Home is Where the Heart Is (and where there are NO giant bugs!)

Quilts and Quilts Store Branson, MO

Hello Crafters!  While my vacation was great, it is sew great to be home!  I absolutely love traveling and experiencing new places, but it is still nice to come home and sleep in my own bed...and use my own shower!

As I hoped, I came across some great fabric finds including the great selection above.  I bought this at a shop that boasts over 1,000 bolts of different fabrics!  This pin up fabric is a fat quarter and I bought these two additional fat quarters:

I'm not sure what I will make with these fabrics, but that doesn't matter!  Aren't they great?! This store has so many fabrics, books, notions, patterns, and quilting "stuff" it was almost overwhelming.  There were amazing quilts on display, however after my experience at another store previously, I did not take any photos here! 

I found some great quilts at an actual retail quilt store.  I took some photos before I was informed that photos were not allowed!  Here are those photos...on the "down-low" of course:

They are gorgeous!  These are just a few of the many spectacular quilts I saw.  I so want to learn how to do this!!

Branson was fun...and hot.  I saw little lizards and big fish and a huge, prehistoric looking creature on the back deck!  YUK!  We had a blast tubing at Table Rock Lake..I will spare you the sight of  swim suit photos...please...you'll thank me.  I worked on my tan, and ate sinfully decadent pastries, including two chocolate covered Twinkies!  Yes, two...I had to compare the milk chocolate to the dark chocolate right!!  I may have to have more just to be certain which is better! 

 

I've spent the morning going through emails and checking out my fave blogs, including fellow Bloggerette Sorority Sister, Cortney's at Living and Loving in California is having her first giveaway!  She is giving away a beautiful crystal necklace and earing set.I've posted a photo and link on my sidebar, even though I plan on winning!  Ha!

I have also checked in with Wendy at Blissfull ATC Swap.  My July ATC was posted and now we are getting ready for the August swap.  I think there is time for more sign ups if you are interested!  It has been loads of fun!  The theme for August is orange...what will I do??

Toodles for now!

Two New Bags...and Elvis?

Middletown Journal

Hello from sunny and super hot...Southern Missouri!  My family and I are on vacation in, I guess, the Country Music/Cheesy toupe wearing Capital of the Mid-West...otherwise known as Branson, MO!  It's been great so far and I am so excited to get to spend this time with my entire family.  I can't remember the last time my whole family took a vacation together.  My hubby and I have four kids...his, mine, and ours.  All girls...ranging in age from 21 to 5!  We are also blessed to have my cousin, Stef, and her sweet baby girl, with us, too.  Yes, my hubby is totally outnumbered by the girls, but I think he secretly loves his little "harem." 

So, since my cousin is with me, I can show you the bag I made for her before leaving on this trip.  It was one of those secret projects I was working on.  I really like how the bag turned out.  I only wish I would have had my custom Sew Loquacious stamp before I when I finished this purse.

If you can see it, the button on the band matches the shape of the fabric flower design almost perfectly.  The button serves no purpose, but is only decorative.  This bag is similar to the bag I made from the Goodwill skirt, but I made Stef's bag a tad smaller and also put a magnetic snap in it for a closure.  What do you think about this bag?

Another project I managed to finish before my trip was this makeup bag.  I had been using the same makeup bag for like 10 years!  Can you believe that?  So, I made this box bag based on the Stacy Sews box bag I made a month ago or so.  I am in love with this fabric.  I hope you can see the detail of this design.  It is so great.

Well, that's it for now, but stay tuned.  I hear Branson is ripe with quilt stores, and I am hoping, fabric stores.  Surely I will find some fabulous fabric for my stash right?!

Toodles for now!

My ATC and My Stamp!

Hello Crafters!  Just a quick hello to tell you that my first ATC made it to my friend, Wendy, today!  The theme is sisters.  I posted a photo of the ATC Wendy sent me the other day.  Her's is so great.  Go her blog and have a look at mine.  My take on "sisters" for this swap is a little different!

