Nancy's Creations

A Trip to The Sonoma Valley

2011-07-03T22:06:00.000-05:00

We took a girls trip to the Wine Country. Who is "we"? Me, my Aunt Debbie, my two daughters-Linsi and Haley. I went there last November and wanted so badly to go back because it was just amazingly beautiful and the weather was so wonderful. So we went again a couple of weeks ago and again we had a wonderful trip. My oldest daughter, Linsi, is our travel guide and does such a fantastic job with the internery. We saw the huge Red Woods and we traveled along Bodega Bay one afternoon and it was a beautiful site. Hopefull I will get to make another trip to this beautiful part of the country. Happy 4th of July to everyone. Here are just a few of the pictures that we took of the trip.

Summer Time

2011-07-02T19:48:00.001-05:00

It is so hot here in Texas! I am not going back to my teaching and coaching job next year so I am going to have tons of time to do some things that I enjoy doing....sewing, searching for antiques, working in my booth, traveling, shopping, visiting my kids and so much more! I am working hard on my etsy shop and trying to get that going. I joined Etsy Kids and this is a great group that is a part of the Etsy team. If you have time go to Etsy and take a look. There are tons of things on the site and some very talented people selling their goods. Here are few of the things that I have been sewing lately.

Being Thankful

2011-03-28T21:11:00.000-05:00

I have been thinking alot lately about my family and how thankful I am for all of them. I enjoy the time spent with them and cherish the moments. I was blessed to be raised around my grandparents and I have such fond memories of all of them. I think because I was reared close to them it gives me a different perspective towards "senior citizens". I hate it when they are mistreated or not given the respect that they deserve. And now having said all of that let me say that I hope everyone has a wonderful week. There was slight cold front that moved in today and we are in much need of some rain. I need some extra time to sew a few things but I am too tired after softball practice. I worked in my booth at Junktique yesterday and I just found out this week that the other store "MiMi's Cottage" is going out of business. Micky the owner is retiring so I am going to be moving my things. I wish I could find a good store to put my baby things to sell. I'm looking for a place but so far have not found one.
Take care and God Bless.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

2011-03-17T20:13:00.000-05:00

Happy St. Patty's Day to everyone. We are in full swing with softball season and the weather is so nice right now here in Texas. I really like warm weather much more than the cold weather. We have had a very cold and wet winter this year but spring is just around the corner. Our school was out for spring break this week and I have enjoyed every minute of it. We went camping on the lake for several days and it was so nice to sit around the fire and enjoy family and friends. What could be better than that? We shared stories and had lots of laughs. My mom and dad came one afternoon and brought shrimp gumbo for us and then we played 42 dominoes and had a blast. I'm always amazed how fast the school years fly by and this year is no different. Haley will graduate in May from the University of Texas. She has been accepted into TWU and she is excited about that new venture in her life. God is so good and I have so much to be thankful for. I thank him everyday for his amazing grace and mercy. As soon as softball is over I plan to get back into that sewing room. I had a few St. Patrick Day orders but things have been a little slow lately. Have a wonderful weekend and take care.

More Cold Weather

2011-02-10T21:02:00.000-06:00

We are still having cold weather here in Texas. I have been really busy with softball practice and it is so cold. I had a few orders this week and I got those done. If you are on facebook check out a couple places that I have some of my baby things. MiMi's Cottage in Buna, Texas and The Pink Door. I hope you have a great week and try to stay warm.

It is sooooo COLD

2011-02-02T19:47:00.000-06:00

It is extremely cold in Texas right now! Softball practice was miserably cold but we practiced and survived. I have been sewing some cute new things. I am going to have a give-away soon so stay tuned. I am trying to stay warm and make it through this week without freezing. I hope you have a wonderful week.

More sewing projects

2011-01-16T10:13:00.003-06:00

Well I have been working on my valentine onesies and t-shirts. I LOVE working on the sewing projects. I did alot of Christmas onesies and shirts and now I'm gearing up for Valentine's Day. I had a clinic this week in Houston and as soon as that was over I headed to Austin to see Haley. We had dinner at our favorite place in Austin.....UCHI. They serve the freshest and most delicious sushi ever. I am posting a few of my new designs. Have a great week.

Cool weather is great!

2010-11-30T21:47:00.003-06:00

The girls and I had a great trip to Sonoma and Napa Valley. We had many laughs and memories that I will cherish forever. I am working on several orders for Christmas and hoping to get a few more on Etsy. I am going to post a few of my sewing projects that I have recently sold to customers. I love my new Baby Lock monogramming machine, it makes things go so much faster. Well I have 3 weeks and then I have another holiday and I can't wait...the good thing about teaching is the long vacation time. I hope you have a great week and stay warm.

Middle Child's Birthday and sewing fun

2010-11-14T20:19:00.003-06:00

Today is my son Matthew's 25th birthday....my time flies! Today was a chilly and misty day here in Southeast Texas. I cooked Cornish hens and rice for dinner and it was delicious. I haven't cooked that in a long time. My mom, sister and I went to the Nutcracker Craft Show in Houston yesterday and I had a fun day out with those two.

Today I made a couple of new things for my Etsy Shop and worked on my booth in Jasper. Just 5 more days until Linsi, Haley and I fly out to Sonoma and Napa Valley. This is my first trip to California and I am pretty excited about it. We will be gone for about 3 days and then back for Thanksgiving and family time. Here is a look at the new shirts that I have added to Etsy. If you have a chance visit my shop:nwalkercreations "The Pink Door".

What a week!

2010-11-07T22:33:00.002-06:00

Wow...glad this week is over! I got sick on Weds. and really didn't feel better until Saturday. The stomach virus was going around at school and I had to catch it. I went to Dallas to visit my kids and pick up Fisher, my son's dog. Finn, my dog has been enrolled in training school and will be gone for at least a month. Fisher has a tumor and we are going to hopefully get his surgery scheduled and get him on the mend. I had a great visit with Linsi, Haley, Tanner, Matt, and Dallas this weekend. We always have lots of laughs and eat tons of good food. Since my tummy wasn't all that great I had soup at most stops.
I plan on sewing lots of new things this week so I will post what I make later. I did visit one of my favorite fabric shops while in Dallas. City Craft off of Lover's Lane some really nice fabric and patterns. I always find something to buy when I go there.
Linsi is busy making her cute baby shoes and other projects that she is selling. Haley is winding down the semester and has senior idis really bad...LOL. Matt is working and hunting.
I hope you have a great week and I hope have a better week than last week. God Bless and take care.

Etsy Shop

2010-10-29T17:42:00.007-05:00

Thanks so much for the comments! I have been super busy. I have bought a new embroidery machine and I have been busy with orders. My Etsy shop has not been that busy but I have been busy with the Antique stores and special orders from my friends. My Etsy store is under nwalkercreations, so check out what I am selling and let me know what you think. I am posting a few pictures of some of my things that I am selling. Have a great weekend!

Labor Day!

2010-09-07T13:49:00.002-05:00

I had a great Labor Day weekend with my family. The girls and I sewed most of the weekend and had a great time. I will post pictures later on all the things that we made with my machine. I have rented a new room in Buna for all of my baby items, so I am busy trying to fill it up. Mother and I painted the room pink and then I purchased some white grid to hang the clothes, bows, and etc. It looks really nice and I'm so excited about it. I finally opened my Etsy store and it is called nwalkercreations. I only have 3 items right now but hey it's a start! I hope that it works out to be a good thing. I have not tried online sales so this all new to me. Any advice would be greatly appreciated from those of you who have sold online. My favorite things to sew are children's clothing and accessories. I hope everyone had a safe and happy weekend.
God Bless you!

A Glance back at summer.....it ends tomorrow.

2010-08-19T21:35:00.005-05:00

Tomorrow will be the last day of summer for me, since we start school next Monday. As I look back on this past summer I can honestly say it was one of the best summers I've had in awhile. So I thought I would reflect a little on just that. I love to go camping with my family and we were able to get the whole family together in May and go to the lake. We enjoyed a week of fun, food, friends, and family. Haley and I took our first trip to Europe and had a wonderful trip touring Italy. Being a history teacher for many years, this was truly a dream come true for me. On our way home, we got news that the sawmill had burned. Needless to say this was quite upsetting and after leaving the airport we both cried as we left the airport and headed home. I think we were so exhausted from plane delays and the trip that we didn't know if we were crying because the mill had burned or that we were just so tired from the long day. But I believe God always has a plan for our lives and he knows what is ahead and we can only put our trust in him and move forward.

Our Europe trip was great but there is no place like the good old USA.

I made several trips to Dallas and enjoyed shopping and visiting with my kids this summer. On July 4th, we went to the lake with the family and had a wonderful day of fun in the sun.

Looking ahead to the new school year, this will be Haley's final year in college. So this will be an exciting fun year for her. And yesterday Jimmy and I celebrated 31 years of marriage. My how time flies!

I am going to post a few pictures of my summer time fun!
God Bless You and have a wonderful week!

A busy Monday!

