Great find

So I used to have a necklace with two tiny silver discs, one with an L and one with an M (my kid's initials) and I wore it all the time. Until, that is, I left it on the bathroom counter and put my contacts in their little Clear Care plastic container next to it. Clear Care is some sort of liquid that bubbles all that grit and crap off your contacts when you leave them in the little vial overnight. Well this particular night some of the bubbly liquid came out of the hole in the top and oozed all over my necklace. It turned black and the metal corroded (let that be a warning to my contact wearing friends out there.). I was so bummed because I have worn it for years and it was a gift and my sister can't remember where she got it. So I did what any smart girl would do and hopped on etsy to find something else to wear. I searched for silver initial pendants and came up with many many many pages. My favorite by far was www.rumpunch.etsy.com. I emailed Susan over there and asked if she could do one charm with both initials and she said no problem. It came today and I am so smitten with it. I like that they are on one charm now because the two would sort of scratch each other up on the last one so this is actually better. It is sweet and tiny- just a bit smaller than a dime- and I absolutely love it! It came quickly and she was great to work with. I love it for myself but I think they would be such a great new Mom gift too. This is one of those things that I will wear all the time. Plus in my search I found so many gift ideas so I am feeling pretty good about the holidays. I am trying to keep it very simple this year so along with sewing gifts for just about everyone, we are giving gifts from Heifer International. They are one of our favorite organizations.

I'm Ready!

I am ready for the whole onslaught of the holidays. I just really want to enjoy them this year at a nice pace. I got the ball rolling early but really think it will be so much more fun if I can not freak out on the 16th of December buried under the pile of the things I wanted to do. So the house lights got put up this weekend, the cards are back from Snapfish ready to be addressed and I am easing into my list of hand made gifts. Tomorrow I am taking a sewing day to atleast get both kids quilts cut out and ready to sew. Plus I have back tack fun to get finished so I can get it in the mail in time. I found that great little lamp at a rummage sale the other day. It was only a buck and looks like it has never been used. And how cute is it? But the best part was this right here: That little price tag from Disco Mart. Disco Mart was the grocery store across town where I would go shopping with my most beloved wonderful Grandma. The Grandma who taught me to sew. The Grandma who made the best ever oatmeal. The Grandma who would boil teakettles of water to add to my bath so it would be so nice and toasty. I would spend the night at her house and we would walk down the street to Disco Mart. Grandma never drove (didn't have a license) but sometime Mr. Casper her neighbor would take us in his little tiny Toyota. Mr. Casper always had those orange "circus peanut" candies to give us. Disco Mart isn't there anymore- it is a Safeway or some run of the mill store like that now. So it was a good find for more than one reason.

Joyful Day!

I woke up with a smile on my face today. I am thrilled with how the election went. Not only because of who was elected, but because it was a smooth process last night. I was geared up to have to wait a day or two and have much ugliness ensuing, what with the way the last two elections went with hanging chads and all that nonsense. It felt really good last night to see the Obamas and the Bidens all up on the stage together- a great mix of young and old, black and white. It just felt like such a better slice of America than what we have seen for all these years. So it is a good day.
Above is a sneak peek of an embroidery I just finished. I found a great old Martha that had an article about embroidering State Birds and it had a pattern for the State bird from each state. I think this is Louisiana. I have no ties to Louisiana ,I just liked the pelican. I have some others waiting to be embroidered and turned into projects so I will hopefully complete those soon. I am full speed ahead with my Holiday gifts!
Speaking of embroidery, my Granny made me this and I just adore it. I had to laugh though because she made one for my older sister too and hers is all filled in and mine is outlines. Can't say I blame her, that is a lot of embroidery to do twice! Plus it is beautiful either way. I have it in my craft room next to one of my favorite paintings by my son. Sorry about the bad picture. There will be no good natural light for the next 6 months so I will have to grin and bear it!

It's official!

It is officially the opening of the holiday season! I am one of those people who likes to get my craft on as early as possible so that the gifities can be done in time to sit back and listen to Christmas music and bake cookies with the kids. I am making a lot of stuff this year especially because I figure you need to put your money where your mouth is and I complain a lot about the ridiculousness of the holidays where the material aspects are concerned. I did some shopping over at Heifer International the other day so that should help too. So everyone gets something hand sewn and some sort of furry creature in their name. I will post things as they finish in case other peeps are looking to make all their gifts as well. (I know you are out there!) If anyone has good ideas, pass them along. Here is a good one in case you are itching to get something done right now like me: I found some great flour sack towels at Target the other day, a pack of 6 for 6 bucks. I am edging them in beautiful fabrics and may embroider a few. Its cute, it's practical and the embroidery part is portable.
I am also happy to see Halloween out of the way because as much fun as it can be, all the over the top gross scary "decorations" all over town and the slutty costumes they expect little girls to wear, get on my nerves. How nice it is to drive down the street without having to look at the neighbors lifelike (is that an oxymoron?) zombie head lashed to the cross in his yard with blood all over it and vacant eyes. Bring on the Christmas lights!
The little table above I found at an Estate sale I almost didn't go to last weekend. They wanted $48 but it was sunday so I bid $20 and got it. I love it! I bid low because I wasn't sure if I would like it as much as I ended up liking it so I am glad my lowball paid off. The light goes through it so it doesn't feel heavy and it is just cute to boot. I also got a long coveted copy of the Tricia Guild Pattern book and I just drool over all the pages. It is so so beautiful- all that color and texture. They have them at Anthropologie right now but I got mine for $3. I had to laugh the other day when I looked through my house and realized how much of it is second hand. I think I will do a photo tour one day because there are some fun pieces. Happy November 2nd!