Crafter's Fortification.......

Finally.....THIS ARRIVED.....

A confirmation and set up time for the show that we were really wanting to do. It is in Stone Mountain, GA....at the Smoke Rise Elementary on December 6th...if you are in that area, PLEASE stop by and see us. Apparently they will have 190 crafters.....I can't wait to shop it myself.
But, along with confirmation comes STRESS about making sure we have enough stuff ready to sell at this show..... So I have shifted in to major crafting mode and am stocked on a "true" crafters vitamin/fortification.....

Yep, Diet Pepsi and chocolate....see the diet helps balance out the chocolate....(ok, maybe not, but for the time being let me live in this delusion!!!! LOL).

Well....I am off to stitch, sew, stuff, paint, hot glue and wire.......

Have a great evening!!!!

Don't forget the drawing for the gift basket is tomorrow.....

HUGS,

Debbie

Christmas Beginnings....

Love my snowmen!! When cleaning house to get ready for Thanksgiving guests, I couldn't resist pulling out the snowmen to get started with seasonal decorating.....

Hope you all are having a wonderful weekend.....
Hugs,
Debbie

Black Friday....What Is Christmas Really About????

Early this morning I stopped by to read my friend, Tiff's blog....she was sharing this great clip...and I stole it. Normally, I would just point you to her blog (which is great by the way)...but this is important stuff, and I wanted to share it here too......

Please watch.......take another look at your Christmas list and all the things on it that will just be forgotten, broken, or old news by New Years Day....and think of doing something that can change lives..... Isn't that what Christ's life was about....and why we celebrate His birth???

Happy Thanksgiving.....

Have a wonderful, blessed Thanksgiving with family and friends.....
Now back to looking for that turkey.....
Hugs,
Debbie

Coming Together.....

Finally, all of those "pieces and parts" that you saw in yesterday's post are beginning to come together for some fun finished items.

Today I was able to complete 5 of those sweet garlands....with stars and mittens and a ton of glitter!!! I have never done much with glitter....but now I am hooked!!! LOL

As I was finishing these garlands, I started thinking about some quick, easy gifts that I could share with you here. So many of us are going back to the basics and purchasing handmade or making our own.
SOOOO...here is my first contribution for some fun easy gifts or just for yourself. These are really, really simple rag hangers. When I first started doing these, I really did them mainly for myself, but someone in our shop noticed me working on them and asked to purchase them....and then I began selling lots of them.. who knew!!!!
All you need are the plastic hangers you can find at the Dollar Store or WalMart...just check and make sure that they are fairly small under where the "neck" is....some of them have hooks on them that can easily be snapped off...but just check the sample, that is the type you are looking for. Then all you need is "CHEAP" homespun....unless you are doing them for something special, or are using scraps...the inexpensive homespun that you can get for $2 a yard at WalMart works great.

My favorite way to start it to just tear the fabric into strips... The strip size I use is probably about 5/8" to 3/4". That is one of those easy things you can do in front of the TV with your family. I tear the strips and then put them by color into zip lock bags....great storage, and easy for me to grab some when I have a chance to work on this.

All you so it start at the top of the hook....use your glue gun....glue down the end to start it and then just begin wrapping around the hanger......I wrap a few times and then use a little glue to hold it in place...then wrap some more. when you run out of your fabric strip...just finish by glueing the end down...and then glue the start of your next strip over that and continue wrapping.

Quick and easy...... I may try to come back later and put in a few pictures to demo better..I just didn't have any started this evening.

Have a great evening......

I know Thanksgiving is Thursday and you probably have lots to do to get ready for the meal....but slow down, take a deep breath, and realize what is important about the day.....the food is great....but the family, friendship and memories are far more important than having everything perfectly "Martha'd" into place.

Hugs,
Debbie

The big 100!!!

I haven't had a chance to post like I have wanted to this week....and I have been thinking about the big 100 post. It is a "biggie" that I have stuck with this....that I have made some great friends that comment and share through emails, phone calls or their own blogs. There is just something special about this women's bloggy world that has opened....that shares it's heart, laughter, information, creativity, great recipes, home ideas, family help and so much more.

