February 12, 2012 - Sunday

Hi everyone!!!  How is your weekend going???  Mine is wonderful... I DID NOT spend it in the garage yesterday... I ran some errands and then decided to rent some movies... bought some scallops at the fish market (man..that place was mobbed...) - came home and flopped on the couch and watched movies and did some hand sewing.

It was a wonderful day!  Then I fixed my yummy scallops!  They were sooooo very good.  We had some baked chicken too with a new coating that Jack found at the grocery.  NOT my favorite but it was edible. 

I wanted to share with you some NEW button cards I found!  I just love these things.. I wonder if I was a button maker in a past life?  That could be why I love buttons so much!  Take a peek...

Isn't this adorable?  I wonder why manufacturers don't take the time to make cute button cards like these anymore?  Probably to time consuming and expensive.

Now this is something else!!  Wouldn't it be so pretty framed and hung in your sewing studio?  Especially in mine since I have a collection of blue and white antique platters (on the walls) and blue and white quilts!!

Or... this sweet Luckyday baby button card.  Check out the price of the buttons - 10 cents!!!!  WOW... that's cool.  Yesterday... I was checking out the buttons at the BIG Joann's here in Orange Park.  I got so excited when I found some AWESOME bling-bling ones (that I wanted to use on a bracelet)... well... I turned over the button card to check out the price and I almost dropped them!  2 buttons - $11.95.  Poopie-doopie!!!  I was not a happy girl... and hung them back on the rack! (((sniffle)))

These black buttons... I remember my Grandma Rawley having button cards similar to these.  She could sew anything and worked in a women's dress factory. 

This is another wonderful button card!!!  I love when they incorporate the buttons into the printing of the card.  It gives it so much more character...it just makes you WANT to buy the buttons whether you need them or not! 

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Have you ever ordered this from Applebee's????  It's so good... I could actually skip the chips for dipping... just give me a SPOON!  It's also good on BAKED POTATOES!!!  TRY IT... you're gonna love it.....

Copycat Applebee’s Hot Artichoke and Spinach Dip

 

◦10 ounce)frozen chopped spinach , thawed

 ◦1 (14 ounce) can artichoke hearts , drained and roughly chopped
 ◦1 cup shredded parmesan-romano cheese mix
 ◦1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
 ◦10 ounces prepared alfredo sauce
 ◦1 teaspoon minced garlic
 ◦4 ounces softened cream cheese
 ◦1 tsp pepper

 1.) Preheat Oven To 350

 2.) Mix in a bowl – Parmesan, 1/2 cup Mozzarella, Alfredo Sauce, Cream Cheese
 3.) Mix in – Garlic, Pepper, Artichokes, Spinach
 4.) Place mixture in 8×8 greased pan. Sprinkle 1/2 Mozzarella on top
 5.) Cook for 30 minutes.
 6.) Enjoy

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I know this may look like paper.. but imagine it as scraps of fabric... let's say you've been working on blocks and the directions now tell you to cut them down.  You've finished that part of the project and you have this pile of fabric cuttings that is good for nothing... WRONG... Take them outside on your patio deck... you can kind of roll them into a ball....before you know it.. the birds will be taking pieces away!!!  They love to use them in their nests.  Squirrels like it too!  Isn't that a sweet idea? 

They also like the lint stuff that comes from your dryer!!!

They will now have some 'high-stylin' nests!!! hahahahaha!

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Aren't these clips adorable?  I can see them made with every type fabric in the world.  So much more fun to use than those silly plain black ones.  Here is the link that shows you how to make them:

Covered Clips

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Okay... these have no significance at all... except... THAT I WANT THEM!  I just think they are adorable!!!!   Wish my honey would make them for me.... NOT... that will not happen.  Ok...I think this goes on my "personal" bucket list!  Of course... I have no clue where I would put them in my house... but I've decided that doesn't have a single thing to do with wanting something... right?

LOVE THEM!!!!

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Look at my 'funny' picture for the day.... I simply burst out laughing when I saw this silly fox!!!

Isn't this a hoot?  I wonder if he was chasing a bug.... ???  Or just plain having a GOOD time!  He's adorable.  I know when we would be traveling the roads - going to quilt shows - we would every so often see a sweet fox that would have been hit by a car... so sad.  They are such gorgeous animals!

Hey... let's get organized!

Since I'm going to the garage today (such pain....) it's time to look at all of your yard tools.  Get them all in order... install a rack on the wall and hang up the shovel, hoe, rakes.  OR... an even better and faster idea (if you have room... I know what some of these garages look like...) get a sturdy - TALL - garbage can... it could even be one that you've been using (that needs to be replaced).  Store all of your long yard tools (rakes, etc.) handle down in the garbage can.  This will keep them from falling all over the garage...easy for the kids to put away (should they EVER use one of them)... and make your life so much nicer in the garage!

