Notes To Myself

Slow down girl!  Settle down girl!  Relax girl!  Oh, these things just don't seem to be in my vocabulary!  I keep moving from one task to the next despite the fact that all I really feel like doing is stitching.  That motor on my ADD butt just doesn't quit.  At least until I'm so exhausted that I have no choice but to take a shower and go bed.  And oh yes, how about those night sweats!  Love that.  NOT!  And then the restless leg syndrome caused by my medication.  My body wants to sleep but my legs would rather get up, marathon walk around the lake and stroll down to the WalMart for awhile.  They say that the 40's are some really great years for us women.  I think not!  I hope my 50's will be some good years.  We'll see how that goes when I get there.

In the meantime, here are the latest creations by Mom and Myself:







Mom made these sweet little Blanket Babies.  Some of you may remember that Mom made a ton of them for Pat Winters' Comfort Doll Project.   Although they are for decorative use only, they would make the cutest little package tie-on's for a new baby.

These pretty little Blank Note Cards were made by mom as well:



And I made this set:



I have a tendency to forget that it takes a lot of time to take photos, edit photos and upload photos.  I feel like I didn't accomplish a thing if I don't create something each day.  Jan reminded me and I quote, "As for the accomplishing , you did this - sometimes accomplishment means just acknowledging you're alive".  So true Jan and I think that's something that we all have to remember.  Wasn't there a book out awhile back called, "Women Who Do Too Much"?  That would be me, with an extension added that I never feel like I do enough.

I had to stop at the grocery store this morning so I buzzed through the resale shop which is next door.  I don't usually find much in that one.  It's mainly clothing but today I got lucky:



Is this too cute or what?  So shabby cottage style!  I only paid $3.00 for it!  I have plans for it for Easter.  I'll add some Easter grass to the bottom, sit my sparkly white bunny in there and tuck my metallic eggs in around the bunny.  I'll tie a pretty bow to the handle and call it Spring!  I'm sure I'll find a use for it for the rest of the year too.

I'm looking for a magazine holder that is similar in style.  I'm a magazine junkie!  I'd like to get some of them out of my computer room and my bathroom (library) and move them to a corner in the living room where I can reach them while I watch television.

Speaking of tv, Food Channel is calling me.  First I have to put together my Impossible Bacon Pie that I'm making for dinner.  No, I don't cook!  Really I don't!

I'll leave you with an update on Block #5 of my Garden Crazy Quilt:



Quick note to Karen who left me a message regarding my mom's Tussy Mussy's:  Please drop me an email so I can reply to you Karen.  I don't have your email address and it's important to me to answer your questions.

Rose Garden Design In Cross-Stitch & Needlework

I just received the March 2010 issue of Cross-Stitch & Needlework:



I did this lovely Rose Garden design for Charles Craft last year:



Not bad considering I was in the "depths of hell" at the time I did this design!  I am quite pleased with it.  I don't usually get to the see stitched models until they are published and I must say, this really came out beautiful!

I'd like to offer my copy of this magazine to the first person who leaves a comment letting me know that they would like to have it.  USA residents only please!  I just can't keep every magazine that I ever had a design published in.  There wouldn't be any room in my house for me and my cats!  So if someone would like to have this, just leave me a comment and I'll gladly send it off to you and I'll take care of the postage.

In other news, I made some Oatmeal cookies this morning but I'm not really happy with them.  I used my mom's recipe which I forgot, I don't care for.  They're too crunchy.  Next time, I'll go back to my recipe which is soft and chewy. 

I've also been fooling around with Facebook today.  I had to download the latest version of my browser just to get Facebook to work properly.  Then I set up a "Page" for Kitty & Me Designs.  I'm still trying to figure that out but I did manage to get my Etsy shop linked over there.  I could use some "fans" now if anyone feels like heading over there.

The other day, I worked up a new Banner for my shop:



As I mentioned last week, I've got to not push myself so hard and instead, do things that I really enjoy so I decided to have some fun and play with my craft supplies and my shop.  The banner isn't exactly what I wanted but it's good for now.  I may play with it some more at a later date.

