Needle Crafts

Way back, a very long time ago, when I was in college, a friend of mine showed me how to cross stitch. I loved it. It was simple. I could take it with me. And it was a quick project that produced results in a timely fashion. This was my very first project. I was way into decorating with cows - that tells you how long ago that was!

This was the next cross stitch project I tackled. Unfortunately, the one thing she didn't tell me was that they made special needles for cross stitching that are blunt on the tip instead of pointed and sharp. There was enough blood from needle pricks dripped on this one that you can still see the drops today. Then when my first son was born, a friend that I worked with made this cute little project for me. I love this designer. I have quite a few of her patterns - Mac A Doodles. This one hangs in son #1's room.So, of course, when son #2 was born, he had to have one as well. I changed the colors up a bit so it wouldn't be exactly like big brother's - although you can't see it much from these pictures. His also hangs in his room.
And this was a pattern I bought a while ago. I really liked the flower box and border but didn't like the words they had with it. I thought and thought and thought about what I wanted to say with this and finally came up with something that I try to live by . . . Stop and smell the flowers. I try very hard to enjoy the journey of life. This now hangs in my bathroom so I can see it every day and be reminded to enjoy the little things in life!

What's a Holiday Without a Dishtowel?

Well, it's official . . . I'm addicted. If you remember the super cute witch dishtowels I found at Flamingo Toes not too long ago . . . well she had the same idea I did to make some for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Here is my version of each. I haven't decided if I'm giving any of these out for gifts but my stove is now adorned with the turkey feet . . . and the Santa boots are anxiously awaiting their turn at the end of the month. So darn cute . . .

Yet another bag - - for a new toy!

I've been lucky enough to receive some surprise packages in the mail lately. In addition, I was selected to be part of a technology grant at my work and got another surprise put in my hands as part of that project. I am definitely a technology girl! I love new technology and don't know how I survived without an electronic planner, computer, smart phone (yes I carry around 2 smart phones . . . . crazy, I know), and email. But I'm not a person that runs right out and drops a chunk of change on the newest toys. I am usually content to wait a little for just the right deal on a tried and true great technology find.

So how excited was I last week when I went to a training at work and got a new iPad dropped in to my lap along with an iTunes gift card to start putting apps on it. It only took about 15 minutes before I had used up the gift card and was using my own money. I have many more apps to buy, I just need more time in my days.
Then the mailman rang my doorbell on Saturday with a box from Amazon. I wasn't quite sure what it was when I opened it . . . but I quickly discovered this new LITTLE (and "little" is definitely the operative word here!) treasure - a new pocket projector. This thing is amazing! It projects up to a 70 inch image and weighs literally only ounces. Its lamp life is over 20,000 hours. See the quarter I put on it so you get a feel for how small it really is! It was a thank you gift for something I had been working on for a long time.
And again, on Monday, when I arrived home from work, there was yet another box from Amazon on my front porch . . . A new generation Kindle from my incredibly nice (and only) sister as an early birthday present. I haven't had much time to play with it yet, but I'm excited to make the switch to e-books! Well of course the Kindle had to have it's own cool apple green leather cover. And the iPad came with a cover. But my little projector and all its cords needed just a little something to call home . . . so I fell back to my favorite gathered clutch pattern from Noodlehead and just increased the size slightly to hold everything. Who doesn't love brown these days? It's the new black!

Sadly I'm pretty sure the mailman is done ringing my doorbell for awhile. Ok - that means time to learn how to effectively use all this cool stuff!

Gratitude Tree Advent Calendar

I love finding good ideas from people that don't mind sharing those ideas. Alison over at Oopsey Daisy created this wonderful Gratitude Tree Advent Calendar for November and she even included a download of the leaves for the magnets. Of course, since it was so cute, I had to jump right on it and make one just for my little family. Here is my version:

I hadn't used bottle caps before, nor a magnet board for that matter. A fun (but always overwhelming . . . I am a digital scrapbooker) trip to a local scrapbooking store got me all stocked up. I couldn't find the little resin bubble drops anywhere and used Alison's hint about ordering them on Etsy from Sun and Moon Crafts. They arrived in the mail this afternoon and the rest is history.