2010-08-09T17:07:00.003-05:00

This was a busy and productive Monday for me! I made several monogrammed Kleenex holders this morning for my booth in Buna and I cooked a delicious lunch for me and my husband. The seviche was wonderful and we had fresh black-eyed peas and fresh corn. I love all of the fresh vegetables in the summer time. Afterwards I went for a swim with my lab, Finn. I plan to get freshened up and go to Buna to visit my parents and take the Kleenex holders to my booth.
I have a few pictures of those cute Kleenex holders. I gave the instructions on how to make these simple holders last year. You can scroll through my blog to get the instructions for those if you would like to make them. I added a monogram on these this time.
Have a great day!

Seviche Recipe

2010-08-08T15:31:00.003-05:00

I don't how many of you like to eat Seviche but my sister gave me this recipe and I will have fresh Seviche in 12 hours from now! This is my first attempt at making this but it was very simple and it turned out to be very pretty!

Shrimp 'Cooked' in Citrus Juice
Seviche de Camarones

All over South America, people "cook" fish by soaking it in citrus juice. After marinating several hours, the seafood turns opaque and firm, with a texture half-way between sushi and traditionally cooked fish. Seviche goes fast at a party -- especially in the summer when the citrusy, fresh bite feels especially right. There's a lot of room for improvisation here: buy whichever type of sweet peppers look good; play with the proportion of citrus juices and control the heat with your choice of hot peppers.

Makes 6 servings

1 ½ pounds large (about 20 per pound) shrimp, shelled and deveined
1 yellow bell pepper, cored, seeded and cut into thin strips about 2 inches long
1 red bell pepper, cored, seeded and cut into thin strips about 2 inches long
Half a small red onion, cut into thin slivers
1 small bunch cilantro, thick stems removed, the rest chopped coarsely
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon fine sea or kosher salt
1 Scotch bonnet, jalapeno or hot chili pepper of your choice, stemmed and minced
12 lemons, or as needed
8 limes, or as needed
4 oranges, or as needed

Like sofrito, there are a million variations on this theme. Use this very simple recipe as the base for your own.

1. Toss the shrimp, yellow and red pepper, onion, cilantro, salt and chili pepper together in a bowl to mix them evenly. Pack into a non-reactive container (a 2-quart glass jar works well). Squeeze the citrus, strain out any seeds and pour over the shrimp and vegetables. There should be enough juice to cover the shrimp and vegetables, if not add more. Seal the container and refrigerate until the shrimp is opaque, 12 hours to one day.

2. To serve: Drain, discard most of the liquid and pile the shrimp and vegetables in a serving bowl.

Early Christmas Projects

2010-08-07T22:18:00.005-05:00

I am trying to start early on my Christmas projects so I have done a few appliqued onesies and a 3 piece gift set. I also got my Etsy Shop up and running today. It took me awhile to get the pictures the right size and posted but I now have two items for sale. If you are curious and want to take a peek at my shop it's called "nwalkercreations".

I had a visit from my sister and my parents today and we had a great lunch and visit.

My sister, Lisa purchased a Bernina similar to mine and I gave her a quick demonstration on how to use the embroidery and how to do applique with the machine. Lisa loves anything with birds so I embroidered her a dishcloth with a cute little bird. I also did Mom one for her kitchen. Afterwards we went out by the pool with Finn and watched him retrieve and swim. I hope your day was as fulfilling as mine.

Take care and God Bless You.

A Little Peek into "MiMi's Cottage"

2010-08-04T22:51:00.006-05:00

Here are few pictures that I took at "MiMi's Cottage" in Buna, Texas. She has a cute business in my grandmothers house. I hope you enjoy the pictures.

It is soooo Hot!

2010-07-31T22:47:00.004-05:00

It is so hot here I can barely stand to go outside. I worked on some of my old doors that I have collected over the last months. My husband and I put metal brackets on the bottom of them so they will stand alone and I can use them as a back drop for my antique booth. It was extremely hot in our garage at 8:30 when we were working on them. I am ready for a little fall weather to pass our way very soon.

I am working on several sewing projects that I need to finish before school starts in a couple of weeks. I am still loving my Bernina machine and in the hoop embroidery. If you have not tried in the hoop embroidery you should.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Wow it's been quite awhile!

2010-07-28T16:30:00.005-05:00

I have neglected my blog for such a long time but decided to write a little something today. As I said in the last post, my life has changed somewhat since I have Finn in my life. He is growing so much and such a blessing to have around. I will post a few pics of this sweet thing so you can see the progress he has made. I have also been busy sewing some of my projects for my booth spaces and I am getting an Etsy shop ready. I am going to try the online business with my children's gifts. Haley and I took a two week trip to Italy and it was such a fun vacation for us. I have tons of good pictures and I loved every minute of it. It is so hot in Texas that I am trying to stay busy but cool! I hope your summer is going well and I will try to do better on my blogging! Take care and God Bless You.

I have a new LOVE!!

2010-04-17T21:34:00.005-05:00

I am sorry that I have not posted lately but I have been one busy lady! Matt's dog Fisher fathered 7 beautiful puppies and he gave Linsi the pick of the litter and I decided to get one too! Linsi named hers "Dallas" and I named mine "Finn". Her puppy is black and mine is a yellow lab. They are precious! I didn't realize how much fun having two puppies could be....but very time consuming. We are enjoying them so much though. My burp pads and bibs are selling really well in the shops. I am also making doggy t-shirts that are selling well too. I am posting a picture of my "new" baby and I will be posting more later. Have a great weekend and I will post more pics later.

Another Trip to RoundTop

2010-03-29T21:57:00.004-05:00

I had another fun and eventful trip to Round Top. This time my Mom and two daughters came along for the fun! We stayed at my favorite B&B, Wellspring. I didn't cover as much ground as I usually do but I still found a few treasures. We enjoyed eating the delicious "Mae's Burger" at Scotty and Friends Restaurant in Round Top. The weather was great and the Blue Bonnets were gorgeous. On Saturday night we attended the "Leftovers" party and we enjoyed the beautiful displays at this store. It is such a treat to shop at Leftovers, if you have never visited their store you should make plans to do so. I also purchased the new book about Round Top and all the activities and places that are so interesting in Round Top. I'm still reading and looking at it but it was well worth the money. Have a wonderful week. I know this is short but I am really tired from the trip and I have to rise early and work and then I have a softball game out of town tomorrow night which means a late bus ride there and back:(

In the Hoop Applique

2010-03-15T22:36:00.010-05:00

I am on Spring Break this week and I have been learning a new technique on my sewing machine. I heard several people that I know talking about "in the hoop" applique embroidery. So I decided to try my hand at it. I have made several bibs and onsies using 'in the hoop". I am posting some pictures of some of the onsies and bibs.

Have a great week!

More sewing

2010-03-11T22:07:00.005-06:00

I am in the middle of softball season so I am not getting the sewing time that I would like to but I finished a few items this past weekend. I love this fabric! The colors are so springy and fresh. This is a diaper/wipes mini bag with burp pads to match. When things slow down a bit I plan to make alot of these sets. I used fat quarters that I already had on hand. Linsi and I also made these adorable little shoes. You can get the free pattern for these at this website http://stardustshoes.blogspot.com/ They are easy to make and so cute. All is going well here at home and we only have 49 days until school is out. It's hard to believe another school year will soon end. Haley and I are planning a trip to Italy and I am so excited. I have never been to Europe and this is going to be a nice experience I'm sure. We have several tours planned and of course we have included time for a little shopping! Have a fantastic Friday!

We had a BLAST!

2010-02-12T22:22:00.002-06:00

My son was a groomsmen in one of his good friends wedding this past weekend. I must say he looked really handsome in his tux! The girls and I had a blast and danced the night away. I am posting a few pictures of the wedding fun.

As far as my antiquing and sewing I've been a little slow lately. I have managed to make a few burp pads and a few bibs to match with monogramming. I will take pictures this weekend and post later.

We had more snow this morning and it was so pretty. Linsi and Matt had 11 inches in Dallas and it looked like a Winter Wonderland at Linsi's house. I'm getting sleepy and I have to awake early in the morning. Have a Happy Valentines Day!

Let The Games Begin!

2010-02-04T21:11:00.002-06:00

Softball season is here and the games have begun! I have a great group of girls this year and I think we are going to have a good season. This is a very busy time of year for me but I wouldn't change anything. It's a very satisfying feeling to see young ladies work hard at practice and then get on the field and perform well.
I worked one of my booths today after practice. I added some metal pieces that I bought in Canton last weekend. Mother and I had a very chilly weekend last weekend in Canton. It was snowing lightly when we arrived last Saturday and the temperature was really cold. We shopped a little on the grounds and then decided to head to Tyler and shop the mall and a few of our favorite stores.
Sunday morning we hit it again but alot of vendors had already packed and left. I didn't find very many "old" treasures but I did buy plenty of decorative pieces.
We are going to a wedding this Saturday, so my girls are coming home. We are going to work on a few projects while they are in.
Matt's lab ,Fisher ,is a proud pappy and Linsi is going to get one of the puppies. She wants us to make a dog pillow for the new puppy before he arrives, so we are going to make one and monogram it. I will take pictures of this little project when we are done. Take care dear friends and have a fabulous Friday!

