Roses are in Bloom!

Yea! The roses are all in bloom! I'd love to say that Mom and My backyard is full of rose bushes...but, it is sadly not. We have a rose bed that I put in for mother three years ago, it has four long-stem rose bushes and two are in bloom. Last year, we could not cut these back until January...they were still blooming on Christmas!

At Aidan's playhouse, we also planted roses. Two topiary trees. One of them has been blooming each year, but the second one only lasted the first year. However, the single one has gotten so huge it's probably a good thing that only one of them made it!

It rained heavily last night, so some limbs are kind of "droopy" this morning holding all of that water. The long poles are mostly cane; some of the newer limbs need to be tied up to support all of the new grown since last year. That's a task for a drier day!

Hard or Easy in the Mornings?

Hard to get up in the mornings? 


This is the avatar that I use for my posts on HGTV Message Board. No, I don’t roll my hair any more…so the curlers are NOT me. However, I think I did own a bath robe like that once. And, my hair is gray (well mostly)…but otherwise, it could be me…in a dark alley perhaps, with your glasses off…I’m just saying.


Looking at this photo today made me wonder something. Are you a morning person? Are you able to get into your car within 15 minutes of waking and still drive safely? Or, do you have to be out of bed for at least an hour before uttering your first intelligent word?


I’m one of those disgusting folks that can get up and out the door in record setting time. (I didn’t say I was always in a great mood when I went out that door….no sir…not always.)


And, I’m a much happier grandma after I have made a trek downstairs to my mother’s house for coffee. It is nice to still have my mom, and nice that she makes coffee each morning, and nicer that we can sit and talk about whatever topic comes to mind.


So, how do you get your day started?

Great Resource for Bloggers!

I have been meaning to post about the Blog Guidebooks site for days! So, finally...here goes!

The site is the creative genius of Lyndsay and Sarah, two creative friends that are sharing their knowledge with the world of bloggers. They envision a blogging community that continues to grow friendships, creativity, and beauty. They encourage their readers to create, re-create, improve, and just grow their blogs!

They answer questions about basic blogging design issues, and are there when you just need to clarify "how to" do some simple thing. I know, I've sent questions and received very fast and informative answers! (Thanks Lyndsay!)

Their "About Us" pages says: "Established in 2010, The Blog Guidebook encompasses all bloggers, be they crafty, creative, cooks, bakers, teens, moms, dads, children in need, pet lovers, home-stylers, antiquers, flea marketers, homeschoolers, doctors, lawyers, in any country, and on and on. You name it, you can blog it. And we want to read it!  We've created over one hundred categories just for you to find the blogs you've been looking for.

Blogging is a new form of journalism. It is a way to self-publish your dreams, hopes and stories of your world. The Guidebook offers a way for others to find you, in a friendly, happy, easy to navigate, safe environment.

The Guidebook offers Spotlights and Features of notable blogs and bloggers, Free Listings for your blog, Blog Tips, Video Tutorials, and a live Help Desk. You can ask the Guidebook questions and get an answer. The Blog Guidebook is backed by real people, not just a computer with an automatic reply. We want to help your blog be the best it can be."

Now, isn't that great! I strongly encourage you to check out their site. 

One of their newest offerings is the "Blog Club". I joined recently, and am now part of a five-woman team of bloggers. We are all encouraging each other, offering blog advice and instruction, and making new friendships. I added links to my new club member's sites on my side bar. Go check out their sites...and let them know that Shawkl sent you!

Hugs go all!

Easter Basket Find!

Check out this cool Easter Basket find! Found it at Bill's Dollar Store for $15 bucks!

It is huge...and Aidan will have a fit when she sees it! I also got a huge stuffed bear ($5 on Valentine's Clearance), Two chocolate bunnies ($1 each), and a tall doll ($5) to add to the "loot". I have jelly beans from my secret sister this month to include as well!

So, it is in my office...in a huge black trash bag, behind a chair! The fact that I can camouflage something so big and hide it...gives you insight to the amount of "clutter" in my office! Really, it's a storage room with my laptop and a chair! It is where I put my craft supplies, Studio stock, shipping containers, jewelry displays, and anything else I can't find a spot for. Do you have such a room? Then you know what I mean! No? Well, it's a huge dumping ground that needs to be sorted, organized, and cleaned out...want to come help me? Yeah, me neither...which is why is still looks like this! I'd rather be stitching!

Mermaid Sisters -- Elena

Here is a younger sister, but perhaps not the youngest of the sisters...assuming that I'll create more of course! Elena does have a more youthful appearance than Lavenia however...I think it's the hair style that does it.

If you enjoy the mermaids, let me know...and I'll work on some others for you to embroidery.

My Heart is All a Flutter!

Oh My GOSH! Seriously! I just found The Girl from the Ghetto's blog...and she is having the BEST GIVEAWAY IN THE WORLD! Seriously! It's $30 worth of CHOCOLATE!

Really, the only thing better might be diamonds or maid service! Geez! Hop on over and check out her site. But, DO NOT ENTER THE GIVE-A-WAY FOR CHOCOLATE! Seriously, DON'T...cause I WANT TO WIN! and your entry might prevent that!

We're Getting a Little Funky!

Aidan and I have been painting...doll parts! (Oh, and notice how short Aidan's bangs are? She did that haircut herself!...isn't she clever!! Argghhh!)

She's a little weird and wacky! ...the doll, not Aidan. (Okay, maybe her too after-all she IS my grand-daughter! LOL!). The doll is just adorable...we think! At least the vision we have of her is one that will be adorable...and weird and wacky! I'll post when she is dressed and has hair to see what you think. That will take me a few more days. We painted all the parts, then we added strips of tape to the arms and body; and sticky dots to the legs. And then, we re-painted. The parts were not two impressive at this stage.

When dry, we removed the tape and sticky dots and here is what we have!

She has a "circus" look right now, but just you wait and see!

I like the dotted legs best!

And I think I'll paint purple gloves on her hands....am also thinking some glitter might be good! And, if I do elf ears...that could be grand! If you want a great vehicle to get creative...try making a cloth doll!

Mermaid Sisters -- Lavenia

I've been playing around with Illustrator lately, trying to get some embroidery motifs created. I've done a couple of mermaids and want to do more. So, today and tomorrow...I'll share the designs I have so far. These will be a series of mermaid sisters. The first is Lavenia...

She is the eldest of the sisters...because she seems to have a wisdom about her face. 

Blog Guidebook

Check out the Blog Guidebook if you have a blog and want to share it! They also have other helps and even a new Club for bloggers! I'm so happy to have found them as I want to improve my blog and learn more about blogging!

And grab my new button from my sidebar...that Blog Guidebook helped me to create...WITH the HTML code! I'm so proud of myself! Thanks Lyndsay and Sarah!

Butterflies

Butterflies make wonderful additions to crazy quilt blocks. Here is a whole bunch of small charts that you could cross-stitch on scraps of Aida to have ready to put into your patches. They would be great to create scissor fobs with too! And you could use the charts to create beaded versions!

Here's one I just stitched up to show how they might look...

It will make a great center patch in a needle book! What other ideas do you have for these butterflies?