We're catching up on 4 days worth of things that we are thankful for and my boys are very excited to put the rest of the leaves on the tree throughout the month.

And for the record, I am grateful for my family, my friends, and the freedoms I enjoy. Now bring on the turkey!

I LOVE Pearls

I love pearls - I always have. Pearls were the first piece of jewelry I ever bought myself while on a trip to Hawaii when I was in high school and I haven't stopped. I have my grandmother's pearls which I wore at my wedding. I have single pearls, pearl strands, long pearls, and short pearls. I have a variety of colors of pearl earrings, rings, bracelets, and necklaces. It's actually a bit obsessive (ok - what isn't obsessive about me?). My husband has surprised me with a variety of pearl jewelry the last few Christmas'.

So when I was in China this summer, I "had to" take advantage of the pearls readily available there. I added these beauties to my collection. I've always wanted a set of brown pearls (the picture makes them look black but they really are a beautiful shade of brown) alternated with white so I had a necklace and bracelet custom strung. I also had this set of large set dyed shells (which look enough like real pearls for my taste) strung into a necklace and bracelet. I have loved them! At the same pearl market, I also had some brown pearls strung for a friend of mine along with a strand of white/gray pearls for another friend. I cried a little inside when I gave the gray ones away. Then a few weeks ago at a local gem/bead faire that I frequent from time to time, I saw these strands of dyed shells similar to the ones I got in China and I just had to buy them. While I'm not nearly as talented as the ladies in China at hand-knotting the pearls, I can string them and put a clasp on. So now I have a strand of large gray/white/black and a strand of white/green with a matching bracelet. Yet another LOVE THEM moment in my life. I've promised myself that the next time I go to China, I'll spend the money on some Tahitian pearls of some sort - definitely a must have down the road.

My Halloween Night Secret

I have a little secret . . . . I'm not necessarily proud of it, but it's true all the same. There's no point in denying it any longer. Every Halloween night (or tonight in this year's case - since we're celebrating on Saturday), after we close down the front door to trick-or-treaters, I turn off all the lights, and sit down on the floor in front of my iTunes library . . . . and I play C H R I S T M A S music. Yes, it's true!!! I love Christmas music and it's all I can do to keep myself from playing it all year round. So my "line in the sand" is Halloween night. That is my FIRM rule - no Christmas music . . . until tonight.

And then, stand back - it's Christmas music 24/7 until around the day after Christmas.

There - I feel much better. It's never good to keep secrets!

More Halloween Crafts I Love

I had hoped to get more crafty things done this week, but instead my week has been filled with work, work, and fun adventures with the boys. My philosophy is that we should get as much wear out of Halloween costumes as we can since you really only wear them this time of year (although I have been known to let my boys dress up in their costumes anytime they feel the urge and wander through the neighborhood). So we've been dropping in to any old thing happening around our local area this week that calls for costume wearing and candy collecting. The boys have been loving it.

So since I have nothing new to blog about, I present for my viewing pleasure, some of my latest fun blog finds for Halloween:

#1 - I have yet to sew a Halloween costume for either of my boys. I've made costumes in the past for friend's kids but just haven't worked up the energy to do it lately. However, this idea just might change my mind for next year. Homemade by Jill created this adorable Skeleton Costume and I just might willing to give this one a try - - - if I can talk son #2 into being a skeleton next year. He is incredibly independent and has an opinion about everything. So we'll see, but at least the idea is in my head now.

#2 - Over at She Wears Flowers, this super cute Witch Candy Bag gives me all kinds of ideas for future crafting projects. Another LOVE it!
#3 - making the transition to Thanksgiving now, I too have always believed that the Thanksgiving holiday gets shorted in its spot between Halloween and Christmas. We have loved our new Halloween Advent this year and have always loved Christmas Advents. Keeping it Simple - guest post from Project Naptime made this Thanksgiving Advent.#4 - But my most favorite for today . . . Oopsey Daisy made this Gratitude Advent Calendar. Love, Love, Love it! I like the idea of helping kids learn to be thankful. I'm printing the leaves out right now and will be making my own very soon (hopefully this weekend). Thanks for sharing!.