May 22, 2012

WOW!!!  I've had the adventure of all adventures!  I'm working on about 4 hours sleep so... if this short blog sounds a little strange...that's probably because it is!!!  HA!

I had a super.... SUPER.... good time at market.  I'll post more information this week on the trip....

Our flight there was cool... however, coming home was another issue.  OMG!!  It was a true experience and test of my patience. 

I have to catch up on so much today and tomorrow.... get ready for my B-a-a-a-d Girls this weekend, we have my nephew visiting with us, and get some organization into my life again.  Isn't it amazing how just a few days out of your routine throws you helter skelter (at least it does me...)

I can say... market was such an inspiration.  I know of so many shop owners that DO NOT attend market...say they can't afford to... well... I'm here to tell you - YOU CAN'T AFFORD NOT TOO!  It is so inspiring to me.  I can't even begin to tell you how much....so much that one night I woke up just a few hours after going to bed... and designs just kept coming to my brain!  They just wouldn't stop!!!  (it was a bit spooky ... actually....!)  So.. I grabbed my iphone, pulled up my "notes" app... and got them all down... for hours I did that.  Crazy huh?  But I felt so much better writing it down... or else it would have been gone from the "gray matter" in just a short time!

I can't wait to get started on them and show you what kept me awake so much!!!

Chat with you tomorrow...

Missed everyone!

Gloria

May 14, 2012 - Monday

Hi everyone!!!  How has your week been?  Mine...well... let's just say it was "hoppin"!! 

I drove to St. Petersburg and spent the week helping Maryellen with she and Paula's new Block-of-the-Month.  OH MY GOSH... I've never seen so many pieces of fabric in my life.  They have 12 large blocks and a ton of smaller blocks in the quilt.  Maryellen thinks there were about 8,500 pieces of fabric that needed to be folded.  Now... each block is folded individually - with a sticky label on each piece of fabric - we worked on 125 kits.  That's just to get them started.  Who knows for sure how many shops will order their BOM !!! 

Isn't that great?  By the end of my last day - my right shoulder (by the shoulder blade) was SCREAMING in pain and the arthritis in my left thumb was singing right along with my shoulder.  WOW...what a job.  While I was folding and labeling - Wendy (friend) came and folded the HUGE pieces used for the finishing kit while Maryellen measured and cut!  We had ourselves a MAJOR production line going!  HOWEVER... we still didn't get finished!!  Darn it... I wanted it to all be done so when she returns from market - no worries.  NOT... her daughter is going to finish up the block folding while we're at market.  Then when she returns - it's putting the kits and binders together and shipping!

While I was there - Maryellen had a monthly and quarterly shipment she had to finish on their current BOM.  Poor thing...she had boxes everywhere!  Wow...what a job!

We did drive to the beach one evening and had a yummy dinner.  I had a grouper sandwich with onion rings.  NOT on the diet but it was OH - SO - YUMMY!!!  The fish was ssssssssssooooooooooo good!

So... today and tomorrow are major "catch up" days for me.  I will be leaving for market too - Kansas City ... here we come!  I LOVE SPRING MARKET!!!  It's so much fun to see all of the smiling faces, bright pretty quilts, clothing, projects!  Just marvelous.  I'll try and take lots of pictures - so when I get back I can show you what it's like.

Today & tomorrow... I have to run tons of errands, do laundry, pack, work on our B-a-a-a-a-d Girls Club Make It - Take It for the end of the month, do some housework, get some wool applique blocks prepared to take with me (work on the plane and in the hotel room), and then drop with exhaustion.

So... unfortunately.... I'll be out of "blogging" pocket until I return... I'll chat with you on Tuesday, May 22 !!  Gosh... that seems so far away!! 

I did find this sweet picture I wanted to share with you.... it reminded me of my sweet Heather when she used to play in the bathtub with her babies!

Isn't that so sweet?  Baby girls...isn't it precious how they have the "mommy" instinct when they play?  I'm so amazed at that....

Hugs to all... keep stitchin' and sewin' while I'm gone.  I know for sure I'll find so many wonderful things for you while I'm gone..

