Thinking Blogger Award

I feel honored to have been tagged by Pat (http://gatherings100.blogspot.com/) for "The Thinking Blogger Award" http://www.thethinkingblog.com/2007/02/thinking-blogger-awards_11.html . Blogging has been such a wonderful addition to my life. Often those you love the most don't always understand the things that touch your heart the deepest. The idea of being able to unleash my thoughts,garden,my stitching was the most amazing release! I never imagined anyone would listen ~ it just felt good to get it out! Having made a connection with like minded people has just meant the world to me. I relish every comment left and quite often they come when I could really use an encouraging word. I love each and every one of you that take the time to "stop by" and most special of all my new connection's ~ dear Pat ~ who inspires me as she does so many other's. She spends her goodwill and kindness all over blog land and beyond! I will spare you another TAG Pat but you have to know you are at top of my list! #1.RissaPeaceRoot http://www.prettyimpressivestuff.com/index.html great stitch dictionary and free patterns! #2.The Cottage Nest http://thecottagenest.blogspot.com/ I have gotten alot of inspiration from this site and the links on it for my current kitchen redo. #3.http://cupcakeblog.com/ A cupcake blog by chockylit! Can you imagine! I will be spending alot of time on this one when my kitchen is done! #4. http://nikisventures.blogspot.com/ Niki's Ventures ~ The Life of a Quilter ~ Lot's of freebies and sweetness! #5. http://fembellish.wordpress.com/ Lot's of Great ideas! Hope you will visit and enjoy these blogs!

Happy Easter to All!

Thank You my precious Lord for the gift of your Son Jesus! " Come ALL who are heavy laden ~ and I will give you rest." You are my best friend, the source of all that is good in my life. I praise your holy precious name! Wishing you all a Happy Blessed Easter.

Kitchen redo ~ Day 8

At day 8 ~ the thrill has come ,gone & now come back again! We are really tired of take out food but the end really does seem close at hand! The counter top folk's came out to measure for the silestone counter top. They put a special tape all over the wall's and counters and take pictures of it. I can't believe this will ensure a perfect fitting counter ~ we'll see in 2 weeks when they deliver it. I am SO excited about my pantry. It is small but so sweet with its bead board walls. Another lesson to share ~ ask for the measurements of the plate rack if you include one in your new cabinets! The spindles on ours were so far apart that the only thing that would fit was maybe a turkey platter! My contractor Scott is fixing it for me ~ a time consuming job! I picked pine floors that we will stain a walnut color to ground the room. I'm thinking of a subway tile for the stove area. I can't use a color tile because I redecorate so often ~ I will go nut's having to commit to a color! I do miss my life pre~redo! I feel I have lost touch with my blogging ~stitiching world but I am ever so grateful that I am able to do this! Well time to fall into bed!

Beautiful Treasure's from Pat

Beautiful treasure's from a very special friend! This is what has kept me smiling this week! Every chance I got ~ I was in my sewing room playing with these beautiful prints and ribbons Pat has printed and dyed herself.Gorgous fabrics ,vintage beads and ribbon flowers! I am almost finished making a new block with these beauty's for my next TAST stitches. I am a week behind but will catch up hopefully this week! I am only sorry these pictures aren't better ~ they just don't do them justice!

Tonight ~ Day 6 ~ kitchen redo

It's starting to take shape! They added a wonderful pantry at one end of the room! We ordered a glass door for it and the inside of the pantry will be lined in bead board. The area in the first photo where the fridge will go will have to remain unfinished until the new cabinet pieces arrive from the factory in 4 to 6 weeks. The part shown is not deep enough to fit the fridge. I couldn't resist adding a pot of geraniums on the counter as my inspiration piece. I think I will use the chartreuse and pink colors in the plant as my color's. Work starts again on Monday.

End Of Day 2 ~ kitchen redo

This was the end of day 2 and day 3 of me stripping the 2 layers of wallpaper. Word to the wise ~ if you must wallpaper ~ use sizing first. Everything came off is 2" by 2" pieces. The morning after I took this photo ~ day 4 of wallpaper stripping ~ I got up at 5am to finish the job before my contractor arrived at 8:30. By 5:20 am ~ I had spilled the bucket of vinegar water I was using TWICE ~ I was soaking wet ~ fever and all. I never swore once ~ but did swear off ever wallpapering again!

