My daughter, Purse Exchange, Recent Class

I am still in shock at what my daughter did...I received an email that just said, "Don't Kill Me" and a link. I went to the site and saw my blog picture. She had sent in a letter about me. According to the blog I went to and I quote.....

"Yes indeedy do, it’s that time again! A woman of substance who is kicking bootay whilst looking fabulous every day is hereby and fore with awarded the SUPER GIRLIE GOOD POWER™ AWARD!" http://margotpotter.blogspot.com/2007/03/brand-new-super-girlie-good-power-award.html I actually won a prize.

My daughter is my best friend. It makes me feel good that she would want to tell the world how much I mean to her.

I also celebrated 20 years working at State Farm Insurance. I picked out a speaker system for my gift. It turned out that the speaker system I have is better. I am suppose to get some cash but have not send it yet. Maybe it is coming by pony express.


I have completed my purse for the International Purse Exchange III. Lynnette said that she liked hot pink so I hope she really does.















The book is about a yarn shop owner, it was passed to me to read and pass on to another knitter. I embroidered a free standing lace bookmark with Lynnette's initial (McCray), a change purse, and a in-the-hoop applique tissue holder as accessories. I fell in love with a scarf that was hanging in the yarn shop so I brought the yarn and will also send the pattern to her. The box in the back has four different lotions, and the small box is candy. The purse is an original design by Bette Bornside, New Orleans and has a magnetic closure. http://bornsideyarns.com/ .The box will go out on Monday.

I also took a class on how to emboss metal. It is very thin so it is more like tin. I went to Recollections in Columbia, MD. This is a scrapbooking shop that I just found out is owned by Michael's. I do digital scrapbooking but they really have some fantastic classes that was impossible for me to resist. http://www.recollectionsonline.com/articles/scrapbooking.html .

The "L" is backwards in this picture but it is not on the actual work. Guess my PSP skills are not as great as I thought.

I am almost finished with the purse for the Purse Exchange, working on my Easter postcards for the Art2Mail group, almost completed warping the loom for the bamboo scarves that I want to get done because I need to get them off so I weave a shawl for my trip to Europe. I do not have one finished that I want to take.

Working on a pair of socks from the Favourite Socks book, would like to finish the floor cloth that is laying on the floor in my bedroom, that is the only place that has enough floor space to work on it. Anyway, that is where it is going in the end. I brought a nice big pot to dye the yarn that I had spun and tried to dye with Kool-Aid. I have fiber reactive dyes and so I might as well try. Also working on labels for the yarn that I have spun. I figure that if I spin it I should have personalized labels.

I am spending the day, working on half completed sewing projects. I have a robe, 2 jackets, 2 purses that are begging to be completed.


Hugs,
Louise

Happy St Patricks Day

POSTCARDS, POSTCARDS

I recently joined two fiber art groups. I wanted to combine my love of PSP (Paint Shop Pro), fabric and yarn. In one group Fiber Art Traders, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FiberArtTraders/, they have several exchanges going on at the same time like making dolls, transforming Altoid Tins, ATC's (Artist Trading Cards), and fabric postcards. Someone comes up with a theme and gives a deadline. You sign up before the close date and post your trade. Once the trade closes, the exchange hostess/host will then assign the person that you will send your item.

The first exchange I have tried is the fairytale fabric postcard. You could either send it naked (not in a clear envelope), or you can put it in an envelope. I decided to send them without an envelope. This is my submission for the fairy tale postcard exchange

Yes, Jack and Jill are not fairytales but I found this embroidery and wanted to use it.

The next exchange that I joined is called Art2Mail (www.art2mail.com). In this exchange, there is no theme, 25 people send cards to each other for birthdays, and just because. We will send until April. I am quite behind on my birthday cards and will send out some belated ones. This is an international exchange. We have members from the U.S. as well as the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Norway and Germany.

This is my first PC which I am calling "Baby It's Cold Outside". I have 6 more to do and I am finished with the first batch. The cards have cost me a 39 cent stamp because I have not got the weight right yet. When I took the fairytale postcards to the post office the lady charged me an extra fee for hand cancellation. The postage I had to buy was 52 cents. Yesterday when I took my Art2Mail cards, it only cost me 39 cent. In fact, the postmaster was looking for snowflake stamps because he thought they would look better. So that I did not spend the day in the post office, I had to assure him that I liked the quilt stamps because most of the people that would be receiving the cards were quilters. I have a bunch to take today and we will see what happens.

