creative little daisy

Ever have one of those days? How about two?

One of those days when no matter how hard you try, you make a mess of anything you touch. I've had two in a row. The seam ripper has been well used. Thanks for all your hard work Mister Seam Ripper, you can take the rest of the week off, by the way.

Out of nowhere yesterday morning, a bee flew into my bonnet and nothing else could be done until I made a wallet. I have a purse nearly finished, (part of a feeble attempt to actually put something in my etsy shop) and I wanted to make a matching wallet. With a new design in mind but no actual plan I took scissors to fabric. No plan + multiple step project = much seam ripping and redoing. Multiple step project involving way too much binding results in one crazy Autum by 10 pm. More crazy than usual. To add insult to injury, when I started fresh this morning, it was just a continuation of the bumbling, only I started this day with very sore fingers from hand stitching binding, sloppily, and re-hand stitching binding. I know, use a thimble. I wish I had thought of that sooner. Hand stitching isn't my thing, or it wasn't my thing. I'm much better at it now than I was two days ago. Anyhoo- I could be bitter at the two wasted days, but I'm not. I got a new wallet and purse organizer out of it. They won't make the cut to sell, but I don't mind scooping up a reject, especially when it just so happens to match my purse. It wasn't intentional I promise. I just seem to be stuck in an aqua rut.

Please don't think I'm fishing for comments about how I'm too hard on myself or that it's a pretty wallet. I think it's a pretty wallet and I'd be quite pleased if it weren't for a few glaring details. First let me point out the seams, not one but two in the binding, right front and center, like flashing neon signs. Couldn't I have positioned them a little less conspicuously? Next time I will. Lesson learned. Also notice (how could you not?)  the fact that the binding is hand stitched. On the outside. It should have been machine stitched to the front and hand stitched on the other side, correct?  Well, both sides are hand stitched. Was I punishing myself for all the previous mistakes? No, my only excuse for that is by nine last night, I was delirious. I know it seems I'm making much ado about nothing, but for every mistake I'm pointing out, there were three that I'm not mentioning. The most surprising mess-up is not pictured, it's inside, where most of my problems occurred. This particular mistake was discovered when I unzipped the zipper to peek inside my cute little pocket- only to see the wrong side of the pocket lining fabric looking at me.  I should have discovered this the first time I unzipped the zipper to peek in. The time I peeked in just before putting on the binding at the end of my zippered pocket and right after cutting off the zipper stop. Yea, those things don't go back on. I had to undo and redo more than a couple of steps to fix that little uh-oh.*

This morning I went about finishing up my factory-second wallet and proceeded to make a matching cell phone cozy. Matching, in that it also had it's share of oopses, and to complete the set a purse organizer. One of the mistakes with the organizer involved headless birds. Not at all what I had envisioned. My purse is the land of misfit accessories, but it's never been so organized.

See, I can make lemonade when my sewing machine hands me lemons.

I will be making the wallet again, only this time the execution of my vision, will involve a detailed plan. I have it written down, with numbers and everything.

Not sure how you spell uh-oh, I google searched it. Apparently it has an alternate meaning. I didn't investigate what it's a synonym for besides oops, but I don't think it's G rated.

W, X, Y and Z...yipee!!!

W is for

Walking on stilts. Something I haven't done in many years. My uncle Keith made me a pair- a set (?)  when I was 8 or nine and I had hours of fun walking tall. I wonder if I could do it now.

Wonton soup. My chicken soup, the comfort food of choice to feed a cold- or is it a fever....

Wardrobe. Mine is pretty basic, jeans and tees. A few skirts and a couple of dresses. I'm very low maintenance when it comes to clothes and I'm also pretty cheap. The most I've ever paid for a pair of jeans was around 40 dollars and I was sick about it afterward. I used to really enjoy shopping, but these days, I get much more enjoyment making myself a skirt or top than shopping for one.

Witch. When I was young I wanted to be Samantha from Bewitched. I dreamed of being able to work magic by wiggling my nose.

X is for

X-ray. I've had so many myself and been exposed to many more working in the NICU. I should glow in the dark.

Y is for

Yogurt. Pronounced yogrit at our house, the way Alyssa pronounced it when she was 3 or 4 and we still say it that way. We have a small vocabulary of toddler-isms that just seemed to stick. For the life of me, I can't think of any other examples right now though.

