June 11, 2012 - Monday

Yippee...another wonderful weekend was had by my honey and me!  The weather was the pits...but my dead yard is now GREEN!  Isn't it simply amazing what a bunch of rain can do for growing God's creations... !

Wow...what a busy week I have!  Today I have lots of orders to mail out, our (Vic and I) project to mail for the next issue of PRIMITIVE QUILTS & PROJECTS (so exciting...), work on my orange/black quilt, pay some bills... Then Tuesday I'm sewing with Merryanne, Wednesday my granddaughters and daughter-in-law will be here...we're cooking home made calzones for lunch, Thursday I'm sewing... Friday I may go to an auction and in between...working on my projects and new patterns.  Heck...I'm pooped already!  HA!!

I found some really cool ideas for being ... somewhat ... organized (as I look at the pile of stuff to put away, organize, or ... just do something with... sitting here in my office!!)

Isn't this clever?  If you don't want to mess with hanging things up (they never get hung back up do they?)  then take this old file cabinet - see how they have re-purposed it into this divided holder for your garage tools?  How about making one to hold yard toys... baseball bats, balls, etc.  They even added a small pegboard to both sides for more storage.  I thought it was so cool.  Just pop the drawers out, lay it on it's back and you're good to go.  It would even be pretty wonderful if you could attach it to those cheap dollies (that we move stuff with).... the ones with the wheels that lock??  Know what I mean?  That way if you decide to move it's location in the garage...simply unlock the wheels and push it to where it needs to go.

Hey... I just though of another use... my hubby used to have lots of wood in the garage... he could have stacked it in these dividers and keep it neater and easier for him to find the exact size he needed!  Heck... your hubbies may love this project!

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Now...this is pretty clever too... use a tension rod to hang up your spray bottles under your sink.  Then a tub you can pull out and find stuff.  I HATE digging under the kitchen and bathroom sink... don't you?  Especially in the kitchen sink...I must admit.. we over buy supplies because they get tucked behind something else and we think we need more!  This could solve that issue!

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Now...this I thought was darn clever... then... I thought of one more step.  You know how in the winter we are supposed to cover our water spickets on the house so they won't freeze (if it ever gets that cold here?).... Well... hang the bucket jut above the spicket...so the hose is attached and always ready for watering.  Then then winter comes - remove the hose.... and turn the bucket the other direction after you have wrapped a towel around your faucet.  Now hang the bucket over the faucet to protect it from the weather!  Two problems solved into one!  Plus... can you see how they have used the inside of the bucket to hold other lawn items?  Cool beans!!!

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What a super way to hang your scarves so they are pressed and ready to wear!  This hangar has shower curtain rings attached to it.  Then simply slip your scarf through the ring.  Nice and neat... easy to find the one you want for your outfit...rather than digging through a drawer - where they are now all wrinkled!  So clever!!!

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This is a sweet - happy idea.  They have hung this jar by their kitchen window - by the kitchen sink.  She loves to fill it full of fresh flowers from the garden, store... or that her children have picked.  She can look at them while washing dishes and cooking meals... such a happy feeling!!

Just put a hook on the wall... find you an old pickle or mayonnaise jar - wrap some wire around it - make a look for the hangar and you're in business!

Children LOVE to pick flowers for their mommy or grandma...what a fun place to display them!

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I love this idea for a laundry room...especially in a home with lots of family members.  This track system was installed and wire mesh baskets inserted... one for each member of the family.  You could even use color coordinated laundry baskets.  What a super idea... just have them grab their basket and take it to the bedroom.  Of course... the task of putting the clothes away is an issue...eeeekkk... then they STILL have to remember to bring the basket back to the laundry room when it's full of dirty clothes (if they happen to make it into the basket).... oh well... one baby step at a time!!  Right?

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Favorite technique - project.... I love the addition of the sweet button look  on the cone flower and bud.  Can you see them... sporadically placed to make them look more natural!  What a sssswwweeeetttt idea... LOVE IT!  Hey... let's use REAL buttons!

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Aren't we cute?????

We decided to have this sweet little birdhouse be our winter home!  To heck with living in a tree!!

How about some nuts...??? Do you have a few nuts for us??

Have a great Monday!!!!  Hope you had a great weekend too!

Chat with you tomorrow...

Gloria

June 8, 2012 - Friday

Happy Birthday to my Toby!!!  Toby is my oldest and he lives here in Jacksonville - off Beach Blvd... He and his wonderful, sweet wife Dayle have been married for around 17 years.. (maybe longer).  Toby owns his own tile business.... he does all types of work - but seems to specialize in home remodeling.  Vicky's two boys (Lane and Peter) also have their own tile companies... Peter does tons of commercial work and Lane does construction!  Isn't that great... they each have a different part of the tile business.  This has worked out great since the economy has taken a dive.  Now that new construction is pretty limited and the commercial market has pretty much tanked - the home improvement has gone wild.

