finding my groove again...

Hello! I'm still here....really, I am.


I guess that break was just a little too enjoyable, because I'm finding it hard to get back into the groove. I've been reading the same thing from some other bloggers, too, so at least I'm not alone in my post-holiday laziness!


Our Christmas was so wonderful. I hope all of you reading this had a wonderful one, as well. I found myself enjoying it more after it was over though. Not in a bad way. What I mean is that I just felt so pressed for time and so busy in the days before, that after it was over and the dust had settled, that's when I had time to relax and enjoy the tree, and the bits of Christmas beauty all around me. So much in fact, that we just took down the all the decorations and the tree yesterday...January 7th! We've never left the tree up that long. In fact, I'm usually tired of it and want it down on the 26th. Hmm...so different for me this year.






I love this picture of Morgan. The joy and excitement on her face! She had just started to open a gift from her Grandma and Papaw that she had been really, really, really wanting. I'm so glad Lee was able to capture that moment!


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As some of you know, I'm a massage therapist, but haven't really been too active in many moons. This past Friday and Saturday I worked at a resort spa. It's mostly an on-call situation at the moment, so they don't even know when they'll need me again. Boy was I sore yesterday!! As you can imagine, bodywork is physically demanding...and let's just say that I'm not in the greatest shape lately!! That needs to change!

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Stay tuned...I have some things to show soon...

Hello 2007...

Christmas break...

Well, it's time to take a little blogging break now. I'll still be checking my e-mail, etc.

There's still lots of wrapping to do around here, among other things. Have a look at Trip....I'm hoping that I won't be this exhausted when I'm done!

I'll have more things to share when I return.

I wish everyone a safe and wonderful Christmas!!! I'll be back after New Year's Day...see you in 2007!

coasting along...

Did you see the great coaster tutorial over at allsorts? These are fun, easy and just begging for a hot cup of tea. I found these beautiful Alex Anderson fabrics at my local quilt shop, and knew that the patriotic colors would be just perfect for some people on our gift list.

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Speaking of tea...I've got some new teas to enjoy during my gift-wrapping sessions. The last one, Bigelow, says on the back that the other seasonal flavors are Apple Cider, Ginger Snappish, and Eggnogg'n. I'd love to try the eggnog flavor, but can't find it at the stores. :(

ok...I got a little carried away

Remember earlier this month when I showed the holiday magazines I'd gotten? Remember that the Cutting Edge had adorable wee ornament/package decorations by the very talented Hillary Lang? Well I started out with two....aren't they cute?!
Then I got caught up in the cuteness and decided to make a few more...well...14 more actually!! (Watch for upcoming info about a cool new-to-me stuffing that I used for these.) Created assembly-line fashion from beginning to end. But I severly underestimated the length of time they would take. Why do I *always* do that????


Regardless, I'm really pleased with them...and they will be gracing many a gift.

warmed up the knitting needles...

Ok, first of all...I don't consider myself a knitter. Haven't knitted in over a year, at least. But someone on my Christmas list wanted their own fashion scarf like one I had made a few years ago...but in a different color. So I got out those long-ignored needles and got to work. This was made on size 13 (9mm) needles; Lion Brand Fun Fur in color "Tropical". Because you can't see the stitches well with eyelash yarn anyway, I did the whole scarf in garter stitch.

remember the recent WIP photo?....

Well, that pile of green fabric became a Chelsea Tote from Lazy Girl Designs. It has seven interior pockets in the circumference. And at one pocket edge, I added a small loop which I slipped a little lanyard clip onto. (A little blurry, but I think you can distinguish what I'm referring to.) This is so a spare key can be clipped in...never be locked out of the car again! This is a feature I've been adding to all my most recent bags/purses. Just seems like a nice "extra" to me.

just like falling off a log...

...a pretzel log. Well, *lots* of pretzel logs. Oodles and Oodles. One end dipped in dark chocolate, the other dipped in white chocolate and sprinkled with multi-colored nonpareils. Mmmmm....love that salty-sweet combo.

Easy peasy....just very, very time consuming (at least for as many as I did). Then to package them up, I got the clear Wilton treat bags from the craft department at WallyWorld. I used a Hero Arts stamp on cardstock, then filled in with colored pencils. Folded down the top of bag, then stapled on the cardstock (shaped like tent cards).

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The tree got done last night...sort of. It's sitting there naked, well, except for lights. Ornaments go on tonight...hopefully.

Tick Tock...Tick Tock...

Do you hear it? I hear it constantly...tick tock tick tock....Christmas is almost here. I got one package out Monday, and still have one to finish and get shippped. Absolutely nothing is wrapped. Our tree is not yet up, although I did get the living room rearranged a few days ago for it. (If I didn't have a kid...I'd probably skip it this year. That's just how I'm feeling.) I'll be at the sewing machine again today.

I keep getting seed catalogs in the mail. C'mon people! How am I supposed to keep my head in the game, so to speak, when I'm seeing spring in my mailbox.

I feel guilty for making grandiose Christmas plans, then not accomplishing the whole list. Then I feel even guiltier because in my heart I know that's not what this time is about anyway. The true meaning of Christmas gets so lost these days. I hate the commercialism of it. The pressure of it.

I took a break Monday evening and watched Mary Poppins on the Hallmark channel. It's been years since I've seen that and I've been humming Spoonful of Sugar ever since.