Another thing that I am super excited about is my stamp!  I got my "custom" Sew Loquacious stamp today!  I tested it out on a piece of paper and I think it looks good.  What do you think? 

Toodles for now!

My Collection Begins Plus More 1970s Stuff!

Today I recieved my first Artist Trading Card!  My collection of these tiny masterpeices begins!  If you have not heard about them, they are sort of like baseball cards, except they are made by artists to swap with others.  I have joined the Blissfull ATC Swap and have partnered up with Wendy for this first swap month.    Wendy's work is fantastic.  Her blog is full of gorgeous photos of her art.  Check out what she made for me!

  Isn't is beautiful!  I love it!  I mailed Wendy the ATC I made, which, compared to her's is completely amaturish, by hey, it's my first!  When Wendy receives my card, she'll post a photo of it on her blog, so look for it!  Hopefully she'll receive it by Wednesday!  The theme for July's swap is "Sisters."  Next month's theme is "orange."  I guess that means anything orange goes!

Well, I'm sure everyone participating in Rewind Week: 1970s has been busy working on their projects right!  If you haven't signed up to participate, it isn't too late!  There is still time!  I have had a super time reminiscing, going through old photos and talking about those things that stick out in my mind from my childhood.  In a way, the 1970s don't seem that long ago.  On the other hand, it seems like we have "advanced" so far since that time.  For example, think about video games.  Look at Wii and Playstation.  These games are so realistic aren't they?  Now think back to the games in the 1970s.  I remember playing a tennis type game on our ginormous console television...no remote control thank you very much.  I can still remember the sound. Ping...ping...ping. Another example of this advancement in our technology is in the kitchen. No, switching from avacado green appliances to sleek stainless steel is not technology, it is just better taste. No, the technology is in the appliances. Remember the "radarange?"

Atari Pong

Amana

Retro Renovation

And then, of course, our fashions have advanced.  Well, sort of.  I actually see a lot of people wearing "retro" inspired clothing.  Personally, I find the clothes of this time pretty awful...even more horrendous than the styles of the 1980s!

Vintage Patterns

I am actually really looking forward to doing Rewind Week: 1980s.  I was a child in the 1970s, but I grew up in the 1980s.  I wised up in the 1990s!

Alright, remember to grab your button if you are a participant! 

Toodles for now!

Forgive Me Wallace

Just a quick hello!  It has been a busy week and a super busy weekend!  I did managed to finish part of my Rewind Week project, plus my ATC for the Blissfull ATC Swap.  Of course I had to get up at 0600 on a Saturday morning to get these done so I could work on house, mom, and wife stuff the rest of the day!  The ATC swap theme for July is sisters.  I so wish I could show you a picture of my card, but I think that would probably be against the rules!  You'll have to check out Wendy's blog next week to see mine and you'll see the card she sends me here at Sew Loquacious!  It was really fun making my card...I'm excited to participate again  in August although super tiny beads will probably NOT be included in any future ATCs as I have concluded that carpal tunnel, too short of arms for my vision, and lack of patience, do not mix well with small beads. 

Unfortunately, I did not get to do Flea Market Friday yesterday...boo hiss.  One of my obligations was to get the dog groomed.  So, while he was getting his hair done, I snuck into JoAnn's and scored some great clearance items, including fabric pens and a beautiful needlepoint kit.  This kit was less than one dollar!  I've never done needlepoint before, but how hard can it be?  I probably don't want to hear the answer to that do I?  I also had time to stop at a stampers store.  I guess that is what you call it...a slough of stamps, inks, embellishments, papers, and more.  I bought a fabric ink pad and ordered a custom stamp.  I can't wait to get my stamp!  I have been making my own labels using Word and iron on transfers, but with my stamp, I'll be able to stamp my logo onto my labels instead of ironing!  Yeah!

While I was shopping and having fun, my dog, unfortunately, wasn't having much fun.  This is how he is currently looking at me:

Forgive me Wallace.  You do look cute and your breath is so fresh!