Sadly, I am in the midst of "crafting nightmares" LOL....that pit I fall into each year as I try to make enough items for shows and such. I always have this great plan to work on Christmas items throughout the year....yeah, great in theory, not so much in application!!! Because of that...this is the current state of my workroom table...

With more 1/2 finished items waiting their turn for the final touches....

This is what is keeping me busy and crazed right now. But after the first of the month...things will actually calm down as THANKFULLY we are doing a simple Christmas here at home and I am thrilled.

Wishing you all a wonderful week.....a peaceful day......and if you feel the urge to "stitch" something, come on over--the tea pot is on!!!

Hugs to you all!!!

Debbie

Coming soon....I want to start the "Heartfelt Challenge" again!!!

Gratitude.....

You will notice the button on the side bar about 30 days of gratitude. Signing up to do that didn't seem like much of a stretch....I have done Simple Abundance readings for awhile, and from that I started either listing in my journal, online, or to myself before I went to sleep 5 things each day that I am grateful for.

Such a simple thing to do.....but with such huge results. All of us have "stuff" in our lives...problems with work, family, illness, friends...you get the idea. It is so easy to get caught up in the drama of the everyday stuff...and replay it, replay it, replay it. In doing that, we greatly effect the way we look at our lives...and "the doom and gloom" can appear to be our normal everyday state. And it is contagious......highly, deadly contagious. If you have ever worked somewhere with a negative, gripey person, you know what I mean.....suddenly your bright and happy morning can hit the skids after just a few minutes with them.

Just as the negative stuff can have a profound effect......so can the positive. Regardless of what is going on in your life....there is always something positive. I remember Oprah saying on one of her shows that sometimes she checked for cute squirrels in the tree in the morning, because that may be what she had to be grateful for that day. (Smile).

Being grateful.....counting your gratitudes....well, that might not change those around you (well, it might...but not necessarily on an immediate basis), but it will change you. Maybe not the first day....the second or the third....but gradually it will begin to seep in that regardless what is going on around you....you are special, you are loved, you are a joy, you have your own unique gifts. And once you truly get that to your bones....and live it.....it is amazing how your life can begin to effect those around you.

So what are you grateful for today????

Want to share your list....just add it to the comments for this post... It is never to late to begin this habit....and what a great thing to share with your kids....maybe at the dinner table or at bedtime!

I am grateful to all of you that have entered our "give away". Whenever I work on something like this, I sometimes feel like the little kid that wonders if anyone will show up for their party!!! Well you have showed up, brought your friends, left such sweet comments....know that they mean alot!!!

Know that someone here in bloggy land thinks your "wonderful"......

Hugs to you all!!!

Debbie

Stocking Filler Give-Away!!!

Alright....I have been thinking and thinking of what fun thing to do because I am quickly approaching my 100 post!!! Now this is a huge deal because with all of my good intentions...I have been one of "those" women that open a journal on January 1 and write my plans and dreams for the year....then around January 5th --I am no where to be found!!!! LOL So staying with this blog thing...and being more consistant about posting...well frankly, it is HUGE!!! smile

Like some of you...I have been entering and checking out some of the great blog give-aways that have been going on lately. So I know the things that I like and what I don't. I want this to be something simple for you to enter....have ways for you to do extra entries if you want to....and a way to expand visitors to my site and to my shop site, Pieces From A Creative Heart.

What can you win??? My best friend has been cruising all of these online give-aways...and she was sharing how many things she enter for were not for herself, but would make great gifts or stocking stuffers. From that I got the idea to do a Stocking Stuffer Give-Away....this way you could keep everything, or divide it up for small gifts or stocking items.

Here is the prize!!

The package contains:
From Legacy Publishing: An Americana recipe box with dividers and recipe cards and a wonderful prayer journal (this is one of my favorites because it has questions for you each day)
From Swan Creek Candles: A Soybean Wax candle (12 ounces) in Crisp Cotton
From Southern Lights: A package of Vanilla Nut Fudge soy melts (this is my favorite company for melts...I keep some of these in my studio to burn every day as they just make me smile!!)
From Me: Two packages of "tag its"..these are simple tags to use on gifts, to make notes on to put in packages or lunch bags or to use as bookmarks (and many other ways).
A black and cream toile lavendar rice bag...just the thing to use on the cold nights to heat the foot of your bed or place on your neck/back.
And last..a fun book by Dolley Carlson, Gifts From The Heart. This book has lots of great ideas for things you can do for others and recipes!!!

