June 4, 2012 - MONDAY

Well... that weekend sure went fast!!  I was very productive...well at least on Saturday - NOT so much on Sunday.  I had a case of "lazi-itis" and didn't do much of anything!  Soooo... I must get busy today.

It's just simply.... without a doubt... time to clean house!  I HATE CLEANING HOUSE!  Jack is out and about on some errands - Lexie is with us this week during the day - sooooooooooo... .while she is watching her favorite shows and playing... I thought it best to get busy.  She loves to help - so that's pretty wonderful.  Of course the attention span is pretty quick so we pick out the small easy jobs for her.

Look what I made on Saturday!!!   It's a wool "thimble holder"!!  It's very small and can attach to your sewing basket!  The front is blue wool and the back is a blue print.  I've attached a small wool flower (pearl in the center) with some greenery.  It was pretty fast to design and didn't take long to stitch.  I will be making it into a pattern... and making a second sample.. more primitive.  I think I'll use some plaid or hounds tooth wool for the second one.

I gave one of my clasps to my friend, Jan Vaine.  I just knew she would love designing a thimble case with all of her beautiful ribbon work she does.  Maybe she can teach it at her applique university!!  Can't wait to see her creation!

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One of the things I love is to find cute ways of packaging that doesn't cost a fortune.  You know... as I've gotten older - I find some things we spend money on are just not required... for instance - expensive wrapping paper!  Just think about it... we pay all that money.. for a little tiny piece (I bet if we calculated it out - it would be 40 times more expensive than fabric...ICK!!) that we tape around a package.  Then in a nano-second it's ripped to shreds - never to be seen again!  HA!  Aren't we silly people. 

By the way... if you use all of your discarded wrapping paper (like at Christmas) and feed it through a shredder - it makes super packaging material for fragile items!  Plus it's very colorful.

Well... anyway...back to the picture below.  How sweet - simple white envelopes tied with jute with an added candy cane.  It would even look prettier to tuck a sweet piece of REAL evergreen (from your trees outside) under the jute!  You can even write on the bag - no need to purchase tags.

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Isn't this a sweet Bible marker?  It has scripture words wrapped around the spool.  Well... I've thought of another cute thing to make from all of my "zillion" spools I own.  Can't tell you what it is at the moment... it's a surprise.  But you will see it soon on my blog!!

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I sure wish I would have kept one of these artillery baskets when I had my store.  They are so darn awesome.  I could just kick myself.  The entire basket is wicker with canvas side handles.  They used to house artillery shells in them!  Can you believe that.  If you find one for under $100.00.  Buy it!  They are fabulous above dressers like this one, on your front door, above your fireplace.  Fill them with different silks and foliage for the season.  Heather used to make gorgeous arrangements at the OGC!!  Waaaahhhhhhh (I'm still crying 'cause I don't have one!)

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When I saw these flowers I instantly thought of my friend Cheri!!  She used to live here in Jax and worked at the OGC for me.  She was my pure "primitive" friend!!  OMG how she loved it.  And... blue enamel was her all time favorite.  She had some gorgeous pieces.  We used to call this color "Cheri Blue".  She also loves to work in her  yard... this is her planter... don't you think?  I'm calling it "Cheri's Posies" !!  Love you Cheri and I sure do miss you (she moved to Georgia).

Hey... look at this sweet little fellow.  There is just something wonderful about baby pigs.  They grow up to be so ugly... but when they are tiny...

 I just want to squeeze them to death (not truly...)!!

Have you ever seen such a pink nose??? 

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And my last photo of the day is this sweet little angel!  Isn't this adorable?  How innocent and sweet!  She's watching over the tree to keep it safe for Christmas morning.

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I must get ready for my Lexie..   Heather won a scholarship to attend some wonderful photography classes in Daytona.  So... Daddy, Grandpa and I are on duty!!!

Chat with you tomorrow...it's time to get a shower and dig out the cleaning supplies.  (I sure would love a cleaning lady.....NOT...that would be ME!)

Later chickies...  Gloria

June 1, 2012 - Friday

Well... how do you like my HUGE Olde Green Cupboard header?  It kind of smacks you right in the face doesn't it?  hahahahahahahaha!  I'm trying to make some enhancements on my blog and I decided to start by adding the correct OGC logo.... well, needless to say... it's a bit large!

I tried and tried to make it smaller.... no success!  Do you think it could be because I have NO CLUE what I'm doing?  I see you laughing and shaking your head up and down!!!  Never give up... I will get it conquered.  I just told myself... it's no big deal...just post your "chat" and figure it out later.

If all else fails.... I'll have my sweet Heather help me.  She's a guru with this stuff...not afraid to push buttons - explore - read (I hate to read all of those instructions..) and then she manages to figure out how to make things happen!  Ahhhh...... LOVE HER!!

Yesterday I ALMOST FINISHED MY FIRST SOCK!!!  Yes... I have to get them finished before August when we head to Alaska.  I want to wear them!  My toe is almost CLOSED... then I can start on sock number two.  I just love them.. the yarn is so wonderful.  As soon as it's off the needles...I'll take a photo and post. 

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This is so cool!!!  They had this on a "camping" posting... they've taken a headlight and strapped it to a jug full of water.  It illuminates the entire jug and gives you light in your tent!!!  Now... by headlight... I think they mean one of the battery operated headlights you can wear on your head while hiking, working on car engines, etc.  Isn't this a wonderful idea???  So darn clever!!

