Thrifty Tuesday

What do you do on a gray rainy Tuesday when you're not feeling creative and cleaning is out of the question?

Go Thrifting!

I went to the PTO Thrift Shop, Goodwill and Value World. I found such treasures.

Knitting Nancys.

This cute smock. I can't tell if its homemade or not due to the perfect sewing and lack of tag.

Yarn. These looked dreamy and it looks like someone hand spun them. There was even more there in other colors but they were $5 a bag and my funds were meager. I am a new knitter with limited skills so I'm not sure what to do with them.

For my shows, I display my items on white painted metal screens and stands. I'll need to paint it white but for $5.99, it had to come home with me.

Its almost 5 feet tall and with 6 shelves I'll be able to fill it with gobs of tissue packs freeing up my table for other items.

More sheets and pillowcases. The red is destined to be ripped up and put in my rug and the others will make great totes!

More cute napkins destined to be small purses. They'll make great bags for weddings.

I had to stop at JoAnn Fabrics and this fun fabric was on sale.

Its called "Bow Wow Chow Mein". I got the last 2 1/2 yards on the bolt.

There wasn't a companion fabric to go with it so I found the animal print that looks pretty good for the bag lining, pockets and handles.

My girl is insisting at least one bag will go to her.

Close up view. I love those dogs.

I also found the boy a rumble robot and the girl a pom pon maker and finger puppet.

Not a bad day off. Tomorrow back to work!

New Year

I don't have any lofty new goals for the new year, lose the extra pudge, get organized, learn more about the computer (most of the time it's luck not knowledge that gets photos loaded) just the regular stuff. My main goal is to make my artsy/crafty business more successful. Try more shows, promote etsy more, add more variety to the things I sell.

I have one show for sure in March, it is an unusual show, its a Middle School Teacher Convention. They usually only have big store vendors at these things, book stores and the like, but they wanted to try a few local artists, and I was one of them. It's a 2 day show at our Middle School, I don't know since it isn't a art/craft show how I'll do, but the price to get in was too good to be true and I was flattered to be one of six asked, and who knows, it may turn out great!

So I am making more lunch bags (I hope teachers will be interested) as well as totes.

I just mailed out a craft show application for another show in March, if I make it into that one I had really better get sewing. I have 2 more applications to fill out for November and December. I also have 2 for sure shows for August and September. These are all good shows I have done in the past and have been successful. So I have 3 guaranteed shows, and 3 pretty good chance of getting into shows (I hope). I try to avoid shows during soccer season so I need to find a couple of more for the summer. The kids can help then, I pay them, and my shy daughter becomes not so shy when she is manning the tent for me. It is amazing how confident and outgoing she becomes. The kids even help other vendors set their tents up and have gotten paid in ice cream.

Snow on the clothesline.

We had a white Christmas and even had below 0 temps last week and now it is balmy, in the 60's and our snow is melting away. I like winter so I'm not sure how I feel about this. Mosquito's are out! My daughter and I split and hauled more wood yesterday, without coats and I was sweaty. I had been wanting to have my very own log splitter for years, I had to borrow my dad's because I didn't want to spend the $1,000 for a new one. So my hubbie and I scored on a great shape used one for $100! Now I can get my "gym" workout whenever the mood strikes.

Ready for the next cold snap.

I love bluebirds. This male has been hanging out and beating up his reflection in our window all week.

Photo with snow.

Photo today with much less snow.

Working on a "new" rug using old ugly sheets for the den.

I am giddy as a school girl over the new paint colors.

Teaser

Our den has been the everything room since we built out house 10 years ago. It first started off as the kids bedroom. They were 3 & 1 when we moved in and its not far from our room. At 5 and 3 they each got their own rooms upstairs (and their own bathroom Yay!). Then the computer and my sewing stuff took over, moved from the kitchen table and small closet. It's a small room around 11 x 11 and I had that baby packed. Ive outgrown the space and am taking over the basement. Now I want an official den/guest room, a pretty space I can be proud of.

Old dull green walls and grey carpet.

Not very exciting.

We put in hardwood in the rest of the house a couple years ago and it never quite made it into this room. UNTIL NOW!

