My Sewing Room!

Hi Everyone--

In the last post I told you I had been reorganizing. Well, now before you look at these pics, let me assure you that it IS better than it was before! I unfortunately didn't think to take before pics, so I can't prove it, but you have to trust me!

I'm going to take you around the room from the point that I enter at the top of the stairs.....

This is where I cut. Underneath are all my repro solids. You can also see the chair I sit in occasionally. I can also watch the TV from there:

This shelf holds SOME of my books and misc. stuff. Actually, I moved the lion's share of my books to the shelves in the bathroom. It doesn't get too much use, so I'm not too grossed out! The solids on the floor are all vintage solids:

OK--Now here's the new stuff! Bill put the large shelf on the right together that we got from Wal-Mart. It holds all the repro fabs I use to sew with. Before they were all stacked on the floor! He built the smaller shelf unit to the left of it. It holds all my felt, some of the feedsacks I use for myself, and my chenilles. Some of it was on the floor and some came from other shelving units.

The other large shelves to the left of that one were already there and hold my regular and vintage cottons plus 25 years worth of ufos.

Continuing to the left is my TV and more of the feedsacks I use for sewing. The small shelf unit to the right of the TV are all novelty feedsacks that I will eventually sell.

Here are some of the feedsacks that I will sell in some form or another. The mess you see on the floor is me putting feedsack pieces in groups to list on Etsy & Ebay.

Note the shelf Bill built above the doors to the bathroom and closet! Isn't he handy?? And some of it is still available! What should I do????

And here's my ironing station. Karen said that she learned that ironing boards are a waste of space and I agree! So Bill is going to build me a cabinet there that will hold my Big Board. Did you notice my Christmas present to myself?? I LOVE that Rowenta Steam Iron!! I got it at Bed, Bath and Beyond using my 20% coupon and it ONLY (LOL) cost me $137. It hurt, but it was worth it!

OK--I confess that I still have one rat's nest to clean up. OK--I confess there's more than that. OK--I confess there's STILL a LOT of stuff on the floor!! Anyhoo, here's all my vintage quilts, tops, chenille spreads and no telling what else. This is a before pic. I'm betting that you won't see alot of change in the after pic!

So that's it! Like I said, you have to trust me that it's better than it was before. Scary, huh? At least I know where everything is! And I must say that when I was going through my stuff I found some great things!! Very fun....

Have a great weekend!

Blessings~

Loser Monday!

I'm doing my part to participate in Sharon's challenge to lose weight! Miss Red Geranium Cottage is determined to lose weight and has included any who want to follow that path in her effort to do so. I'll post my weekly weight loss updates at the end of this page. Here's my story:

I've been overweight most of my adult life. I have dieted on and off and lost a few pounds and gained back more. Sound familiar? I'm absolutely convinced that I'd weigh 20 pounds less if I'd never dieted.

Anyhoo, several years ago I learned about the Weigh Down program. If you're not familiar with it, it's a faith based weight loss program developed by a Gwen somebody (can't recall her name right now). It is the only eating program that has ever made any sense to me at all. It's focused on getting in touch with your body and what it feels like to be hungry and full. For anyone who has ever been a compulsive eater, that is a whole new thing. It becomes a way of life to actually eat in response to your body's needs. What it really boils down to is portion control. Not what you eat, but how much. I'm not good at denying myself things that I enjoy, so this lets me eat small amounts of them which I find is enough to satisfy.

Back to a few years ago..... I lost about 20 pounds and it was the only time I didn't gain it back. But I got lazy and didn't lose the rest. Until about a year ago and my Dr. told me I was mildly diabetic and said I could control it if I lost 25 pounds. What??? I have NO diabetes in my family and I thought diabetes was for grossly overweight people!! 25 pounds?? Please!!

Well, he didn't put me on meds and just wanted me to lose the weight. OK. Back to the Weigh Down thing. I lost another 20 and plan to lose my last 10 now. I will be going back to see him to have my blood sugar tested and see where I stand. I hope he's right about the weight loss. We'll see. I have since learned that there is a HUGE connection between stress and diabetes! That's one reason I'm trying to reduce as much stress as possible in my life, such as deadlines and pressure from outside sources.

So that's my story and I'm sticking to it!! I'll keep you informed as to my weight loss by posting on Mondays and let you know about my blood sugar count when I get it. He hasn't put me on a monitor yet. I actually appreciate that he has not been real agressive about it since I hear there are a lot of unwanted side effects from the medications that control blood sugar. So keep your fingers crossed! And a few extra prayers to keep me focused and eating healthy would be greatly appreciated.

I actually weigh on Fridays since I tend to splurge a little more on the weekends. But I'll still give you the results on Monday.