Oh... and speaking of garbage cans .... is it time to get rid of those that are a MESS???  Have you ever tried to get the garbage men to take away an OLD, BEAT UP CAN?  They won't do it... they simply don't get it!  Jack had to finally pound the stew out of one and put it inside another one so they would take it.....  Now.. they have NO PROBLEM beating the crap out of the good ones we use... or ... who knows where the lids disappear too? (we now have cans with attached lids). 

Ok... I've bashed the can issue enough...

It's time for another cup of coffee!!

Tomorrow.....  Gloria

February 11 - Saturday

Well...it's out to the garage I go today!  Man...this is such torture!  We've emptied our storage unit and it's time to go through the boxes... and SORT!  Yes... sort.. some goes to Goodwill, some goes to my auction house (I take things to an antique auction...they sell better and I don't have to mess around with having a yard sale... I HATE hosting yard sales...don't you?), some we keep.

Now... here is the issue... I have high school yearbooks... how long do I want to keep these things?  I have NO contact with any of the people I went to school with... I honestly don't know half of them (BIG school) ... the only picture of me in the yearbook is HORRIBLE... SO ... why in the heck do I keep them?  I wonder if I could use the pages in some nifty craft project... hhhmmm... I may have to google or "Pinterest" that.... you never know what I might find.  It would be my luck I would toss all of them and then find something unique and fabulous to do with them!!  I'll have to report back to you on that idea.

So... after the garage deal is finished... I plan on doing NOTHING!  (well....maybe sew... or work on my bracelets that I'm making...)  I'm parking my "hinnie" on the couch and watching the boob tube and just chillin' out!!  I have some wonderful wool blocks I can stitch on too.

So... today's subject is HEAD BOARDS... I've been thinking of how to re-do my guest bedroom... I'm just torn between so many ideas.  So...I went to my computer and look at the ideas I have found... so simple and so unique.  Now... some of these would .. no way .. fit my style...but I thought I would share them with you.  Never know... it just may be something that you fall in love with!!!

Take a look....

This is a metal fence gate!!  It looks as though fabric has been attached... But I honestly think it would be adorable just plain!  You could even spray paint it to coordinate with the colors in the room!  What about an adorable PINK????

Now... my friends... yes.... this is a chalkboard!!!  Wow... this is something else.  DO NOT put this in a child's room... can you see them playing all night on the chalk board?  You would find them in the morning with eraser in hand...sound asleep...covered in chalk dust!!  It is adorable though... I LOVE IT... of course - I am partial to chalk boards.  I have a collection of children's antique chalk boards (the kind they used in school) hanging in my sewing studio!

Now this is simply AWESOME!  Can you picture this at a cabin..or at a lake house... or a beach house?  It's simply adorable... The soft color of the walls with the accent pillows makes it both a manly and feminine room at the same time. Wish I had a lake house... this would surely be in one of my bedrooms!

This.... most of us can relate too... I think I may have shown this before (can't remember) but it's perfect to hang that favorite quilt on and now have it be your headboard.

This is so cute for twin beds.  I think the background of the headboard are bi-fold doors... then they hung a picture/painting on top of it... now how clever is that?

Ok...I'll admit... this is NOT the headboard for me.  I can just see all of these things falling down on me during the night...can't you?  Scary....very scary!!!

Of course... being the primitive/shabby chic girl that I am... I love this head board!!! What character and texture it has.  This piece of wood probably cost a fortune.  Architectural pieces are HOT items in the decorating market!!

Then... we have these wonderful shutters.  It reminds me of the shutters we had in the window at the Olde Green Cupboard.  (((sigh)))  I loved that window... and decorating it was SO MUCH FUN!!!  Especially in the fall and at Christmas! (remember our snow machine?... and Lumpy and Bumpy - the snowmen Heather made?  They were so cute... and still LIVE.  Our friend Marti has them in Kentucky!)

Then... for those of you that are romantics... or "newly weds"... this is pretty darn clever.  Look at that 'pop' of yellow!  And... grey is the NEW black these days... it's a very popular color!!

So... have I given you the desire to completely change your bedrooms? 

No... are you shaking your head NO???  Well, I do understand...changing out an entire bedroom is a bit much isn't it?  However... the center of attention in a room is the bed and just changing the headboard can be a piece of cake... as you've seen.

So... here is our sweet - little- feel good photo for the day....

