creative little daisy

A Charming Note Taker and a Thank You!

This notepad folio was made using the wonderfully talented Kathy's  Note Taker Pattern. The patchwork on the cover was made from 5" charm squares.

It will be a gift for Alyssa's secret Santa partner at school (Mary Beth). Other than the notepad, all materials used were from my stash. Even so, I think it should fulfill the ten dollar gift requirement.
I highly recommend the pattern. It's clear, concise, and easy to follow, all the things I look for in a pattern.

Last week, the amazing clothes sewing Bonnie nominated me for the Nice Matters Award. Apparently, is it given to:

“Those bloggers who are nice people; good blog friends and those who inspire good feelings and inspiration.
Also for those who are a positive influence on our blogging world. ”

Awww, shucks!! How nice of you Bonnie! I'm so honored!!

A perfect example of real niceness, Bonnie recently gave a coworker a sewing machine as a gift and also included sewing lessons. That was a pretty amazing gift don't you think? It reminds me of that saying about teaching a man to fish.
And to continue the niceness, I am supposed to nominate seven deserving folks. I both love and hate this. I love spreading some love around, but I hate the thought of singling out seven, when I could easily name so many more. I'll just call this a partial list, 'kay?

• She's probably already received this because no "nice" list would be complete without her, my superhero, African Kelli. I'd say I want to be just like her when I grow up, but since I'm much older than her, I'll just say she inspires me to be better.
• A sweet lady, with a house full of beautiful daughters, Kristy. I hope you are feeling better soon Kristy!
• Megan is nice and funny and really, really smart. She takes pretty pictures too.
• Me'Lisa recently sent some coupons for Alyssa, saying she knew she'd be needing some maternity clothes soon. Thank you Me'Lisa, your timing was perfect.
• I know I've mentioned her many times before, and I don't want to seem to be playing favorites, but I couldn't leave off one of the nicest people I know, LLA, aka Bad Fortune Cookie.
• Not only is Monica super, duper nice, she's also hysterically funny and decorates a mean craft room.
• Though I could easily name at least seven more I'll follow the rules and finish off the list with Beth.  She's so young and bubbly and always says the nicest things. She's also very creative- her craft room looks like a candy store. So pretty!

Random, disjointed, happier post...

You could call this a tossed salad post or how many nice things can I talk about post or just a post without focus. Either way, what it isn't, is a ranting hormonal post. Thanks for all your supportive and understanding comments. Someone who really is very helpful and quite busy herself was offended and hurt, not at all what I would ever have wanted, so I deleted that last post.
On to happier topics....like freebies, extras, unexpected little surprises. How often does WalMart or JoAnn's throw one of those into your shopping bag? Never? Me neither, but this week I received two different items I ordered online and found delightful extras in both packages.

First was my fabric order from Monkey Foot Designs.

As if this amazing fabric (on sale) wasn't enough of a treat. Love the birds!! Kris also included this reversible apron pattern. Check out Kris' blog for a link to her store that gives you 15% off your order.

Thank you so much Kris!

Then I received this very cool bookmark, ordered from Penny's Etsy shop,

and this was included!

I feel so spoiled! Thank you both so much!

I made an apron yesterday with an owl appliqued linen pocket.

I didn't plan to be wearing an owl tee shirt while making the owl apron. Just a funny coincidence. I don't think you can tell, but the shirt says "I'm a hoot." I just love it! Beth, the shirt came from Journeys, but I don't see it on their website.
On the subject of happy and tees, I found a couple on sale last week (really on sale- less than $3.00 on sale!!) that I'll share when they make it out of Mt. Laundry. More birds.

Anyone else watch Dancing with the Stars? The two finalists were my favorites and I would have been happy for either to win. Congratulations to Helio, what a wonderful smile and delightful personality! I'm just bummed that the season is over. What will I do with my Monday and Tuesday nights?

One more unrelated happy thing- I guess this post does have focus, loose focus, but focus nonetheless- happy things- and happy is always better than grouchy right?  Mitch got a ticket last week- not the happy part, it was for having an expired license tag. Hmmm....I thought I renewed that. Ooops. Anyway, he was N.O.T. happy.  ($150.00 fine)  He went to the courthouse yesterday, ticket in hand and proof that he has since renewed the tag, with hopes that the DA or magistrate or whicheverpowerthatbe would perhaps cut him some slack for this careless oversight on the part of his absentminded wife. It worked. Ticket gone, just like that! Wohooo!!!