Worked A Little on my Room

2010-01-24T22:32:00.004-06:00

Today after church I went to Buna and worked on my room at Mimi's Cottage with the help of my mom. The owner, Mickey, is getting ready for a little sale and celebration Thursday so she is sprucing things up a little. I am posting a few pictures of my room. I had a great visit with my sister Lisa today. We had a wonderful dinner with Mom and Dad. Dad grilled steaks and Mom had all the fixin's to go with it. I hope you had a great weekend.

I Moved into A Larger Booth

2010-01-23T15:48:00.003-06:00

I have moved into a larger antique booth at Junktique. It is all coming together but it's taking time to get it where I want it. While Haley was here for the holidays she helped me paint the walls. We decided to paint it a Khaki color. Needless to say the first color I picked was not the right color at all so we went back and agreed on a color called Sauteed Mushroom. It looks really nice with the Shabby look. I really enjoy the "hunt" for nice treasures and antiques. I have a few pieces of furniture that I need to paint but the weather has not been dry enough lately. Have a wonderful weekend!

Fun Weekend in Austin

2010-01-18T19:47:00.002-06:00

I have just returned home after being in Austin since Friday. I had a long weekend and Haley invited me to Austin for the weekend for a visit. We had a wonderful dinner at one of my favorite restaurants, Uchi. We went to the movie theater and watched "The Lovely Bones". I really enjoyed the movie. And of course, we did a little shopping but the best part was going to Milk and Honey for a relaxing massage. I wish I could get a massage once a month!! I had a very pampered weekend which I totally loved. Thanks Haley for the wonderful weekend. Softball starts one week from today and I won't have much time for these special occasions.
I didn't find any treasures on this trip, things were a little quiet in Austin as far as Estate Sales and such. I hope you have a great week! Thanks Debbie for the birthday wishes!

Wow it's 2010

2010-01-10T19:18:00.003-06:00

I am sorry it's been so long since I have posted but like everyone I've been really busy. I hope things will slow down a little but I doubt it, softball season is about to begin. I hope everyone had a fabulous Christmas, I certainly did. Our family had a great visit and ate way too much good food. The Smith family Christmas was at our house this year and boy does that take a ton of preparation!

Haley and I rang in the New Year at home this year. We had a quiet evening by the fireplace and the TV.

My Dad got a good report last week and we are so thankful for his healing. He doesn't have to go back to the doctor unless he gets sick.

Happy New Year!

Cypress Santas

2009-12-19T14:47:00.002-06:00

Just a reminder that the "Cypress Santa's" that my mom and her friends paint will debut Dec. 20th on Texas Country Reporter at 10:00. If you have time tune in to watch! Have a super Saturday.

Featured on Garden Planters

2009-12-11T09:24:00.002-06:00

My Blog has been featured on the Garden Planters website. I've added their website to my blog list if you would like to visit their website. It's a neat site if you enjoy gardening in the yard as I do. Also, I wanted to announce that my mom and her friends will be showing their painted Santa's on Texas Country Reporter Dec. 19th, 2009 at 10:30. It could be a little later due to a football game on that night. If you remember I talked about this in an earlier blog about Cypress Knee Santa's. If you are up and can tune into that special show on December 19th I would love to hear from you! My mom is Nelda Sheppard and my great Aunt will also be featured and her name is Laverne Bingham. They do a great job on their Santa's and I think you will really enjoy this special on that night. Have a great day! I'm shopping in Austin with Haley today and hoping to get ALL my Christmas Shopping done TODAY!!! Take care my friends.

Canton Bound

2009-10-30T20:09:00.002-05:00

Mom and I are Canton bound very early in the morning! The weather is supposed to be clear and sunny, I sure hope they are right. I also hope I find lots of goodies! I hope everyone has a great weekend. I will let you know what I find.

Taco Soup Day

2009-10-25T13:14:00.002-05:00

Today is a Taco Soup day! So if you like taco soup you may just enjoy this recipe. My sister gave me this recipe and I love it especially on a cool day like today. I hope you enjoy!
Taco Soup Recipe
2 lbs. ground beef
1 pkg. taco seasoning mix
1 pkg. Ranch style party dip mix
1 can of whole kernel corn
1 can of kidney beans or pinto beans
1 can of rotel tomatoes
2 cans of stewed tomatoes
1 can of hominy
1 can of beef broth
2 bouillon cubes melted in 1 cup of boiling water
1 can of chopped green chilies
1 onion chopped
2 cloves of garlic chopped and minced
4 cups of water
Brown the ground meat and then add all of the ingredients. All canned ingredients you add the liquid in the can too.Simmer for 2 hours and serve with tortilla chips and top with grated cheese. This makes a large pot so you can save it in the freezer for a later date if you like.

Diva Towel

2009-10-22T22:06:00.003-05:00

Today was a very rainy day here in East Texas. I have been working on all three of my antique booths this week. I took the vintage mittens to Buna and displayed them on a small Christmas tree. They looked precious. I made 8 more this afternoon and I am waiting for them to dry and I will put the glitter on them tomorrow. It's supposed to be cold in the morning and the rain is supposed to stop. I plan to go on a little shopping trip Saturday so I hope the weather is nice. Have a Fantastic Friday.

Lavender Sachets

2009-10-20T22:07:00.006-05:00

I don't know about you but I love the smell of Lavender. I have Lavender soaps, Lavender candles, Lavender sachets, and the list goes on! I ordered the Lavender Machine Embroidery software from http://www.hatchedinafrica.com/ . This is a wonderful site for machine embroidery patterns. It's so nice to order the designs that you like and receive them in 5 minutes via email and then download them onto your machine. No waiting for them to arrive 5-10 days in the mail. At the quilt show last week I bought linen coasters to embroidery and I decided to make some of them sachets. I had a large bag of Lavender to fill the sachets when I finished with the stitching. I think these would be nice to put in a drawer or hang in your closet to freshen the closet. These were very simple to put together and I love how they turned out.

Mittens,Aprons, and Fresh Fruit

2009-10-18T12:49:00.009-05:00

As promised pictures of what Mom and I worked on yesterday while watching the game. The mittens were made from batting, vintage trims, and glitter. If you visit "The Feathered Nest", Dawn gives a great free tutorial for these mittens. I have her site on my side bar so take a look. Her tutorials are very thorough and easy to understand. She also has tutorials that you can buy and she sends them to your email. The half apron was a pattern that I picked up in Austin this summer and it was really easy and fun to make. The neat thing is it's reversible and it has these great pockets across the bottom. This would be a great apron to use while working. The snowman apron was a pre-made apron that I picked up at Sam's Wholesale. I added some trim and a snowman. I plan to put a couple of wooden spoons in the pocket and a matching snowman dishtowel. This would make a really cute gift for someone who likes to cook. The fruit pincushion is a very cute pattern by Heather Bailey that my mom ordered. We made pears and tomatoes yesterday and then I put them in a jar! These are so cute. You can use them as pin cushions or just little accent pieces to sit around. I plan to fill a really large jar with them. There is also a strawberry and apple pattern included in her packet. She has kits that you can order or you can do like me and use your own fabric and trims. Her website is also on my side bar and if you are interested in her fabric and patterns you can find her online store on her site. The day could not have been better....we sewed, ate shrimp gumbo, drank coffee, and UT won the game against OU. Today I am cleaning my sewing room(so you know what that means)....I won't be able to find a thing! I am rearranging my machines and changing things up a little. I wish my room was a little larger but it's going to have to do. The weather is beautiful outside and plan to enjoy another day of sewing and crafting. Have a Blessed Day my friends!

Mimi's Cottage

2009-10-13T20:26:00.006-05:00

This week is flying by and I am busy, busy! I am really in the mood to do Christmas projects. I would like to get started early so that I hopefully will get them finished. I plan to make "mitten ornaments", holiday aprons, dish towels and more! I have decided to attend the quilt show in Houston this year along with my mom and sister. The Quilt Show was really good and we bought several neat projects and fun embellishments. I found vintage velvet ribbon and vintage ric rack. I plan to use this on my Christmas projects. Today I am watching the UT/OU game and working in my sewing room on Christmas crafts with my Mom. I cut out a really cute apron last night and I am almost finished with it. I will take pictures and post next week. Sunday I took a few pictures of my Grandmother's house that is now an Antique/Consignment store. The name of the store is "Mimi's Cottage" and she has done a great job decorating it inside and out. If you are in the Buna area you should stop by and shop the store. It's on Hwy. 62 right down from the famous Polka Dotted House. I have rented a room in the middle of the house and I included a few pictures of that also. Have a Super Saturday and enjoy the cool dry weather!

Rainy Weather!

