Are You Being Served? (British Comedy)

Are You Being Served? This has always been one of my favorite TV shows!!!! Brings back fond memories and can still make me laugh till I cry!

Above: These pictures are from Amazon .com where the DVD's can be ordered.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=are+you+being+served+dvds

The "Handmade" Christmas "TO DO" List

Wow, Dalton will be returning from his trip to Washington DC & Chicago just in time to start school! I will be sure to add some of his pictures when he gets home. He's got quite a collection to show me when he gets here. Can't wait to hear all the stories that go with them. He did tell me he's had an awesome time so far!

Since the last entry I can't begin to tell you how the crochet and knitting projects have piled up!

I've already started a crochet afghan (reversable)for my mother as one of her Christmas presents. She unknowingly picked out the yarns for her own gift several months ago:) , but my list has grown from there. Dalton requested a knit hat for fall/school which he also picked the yarn out for, but I found another skein I knew he would love ...so the 2nd hat will be for Christmas. Im sure most of you would take no time at all to whip those up, but these will be my first hats ever. My knitting stitches have improved a great deal, but I am still slow when it comes to new projects. Ive already had to frog the first attempt and start over.

Then of coarse, my projects are last on the"to do"list. I found the softest alpaca yarn ever ( my favorite). Its so soft its almost sinful! Can't keep my hands out of it! Im using that on a cowl for winter. I chose a natural color so it will go with pretty much every thing.

Every time I think my list is complete someone in the family picks up my pattern books and says ---I really like that --maybe you can make me one. LOL

Its pretty funny actually! My daughter, God love her, said she will not wear any thing that looks handmade/knit because it looks like its for old people. Well, she has added at least 3 more projects to my list! She still has the picture in her head of little old ladies knitting in rocking chairs. I did try to tell her they have knitting Vogue... but that was a lost cause. Little by little she is seeing more knitted things that appeal to her.

Ive also been busy reading the knitting mystery series by Maggie Sefton. I love them and havent been able to put them down. They get a thumbs up from me! She describes how she is a fiber flousey....loving all the colors and textures of the new and old yarns alike. I have to say that I totally understand! I have been saving and stashing yarns for a good long while now. Just waiting for the perfect project for them. They are all very tempting (eye candy) and the actual movements of knitting are very relaxing! Im not quite good enough yet to get to the meditation stage but Im working on it!

Awwww... isnt he the cutest?!

Above: Maggie Sefton Knitting mystery book series
http://www.maggiesefton.com/knitting.html

Alpaca: Picture uploaded by Gienepien http://www.flickr.com/photos/gien/3539787258/

Washington DC

Dalton left for Chicago today and will be heading for Washington DC in the morning .He gets to go with his best friend and his family...... Hoping they have lots of fun!

(Above: The Smithsonian Castle-picture by Stellas mom's http://www.flickr.com/photos/lithuania2008/2891628336/)

Random Thought:

YFC Camp 2009

That's roughing it?????
This years summer YFC Camp (Youth for Christ) was in Lake City, Michigan.

My kids have just returned home safely with no broken bones this year! Dalton signed up to

go, but then was having second thoughts-- alot of them, he didnt want to go after all....this was his first time at camp. Needless to say, he loved it, thanked me for making him go, and wants to go again next year. Kelsey (his sister) has went several times already and thought he would enjoy going ..... so she is the one that got him into the program.

Its very costly to go and we could not have afforded one let alone both kids to go, but the church

supports its youth and worked to get scholarships for them. The kids also did their part and held different activities to help earn money for the trip. So, from the bottom of my heart I thank the people who have sponsered the youth. Its a great environment and an experience that I'm glad they were given the chance to have.

Dalton also said the food was great and they could have as much as they wanted. LOL

Ok, back in the day when I went to camp they were barely above Health Department standards & you never ate the food until you had too! So,I was just Wow'd by the "resort like " camp, the friendly leaders and good food !They are still talking about all the activities and the fun things they did at camp, including the challenges they faced. Both of my kids had a wonderful time and will have lots of good memories to carry with them.

So, again I thank you all .... hearing about the testimonies and experiences they shared at camp was chicken soup for my soul!

(Above: The last night at camp was a semi-formal dinner night)

The Bloomin' Garden

Record lows this week! The garden is still blooming, but its good knitting and tea weather. I'm getting my Christmas list ready for the knitted items I would like to get done. I'm still pretty slow at knitting, but I've started a new illusion scarf project. I choose a musical theme and school colors for my daughter that's in show choir. ( Shhhh--it's for Christmas!) I have lots of other projects to get completed, but am taking things one project at a time! The ladies at our local knitting shop are helping me along and providing encouragement and inspiration, which has been much needed.

I just finished reading "Hanging by a Thread" by Monica Ferris, a needlecraft mystery.

It was a good read and I'm looking forward to getting more of her books. The setting of her needle craft store was great! The store in the story seemed warm and welcoming, but had its quirks too. It includes a colorful group of women and people from her town, and all the different projects they are working on. In this book it was focusing on fall and christmas holidays which was great timing to get me in the mood for the upcoming holidays here in the real world.