Yellow puppy.

Sort of yellow? I had to fit him in this post somewhere. Look at that little face! He's not ours, just visiting. Three dogs is more than enough. He'll be living with Alyssa's boyfriend.

Y is also for YIPEE!!! I stuck with this Encyclopedia of Me theme for August. Some letters were easier than others. Thanks Cassi, it's been fun.

Z is for

zig-zag

Aren't spiders amazing?

U and V

U is for

Uvula. Isn't that a funny word? It's that little hangy down thing you see when you look at the back of your throat.

Uranus. Another funny word, if you are a 12 year old boy, or my husband. He never misses a chance to use the word Uranus in a sentence.

Umbrella. I never have one if it's raining.

V is for

(borrowed flickr photo)

Volkswagen Bug. Growing up, we had a VW Bug. Not a cute convertible. It was a beater. It was a dull beige color with a dented, rusted rear fender. It was loud and it was ugly. The vinyl seats had rips that hurt your legs if you were wearing shorts. The ac was 255 (two windows down and going 55 mph). The heat came out of a tiny vent beside your feet. Your feet would be on fire and the rest of you freezing. That car was the bane of my existence. When I was 15 and starting high school I met a boy during marching band camp. He was going to be a junior and had a brand new shiny red firebird. We hit it off and started hanging out together. I remember this day as clearly as if it were yesterday. The new friend, (I'll call him Kelly, since that was his name and there's no need to protect the not-so-innocent) happened to be at the house of a boy who lived down the street. We pulled up to a stop sign in front of the neighbor's house and he and Kelly walked over to say hello. The look on his face when he saw the car I was in, the only thing worse came later when he came to pick me up for a date. We lived in a tiny trailer, nothing at all like the great big home he lived in and it was apparent he was uncomfortable. We continued to date a short while longer until he decided to start dating another girl (he forgot to tell me first). The other girl drove a corvette and they were much more suited to one another. I'm not proud that I was so affected by a materialistic jerk, but I was. It was very hurtful to feel rejected because of where I lived or the car my family drove. I know now, what you have says so little about who you are. I'd love to have that VW Bug now. The wonderful un-materialistic man I married just so happens to be very good at making beater cars beautiful.

On a very funny side note, I used the above photo because I don't have any of our long since departed bug. While searching for a photo to use I put ugly beige Volkswagen bug in a google image search. On the second page of photos, about halfway down, there's a picture of Alyssa's room. Ha!! Pretty funny huh? Then on the third page, there's a picture of my couch. That is so strangely funny to me.

Q, R, S, T

Q is for crochet. If you hang out in the blogging world long enough, eventually you'll pick up a pair of needles or a hook and yarn. It's like crafting crack. I caved last winter and had both a crochet and knitting lesson. I didn't prove to be a prodigy at either. I did manage to make a couple of granny squares only to get bored and move on to something else. I'm not sure why in this sweltering, 100 degree weather I thought now would be a good time to pick it back up, but I did. For the past week or so in the evening before bed I've been crocheting, squares to begin with and then last night I started crocheting stripes. It's a little odd for me, having an ongoing project, one that won't be finished in a day or two. I'm impatient by nature, but I'm enjoying this. No wonder so many of you are hooked on crochet. Get it? Hooked? A regular comedian, that's what they call me. 

R is for reality TV, roller skating (in my youth), rheumatoid arthritis, reclusive, rain, rocking chairs, resilient.

S is for sewing, spring time, security, spirit, stubborn, skinny, sunshine, steak, strength.

T is for Toby. My sweet little Toby Man, Toby Won Kenobi, Toby Oby Woby... he has many names and he has my heart. I love, love, love that pup!

T is for tea, sweet and cold.

T is also for tags.

I made these tags using my super cool new rubber stamp on this beautiful Amy Butler paper. I don't know which was more fun, stamping or punching out the circles. I'm so easily amused.

Q and crochet? Well, I've not been quilting, so I improvised.

N, O, P

N is for:

Notions~ Why do they call needles, and pins, and other sewing paraphernalia notions?

NICU~ I was a NICU nurse. If there is such a thing as a calling, I think it was mine. I miss it sometimes but doubt I'll ever go back.