2009-10-09T12:42:00.003-05:00

This is Homecoming for our Football team and it is raining or should I say pouring! This is the kind of weather that makes you want to curl up and take a good nap. I have been too busy to work on any projects for the past couple of weeks but I plan to get back in gear this weekend. I will be working at the antique shop on Saturday but Sunday after church I hope to work on some of my embroidery projects. I am still trying to decide if I am going to the Quilt Show in Houston this year. I went last year but I can't decide about this year. I noticed on Heather Bailey's blog that she is going to be there with new patterns and fabric. I love her designs so I would love to go and look at her things. I guess I have a few more days to decide. Have a great weekend and take care!

It's Hump Day

2009-10-07T19:15:00.005-05:00

It's been a rainy humid week here in Southeast Texas. This is also Homecoming for the Jasper Bulldogs and the kids are working on the Bon Fire and the Hallways are filled with decorations. We are hoping for cooler weather for the weekend and a big win for the football team! I thought I would post a few pictures of the B&B that I stay at in Round Top. I love the decor of this place and I think you will too. Enjoy!

Fall is in the Air

2009-10-04T18:24:00.002-05:00

I have been on the road and very busy! Fall is in the air and I love it. I made another trip to Round Top for my third year. I really enjoy browsing through all the "stuff" and visiting my favorite Bed and Breakfast in Round Top. I really didn't buy that much this year, prices seemed rather high to me. I went to Left Overs on Saturday night for their party. The food was wonderful and they had the store decorated so nice. I bought a wreath for Christmas and a small Christmas tree for my Kitchen. Afterwards I headed to a midnight madness sale in Fayettville which is just down the road from Round Top. I found a few items here and then headed back to my comfy B & B. Sunday morning I had a delicious breakfast at the B&B and then headed back to Newton. After a short rest I headed to Austin to visit with Haley my youngest daughter. It rained in Austin most of the weekend but we did shop and enjoy eating at some of our favorite restaurants. ACL was in full force in Austin this weekend so it was very crowded with people everywhere. I'm amazed that people can actually attend three days of a music festival through rain and mud! We saw where some folks were charging 25.00 to park and then they still had to walk in the rain several miles just to get to the park where the festival was being held. It just makes me tired to even think about it: ) Have a great week!

Football and Family

2009-09-12T21:54:00.003-05:00

I went to Austin last weekend for the 1st UT football game of the season! The kids and I had a blast! I took time to visit "Sew Much More" and I even had time to shop the "City Wide Garage Sale" while visiting. It was extremely hot weather and going to a UT football game is completely exhausting. The only treasure that I found at the Garage Sale was a Texas Ware splatter bowl. Right now these are hot items in our Antique stores. This was a really nice that hadn't ever been used and still had the sticker on the bowl. We have been getting rain all day and I have been cleaning house and sewing on my machine. Rainy days make me want to stay in and do housework and projects. School is going good but I am really busy with softball and my classes. Until next time, God Bless you and take care!

Celebrations and The Longest Yard Sale

2009-08-29T21:29:00.009-05:00

Thanks Green Pea for the comment! I went on the longest yard sale and had a blast with two of my girlfriends and as soon as we got back I started school. We had a great time, there was so much to see and the area was beautiful. We started in Alabama and went to the edge of Kentucky. I saw so many different types of antiques. I will take some pics of things I bought. I pulled my 14ft. trailer and drove the entire trip(I love doing all the driving). There were some places that the prices were not so good but others were really good to bargain with and get the low price. We are planning another trip next year and this time we are going to start in Ohio and work our way down the mountain. The two friends that I traveled with were very knowledgeable about primitives and they helped me to buy several things to go in my antique space. I am getting ready for the Round Top experience in a few weeks and I can't wait. This will be my 3rd year to travel to Round Top and Warrenton. We had several celebrations this month: My husband and I celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary, my dad celebrated his 77th birthday and by the way he is doing really well, and my oldest child, Linsi celebrated her 27th birthday. We have been a busy family recently! I am so thankful for the blessings that God so graciously pours out on me and my family everyday. Sorry it has been so long, I promise I will do better!!!! Have a wonderful week:)

The World's Longest Yard Sale

2009-08-07T22:49:00.003-05:00

I will be out of pocket for a short while, I'm on the road to the world's longest yard sale! I am so excited and will return with pictures and information! Wish me luck!

The Studio Apartment is Decorated!

2009-08-02T20:47:00.012-05:00

Haley and I have finished decorating her studio apartment and it is precious.Here are a few pictures to show what it looks like. Have a fabulous week:)

Friendships

2009-07-25T08:30:00.003-05:00

My friend and colleague lost her battle with cancer and has gone home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Sue was one of the strongest people I have ever known. She persevered through many difficult days with this dreaded disease. Please pray for her family.

Size 4 Apron

2009-07-23T19:14:00.003-05:00

This apron is the smaller version of the other apron that I made yesterday. The pattern is Cindy Taylor Oates "Little Retro Aprons for Kids". There are several different styles that you can make. It was easy to make and went together fairly quickly. The fabric was from "The Painted Pony Quilt Shop" in LaPorte Texas. It's called "Lily Ponds". Take care.

Another Apron

2009-07-23T09:41:00.003-05:00

I made a new apron for my daughters friend, Abby. This pattern was really simple and I enjoyed making it. The fabric was from a quilt store in Austin "The Honey Bee". The fabric is a pretty a turquoise with pink roses. My next apron will be a size 4! I am headed to the store to get thread to match the green rick-rack. You would think, I would have a green that matched, I have tons of thread. But no, I have to go buy more! Does that ever happen to you? We live in a rural area where the nearest place to get thread is Walmart and it's about 20 miles away. This week has went by so fast. I hope your week is going good and you are getting alot accomplished!

Take care....

I'm back

2009-07-20T09:48:00.003-05:00

Haley and I headed to Dallas with Fisher aboard to visit Linsi and Matt. We were almost to our destination when I had a flat on the car. We were detained for about an hour and half but a very nice man stopped and changed the tire for me. We played in a softball game that night with Linsi's team. They needed a few extra players to fill in and Haley and I did just that. We shopped at several stores and I went to a few garage sales and quilt stores while there. We are back home now and I have several projects I need to finish this week. Haley will be moving into her new place next week so I will post pictures later. Have a marvelous Monday!

Getting an early start on Christmas

2009-07-13T23:49:00.007-05:00

I have not been blogging lately but I've been busy sewing more projects and trying to get a head start on Christmas goodies! I'm still making aprons and burp pads.We have a new quilt shop in Jasper. The shops name is Ms. Sammie's Quilt Shop located on Hwy. 96 South. She specializes in some really cute dish towels. She does a dish towel a month with cute appliques stitched on them. I bought the December applique towel and it turned out nice. That is pretty much what I've been doing in the sewing room.

Haley is home for a few weeks and we are planning a few short trips while she's home. My summer seems to be flying by so quickly. I have several friends who have been diagnosed with cancer and are taking treatments. Please remember these special people in your prayers, Sue Brooks, Taurus Hornsby, and Kathy Wilkerson. I hope you are having a great summer! Take care.

Monogram added

2009-06-29T22:25:00.003-05:00

I added a monogram to the black toile apron that my cousin ordered. I love monograms on clothing. I cleaned house today and cooked....no sewing today except for the monogrammed apron. We got a nice rain today which we needed but I had just washed my car:( Tomorrow we are going to Houston to the doctor. My dad still has a drainage tube in his stomach and we are hoping that the doctor is ready to take that tube out. Dad is really doing good and we are so thankful! Again I thank everyone for their prayers and thoughts during his illness. Prayer is so powerful and what a mighty God we serve. His doctor told him that the two other people that had the same illness were in their twenties and they did not make it. We feel like our 76 year old Dad survived this illness through the many prayers that were lifted up for him. Keep praying for him and my mom he has come a long way but he has ways to go. Have a great Tuesday and I will post when we get back!

Amy Butler Bag and another Apron

2009-06-28T20:48:00.003-05:00

I just finished an Amy Butler Bag and it turned out so cute. I will definitely make more of these. The directions were easy to follow which makes it fun to make. I made another apron but this one I made out of toile for a relative. Tomorrow I plan to work on a quilt that I started a long time ago. I hope to finish it this summer!

Aprons and Sun Dresses

2009-06-27T00:27:00.002-05:00

I finally got the apron made that I have been intending to make. I had bought the fabric and the pattern back in the fall at a fabric store in Austin. The pattern was Apron Jazz by Barbara Brandeburg. I thought the instructions were a little sketchy. I also made a little dress and the pattern I used was an Indigo Junction. The instructions were very well written and easy to understand. Me, Mom, and Dad went to see my sister today and we made a little detour to The Painted Pony Quilt Shop in La Porte. This is a great store and always a treat to visit.

They have a great selection of patterns, fabric, and quilts. I love looking at all the beautiful quilts hanging through out the store. Have a great weekend!

Red Work on Dish Towels

2009-06-22T23:10:00.003-05:00

I made a few red work dish towels today. I am loving my sewing machine and all that I can make with it! The hot summer days are going by fast but I'm staying cool under the air conditioning and just sewing my little heart out. Have a great day!

More Burp Pads and a Great Day!