The coat on the lady is made with a fringe technique. I have purchased some great fringe embroidery from www.emblibrary.com. If you are looking for inexpensive embroidery designs, this is the place.

To get the fabric so that the printer ink will adher, I first soak the fabric for 5 minutes in Bubble Jet Set 2000. Once the fabric dries, you iron it to freezer paper and cut to fit your printer. This is the same paper you find at the grocery or you can buy precut sheets and the solution from http://www.cjenkinscompany.com/. If you plan on washing the fabric, it is suggested that you use Bubble Jet Rinse. As you can see, the colors are very rich. I did not buy the fabric rinse because I had no plans of washing it. A lot cheaper than buying those sheets from Joann's or Michaels.

That's it for today. I have been spinning and trying to get some weaving done. When I went to the ACC (American Craft Council show, I really got inspired to weave a room divider. More about that later, I have a germ of an idea and I am still working on it. Also, I have purchased or made lots of purses over the years, a lady at the show told me how to display them. I want to work on that this week. Somewhere in there, I promised to make something to put in my daughter Eatsy's shop, make a large apron for my niece that is dressing up as a bunny for Easter to entertain some children at her church, as well as finishing the purses for the International Purse Exchange and the Knitted Purse Exchange.

I really will get everything done...Really! Oh NO, I have a quilting class on Saturday. Can someone loan me a couple extra days for this week, please!!!!!!!

Exchanges and a Gift

This year brings a lot of new things for me to try and experimentation. I am in a spinning exchange (going to try to dye my handspun, wish me luck), as well as two knitted purse exchanges.

While working in New Orleans, the owner of a small but well stocked yarn shop, Bette Bornside Company (www.bornsideyarns.com), gave me a purse pattern that she had created based on a cashmere purse she had seen in a magazine for $1500. I decided to make the purse for both of my purse swaps but will change the color of the lining (in the picture I have the hot pink for one of my secret pals, the other likes yellow and I have not purchased it yet). The accessories that I am making will match. Because the purse is see through, there will be two linings, one is a cream color that will be next to the purse so you will not see the colored lining.

I am using Cabana yarn in a off white color which feels a little like suede. Cabana is made by Reynolds. I have not decided what to do about the strap. The pattern calls for an I-cord. I saw a purse in a magazine that looked similar and it had a leather strap. We will see. I am finished with one purse and half way through with the other one. Once I have them both finished, then I have to block, put together, and fill with goodies for my secret purse pals.


I have also joined two fiber exchange groups. One group is called Fiber Art Traders where someone comes up with a theme for fabric postcards, decorating Altoid tins, making dolls, etc.
I have joined the exchange for fairy tale postcards and making a coffee cozy. No more paper coffee cuffs for me again. When I drink my take out coffee, I want a cuff that will make me feel like royalty. Okay, I just want to be different.
This the cuff/cozy that I have made to exchange. I first put together the cafe scene with friends in Paint Shop Pro then printed it out on fabric. I was able to find fabric that had all kinds of names of coffee for the inside of the cuff. Now I am waiting to hear who I am trading with. Hope they like it.

I am really excited about the Valentine gift I received from my friend Vicki. I can hardly wait to show her around the Maryland Sheep and Wool, this will be her first time. I can remember for first time....all I can say is overwhelmed.

Vicki told me that she had a book to send me so I was a little shocked to get a box.
The box was full of goodies.
I bet that gorgeous yarn is from her stash. She must have some collection. I like to read before I go to bed and had finished my last book last night. Now I have two books to read. This was perfect timing. The socks match the fleece top I made to wear with my sweat pants in this chilly weather. I love chocolate covered nuts of all kinds so the Dove's won't last long. The sticks tied with ribbon is chocolate covered peppermint sticks, will have to hide them. The valentine box is from Russell Stover's, yum yum.

This was a great day, don't you think. I am off to drink my sugar-free peanut butter hot chocolate, eat chocolate covered peppermint sticks and chocolate covered nuts. Diet can wait until tomorrow.

2007 Goals

I decided to join the Knit-From-Your-Stash-a-Thon that started January 1 and ends September 30. I feel that I can make it nine months with one exception. I am going to the Maryland Sheep and Wool and that is too much yarn to not buy....Oh yes, the rules say that sock yarn does count. I have changed the title to Knit/Weave-From-Your-Stash-a-Thon.