My hubbie had all but 3 days off for the last 2 weeks and has been working so hard to get it done. As of today the floor is finished, walls painted bright and fun, just needs to finish the trim.

I cant wait to move stuff in, maybe re-upholster furniture and hang artwork.

Then show you.

Happy Birthday Genny!

I am a lucky gal. My stepmother has been in my life since I was 10. Not only has she been a wonderful mom and friend to me and grandmother to my kids, she has also been the major driving force that got my dad through some major health crises. This family became a better family because of her. I love you dearly Genny. Happy Birthday!

Happy New Year!

One of the best things I did in 07 was to start reading all your crafty blogs. The talent, kindness, inspiration and generosity with freebies and tutorials. Just knowing you all are out there with your sewing machines, knitting needles, paints, fabrics, kids and families sure made this sometimes scary, maddening world seem less so.

Giant Thank you!

Christmas re-cap

Warning this may become long and boring. I hope not too much.

Santa Rat Face. Not my best photo but the girl wanted you to see it.

I've been wanting to blog about my Wii experience but I didn't want my kids to find out about a gift early.
I want to start by saying, I am not one of those people who latch onto the latest holiday toy craze, become insane, and do insane things. USUALLY.
My son wanted a Wii last year, no way budget wise and there was no way I was standing in line with all the living in their parents basement with no responsibilities 20 something boys who need the latest electronic. So when my son asked again this year and his sister agreed to share it with him to split the cost per kid, I thought this is do-able. My kids are great kids, polite, help when asked, put up with my wait until it goes on sale, wait until it's at the dollar movies etc.. So this year I wanted to give them a something cool that they didn't have to wait years after all of their friends have one gifts.
So I went and stood in line at Toys-R-Us around 6:15, the Sunday after Thanksgiving. I was #26, they had 25. The following Sunday 4:30 and I was probably 50th in line. What a joke. The third Sunday I arrived 2:20am was 20th in line, they had 19. CRAP! I was cold, tired and beat down. Slept half the day away because mind you they don't tell you they only have 19 until 6am.

Sunday #4 they were predicting a Blizzard, I was sick and wasn't going no matter what. Around 11pm I get a wild hair, grab a sleeping bag, lawn chair, a few more blankets and some hand and foot warmers, determined those bastards weren't getting the best of me! (insanity) I was #4 in line, hunkered down in my little Sleeping bag cave and braved the night and storm. Every couple hours I would shake a few inches of snow off of me and I learned the hand and foot warmers only last about 4 hours. I was cold, exhausted, and even sicker (is that a word?), but triumphant!



My kids knew nothing because I left after they were asleep and got home before they got up. They love the Wii and love me. I proved to myself I am one Bad Mamma Jamma, but NEVER AGAIN!

Christmas Eve we went to my mom in laws party.

My niece loved her sock monster and loved the gift bag even more. I'd ask her were her sock monster was and in her sweet little 2year old voice say "In my bag". So cute.

I had made Great Grandpa a huge pot of split pea soup, his fave and homemade. Then put it in single serve containers and froze it. Filled a grocery bag which my daughter decorated. He loved it. He says no one ever makes split pea anymore. Now he can just zap some whenever he wants. I also kept the ham bone from the party and promised refills.

We got home that night and a wonderful package was waiting for me. I had won a mini bundle (mini my eye) of fabric from this talented fabric designer and author. You can check out her blog and web at http://www.lindalumdebono.com/ . Such kindness and such talent. Thank you so much. I love them.

I made 2 lunch bags today using her beautiful fabrics.

We also have a tradition of making sugar cookies.

My daughters style is to cover them with as much frosting and sprinkles as possible.

Hubbie and son teamed up for Homer and Marge.

My job is to frost what is left after the fam gets bored.

We got spoiled, ate too much, laughed a ton and had a wonderful time.

Merry Christmas!

I wont be posting for awhile due to the holidays, mom stuff, family stuff and a construction project. Yay!
My son gave me the pet chick off to the side. You can feed it in the bottom right, or turn off the annoying sound on the bottom left.
I want you all to have a safe, healthy, happy Christmas and New Year. Blessings to you all!