Just wipe that slate clean...

It's Summer Time, and this is how we roll. *All pictures taken by Allison with her camera phone.*



Long story short...I like to blog and I don't like that I haven't been able to blog regularly in so very long.

I've also had 3 MAJOR life changing things happen since the last time I blogged:

1) I got really sick again, which made me really realize that Celiac Disease is called a disease for a reason. Because it is real. And I really cannot eat gluten. The doctors were right, so score one for them and a big fat "Zero, you big dummy!" for me. LOL! We have a local health food store that seems to have a nice supply of gluten free things, and I have been pleasently surprised with the local grocery store. There is definitely the potential there for it to be great, and for me not have to oder all of my needs over the internet. Anytime I find a good Gluten Free product, I will be sure to post about that, because most gluten fee things I have had have been horrid! I just received the "Gluten Free Mama" cookbook, and cannot wait to try it! She had a cooking background to begin with, then her third child had problems with wheat, so she used that knowledge to come up with her own gluten free recipes and put it into a book. She also sells rice flowers and other things on her website: www.glutenfreemama.com I still need a few cooking supplies...like a real mixer, pots and pans, and things like that but, when I get up and running, I will most definitely post about the good gluten free items I come across, and hopefully make it a little easier for the next person who has to go through this.


2) We moved! Steven was given a very nice promotion but we had to leave Texas to take it, so we are now in a small town in Oklahoma and I am in love with it! I adjusted well to small town life and have already become spoiled. The kids are doing well, also. Our house was built in 1916 by a Judge who was originally appointed to this region by President McKinley! Up until recently, it had remained in the same family. However, there came a time when something drastic needed to be done so it was sold to a couple who refirbished it and brought it back to life without changing much but the kitchen, which is absolutely gorgeous...so gorgeous it actually makes me want to cook! *I know, can you believe it?* So more pictures on that later but here are a couple...

This is a little secret spot in our yard. It is a little meadow type spot hidden by a tree line and my "cottage"...which is a room added onto our garage that will soon be my studio. The yard is huge and one of the biggest selling points of the house!

*Picture by Allison and her camera phone.

Another spot in the yard...we have real, live, grass, y'all!

*Picture by Allison and her camera phone.

Because I have basically been sick since we have been in this house since mid-June, and if I wasn't sick I was back in San Antonio or Austin, we have only unpacked what was absolutely necessary, and we don't have any furniture except our beds and the dining room table. So, I'll be blogging about all of the fun decorating adventures! LOL


3) OK, now...sit down, hang onto your hat, whatever you need to do to get ready...I found my birth mother and have met her whole family! (Almost.) Her immediate family (husband, son, daughter-in-law and 3 grandchildren!) along with her sisters and brother, and one of her sister's children, in-laws and grandchildren. What a trip!!! I now have 2 nieces and a nephew! They actually call me "Aunt Lauri"! This whole experience has been a dream that you would never even dare to dream that actually came true. Truly amazing, and many more details to come!

It just occurred to me as I was typing that maybe I should get an "ok" from them before I add their names, so for right now I will only use titles as necessary...

From where we lived in San Antonio, we probably lived within a 10 mile radius of my aunt, uncles and cousins, some so close we've probably seen each other in HEB, Target and/or Wal-Mart, not including other places we would normally go on a daily or weekly basis. One of my aunts was a teacher at our "rival" middle school!

My birth mother, her husband, son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren are all in Austin. Imagine...my most favorite place to be in the world! I would drive to Austin to "Hey, Cucake!", to get a cupcake out of an old Airstream on S. Congress before I would make them at home. LOL! I'd take any excuse to go to Austin, and if you've read this blog, oh, EVER...you've probably figured that out already.

One little tiny detail...she's a quilter! It's genetic! So all of that fabric hoarding you do? That stash that is so big you will never even make a dent in it yet you cannot stop buying more??? NOT YOUR FAULT! It's genetic. You were born that way. You couldn't stop even if you tried. So don't. Why waste the energy? Embrace it! I threw myself into that fire to test that excuse...I mean, "theory"...for all of you...so use it, and if anyone says, "Prove it!"...just point to me! LOL!