These are the rules...

1. The Knit/Weave-From-Your-Stash-a-Thon will start January 1, 2007 and run through September 30, 2007--a period of nine months.

2. We will not buy any yarn during that period, with the following exceptions:

a. Sock yarn does not count. What? you think we are made of stone?

b. If someone asks for a specific knitted gift that we really and truly do not have the yarn for, we may buy yarn to knit that gift.

c. If we are knitting something and run out of yarn, we may purchase enough to complete the project.

3. We are allowed to receive gifts of yarn.

4. Trading stash is allowed.

5. Spinning fiber of any sort is exempt.

I have also come up with my goals for 2007. I was at first thinking that I would love to knit a sweater this year...start to finish. While talking to my spinning/weaving/knitting friend today, I have revised my goal to Spinning the yarn, Dye it, then knit a sweater this year.

My other goal is to weave fabric for a complete outfit.

I am giving myself until the end of the year for these last two goals.

Purse 2 Questionnaire

Hi everyone,

Here is the answers to the questionnaire for the Purse Exchange 2. I have heard from the lady that I have and checked out her blog.

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I like sock yarns, hand dyed ...I really do not have a fiber that I absolutely do not like. You can find something to do with all of it.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? I do not have a good needle storage. I most have the 12" circulars for my socks and double pointed. I just throw what I need in a baggie.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I have been knitting continueously for a couple of years. A lady showed me how quite a few years ago but I did not start knitting regularly until I wanted to make socks. I would consider myself an intermediate.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
NO

5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products, etc.)

Peach

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? chocolate with nuts

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I weave, crochet, love working with Paint Shop Pro to make signature tags and digital scrapbook pages, machine embroidery. I spin but I am not very good. It would probably help if I stuck to it.

8. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
I live red, white, purple, green, yellow. The only color that I do not care for but can not say I hate, is orange.

9. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I am a single mom of two grown children. I have no pets.

10. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
socks

11. What are you knitting right now?
socks and a purse

12. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
circular. bamboo, aluminum, plastic-whatever does the job

13. Is there anything that you collect?
I collect yarn..but I also collect the procelain Christmas miniature houses. Most of mine is Department 56 but I buy what I like.

One Last Christmas Thought

I am sitting here knitting on one of my sock projects because I want to wear the socks tomorrow with a sweater that I brought here to New Orleans...Yes, I am back in New Orleans working. Hopefully, for just another 30 days. At least I hope so since I have so many projects planned.

There is going to be another tote exchange of which I want to be apart of; I am in a fiber postcard exchange due in April; received sock yarn and a pattern from my daughter for Christmas that is calling me to get started on; and two scarves on my loom. I am also in a Name Draft weaving study group requiring swatches to exchange.. of course there will be something else.

I did want you to see some of the gift tags for my childrens' Christmas gifts. I have told you before how I love using Paint Shop Pro (PSP). These tags are an example of what I have been doing.

My son said that I made him look like a "pimp". My daughter understood that he was Willy Wonka. Next to "Roger" Wonka is my interpretation of my son as a pirate. I think the body is Johnny Depp. My son was about 8 when this picture was taken, he will be 32 on 1/7/07. I can not believe that I have not been home for his birthday in years. Once I was so busy I totally forgot. He has never let me live it down. My daughter and husband said that they are taking him and his girlfriend out this year. Maybe he will not notice that I was not there.

I loved taking my children places when they were small. One of the many places we went was Wild West City in New Jersey when she was about 12, I took the picture and created a desk frame. Next I took one of her pictures and put her head on this great graphic of Santa taking off his Santa face. I think it works.

The last gift tag that I am showing you is my daughter and son-in-law as Centaurs.

I thought they would kill me but they laughed with me and liked my creations.

Happy New Year

Looking Back on 2006

I have been looking back at my life in 2006. Frankly, I mostly see "Work". I spent from January to May in Dallas, TX working because of Hurricane Katrina that occurred in 2005. I met a new friend that was a quilter, Joan, and actually got interested in quilting, as if I needed another hobby. We made pillowcases, purses, went to fabric shops and quilt shows. I tried blaming her for me buying the Brother 1500D sewing/embroidery machine at one of the shows but it was something I wanted and she just said the right words.