Oohhh, while on the subject of happy, have you seen this very special, smile inducing bit of sweetness?  Welcome to the world, sweet baby boy. Congratulations Angela, Ryan and big sister Keely!!

Any happy thoughts you'd like to share?

Ladies, you know me so well.

The mail man has been good to me lately, thanks to a couple of very thoughtful ladies. I can't tell you how special it is to unwrap a box full of love and I've had the pleasure of doing this twice in the past week. First from Penny, a thank-you gift, just because I answered a couple of questions.

I sent a little email to thank her and  let her know how much I love everything- the crocheted kitchen scrubbie and dishcloth, the bias binding, daisy brads (so sweet!) and the precious little crocheted tree.

I'm sure Penny thought I had lost my mind since she didn't send me a tree...

What she sent was the most beautiful crocheted daisy trim wrapped around a hand-painted clothespin. Silly me. All wrapped around the clothespin, it makes a lovely little tree, doesn't it? Does anyone else think so? Notice the tiny daisy clothes pin on the binding, so many sweet details! Thank you Penny, you are much too kind and so very talented!

On Monday, another box full of goodies arrived, this one from Margot.  We arranged a little swap, the contents to be a surprise. Margot did such an amazing job or putting together a package full of things I would have picked for myself.

Shells ~ I love the beach

Shell Necklaces (plural) ~ One for me and one for Alyssa. So thoughtful of you Margot!

Pretty Pink Tiara Fabric ~ Speaking of Alyssa, she has claimed this. Was that the idea Margot?

A Sketch Book ~ with my name written all over it- literally. Love it!!

Vintage Pillow Case ~ Oh the possibilities

Super Cool Table Cloth ~ I can't wait to get my table back in the kitchen!

A- flippin' Mazingly wonderful Curtains ~ LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!!!!!

Thank you, thank you, many times thank you, Margot and Penny.

Help a tech challenged sister out... Please.

Bloggers and blog readers are the nicest people aren't they?  I have been so touched by the kind and caring comments I've received this past week. I want to respond to each of them individually, because they do all mean so much me, but I'm having email problems.

I recently opened a Gmail account (thank you for the suggestion Linda). I love the way messages are grouped as conversations making it easy to see if you've returned an email. A great feature for an unorganized person like myself. Lately I've been getting an error message when I try to respond to emails. Usually the first one is fine, but after that I get this message that says my account has been locked down due to unusual activity. It lets me back on after a few minutes but it's frustrating when you have several emails to return. Here is a list of the potential problems they give me:

1. Receiving, deleting, or downloading large amounts of mail via POP in a short period of time.
2. Sending a large number of undeliverable messages (messages that bounce back).
3. Using file-sharing or file-storage software, browser extensions, or third party software that automatically logs in to your account.
4. Leaving multiple instances of your Gmail account open.
5. Browser-related issues. Please note that if you find your browser continually reloading while attempting to access your Inbox, it’s probably a browser issue, and it may be necessary to clear your browser’s cache and cookies.

I don't understand it, but I suspect my problem has to do with the POP thing, although, I don't think sending one email is a large amount.  I use outlook express for my other email and I'm afraid I'll mess things up if I start blindly playing with the settings. Anyway, if you have some advice for me please leave a comment. I  feel like my emails are being held hostage and I can't understand the ransom note.

Once again, if you've left a comment thank you. I hope to respond soon.

Just sharing something good...

You know how in my last post I included AfricanKelli as one of the blogs that inspires me and makes me think? Here's a perfect example of what a kind and thoughtful person Kelli is. Don't you want to join her in sharing some love?

Gratitude Friday

Do you know what happens when I don't post for several days, or in this case nearly a week? I find it extremely difficult to focus on one topic and compose a coherent post, that combined with a lovely case of the flu my son and husband were so kind to share with me. I think I remember typing something very similar just after Christmas. It seems Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny have it out for our family. One bought with the flu a year is plenty if you ask me. Mitch spent the week in bed completely miserable. Casey joined him about mid week, so when I woke up this morning feeling a little off, I knew what was coming.