So there will definitely be more updates about that to come!

For now...here is our lastest crafty project...Claire made a unicorn! She drew a body out with a Sharpie on white felt, then cut it out. Cut out some pick felt for a nose and some glittery, purple felt for the 'corn' or whatever it is called. Except for glueing on google eyes, she hand sewed everything. I only helped remove a couple of knots from the embroidery floss that she used to sew things together and with the tail. So other than that, it's all Claire!


We just got back from our latest trip back to Austin and San Antonio last night...we left for SA last Saturday...spent a few days hanging out at the pool and getting to know some of the new family. Wednesday we picked up Allison's friend, Laura, and headed to Austin. Spent the night there then drove back to OK yesterday afternoon. I think we will be doing lots of local exploring while she is here, starting with tonight...we will be seeing a local production of "Cinderella"! I love that I have an excuse to put on a dress!

More WIPs, A Find and The Last of the Christmas Projects

Oops. I just realized that the title may technically be wrong...because this particular WIP was supposed to be a Christmas gift, but...now I'm just hoping to have it done in time for his birthday later this month. (If I would just get off the computer and quit looking at everyone elses' beautiful things, I could make more of my own!) Anyway...this is a little art quilt I'm working on. It's actually one in a series of 3. I've got 3 great pictures: one of him as a teeny boy, one as an older boy, then one all grown up. I've also made up a little story to go along with them. I really hope he likes it! I don't know if this type of art appeals to him or not but, I think he'll enjoy the humor, if nothing else. There will be words in the big, black spaces and of course I'll do more stitching and beading. I've made about the same amount of progress on the other two, but they weren't around while I was taking pictures.


This is my Find! I found it in the little dollar section of Target, which they call something else now because not everything is a dollar...this was $2.50. Still a bargain! They call it a "magazine rack", but I don't think they know what they are talking about, as it is clearly a little sewing basket for toting little WIPs around the house in! It's pretty small-the blue basket part is about 10 X 8, so I don't even know what magazine would even fit in there...comics, maybe? lol! You can also see one of my other WIPs in there now. I'm practicing my embroidery before I do some on yet another work in progress. I haven't embroidered in years so, although it doesn't have to be perfect, I want to make sure it at least looks decent. I don't know what I'm going to do with this when I'm done though...but, I did choose the colors to match my new office when we are done with the renovations, so I'll probably turn it into a little pillow or mini quilt somehow. (Of course, those are technically my initials...the 'P' doesn't always show up, though! LOL! After 14 years I still can't get used to that married name!) Anyway, I just love this little basket!



THIS is the last of the Christmas Projects, I promise! One more picture of a couple of Christmas Pillows out of the Target kitchen towels that you haven't seen before...the red one, which is a heavy cotton with appliques (similar to the sage green ones) and one made out of a cotton waffle knit towel. This was such a great and easy way to decorate! Just fold it in half, stitch it up leaving a little opening for stuffing, sew that up, and it's done!


The last towel project...a tote bag. I could have put a little more time and energy to it, but, I was trying to make it to match an outfit right before we were meeting some friends for dinner.... It's still cute and, because it's not so 'Christmasy'/more 'Wintery, I am still using it. I can at least use it through January, and maybe even in February if it's not 75 degrees outside by then.


I also made Christmas aprons for Allison, Claire and my mom, and I could have SWORN I took pictures of them, but I guess not. Allison wanted everyone to have matching aprons for the baking and cooking. So, although only she and Nana matched, I was able to whip up 3 for them, and I used my vintage Christmas one.


So...now I am going to leave the computer today, and work on some of those WIPs! Really. I promise. I think.

A Christmas Pillow and a Purse

The problem with Target is that they just have too much cute stuff for Christmas! I go in there and see all of these placemats and tablecloths and napkins and towels, etc...and all these ideas are going through my head about what I could do with them all. So, I decided to start with one thing...a cloth dinner napkin. I wasn't sure if I was going to make a tote bag out of it or a pillow for the couch, because the colors perfectly match that room. I ended up going with the pillow, because I have plenty of tote bags and not very many Christmas decorations...and it came out so cute! Just look at it...