Jan 19th - ONE POUND!! Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyy!!!
Jan 26th - Another HALF POUND!
Feb 2nd - BOO HOO!! I think I gained back that half pound!!
Feb 9th - I lost the half pound and one more!! Yaaaaaaaayyyyy!!
Feb 16th - No weight lost, but that's OK! I had a lot of fun this week!!
Feb 23 - No weight lost, but got the results that my blood sugar is back in normal ranges! Last post until my goal is met. Another 7-8 pounds to lose.

Happy New Year!

I guess it's time to get back to the real world and tend to business. I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas and are on your way to a fabulous 2009!

The last week and a half has been busy and a lot of fun. On the 23rd we enjoyed visiting with friends at their annual Open House. On Christmas Eve we had Mom over for a simple meal before we headed to Church and then to some friends for a casual get together. Christmas Day had us driving to OKC to see the kids and have dinner before we headed home with Cameron for a couple of days. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but all he really wanted to do was stay home and play with his new Wii games!

Then on Saturday, they drove here and we picked up Mom and went to lunch to celebrate Kim's birthday (which was the next day). After that, we came home and had our family Christmas here followed by cake that Cameron and I made on Friday for Kim's birthday.

They took off in the late afternoon and peace descended on the castle again! Whew! I don't know what you peeps who have a million kids and family do!

We had a quiet New Year's Eve. Didn't make it until midnight I'm afraid to say. And today is restful and quiet, too. I ended up in the Urgent Care center yesterday with an ear infection and PINK EYE!! I have NEVER had that in my life, but here I am at 58 years old!! What's that all about??? Fortunately I don't feel bad, but I'm being good and trying not to expose the entire city to it. We have a couple more Holiday Open Houses to attend in the next few days, so hopefully it'll get under control quickly. Heaven knows I don't want to miss a thing!!

I want you to know that I followed through with that baking thing and I have pictures to prove it! We made the best new cookie recipe. Just 6 ingredients and they were kind of like shortbread or wedding cookies. Just delicious!

Then of course we made Bill's favorite, Oatmeal!

And finally we did the best Caramel Corn. So easy and good!

I also wanted you to see the little Charlie Brown tree I always put in my kitchen. It's actually my favorite!

So that's it for us! The orders have been pouring in with the Free Shipping, too! So cutting and packing have been on tap for us as well. That will be over after today, so things should slow down a bit. I'll be listing more stuff next week on Ebay and Etsy I hope.

Have a Happy and Healthy and most Blessed New Year ever!

Sweet Saturday!!

Hello My Dear Friends--

It has been a lovely week. COLD, COLD, COLD here!! I did not peek my head outside from Monday until Friday except to visit my Mom once. I did not put on any makeup, nor fix my hair! It has been wonderful!! Boring for you, but wonderful! It got into the 50s again yesterday, but a cold front coming back in today will make tomorrow in the 20s. Brrrrr for Tulsa!

Mostly what I've done is take advantage of the time to put LOTS of stuff on Etsy. I have almost gotten all my extra sale fabric listed except the Bees Knees. I'll start on that today. Then I'll move on to the solids! I TOLD you I have more stuff than you can imagine!!

I'm taking next week off to enjoy Christmas. I hope you do, too. I may even be able to bake a little. Do you KNOW how long it has been since I have had time to do that?? I was telling some friends last night that this is the first time since I started this business that I am caught up and have NO deadlines in front of me. What a wonderful place to be!!

I am sharing a wonderful quilt with you today. It's from Josephine Gaaf from Holland. She loves feedsacks and has an abundant collection. She also has a fabulous and popular blog that she writes in both Dutch and English. Such fun to read! Check out Josephines Blog when you have a minute. Thanks for sharing your quilt, Josephine!

Here's hoping you have a wonderful and blessed Christmas and that your dear ones are near to you. We'll drive over to the kids on Christmas Day and then they'll be here the following Saturday to celebrate with Mom. I fear this may be the last time she'll be able to participate either because next year she won't be with us or physically unable. We're trying to make this year special for her holidays.

So til next time---

Much Love and Christmas Blessings ~

Fabulous Friday Again!!

It seems like I'm doing well to post once a week, always on Friday! What's that all about? I cannot believe that Christmas is less than 2 weeks away! I hope you are not driving yourselves crazy trying to get ready. We have such a small family that it doesn't take much, thank goodness.

I have no idea what I have been doing this week. Bill and I took the day off yesterday and drove to his home town of Neosho, MO so he could pay the tax bill on a piece of property he and his brother still own there. I got to do a little antiquing (didn't find much). We stopped at a big new Casino on the OK/MO border to check it out. I'm not much of a gambler, but put a few bucks in and won $30!! That was cool!

