Spring Cleaning

Last night I was inspired. Visions of where to put homeless dishes and cookery danced in my head. This morning more inspiration struck in the form of furniture moves that will help provide more practical storage space. ('Cause lets face it- what's the use of storage space if you can't get to it?)

So why am I on the computer? For one thing I just had lunch, for another I just put the baby down for a nap so I want to make sure he's a sleep before I start getting noisy. I also have too many plans racing through my head. Do you ever have that happen? So many great ideas and plans that it kind of paralyzes you? So I'm taking a bit of a break and when I'm done here, I think I'll make some lists.

When I worked, I made lists. I loved making lists because it always felt so good to cross something off the list. Since being at home though, I don't make many lists. I think I have to though. I think a list would help me to focus and not feel overwhelmed. And I'll also get the cheap thrill of crossing stuff off:)

Something else I've learned about myself, since beginning my blog, is that writing something here makes me commit to it like it's a legally binding contract.

So here are my Spring Cleaning Plans for this weekend:
1. Put all seasonal/holiday dishes on top shelves of two cabinets by sink
2. Clean out dish cupboard
3. Add yellow dishes to every-day dishes; make pretty
4. Gather all dishes/silverware/cups for folks; box up; set aside and out of
way; begin inventory list
5. Clean out cookery/pots & pans cupboard
6. Go through cookery in basements; have necessary 'Sophie's Choice' moment;
clean 'keepers', move 'keepers' up to cupboards
7. Move small buffet to upstairs hall way; replace dishes, etc. stored there;
clean; make pretty

Okay! I think that's it but it wouldn't surprise me if I added new things to the list. I need to do a Round 2 on my sewing room but that can wait a bit.

See number 7? I tried doing that with the help of my 7-year old. (My husband is working today.) We got stuck on the landing, about five steps up. I called my husband to see if he could run home and help us out but he is too busy. So we'll have to wait. I don't really like to wait. Meanwhile, we all have to make ourselves skinny if we want to get up or down the stairs. That is why it is number 7 on the list :)

I'll update you on my progress as I go and as I need breaks.

Enjoy your day!

New Look

Like the new look? I'm feeling the need to simplify, clean up and clean out. It stirs up less dust to start here:)

I got the inspiration and instruction from Clover Lane. She has a great tutorial on how to do the picture collage for your blog header. Check it out! (Also, I love her blog- so check it all out!!)

Working on the needle book for my Mother Goose Sheep collection. I'll post pictures as I get further along.

Lot's of snow today. Again. I'm really not looking forward to the trek to Nat's school. Thank goodness the weekend is here! I can hide away in my warm house. (Actually, we need groceries, don't we?)

New product is posted on my web shop. Take a look... I'll provide some links at the side.

Stay warm and dry, and have a wonderful weekend!

What's new, you ask...

Well, go on over to Etsy and you'll find out!

I finished the 'Spring Cookies' pattern and project booklet!!! Yipee!!!!


Which means all of the 'projects' I created are finished and up for sale.





I am very happy with how everything turned out and I had a lot of fun making everything. Now for the hard/boring/tedious/computer-related/endless-typing/makes-me-want-to-hire-an-assistant-to-do-this part. I've got everything except the individual cookies already on Etsy. Next I need to post them at my web shop. I want to do that today but it's not looking good. We are getting more snow, the kind of snow that makes me think I'm going to want to leave early and take the long way to Nat.'s school. I don't anticipate having much free time from here on out. However, as soon as I do, I'll make everything available at my web shop and I'll provide links along the side of this blog, too.

I said something about new thoughts and ideas, didn't I? Well, they have to do with an old idea about black and white sheep and Mother Goose. The new part is that I have decided on making some sweet, little pin keeps and needle books and scissor fobs based on Baa, Baa, Black Sheep and Mary Had A Little Lamb. Lots of black and white with another color as accent- probably red, maybe blue, maybe pink....

In other news...

Nathanael's 7th birthday was Saturday. We had a fun day with him and one of his friends from school. I have found that I stare at him a lot. He is getting so big,
his looks are maturing and staying the same. I just love to look at him!!! Now you can stare at him for a bit, too:)








He's fun to look at, too.

New...

New releases today.

New pattern booklet.

New decorations.

New pillow.

New candle mat.

New thoughts and ideas.

New snow.

Stay tuned...

Done! ( With rocking horses, that is...)

I have finally finished the trio of rocking horse themed treats for my mom. I'm really pleased with how they turned out. Although they are not for sale now, I plan on eventually making patterns of at least the tissue box cover and the cross stitch. Probably in different colors, like red, white and blue- real patriotic. Any way, here are the pictures.











(The color on the cross stitch pics is weird but you get the idea.)

Enjoy your day!

Miss me yet? :)

I'm still here. Sort of.

I've been dealing with sick kids. Not very sick, just colds/coughs/ear infections. In the process, I think I kinda got worn out. And now I'm sick. And you should see my thumbs. Both of them are cracked and bleeding and sore.

I've been taking a break from my sewing because of the aforementioned thumbs. There's nothing like wool to suck the very life right out of you. (Sound dramatic? You should see my thumbs.) However, I can't cut myself off completely so I've been working on cross stitch patterns from the Valentine Booklet from The Sampler Girl. I also finished the 'Emma' sampler (also from The Sampler Girl). I was going to take pictures but my camera is dead. Maybe tomorrow. Anyway, the break was nice for my hands (although I've noticed a new crack on my thumb- oh well). I did some sketching, too. Worked out some ideas on paper. I forgot how much I like to draw!

