Tote Bag Mania

My mini Miranda is finally finished. Actually the bag itself has been finished for several weeks. I was debating whether to use fabric handles or fashion handles. While cleaning my sewing room (a work in progress), I came across handles I purchased at MJ Trim in NYC. They are a great source for beads, buttons, buckles, handles, etc.

During my recent shopping excursion with Posse members Caryn and Sue, I picked up the fabric for this purse by Grand Revival Design. The fabric is from their Barefoot Roses line. I had no business even starting this purse given the number of UFOs that I have but I couldn't resist. It is so spring like -- all I need is for the weather to feel spring like so I can use it.

And even though your day is almost over,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SUE!

Happy Stitchin!

Spring Must Be Coming . . .

I am back from my travels --- I don't mind traveling for work but this past month has been really crazy. I think I will be home for a bit before having to travel again.

This morning we had some unusual visitors at the office -- a black bear and a few deer. Now the deer are not all that unusual. We all know to be on the lookout for deer as we are exiting the complex. But a bear???? I work in an office park that has office buildings and warehouses. And while there are some wooded areas around the perimeter, it is not what I would consider home for a bear. In any event it was a nice diversion from our morning routine but it also means we need to be on the lookout for bear when we are arriving and departing.

I did manage to finish one or two of my UFO tote bags last weekend. I need to get some pics taken and posted for everyone to see. I also have to remember to bring them to the firehouse sew day this weekend for show and tell. I usually don't have show and tell as I never seem to finish anything around the time we are getting together. But since I actually finished a couple of totes in recent days . . . . now if I can only remember to bring them with me.

Happy Stitchin!

A Pleasant Surprise!

Today I met a couple members of the Posse (Caryn and Sue) at the LQS. I was on the fence about spending the day shopping as there would be no one home today. An entire day to myself home alone doesn't happen often. I woke up imagining all the sewing I would get accomplished with no interruptions. But after going to workout I had a change of heart and decided to spend the day with friends shopping for fabric and picking up the quarterly wino selection at a nearby winery. When I met Caryn at the LQS this morning she gave me the fabrics she had picked up last week AND this beautiful journal. I think she knows me too well. I was so surprised and thrilled with this gift. I had wanted to take the online journaling classes with her but I knew with traveling 3 out of 4 weeks this month I would be behind before the classes even started :) Thankfully I have a thoughtful friend who made one for me. I think I am going to use it to record my lighthouse visits.

THANK YOU CARYN!

Happy Stitchin!

99 Things

I found this today here at Sarah' blog and thought it would be fun to play along!

Here are the rules: Bold the things you’ve done and post on your blog!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea.
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar - I don't like it.
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been a passenger on a motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88.Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Got a tattoo
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

I don't know the rhyme or reason behind the items that were chosen but was fun to see how many I could highlight!

Happy Stitchin!

Ring In The New Progress

As promised here are some pictures of my finished blocks for my latest handwork project -- "Ring in the New".

August -- (I have a hard time sticking with the program)

March

February

I still haven't decided on the borders for my William Morris rail fence. The green is just a bit too bright for my liking --- hmmm I can feel a shopping trip coming on!

Happy Stitchin!

Does it get any better than this?

So when I last blogged I was in sunny, Dallas, TX. Well the warmth and sunshine was short-lived as I spent last week in Toronto, Canada where the high was 15 degrees!!! Talk about a culture shock. Needless to say I spent most of last week away and sick, not a good combination. I was fortunate enough ??? to travel home on Wednesday in the middle of the snowstorm on a turbo prop plane (not my favorite way to travel). All I could think of was the theme song from Gilligan's Island -- "the weather started getting rough, the tiny ship was tossed, etc." It was a bumpy ride but we did land safe and sound 2 hours later than planned but at least we landed. The bright spot to the trip was I made progress on my Ring in the New blocks and have completed four already. I promise to post pics within the next day or so.

With all of the traveling I did in the past two weeks, I decided to spend the weekend taking care of me -- first a stone massage on Saturday with a dear friend of mine who is celebrating a milestone birthday this year. Yesterday I dug and dug through my stash looking for suitable fabrics to make the new Bunny Hill BOM. The block is prepped and ready to be appliqued over the next few nights. Last night I watched the Super Bowl game and saw Bruce perform for 12 minutes during the half time show. To NBC's credit, they showed the entire 12 minutes rather than cutting away to commercial breaks. I am surely dating myself here but I can clearly remember when the album "Born to Run" came out. In those days albums were released on vinyl. I know my boys have no idea what a vinyl album is and I am sure they would be disappointed in the crackling noise you always heard in the background from the record player. It is surely a sign of the times as I am contemplating whether I download the new album from iTunes or if I actually purchase the CD.

And for me the weekend didn't end last night -- this morning I was lucky enough to get tickets to see Bruce when he tours here in May! So I ask you, does it get any better than this for a Jersey Girl?

Happy Stitchin!

P.S. In my email today there was an update from Margaritaville.com -- Jimmy Buffet is releasing a new album and will be touring in 2009. He and the Coral Reefers will be in our area in June, August and November. Plenty of opportunities to see him again!!