On the way home we stopped at one of our favorite places in Vinita, OK for fried chicken. I must say they have the BEST fried chicken I've eaten! Lots of crispies to mix in with the potatoes and gravy. Yummmmmm! Here's the leftovers (We alway order way more than we can eat so we can bring it home.....) Then you follow it up with homemade chocolate pie!

Today's gallery pics are from one of my sweet customers in Japan. Mika has bought so many feedsack squares from me, I've lost count. Here is an idea of what she does with them. I think the bags are wonderful! Wouldn't you love to have one? Thanks so much for sending me the pics, Mika!!

That's about the most excitement I've seen this week. Other than listing on Etsy and shipping, that's it for me. I've still got so much to put out there it's overwhelming.

Have a wonderful weekend and we'll be in touch next week!

Blessings~

Another Fabulous Friday!

Excuse me? Where did this week go??? I would love to tell you that I've been working my buns off, but no! I actually have gotten a bit of Christmas decorating done, which most of you don't know, but that's a real miracle in this household!

I can't say when it started, but many years ago I became the Grinch when it came to Christmas! I just got fed up with the commercialization and all the stress and said enough! I found I enjoyed Christmas from Dec. 23 until after dinner on Christmas Day. So minimal decorations went up about a week before and came down on Christmas Day night after everyone went home. My friends think I've lost my mind.

Well, this year we are having a few friends from church over on Sunday eve before the holiday gets too crazy and guess what? I'm putting up my decos now! Will even trim the tree today. Now that's amazing!! Here's my little entry table. Found this cute vintage felt runner when my friend Ann and I went antiquing on Wed. They probably didn't have that in the manger or a Merry Christmas sign above it, but it went well on that table! LOL!! That silly lamp only comes out once a year when I put it's Christmas shade on, too. My poor shepherd has lost his staff. Oh Biiillll!! Can you make me a new staff???



Other than that , wanted to share the sweetest email I got with you. These notes just make what I do worth every minute. It's from Connie Mounsey who lives here in OK. It's followed by a pic of the sweet quilt she made for her Mom.

Dear Glenna,

I enjoyed your book so much and was so inspired that I just had to make the "For My Dolly" miniature quilt. It was so easy, and this was the first project I made all by myself from start to finish. I had broken my ankle in February and my mom has been after my sister and I to get involved in quilting. She has quilted for years and wanted us to share her hobby with her. She came to take care of me and brought me a 40s featherweight (she owns 7 and is always looking for more!) and so she took me to buy material for my first project and I am hooked! I made the doll quilt for my mom as I had made a simple 9 patch one that she bound for me and she really liked it. I didn't tell her about the doll quilt I was making for her as I wanted to surprise her and after I finished I was so proud. I mailed it to her (we live 4 1/2 hrs away from each other) and when she got the package she called and asked about the little quilt. I told her it was for her...a present and she cried! That was probably the best gift I ever gave her. I have attached a photo and can't wait to get started on another one of your designs!

Connie Mounsey

Thanks so much for letting me show it, Connie!

And that's it for me this week. Hope all of you are not feeling too stressed by the holidays yet. Be sure to take some time for yourself and enjoy all the sights, sounds, and blessings of Christmas~

Off to See the Fleas!!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Our daughter, son-in-law and grandson came over for the day. My Mom could actually hear the conversation and really enjoyed having the family together. She stayed longer than usual and was exhausted but it was a "good" tired. Here's a pic of the kids. Cameron really wanted you to see all his missing teeth. I guess he'll be singing "All I want for Christmas is my 2 front teeth" this year.

He brought us a decoration that he made at school. It was lovely on the table, but he wanted to take it home so he could eat the suckers.

I'm sure most of you were exhausted, too! I know I was. Being on your feet all day in the kitchen is about the only negative I can find for the Holidays. Small price to pay.....

So off we went to the Flea Market this morning! Tulsa has had a wonderful weekly flea market for over 30 years on Saturday morning at the Fairgrounds. It has kind of been bounced around for the last few years due to building and expanding at the Fairgrounds, but the Saturday after Thanksgiving is always it's biggest day. Here's my haul---

I know you can't tell much, but there's over 30 feedsacks, a baby chenille spread, some buttons and a needle card. Not bad, huh?

You probably all know it, but Nanette at Freda's Hive had a Christmas Cottage swap this year. They are so cute! Imagine how fun it was to see some of them made out of my "Sugar N Spice" Christmas fabric! Here are some that Jane Remus of Jane's Fabrics & Quilts made out of it.

Thanks for letting me show them, Jane! This is some of the fabric on sale in my Etsy shop if you're interested.

Have a wonderful weekend and be sure to do your part for the economy this weekend! LOL!! Were you at the stores at 4 am to get the bargains yesterday?? They'd have to pay ME to do that!

Blessings~