Nervous~ I wish I wasn't, but the older I get the more nervous I am. Aren't you supposed to mellow with age?

Naughty~ When I was young, my granny called me Naughty Auty. I can't imagine why.

O is for:

Overdue~ Library, video store... I always have something overdue.

Organized~ An ongoing goal- never give up on your dreams, right?

Ostentatious~  Quite the opposite.

Optimist~ I think I am.

Opinion~ I always have one. What's that saying about opinions?

Oppressive~ The ridiculous humidity lately. Bla...

P is for:

Peace~ I crave peace in my life. I wish for peace in the world.

Perceptive~ Very much so. When I have a gut feeling, it's almost always right.

(Maggie giving Toby a bath) 

Pets~ Make life sweeter.

Purses~ I'd love to know how many I've made.

Pie~ I prefer it to cake. Chocolate meringue is my favorite. Lemon meringue, egg custard, blueberry, cherry, pecan.... anything but coconut.

K, L, M

K is for:

Uncle Keith. Precious to me.

Kelli. My BFF.

Kathie. My sweet sister-in-law.

Kittens. I love kittens. If cats could be kittens forever, I'd be a crazy kitten lady. 2 grown cats are plenty.

Baby Maggie. Wasn't she sweet?

L is for:

Laundry. My least favorite chore, but nothing smells better than clean laundry- except maybe a clean baby.

Linen. Makes everything look better.

LLA. My BBFF (best blogging friend forever)

Lungs. Mine could be better.

Lips. I wish mine were fuller. They disappear when I smile.

Laughter. Feels so good. Go ahead, click the link. You've got to watch it.

Life. Complicated and beautiful.

M is for:

Mitch. My heart.

aunt Mary. Such a blessing.

Marigolds. Don't like 'em.

Mayonnaise. Gotta be Dukes and Miracle Whip is not an acceptable substitute.

Mud pies. I loved making them as a child. Loved it.

Macaroni. Mac 'n cheese, macaroni salad, macaroni and stewed tomatoes, chicken and macaroni soup. I like macaroni most any way you cook it.

Miracles. I believe.

J is for:

Jewelry. I'm not much of a jewelry wearer. Most earrings irritate my ears, bracelets are usually too big and rings just don't feel right. I do like to wear necklaces. Especially interesting necklaces and Etsy is just the place to find such.

This sweet little bird

and this beautiful, perfect shade of turquoise pendant, came from Missficklemedia. My only complaint is that she has too many great things to choose from and I spent way too much time trying to decide. I am delighted with my selections.

I'm equally pleased with this little green bird.

From Madison Craft Studio. Very tweet, don't you think?

J is also for:

July. The month I was born. Not autumn at all.

Jeans. Part of my uniform.

Jury Duty. I've been called several times and actually sat on a jury once. Nothing too exciting, but quite interesting nonetheless.

Jell-o. I like the red. Green and orange are yucky.

Janis. The name of a girl I went to school with from elementary school up. She made me cry many, many times. She was a bit of a bully and was mean to me but I still wanted to be her friend. Kids are strange.

Jumping jacks. I hated doing them in PE. I was so relieved my junior year of high school that I didn't have to take PE ever again.

Juliana. My sweet little niece. When I was pregnant with Alyssa, my mother was still living. She wanted me to name her Juliana. She would call me and just say the name and hang up. Obviously I didn't, Alyssa Michelle was the name I chose. Years later when my sister was pregnant with her fourth child, a girl, I shared with her how much our mom (Theresa) wanted me to use the name Juliana. Now her little girl, Juliana Theresa, has a name selected by a grandmother she's never met.

I is for:

I was having a bit of a block with I and I remembered this meme. I'm going to recycle it because a- it works nicely for I, and 2- I'm sure my answers will be different and it will be interesting to compare the two. So here's a meme within a meme. Recycle and reuse, how green is that?

* for those of you who may have read this yesterday, sorry for the frequent updates. I was trying to fix the font, then the formatting, and I look this morning and I somehow deleted half of it. I'm putting it back in, but the funny thing is, I don't remember all the answers I gave yesterday and I'm having a tough time with a couple. Maybe I should do something like this daily- not on the blog- just a daily inventory of me.

I am: Getting a little tired of all this self examination and this morning I am a little sick of myself to be honest.

