Headed for a Rainy Evening....

This is our sweet dog Abby.....this is her normal position.....you can find her like this almost any time of the day....except when she needs to make a short trip outside....or to request a refill on her food....LOL


These are some beautiful flowers my hubby brought in from the backyard....we have some beautiful plants...but they are the "everyman for themselves" variety as they don't get a lot of TLC from us!!! Poor things.....LOL

And now to what has been occupying me today.... I normally go into panic mode about a month before my craft shows and I have to work round the clock to get everything ready to go. I am really trying to be better about it this year, especially since we don't have the shop to worry about. So today, I have been chatting with my partner, getting dates set for the upcoming shows we want to do (in the Fall)....getting applications together to send in. I have decided (with a few exceptions) to just jump into doing all Fall/Halloween right now. If I concentrate on that for a couple of months, that should really put me ahead with stock for the shows....(ok, that is the brilliant plan in my mind....we will see how that pans out...LOL)

So I am pulling patterns, making lists of things that need to be ordered.....deciding what I really want to make and what I am willing to bypass this year. I am still trying to decide if I want to do our annual Fall Harvest Potpourri....and primitive soap.... I do know I will be making lots of fun tags (those were a big seller last year)....pumpkin dolls......primitive apples and pears..... and several new items.

I just have a tough time making things so far ahead as I am so burned out on the holiday by the time it arrives. But hopefully, starting so far ahead, it will be easier not to have to do so much at once. Plus, I am looking into some small shops that I can sell finished items to and also getting my Etsy shop/blog shop up and running.

Now....About the Scrapbook/Journal....I simply forgot about it!!! It totally left my mind....so it is on the calendar in BIG letters to get back to on Monday. Sorry for the delay.... I just really have been off track.

Just another thing.....my friend Jen and I have tossed around the idea of a radio show for some time....the people we put together didn't fit.....then the timing wasn't right....just didn't quite work for awhile. But now it is back on the "do we want to do this list".....I want it to be about life....friendship, faith, current events, home, crafting.....a variety of items that we can share, and also introduce you to some of the wonderful women that we have found through websites, blogs, books and real life....so what do you think??? Would you be interested in listening?? One difference for us over some of the others (that we enjoy listening too...)--We want to cover a broader spectrum of subjects....and from the prospective of mom's with older kids. There is so much out there for moms of smaller children and babies (I wish this had been available when I had a young child!!!)...but I think those of us that are at this stage of life need a voice to...and we have wisdom to offer those with younger children too.

That is what has been filling my day....
Hugs to you all!!!!
Debbie

Sunday's Heartfelt Challenge.....

This is a post that has been rumbling around in my head...but I wasn't sure how to frame it for my blog. The last thing I want to post is a "poor, pitiful me" entry...but I know that there are far more women (and men) that are going through something similar and it is for them that I am writing this.
So to start.....what is a Heartfelt Challenge? It is a reminder in our busy lives to reach out to those around us. It is not that we don't mean to do something special for someone else...we just get really busy...or we think of things that will take more time, more money--so the idea gets shelved for another time. By issuing a challenge...I am giving you an idea for something simple you can do...not a guilt trip, but just a nudge and a reminder that it can be something as simple as just picking up the phone.

I am in a situation that many find themselves in. My hubby is very ill. We have days that are great...and then we have days that are like the last three...where no one has had any sleep...we are all cranky, worn out and just want to hide for a bit. I am very fortunate...I have a best friend that I can call to whine to at 3 in the morning if I need too, my son is home right now--living here while attending school so he can help me out a bit (this is such a huge gift to me that I don't even know how to thank him for---and it comes with the guilt that he should be out living and creating his own life), my mom is nearby and checks in and is always sending over a new plate of some new recipe she has tried!!

But there are others dealing with these same struggles...be it a spouse, child, parent, or other....it can be so isolating!! People can judge you for being a bit (or maybe a lot) cranky at times--they don't realize the nights you have gone without sleep...or worried about finances....or just feeling alone. Living with this is much like a death.....when friends and family first hear of a health crisis, they rally to lend support, pray and just a listening ear. But even though you continue to live with this...their lives move on and you are dropped from the social calendar because you have had to turn them down so many times. They just take for granted that you "can't" and just don't bother to offer any more.

I can't tell you what it means for someone just to take the time to pick up the phone and call....and allow you to really share your heart...and not just pretend everything is wonderful. We get tired of hearing, "I don't know how you do it"....because we know that there are days when we are at the ends of our rope and we don't handle it well and just want to go to bed ourselves, pull the covers over our heads and hide for awhile. A card in the mail is a gift.....just that reminder that someone does remember you!! These are great ways to let someone know you are there...as a visit to the home can sometimes be stressful, depending on what is going on there.

So our Heartfelt Challenge....pick up the phone or mail a card. It costs so little to do these things in time and money.....but what it will do for someone that needs this lift.....priceless. Find someone in your church, your neighborhood, your workplace...and reach out to them!! It will do wonders for your heart as well.

Hugs to all of you!!!
Debbie

One Project Down......

This week has been full of procrastination...... But today I actually finished the skirt for the sink in my studio bathroom. This is just one of those simple projects that I should have been able to churn out a couple of weeks ago. I just kept going out to the studio, getting sidetracked and ending up not getting much done. So today, I called my mom and asked if she wanted to come over and work in the studio....now my mom--no nonsense--if there is a project, there is no playing around, it is to be finished in record time, before anyone else and perfectly done. Needless to say, it is finished!!! LOL (but to my mom's utter sadness, I took several shortcuts on this project as "perfection" is pretty much not in my vocabulary!!!)