I did take a warp painting class while in Texas. This is the second time I had taken a warp painting class and I was very disappointed with the results both times. I have found something on the internet that I will try in 2007. The process to get a space dyed look for your weaving projects is to use your knitting machine (I have one) and knit a simple stockinette, paint the knitting, unravel, use the unraveled yarn to warp your loom. http://www.machineknittingtodyefor.com/. This sounds so great and might solve my problems.
Found two weaving stores and went to weaving guild meetings in Dallas and Ft. Worth. The members were so friendly and made me feel right at home.

I was home from June to August but did not really get much done. I was just so tired. That is when I learned that I had diabetes. We have caught it early enough so that I can control it with diet and exercise but the knowledge through me for a loop. In September, actually I spent Labor Day driving to an assignment, I worked in NewPort News and Virginia Beach, VA. Stayed there until the end of October.

Finally met Sue. She's the one who got me interested in Paint Shop Pro. She came to meet me at the hotel I was staying in NewPort News one day and taught me so much. I had never met her before; a dear friend had told her about me and wanting to learn how to make signature tags and digital scrapbooking. Sue had such patience with me sending screenshots to try to get through to me the things she wanted me to learn. I do not know how to thank her for all she has taught me. Of course, my children would not thank her, I made all the gift tags for their gifts in Paint Shop Pro using pictures from when they were very young. I will post some of the tags when I have a chance so you can see what I came up with. My son said that I made him look like a pimp on one of the tags. At least my daughter knew that it was Willy Wonka from the Chocolate Factory fame.

The week before Thanksgiving, I was sitting in a hotel in PA waiting for my sister to call me to pick her up when I received a call from work that I was being sent to work in New Orleans but did not have to leave until the December 4. My sister and I have never been really close but now that my parents have both died, I wanted to do whatever I could for us to be sisters again. This meeting was the beginning. We talk every week and I feel that whatever caused the riff and I do not know what, we can mend our relationship.

I had fooled around making my gifts so I had to really curtail my plans for Christmas. I left home on December 3rd and took my sewing/embroidery machine and spinning wheel with me to New Orleans. I had to find things for friends gifts, a coffee exchange, and items to finish making family gifts, while running around a strange city were I had so little time after work. Somehow, I got everything done. I even convinced a co-worker that she could do crafts and helped her make funky dishwashing gloves for her sisters. We had been in a shop on Magazine Street in New Orleans when we saw these dishwashing gloves for sale. I told her that we could make them and make them better. I did the sewing of the cuffs and had her do all the gluing of the "Bling" factors on the gloves. She was thrilled. My son has not sent me the pictures we took Christmas so I will have to show you later the results. I was just as pleased as she.

To end the year, I am home until January 2, 2007. I wanted to go by and see my friends. I went to Gail's weaving/knitting shop. She is only 15-20 minutes from me which makes it nice. She is the lady that has taught me the basis of spinning.


Gail would not let me take a picture of her. But if you ever have a chance to go to Gettysburg, PA, you should check out her shop, she is right in the center of town. http://mistymountainfw.com

There is another weaving shop with more yarn but not nearly as much love and friendship.

I also have been working on some socks. My daughter gave me sock yarn and a great pattern for Christmas. I have to get the socks finished that I have been working on first. I always have two pairs of socks (different patterns) going at the same time. I get tired of working on one and then I work on the other for awhile.

I will get them the other sock for each pair done this week or by the time I get back.

The green sock has a cotton yarn top but the foot part is a very soft 100% Merino Wool by Louet called Gems. I did not like the feel of the cotton and did not want it on the foot part. I have to take a picture of the shawl I wove so you can see. I wove it on my 8 harness Ashford 25" table loom using Bambuu 7 from Cotton Cloud. Of course before you see it, I may have used the fabric as panels in a jacket. I have been leaning toward that.

My son-in-law brought me luggage for Christmas for my trip to Europe. Since I am taking the Rick Steves, Europe through the Backdoor tour, you can only take with you what you can carry and put in the overhead bin on the plane. The luggage my son-in-law gave me can be used as a backpack or wheeled luggage. My daughter and son-in-law filled the bag with things I would need for the trip like: a silk sleep sack and a power converter. My son-in-law's parents gave me a travel alarm clock; really needed that.