I just looked back at my archives and the post I was thinking of wasn't after Christmas it was in October, That make 3 rounds this year, not two.

Anyway, looking back at the October post I see just how long I've been trying to learn to crochet. I guess some things don't come easy for me, but I am persistent. I'm not saying I've been trying every day since October. No, I pick it up, get frustrated and put it away for weeks or months. This week I think it finally clicked. My fingers figured out what they were supposed to do and I actually produced something that sort of resembled what I was shooting for.

Don't try clicking it to make it larger, I don't want you looking that close. It's very wonky and a long, long way from looking like anything seen here, but I am so psyched to have actually followed the pattern. I'm telling you, this may be the easiest thing in the world for some, like second nature, not so for me. Finally though, my fingers found the rhythm and it started to feel right. Just in time, since it seems I may not feel like doing anything else for the next several days.

OK, abrupt change of subject. This is supposed to be a gratitude post, right? I am so honored to have been tagged by two wonderful ladies with the nicest award, the

Monica and Sandy included me in a listing of 5 blogs that inspired them and I in turn am supposed to spread the love and name 5 blogs that make me think and inspire me. Ladies, how can I name just 5? My bloglines has grown to about 99 blogs and they all inspire me in one way or another or I wouldn't read them. Some provide creative inspiration, some spiritual, some make me laugh and some make me cry. My list would surely be much longer than 5 so I'll call this my partial list.

When I think of who makes me think, someone who is inspirational, one of the first to come to mind is AfricanKelli. Even though she's much younger than me, I want to be just like her when I grow up. She's such an all around good person who actively makes a difference in so many lives.

Kristy's blog Vintage Pleasure is just that, a pleasure. A pretty place to visit and you'll always find love there.

Beki, ArtsyCraftyBabe keeps it real. Visiting her blog feels like dropping by an old friends house. She's inspirational with her talent but at the same time she's someone you can relate to. There are lots of blogs I visit for creative inspiration, but few are as approachable and real as Beki's. A winning combination don't you think?

Megan of The Scent of Water is crazy smart with a wicked wit and she also takes beautiful pictures.

And rounding off my 5, my buddy LLA, aka Bad Fortune Cookie. You never know what you'll find at her blog. She's a great cook and sometimes shares recipes, a talented knitter who makes adorable bears and bunnies, she's current with pop culture and frequently has fun observations to share, she's a speed reader and can always recommend a good book. Even before I met her I knew she'd be a blast to hang out with and she is.

Even though the rules say 5, I'm breaking the rules and tagging Monica and Sandy back.

Monica is another person I know I'd love to hang out with. Her bubbly personality shines through in her writing. She was the genius who shared her fabric folding secrets and for that I'll love her forever.

Sandy is a beautiful person who shares her love of entertaining through her blog. She shares how entertaining doesn't have to be stressful and how important it is to connect with friends.

So to recap this all over the place gratitude post,

I am grateful that after much encouragement I was finally able to convince my fingers to cooperate and let me learn a new skill.

I am grateful that Monica and Sandy were sweet enough to let me know they find some inspiration here. Thank you ladies!!

Now I'm going to settle in on the couch and be grateful for tylenol, a cozy blanket, some warm tea and plenty of yarn to play with.

Some talk about puking and a very special chair....

You know how it feels to throw-up? Well I can't speak for anyone else, but in my experience, there is that uncomfortable queasiness that gets progressively worse, eventually leading to feeling down right miserable. Myself, I fight it and fight it. I try laying very still, closing my eyes and hoping it will pass, but it doesn't. Eventually, I  give in and let it out. That part is pretty awful, but the moments afterward when you feel the release and the cramping and queasiness cease...ahhhh. I feel exhausted but so much better.  It's also a time when you want to be alone (speaking for myself again). You don't want anyone to see you sick like that, but when someone taps on the door and puts a cool cloth to your forehead it's such a comforting feeling. Not really a pleasant picture I've painted, but it pretty much sums up my last post. So much was building up inside and holding it in only made things worse. Finally writing about it, putting some of my thoughts and feelings out there relieved some of the pressure building inside. Then when your comments of care and concern started to pour in I felt a little embarrassed and sort of exposed, and like I'd needlessly worried my friends. The more I read the more it felt like a cool comforting cloth across my forehead. So, so many words of kind, gentle, and heartfelt support.