2009-06-21T22:43:00.005-05:00

Linsi and I made more burp pads today. Sewing is so much more fun when you have someone working with you. I plan to make a few aprons this week too. I've had the pattern and fabric since last fall. I hope you had a great today!

Burp Pads

2009-06-19T23:56:00.006-05:00

Linsi and I made some very cute burp pads tonight. She came home for Father's Day and we whipped these out! I used flannel for the white fabric and then I had some cute prints in my stash and used those for the border. The border is 4 1/2" x 9 1/2". The flannel is 9 1/2" x 32 1/2". And then we monogrammed them with cute sayings. I am loving my Bernina machine. This is a special weekend for our Dad's. My Dad came tonight and we had a great dinner together. My husband took him to the pond to see Fisher, my son's black lab swim and work. I hope you have a great weekend.

In Dallas

2009-06-14T10:40:00.002-05:00

I am in Dallas helping my son move into his new place this weekend so I won't be posting anything until I get back. I am still having trouble with the pop-up window that "aborts" the blog website that I am trying to view. It doesn't happen to all of them but to most of them. Is anyone else still having this problem? I hope everyone has a nice weekend. It is TEXAS HOT here and I am about to suffocate.

Monogramming Projects

2009-06-11T22:16:00.004-05:00

I have been monogramming towels and other things. I have a few of my projects posted on this post. I will be leaving in the morning to head to Austin. Matt is moving to Dallas this weekend and I am pulling my trailer to Austin and help him move. I am hoping to do a little antiquing on my way!

White Shabby Chic Vanity

2009-06-09T22:45:00.008-05:00

Before

I moved into my new booth space in Buna yesterday and it really is going to be cute shop. We traveled to Houston today for a Doctors appt. for my Dad. Everything looked good and we go back next Weds. for a CT. scan. They are going to decide rather or not if it's time for the drainage tube to be removed or not. Dad is doing so much better and he is getting stronger each day. Thanks to all of you who have and who are praying for his recovery.

I came home and finished painting a vanity that I have been working on and I have some before and after photos to share with you. I need to decide which booth I am going to put it in! I have a chest of drawers and a vanity that I am going to begin tomorrow. I can't decide what color to paint them. I tend to have that problem when I begin a project but I will have to sand them and prime them so I still have a little time to decide which color I like. I may do pink this time. I really enjoy painting the antique vanities! Take care and I hope you enjoy the photos.

Busy Week

2009-06-07T23:06:00.002-05:00

Well I am back home and I have been on the Bernina monogramming everything! I love playing on my machine. My two daughters came home this weekend to attend a wedding and I don't think that I went to bed before 1:00 a.m. I have monogrammed towels, linen coasters, kitchen towels and anything else I could get my hands on! This week I am moving into a new antique Booth space in Buna. This is where I was raised and my parents still live there. A friend of mine is renting my grandparents old home place and it's going to be an antique store. She asked me to rent a room and put some of my furniture pieces in. So I will be moving some of my things in this next week. I am hoping this will clear out my garage! I am still working on painting a few of the pieces but I should be finished at the end of this week weather permitting. I will take some pictures when I get everything moved in and arranged. It's such a neat old home with high ceilings and old windows. I think it will really be cute as an antique shop. Have a wonderful week!

Learning to use the new Bernina

2009-06-02T20:50:00.004-05:00

Monogrammed Beach Towels

I am in Austin and I am learning to use my Bernina machine. I have a great teacher and I have bought several towels to practice on when I get home. Haley and I had a great dinner at Uchi tonight. The next few days we are going to be busy with fun things that we have planned. This is short but I will post more later! Enjoy the week.

Linen Curtains for Linsi

2009-05-30T18:02:00.008-05:00

Linsi hung one set of her linen curtains that I made for her today. She sent these pictures for me to see them. I think they look really good in her little cottage house. She only has 4 more windows to complete. I finished up with school today and then I worked later at the Antique Store. I am leaving for Austin in the morning and sewing classes begin Monday morning!

Black Chairs, Black Bar Stools and Gift Tags

2009-05-29T23:43:00.012-05:00

The chairs in my dining area have been painted black and I bought two bar stools from Pottery Barn. The only thing we need to do in the kitchen is putting trim at the top of the cabinets. We ordered a new refrigerator and it will be delivered next week. I worked on the antique vanity tonight and I have one coat of white paint on it. It's looking really good. I also worked on handmade gift tags for my booth space. I am going to Austin this weekend and Monday I will be getting lessons on how to use my sewing machine. I can't wait until I learn how to do monogramming on the new machine. Have a great day!

Summer time

2009-05-27T20:44:00.003-05:00

Only two more days and school will be out! It's funny when you're a school teacher you can't wait until school is out in May but it seems I'm always ready to go back in August. I have so many furniture pieces that I need to paint and get ready for my antique booths. So I will be busy working on those and I will have much more time to do that when school is out. I sold the turquoise chest today and that makes me want to paint another one. So I'm on the look for another one that is similar. I put a primer on one of the vanities today and I am going to post pictures of it when I'm finished.

Memorial Day

2009-05-25T19:42:00.003-05:00

Linsi came home for the Memorial Day weekend and we finished her linen curtains. She is going to hang them and take pictures and I will post those when she gets finished. She had bought the fabric in January and then my Dad got sick and I am just getting them finished. She bought white linen and I think they are going to look really nice. She had 5 windows in the living room and dining area so I had to make 10 panels. It was so much easier with her help. She ironed while I sewed and we whipped them out fairly quickly. My Dad had another little episode last week and had to be put back in the hospital but he is back home and doing much better.
Today we commend those men and women who fight and have fought for our freedom. What a great country we live in and sometimes we take it for granted. It's nice that we have a day that we can set aside to remember those that have made it the place we call home.
I only have 4 more days of school and then it's summer vacation time! I am going to Austin again and taking sewing lessons with my new machine. I am so excited about that and can't wait. Hopefully I will learn how to work this fancy piece of equipment.
This was a great weekend with family and friends. I hope you had a blessed holiday and that you have a great week.

Surgery Success and what a day!

2009-05-12T20:03:00.008-05:00

The hutch that I would like to paint black.

Before After

This was some kind of day! Haley and I left her apartment around 10:00 a.m. to Matt's house and pick him up for his surgery. We headed down 25th and I was talking on my cell when some guy in a small green car bumped into the back of my SUV. Haley jumped out of the car and I was saying I think it's okay we need to go pick up Matt. Well I was right, it only put a little tiny scratch on my bumper. We went on our merry way and picked up Matt. The surgery went well and the doctor says he is like new. We got there at 11:00 and didn't leave until 5:00. Needless to say a long, long day. But while we were sitting in the waiting area Haley and I were playing on the computer. While I was going through some of pictures, I ran across pictures of my kitchen before we remodeled and I am going to post a picture of those today.

It is unreal how much different and better it looks. I love the "new" kitchen and dining much better. We still need a new refrigerator and trim at the top of the cabinets but that is pending. And I am still trying to decide if I am going to paint my hutch. I painted the chairs black and I think I am going to paint the hutch black. Take a look.

Before and After - Turquoise Chest

2009-05-10T20:10:00.015-05:00

Before and After

After and ready to sell.

I finished the chest of drawers today. I think it may be my favorite painted piece of furniture that I have completed.

Happy Mother's Day To All

2009-05-10T08:38:00.003-05:00

Happy Mother's Day to all of you today! I know most have plans to spend time with their moms or someone special, today I know that I do. We are cooking and visiting with our mom today. We have been busy with the PRCA Rodeo this week and what a fun time that was. The entertainment was great this year. The clowns were hilarious and the cowboys and cowgirls were very professional and entertaining.

I will be traveling to Austin once again this next week. Please keep my son, Matt in your prayers. He is having knee surgery on Tuesday for a torn ACL. He had this same surgery when he was a junior in High School on his other knee.

This is short but I'm getting ready to visit my Mom and family. Have a great day!

A Sneak Peek

2009-05-06T20:44:00.016-05:00

I took a few pictures of my latest project today so I could share what the chest looks like at this point. I sanded it and then I put one coat of Kiltz, and in these pictures it has one coat of paint. I will put another coat of paint and then I will glaze and shabby it. I also posted a few pictures of my weekend with my two girls.

We got out early from school today because of the Rodeo parade and Rodeo. The Jasper Rodeo has always been something special for the town of Jasper. We plan to go Friday and Saturday night. My favorite part of the entire Rodeo is the Strawberry Lemonade and the Clowns!

Early Mother's Day

2009-05-04T14:35:00.002-05:00

Linsi, Haley and I spent the the weekend at the Hyatt Resort in Bastrop. It was a great weekend with my two girls. We laid out by the pool and we roasted marshmallows and made smore's at night. I got an early Mother's Day gift from Linsi and Haley. I got a massage from the Spa that was marvelous and Linsi gave me a beautiful pair of earrings. I came home so refreshed and ready to finish up the school year!
I have been working on several of my projects. I put the first coat of paint on the chest of drawers and I really think this is going to be a great piece. I am hoping to put the second coat of paint on tomorrow and then I plan to glaze it. I'll post pictures in a few days.
Dad is still improving each day but still needs prayer so please continue to pray for him. I also have one other prayer request. One of our dear friends at church is going through tests at M.D. Anderson this week. Please pray for him and his family.
Have a great week!

