Spring has Sprung!

Well, kind of. Actually it was so stinking cold outside and the wind started to blow so hard, that we had to abort the photo shoot. I'll get close-ups later so I can list them. My husband is always impressed with the crafts I make but he gets ecstatic when I sell the crafts I make! :)



My oldest daughter, Jessica is here for the weekend. It's been great fun having her and her 4 children here. We don't get to see them very often as it is, but it's looking like we will be moving this spring. We haven't made a definite decision yet, but it's looking like Missouri. I like Missouri, it's beautiful there and my Son, his wife and their two sweet children live there. It will be SO nice to be close to them and grow closer to their babies.

 But when I think about leaving our four daughter's and their families which include our other (8) grandchildren I get a lump in my throat and my vision blurs. I just want it all...okay?

Jessica is trying to help me with some packing, cleaning and listing things to sell. It seems like I've been tossing stuff forever. I swear it's like the loaves and the fishes!! I think I need a chalkboard to write "I WILL NOT ACCUMULATE UNNECESSARY ITEMS" 5000 times. Maybe I should make a decorative wall hanging with that saying on it for every room in my new house :)! I'll need to hang them next to the "Finish more, Start less" signs I also need to make!



Oh Yeah, I forgot.

I've been thinking about a few things I knew about myself but forgot.

1) I sometimes (usually) have a short attention span when it comes to projects. Therefore I have more than my fair share of unfinished projects! Want some? :)
2) I get cranky when I go too long without sewing or some kind of crafting.
Chocolate helps lessen the crankiness but it never goes away completely until I get a little sewing time. (a little chocolate WHILE sewing is pure bliss in my book!)
3) I Get REAL cranky when too much time passes between visits with my grandkids!! Skype is awesome but I need to do some huggin' and squeezin' on those little people!

So, I set all the cleaning, packing & organizing aside and got my old friend out. We've been spending some quality time together. I've been working on bags. I don't have any to show just yet because I sew several at once in assembly line fashion (see # 1) ;) Oh, and my father in law gave me some yummy See's Chocolate for Valentines Day so, life is good! Thanks Don!

I did finish a new kind of flower pin today, though. About a month ago I made a solid turquoise bag for a special lady who was having a birthday. None of the wool I had was what I was looking for to make her flower. I thought about those singed flowers I've seen on the Internet, and the box of men's neckties in my craft room and thought that might make a fun flower for the bag. Well, they did not curl at all, just turned brown and black on the edges and stunk up my house. Plan B. I made gathered ruffles from three different ties, made a rosette style flower and put a vintage button in the center. So stinkin' cute! I love it.


I cut a gazillion necktie strips out and gathered them then put them away for a few weeks. So assembly was a snap today. Fun stuff. And they are gorgeous on my bags!!

And to remedy #3, one, maybe two of my daughters are coming to visit this weekend. That means I'll have at least 4, possibly 6 of my grandchildren here. I am SO excited to see them all (kids and grandkids!)

I'll probably need to put the machine away for a few days and concentrate on getting my house ready for their visit. Hopefully I'll get right back at it and have some new bags to show you soon!

So... maybe take a minute think of something you've missed doing for awhile that would make you smile. If you can't think of anything, chocolate is always a winner unless you're one of those rare people who don't like it or can't have it and well, that's just sad.