My son gave me a video IPOD so that this way I will have my music, books, and can download my photos while on my trip. He also gave me a desktop computer. He is on his way to see me today and set up the computer. For some reason I am not trusted to do it myself. Okay, so I spill coffee, water, soda into my computers but I promised that I would not do that anymore.

My son is here, I am getting a new computer with flat screen monitor....HURRAH!!!!!!

I Made Out This Christmas part 2

As promised, I wanted to show you more gifts received from friends.

The first is from Joan. I met her while working in Dallas, Texas this year. She is a quilter in every sense of the word. She is the only person I ever met that buys fabric by the bolt.

Against my better judgment, Joan is determined that I become a quilter. I think there is no hope, but I am willing to try. I received some beautiful fat quarters, a subscription to McCalls Quilting and a cute pink bag to carry my quilting supplies in. I was thrilled with these but the treasure was a ceramic house for my Christmas village of a Quilt Shop. I have named it Joan's Quilt Shop and will make a sign to sit in front of it for my village next year.

Don't you think it is precious....., I do.

I also received a mountain load of gifts from Vicki. She is my new knitting friend. We have not met but it seems like I have known her for years. She was my secret sender in the One Skein Exchange and made a beautiful pin for me knitted on toothpicks. I will never get over that. We decided to stay in touch and send each other knitted gifts for Christmas, etc.

She had mentioned that she like the fingerless mittens that I had sent my One Skein Exchange person, so I made her a pair for Christmas. When I received her package, I almost fainted. I received homemade creme candy (melts in your mouth) made from a receipe from her grandmother, as well as homemade Chocolate Bark candy (I seem to have a piece in my mouth all the time). She also sent homemade marmalade that has been a part of my morning breakfast since I received it. So delicious. She made the marmalade from the fruits that her sister brings her.

I have some beautiful note cards that I can only send to special people that can appreciate them. Vicki said that they were a Bible school project with yarn scraps. According to Vicki, there is no end to what she can do with scrap yarn.

I have no words for the yarn. But I should not be surprised, Vicki's taste in yarn is breathtaking. I will never find a project that will do it justice....however, it will be fun trying. The colors......no words can express.

She admitted that she used my blog to find out what I liked. I had mentioned in a previous post that I liked Creme Brulee coffee. I can not find it very often around where I live so when I go to a coffee shop that has it, I become a very good customer of theirs. To my amazement, she sent me Creme Brulee coffee from her favorite coffee shop. I am sitting here at this moment savoring the aroma and taste of that coffee. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, Vicki.

And now my knitted gift....I have never tried to design any knitting. She made me a skinny scarf that she designed and made herself.

I wore it to my local weaving/knitted shop and got so many compliments. I was smiling so hard you would have thought that I had made it.

Isn't the internet wonderful. You meet such wonderful people.

I have a short story to tell you about another internet friend. I had been receiving emails of jokes for almost a year but did not bother to tell the person that I did not know them because I loved the jokes. I had to say something when I received an email asking for the address of a relative. I wrote her back and told her that I did not know her but would like to stay on her contact list because I loved the things she sent.

We sent back a few notes and she sent me a picture of her and her husband. When I found out that I was a diabetic, she wrote me to tell me that she was Type 1 and that I could control it. She sent me magazines, pamphlets and a cookbook as well as being a wealth of knowledge on what I need to do. Because of her help, I am not taking any kind of medication. I have everything under control with diet and exercise. I can eat anything I like but in moderation and have to watch portion size. Thank you very much Susie.

My daughter was a surprise to me on Christmas. She knits but that is the end of her love of fiber/fabric. She is very creative but in other ways. Since I had purchased a sewing/embroidery machine so that it would be easier for me to travel with than taking 2 machines, she asked me if I would show her how to use my Bernina 330 stand alone embroidery machine. I took it to her and showed her the basics. She said that she wanted to embroider some things and then bead it. WOW!!!! was I amazed when I opened a present from her and found that she had embroidered a tee shirt for me. She did a great job, don't you think!!!!

I think she is ready to move on to sewing.

Well, I go back to New Orleans to work on Monday. Have a couple of my friends to visit. I will take some photos of my friend Gail's knitting/weaving shop that is located in Gettysburg, PA about 15 mintues from me. I know you will enjoy them.