Nests and Starfish

2009-04-29T22:26:00.005-05:00

I put together a couple of nests and decorated a starfish. The starfish was an idea that I got from the magazine Romantic Homes. The instructions were included in the magazine.

You will need the following:

1 starfish

Kiltz spray primer

Glitter

Jewelry, buttons, shells

Glue gun

Spray Mount adhesive

You can also use a drill to drill a small hole to hang with ribbon if you like. Spray paint the starfish with the primer and then spray with adhesive and sprinkle glitter on the starfish. Let dry and add the embellishments using the glue gun.

I'm painting again!

2009-04-28T20:48:00.005-05:00

The weather has been good for painting furniture and I am doing just that! I bought an antique chest of drawers while in Round Top and I have sanded it and primed it. I also painted a ladder this week. I painted it a beautiful aqua blue with a glaze. I painted a mirror for Haley earlier in the year and I loved the aqua color so I decided to paint the ladder the same color and use the same technique with the glaze. I think I am going to paint the chest of drawers this same color. I am constantly looking at books and magazines to get ideas about painting furniture and what colors to try.

I find myself almost consumed with thoughts of what I am going to create next. I love working on projects and seeing the finished product. I am going to post a picture of the chest of drawers "before" and when I'm finished I will show you an "after". I will also show you the oval mirror so you can see the aqua blue color! Please continue to pray for my Dad. He is home and working on getting stronger. We took him to the doctor today and they ran a CT scan and did his labs to see how he is doing. He still has a drainage tube on the cyst and it is still draining.

Have a Terrific Tuesday!

Junking!

2009-04-22T20:21:00.008-05:00

Little did I know that after my youngest child graduated and left for college that I would find another hobby that I enjoy so much. The empty nest syndrome was a little harder than I had expected but I quickly filled that void with junking! I guess the best part for me would be the "hunt" for that special piece of furniture. After the find, I love transforming it into something really special. The sanding, the cleaning, the painting, is all worth the time and effort to get the end result. After several months of "junking" I realized how much I needed(wanted) a trailer so that I could buy more if I wanted. So I purchased a trailer for my junking adventures. Needless to say I have filled it full of goodies many times! I am going to post a few pictures of my antique booth space with some of my treasures displayed.

Antique Clawfeet

2009-04-20T23:07:00.005-05:00

I found these antique claw feet on one of my junk hunts. They were very chippy with old paint. After a good cleaning and scrubbing I painted them with a couple of coats of clear finish. This also keeps the paint from chipping. I like the look of chippy paint but I don't like cleaning up the mess! You can use these lovely antique pieces for bookends or doorstops. I have a few pictures of how I displayed them in my antique booth. They would also look really neat on a mantle or a shelf. There are a few companies that have them for sale. They are around 54.00 - 85.00. I am not charging that much for mine. Dad made it home today.......welcome back!

A cute Music Stand Refinished

2009-04-19T22:53:00.009-05:00

I bought a cute music stand last fall in Carmine and I completed that project and put it into my Antique booth space today. I love cute antique accent pieces of furniture. This piece would be great as a end table for the living room, a night stand for the bedroom, for those that love to craft with those pretty papers from Hobby Lobby and Michael's or scrap booking this would be great to store those papers! I painted it black and shabbied the edges and then put a finish on it. My favorite part on this makeover is the turquoise knob that I found to put on the door. This week is the last week of softball and I will have more time to work on my projects.

We also got great news this week! My Dad is coming home possibly tomorrow! We are so excited about this homecoming we can hardly stand it. No one is more ready than him, though. He is getting stronger everyday. He still has a long way to go but we are so thankful for all the prayers.

I am going to post several pictures on this post. I took some pictures of some of the antiques and items that I have collected over the last few months. I hope you have a great week!

Beautiful Bluebonnets

2009-04-13T20:55:00.003-05:00

A couple of weeks ago I went to Round Top to shop for antiques and the Blue Bonnets were gorgeous. People were stopping along the highway taking pictures of each other posed in the blue flowers. Spring is such a great season....everything is green and blooming. I had a great trip to Round Top and the weather was perfect. I went to a book signing at "Leftovers" near Brenham and bought a new book. The book was "Junk Beautiful" written by Sue Whitney. They were serving food and drinks and giving a twenty percent discount for those who attended the gathering. I love the antiques and displays in Leftovers.

We had a wonderful Easter get together this weekend at my sister Lisa's house. My two daughters Linsi and Haley came in and we spent the night at Lisa's and visited with my Dad Saturday and Sunday. I am so happy to report that he is doing so much better. He is eating again and they have removed the feeding tube and the tube from his nose. He is in a rehabilitation hospital in Houston and hopefully he will be home soon. Please continue to pray for him and my mom.

Softball season ends next Friday and I will have more time to blog and more time to work on my projects!

Have a great week and post me a comment if you have time.

Bathroom Project

2009-03-25T21:07:00.009-05:00

This is the master bath that has been redone and I just completed the mirror trim. I bought the trim at Lowe's and it's that plaster type material that I painted black. This type trim is much lighter weight than wood trim. Since my mirror was so long I thought it would work best. We attempted framing the mirror and failed when we used a glue that Lowe's said would work. It did not. So I went to Home Depot and bought Goop Tape and that held the trim up. You should start at the top and put that piece on first. Use your level to make sure that it's straight. You may also have to notch the trim where the mirror clips are on the sides of the mirror. I used a sharp knife to notch my pieces. My mirror was put in when we built our house which was 25 years ago so it needed a "face lift". As you can see in the before pictures it had some places around the edge that were not so attractive. This project was much cheaper than buying a new mirror.

I love Spring Time!

2009-03-22T20:59:00.002-05:00

We were on Spring Break this past week and I enjoyed the week. Haley came home since she had Spring Break from U.T. and we had a nice visit. I got several projects finished that needed to be completed. I'll post pictures on the next post. I went to Houston this weekend to visit Dad. He is being moved tomorrow to a rehab facility. The doctors keep saying that it is going to be a long slow recovery. Please continue to pray for his healing.
I will have pictures next post of the Bathroom mirror that I framed with trim from Lowe's. I will explain the products that I used to hang the trim.
I'm tired and have to get up early in the morning for school.
Take Care and God Bless.

Prayers Please

2009-03-07T20:04:00.002-06:00

Dad is having surgery on Tuesday. They are going to drain the psuedocyst into his stomach and possibly remove the gallbladder. The doctor explained that sometimes the cyst has to be drained more than once but we are hoping and praying that one time will do it. Please pray for my Dad that the surgery will be successful. He weighs 152 pounds. He used to weigh 174. He has not eaten since Jan. 12 when he had the pancreatic attack. His spirits were good today, I think he is so ready to get well and back on his feet. Thanks for keeping us in your prayers. I will post after Tuesday.

I Painted furniture today!

2009-02-22T21:49:00.002-06:00

I got up early and did some much needed house cleaning! I have been neglecting my house keeping chores for several weeks. I've been so busy with coaching and on the road that I had fallen behind. So this morning I mopped and vacuumed the house. I'm still not done with all the cleaning but I'm getting there. Today was such a beautiful day that I couldn't resist painting a few pieces of furniture. After church, we had lunch with a good friend and then I came home and got busy with my painting projects. I finished two more dining room chairs and I put the first coat on of black paint on a small desk that I bought. I painted the dining room chairs black also. I have two more left to paint and I'll be finished with that project. I plan to paint the pedestal and the underneath part of my dining room table and then later on the hutch. I will post pictures of before and after when I get time. Please continue to pray for my Dad. He is still in a special care facility trying to get stronger. He is still not eating so therefore he is very weak. Also, pray for my Mom as she goes each day and takes care of him and encourages him to try and get stronger. Often times, we forget those that are the caregivers in our prayers and thoughts. Have a great week.

Things are looking up!

2009-02-12T14:02:00.003-06:00

My Dad has made a little progress this week. He is sitting in a chair,walking a little and eating small amounts of food. We are so thankful for those things. That may seem small but he has been very ill for 5 weeks now and this is so good. Thank you for lifting him up in your prayers, please continue to pray for his healing. My friend that I mentioned months ago that is going through chemo treatments for colon cancer that spread to other parts of her body is responding well to her treatments. Continue to keep her in your prayers as well.
Softball is going in full force this week and next week we start playing in tournaments. I really have not had time to work on any projects lately but hopefully I will get time soon to work on some of my things.
The weather is beautiful today. I had to get my field ready for the game and it was really relaxing to get on the mower and drag the field. I hope it stays sunny and clear for awhile. Have a Thankful Thursday.

