made it a little smaller, and added only three ruffles. Miss S was thrilled:) Hubby got an extra large bag of dark chocolate M&Ms and we're going out for a fancy dinner tomorrow night sans child.


And a parting shot of me...taken by Miss S - please excuse the crazy Kramer-ish hair. I am in serious need of a haircut!!! I'm wearing the awesome flower pin Vallen made for me:)


Did you know it's Random Acts of Kindness week??? I've already been blessed with several this week:) I challenge you to RAK at least one person before the 19th.

Sick Days and Swaps

Miss S is sick - nothing too serious, but an inexplicable temperature over 100 the last two days. It has been nice to call in to work yesterday and today:) I've been able to get a few crafty things done, some packages ready to mail, and some much needed cleaning around the house. I made Miss S the CUTEST apron for Valentine's Day last night - I'll take a picture of her in it tomorrow.

I went to check the mail yesterday and my box was filled to the brim with goodies! I received some fabulous lip gloss from this sweet woman that I am testing for her:)
Also - my Sweet Pea Valentine's package arrived from Meg, and a wonderful surprise from K8tykat arrived too.


A beautiful chocolate box filled with all sorts of bits and bobbles - and tiles that spell my name! What a wonderful and thoughtful gift - thank you Kerry!!



And look at all these goodies from Meg! The CD is of all Beatles love songs - so cool!!! Lots of candy, vintage Valentine's, candles, handmade goodies and more! Thank you Meg!!

Have a great day!!

Good Mail

Let me first apologize for these horrible, dark pictures. It has been cloudy today but I was so anxious to post about these that I just couldn't wait until the sun cooperated:)

I received a sweet Valentine's day package from Miss Vallen - it included some lovely zippers, a vintage "R" postcard, a sweet card that was made by Mary Ann and one of Vallen's beautiful sweater flowers. I love it! Thank you so much! I am going to wear the flower to church tomorrow:)


And my Pink and Brown swap package arrived from Angie in Canada. We mailed our packages the exact same day - hers made it to me on Tue or Wed I think, but the one from me to her is still in transit. Clearly Canadian postal service is superior to USPS:) I have long admired Angie - she has a beautiful way with fabric and paper crafts. She absoutely SPOILED me:) So much lovely goodness that I couldn't even fit it in one picture!

Fabric, a whole bag full of buttons, trim, zippers and a few other notions, a ribbon embroidery kit (I LOVE ribbon embroidery and haven't done it in ages so I'm excited for this project), pink and brown ephemera and envelopes, a pink and cream lace doily, tissue holder, vintage linens...

a cute pattern, apron, more vintage linens, two craft magazines, a cheery chick pin cushion (would you believe this is my FIRST pincushion! I'm so excited) and a FABULOUS altered clipboard filled with beautiful tags. I love it all Angie - thank you so much! I hope you are as pleased with your package: )


I joined a new Craft Magazine swap on Flickr that one of the members of my Fat Quarter swap group started. From Mac Villiku I received an issue of Country Living and Memory Makers, and she also made me this beautiful heart card and brown floral pouch. I love the pouch - the fabric just totally screams "Raesha" to me:):) Thank you so much!

And lastly, this beautiful thank you note arrived. Back in December I was inspired by this post
and put together a package for the Any Soldier program - I sent a package to the ladies of C & 15th companies. This thank you card so took me surprise that I started crying as soon as I saw who it was from.


Hubby is closing, Miss S is watching a movie and I have a PILE of stuff to put away/work on/organize....so I better get cracking!

Want One?

I just returned home from my monthly ATC group - we have a fabulous group of ladies that always leave me energized and inspired:) I have 4 atcs left - our theme was "Resolutions". If you would like one, please leave me a comment. I have lots more pictures to post after I clean them up a little - I've had a FABULOUS mail week:):)

My child is a goofball

How on earth did I birth a child that is so goofy? I am NEVER goofy, so I'm not quite sure where she got that gene from:) I came into my bedroom after washing the dinner dishes and found her all snuggled up in the laundry basket - yes, the laundry basket. At least she does have her pajamas on:):)

OOHH - And check out this beautiful baby:):) Introducing Miss River Elise - born this morning at 2:00 am. My brother, Ian, is on R&R from Iraq for two weeks. Tracy picked him up at the airport at 10:00 pm last night and just four hours later River arrived! I am so glad that Ian made it in time.

Thanks for the Love

Thank you all so much for your awesome comments on my last post. I agree, that as long as I keep their memories alive, both Michael and John will be here with me forever.

My sadness finally started to lift at the end of this week and I had a very productive weekend. I finished up some goodies for our partner in the Mini Swap, some atcs and some Valentine's cards. I'll post pics of the package we sent Mr. G. after it has arrived. It was hard putting a package together for a little boy! But, it was really fun:) Oh I finished our taxes...I had to check them three times, cause our refund is unusually large, to make sure I didn't mess anything up
:) So I'm happy to report we are looking forward to a nice big check from the feds in a few weeks. I am also happy to report that are getting a whopping $54 refund from the State of New Mexico too!! We usually owe money to the state so ANY size refund from the state makes me happy:)

Here's the Valentine's Day card I made - easy peasy - I think I made about 10 so I better start getting them mailed out! I'm sending five out for the Red Velvet Art swap I participated in.

A little dark, and a little blurry - but it's two layers of purple patterned pattern, some stamped hearts from a conversation heart stamp set, a purple ribbon....and they're done! I haven't made card in a while so it was fun playing:)

I hope your weekend was productive!