I want: This chair. Really bad. Oprah are you reading? Rosie? Any other wealthy generous person? I know it isn't that expensive but my furniture budget suits thrift store pricing.

I hate: Hate is such a strong word, and I was taught not to hate, so I really don't like: Bridges, coconut, loud-mouthy-know it all type people, licorice, commercials, bills, cigarette smoke, the dentist.

I miss: The simpler days when the children were small. 

I fear: The unknown.

I hear: A slight ringing in my ears and the sound of clothes bouncing around in the dryer.

I wonder: When it's going to cool off a little.

I regret: Not paying more attention in high school.

I am not: Very business minded. I wish I knew how to better manage money. I think both Mitch and I could profit from our individual talents if we just knew how.

I dance: Not very often and not very well.

I sing: As bad as I dance. I usually sing in church, but sometimes I just mouth the words. Believe me, the folks in front of me appreciate it. I do my best singing in the car. Doesn't everyone?

I cry: At the drop of a hat! I cry if I'm mad, I cry if I'm happy, I cry if someone else cries.

I am not always: Right. Shhh, don't tell Mitch.

I make things with my hands: To give me purpose.

I write: To communicate. I'm much better at writing than speaking.

I confuse: Myself.

I need: To gain some weight.

I should: Get out more.

I start: The day with big plans.

I finish: The day usually before I accomplish all my big plans.

H is for:

Hot and Humid~ August in North Carolina. You walk outside and it's hard to breath. The air is so thick and heavy and HOT. Thank goodness we have AC.

Hummingbirds~ I love to watch those fast flying little eating machines. I always put out feeders and never tire of watching the little guys eat and defend their spots at the feeder.

Handyman~ My husband is so very handy. If you can't marry rich, you better marry someone who can do things around the house, that's what I tell my girl. Joking of course... sort of. Seriously, Mitch can do, or will try to do most any job that needs doing around the house. If I had to pay a skilled worker for all the jobs he does, I'd have to get several jobs to be able to afford him. Luckily he works for food and clean underwear.

Honda Civic~ The first car I owned that was mine. We bought it after Alyssa was born.

Hair~ Straight as a stick and baby fine.

Humor~ Mitch and I have very well matched senses of humor, but he's much funnier than I. I'm his straight man- or straight woman.

Home~ I don't have dreams of world travel- home is my favorite place to be.  I wouldn't pass up a week on a tropical beach though.

Health~ if you have good health, value it. It really irritates those of us who don't when you take your good heath for granted and do stupid stuff, like smoking. No lecturing here. I'm just sayin'.

High heels~ No thank you.

G is for:

Granny. I couldn't possibly make it through the encyclopedia of me without an entry for Granny. To me and so many who knew her, she was Granny. Her mother didn't name here that, no her name was Iris. The older I get, the more amazed I am by the woman she was and all that she did. At 60, she did more in a day than I can do in a week. She owned her own business, a beauty shop. That's just what it was called, Iris' Beauty Shop. It wasn't a salon or a parlor. It was a typical beauty shop where ladies with their hair in rollers sat under dryers looking at magazines and talking loudly because they couldn't hear over the noise of the dryer. After raising her own two children, two difficult children, she raised her two grandchildren. My mother was addicted to drugs most of her adult life. Only now as a mother myself, do I realize what that must have been like for her. To live that many years with the heartache and pain and worry for her child. With all the difficulties she had to face in her life, she could very well have been angry or at the very least depressed. Those are the last two words you would ever use to describe her. She was the most full of love and life person I've ever known, a bubbly ball of energy who spread joy everywhere she went. As a teenager I was often embarrassed by her, and that saddens me now. The things that embarrassed me then, now fill my heart and bring tears to my eyes. Most of her clothes had holes, because she wouldn't buy anything for herself. The few clothes she had, she made for herself. She was at times loud and outspoken, not afraid to stand up for what she believed. She loved to laugh and she spent her whole life doing for others. She was an angel.

That's the beauty shop back there in the background. We're going to church here, I'm sure.

I'm sure I've said it here before, but I know that any good quality that exists in me, is there because of my Granny. I miss her so. I know there will never be anyone who will love me like she did, that special love between a grandmother and granddaughter. I'm so blessed to have had her in my life.