I am working on some socks that I will show you in the next post. I am in a Spinning Exchange so I have to get started on that. I have not spun in quite some time so I hope that I get something that looks like yarn out of this. In February, I will have a chance to take a one day class that will help me in spinning the yarn for the 2nd skein I am to send my exchange partner. You are to send one handspun skein in January and one in Februrary. I am going to try to concentrate on my spinning this year so that I can get better.

Other thoughts on my mind is to make some art dolls. That is the fault of Teesha Moore, if you check out her blog, you will see the most spectacular dolls. I was so envious.

I have also joined a fiber artist group. They have an exchange making fiber postcards that you can send through the mail. I thought that this would be fun to try using fiber and Paint Shop Pro.

I Made Out This Christmas

I am still in amazement of the gifts I received from friends. I have never had a Christmas like this one. My family gave me everything I wished for plus some... but my friends out did themselves. I will post again tomorrow to show you more. I also want to take some photos of what is on the loom and the knitting needles. So much to do and so little time.

First however, I want to show you what I sent for my coffee swap and also some pages from the Chunky Book Exchange.

In the coffee swap you were to send a box to your coffee exchange partner that consist of goodies and coffee. My box is on it's way from my exchange partner and I can hardly wait. Here is what I sent her:

I asked her for a wish list and she told me that she would love a book by E Zimmerman or Nancy Bush. I found that the bookstores in New Orleans did not have many books. I found a store just before I sent the box that had one book. I also sent the coffee that the locals in New Orleans drink which is a combination of coffee and chicory as well as a pound of regular coffee. I was happy to see that the yarn store that had the book also sold hand dyed sock yarn. I never worked so hard trying to put a box together as I did this time.

I also received my Chunky Book. The pages were to be 4X4 and the theme was Santa and Me. I did not have a picture of me with Santa but I had one of my daughter so I put my baby picture face over hers. I was happy that we were facing the same way.

This was so much fun. I would I would love to do another project like this.

These are just a few pages to give you an idea of the book. The first photo is of the cover and the lasts photo is of the back. You can see my page in a previous blog post.

We could not leave the back of the pages blank as you can see.

I met my friend Ileana a few years ago while working in Akron, OH. She kept me laughing while we walked in the evenings after work telling me about coming to the U.S. and not being able to speak English. You know that the person has a good heart and a great sense of humor when they can laugh at themselves. She has written a book about her faith which I will tell you about in another post. For quite sometime, I have been trying to get her to get a hobby. Since she loves jewelry, she called me one day and told me she was taking a jewelry class. After she took the class, she called me back to tell me that she loved it and was making me a present for Christmas. I was speechless when I opened the box. The first thing I saw was a beautiful purse made with fabric from her homeland in Guatamala. She knows how much I love their weaving. I then saw a small white box that held a gorgeous fused glass pendant. My mouth was in a constant grin when I saw the little green box, it held another fused glass pendant. I had no idea....They are so beautiful. I am going to get a simple chain for one and let my daughter make me something for the other one. I am sure you will agree that they are beautiful.

I received two more boxes from friends. But that is another post.....

Hope all had a very Merry Christmas...

I sure did.

Coffee Exchange update

I joined a Coffee exchange but have not heard from my partner. She maybe MIA. I will wait until next week and then I will let the exchange hostess know.

The exchange hostess asked everyone to share their favorite coffee mugs. I have two. One I have only had a few months but find I use a lot now and the glass one I have had a very long time. They both keep the coffee nice and hot. The brown and blue one is about to take a trip. I am being sent to work in Lousiana on Sunday so this cup is packed. I hate the plain cups in the extended stays we are housed in.

Also, we were asked to show our favorite coffee spot. I live in a town with one stop light, a blinking light at the end of my street, a grocery store, and 2 pizza shops. They also have 2 coffee shops that are as different as night and day. One is a combination religious gift shop and coffee shop. They have a comfy sofa and lots of chairs and tables. They have a few pieces of dessert and bagels if you get their early. Every time you go in, there is a different person working so you never get to know the staff.


The other shop has one table and two chairs, lots of delicious desserts and of course, coffee. This second shop is called Main Street Sweets and is owned by two very nice ladies, Wendy and Jennifer.