I thought is was perfect for February... and so adorable.  I just want to kiss this kitty right on that sweet little heart.  Simply.... TOO CUTE!!!  Can you imagine picking out this kitten and seeing this heart under it's chin.  I'll bet it took a whole 1 second to say yes to this cutie-patootie!

Hey... while our minds are still in the bedroom... here's your organization tip for the day!

CLEAN OUT THAT UNDERWEAR DRAWER!!!  It's time... go through those panties and get rid of the ones that you've been wearing for 10 years!  It's time to treat yourself to some new ones! 

PLUS... if you get in the mood to continue on with the organizing... tackle the SOCK DRAWER - YOURS... (we'll deal with the spouses' sock drawer at a later date...).

How many of you have socks that you NEVER wear (I'm raising my hand right now...).  Here's the deal - I HATE WEARING SOCKS AND SHOES!!  I really do... I love to be barefooted.  With the exception of in the winter when socks are oh-so-wonderful!  Have I told you I've always wanted to knit socks?  You may be asking... WHY??? especially when you don't like socks?  It's just one of those things on my bucket list that I want to accomplish.

Ok... back to the socks. ... (I've gotten off track..).  Here's the deal... if they have been in your sock drawer FOREVER and you've NOT worn them... YOU ARE NOT GOING TOO!  Pick out those that you do NOT wear... carry them to the garage... and put them in the Goodwill box (make sure they have no holes in them).  You will make someone very happy that is shopping at Goodwill - that needs socks!  (let's don't do that with your unwanted underwear...they go in the trash please...)

Ok... now that our underwear and socks are in perfect condition... it's time to say goodbye!

BREAKFAST IS READY!

Chat tomorrow...

Gloria

February 10 - Friday

Another wonderful day here in Jacksonville.  I tell you... no one would ever know this is winter.  The weather is absolutely gorgeous!

This afternoon I get to sew again... aaahhh... life is good!  Cinnamon's has a wonderful thing - twice a month... we go to the classroom and sew from 2:00 pm to midnight!!  Of course.. I'll admit.. my little peepers get pretty tired before midnight and often...around 10:00 pm... I'm heading home. Gotta go to bed!!

Hey.... look at this funny fellow! Just sitting here on the window sill checkin' things out!  What a silly kitty...!!!

Today... the blog is all about sweaters!  Once again... I'm amazed at what all people do with sweaters!  Take a peek at some of these ideas!

They've cut squares and rectangles from sweaters and sewn them into an afghan!  Hey...that sure beats knitting it... takes a lot less time!  I just love this...it looks so cozy.

This was one of my favorite uses... I just love these stockings!!  It looks like they've taken a combination of sweaters and made the cuff and heal!!!  Can't you just see these sweet things hanging on your fireplace????

Now this is clever!  Let's make pumpkins!  Never would I have thought of this ... but they are pretty darn cute.

Check out this belt!  This would look so cute on my Heather... she has a waist! (mine has disappeared.... )  It looks to me like they cut strips, gathered them... and pulled them into flowers.  I would think you may have to use the bottom band or neck band for this... or it would unravel... right??

I've seen all types of pillows made... these are a bit fancy... but then they've also taken a simple cable knit sweater - covered a pillow form and added a big beautiful button to the center...pulled it tight (tufted look) and it's adorable.

or... take your wool sweaters (Goodwill is a great place to find them) and felt them.  (wash them with SOAP and hot water - then dry in the dryer - they will get VERY small).  Then you cut out the shape of mittens... with the bottom ribbing of the sweater... or the cuff of the arms as the cuff of your mitten!!!  Isn't that awesome???

Then of course.. you could make this cool purse !!!  These wooden handles can be purchased from craft stores... attach them with some pretty ribbon... line with temtex and fabric... you now have a one of a kind purse!

And the last idea I have is .... bracelets!!! 

I have no clue how to make these... I couldn't find the instructions... but I just had to show them to you.  I think they are too cool.

Now... these are just a few of the things I saw with "sweaters".  I found sweaters for ROCKS !!  Why for a rock... I have NO CLUE!  Someone - obviously has simply too much time on their hands.  I found sweaters for birds, ferrets (why would you want to put a sweater on a ferret? I can't figure that one out...)... I even found sweaters on PENQUINS.  Now..that is just silly... penguins are supposed to be in cold weather...hhhmmm... 

ok...so...let's get organized!  Guess where I'm going with this one?  Yep..that's right... it's time to clean out that sweater drawer, or shelf, or trunk.... Take a good look... do you need that sweater?  Do you wear it?  Does it belong in the ugly sweater contest????  Remember these???

JUST SAY NO!!!!!!!

Later....  Gloria