Gloria

Oh... and one more photo... to keep you smilin' all day!! 

YEE HAW!

May 4, 2012 - Friday

YIPPEE!!!!  It's Friday (for those of you that have to work...). 

I must admit... I did not want to get out of bed this morning.  As a matter of fact... I could crawl right back under those covers again!  I've been feeling like a little cocoon lately... hhhmmmm wonder why?  Hey... I found something I LOVE on my postings. 

Have you noticed how much our "likes" and "dislikes" change over the years?  It's amazing to me!!   Ha!! 

I've discovered I LOVE the look of denim, lace and bling-bling!  Take a peek!!!

What do you think.... a bit much?  Too "movie star-ish" look?  I need the long flowing blond hair now... you know... to complete the look!  HA!  That's NOT happening - for sure! 

Love this one too!  The greatest thing about this jewelry.... it's NOT expensive!  Now...don't get me wrong... I especially LOVE the antique pieces.  However, the NEW costume jewelry they have in the store today... is fabulous.

Then... check out this awesome scarf!  Can you believe this is hand-made????  Oh what talent!!!  It's so "girlie"... don't you think?  I'm thinking I will especially LOVE IT when I'm skinnier!!!  (Oh what a long process the "skinny" part is taking....!)

I just think it may be the NEW ME!!!!!  A great goal to work towards.

I just checked out e-bay and you can get this jewelry - VERY REASONABLE!!!

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Okayyyyyy.... jumping completely OFF track now... look at this display!!

I simply LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these plaid lunch boxes.  I did a little exploring on the Internet...these are from the late 50's - early 60's and they can sell anywhere from $10 to $100.00 a piece...depending on their condition!  Can you believe that.  Look how they have taken this simple lunch box and made it into an adorable Christmas display.  Here is another item I have on my "Antique" - LOOK FOR & BUY list that I keep on my phone! 

My list is getting huge.  At this rate I won't get out of an antique store for a week!!!  What's a girl to do?????

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Do any of you have those electric wax melters?  Here's a trick... once you have a scented candle that has almost "left this world" - remove the wick and chop it up.. .place the pieces in a PLASTIC ice cube tray.  When you get enough in all of the slots - pop it in the microwave on LOW and melt the leftover wax into cubes.  Then...the next time you need to fill your electric melter with scented wax beads - use these instead!  NO WASTE!!!  How stinkin' clever is that?

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You see this horse?  Well... I'm just here to tell you... I WANT IT!  I simply LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to decorate with primitive antiques such as this!  It makes my heart beat really, really fast.  Then to top it off with the antique tool carrier... WOW.  I would love to have it full of antique ornaments and some red berries with the greenery!  LOVE IT!!! 

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Look at this sweet little toy!!  This looks just like something my Heather would love to put with her Mohair bears and bunnies.  She likes to have the Mohair critter with a small antique!  This would be perfect....

See.... here are three of her creations!!!

They are so adorable !!!!!  What a talented girl she is!  You can see all of her creations on her web site.... click at the top and look in the "Gallery" !! 

Mohair Bears & Friends by Heather Lynn

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Okay...the washer needs to be unloaded and the dryer too!!  (have I told you how much I hate to do laundry????)

Then it's off to my sewing machine.  I've made a commitment to sit at the machine at least 1-2 hours a day... then move into my hand projects.  So much to do.... will I ever accomplish all of my projects?  Oh...who cares...it's the "trip" that is the fun!!

Hugs...to all...!!

Remember...I'll be out of the loop next week... off to Sarasota for some cuttin', foldin', labelin', and packagin' NEW SHOP kits for

Red Crinoline Quilts new BOM

FREEDOM RINGS !!!

This is a computer generated picture... I'll take a REAL picture when I go to market later this month!  It's simply awesome...the rich reds, deep blues... warm tans!!!  You're gonna love it!

I'll take photos of the "kit processing" for you... it's amazing!  When we add up all the yardage for all of the kits...it makes your head spin!!!

Happy sewing!

Gloria