Flylady Tissue Holder

This is a copy of the Flylady Tissue holder I gave Marla on Saturday. Unfortunately the photo doesn't do it justice. It's purple with glitter woven into the fabric and the embroidery is silver metallic thread. On one side it says God bless you! and on the other Purple puddles! The purple puddles is reference to a Flylady-ism that is used when you are moved emotionally ... like at a wedding or a christening ..... or .... when you find the perfect pair of shoes. You know what I mean. We've all experienced that wonderful emotion.

FLYFEST 10-4-08

Alice and I had a great time at the FlyFest in Dallas. Here we are with Flylady (Marla Cilley) and the Dodge boys (Eric & Andy Dodge). It was great to finally meet the people I've been reading about ... and hearing on Blog Talk radio. If you want to hear Flylady's broadcasts, this is the url : http://www.blogtalkradio.com/stations/flylady/popular.aspx You can listen via the computer or download the podcasts for your MP3. Sometimes I use the podcasts when I'm cleaning the house.

The Dodge boys performed a couple of times during the FlyFest. They're on Blog Talk also. The url is : ttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/search/eric+dodge Alice and I both bought their CD's.

One of my favorite songs is When I Was Your Age. The lyrics start out like this:
"Last night a storm blew up, knocked out our TV.
A disgruntled eight-year-old came running up to me
saying there's nothing to do, with that pitiful pout
asking me what I did when I was a kid
and the cable went out.

And I said, When I was your age life was tough,
We didn't have this high-tech stuff.
Had to get up off your you-know-what and change the channel
Man, life was cruel and times were hard
no DVD's no VCR
they rolled the windows down in cars
with little plastic handles,
no, I don't think you'd last a day if you had to live the way I did,
when I was your age. ...

When I was your age life was tough,
Each time the phone rang you were stuck there.
You'd stay 'til you hung up.
Yeah it was kinda scary we had to do things for our self.
There were ice cube trays to fill.
We looked up words we couldn't spell
in books called Dictionaries.
I bet you wouldn't last a day
If you had to live the way I did
When I was your age."

Below is a picture of Leanne (Dinner Diva), me and Leslie (Missus Smarty Pants). It was so good to meet them. I put Leslie on the spot and made her tell me what body shape I have. She said I'm a B!!!!!!! A generous B, but a B all the same. Good to know because I signed up for the wrong body type. If you want to check out they're websites, these are the url's.
http://www.savingdinner.com/
http://www.missussmartypants.com/

Naturally, I made a tote specifically for the Flyfest. I was pleased with the way it turned out. And I brought a tissue holder for FlyLady as a thank you for all she's done for me. And she wants to carry it in the flyshop as a new item. Pleases me that my design is appreciated.

Well, busy busy busy!

Bob and I are losing weight -- big surprise -- we changed our eating habits and we work like a sunovagun on the weekends. During the week we work, but it's not the hot sweaty exhausting sort of thing we're doing on the weekend. So what is it we're doing that's so exhausting? SAILING! It's a great workout and it's lots of fun -- not like going to a gym or walking on a treadmill. It's sooooo much fun, but we work our patootees off while we're at it.

During the week I mostly work on items to sell on ebay or at the flea market. Also, I put a lot of effort into creating healthy good-tasting menus for us. I cook every day, but it's not a big deal. I chose the meals that were quick & easy -- but healthy.

Today, however, I made a pincushion just for me! I saw some interesting pincushion's on etsy and just had to create one for myself. I made this one out of recycled wool sweaters that I had washed in hot water and dried in the drier. Then I added to the felting of the fabric by using a felting needle. So this little baby was made from a yellow wool sweater & a blue/lavender/white striped sweater. Then I embroidered it a little. I love it! I think it's very whimisical and it makes me smile. Okay, I know. It takes so little to please me, but I do really love it.

These are two of the purse sized tissue holders that I've made recently. I've got about 30 waiting to be sewed together right this moment, but I took this afternoon off to work on my little fun pincushion (can't stop raving about it, can I?)

Yesterday I was working out the details on another project. Several years ago I made some boot stuffers for Bob for his birthday. I made tubes of denim and stuffed them with cedar shavings. It worked out pretty well. They weren't gorgeous, but they did the job. So I'm working on a new design (making corners at the bottom rather than gathering it up) and I needed to finesse an embroidery design to go on the denim. Finally decided on a boot that I created myself. I think it will add a little pizzazz to the finished product. I'm not sure you can tell much about it, but it does look great when stitched on the denim.

Well, it's getting late and I'd better get dinner ready. My sweetie just called & he's on his way. See you soon.

Well, I've been working hard for days on a new project: miniature doll-house rugs.

I know that's quite a surprise because I don't even own a dollhouse. Although it may seem I've taken a big left turn, the little rugs make perfect sense to me. I love making rugs -- the big kind -- and I'm really lovin' my new embroidery machine. It's just a small leap to the left to get you to miniature doll-house rugs.

I've studied the ebay market and have decided I can make a little money at doing something really fun. So I've spent hours on end for days and days with my head stuck deep into my computer learning the Autopunch software and creating designs. So much so that Bob remarked last week he's afraid he'll come home one day to find just my foot sticking out of the computer because I've become completely absorbed into the ether. He's bravely promised to grab my foot and pull me out!



Well, I finally produced my first rug. Okay the design on this one isn't my own -- it's a coaster from Emblibrary.com http://www.emblibrary.com/EL/Color_Simple.aspx?CS_Catalog=Emblibrary&CS_ProductID=C2745 I figured I'd better start with something "canned" and move on from there to my own designs.




I changed the colors from the original design to make it look more like an Aubusson rug and then I fringed the fabric. I thought it turned out pretty good. I'm working on a design of my own right this moment. As soon as I'm finished with it, I'll post a picture.