It's been a long time

2009-02-05T21:11:00.002-06:00

Well it's been awhile since I have posted on my blog site. My dad is still very ill and is back in the hospital. He came home for a short while and then we had to take him back to the hospital because he was in severe pain. The diagnosis is Pancreatitis. He was moved today to a special care facility and they are going to wait a couple of more weeks and do surgery. Please keep him in your prayers. He has been in extreme pain for nearly four weeks and unable to eat.

I have not been doing crafting or furniture painting. Softball season has started and there is just not enough hours in the day with all that has been going on. I have an old trunk in my garage and I am thinking of refinishing it. If anyone has refinished an old trunk I would love to hear from you. This one is a metal square top trunk. I am going to take a few pictures of it so you can see what it looks like. I have a game tomorrow night and then I am headed to Houston to see my dad for the weekend. Have a great weekend!

Making Bookmarks and a Shadow Box

2009-01-20T21:37:00.008-06:00

Dad is coming home in the morning. He is still not a 100 percent but hopefully when he gets home he will get better each day. Thanks to all of you who prayed for him, I really appreciate it. I've been working on a few projects the last few days when I have a few hours of spare time. Working on my projects and crafts is relaxing and helps clear my mind. I made a shadow box from an old antique drawer. I bought the tutorial from "The Feathered Nest Too". The instructions were very easy to understand and I plan to make more when I find the time. If you have time to visit her blog site she has some great tutorials.

I have also been making bookmarks. I bought a package of plain bookmarks from Michael's, used a hole punch to insert the ribbon, and stamped them with some of my new stamps. I'm working on some of my furniture too. I am painting a desk black and I am cleaning two very old trunks to be put in my Antique Space. There were some neat things left inside these old trunks. I plan to use some of the items in my shadow box displays.

Thank you!

2009-01-14T21:21:00.002-06:00

For all of you who lifted my Dad up with your prayers I really appreciate it. He was taken out of ICU today and put into a private room. He seems to be improving very slowly. Please continue to pray for him. I will keep you posted on his progress.
I know this is short but I'm really tired and sleepy.

The Winner Is!!!

2009-01-13T14:45:00.004-06:00

Thanks to all who participated in my 100th Post Giveaway! The winner is "All This True". If you will send your address I will mail your goodies to you! I'm sorry that I late getting this posted but we are in the hospital with my Dad. We brought him to the emergency room last night with severe stomach pains. They said today that he has prancreatisis. He is very sick and in a lot of pain. They are trying to figure out what is causing the inflammation so that he can get some relief. Please keep him in your prayers and thoughts. I just happened to have my computer in the car and thought I need to post. So I will get back with you when we get out of the hospital and back home!

Gift Bag and a New Baby

2009-01-11T21:32:00.006-06:00

We woke up early this morning and traveled to Seabrook to see the new great nephew! Garrett was born January 5, 2009 and he is gorgeous. We had a good visit with Allyson and Kahner and then headed home. I've been working on a few projects and finished one when I got home. I am working on a shadow box but I decided to make a gift bag too! I love the way it turned out. I'm still gathering up things for my shadow box projects. I should have those finished this week. My giveaway ends tomorrow night and I'll post the winner! I have tried to reply to all of you who entered the giveaway. I was on the road today so I'm still catching up with some of them. A big thank you to all my blogger friends for entering and good luck!

100th POSTING GIVEAWAY!

2009-01-07T14:07:00.006-06:00

This is my 100th Posting and to celebrate this accomplishment I am hosting a giveaway. If you have a blog site you are invited to enter. All you have to do is leave a comment and spread the news about the giveaway. The winner will be chosen with the random generator at the end of the day on January 12th. Please remember to include your email address so that I can contact you for details on mailing your package. The winner will receive a "mini" Kleenex Cozy, a handmade sachet, handmade gift tags, and I am adding a few other things as a surprise! I have added several new websites to my sidebar that are really great sites. When you have time please browse some of those new sites. There are so many talented people and they have so much to share! One of my favorites is The Feathered Nest. She has some really neat tutorials and neat items.

Thanks for stopping by!

Back to School!

2009-01-05T15:33:00.004-06:00

Diane Knott's Musing is giving this pretty cross stitched pillow away to a lucky winner. So visit her blog and enter to win. You must have a blog to enter and then she ask that you announce her giveaway. Her website is www.dianeknottsmusings.blogspot.com. She has some really neat projects that she puts together. I started back to school today and needless to say I was not ready! The weather here is so soupy and yucky! My great nephew was born today and his name is Garrett Alexander Krengle. He is a healthy beautiful baby boy. I can't wait to see him and hold him. He was born early this morning around 8 am. Have a good day!

Today I am a year older! Heart Sachets and Mini Kleenex Holders

2009-01-04T08:51:00.011-06:00

Today I am celebrating my 49th birthday! We had a nice dinner last night with my parents, my husband and youngest daughter Haley. My husband grilled delicious sausage, ribs, and tamales. I cooked beans and cornbread and my mom baked a fabulous pineapple upside down cake. Everything was great!

I have been rather busy working on some of my craft projects and running around trying to find antiques. I went to Canton on Thursday with my Aunt, my cousin, and her little boy and my friend Judy. This was my Aunt's first time to Canton and I think she may be hooked! We had a blast shopping and visiting. She has a precious grandson Austin and he was the sweetest most well-mannered guy ever. My friend Judy joined us later that evening on Thursday and we ended the day with a good meal at Mercado's in Tyler. We got up bright and early on Friday and shopped all day and then headed home. I found a few nice pieces for my antique booths and Haley and I unloaded everything on Saturday.

I have been sewing with my new machine in between all the running around. I made several "mini Kleenex holders" for my antique booths and heart sachets. I am including pictures of the ones I made and instructions for making them if you would like to make them. They are easy to make and they make cute gifts for Valentines Day!

Tissue Holder:

You need 1/4 yard of fabric. I use two colors so that the inside is a different color than the outside. Cut 2 pieces of fabric 7 3/4 inches x 5 1/2 inches. Put wrong sides together and sew across the top of the short sides. Turn the fabric right sides out and press. Take the sewn ends and fold them to the middle so that they touch. Now sew each end and turn inside out and you have your Kleenex holder for your purse! All seams are 1/4 inch. These are fast and simple to make. You can embellish if you like or even monogram them. Let me know how yours turn out!

Heart Sachets:

Cut a heart pattern by folding a piece of paper in half and drawing the heart (whatever size you like) and then cut out the heart using paper scissors. Use two pieces of scrap material for your heart sachet. I use a different fabric for the front and back pieces but you can use the same two fabrics if you like. Sew right sides together, leaving a opening on the long side of the heart. This is where you will slip stitch the hole back and it's easier to slip stitch when it's fairly a straight seam. I stuffed my hearts with potpourri and rice. You can use poly fill or beads to stuff with but this is what I had on hand at the time. I am also going to use lilac seeds for my next sachets. After you fill them with the rice and potpourri, slip stitch the opening and then add your embellishments. I added ribbon, rosettes, buttons, and whatever I had in my stash. You can hot glue them or hand sew the embellishments. I also added a ribbon to some of mine to hang on the coat hanger or in a closet. These are great for the car too! Good luck and I would love to see some of your creations!

Painted Santa's

2008-12-29T09:10:00.009-06:00

I promised pictures of Mom's Cypress Knee Santa's that she hand paints. These pictures were taken by Jason Anderson the Texas Country Reporter's photographer. He sent several pictures of the Santa's but none of the ladies painting them. I wanted some of them actually painting the Santa's but maybe he will send more. The episode will air in the Spring and I'll let you know when the exact date will be when we get that information. They are coming back to film the area where the cypress stumps are cut. My Dad goes to the river or creek and the cypress knees are along the bank area where the trees grow. He cuts them with a chain saw and then my mom brings them home and boils a large pot of water and places the cypress knees in the water. This loosens the bark so that she can remove the bark for a smooth surface to paint the Santa's. It's really a long process but so worth the results. I hope you enjoy the pictures!

I have been busy working on some of my small projects and my giveaway that is coming up soon. I will post pictures and instructions of those "little goodies" soon. The sun is out for the first time in a long time so I am going to take a walk and soak up a few "rays" and then back to the new sewing machine!

Christmas Get Togethers

2008-12-26T22:59:00.010-06:00

We celebrated Christmas Dec. 20th with my Mom's side of the family. My Aunt has a beautiful home on the lake and we all met there and had a wonderful meal and we visited with relatives that we don't see near enough. And then on Christmas Eve we went to my Mom and Dad's and had another great meal.

I received the giveaway that I won from Bluebird Quilts and it was such a treat! I can't wait to make my Plum Pudding Pin Cushion. Lyn also included several cute pieces of fabric, a tape measure, really cute quilt labels, and an embroidery pattern. It was Christmas all over again. I am working on my giveaway so when I get to my 100th post I will start the giveaway so be sure and sign up when that day arrives. I hope you had a great holiday!

Kitchen Makeover

2008-12-23T16:00:00.016-06:00

I am finally finished with my Christmas Shopping and I only have a few more to wrap. We are planning a family gathering tomorrow at my parents house. We decided to have Mexican food instead of traditional food. We will have chicken enchiladas, Mexican rice, Charo beans, salsa and chips, and creamy jalapeno dip. After eating Turkey and dressing for Thanksgiving and Christmas we wanted something different.