Finally for today, Tristan at Enchanted Revelry blog is offering a very nice give away.  I found his blog today through Mary Anne's blog.  Tristan's blog is wonderful!  Thought provoking and visually incredible!  Do stop by and take a peek!

I guess that's all for now.  I feel like I didn't accomplish anything today!  Did you ever have a day like that?  You make your plans but they just don't work out.  Well, tomorrow's a new day.  For now, I'll get myself into a nice warm bubble bath, grab my latest Somerset Studio magazines and relax.

Spring Birds & More Valentines

I've been pacing myself instead of pushing myself.  That's a new one for me.  I've been listing things in my shop and finally had to say, enough for today.  I have more things to add but I'll do some more over the weekend.

For now I listed these pretty little heart ornament/package tie-on's that mom made:



Scott's grandma would have just loved these!  I have a few more of mom's things to do but like I said, over the weekend.

I also listed my little Spring Birds:









Aren't they cute!  How pretty in a little Spring/Easter Vignette!

Now that I have that project done for the day, I plan to go stitch a bit.  I finished stitching the seams on Garden Quilt Block #5:



I'll pull my bead cart over to the sofa and listen to some Food Channel while I stitch.

I plan to do some baking on Sunday.  I have a few people who have asked me for cookies.  I'll be doing Oatmeal Raisin with chocolate chips and I've been wanting to try some Petite Fours.  Which aren't really cookies but rather cake.  Hey, let them eat cake!  I doubt there will be any complaints!

Gifts From Gina

I received a package in the mail yesterday from my sweet friend Gina:



Just look at that pretty lace!  And another fun ATC!!!  I have got to make some more ATC's!  I just love them!  Thank you so much Gina.  You always send me such nice things.

I haven't been feeling well the last few days.  I have a tendency of pushing myself and now I'm paying for it.  Geez, depression, the hormone change and ADD...it's all driving me crazy!

Anyway, I didn't have a choice but to take it easy for a few days.  And I think I probably pushed myself a little too much today.  Even though under normal circumstances, I didn't do (what I consider) to be too much.

I went to the grocery store to get some fruit and everything I need for soup.  I made Creamy Chicken Vegetable soup and oh, does it smell good.  It's still cooling off so I haven't been able to try it yet but I think it'll be good.  I put mushrooms in it so I fully expect my husband to have something to say about that!  And I'll tell him that if he doesn't like it, he doesn't have to eat it!  More for me!

I also finished up my little birdies in the nests.  I'll post photos of them tomorrow.  I'm out of steam  now so I'll go relax and stitch.

Victorian Tussy Mussy's

I'm not sure if I ever mentioned it before or not.  My mom is visually impaired.  Actually, she's legally blind.  Mom does have a small amount of central vision but not enough vision to drive or get around in town without help.  She does have a dog guide and she helps mom quite a bit to get around.

Thankfully, Mom's small amount of central vision is enough for her to do some crafts, some crocheting and sewing and baking.  Can anyone imagine not being able to see?  Would we creative people go insane or what?  Mom is quite determined to keep doing the things she loves for as long as she possibly can.  Mom made these sweet little Angel Tussy Mussy's last week:







To encourage mom and to keep her spirit's up, I offered to add some of her of things to my Etsy shop.  Boy, did that spark some enthusiasm in my mom!  Immediately I could see a little burst of energy and hope in her.  My mom also suffers from depression and SADS.  I just thought if focusing on my crafts and stitching helps me, it would help mom too.

In other news, we went to a flea market this morning.  I didn't find anything all that spectacular but I did find some interesting vintage handkerchiefs which kind of gave me some ideas for art dolls.  Been wanting to do some of those for a long time now!  I share photos of them with you later this week.  I also found some old lace.  Like I need more of that!  I just can't help myself.  One can never have too much fabric, too much glitter or too much lace!  I have it soaking in the sink at the moment.  Can't stand that musty smell.

For now, I'm off to take a hot bubble bath and page through some magazines.  It's so cold here today but from what I've heard, we have a warm up coming later this week.  Upper 30's and possibly 40 degree temps.  Whoa!  Heatwave!  At least compared to what we've been living with for awhile now!  Hope everyone else living with the cold gets a nice warm up too!  Happy Sunday everyone!