Gotta LOT to accomplish today, so I'll close for now.


Have a great MONDAY!

I had a great visit with Jeanie today. We spent some time at her house -- wonderful girl talk over sandwiches -- music, talking, checking out the jewelry she's collecting to sell at her booth.

Then we went to a bookstore called the BookSatchel. I LOVE the name. Only people of a certain age would remember what a book satchel IS -- for those who are much younger, it's the baby boomer equivalent of a backpack -- and I found the name and the store both quite charming. Jeanie and I both bought a few books and we each got a book about native Texas wildflowers. It has pictures of the flowers all arranged by color. So maybe I can finally figure out what those dark purple lily-looking things in the cow pasture are.

Then we went to visit Aunt Jackie. She's 88 now and makes our short little Jeanie look tall! She's so funny -- lively and sweet and generous to a fault. She wasn't happy till I had a bagful of goodies to take home with me and a doll for Jeanie to add to her collection. I snapped a couple of pictures before we left. I loved seeing Aunt Jackie so much. I want to be just like her when I grow up -- peppy, sassy and sweet!

We went out to the Indian Creek Cemetery and had a wonderful talk. Then we drove out past Seybold. Sad to say the old foreman's house (aka the Brooks house) is gone. But I love the country out there -- prickly pear growing on the side of the road, cedar trees mingling with other native trees, and just a hint that the Brazos River is .... right over there somewhere. It always feels like home in my heart.

Altogether a lovely day. Can't wait to repeat it.

On a completely different note, regarding our "new" boat, Bob is off tomorrow and we'll be washing sails, checking rigging and getting her ready to sail on Saturday. WOOOOO HOOOOOO! Can't wait!

Exciting news! We have a "new" sailboat!

Bob saw an ad in the local paper advertising her for $500.00, which is a really good price ... fixer-upper or not, it's a good price. We went to look at her and saw she'd need some cosmetic work, so Bob asked the owner, Frank, if he could knock $50.00 off because she'll need paint. Frank offered to cut the price in half and we jumped on that like a duck on a June bug.

When we went to pick up the boat, Bob had a stack of twenties with two fives on top ... totalling the $250... and Frank said, "Could you give me that five dollar bill?". Bob looked puzzled, but handed him the bill. Frank said, "The state requires you pay something for the boat, so we'll call it even and you don't owe me anything else." Needless to say, we were stunned. Bob tried to talk him into taking the money, but Frank wasn't interested in the money -- he just wanted someone to take the boat and use it. What an amazing experience! And what an extraordinary man -- I won't even go into the whole he-works-with-the-doctor-Phil-show-and-was-recently-interviewed-by-60-minutes thing. Way, way past all his accomplishments is the undeniable fact he's a really nice guy -- what we like to call "good people" -- and a pleasure to chat with.

Anyway ... THIS is how she looked when she was sitting on Frank's property. You can see she needs some TLC. Her paint is faded, her teak is bleached out and she's got a few minor chips here and there.

We knew the exterior needed some lovin', but the condition of the interior came as a complete surprise - peeling paint, mildew, crud, old dirt dauber and wasp nests.A good scrubbing and some paint will do wonders, right?

So we took her to the Krum Car Wash and scrubbed her good.

SURPRISE -- A CREAMY-YELLOW BOAT! It's amazing what a power wash can do -- including removing the oxidized outer layer!

BTW, her name is Rising Sun. Bob immediately thought of the whole Japanese / Michael Crichton book thing. And I immediately began to sing, "There is a house in New Orleans..." LOL! For your entertainment, here's the you-tube Animals KARAOKE version of it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRV9QCXLtHQ

Gonna have to go for now, but I'll keep you posted on her improvements as they come along. In the meantime, we'll be on Lake Ray Roberts this weekend! Woo-hooo!!!

FINALLY FEELING BETTER!

Yes, I'm feeling much better and it's worth SHOUTING about! After months of one kick in the patoot after another, I'm finally back to myself again. I'm not even on pain meds and I'm ready to dance a jig. WOOO HOOO!

After so many months of wanting to do this project or that and having to wait, wait, wait till I'm better, now I'm so busy busy busy doing all the things I wanted to do all those months. Yippeee!

On Sunday Bob built me a Square-Foot-Garden. If you've never heard of it, check it out. I won't bore you with all the details, but the essential premise is a 4 foot by 4 foot garden is about all the average family needs because of the manner in which you grow things -- much closer and some things (like melons) are grown vertically. Mel Bartholomew wrote the book and I read it about 15 years ago and have been wanting to do a square-foot-garden ever since. One thing or another always seemed to get in the way, but --TA DA!!-- now I've got one! We've got it planned down to the inch. As soon as I have real green things to show you (besides the "volunteer" killer tomato plants) I'll add a picture.

Also on Sunday, I had a brainstorm. I use large black felt circles between each Calphalon and/or Teflon pan. As I was putting a pan away, I suddenly remembered an embroidery pattern I have. I grabbed the felt circle, headed for my sewing machine and this is the result. I think it's kind of neat!

This is a close-up of the design. I added a red J and thought it looked pretty good. Whatcha think?

I spent about 4 hours yesterday mastering AutoPunch software. That's the software that allows me to turn clip-art (or drawings) into embroidery designs. It nearly whupped my butt. Nevertheless, I DID IT! I practiced several hours this morning and I think I'm getting pretty good at it. As soon as I've actually used one of my new designs, I'll post it.

Gotta go for now. I'm so thankful to be feeling better ... and I'm thankful Bob is healthy ... and I'm even thankful to be on a sensible eating and exercise plan ... and I'm soooo thankful I'm not missing out on summer anymore.

Now where did I put my glass of ice tea?