What I'm trying to say is although it feels like I had a bit of emotional puking, followed by relief and a little embarrassment, I do feel much better and so very comforted. Words can't express how touched I am by your kindness and comforting words. Thank you!! Thank you all, so much!

I'd like to say I was just over reacting and things are now sunshine and roses, but the truth is most days I feel like a bird in a hurricane. As my children struggle with what seems to be an unusually harsh transition into adulthood we are a family of birds in a hurricane. I'm reminded everyday how little control I really do have no matter how hard I struggle. Letting go, even a little does help, as scary as it may be. It's hard to talk about feeling out of control when the world tells us moms are supposed to hold the family together and be strong for everyone. Yesterday I finally had a moment of realization that I am in fact not in control and the struggle to try to be is getting the better of me. I called my sister-in-law who happens to be my GPs nurse. I didn't know why I was calling or what I thought I needed. It wasn't like I had a sore throat or a fever. Can you call the Dr. for a broken heart? I don't know but I did and completely broke down trying to tell her why I wanted to come in. I'm not sure why I'm talking about this. Maybe because so many of you have said you can relate to much of what I've said. Anyway I felt pretty calm at the doctors office but when she took my bp it was 154/101. My blood pressure has never been high. Even in pregnancy the highest it's ever been is 110/80. I say this because stress doesn't just affect you emotionally it affects you physically. I know this, I'm a nurse but I really didn't know it.  I don't have any more answers today than I did yesterday, but I do know I have to find a different way of finding those answers.

When I sat down to post I really, really didn't intend to go into all that. I just wanted to say thank you. Thank you for the cool comforting cloth. Although posts like that (and I guess like this one has turned into) leave me feeling exposed and a little embarrassed, they also feel like a release and judging by my blood pressure, I need to find all the releases I can.

Speaking of releases, is there any better release than finding a bargain, a gem you weren't even looking for?

What I did intend to post about was a chair.  Can a chair change your life? I hope it can.  Alyssa and I went to lunch and the library and stopped by an antique place we have fallen in love with. We never buy much, if anything, but we love to look. Not everything is antique, some things are brand new mixed with antiques. It's not an old, dusty place like some antique shops. It has separate rooms with different themes and it's almost like walking through the pages of a magazine like Country Living or Romantic Homes. You go in and feel intoxicated with excitement for all the beauty everywhere you look. We'd been browsing for a while when Alyssa found a chair she liked. It had a blanket thrown across the back and some books stacked in the seat. She moved them to get a better look, sat down and gave it a try. It was pretty comfortable. The more she looked the more she liked it. She wasn't in the market for a chair. Why would she want a chair? Like started to evolve into love when she looked at the price tag. $49.00.

Alyssa: Mom, can we buy this chair?

Me: For what? I don't need a chair and I'm not sure I even like that one. What do you want it for?

Alyssa: My house.

By the way, Alyssa doesn't have a house.

Alyssa: Really Mom, I'll pay you for it and I can put it up to save for my house.

Me: OK.

So we buy the chair. On the ride home the like that turned to love was now giddiness.

Alyssa: Ohhhhh I love my chair, I'm so excited about my chair. I'm going to start a fund. A my house fund. Can we set that up so I can start saving for my house?

.

She was even more excited when she got home and saw a picture she had torn out of an Anthropologie catalog some time ago and put on her inspiration board.  See the similarities?

It scanned much more yellow than it really looks. It looks nearly the same green as Alyssa's chair. I showed her that if she wants we can pull the skirt off (it has nice legs)  to make it look more like the Anthro version, but she decided to keep the skirt for now.