Above:burgundy and pink hibiscus from my garden &

Tea cup and rose pictures by: silicapathways
http://www.flickr.com/photos/silicapathways/377472920/ .

Our Anniversary - July 16th, 1994

This cross stitch wedding sampler was finished about a month before we got married. Loved the colors and style of the old fashioned accents. This one took about eight months to finish. Working on it in the evenings. Since then, I havent really worked on any large projects. My cross stitching technique has improved greatly since then and am looking forward to working on my next large piece.

The picture above was taken on our honeymoon. Gatlinburg ,TN.

Lilies in the Garden

Happy July 4TH !!!

Oh, say can you see,
by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars,
through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched,
were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets red glare,
the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night,
That our flag was still there,
Oh say, does that Star Spangled Banner yet wave,
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

I Love Lucy.....

http://www.lucystore.com/index.html

Owl ATC's (Artist Trading Cards)

I've been working on the owl ATC's for a while now and have just hit the half way mark. YEA!
The swap is for one Owl ATC for each month of the year.
Four different partners are assigned for each month.
January - June is pictured at the top .

ATC's are made with a sturdy background card thats 2 1/2 x 3 1/4 inches (standard size--fits into baseball card collection pages). I like to use the ones you can buy pre-cut. From there, you just decorate with scrapbooking papers and things that pertain to your theme. I tend to use alot of rubber stamps,colored pencils, ribbons, glosses, glitter, metallic mists,paper punchces,brads, ect... the more mediums and embellishments you use the better. You can also keep them simple if that is the style you prefer. There are many examples that can be found in search. The more art inclined people make their cards with water colors or drawings.There's some real talent out there! The possibilities are endless.

Pictured below is one of the more challenging themes I've done.
"Art Doll ATC".
The idea was to make a doll ATC, you could only use hand drawn or stamped images for the body. The next challenge was that the body had to fold behind the card so that it could be stored in a regular collection page. For this one it was an open theme as long as you met the requirements of the swap. I had alot of fun with this one and it has become one of my favorites:)

I'm also on flickr.com as valentines69.

Oliver & Sadie Sue

This is Oliver (Olie) . I just found this cross stitch pattern and thought it looked so much like him! I was so excited. Since he is a mix its hard to find patterns and pictures that actually look like him. Its ordered and on its way! He's one of two dogs that we have ....the others name is Sadie Sue (Tootie) and she is a German Shepherd Chow mix. I already have a beautiful tapestry pillow of a German Shepherd. She seems to be on the blonder side of their breed colors. They are both so lovable:)

http://shoppe.whitewillowstitching.com/index.php

Home Sweet Home

I made this cross stitch project along time ago (high school), but I still like it! I know what you all are thinking and I'm really not that old! I have since lost the pattern book & am pretty sure that its not available any more. On the bright side, Ive already cross stitched my favorite pattern out of it so its ok:) Its sorta hard to tell by the picture, but its a white cottage on a background of the multicolored natural aida cloth. It was done on 14 count, which is what I almost always use (personal pref.) Since I ran across it again I just thought I'd share it with every one.

Fairy Shoes

This was made for a swap themed "Fairy Shoes". (This one is being sent to Italy!) I used stiffened glitter felt and added jewel and star embellishments. Its all hand sewn. The pattern is fun and simple....Give it a try!






This Fairy Shoe was made for a "Fascinating Pin Cushion" Swap. I used the same pattern, but added a bottle cap pin cushion in the heel. This is also hand sewn, beaded, and embroidered.
The pattern can be found at http://allsorts.typepad.com/allsorts/2007/11/ears-to-your-el.html .

Pints & Purls Knitting Book

I thought this was to funny when I first saw it in an ad. Then I happened across the book. Looking forward to some cool projects:)

Like the frog pictured? That was a special birthday gift from my son a couple years back.

Its one of my favorites:) Wow frogs and knitting-- how appropriate!

(Rip-it, Rip-it)

Pink Pink Pink

Pink lilies-- they are one of my favorites! Ive been waiting for them all to open. Finally, when I went out today they were blooming!

Happy Father's Day!

In the Garden

Ive been playing around alot in the garden lately, and figured crafts can wait for those really hot or rainy days. I love the look of the Loose Stride Gooseneck flowers (the white ones at the top). Just some thing about them all in a row and bloomed out strikes my fancy. The purple flowers are Campanula Kent Bells ( Nodding grape blue flowers). I was very surprised to find these in the garden this year since I didnt plant them. They go great in my cottage garden! A wonderful natures surprise. Last but not least is the Hen and Chicks I added last year. Ive never really seen them bloom with flowers on them so you can imagine how thrilled I was to find the pink blooms crowning the top. I know they are very common, but I cant help but like them. Pink happens to be my favorite color so I was impressed:)

Dalton's 8th Grade Graduation

Notice that the shirt was tucked in! (above ) hahahaha






The boys are back in town ...

Dalton....I'm so proud of you! Congratulations!!!!!

Clematis' in my Garden

Time to Laugh

http://www.charisma-art.com/gallery/sheep_incognito/#1

http://www.lionbrand.com

A Little Audrey

Old movie buff? Me too! This is an ATC made for a swap themed "Audrey". She is one of favorite actresses.