It really does match perfectly in our den. I went back and got a couple more of those, and even some hand towels. So we'll see what becomes of those in the next few days.

Now, this next thing, a black and white quilted purse from the infamous Japanese pattern...I thought I blogged about it a while back, but now I can't find it...of course it could have something to do with the fact that it's after midnight. lol! So whether or not you've seen it before, here it is again...I really do love the way it came out and I hate to sell it, but I did put it in my shop, so we'll see.... As I do most of my purses and tote bags, I made it reversable. Here is the main, quilted side...



Here is a shot of the inside if you are using it that way. It is lined with the same fabric that the strap is made of, and it has 3 separate pockets, topped off with some black rick-rack.



If you decide to reverse it, it looks like this! I love black and ________. (Insert any other color here.) I also love rick-rack! (Hmmm...should have put that on my list...lol!) So I really love this one! And it does look good either way.



Well, I thought I would stay up for a little while and finish off a few things that just need that last bit of handstitching, but I only got about 3 hours of sleep last night, and I've been working on Ethan's toga this evening. Yes...tomorrow is 'Greek Day'. He has to wear a toga and a wreath of leaves on his head and bring a jar of olives. Of course, I can't go and see their little production, because they don't allow younger siblings. And I'm really too tired to get on my soapbox about this, but I think that is ridiculous! And I feel soooo bad for Ethan, because he really is getting the short end of the stick these few elementary school years! I'm just hoping that next year, when Claire is in Kindergarten, they just do not schedule their parties and things at the same time! So, instead I will go get my haircut, because we have Steven's Valero Christmas Party to go to tomorrow night. Which reminds me...I was supposed to color my hair today. Oops. Oh well, I'll look good by Saturday night when I have MY Christmas party, with all my SAHM friends!

Yikes! Parties 2 nights IN A ROW??? What is this, college all over again??? lol!

A Soft Tree

Stephanie at Little Birds posted a pattern for these little soft Christmas Trees, so I decided to give it a try. (You really should go check hers out because they are all so beautiful!) Of course Claire wanted one, so the first one I made was decorated with ladybugs. Well, ladybug buttons! lol!

I cheated a little, though...Stephanie's have a bottom sewn onto them but, when I had finished sewing up the side and turned it right side out, it stood on it's own. So for a couple of reasons: 1) not enough time; and 2) it's going to look a lot better without my handstitching showing; I decided to just leave it alone. I did put a little stuffing in it to hold it's shape a little better, but it does need more...ok, and probably a bottom, too. I'll try that next time. Maybe.

Here it is on the table in the entry way...




It looks so tiny compared to that tall, red, mosaic tree thing! It matches and does look Christmasy, though! I have 2 more in the works right now, so we'll see how those turn out.

In other news: I finally opened an Etsy shop! It took me, literally, all morning just to get it set up and post 3 tote bags in it. Then I couldn't get the Etsy link on my sidebar working right! grrrrrr! So I just left it. Then came back at 11:00 last night and finally got it worked out after 3 or 4 more tries. Computering is not my forte...yeah, like we didn't know that already! lol!

In the works for today (I'm thinking if I put this here y'all will hold me accountable for it, right?) I really, really, really have to finish a stocking for a friends' son. They moved earlier this year, and now they are missing a box of Christmas decorations and one of her sons' Christmas Stocking. So, gotta get that done. And...another friends' daughter has decided she wants to be a chef when she grows up, so her mom asked me to make her an apron for Christmas...ya know, I kinda feel like one of Santa's elves! lol! Gotta finish my friend Deb's shirt, too. She wants me to alter a denim shirt by putting all kinds of things on it. But this is literally the hardest thing I have ever done! I have done my own...my shorts are in my flickr album...and to me it's very personal and it's just hard to do that kind of thing for someone else. And of course, I finally had it all figured out, and last night I thought of a whole new thing for the back! But...I do think she will like this idea better. I hope! Oh yeah...and Claire wants to go to Krispy Kreme. I told her if she let me finish a couple of things I need to mail off, we will have to go to the post office, and it's right around the corner from KK...so she says she will let me work...we shall see!