They are all helping Toby now... to keep up!  Especially since he BROKE HIS LEG!

Keep up the good work guys... we all love you!  You should see the work they do... it's simply unbelievable!!!  Toby has done tons of jobs for my friends and they love him... of course...what's not to love!  He's my cutie patootie!!!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOBY... Mom and Dad LOVE YOU!  (I'll call him later...)

Today is catch up on paperwork, and then pack up to sew at Cinnamon's - it's our Friday Night Sewcial!!  My friend Merryanne and I are going to make these adorable caddies you carry your travel iron in.  Then you untie it and it lays flat for your ironing surface!  They are adorable.  I saw one of the gals at our last Camp Blanding Retreat work on one and I had to have it.  I hate when you are packing up to leave a class or retreat and you have to remember to turn your iron off in plenty of time for it to cool off.  Well... no longer...!!  I'll take a picture and post it for you.  I'm sure Karen will be carrying the pattern in the store (Cinnamon's Quilt Shoppe).

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You know... my all time favorite quilts are.. BLUE & WHITE... take a look at this bedroom!!

There is nothing more crisp and clean than a blue and white quilt.... especially one that is made with small pieces.  I could just crawl in that bed... with the window wide open..smelling the fresh cool morning air.. aaaahhhhh... love it!

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Then... I think I may have posted this sweet thing before.. but it warranted another debut!

I just love patch quilts and this one is the cream of the crop!  What a beautiful quilt and a great way to use up your scraps.!!  I simply MUST make one of these!  Oh what the heck... add it to my list of "To Make" !!

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I don't know about  you... but I LOVE this Barbie dress... and those pink gloves are absolutely perfect.  Why is it we girls still like dolls????  That's a question I'm asking God when I get to Heaven!  I can't wait to hear his answer!!  HA!!

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Here is another adorable way to keep that hair from hanging in your face... aren't these twisted bangs adorable?  I wish I had long hair so I could do some of these great styles... I'll just have to settle for Heather and Lexie being my models!

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Now... this my friends is an EGG BASKET.  Wow.. .these are NOT easy to make... and the original picture showed it as a HUGE egg basket.  I sure would like it!!!! 

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You know... I've never Modged Podged a thing in my life... but I'm thinking I must give it a try one of these days.  Look at these adorable buckets they made with maps!  how cute is that... you could use any type of paper product you fall in love with.  Even newspaper would be wonderful!!

This would be fun to make with sewing paper covering the pail...then keep it on your cutting counter to throw your little scraps in when cutting out a quilt.

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Then... I saw how they refinished this beautiful dresser.  I'll bet it was really ugly before this paint job.  I've seen some very ICKY ones at auctions.  But with the two different colors of paint... this one turned out so feminine and pretty.  I love how they coordinated the color of the pull handles with the accent paint color!!  Have I told you how much I HATE to paint?  Yep... it's not for me.  I will do it when forced... but it's not on one of those lists of warm and fuzzy favorites for me!  I especially HATE painting walls.  I'll just "write a check" for the labor!  Plus...all that pre-taping you have to do..... YACK!!!  I'd rather go to the dentist!!

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Last but not least is my favorite photo of the day yesterday on Pinterest...  This sweet little girl reminds me of Jack's younger sister.  She used to look just like this!  (Linda - she lives in Indiana)  I sure wish she and her hubby and boys lived here.... they are such a great family and I miss not being around them!!

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mmmm..... I smell breakfast cooking!!  Yea for Jack!  He cooks breakfast every morning...what a great hubby!  Me... I'm happy with a banana or a bowl of cereal...but he likes oatmeal, or eggs, or pancakes..... YUM!!!

Everyone have a great weekend.... get lots of sewing done!  I'm planning on it... however, we all know how that goes sometimes!

Chat with you on Monday!

Hugs to all.......... Gloria

June 7 - 2012 - Thursday

aaahhhh..... the wonderful morning sound of rain!  I love to hear it rain...don't you?  We need it so bad here in Jacksonville... I think this is supposed to last all day long and I'm a "happy" girl about that.

Today... I'm going to sew at Cinnamon's.... YIPPPPEEE!!!!  I'm just one of those people that have to be around people... know what I mean?  I just can't stay home day after day and not leave the house for some different atmosphere.  I know some of my friends... they LOVE to stay home all of the time... NOT ME.. just can't do it.  I suppose it's because I've been an "out and about" working girl since I was 16 and it's just simply in my blood!