Well, Morgan recently got her own little tree for her room. She's been wanting one for many years, and she's loving it. And of course it needed to have pink all over it!

I'll do my best to post again real soon and show some of the things I've made. I really didn't mean to let so much time pass since my last post. Be back soon...

gettin' into gear...

Oh wow...December 1st already. I'm behind this year. I prefer to be better prepared for Christmas by this time, but it just didn't happen this year. So I gotta step it up a bit.

I love magazines, but especially during the holidays. Sooooo many great inspirations. The Quilts and More has a really cute handbag that I've GOT to make. Hillary of Wee Wonderfuls has adorable ornaments/package decorations in Cutting Edge...my jingle bells are ready and waiting.

And the Martha Stewart Holiday Handmade Gifts...oh my...where to begin??!! So many great things in there. I love the first paragraph of the Editor's Letter:

"It's the thought that counts. In the hectic run-up to the holidays, I find myself coming back again and again to this powerful bit of conventional wisdom for some much-needed perspective. The thoughtfulness behind an act of giving really shines through when the gift has a personal touch. Even the humblest offerings - a recycled tin packed with home-baked cookies or a bar of handmade soap tied with a soft washcloth and a snippet of satin ribbon - are real treasures because they're from the heart, and the hands, of the giver."

I'm trying to be realistic and honest with myself as to what I can really get done in time. So, there will be some editing of my holiday to-do list, I'm sure.

Well, back to the sewing machine!

the season's official start...

Monday night was Clarksburg's Christmas Parade. Once again, we were involved because of the model railroad club. Thankfully, the weather was good...not too cold, and dry. (Although I was really glad I had worn my wool socks.) Morgan helped carry one of the trains, and I helped to carry the banner. The clubhouse was kept open for all the foot traffic to pop in and check out the displays. Lee stayed there mostly, because that morning, he'd gone to the doctor (strep-type throat and brochitis).

These photos were taken while still waiting in the line-up.

Anyway, it was fun. The parade-goers (the little ones especially) loved seeing their favorite Thomas the Tank Engine characters. This year was the best so far, because we were much further up in the line than previous years. So after we got done, we actually got to see the rest of the parade.

being thankful...

Tomorrow, November 23, is our Thanksgiving holiday here in the US. Being such, I'd like to take a few minutes to list just a few of the many things that I am so thankful for:

* a wonderful husband, who's alive and well today

* a great daughter, who's so intelligent, creative and beautiful (inside and out)

* eyes to see with, and hands to create with

* a home filled with love and laughter

* great family and friends

* our family's favorite hangout - SkateWorld

* my electric blanket

* our cats - Elsie, Earl Grey, Izzy and Trip

* our dogs - Ben and Skye (although maybe not Skye so much...because she's going through a rotten phase lately!!)

* tea, tea, and more tea

{{{Thank you, Lord, for all your many blessings.}}}


Happy Thanksgiving to you!

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hug a veteran

Tomorrow is Veteran's Day. I believe that everyone who serves in the military deserves our respect and gratitude.

Lee's father is a Cold War veteran, and my father served in Viet Nam. I'll be hugging a veteran tomorrow, and I hope you will be too.

Someone passed this video along to me today, and so I'd like to share with you here.

drum roll, please.............

ta-da!!!! Here is the Jedi costume that I was all wrapped up with (for what felt like forever...sorry, Honey). I made everything here except the pants. Inner tunic, outer tunic, cloak, belt, even boot covers. The boot covers were made the night before Halloweeen...bought the pattern, came home and got right to work on them. They are just a "make do" for now because he couldn't find appropriate boots. The belt was actually finished about 15 minutes before leaving for trick-or-treating because I ran out of matching thread and had to get more that afternoon (thanks Shirley...glad you were there!!!).

Oh, btw...he grew the beard specifically for this costume. And after this photo shoot, he went into the house and proceeded to go back his old clean-shaven self! Yay!!

Btw - I loaded these photos on the small side, for those of you on dial-up. Just click on a photo if you'd like to see more detail in a larger pic.

doing the happy dance!

Phewww.....Halloween is done and so is the big project I was doing. As some of you guessed, it was a costume. A jedi costume, for Lee, to be exact. (The big kids are more trouble than the little kids!!) I promise I will get pictures up soon. We are planning a photo shoot after he gets home today. Halloween weather just wasn't cooperating for pics....it got really gloomy and starting pouring rain before he could get the costume on. Yes....trick-or-treating was done in the rain this year. :(

Here is Morgan as a southern belle, taken before the school parade and party. (And no, I didn't make this...I certainly wouldn't have had time!!!!)

getting ready for Halloween...

Here's the extent of our Halloween decorating. Yes, that's right...just two jack-o-lanterns. These were crafted over the weekend.

I'll let you in on a (not-so-secret) secret....ready?...I don't like Halloween. Now please don't throw rotten eggs and tomatoes at me! I just don't care about it. Never really have. Oh, of course I dressed up as a kid and went trick-or-treating. (There's a rule somewhere that says you have to, right??) But honestly, I don't remember going for too many years. It just doesn't appeal to me. I could really get on a soapbox here...but I'll spare you.

Having an 8-yr old daughter, I have to "play along" somewhat, although she knows this is a holiday I could do without. But of course she thinks it's fun to dress up, have a school party, and trick-or-treat. Oh...what a mother won't do!!