The UPSIDE of a kitchen redo ~ keeping the fridge in the living room!

. ....and the dog food and water! The living room has really become the room we live in ~ and the only place to sit besides the bathroom! It contains all the odds and end's we didn't pack away and a whole bunch of dust! I am trying to stay on the bright side 'cause folk's this was the week from hell! My contractor came Monday morning ~ Monday afternoon I got a fever and chill's that stayed with me until today! (Sat.) We encountered a little bit of everything that could go wrong including almost getting shut down because we didn't get a permit. Me getting a driving ticket on my way to getting the permit. Some of the cabinets we ordered had problems ~ setting us back several weeks. Not to mention a dwindling budget and lots more to purchase ~ like floor's and important stuff like that! I am going to be honest with you about the ups and downs of this project because I know in the end ~ it will all be worth it!

BEFORE picture's ~ kitchen redo

I thought I'd share my kitchen redo with you.I've been SO excited about it! When I started packing everything however ~ I started remembering all of my kid's childhood memories in this kitchen. It has turned into a bitter sweet process. As I look at these picture's ~ you can't really see the flaw's (broken drawer's and peeling Formica etc.) ~ I feel a little heart sick! If you are planning a new kitchen ~ I would recommend Omega Brand cabinets. They are solid wood and the same price point as Lowe's and Home Depot's mid-grade . When they started building our cabinets ~ they sent me a door from the exact paint they were using on our cabinets. I was able to bring the door with me to choose counter top's. Tomorrow the real work begins! I'll keep you posted on the progress!

Looking for Sign's of Spring in my backyard

Lilac bud's look like they are ready to burst! My rabbit friend is waiting patiently for the lettuce patch to appear.Teddi and Jake are getting quite frisky ~ ~ ~ my garden angel is standing watch over the snow covered raised bed's.The cedar chair's my husband and I bought year's before as our Sat. morning getaway from the kid's ~ are sitting empty ~ for now. The crocus bud's poking out through the snow are my promise your coming soon ~ hurry!!!!!

Week 12 TAST Couching Stitch

I choose to do a very simple couching stitch with a metallic thread on this beautiful moss leaf trim from Ribbonsmyth.com . The rick rack is also couched down but will get some beading added soon! Happy Spring Everyone!

My Sewing Room

I had NO budget for this room so it had to be done with great imagination! I started by getting a table that filled the long wall। K-mart had the white shoe holder's on sale that work perfect for fat quarter's and this and that. I ran curtain's attached to hook's on that wire curtain stuff Ikea has under the table so the curtain's can be opened or shut. Behind the curtain are plastic drawer's that hold my bead's, scrap booking ,ribbon and sewing supplies. I can pull the drawer's out and place them on the counter for easy access.The sewing table with my machine was on clearance at Walmart for I believe about $40.00.(if you double-click on this pic you will see Teddi sleeping under my machine!) Under it I store my serger. I do my crazy quilting on the left side of the machine so I can look out the window ~ a must for me during the day! The room faces west so the sunshine pour's in during the day! The magazine rack is the best buy I have gotten is a long while!!!! It was in the basement of a furniture store ~ not even for sale ~ but I got it for $20.00!!!!! It is SO sturdy and now I use my magazine's all the time for reference! The 2 ott light's are a must for me ~ I can't sew or bead without them!There is a big comfy pillow and toy's on the floor for my precious Teddi! Jake our Brittney can be found sleeping on my bed when I am working up here! The closet looks messy but I reorganize it ALL the time! It holds fabric's, fiberfill and big stuff! The dresser with the tv was my daughter's. Each drawer is devoted to something different ~ crazy quilting ,pattern's,stabilizer etc.If I am not outside ~ this is where I can be found! It is one of my happiest place's to be ! (and I must add ~ a dream come true!!!) ~