{gotta brag}

Well, I have to take my car to the shop today ... something I hate more than almost anything. And something that I will often procrastinate doing to the point where my poor car's being held together with duct tape and a prayer.

I hate sitting there, waiting while it's fixed (since it's *rarely* one of those "leave it for a couple of days" type of repair). I mean, while mechanics can be the nicest people, they're not too cool about letting you hook up your sewing machine in the middle of their waiting room. Believe me, I know.

Sew ... to keep my hyper brain amused, I went to the bookstore yesterday, intending to only get a few mags to keep me occupied. I got the usual round of suspects (McCall's Quilting, Creative Home, etc) and then, I wandered over to the real-live book section. Not really thinking I'd find anything that A) I don't already have or B) really "spoke" to me. But lo and behold, I found three awesome books that while they don't do me much good whilst I wait today (that's what the maggies are for), they *will* provide more than enough inspiration and guidance that they're well worth the $!!

The first (and my most fave) is "Craft Challenge: Dozens of Ways to Repurpose a Pillowcase" by Suzanne J.E. Tourtillott. OMGosh, is it full of clever ideas and sweet projects! I just can't stop flipping through this book -- and I'm not even going to start describing how badly I'm jonesing for a trip to my local Thrift Store to search for some vintage-y pillowcases.

(I ought to mention here that I tend to be really ... jaded? about patterns. I don't mean that I look down on patterns that don't fit my taste, but I'm less apt to buy one if it's been done a gazillion times by a gajillion different companies. I like uniqueness. I like cleverness. I like -- you guessed it -- creativity! Like the music I listen to, the pattern or project has to ... speak to me. It has to *mean* something to me. It has to provide, at least, a jumping off point for my own creative inclinations.

That's actually one of my pet peeves about maggies. Most of the time, it's just a reworked pattern that's been around for ages. And most of the time, it's not even *really* been reworked, it's just been made in a different color fabric. If I had a nickel for everytime that a new book came out that just recycled the same-old-same-old ideas just with different fabrics, I'd own my own fabric shop (of which you guys would be heartily invited to come and grab)!)

*sigh* rant over.

But that's why I just *LOVE* this book. Some are kinda recycled ideas, but most (I'd say about 90%) are NOT. They're fresh, clever, and sweet. Love, love, love, LOVE this book!

The second book that I just *had* to have is "The Embroidery Stitch Bible" by Betty Barnden. Yeesh. I *thought* I knew how to embroider. I *thought* I knew the coolest stitches. Well, thanks-a-pant-load-Ms-Barnden, but now I know I don't! o_O

Over 200 stitches. And it's easy to understand. Easy to follow. Well, we'll put Ms-Smarty-Britches to the test this weekend. I'm going to embroider a wee something using the hardest stitches she has. Then we'll see. ;)

(The above was meant tongue-in-cheek, btw -- I have NO doubt that her book will enable me to make the most beautiful stitches ev-ah!)

The third book is a follow-up to another book I already own: "More Machine Embroidery Essentials" by Jeanine Twigg. Since I just got my first ever embroidery machine, I'm scared to death to use it. Her previous book, "Machine Embroidery Essentials" has made it easier to get over the fear that if I touch one wee button, it'll fall apart. But, I need more help (obviously).

Okay, they're ALL super awesome books. And I am loving them (ain't it obvious?!). But I think ... I'm going to pick up another copy of the "Craft Challenge" and have a give-away for it. Some things are really just too durn good not to share.

But if the maggies start paying me those nickels for the "same-old-same-old" patterns, I can afford to get you ALL a copy. Then we'd all be pillowcase-hoarding fools. And very happy. ;)

{updates x2}

{excuses, excuse, excuses ...}

As ya'll remember, I had a give-away going here. Two FQ bundles of Anna Marie Horner's "Good Folks" and Amy Butler's "Daisy Chain."

Well, I got majorly distracted over the weekend, starting Saturday. Hubby went to the local nursery we love and bought some sea-grapes (didn't even know you could buy them), a funky plant called a "Troubichina" (which has the coolest leaves -- huge with a felt-like texture -- they'll also have ginormous purple flowers, too!), and bought me some tulip plants ('cause he *knows* I loves the tulips!). Along with the new "babies" he bought 14 bags of soil and 8 bags of mulch. Great, right? I congratted him on his awesome purchases and ducked back into my studio. We've been together long enough to know that if he can *see* you, he can put you to work.

Twenty minutes later, 3 things happen.