This has been such a fun package to put together....so here is how you win.

1. You get one entry for leaving a comment on this post.

2. You get 5 entries for posting the stocking block above on your blog, linking to this blog and blogging about it.

3. You get 5 entries each for becoming a follower of this blog and for the Pieces From A Creative Heart Blog.

4. You get 3 entries for commenting on the Pieces From A Creative Heart Blog on the item that you like.

Please put in your comment on this post which of these items above that you are doing. (if you are already are a follower you get the entries!!!)
(sorry, but this contest will be limited to those living within the US and Canada.....)

Thank you for visiting this blog.....thank you if you are a regular reader......and thank you for playing along with this giveaway!!!!

So get out there and enter, tell 1000 of your closest friends!!!! The random drawing will take place on December 1st at 10 am!!!

Have a great day!!
Hugs,
Debbie

Be Still Sunday

Life List....

I recently ran across this list and loved it....and I wanted to share it with you. It is from...

Laundry List for Life

Written By Regina Brett of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio.

To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me.It is the most-requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolls over to 90 in August, so here goes:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11 Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take nof or an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie.Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years,will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends andfamily will. Stay in touch.
33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come.

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

Alright Ladies...which numbers are your favorites or the one you really need to work on....

HUGS,

Debbie

Bloggy Giveaways....

These beautiful quilts are being given away at: http://oldredbarnco.blogspot.com
Now I want you to go there, read her fun blog.....and I might even encourage you to enter, but I am not going to allow you to win, and this one is MINE!!! LOL

And from me.....I am approaching my 100 post.... So I definately want to do a give-away. I am looking into what to use and will post tomorrow, so check back. AND I am working on pulling the new items I have for Christmas and should have them up on the Pieces From A Creative Heart Blog by this weekend...I have had so much fun using some new patterns and ideas....some haven't made it to the sewing machine yet, but as soon as they are I will post them.

Have a wonderful day.....
Hugs,
Debbie

The Dreaded List

Ok, let's file this information in the "things you have to stop" file. Frankly, this is one of those things that if just one person did it, it would be sufficiently annoying enough to warrent a blog post...but sadly, it seems to be acceptable for some reason to continue to do this...and I just need to put out my thoughts in hope to STOP the insanity of this.

It is what I personally call, "The Dreaded Laundry List".....I know I have my own quirky way of looking at things...so in my mind when someone starts this, what I see is a woman reaching deep in her mammoth tote bag to pull out a hefty size paper towel roll that she unfurls in front of you and then proceeds to read from said long...and I mean long, lengthy, of biblical proportions list.

And what is this list, you might ask??? It is their list of importance. It is their reason why they are so darn busy. It is their excuse for why they can't take something on. For me, I will take a simple yes or no any day as to have to endure "The Dreaded List". I am a big fan of the Bible's stand on...let your yea be yea and your no be no. That seems to be a simpler way to handle things....but hey, what do I know.

And here is the sad fact of it all. For every list of importance and busyness out there....I have some things on my own list that will trump it every time....but it is not just me, my neighbor, the lady in the grocery line, your kids school teacher, the receptionist at the doctor's office...yep, all of them have trump cards on their list too. See, what some fail to see is that we all have our lists and each one is different.....but each one is just as important as the other. So for someone to unfurl their list at a drop of the hat tells the rest of us, that our lists simply don't matter. That may not be what they are trying to say.......but that is how it comes across.

Sadly, I think some of this comes with the "I have arrived" syndrome. If you watch any of women's televison...you have heard Oprah and others talk about how when you reach a certain age....your 40's, 50's whatever...that certain things will no longer bother you...that you will not be so worried about things that you thought were so important. While this is true.....sometimes we forget that others have their own journeys that may not mirror ours in where we are...and we don't grant them the patience and grace that is needed.

So ladies, dig out those "dreaded lists" and burn them. Realize that not everyone is at the same place....but let's lift each other up and cheer each other on. Let's get back to being the encouragers that we can be......