Maybe I'm crazy but I felt like I may be witnessing a turning point. An important moment in my little girl's life. Growing up is never easy and it is even harder when you aren't sure where you should go or what you want to do with your life. Especially when you feel like you've detoured off the path you were supposed to be on. You don't want to be a child but you don't know how to start being an adult. We had a little talk about how that chair could be just the beginning of her life, her independence. It was a tangible piece of evidence that she just has to know what she wants and go after it. The chair will be the first piece to go into what she can now imagine as her house. Her grown up house. She recently took a test for nursing school that told her she is a visual learner. Maybe having this visual is what she needed to see her future. Her future that will include a little house that she can fill with pretty green chairs if she wants.

It's Friday, and I have so much to be grateful for...

You didn't think I'd forget Gratitude Friday, did you? I have lots to talk about and much to be thankful for. This is going to be one of those all over the place posts, that's what happens when you take several days off. Don't say I didn't warn you.

I have to start with, Holy Guacamole the Blog Love Batman!!!  Thank you all so much for your kindness, your understanding and wisdom shared in your comments to my last post. (In the crazy soundtrack of my life playing in my head, I'm hearing Can you feel the love tonight, by Elton John... yea, more nuttiness revealed)

Seriously though, when I wrote that post I was in a very low place, one I never expected to find myself in. When that happens you have to question everything. You wonder what you could've/should've done differently. How you could've changed the outcome if you'd done things differently. I'm still asking myself those questions and will be for quite some time, but in the midst of that I was showered with love and understanding, encouragement and support and that has made this difficult time a little brighter. Thank you hardly seems to express what I feel but it's a start, so Thank you! Thank you very, very much with sugar on top!!

What next? Let's talk a little about Etsy. Is Etsy a wonderful thing or what? I've been needing some custom labels for a while. I've tried to make some myself with so/so luck, never really pleased with the results. I ordered these and LOVE them! Made by Emily of Rohm Custom.

The next fabulous purchase was from the Etsy shop of a fellow blogger Karen or Mrs. Kwitty. You'll find the most beautiful holiday items in her Shop. (everyday items too) I saw this great needle book and fell in love. The fabric goes with the fabrics I've used in my kitchen so I asked Karen if she had more of it. She was kind enough to sell me some. As a fellow sew-er I know how hard it is to let go of fabric from your stash, especially vintage. The snowbabies ornament was an extra. Thanks Karen. The packaging was amazing!

And from another blogging friend Gina, this sweet little wooden bird. Don't you just love her tiny scarf? Gina also has lovely handmade Christmas items in her Etsy Shop.

Paint. That's the next topic. Paint for my kitchen and sewing room. Isn't that what everyone does a few weeks before Christmas, when they are already spread way too thin and on the verge of losing what little sanity they have? Paint? That's what I'm going to to do. Not just I. I with some help from friends who have had their arms twisted so kindly volunteered. I bribed did some sewing for them in exchange for their services. The painting shouldn't take very long once we put the roller to the wall, it's all the prep work and where will I put all the stuff from my sewing room while we paint? I hope I like the color, I bought 5 gallons. It's a Martha Stewart color, vintage kitchen. I couldn't wait to see how it looked. What do you think? It's the aqua strip at the end of the bar. In person it's a dusty aqua, a little more green than in the picture.

There's that cup again in another picture. I don't stage that, really. I have something to drink in that cup (or one of those cups, I have 4) all the time. I do love those cups.

As if painting weren't enough, I had someone come give me an estimate on reupholstering my sofas. The big red one and the gold thrift one. He gave me what I think is a great price, but the cost of his fabric is outrageous. He told me it would be fine if I bought the fabric separately so now I'm on the hunt for fabric. I'm thinking a chocolate brown. Any thoughts on that? I'd love to go with a light neutral beige, but with 3 dogs, 2 cats and two males in my house... not a good idea. My only concern with the brown is dark colors show threads and lint and white cat hair really bad. At this point anything is better than big red and old gold. I want matching and neutral.

See what I mean about the animals? I walked in there to take this picture after I typed the paragraph above and this is exactly what I saw, no staging. I bought the gold sofa at a thrift store because I loved the shape of it. I don't mind the color but not with the red sofa. After I  brought the gold one in to see how it looked (it was never my intention to leave them both) everyone loved having two full sized couches. I have a matching love seat for the red sofa, but really, a love seat is just a big chair. You can't lay down on it. Two adults don't feel all that comfortable sitting on it. It's not a practical piece of furniture, so I let Casey wedge put it in his room. Now I have two lovely mismatched, but comfortable sofas in my living room. Not for long though. I'll update with pictures when they look more like a matching set. Thoughts/suggestions on fabric are welcomed.