As some of you know we have been working on our kitchen for several months and we are coming closer to the end of this project! Mother and I made the curtains last week and I have decorated one wall with a shelf and art. I am shopping for a clock for one of my bare walls but haven't found the one I want yet. We still have to put trim above the cabinets and purchase a new refrigerator but that will come later. The man that was going to do the trim did not keep his word on coming and doing the job. I think my husband is going to do the work himself. I am going to paint my chairs black and probably the dining room hutch black. The weather has not been fit for painting. I am really pleased how everything turned out in the kitchen and I can't wait to completely finish the project. I bought the curtain fabric at "Interior Fabrics" in Austin and I also purchased the rings that I clipped to the top of the curtains from "Interior Fabrics". Each bag of Curtain rings comes with 5 rings in them. I thought that 10 rings would be plenty to hang the curtains but I had to go back and purchase 2 more bags. If you like to make your own curtains "Interior Fabrics" is a great place to buy fabric, lining, and all the hardware. I am posting a few before and after pictures of the kitchen. Have a Merry Christmas and a warm Holiday!

Hustle and Bustle......Christmas is just around the Corner!

2008-12-18T20:17:00.005-06:00

I love this time of year but it always seems to get here before I'm ready for it. I have been trying to get all my decorations up and get the house ready for Christmas. I think we may get it all together before Christmas actually gets here. My husband is still working on the lights for the kitchen and I think he is almost done. The new light fixture above our dining room table is prettier than I expected. I ordered all the lights from Pottery Barn and I am very pleased with them. My mom and I made the curtains for my dining room but I need a few more rings for the top of the curtains before I post pictures of them. The only thing left to do in the kitchen will be the trim on top of the cabinets and a few decorations on the walls. Besides the busy schedule I won the "plum pudding pincushion" from Bluebird Quilts.. If you haven't visited her site I invite you to visit. She is very talented and has beautiful quilts and other hand made items.This is my first win in the blogging world! I am planning a give away when I reach my 100th post which will be soon. I need information on how winners are drawn. I know some of you print the entries and draw, others of you have various methods of drawing. Please share with me the quickest and easiest way to draw a winner? I hope to have more time to post when I'm caught up with the Christmas rush.

A lil snow, but only for a lil while!

2008-12-11T22:38:00.004-06:00

We had a little snow today but only for a short while. Since the roads were icy they pushed school back to 10:00 a.m. and boy was I glad for that because I needed the extra sleep. There is a cute giveaway on the blog site Bluebird Quilts I have her link on the sidebar if you haven't visited her site you might want to take a look. She has some really cute things. You can go to her website and join the giveaway by just leaving a comment. She is giving away a cute "Plum Pudding Pincushion" kit.

We went to Lowe's tonight and bought a Christmas Tree. This is always such a chore for me. But tonight we found one that will fit perfectly in our den and the price was even better. I took some of the decorations out of the closet and started decorating this afternoon. So it's beginning to look a little like Christmas around this house. Last year my sister, me and Mom went shopping the day after Christmas and we decided to go to The Strand in Galveston. There is a neat shop that sells really pretty ornaments and we bought quite a few. I love shopping those after Christmas sales. Well have a great day and stay warm.

UT Graduation and a New Sewing Machine

2008-12-07T19:52:00.007-06:00

We had a fantastic weekend of fun and celebration! Matt's graduation was really nice and the meal afterwards was superb. We ate at Fonda San Miguel. The food was delicious and the service was excellent. So if you are in the Austin area you should give it a try.

While I was in Austin I also purchased a new sewing machine. I bought the Bernina 730E and I can't wait to start sewing some of my projects. I took Mom to some of the quilt stores in Austin and we bought a few things to add to our fabric stash! We also shopped at Interior Fabrics which is one of my favorite stores when I'm looking for decorator fabrics. Christmas is just around the corner and I really need to get busy with gift wrapping and decorating. Have a great day!

Packing for the Weekend

2008-12-03T20:40:00.008-06:00

After the big meal some went to sleep!

I just finished packing for the weekend. Mom and I are leaving tomorrow afternoon and my Dad and husband will be coming up on Friday. We are looking forward to good food and fun. The men are planning a shopping trip to Cabella's and the women will be doing their fair share of shopping but not at Cabella's! We will hit the quilt shops and thrift stores. And of course we will eat our favorite food....Mexican Food. I will take plenty of pictures to share later. I leave you with a few pictures from our Thanksgiving dinner.

Back to Normal

2008-12-01T14:24:00.002-06:00

Well things are back to normal (whatever that is) here in our little neck of the woods. I had a great time visiting with my kids and family over the holidays. The girls and I went to Canton on Friday and had a fantastic time. The only let down was that it was raining and cold and I didn't get to look around on the grounds where all the good stuff is! But we shopped the Arbors and Trade Buildings and found some goodies. After a long day of walking and shopping we headed back home to rest up for the rest of the weekend. On Saturday we went to the movies to see "Four Christmas's" and it was hilarious. And then on Sunday we went to Church and enjoyed ribs and potato salad afterwards. This week is really going to busy because Matt is graduating from U.T. and we are going to Austin for the weekend to attend his graduation. I am really hoping to buy that new Bernina sewing machine this weekend. I haven't sold my Elna yet but I'm getting a little anxious! Santa may have to come early for me this year!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-27T18:39:00.002-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! We had fantastic meal today at my mom and dad's house. Our menu consisted of Fried Turkey, Cornbread Dressing, Broccoli Salad, Fruit Salad, Chicken and Dumplings, and candied sweet potato's. Of course, I ate too much but who doesn't on Thanksgiving. We are back home and getting ready for the A&M and Texas football game. We are taking a little trip to Canton in the morning to shop for a few treasures. I'll let you know what we find.....

Out for the Holidays

2008-11-25T21:38:00.003-06:00

We had an early out today at 1:30! That's one of the perks of a teaching job. Today is my mom's birthday and we are having a barn cookout tomorrow night. We haven't had a barn get together in quite awhile so I can't wait to eat some of the great grilling my husband is going to cook. I haven't been working on too much this week but I did put together the black chair that I ordered from target.com. I struggled at first because I put the washers in the wrong place and it didn't go together right. So I took it apart and started over the next day with a little help from my husband. Once I had that little problem solved the chair went together fairly easy. I must say the two items that I purchased from target.com were much nicer than I ever expected. Very well built and a nice paint finish on the desk and chair. I am going to either buy a cushion for the chair or make one. I'm trying to decide on a color for the cushion. Haley and I went to Lowe's and I bought some 8 ft. long trim to go around my bathroom mirror. I am going to paint it black and then glue it onto the mirror. When we made over the bathroom I decided to keep my old mirror and put this trim around the edge to give it a different look. As soon as we get to this project I will post pictures. I hope everyone has great Thanksgiving! Try not to eat too much!

Quilt Shops, Food, and back home!

2008-11-22T20:27:00.004-06:00

Haley

Texas Rose Antique Show
Honey Bee Quilt Shop

I had a great time in Austin. I got all the arrangements for Matt's graduation in a couple of weeks and found a few new shops that I will re-visit. I went to a couple of Quilt Shops while I was there. The first one that I visited was The Quilt Store on Anderson Lane. It's a little hard to find because it is behind the shopping center but it's really a neat shop. I found the prints by Heather Bailey that I have been looking for to make a lap quilt. If you like to quilt or do cute projects Heather has fabulous fabric prints that she designs and she has several patterns and instructions on her website. I also visited "Honey Bee Quilt Shop" on Hwy 183 North and Anderson Mill Road. This is a great quilt shop and I loved looking at all the beautiful fabrics and the people were so helpful and nice. Places I like to eat when I visit Haley are Santa Rita's - great Mexican food and the nicest people that work there. I eat breakfast at La-Madeline's every morning and drink the BEST coffee! We also eat there for lunch occasionally. On the way home we stopped by "Dirty Martins" and had a cheeseburger. We both agreed we prefer "Huts" over Dirty Martins but both have good burgers. We made a stop by the Texas Rose Antique Show in Round Top and we enjoyed walking through all the booths that were set up. They had lots of vintage Christmas ornaments and other decorations as well. It is such a pretty drive through Round Top. I must say it looks much different than it did when we were there a couple of months ago for the Fall Show. If you have time to spare this is really a beautiful drive and neat things to browse through. We are back home and settled in and watching Texas-Tech and O.U. game. I have a few pictures to post but I will post more later.

I'm in Austin

2008-11-21T06:47:00.002-06:00

I'm in Austin getting things ready for my sons graduation in a couple of weeks. While I'm here I hope to hit a few estate sales and flea markets! The Jr. League "Christmas Affair" is also going on this weekend and I hope to stop by and purchase some of my Christmas gifts. Last night Haley and I got a pedi and mani and when we were done the weather outside was miserably cold. I will keep you posted on what I find in A-town this weekend.