A Sick and Sewing Day

The girls of the manor stayed home in our pj's until 4pm. We are all fighting some sort of cold bug. I was at the sewing machine most of the day making the Fairy Queen Bag. I did it. I'm so excited and proud. Tee hee. I feel like the sewing machine and I are finally becoming friends. We still have our moments.....they are just not as often. I made the bag by quilting it first and then piecing it together. The bottom gave me pause, but we worked it out. Went to JOann's to get some thread and they are having a wonderful sale. Yeah for me and thank you to Yas and Stac for my gift cards. (kid in a candy shop happy) I think I have to go back tomorrow. On to the next project....

Today is my Birthday

I am 29+10 today. Thank you to all the friends and family who wished me Happy Birthday. I was spoiled with cards, books, gift cards to Joann's, my ceramic place and salon. I had lunch with the barn gang and then came home to hang out with the kiddos. It was a nice day and I am thankful for each and every one of you!!!!

Happy Mail Day

I got this yummy from Jen for the Spring fat quarter swap I did. She got her stuff too. I absolutely love it and was doing the happy dance around the kitchen. I was even a really good girl and put the groceries away first. Thank you so much Jen!!!

Back in the saddle again

With a big Wahoo!!!! It has been months since we've been to the barn with the move and the holidays it was too busy but now Queen 1 is taking lessons again. We all enjoyed going out there and loving on the animals. It was like they remembered us and each of them had to come up and get some lovin'. It made me want to get in the saddle again also. We'll see..........

Badbird and Badbird inspired

Badbird design done is red, blue and black

Little one I made up to go with the top one

Another little one I made up. I wanted two to go with the Badbird design on top. I'm going to make a wall hanging with them. A gift..... A surprize.

Coming along

The Fairy Queen market bag is coming along.

Happy Birthday 9 yr old

A skateboard, a wii, game, an antique magnifing glass, pizza, cake, cards with money, songs from family far away on the phone, cookies with classmates at school...........All in all a Happy 9th Birthday

Primitive Stitching Swap

It has been received and I have been rated so now I can post without giving it away. This was the piece I did for the primitive stitching swap. Not my normal thing, but had to try something new.

Now working on the Fairy Queen bag. Got the front sewn and cut out the back pieces last night. Went and got some red striped denim for the lining to make it stronger. Not following a pattern and making it up as I got along- after all I'm the girl that can't sew a straight line. It should be interesting.

Today is my baby's birthday!!!!!! 9 yrs old

Playdate Sunday

Queen 2 and friend having cookies and milk after a long bout of Wii

Looks like a plant cell huh?

The goal was to make a cake and decorate it to look like a plant cell. This was homework.

Homework never tasted so good.

I did it!

I finally got out the sewing machine and we did do battle for a little while but other than me not being able to sew in a straight line( pretty important in sewing) I think it went OK. I have a lot of fabric and the addiction to buying more does not seem to be slowing down. Joannes is too close to my house and how can I not stop by the remenants section that is 50% off the 50% off? I got a yard of fabric yesterday for a dollar! I'm such a red tag girl.

Soulmate is home again from his trip. We had a date yesterday while the kiddos were in school. We went out to lunch at the fancy place. I had the best grilled cheese and tomato soup. The grilled cheese was white cheddar with apple butter on a pecan and raisin bread and the soup was a spicy tomato- YUM Not at all fattening I'm sure. We got stuff for Queen 2's birthday which is Monday. So nice to have one on one without work or children and I still think he is one hot dude.

We are going to have a " All things Cupcake" party for Queen 2 at the manor. I will be planning my little brains out for the next few days. Grandparents Wayne gave her a cupcake card that confirmed the cupcake a good idea. We picked up this paper mache houses that we are going to paint and turn into cupcakes complete with cherry on top. The kids will decorate their own cupcakes and I have one or two other crafts in mind. I don't have my NY sisters like I used to so I have to be careful with activites.

We were given a Wii Fit so the queens are pretty much plugged in. Totally cool for giving me some sewing time. Soulmate has been playing the keyboards so I have some nice music to stitch to. Pretty awesome.

Guess what else? This is my 100th post. Between the blog, surfing Flickr and swap land I'm amazed the kids have clean clothes to wear. It is a whole new world out there and so very easy to loose a couple of hours to. So Yeah Happy 100!

Coraline Movie with the monkeys

They are soooo 3D

Fairy Queen

Queen 2 picked out the fabric. I drew the girlie and then stitched her in the colors of the fabric Queen 2 picked out. I don't know if I'm thinking of a bag or a mini quilt. What do you think??

Swaps are being sent

Getting it all out and feeling good about it being done and holy cow I've got to stop buying fabric. My sewing machine isn't even out yet and my baskets are bursting at the seams. I have so many projects that I could stay busy until the end of the year. Make the madness stop!!!!!