Enough gibber-jabber,  time for gratitude.

• I am grateful for the hope of a new day. Even in the midst of some sad times this week, I've never felt hopeless and for that I'm very grateful.
• I'm grateful for my family. Through good times and bad, I love them with all my heart.
• I'm grateful for the diversion of painting and reupholstering. Choosing colors and fabric. The freshening it represents, both literally and metaphorically.
• I'm grateful for the handful of tv shows Mitch and I enjoy watching together. We don't get to spend that much time just hanging out, so I enjoy the time we sit together on the couch a couple times a week.
• I'm grateful for this blog.

I used to make purses...

I suppose it would appear that I used to make purses, past tense. I certainly haven't posted any lately. Wendy was so sweet to tell me today she missed seeing bags popping up around my blog. I did go through a little burn out and had no interest in making purses for a while. I just needed a little break, a little change of scenery if you will but fall is right around the corner and I have new ideas swirling around. I got back into the swing of things last week and made a backpack purse but couldn't post about it because it was part of a swap and I wanted it to be a surprise. LLA received her package today so I can post pictures.

For some reason I had a difficult time getting a good picture of this. If I used a dark background it disappeared and it looks kind of bla to me against this white background. Oh well...

I commented to LLA how much I loved spa washcloths she knitted and she suggested a swap. She wanted a new purse but left the details up to me.  She had been carrying a backpack so I decided to go with that style since it was working for her and incorporated the patchwork because... I love me some patchwork. I wanted to personalize it but I know not everyone likes a busy monogram so I went with a tone on tone for the embroidery.

I don't remember who commented on who's site first. It seems like I've been visiting her blog and she mine since I first started blogging and we've formed a friendship through emails. Both southern girls, we've found we have lots in common and were both excited to find a fellow southern blogger since so many seem to be way across the country or way across the ocean. That friendship made this swap extra special.

Speaking of special, that's how I felt today when I got the mail. Lindsey of Yankee Girl Designs sent me sweet little cheer up package to let me know she was thinking about me after the rough week I had with Madden. The super talented Lindsey sent me a ring to match the home sweet home necklace I ordered from her awesome sight. She wrapped the ring and a sweet little pack of mini colored pencils in a vintage hankie. Thank you so much Lindsey. I am blown away! Really.

Over the legal limit

**Warning** This post is sure to be over the legal limits for sweetness.

Look at that face, those great big black eyes. Toby is settling in and getting comfortable in his new home. He's a little timid and skittish. The home he came from had a toddler and more than once I saw her pick either he or his brother up by their head. You know, toddlers don't know how to show love gently. I'd be a little nervous too. Madden came in and took charge, like he was the only pup in town. Toby isn't quite as confident. He loves to snuggle but he's also content to take a nap in his little pet kennel. He's eating and playing and doing an excellent job of just being too darn cute. He is a welcome ray of sunshine.

Can you stand it? It's a good thing he doesn't mind kisses.

And when you thought things couldn't be any sweeter,

This little card was attached to a patchwork teacup that came in the mail today from Me'Lisa.

She also sent a bowl in the pattern I (along with lots of other bloggers) have fallen in love with and a bracelet she made.

Isn't it beautiful? Me'Lisa is wondering if she should open an etsy shop. I say YES!!! This was a box full of goodies to cheer me up. It certainly put a great big smile on my face. I will definitely have a cup of tea this afternoon wearing my bracelet and think of Me'Lisa. Thank you!!! I have said it many times before and I will continue to say it, I am so blown away by the kindness of bloggers. We are essentially strangers but also like family. My husband is always so amazed at the kindness shown to me by people I've never met.

I'd love to have pictures of sewing progress, but the progress I've made this week will have to be reflected in my words and not in photographs. It has certainly been a tough week and I am so glad to say it is ending much better than it began. Sometimes life can throw a great big curve ball out of left field and knock you right off your feet. I'm brushing my knees off, taking a deep breath and enjoying the sweet memories of a special little soul.