Sunday, December 9, 2012

Exactly What You Need

You never know when exactly the "right" thing is going to happen in your life.

This could be something big, like an unexpected raise, an invitation to something you've been dying to do...or it can be something small.

After a day filled with unpleasant unexpected surprises, I got a very special request.

A couple from the midwest contacted me thru my Etsy store.  They are adopting two little girls from Russia and wondered if I could make them another blanket so they could bring both girls home wrapped in them.


Who could say no to that?

Their sweet sweet story is exactly what I needed.

I had no idea.


Friday, December 7, 2012

It's the Holiday Season


I found some new pals for my vintage christmas ornament collection a few months back.



 So many pink ones!



I cannot wait to get out the rest of my ornaments and start decorating.

What do you mean it's already December 8th?!?!?!

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

All Hallows Eve


The last moments of light tonight




Thrifty score of the night
2.99 Minnetonkas


A good Halloween

Saturday, August 4, 2012

Turning 1 is a big deal

I can't believe I haven't shared the custom 1st birthday bibs I made for a couple clients this year!

They were super cute...and the special recipients were pretty adorable wearing them.



I love them.  I hope to make more...'cuz turning 1 is a big deal. 

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

The Lucky Ones

My cousins and I?  We are the lucky ones.

We got to spend summers at my grandparents farm, learning lots of useful skills, without actually knowing it.  I perfected my top stitching there.  I learned where the phrase "like a chicken with it's head cut off" comes from first hand.  I learned how to herd sheep (sort of).

We had popcorn and apples for dinner when cooking just wasn't on the menu.  There was always some kind of baked good stashed in the freezer, or if it was winter, on the stairs leading up to the north and blue rooms.  If you're lucky, I'll make you one of my favorite treats -- Bugles with peanut butter dipped in chocolate.  Salty sweet goodness.

We learned valuable math skills while playing gin rummy, spelling (with the assistance of a huge ancient dictionary sometimes) by playing Scrabble and all around sportsmanship because Grandma didn't let us win.

Later, while in college a funny shaped box would show up in my SPO now and again.  Always recognizable on site, Grandma liked to reuse boxes from granola bars, cut down cereal boxes, etc.  Friends would wonder why I was getting a box of granola bars in the mail, but I knew there was homemade goodness to be found inside.  And I was happy to share...if I had to.

The lessons we didn't know we were learning were about being strong, and independent.  Always willing to lend a hand to someone in need...but unwilling to take any guff from anyone.  The bank teller always greeting my grandfather with a smile, he with a twinkle in his eye, taught kindness...even though our eye was on getting the lollipop for the drive home.

Honesty.  Intrgrity.  Compassion.  Kindness.  

Some would say these lessons are rooted in small town, rural middle America.  I say they are rooted in family, and I wouldn't trade them for anything in the world.

May I strive to be the kind of woman that has a stream of guests coming to see her because she's been away from them from too long.  With a twinkle in my eye, and kindness in my heart I hope to always be a living example of all these lessons, even in what seems to be the darkest of hours.

See?  I told you.

We are the lucky ones.

(This is a rendering of a drop for THE ORPHANS HOME CYCLE) which hangs in my office and reminds me of my Grandparent's farm.)





Sunday, July 15, 2012

Mosaic

This is what happens when you find black dishcloth cotton on clearance, and the sale of the day is 50% off all red tag clearance items.  You KNOW how I can't pass up a good deal.  So much inspiration in .97 worth of yarn.


Four pink mosaic ballband dishcloths!  I love how the pink and white variegated yarn can produce such different results depending on where you start.  Plus, the cloth in the top left used up three tiny balls of left overs.  Some were so small to call them a ball is pushing it.  Gotta love NO WASTE!

I can't stop...three more small balls of leftovers is going into this one...
Coming soon to an etsy store near you!


Sunday, July 8, 2012

Shoppes on Grand

I've been rearranging things lately. Furniture, cabinets, what have you.



I came across these gems and immediately was transported to visiting my grandparents. Most vividly, I remember getting lunch with my grandma on a girls only outing. It involved a cup of soup, and probably 1/2 a sandwich. But this was normally in the summer...did we really have a cup of soup in the summer? I guess we did.

And now, it's time for me to continue the tradition...even if it is in my own kitchen, after running errands and cleaning house.


Here's to you, Grandma!