Having a craft and sewing blog has introduced me to crafters of all types. I am in awe of knitters. How they can take a ball of yarn and make a beautiful sweater or pair of socks is beyond my capabilities. I’m afraid that I will be buying my socks. Don’t cry for me though because I have found some that are almost as awesome as handmade knitted ones. When I go to the department store in the mall, and look upon the racks, I could become confused. I don’t worry though because HUE is the brand where I am always drawn. You can put a zillion styles of socks in front of me and I always gravitate towards the coolest socks made by HUE. They make fashionable socks that are fun. I got involved in wearing funky socks years ago. I am so thrilled that Mary Jane styled shoes are in right now because when I wear mine, I can show off my socks. I have striped ones in every color and my polka dot HUE socks are so cool. I feel more of a spring in my step when I wear my fashionable socks. HUE also sells sleepwear and panties. I think I need to check those out.

I found the cutest purse pattern when I picked up my sewing machine on Saturday. My reverse button isn’t working very well so I left my machine after my class. It is still not fixed since they had to order a part. I just went in to pick up my machine.

I walked back to the fabric department and I knew I would be tempted to buy something. Well, I found the cutest purse pattern and it jumped into my hands. The purse has prairie points on it. It is adorable. The pattern cover shows it as made in fancy fabrics but the one on display was made in earth tone country type fabrics. It looked so nice that I bought the charm pack in those colors.

I have been working on making bags from fabric. I have been learning which patterns I like because the instructions given are simple and easy to follow. This bag is easy to make but if I don’t make one for a while, I forget what the instructions mean and end up using my seam ripper. I hope that posting these pictures, I can check them as references and make remembering a little easier.

The first step has me layering the fabric with the batting.

My dream is to have a place on a lake where my husband can go out all day and fish. That leaves the house quiet and calm so I can sew to my hearts content. Virginia Water Front Properties are nestled into the coves of Smith Mountain Lake. I can picture myself sitting on the deck of my property while drinking a cup of coffee. Oops. I mean, I can picture myself cutting out fabric and sewing to my hearts content. The planned community at The Coves features beautiful lots that respect the natural beauty of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. Talk about a beautiful place. When we drove through the mountains last summer we felt like we had died and gone to heaven. It is heaven on earth.

My son’s wedding seemed like a long way off but now that it is getting closer there is so much to be done. He has been trying to think of what to get the groomsmen as a gift to show his appreciation. Unique cufflinks would be my suggestion. I am going to suggest that he look at all the designer men’s accessories at Tateossian.com. They set the bar as far as fashion goes. The unique design of their jewelry makes each piece something to be remembered. I think the young guys would appreciate the contemporary, modern and timeless styling. I’ll let you know how it goes.

I have a confession to make. I have stopped making my own greeting cards. When we first got a computer, I bought some software and made my own cards. The trouble is that I didn’t make a record of which card I sent to whom and I wouldn’t want to duplicate a card so I am afraid to send anymore. Besides that, printer ink is so expensive. It is so economical to order birthday cards online when I get them from Cardsdirect.com. They have a wonderful selection of cards. I love that they have cards appropriate to send to the male species. Whenever I go to the card shop, I stand there and become frustrated. They never have cards that are appropriate to give a guy. Not all men are sports or hunting enthusiasts. Just look at this beautiful card. Any man would love to receive that.

The money I save in gas is worth the few seconds it takes to order greeting cards from Cardsdirect.com. Gas prices keep going up and it is time to really think about getting more done online. I find it much easier than fighting for a parking place and trying to talk myself out of purchasing other items when I am in a store. The time I save is another thing. Time is better spent making quilts!

I recommend that anyone who has children, whether they are toddlers or teens, use rustic furniture in their home. Rustic furniture always looks nice.

If you have ever visited a cozy Tuscan or Southwestern themed restaurant, you know that the feeling you get while dining there is one of relaxation and comfort. That is because the decor is filled with beautiful rustic furniture. Heavily grained wood and rustic hinges make for a beautiful look. Usually, the restaurant has a warm stone fireplace and rustic beams near the ceiling. The comfortable feeling you had while dining is just part of the atmosphere that the owner is hoping will bring you back as a regular customer.

Why not bring that comfortable feeling into your own home? You can find beautiful, exclusive designs made of 100% solid wood at tresamigosworldimports.com. This Wholesale Furniture website is sure to take you back in time to a place where beautiful furniture was created and not mass produced. They have beautiful Rustic and Spanish Colonial style furniture and you will love the prices.

Tres Amigos Furniture & Accessories has more than beautiful furniture. You will find beautiful hand made jewelry. To help you decorate your home, they have a large selection of candles, rustic hardware, and tin or tile mirrors. They have everything you need to turn your home into a comfortable one.

I need help. I have over 500 Beanie Babies to find a new place to live. Yes, my son and I got caught up in collecting Beanie Babies. It was fun. It filled a void. I don’t regret collecting the Beanies but now I am ready to part with them. Does anyone know what to do with Beanie Babies? I need your ideas.

If you have been reading my blog for a while, you know that I love auctions. I furnished our new lodge room with things I bid on at an auction. Auctions are a love/hate affair for me. I love to pick something out and bid on it. My heart begins to race as I try to control myself and not go over my budget. Dang it! Sometimes, that is impossible to do. I cannot let someone else win the bid. Even if it is for an old pot by golly, if I bid, I intend to win.

Now, don’t tell my hubby but I have found an Online Auction Site that gets my heart pounding. You should see all the antiques and electronics I can bid on! Somebody stop me!

This is my little buddy Brody. He has had a few haircuts since that picture was taken. I gets so hot when we let his hair get long. He loves to go out into the snow and put his face down into the cold, wet snow. Then he shakes his head and lets the snow fly all over the place.