Hugs to you all!!!
Debbie

Be Still....

Getting Ready For The Show.....

Well we loaded up the SUV and we are headed to Chattanooga for this weekend's show. We are doing the Gingerbread Show on Brainard....at the church across from Publix. We did a show here in the Spring and had a great time....so I am really looking forward to this weekend's show.

Below are a few pictures of the booth as we started to set it up.... Several items have already sold to some of the other vendors, so I will be burning the midnight oil to get some replacements done and ready for tomorrow!!!



Have a great weekend!!!

Hugs to you all....

Debbie

P. S. I just finished this guy....love him!!!!!

Final Election Thoughts.....

Here's the deal....this election has me torn. On one hand, with this election we gave hope, validation and joy to a whole segment of our population...some of them thought they would never live to see this day. That I can appreciate and be proud that our country has come to a place where Mr. Obama would be elected.

On the other hand, I feel he is a "rock star" looking for an audience of adoring fans......he set up the big "show" in Europe, at the convention and in Chicago. He is charming, charismatic, and slick..... One newsman talked about him last night and shared that the reason he had such positives in the media, is that when he was with you....he became who you needed him to be. Frankly, that scares me more than a bit.

BUT, with all that said.....he is our president. And I as a christian am called to pray for him and want the best for him and for our country. I DON'T want to see him fail......as there is no satisfaction in saying "I told you so" when it comes at the cost of our military lives, families losing home, etc.

One of the reasons that I haven't listened to anything from the Dixie Chicks in years, is the fact that they had the right to be angry and voice their opinion about our president.....but they took it out of the family when they went to Europe to do it. I frankly know that we all will disagree with things.....but our country is in a crisis......and our job is to work for better days ahead....regardless of what party is in power....it is by and for the people......

God Bless America.....and God Bless our new president.....grant him wisdom and grace in the days ahead.

Nuff said, let's move forward....
Debbie

Workin, Waitin, Watchin...

While waiting on the election results to come in...poor Abby has given up and is hiding in the drapes, but I have been working hard on things for this weekend's show...here are just a couple of finished items....

Much more to do, but at least I feel productive this evening!!!
Hugs to you all...and sweet dreams!!!
Debbie

Yep, I Voted....

Don't take this right lightly.....go use your voice and vote......
Hugs,
Debbie

Sorry, I couldn't resist

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The Land of Wii

Who knew??? We were given a Wii for free....don't even ask, my hubby is the king of wheeling and dealing...LOL

And I know it is a game, but this is one of the best things we have done as a family.....with John's health, there are not a lot of things he can't do anymore...and he loved being active before this. We got the game and because of the way it is set up, John can play along with the family...we have had so much fun with it this weekend. Even my son's college friends have been dropping in to play.....as one left he remarked, "I need to go find my dignity..." LOL Apparently they were having a problem with Zach's mom beating them.....who knew????? SMILE

Here are a couple of pix of my hubby and my mom....we were shocked that my mom even wanted to play...and heck, she is really good at it!!!


This weekend we trekked to Knoxville for great craft shopping.....the weather was beautiful and so was the scenery on the drive up there.

We also had to move the antique mall booth around a bit to get ready to bring in more Christmas items after next weekends show.

And last...I just finished a new stitchery.....love the designs at Chestnut Junction..she is great!!! I think this will go well at the show.

A busy, fun and productive weekend!!! Hope you all enjoyed your weekend too!!!
Hugs,
Debbie
PS...Take a look at the "Giving Thanks" challenge button on the top right hand side!! This is such a great idea....it is easy not to see the good stuff going on in our lives when things and people disappoint us. So taking 30 days this month to focus on all that is good just reminds us that God is good, He is in charge...... So check out the site....and focus on your grats for this month!!! I am planning to list mine under the button, as a reminder of all the good stuff I have in my life.

Cover Me....

Frankly, I am just frustrated with some stuff this morning..... But I know, this too shall pass....sometimes not as quickly as I would like...LOL But this is a great song for the morning I am having...
Hugs to you all,
Deb

Don't think that the details of your day are too insignificant to bring before God. If He cares enough about the hairs on your head to number them, then he surely cares about the things that fill your day.
-Stormie Omartian