1. My pre-teen son comes into my studio, taps me on the shoulder and says quietly "Um ... I'm going to go help Dad in the yard." What?! My son was happily playing video games in the living room (he's been around long enough to know the whole "see you, put you to work" thing, too). My son is about as into yard work as he is into voluntary amputation. Already, I know this is Not Good.
2. I hear cursing in the yard (my studio window faces our backyard and pool - awesome for inspiration, terrible for guilt when DH is doing yard work) and "chop-chip-chop" sounds.
3. I drag my eyes off the compie screen (and pull the earbuds out of my ears) to see my dear hubby chopping our azalea bushes as though they had slapped his momma. We had five in the backyard when I started my project. Within moments, we had 3 1/2 -- one was already *gone* and the other casualty was quickly following. I'm serious, you could almost see terror on the little azalea flowers' faces.

(Azalea's *were* hurt during the course of this story, but not only were they already w-a-a-a-y past the prime of their lives, I had **nothing** to do with their early demise. I can say, however, they are living a "second life" in the form of compost and will go on to help make beautiful flowers, trees, and veggies)

So ... of course, at this point, I go out to not only see if I can help, but to render first aid if necessary. Trust me, I was not only groaning as I walked outside, I was also mentally preparing excuses for why I could only "stay for a moment."

"A moment" became 10 HOURS. I kid you NOT. We dug up the Azaleas, planted the sea grapes in their place, spread "cottage garden" wildflowers seeds (pulling up the azaleas left LOTS to real estate to plant new stuff), and potted the Troubichina and tulips. And then, in the way we gals will often wrangle new drapes to go with new carpet or furniture, DH had me scrubbing the oogie grime off our concrete pool "skirt"/patio.

So, out of that 10 hours, I spent 2 scrubbing the patio to a lovely gleaming shine (I kid you not). But once I did that, I noticed how lonely and sad (and utterly UNattractive) our patio was. So I cleaned our patio furniture, put the potted plants next to the door (which is my studio door, too, so I *did* have a vested interest in how it looks), pulled a potting table (for lack of a better word) of the poolhouse and gave the patio a makeover. So far, I've been getting compliments - though I don't think that my imaginary friends count for *that* much, do they?

Sunday: I'm sure there's *OODLES* of women out there who can commisserate, my MIL came for dinner. At least, I *think* it was dinner. Felt more like Hell but with stories about her childhood. I think I was more worn out once she left than I was after scrubbing our patio on my hands and knees for two hours. I dunno.

Monday: I napped. 'Nuff said.

Tuesday: Laundry, dishes, entertaining dear daughter's friends, made dinner, cleaned out the fridge, cleaned our *&^%$# hardwood floors, did the big shopping trip ... had to make up for Monday, yannow.

Today: Took car into shop (makes a *really* embarrassing grind-y rattl-y noise) so our awesome mechanic could order me a new catalytic converter.

All the spaces in between: I can't STAND nekkid fabric squishies. I'm not criticizing others who're fine with them ... I just can't stand it myself. So, everytime I did an errand, I'd take a pit stop to look for small goodies to add in the give-away squishies. Vintage buttons, new buttons, bookmarks, notepads ... greens/blues for the Amy Butler fabs, and pinks/reds for the Anna Marie fabs.

I'm going for the big, fun kinda giveaway. Where for each give-away (and I do have more coming up), the excitement isn't just for the fabs you'll get, but the little add-ons, too. Just ... kitschy fun stuff. Silly stuff. Just so maybe you'll take a sec and remember that the biggest inspiration for creativity is FUN. Not deadlines (took me YEARS to understand that), but pure, silly, goofy, dorky, FUN.

And I know I had dorky, silly, goofy fun picking out the add-ons! So I've got THAT! :)

Okay, I'm going to go officially close the comments section for that post and then I'm going to print out all the names so my dear daughter can draw the names. I'll take pix-ies, too, so ya'll can actually see my dear sweet daughter's face! ;)

{button bling-bling}

Two teenage girls + a stash o' buttons + rainy-oogie day = button bling! :)

Call me sentimental and silly, but things like these (especially my girlie and my "adopted" girlie being all crafty) make me really happy. Dark-cloudy-soggy weather or sunny-bright skies. This is happiness! And I can't even put into words how much I love, love, love how the orange button matches Melissa's fingernail polish! :)

My girlie (Mara) is the hand on the left, and Melissa (my "adopted" girlie) is the hand on the right and the tootsies in the bottom pic. Whatta introduction, huh?!

{and btw, you can see how dark 'n' cloudy it is by how oogie the pix-ies came out ... did I mention that my studio is the *brightest* room in the house?!}

Okay, back to sewy-crafty things of my own! :)

{Easter embroidery}

To go along with the placecards (mainly because my sweet daughter insisted -- she and her BFF *love* the birdies! Aren't I lucky?!), I've created these embroidery patterns for them. One's a boy chick (*giggle*) and one's a girlie chick (you can see her right up there). Both have places to put a cute little message (like "I luv you" or "Who are you again?"). And both are turning out to be oodles of fun to embroider.