I truly like the atmosphere of this shop, it is a 5 minute walk away and you can buy bite size desserts for 50 cents. So if you have not guessed, my favorite shop is Main Street Sweets. I went down to take these pictures today and get a cup of their Gingerbread Latte and found myself walking back not only with the Latte but a piece of some delicious pecan something. Made the trip worthwhile.









The exchange also asked that you complete a questionnaire on your blog or the exchange blog.
Here is the answers to my questionnaire:
1. WHOLE BEAN OR GROUND: ground. It is easier for me since I am in hotels most of the time.
2. FULLY-LOADED OR DECAF: Fully loaded of course...is there any other kind?
3. REGULAR OR FLAVORED: I prefer Flavored.
4. HOW DO YOU DRINK YOUR COFFEE: Lots of half and half with Splenda
5. FAVORITE COFFEE EVER: Creme Brulee..Unfortunately, I have not found a place near me that sells it.
6. ARE YOU FUSSY ABOUT YOUR COFFEE OR WILL ANY OLD BEAN DO: I am a little fussy
7. FAVORITE TREATS TO HAVE WITH YOUR COFFEE: Oatmeal or Peanut Butter cookies
8. ANYTHING ELSE ABOUT YOUR COFFEE PREFERENCES: No
9. YARN/FIBER YOU LOVE: Natural fibers
10. YARN/FIBER YOU HATE: Synthetics
11.WHAT'S ON YOUR NEEDLES: I have three projects going, socks-fingerless mittens-a purse
12. FAVORITE COLORS: Everything
13. ALLERGIES: No
14. ANYTHING YOU REALLY LOVE, REALLY DON'T LIKE, OR JUST NEED TO GET OFF YOUR CHEST: I have to go back to work and it is not fair. I will have to fight with the masses to fly home for Christmas and then back to work the day after New Year.

Also, I am looking for a wife for my son...he has a great job, loves to travel and have fun. No stuck in the muds need to apply.

Until next time...have a great day

More Christmas Village Photos

In the previous post, I posted a few pictures of my Christmas Village. Here are a more.



After reading the post from Monte on the Dept. 56 newsgroup, I will be running out to get some baking or pool soda to make my snow. His looks so realistic.

I have a meeting to go to on Thursday (work), so I will have to stop working on my Christmas gifts. Work always seems to get in the way of fun.

Merry Christmas

I am in the Christmas spirit. I just finished sewing a present for my daughter and it is wrapped. I am in a chunky book swap and my pages are finished. YEAH!!!!!







The theme of the Chunky Book page is that you have to use a picture of you with Santa. Well, I do not have a picture of me with Santa but I do have one of my daughter with Santa. I just put my face over hers and I was set. I just put the picture in an ornament and decorated. You were asked not to leave the back of the page plain. I decided to use the Sports Illustrated cover because I thought I made a great cover girl. LOL

Next I finished up my Christmas Village. It was so hard to decide which village pieces that I was going to use. I really wanted to use all but would have to move out all my furniture.

I will have more pictures in my next post. I was only able to put a few on this time.

Just have a couple more sewing projects to finish and of course some knitting and weaving.

Wait until my son, daughter, and son-in-law see the gift tags I have made. I may be banded from the family. I will show you some examples later.

Isn't Christmas fun?

I really do not have much shopping to do because I buy all year round but I do like to make things and usually get right up to Christmas before I finish.

See you later...

It Is Almost Christmas

First I would like to thank Vicki from Canada again for my purse and gifts. from the International Tote Exchange that ended October 31. I had meant to show you how nice it was in my last post and deleted the photo by mistake. Thank you Vicki, I love it and have used it often, the cellphone holder really comes in handy. I have been wearing the socks...so nice and soft.


I have started on Christmas. The table is up in the living room for my Christmas Village. You will see the progress as it I get things done. It takes me a couple of weeks to get it like I want. There probably will not be a ski lift this year. I can not figure out away to add it.


I basically start with a few houses to decide on the layout and lighting, then the hard part of deciding which houses and stores I have room for. I collect Christmas in the City and Snow Village from Department 56 as well as the great houses from Ace Hardware. In fact, I love the Ace lighthouses so much that I am trying to decide where to put them so that I can have a fishiing village as part of my Christmas setup.

Since the Christmas in the City pieces are smaller, they go toward the back that makes it look like the city is in the distance. That is where my park is also located. The train station is in trouple as to whether it will be added this year. Not sure how people get in and out of town. I might leave the bus station since it takes up less room, we will see.