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I LOVE galvanized stuff.  Don't ask me why... I have no clue as to why it attracts me.  Maybe because it can blend in well with different types of decorating.  Well... old washtubs are especially favorites of mine!!  Look how they have taken the GIANT washtubs and made them into lighting!  Wouldn't this be awesome in a restaurant or bar?  Have I posted this before??  It especially looks great with the white and green accents on the table.  How inexpensive this project would be!

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Then... on a smaller scale... look how they have made this into a lamp shade for a table lamp!  Then you can write on it with chalk!  SO COOL!!!!! 

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Look at my new Annie I found.  Poor baby... it looks like she's been run over with a car tire!  Or stomped on in the mud.  I don't care... I still think she's adorable!!!  Don't you just love her little dress??

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Okay... another wonderful trend I've been seeing... using upholstery jute tape for other things than chairs and couches!  I love how they've used it as a ribbon on this wreath...then attached it to a bright red sled!

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Or... wrap it around wonderful baskets - add some trim - in this case ceramic numbers - and you have an adorable new display.  How simple... how cute!

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And... look at this!  How simple!  Wrap it around candles, fold the raw edge under and attach with upholstery tacks!  OMG!!!!  Can you see a beautiful display with these at Christmas - sitting in an old dough bowl... with greenery spilling over the side... red berry garland inter-twined within the greenery... maybe an old antique Santa sitting in the bowl.  I'M IN LOVE!!!! 

Maybe we should have a "JUTE TAPE" contest... to see who can make the coolest stuff!  It comes in all colors....! Search the Internet... you'll find it!  Go to your local upholstery shop and see if you can buy some from them!  Have FUN and CREATE!!!!

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Then... on the more "blingy" side... take a peek at this sweet thing!!!  I don't know if it's real or not... don't even care... I just think it's so cool.  Wow... I can jump from "industrial metal" to "jute" to BIG BLING really fast can't I?  Pretty unusual to like the rustic and the necklace below.  Oh well...what can I say?  That's just me!!

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And last but not least.. look at this sweet kitty!  Don't you just LOVE his little face?  It looks like a starfish has clasped onto his head for life... or a giant **asterisk** exploded in front of him!  What a cutie!!!! 

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We're going to visit our oldest granddaughters today.  They just moved into an adorable house together and we're taking them a brand new set of POTS & PANS - bright red!  I can't wait to see how they have their little house all put together (Toby and Dayle's girls - Jaimi and Elizibeth).  They are a couple of cutie patooties... and we love them to death!!! 

Then it's off to AUCTION night!  Vic and I are going to check out an auction and see what trouble we can get into!  (That won't be too hard!)

Have a great weekend... sew lots (I plan on it!) and finish up those UFO's!!!

Hugs to all!!

Gloria



May 31, 2012 - Thursday

Wow... what an ending to our long TV watching of Prison Break.  I can tell you this... I've NEVER seen such a show!  I can't remember when a TV show would keep me awake on and off during the night because I couldn't wait to see the next episode.  If your spouses/dads/boyfriends love shows with lots of action, twists and turns, this is a great gift for them.  You can get all of the CDs on Amazon.com - 4 seasons PLUS the final episode.  I can't even begin to tell you how many CDs there are and about 4 hours of watching on each CD!!!  Ok...enough of that... (but I'm tellin' ya... it's awesome!)

Today is a busy day!!  We are having breakfast with some friends - then I'm heading to Cinnamon's for a sewing day.  Then I'm meeting one of my girlfriends for a movie tonight!!  Whew... no grass is growing under my "tush" today!  Ha... not like this past week where I've sat on my but in front of the boob-tube. 

I MUST GET BUSY!!!!!!!!!!!!

Look at what I found!!!  I just loved these stone designs... wouldn't they look so beautiful in your garden?  The white one must have taken forever to make.  Of course... the first time you had a torrential rain storm...they may both float away... but I loved them.  Isn't it so wonderful that someone can take something from nature as simple as a stone and make it into a beautiful design?  I'll tell you - I'm amazed every day at how talented people are... sometimes my jaw drops and I'm simply speechless (which is pretty unusual for me!)

Then... here is something totally opposite from the stones!  Look at this lovely piece of jewelry for your "tootsies".  Now... I must admit... I would probably NEVER wear this - but I thought it was so pretty.  Of course...it has pearls in it!  (I love jewelry with pearls, sterling silver, and rhinestones)

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Okay... I saw this display and it's designed for those homes WITHOUT fireplaces!  BUT... it would still look cute hanging above a fireplace - as the main art piece!  After the stockings are gone - hang pretty photos from ribbons, old fashioned women's hats, artwork, wreaths.  What a different idea and so much easier than trying to pound nails into the wall to make a sweet vignette! 

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I loved how they took this sweet dresser and covered the drawer fronts.  It could be with the same fabric as the curtains... or how about matching the quilt on the bed?  LOVE IT!!!  PLUS... it's so easy to change if you redesign the room!

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I have to show you this great pillow.  My girlfriend, Marti, well..... she loves this pillow.  We found the website where it originated... but it wasn't actually a pattern.  It was a finished product and it looks like it is no longer available....  Boo Hoo!!!

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Here's another sweet embroidery pattern for you.  I love the two little birds at the top!!!

They kind of look like they are mad at everyone! 

Hey... I want you to check something out.  Next time you are outside and you see a BUNCH of birds on a telephone line... look and see if they are all facing the same direction!  I know... I know... this seems crazy... but in almost EVERY instance... they are!  I wonder why??

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Isn't this funny?  they must be buddies because neither one of them looks afraid or "hissy" at each other!  Too cute!!!

Have a great day.... keep sewing and dreaming!!

Gloria