{you can click on the girlie birdie up there to quickie download the patterns!}

Speaking of which, I'm still going to try my hardest to take some pix-ies today. The weather is just {not} cooperating. Still rainy. Still thundery and lighteningy. Even if I couldn't tell by looking out the window (my studio has the most windows in the whole house), I could tell by the fact that Buddy-the-Wonderdog is huddling against my legs. Lord help the poor pooch if I have to get up for a potty emergency. I'm sure he'd end up with me as a hood ornament!

{give-away}

... is still going strong, so please, take a sec and leave a comment if you'd like to win some yumm-O fabs. Anna Marie Horner's Good Folks and Amy Butler's Daisy Chain FQs are up for grabs. Only "string" is that you have to leave a comment here.

I'm honestly {hoping} for at least 20 comments on my {give-away} post. I may even end up dragging it out (hoping not, though) until I {do} get at least 20. Just doesn't seem like much of a contest/give-away if I don't have more contestants. :(

Have a few more freebies to roll out ... keep an eye out if you're interested! :)

{sewy-crafty hugs!}

{Easter placecards}

I don't know about ya'll, but I {love} celebrating holidays! I love getting out the "fancy china" and the pretty serving bowls (but I hate washing'em all!), the nice cloth napkins ... just doing everything I can to set a nice table and enjoying my friends and family!

Sew, because this year {especially} we'll be having a houseful of friends and family members, I'll be making things easier on {me} by using placecards (usually it's a free-for-all!). And I'm sharing them with you, too - in case you'd like to use them.

Because I've got the fancy programs that'll do it, I've not only made a version that you can print out and fill in (with your loverly handwriting, of course), I've also made a version that you can fill out just using plain ol' Adobe Acrobat. All you have to do is open the file in Acrobat, plunk your cursor down under the words "this seat is for" and type your loved ones' names in! Since most of us do get a bit overwhelmed during holidays, I've done my best to make it as easy-peasy as possible!


{coming up tomorrow}

I'll be uploading the fruits of my sweet daughter's and mine "crafty day" - we've been working towards this for *weeks*! Between schoolwork, deadlines, friends, plans and such, it's a *long,* time coming!

At least one of the projects will include some sweet applique using the chickie from the placecards. I really felt inspired and ... and well, sweet ... when I drew her. She makes me happy - and I hope the projects I upload tomorrow (and through the week) will make you happy, too! :)

Hope to see tomorrow (er ... today really, I guess!)!

{sewy-crafty hugs!}

{give-away!}

To "celebrate" my comeback to the bloggy world, I'm giving away two FQ bundles (just ordered from two of my fave Etsy shops)! Yay!

The bundle on top is 3 fat quarters from the Amy Butler "Daisy Chain" collection (yum!). The bundle on the bottom is 4 fat quarters from the Anna Marie Horner "Good Folks" collection (dah-rool!).

For a chance to win, just leave a comment here between now and Friday, April 3rd. It doesn't have to be a l-o-o-n-g comment - just a "hey-hawdya-do" will be fine! I'll announce both winners Saturday morning, bright and early. And then, just a few days later, you'll have these luscious fabs in your hot, little hands!

Here's hoping that you'll take a sec and say "hi!" :)

{creative constipation}

That's what my dad always called it. That's what you suffer from when you have a whole bunch of ideas, the tools you need to make them come to fruition ... but don't have the oomph to get the project started. Or if you're just totally distracted. Like I am right now.

Everything's perfect. Hubby took the kids (and few of our neighbor kids) to the local Air Show (@ Tyndall Air Force Base). The house is quiet. Buddy-the-Wonderdog is sleeping in his bed next to my desk (or faking it), basking in the sunshine peeping through the windows. The laundry is sorta done. The sink is empty. Everything's *perfect.*

But I sit here amongst 20 boxes worth of luscious fabric and trims (what I've managed to unpack - still have at least 15 large boxes of *more* sitting in the garage, calling my name) - and all I can focus on are the missing members of my craft supply family. Where is that gorgeous spotty-dotty fabric I bought a month before the Big Move? What box is my poor, lonely, bin 'o jumbo rick-rack sitting in?

{the pic you see is just the fabrics I'm playing with for a project in mind - keep an eye out for that, please! - the trim is just my quickie-grabbag - I've got *oodles* more in another bin}

Anyone else ever suffer from {creative constipation}? Ever have the planets in perfect alignment but just can't get started?

Just curious.