Computer Time and Giveaways…

Today, I’m a happy camper! The last year and a half I have been working on an old laptop that I purchased several years ago and has less than stellar performance. I HAD a really nice desktop computer that I bought myself with the sale of a beaded purse that I made. Bad me, back then, I decided that it needed a better graphics card so I could play more graphically intensive games. So long story short…I killed my computer!

Fast forward to now, my oldest son decided I needed to get my computer up and running. So he ordered me some new parts, my hubby put them all together since my oldest is off at school again, and my #2 son spent a lot of time working on the operating system. Now I have my wonderful computer back!!!! I forgot how fantastic it is!

I can’t thank the men in my life enough! They are absolutely awesome!!!

On Friday, the Fall into Fall Quilt Bloggers Giveaway started. It is a huge giveaway being participated by more than 150 bloggers and businesses. I will be updating on this post about some of the participants so keep an eye here for some links!

Hop on over to Micki's blog Irish Muses. She has TWO things she's giving away! Spend a little time there too, I have been going to Micki's blog for a long time now and really enjoy her posts!

Stop by Grey Cat Quilts, she is giving away a lovely mini quilt made of my favorite...batiks!!! It's stunning!

Little Bluebell is giving away a Wonderland Momo honeybun...who doesn't love honeybuns!!!

There’s A New Kid In Town…

well…a new BOM anyways! It starts on October 1st and ends on November 26th. There will be 9 free embroidery patterns in all. Won’t you join in? All you have to do is click on the link in my side bar. Here is a little sneak peek at a few of the designs we will be doing:

…I hear jingle bells…do you???

Have A Drink On Me…

I’m not quite sure how it happened. I swear I’m not old enough…really! If you have your own, no matter what you do…don’t blink or you’ll miss the trip! It’s official…my “baby” is 21! They sure grow up fast, don’t they!

He’s also HUGE! He’d make a great Viking with all that red hair and the fact that he’s built like a football player! Genetics not withstanding, he IS part Norwegian, he has a softer, funnier side:

He was indulging his little sister!

In the spirit of his 21st birthday I thought I’d share a Strawberry Margarita Shooter from Bakers Royale that I found via Craft Gossip. Doesn’t it look yummy?

I Did A Little Shopping Today…

Due to the circumstances in which my family and I have found ourselves, it has become necessary for me to be much more frugal than I had been. I recently found a blog called Money Saving Mom that helps you know the best deals to get out of Rite Aid, Walgreens and CVS drug stores. Now, I don’t have a CVS nearby, but I do have a Rite Aid and they just opened a Walgreens in my town too!

I did my research, clipped my coupons and away I went this morning with my list clutched in my eager little hand. There were a couple things not in stock, and I made a mistake picking up the wrong thing in one instance, but over all I’m pretty happy with my haul of goodies! Here’s what I got:

Three packages of diapers (my Niece is expecting twins), two deodorants, two tubes of toothpaste, three boxes of kleenex (the big ones), three cans of soup, a mouthwash and a heat pack. Paying full price all these items would have cost me $60.02. My end price for all these goodies? $18.09!!! Pretty darn good, huh! Just one bag of the diapers at regular price is $12.99! Mind you, this price is after coupons (store and manufacturer), sale prices and rewards, but it’s still awesome!!!

Speaking of my Niece, who will be receiving the diapers as part of her shower gift, I picked up some material at Jo-Ann's today to make receiving blankets and burp cloths with. She will be having a boy and a girl so I thought this material was absolutely perfect!

Won’t they be darling! I’ll be sure to post a picture when I get them done. If you are interested in a couple of links to make something like I am, here is one for receiving blankets (I make mine similar to the first one, but I tie them with yarn) and here is one I have made and absolutely love for burp rags.

Enjoy!

A Little Sewing…

So, I have been a bad Mommy. My Daughter got this sewing machine over a year ago and I just now let her start learning how to use it. I just wasn’t ready for sewn fingers, and I didn’t feel she really had the skill or patience or attention span for it. She’s now nine, and was ready, in my opinion, to start learning.

Here she is sewing her very first seam:

Here she is almost done with the first half of her project:

…and here she is with the first half of her project, a placemat, done.

She did a great job…seams are a bit wonky, but it IS her first time! On Tuesday we plan to finish up the project…Mom can only take it in small doses (took about an hour for this part).

I have learned one valuable lesson from this. She is using a “Pixie” sewing machine by Singer. It’s worth investing in a “real” sewing machine. Although the Pixie does work, I think it is better suited to paper sewing. I can see that I will be moving her up to my machine before too long.

Tap, tap…is this thing on???

I can hardly believe it has been two months since I last posted. It has been kind of tough around here with everything that my family has been going through. It's definitely gotten me down. It's time to stop wallowing now, though, and get back to the business at hand.

What is the business at hand you may ask (that is if anyone comes here anymore)? Why crafting of course! What a silly question.

I have been crafting, the problem you see, is that I haven't been taking pictures of said crafting. I would say it is past time to get my photography butt in gear! I promise to start posting some picture of my endeavors very soon.

In the mean time, here is a great  e-book for you all to check out. It's Mary Powers' inspired ideas. It has lots of darling projects and fantastic photography and best of all...it's free! I found the link via Stitch School, thanks Janet for the link!

Just click on the picture and you will be on your way!

A Sister Gone...loss

I am so sad. Broken hearted. I feel heavy, like I could sink into the seat I am sitting in. My step-sister, less than a year older than me, whom I grew up with from the age of 8... is gone. She finally could no longer handle the fight she was engaged in with cancer. She has been seriously ill for two years now. A few years ago, she had breast cancer. Went through the radiation and a masectomy. It came back. Now, her family must go on without her. It's a terrible loss. She has three children and a husband left behind. My heart is the most heavy for her youngest, only 9, like my own daughter. How can she even begin to understand the enormity of it all, let alone deal with the loss of the most important person in her life. It's tragic.

I remember when we were both pregnant with our daughters. Kathy was a month behind me in her pregnancy. She called me before she told anyone else...so upset. The last thing she wanted was to be pregnant again. She had two other children, almost grown. I remember telling her that things happen for a reason and that her new child would bring her joy. We talked for a while about it. I told her we could make it fun, being pregnant at the same time, together. I think I made her feel better about it.

My step sister and I were not really close. Due to family drama's there was always a little bit of a wedge there. It wasn't personal towards me...it just was what it was. That often happens with blended...broken...families. Still, she and my other step-sister were and are the closest thing I will ever have to siblings. Just because we weren't always that close, doesn't make my loss any less. I grew up with her...though in different households. I share so many memories, experiences, history with her. I will truely miss her more than I can say.

Kathy was what I call a gentle soul. She had a sweet disposition. She was quiet, but not a shrinking violet by any means. She touched so many people with her gentleness.

I am so sad at her loss. There will be such a large hole left in our family.

Please pray for her family in their time of need...