I have purchased a few Christmas presents but I have cut out fabric for items that I am making for my daughter as well as myself. I want a new coat this year. When I was at the fine art craft show in Annandale, VA, I saw the perfect coat but it cost so much. I am trying to make one that will satisfy that want/need. Anyway, the fabric is cut out for all my projects and now the sewing begins.

There are are few people that I want to weave some gifts for. I promised a scarf to one friend and a throw to another. Oh, and as for me, I wove some fabric that was suppose to be a shawl but now will be panels in a jacket just have to weave the fabric for the main part. I will show you pictures of all the projects as they are finished.

I do not send many Christmas cards but the few I do will need to be designed in PSP (Paint Shop Pro), use my embroidery machine to make free standing lace ornaments to put in the cards and somehow get them out in time. I did not send out any cards/ornaments last year and I have one friend that told me that she has a blank spot on her tree because I did not send her one last year.

Oh, I have some socks and mittens/hats to get knitted.

Time, Time, Time, is there ever enough in the day.

One Down and Two to Go

I am finally through with my Tote Exchange purse. I started the purse on time but was sent out of town. I had planned on making polymer clay buttons for the center of the petals and embroider my pals name in the lining but time was against me.

I had purchased the yarn to make myself the purse. When I joined the exchange I thought that the pattern would be great for my secret pal, Kim. I decided to use different yarn for the flowers and purchased what the lady at the yarn shop told me was "good" yarn for felting. Well, I can assure you that the yarn is "NOT" good for felting. My green trim (represents the leaves) is floppy and the flowers which was suppose to be two layers, did not felt so I only used one layer.

I was at my daughter's this week crying and getting very upset because the purse was not what I had expected after washing everything 3 times. I call it my "flower garden purse". I thought by give the purse a name, it would be something Kim will like. I put a treat inside hopefully to make her smile.

I am happy to say that I received my tote from my pal. The tote was full of such great gifts. I did get embarrassed because I was wearing what I thought was a pin she had sent me and when I thanked her, she said that she had sent stitch holders and just put them on a safety pin. I was wearing the pin (stitch holders) on my work sweatshirt because it matched.

I downloaded the picture of the purse but must have deleted it by mistake. I will show you my great purse in my next post.

I am in two other exchanges that I need to work on now. Hopefully, I can stay home long enough to get them finished.

Relaxing and Knitting

I have made it through the first week of duty. Yes, that is what I consider work. Mainly because I have been off for the last 2 months and had hoped to be off for a few more weeks.

I received a comment on this blog from a DeltaDawn that I could get in touch with her regarding yarn shops in Virginia Beach and area. However, she commented as anonymus so I have no way to reach her. DeltaDawn, if you read this, please tell me how to get in touch with you. I am off on Saturday's and need additional yarn to finish the tote I am knitting.

I have been working on my tote for the International Tote Exchange. The base is finished but I need to buy the yarn for the flowers based on the colors that my secret pal likes. Looks like I will only have a chance to work on it on Saturdays since I get in so late from work that all I want to do is crawl into bed. Here is what I have so far:

I do hope she will like it. I had purchased the pattern and the yarn for myself before I heard about the exchange. The colors of yarn that I had purchased for the flowers is not the favorite colors of my secret exchange pal so I will just save that yarn for my own purse that I will make later.

I am also doing a mitten KAL. I have almost completed the first convertible glove. Oh goodness, I was just looking at the picture and see that I will have to make one of the fingers longer. Did not notice that before. I had planned on these for myself and kept wondering why there was no change in instructions for men and women. I tried on the incomplete one and it is gigantic on my hand. Guess my son or son-in-law will have convertible mittens for Christmas.


Want to knit for another 1/2 hour or so before dinner and getting ready for work tomorrow. Just the thought of 12 hours answering questions and going over estimates is making me tired.

I AM OUT OF HERE

I just received the call I did not want. I am being sent to Newport News, VA to work which is about 4 hours from where I live. I do not know how long I will there.

Packing as we speak. Have to get my knitting projects packed for the tote exchange and mitten KAL as well as make sure I have everything I need for the Christmas Page swap that I just signed up for. I work 12-14 hours a day so I will not get a lot done for awhile.

I will post pictures of my convertible gloves so far in the next post.