Our Valentines Treat

We had some of our favorite people risk a many hour drive with four kids in the car to come and spend some time with us. The queens were overjoyed and everyone clicked right into place as though no time at all had passed. The pics are of a walk we took. It would have been nice if not for the wind. The little one started to chatter and shake so we gave it up and went home for hot cocoa and cookies. Like sister's hair on the top? She looks great! I so miss our hairstylist. Well that and many other things. Thank you- oh family of the heart- for making the trip.

Owl Bookmark received

Sorry about the pics. This is the owl bookmark I received yesterday from the swap I did. Pics show front and back. Much thanks Dee Dee.

Swaps I'm in

The top one is the picture for the Flickr Fat quarters swap. That is a monthly swap. You sign up each month and it is itnernational. A great way to receive stuff you couldn't or wouldn't normally get. After I send and my partner has received her stuff I'll post what I sent. I hope she likes it.

The bottom one is a SwapDex swap. It is a first for me and I think a one time deal. I haven't received my partner for this one yet. It just closed a few days ago. WIth this one you email your partner and get their likes/dislikes and then send them something you would want to receive.

The last swap I'm in is the Primitive Stitching swap listed on swap-bot. I have no idea what the patterns of primitve stitching are, but this is how we learn right? Waiting on that partner too.

That is all my swappy fun. Craft wise~ I'm working on a bookmark for Queen 2's birthday and have been stashing fabric and sketching for when the sewing machine comes out. Don don donnnnn. Send a pray up that the sewing machine and I get along. It has been a while since we've played together.

Happy Valentine's Day

We are receiving goodies from family in the west. Cards have arrived for the queens. To all those we love Happy Valentines Day.

I am currently in three swaps. Remember me saying that I wasn't going to swap in Feb because of all the birthdays? That didn't last long did it. I am in two fat quarter swaps and one primitive stitching swap. THere are swaps out there for the queens too and I think after I get queen 2 birthday finished I'll sign them both up. They very much like to be involved with what is going on in ther crafting world.

Today we are getting ready for our Valentines Day surprize. I'm going to have my bi- weekly lunch with Lady B and catch up. No pottery because I haven't been painting. I'll cycle to that again soon.

I got to talk to my Nana last night. She just turned 92 and sounds so good. I just love that woman.

Once again Happy Valentines Day!!!!

The recent crafting

On the top is my pick up from the pottery place. I haven't been painting so I didn't have anything to drop off. They came out good.

I have been embroidering and loving it. I drew the designs on the fabric and then stitched away.

There are also designs you can trace from the web. Flickr is a great resource for that. So much fun and the cost is next to nothing.

Valentine Bookmarks

Valentine Bookmarks fit for a queen- two to be exact. They are handing these out to classmates on the 13th. We have a special surprize coming for Valentines and I can't wait!!!! It's better than chocolate and that is saying a lot.

Kitty Kitty

What I've been working on the last few nights. It's a Dena Wayne original- tee hee. I drew it out and then picked colors and went at it. This embroidery thing is really fun. My brain can't keep up with all the things I want to do and the internet is great for finding patterns that are free. I think this kitty will become part of a mini quilt. The thoughts are still racing around in my mind.

The Moon

I know, you think I'm crazy to take all these pictures. I woke up this morning and the moon was calling to me out the kitchen window. It was so bright and full in the top shot. Then it started to set and the branches of the trees were coming through and in the last shot it pinked up when the sun started to rise. Really Beautiful.

A Beautiful Day

Weather was in the 60's yesterday and Soulmate and the queens had to go hit golf balls. Spring fever was calling to them. The only shots I took are the ones you are seeing.

The Ladies Lunch

From Left to Right- Darice,Sharon,Jennifer,Sue,Ruth, and Vivian

I had a lovely time with my first Ladies lunch at the manor. I walked four miles this morning to keep myself calm. (Iget so excited and nervous)I made Tortellini soup, Darice brought a salad, Jennifer brought rolls, Sue brought drinks, Sharon brought a cake for all the Jan/Feb birthdays, Ruth made a yummy bread and cookies and Vivian made a spring roll starter. It was so nice to catch up with everyone. It had been about three months since I'd last seen them. We are planning another lunch in March.

Tortellini Soup

1 pound Italian sausage browned and drained of fat

remove meat and add

1 cup chopped onion

2 cloves of garlic minced

cook until tender

2 boxes of beef broth

1 cup sliced carrots

1 cup sliced celery

2 cups stewed tomatoes

1 T dried basil

1Tdried oregano

put all the above in one pot and bring to boil than reduce and reduced to simmer -cook uncovered for 30 minutes

Add 1 package of frozen cheese tortellini 16.oz simmer 45 minutes covered

Serve with grated parmesan cheese and crunchy bread