A couple of things...

I am always forgetting to take pictures and post things before they are sold or given away...and when I do actually take a picture, I forget to put it up here. Please forgive the delays, and I hope you like them anyway...

Below is my ONE Halloween craft this year...a little tote bag I made for Claire out of some Halloween material I bought last year, but never got to use. (I think this all goes back to having children...ha!) I put the little pocket across the front, topped by the orange rick-rack, and it was just aching for something to go in it. So, inspired by the little ghosts on the fabric, I made a ghost stuffie. She loved that thing, and took that tote everywhere. The strap was big enough that she could wear it from one shoulder and across her body, so she never lost it. Why didn't I think of that before? And there goes Halloween...



This is a pincushion I made for my friend, Monica here in San Antonio. She is the one who made me the little fabric ATC with the little blue bird I posted about in my Nov. 12 post, below..."What a Wonderful Weekend", I think...anyway, we lives so close to me it's almost scary! Not in a bad way, but I guess more like 'surprising' that, with all the crafters and artist blogs out there, that I would find someone so close...less than 5 miles away. Anyway, she is a wonderful person, and her children are so great...and sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeett! We met at the park the other day with the kids, and here comes Carolina who doesn't know me from Adam, and gives me this hug that lasts forever! Too sweet!

Anyway...I made Monica a pincushion out of some blue calico and a fabric that has a yellow background with Bluebonnets all over it; because Bluebonnets are the State Flower of Texas, ya know, and Monica is not originally from Texas. I also made the little button in the center out of the Bluebonnet fabric. I backed it with some really old, thin, vintage chenille, so I lined the chenille with some muslin, hoping it won't wear out too soon! This is the front...


...and this is the back. Oh! And I also put some lavender in with the polyfill so it would smell nice. I love the smell of lavender, but I know lots of people who don't, so I was a little worried; but, I think she likes it.


No Thanksgiving projects this year. I've been working on catching up with some swaps and some business. Now that I quit the Craft Mafia, I can actually do my job! lol! I also broke my Lifetime Standing Rule of "Never put up the Christmas Tree before Brian's (my brother) birthday!" His birthday is the 17th of December, and my mom never put up the tree before then. And now, even as an adult, I can't do it either! lol! But, Steven has been home all week on vacation and we had lots of time to put it up and actually enjoy putting it up, rather than waiting until a few days before Christmas and wishing it would just magically appear and, when it doesn't, having to throw it up in haste just because you have to and time is running out. Of course, there are no presents to put under it because no Christmas shopping has been done, but...I'm sure we will get around to that eventually. And getting out the decorations and having the house looks Christmasy means I can listen to all the old, jazzy, 'Christmas Classics' sung by Eartha Kitt (!!!); Frank Sinatra; Nat King Cole; Bing Crosby; Peggy Lee(!)-"I like a sleighride!"-makes me just stand there and bob up and down, rofl!; Lena Horn; oh gosh, who else? Anway, I love that type of Christmas music, and secretly listen to it every once in a while all year. Especially Eartha Kitt's "Santa Baby"! Definitely my all time favorite!

Ummm...there was a point to all of that...decorations and Christmas music...OH! Having all of that around at least puts me in the mood for Christmas shopping, because you know it's 75 degrees (and probably even higher) here.

And for anyone who reads this...your mission this Thanksgiving weekend, is to go and find a copy/DVD of the movie 'Home for the Holidays' )with Holly Hunter, Robert Downey, Jr. and Anne Bancroft) and watch it and enjoy it and laugh so hard your ribs are hurting and tears are streaming down your face! Everyone can relate to the sibling rivalry and the 'crazy old aunt' and just the holiday family get togethers in general. You'll be glad you did!

Happy Thanksgiving to whoever celebrates it! And if you don't, have a wonderful day tomorrow!