Toodles for now!

Bay City Rollars,KC and the Sunshine Band, Little House on the Prarie , and a Funky Haircut!

Hello Crafters!  I hope everyone is having a fantastic week!  It is has been a busy week for me!  Besides working on my project for Rewind Week, I have been working on a few "secret" projects.  I've also started working on an ATC, which I am actually super excited about. Bloggerette Sorority sisters Wendy, from Bliss ANGELS and Debbie, from Mosaic Magpie have started an ATC swap.  Go to Blissfull ATC Swap and check it out!  In case you are wondering, an ATC is an artist trading card.  These are small (baseball card size) cards that are handmade pieces of art.  Sometimes, a series of cards are made surrounding a common theme.  The first theme for my first ATC swap is "Sisters."  I'm a little nervous because I have never made anything like this nor have I participated in any sort of swab, but I am excited, too.  Since joining the Sorority, I have "met" some really great lady bloggers and have been exposed to some great crafts that I probably would not have had I not joined! 

Okay, so why the Bay City Rollars album cover?  Well, it is relevant to pre- Rewind Week.  Do you remember certain music from your childhood?  Do certain songs and or images stick out in your mind?  For me, I remember this album cover.  I really have no idea why.  The first song that sticks in my memory from my childhood is American Woman by the Guess Who.  Again, no idea why this has stayed in my memory bank since I was a young kid.  Anyway, I've compiled a few more significant images from my childhood.  First, KC and the Sunshine Band.  I do remember listening to this music and I definately remember my sister teasing me telling me that I looked like KC...again a hair thing.  Again, my hair issues were her fault!  (She played beauty shop on me).

One of my fondest childhood memories is watching and playing Little House on the Prarie.  I actually grew up not too far away from The Big Woods, so this was extra special to me.  Do you remember the opening credits when Laura is running down the hill?  I reenacted this scene millions of times!

Besides the Ingalls family, I was also a fan of the Wilderness Family.  The Wilderness Family is the first movie I remember seeing in a theater.

These are just a few of the significant images and music from my childhood.  There are many more, including, Donny and Marie, the Brady Bunch, Grizzly Adams and the Patridge Family, but the most influential and relevant to my very being is (any guesses?):

  NEVER TREAD WATER!

This movie has impacted my entire life.  Anybody else?  I know there are those out there that have NEVER gone swimming (even in a swimming pool) without thinking about this guy...am I right?  It's okay to admit it.  You are not alone.

Alright.  I will leave you with one last picture.  This is a photo of me and my sister.  We are wearing what I consider to be Holly Hobbie dresses.  My mother made them for us and also made a matching one for herself.  Pretty funky hair right?

Have a great rest of the week!

Toodles for now!

Shaun Cassidy...Again I say, "No, you are not Vintage!"

A few weeks ago I snapped this photo during a Flea Market Friday outing.  This album was marked as "vintage hearthrob."  Vintage?  At the time I laughed, but later, thought, if Shaun is vintage...am I vintage, too?  I did have this album and poster and I watched The Hardy Boys (circa 1977)!  I say, "NO!"  No to both!  We are not vintage...just wiser.  Yeah, that's it.  Oh, and by the way, I also had a huge Andy Gibb poster.  I can still see it...his feathered blonde hair appeared to be moving in imaginary wind and his black, gigantic collared, shirt, unbuttoned a little too far...He had the whitest teeth didn't he?  I guess in thirty years Justin Timberlake and Miley Cyrus will be vintage, too...right?

Thanks again for the great response to the Rewind Week!  There is still time to sign up if you haven't done so.  Please remember, this event is open to everyone...even if you don't have a blog!  Just send me an email!To those who have signed up, I've posted your button and code on my sidebar, just below the participant link list.  I will also email you the code..just in case I messed something up in the scrollbox! 

As for the link list, please take the opportunity to click on the blogs.  All the blogs are terrific!  I've had a fantastic time checking out the blogs here as well as through the Bloggerette Sorority. 

Toodles for now!