The past couple of days I've been working on a project for my mom. I've mentioned it before and posted pictures of the fabrics I'd be using. I've finished the box and I'm pleased with how it turned out. My husband even made an unsolicited comment about how cute it was! The box is a round papier-mache box covered in fabric with greenery and rocking horse-related items coming out of it. I'll take pictures. I also made a cross stitch pattern of a rocking horse to be framed. Right now I'm finishing a tissue box cover. Again, I'll take pictures before I ship them to my mom.

Yesterday, my husband took the day off. It was really nice to have an adult to talk to. I miss adults. Today, trapped in the minivan to and from McDonald's, I got to listen to a six year old and a four year old tell jokes. Their own, made-up jokes with their own, made-up punch lines. My eye is twitching.

Tomorrow I plan on tackling my craft room. I need to get it cleaned up and organized and usable. Ever since I've moved in this room it hasn't been more than a storage room and other people in the house have been dumping their stuff in here, too. Well, no more! Maybe. We'll see. I'm still a bit under the weather. But, I do get moments of super-human energy. So, look out! Maybe....

I should be going now. I really just wanted to let you know that I still exist. I exist with a sinus headache. Oy! Advil, her I come.

Enjoy your day!

Done!

The candle mat that coordinates with my 'Spring Cookies' is done! Finally! And, I am so very happy with it. I really like how it turned out. It's just luscious!!!



What's next? I have to design the table runner. I know that I want to use the chick and the daffodil. I think the colors will be "White. Yellow and white." (Quote from my favorite Hitchcock movie, 'Shadow of a Doubt".) And some green. I think. We'll see. Don't make me commit to anything right now.

Here are some pics of my peeps:) The other night I was told to get the camera and bring it to the living room. Which meant that Dave got the boys to be still. Which also meant that there would be no way that I would make it to them in time. I've come to terms with the fact that the only photographic evidence we will have of our second child will look like a blur. A red blur.
But I digress. I actually got a few good pics. Of my peeps:)


Enjoy your day!

I am eating a yummy apple right now. So yummy that I just swallowed a junk whole. Actually, it took a moment to swallow that chunk but the apple was so good I didn't get too panic-y. So, today's life lesson is 'chew before swallowing'. It seems obvious but, even though I've been doing this for 39 years, it doesn't hurt to be reminded. It does hurt to swallow a chunk of apple whole!

So, what have I been up to? A lot of stitching. Except I flaked off a little bit yesterday because I had to watch 'Lost'. You can't stitch and watch something like 'Lost at the same time. I didn't even let myself go to the bathroom, I just kept fast-forwarding through the commercials. An hour and a half later I thought my brain and bladder were going to explode! All is well... 'til next week!!!

I finally finished all of the 'Spring Cookies'. I wanted to make 2 sets so that you can see different options. I also did some needle felting.






I will also be providing directions for three other projects in which you can use the 'Spring Cookies' pattern. The first one is a candle mat in some lovely colors.





The black wool is from a blazer I found and felted. It is delicious! It felted to look and feel almost like velvet. And it is so black! Just beautiful!!

What else? Not much. This weekend Nathanael and I will be shopping for Valentines for his school party on the 11th. We'll also start checking out birthday stuff. I don't know what to get him yet. He'll have oodles of suggestions, I am sure!

Now, back to the salt mines:) I've got stitching and sketching to do. I also need to get this months newsletter written. (If you are interested in receiving a newsletter from Sew Sweet Fabric Confections, go to the web shop and sign up. It will be at the bottom of that first page.)

Enjoy your day!

New Month, New Release, New Goals

Happy February, everyone! It's cold and bleak here in Lansing, MI. That's because it's February and this is what February looks like and feels like in Lansing, MI. So, here I am, putting as happy a spin on it as possible. At least it's a short month!

I finished my "Sweet Hearts" bowl fillers for my family. The pattern is on Etsy and at my web shop along with the option for me to make it for you. Check it out!

I sat myself down this morning and made a list of all of the projects I'd like to complete for this month. I will, of course, be completing the "Spring Cookies" that have been in the works. I'm making that into a booklet of patterns for the cookies themselves along with three other projects using the patterns. I also feel like giving some sheep a little love this month so I pulled out my Mother Goose and found three rhymes to work with. (I won't bother telling you those rhymes because I'm sure you can guess on your own!)

Currently I am felting the rest of my wool. Any sneezing you hear is because of that! And, when I am finished here I will be tackling those spring cookies of mine. The colors are perfect for this time of year- pretty pastels, pinks, purples, yellows. Helps blot out the gray outside!

I have been reading 'Cranford'. It is a wonderful book and I've been enjoying it quite a lot. It is a bit of an emotional roller coaster- cute, sweet, funny parts followed by something heart-wrenching. I'm hoping to find something to work with amongst the many pages. We'll see...

And 'Emma'. Wasn't that wonderful! One more part to go and then it will be finished. I've saved the recordings and look forward to watching the entire movie at one time!!
It looks like they (PBS) will be airing 'Northanger Abbey' next. Oh, joy! I love that book, too. It's a fun one and I can identify with Catherine and her over-active imagination.

Back to work. Lots left to do before Asher gets up from his nap.

Enjoy your day!