Love my new bathroom....the flooring is pretty much done.....and everything is "workable and I have no excuse not to get busy!!!

Hugs,
Debbie

Getting Week Started......

Yes, we are a family addicted to coffee now..... I love the different flavors of coffee, flavored creamers and such..... Todays fave: Green Mountain Half Caf with White Chocolate Coconut creamer...just YUM!

My week is a bit off as I was called in to sub on Monday....and the weather here has been so dreadful with all the storms...it has left me just wanting to curl up on the couch and nap!

So look for the Scrapbook/Journal post on Thursday...that will give me some time to get some things together and ready to post. Looking forward to sharing!!!

For this post.....since I was at the library yesterday, I have a stash of new books AND already know that I will have to purchase some of them for my own library.....Here is what is on my nightstand reading list....

Hummingbird bakery cookbook.....OMG, you could gain 20 pounds just reading this. The recipes sound wonderful and I can't wait to try some..

Get Out Of That Pit by Beth Moore...what can I say, love me some Beth Moore and her great teaching style.

Seams to Me...Anna Marie Horner (I am really enjoying this!!)

The Slumber of Christianity by Ted Dekker

(Getting Soon!!!) Boneman's Daughter by Ted Dekker....read some of the previews of this book and on his blog about how he came up with the story...can't wait to get this one!!!

Country Living's Farm Chicks in the Kitchen.....great looking recipes, stories, decorating ideas and more...this one I need for my own stash!!

There are other fiction on the list...The Knitting Club, some Iris Johansen mysteries and such.....there just hasn't been alot of reading time lately and I really plan to spend some time reading. Also, picked up some on CD's so I can listen while crafting....

SOOOOOO.... tell me what is on your reading list???? I always get great ideas from my friends for new books, authors and such!!!

The UPS just delivered my Sephora Order....ohhh baby, I have to tell you I am a new Philosophy skincare convert and I just love this stuff!!! LOL I am off to play in the new products....
Have a great evening!!!
Hugs,
Debbie
Something Special!!!!
If you are a fabric addict like I am.....run over to the Farm Chick Blog and you will find a great giveaway for Pixie Dust Fabric!!! Love this line and can't wait to get some of it to play with...I am thinking fun pillows, pillow cases, etc....beautiful colors for Spring!! Now shoo, get over there!!!! LOL

To Make You Smile....

Sound of Music Train Station @ Yahoo! Video

Have a wonderful weekend.....

I am going to be off line for a few days....but I wanted to wish all of your a blessed Easter weekend and leave you with a little "Bebo".....(smile).

Hugs to you all!!
Debbie

Garden of My Dreams....

Ok...I have been wanting to garden--but frankly, with my knee issues, it wasn't going to happen. And I really am not that big on the outdoor stuff, so I knew that I wouldn't be able to care for something big.
Well this weekend, I found this at Sam's Club and I am in love with it!!! It even has the front gate, a hose attachment, lattice in the back for climbing plants.....I WANT this baby!!! LOL
But as a friend of mine told me last night "you can buy a bunch of fresh veggies for the price of that set up!!!" Which is true....but I am looking at the long haul and not for just one year...
So what do you think???
Hugs,
Debbie

I just love this....

Where is Spring and a Studio Update....

I these tulips! I found them over the weekend at Sam's Club and they look so good in my entryway. It is such a beautiful sign of Spring....sadly, my entryway looks like Spring...outside, not so much!

Well, I have been chatting a bit about moving the studio to the garage...it should (at least in my mind) been such a short project....but it is going to be a work in progress for awhile as I am still working on painting, the flooring...and trying to decide on lighting.
Here is the only "before" picture I am not embarrassed to post!! LOL The garage has just been one of those "dumping" areas in the house where anything that didn't have a "home" was stored.

This will be my new computer area. Right now we still haven't figured out why the wireless won't work out here on this computer when it will work on other things....

Part of my fabric storage (yep, there are many other plastic totes with fabric treasures)...

Storage and cutting table area....

Larger picture of sewing table/work area...

Another shot of cutting table area...

Still much work to do....but at least it is set up and ready to work in. So if you want to drop by, I still have boxes of fabric to fold and put away, patterns to organize and small treasures to sort....
Have a wonderful Monday...next week, we will be back to our scrapbook/journal...I hope you are ready and able to share some of your thoughts and ideas!!
Hugs,
Debbie

Retro Eggs.....

I absolutely adore these fun retro eggs....there are so many fun things that you could do with them....and great way to use up scraps of fabrics.

So if you want something fun to play with--GO to Retro Mama
You will find great instructions and pictures for making these cuties!!!
Go on....get over there....have fun!!!
HUGS,
Debbie

Yep, we have survived the flu....

You know, this picture looks pretty much how the whole family has felt the last few days...

So this is the reason I have been missing in action here....and I have missed posting and catching up on all the great adventures of my friends here.

I will be back to posting tomorrow and am looking forward to sharing my new "creative" space with you....it is not finished, but it is finally useable!!!

Alright you all....take those vitamins, drink plenty of liquids and I will be back shortly!!
Hugs,

Debbie