I'm doing laundry this morning and as soon as I'm done blogging... I'm putting a yummy corned beef in the crock pot!  Have you ever fixed one in the crock pot?  Well...let me tell you...it's pretty darn wonderful... add some onion, carrots, potatoes and cabbage!!!  OMG!!!  It makes the house smell so darn good too.  Jack will love it... he loves my corned beef... oh what am I saying... he loves food.  It's so wonderful to have a hubby that isn't a picky eater.  Last night I fixed a HUGE tossed salad with baby spinach, mixed greens, cranberries, blue cheese, feta, and Parmesan shavings... then cooked some shrimp in the broiler with olive oil and garlic salt. Threw them in the salad with a yummy dressing... OMG.. it was so good.  Oh yes.. I added those baked pita chips... they were pretty delicious for the salty crunch you need in a salad!

This domestic stuff is killing me.... HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

Hey.. look what's up for today....

I found another adorable hairstyle for long hair.... isn't this adorable>  I can just see ONE of these on the back of Lexie's head.  It would be sweet for little girls that are in ballet too... wouldn't it?  I'll have to practice and see if we can make this happen!!

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 I wanted to show you some stitches on wool.  I think this is a great idea for the stems that we use when we are working on our wool projects.  I love the X stitch on the stem and then used down the leaf for the vein!!  How simply wonderful!  It's so great to try new stitches... I must admit... I'm stuck on the same one all of the time.  I have wonderful stitching (laminated) cards that I need to dig out and put in my wool applique sewing box.  If I have them handy... I'm sure they will motivate me to try something new.  You can always try the stitch... if you don't like it after a short distance... simply pull it out!!

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Look at this cute idea.....  You know those little punches you can buy that are in different shapes?  Well.. .simply punch a few of them in painters tape.. place on your nail and polish!  How clever!!

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I Love this sweet lamp.... it's a bowl, 2 tea pots, a plate and a cup and saucer!  You can find the techniques for drilling through glass on the Internet.. plus you can buy lamp kits at Home Depot or Lowes.  Soon... you can be the proud owner of an adorable lamp just like this one.  I think it's so sweet... PLUS shopping for the cute tea pots and bowls is so much fun!!

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Okay.... just as a note... MY DRYER IS MAKING A TERRIBLE NOISE!! 

OMG!!!!  It sounds like there is a human being inside that is being tortured. 

Jack seems to think the belt is going out... HURRY CLOTHES.... DRY... DRY.. DRY!! 

I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO GO TO THE LAUNDRY MAT TODAY!!!

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Now... This idea is simply wonderful... and I can think of a million and one ways to use it!! 

How about giving everyone at a wedding shower a plate and market... write words of sweetness or something the couple will love. OR...

A birthday plate for your children... one for each year... then when they leave home.. give them as a gift!!  OR...

Sweet drawings by your children... then give to Grandma and Grandpa for a present....

It's endless!!  Here is all you do - use a ceramic plate with a permanent sharpie... once the message has been written - bake in a 150 degree oven for 30 minutes.  HOW COOL IS THIS???

HHHMMMM.... I just had a cool thought... how cute would it be to make MUGS for the BAAAAD Girls Club.... tee hee... I think I'll be checking out the dollar store for this project!!

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Now.. this I'm going to do with my sewing machine cabinet... you know when you open the top and it lays open???  Well... the support arm on mine is not functioning like it should... so I have it half way working.  I'm going to measure the distance between it and my floor and then see if a base cabinet unit (from Home Depot or Lowes) ... one with LOTS of drawers will fit under it! 

We NEVER have enough storage space...and those little tiny drawers they give you in the sewing cabinets hold only tiny little things.  Oh... yea... I'm so excited about this... be right back... I just have to measure RIGHT NOW..... 

I'm back... of course.. you can never find a tape measure when you want one... I got one from the garage.  I think it will work... 29 H x 20 S x 25 1/2 L    I'm going to check out the website for Lowes and see what the bases measure!  Then I can paint it to match my studio!!  If my studio were large enough for a work table like this... I'd have them under there too!!! 

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Here's your sweet picture of the day... don't you just love the eyes?  He's saying... "Honest... I'm not sure how this watermelon got in my mouth....!"   hahahahahahaha!  Sweet Thing!

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Just as an FYI... the dryer is still in misery.... Jack said.. let's get this load dried...then I'll call and have someone come put on a new belt!  Whew!  Thank God he's taking care of it... I hate dealing with that kind of stuff!  Don't you?  I never know if they are telling me the truth... or trying to rip me off!

Okay... it's still pouring rain... I'm signing off... Lexie will be here soon... this is her last day.  Heather comes home from her classes in Daytona.  I sure hope she had a great time.  She loves photography and is SO GOOD at it... of course... I'm a little partial.... you know what I mean...

Chat with you tomorrow...

Gloria