Postcard tips

Okay, this one is called "Purple Flowers" because I couldn't come up with anything else. ROFLOL But I have been coming up with some tips for others out there. :D

Tip #1 -- Don't use muslin. It frays way too easily and if you use it as a backing fabric, you can see through it.

Tip #2 -- Don't sew over chenille stems (aka pipe cleaners). It's akin to sewing over pins and it will really eat through your needles.

Tip #3 -- Freezer Paper makes a great ironing board cover for this project. Make sure you put the shiny side down.

Tip #4 -- If you are using Peltex, you need to make sure you get Peltex 70. Somehow, I got Peltex 71, and it's making things sort of difficult.

Tip #5 -- and this is more personal than an actual tip... don't use Rayon thread on the edge. It doesn't act right to me.

I tried a new version after I finished this one. I'm thinking this is going to be how I make a busy book for Lil Bit. I'll post pictures of the "trial" later. Right now, we're going on a date. :D All in all, this is a very fun project, and I am so happy to be sewing again. And I know my Momma is looking down on me and smiling.

StarBright

I'm so excited. I just finished my very first fabric postcard. Thanks go to DebR for the instructions and everyone at QYW for the encouragement. :D I know the quilting is bad, but it was fun. I can see this as being a GREAT way to practice different techniques. Now.... who do I send it to? Hmmmm.......

Quilting bug

I am happy to report that I have again been bitten by the quilting bug. I don't have anything to post a picture of yet, but today, I actually cleaned my sewing room out and set up my machine again. Tomorrow, or later next week, I'm planning on trying to make a fabric postcard. I have my directions and all my supplies ready. I just have to get in there and do it. After I get the hang of the cards, I'm going to try to make a busy book for Lil Bit using the same technique. I'm so excited.

By the way, don't open the closet door. It's dangerous. Dale has a lot of Army junk that I just kinda piled in. LOL I told him.... "Open at your own risk. Consider yourself warned."

Friends

Friends are nice to have. I finally got to meet a good friend in person. Previously, we had only been computer buddies. This is my friend Laurie. I am thankful for my friends.

I miss my momma

Boy, I miss my momma. It's strange. I have days where I barely remember that she's gone. Then I have days that it hits me like a ton of bricks. Then I have moments in some days where I miss her so much it hurts. I'm having one of those moments right now. I can't even tell you why I started missing her so much all of a sudden. I just know that I do miss her, and I miss her alot. I want to cry and yet I don't. My heart is in a jumble just not knowing what to do with my emotions.

Sweet Pea is in Louisiana visiting my MIL. She's helping her with VBS, and playing hard with her cousins. Lil Bit is in bed asleep. I think she may be teething again, which is not fun, because it usually means an earache and cranky baby. Dale has Monday off and a pass for Tuesday, so we are going to go to Atlanta and try to have some "us" time. He's attending a job fair on Tuesday. (Everyone cross your fingers and pray REALLY hard that he'll get a job soon.)

We're at a pivotal point in our life/marriage. If we can make it through the rest of this year, then maybe, just maybe, we'll be okay and can make it through the rest of our life. But Daddy, if you happen to read this.... "I'm tired of the bumps already."

Inspiration

I was so inspired by the picture of Gail's Peonies that I had to offer some pictures of my hydrangea bush. I did not plant this bush and actually cut it a few times before I realized it wasn't a weed. LOL Last year, the neighborhood kids broke off some of the buds so I only got 4 really good blooms. This year, as you can see, I have 13! I love the coloring on it too. The pink and purple are just beautiful.

I also wanted to share some more Gracie pictures. She decided to try a new "food" tonight. That's NOT chocolate pudding on her face. You can see the "source" in the big orange pot. ROFLOL

Also, we had had the living room arranged to where she couldn't get around certain blockades. Only... she figured out that she could try to squeeze between the recliner and the trunk. She got stuck, but I couldn't resist a picture. LOL I've since rearranged the living room.

My children bring me such joy. Becca is so incredibly smart. Today, we started a second grade workbook for the summer. She doesn't like to do it, but I sat with her and we worked together, and that made it fun. I hope and I pray that I can be as good a mother to her as my mom was to me.

It's just a day

It's just a day like any other day. God made it, so I will rejoice in it.

New picture

I'm trying to get a picture posted in my profile. I haven't figured it out yet, so I guess I'll have to do it the long way. *blech* The only thing that would make Blogger better would be some smilies. :D

On Grieving

You know, I've been thinking (bad idea, I know). People all grieve in different ways. Many people would look at my sister's blog and then look at mine and think that I wasn't grieving. It's not true. I just have to process it in a different way than she does. I miss my mom. While she was alive, my sister was taking care of her. She was there every day. She had to deal with issues that I didn't. But..... I called my mom. Often. And she's not there anymore. She won't be on the other end of the line anymore. Amber sees that momma is not there. I hear it. I also don't sleep well or enough.

This weekend, it really hit me. The one person I have always counted on to always love me unconditionally is gone. I know there are others, but I have learned that. I always knew my mom was there.

I just want to offer the 5 stages of grief for others out there in "BlogLand." People do this in different ways in different time frames. But it is nice to have some measure of progress (for lack of a better word). I think the thing to remember is that you do need to go through grief, even if it is in your own way and in your own time. It helps the hurting wound in your heart start to heal.

5 stages of grief as presented by Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross in her book "On Death and Dying:"
Denial (this isn't happening to me!)
Anger (why is this happening to me?)
Bargaining (I promise I'll be a better person if...)
Depression (I don't care anymore)
Acceptance (I'm ready for whatever comes)

ROFLOL -- Funny!

Your results:
You are Luke Skywalker

Luke Skywalker 70% R2-D2 67% Princess Leia 64% An Ewok 63% Padme 57% C-3PO 56% Chewbacca 56% Jar Jar Binks 55% Obi-Wan Kenobi 54% Yoda 52%

You value your friends and loved ones, but can sometimes act recklessly because of your emotions. Occasionally you resort to whining. You look ahead to great things for yourself.

(This list displays the top 10 results out of a possible 21 characters)
Click here to take the "Which Star Wars character am I?" quiz...





Which Princess Bride Character are You?
this quiz was made by mysti

I miss my momma

I know it will take time, but I really miss my mama. I've wanted to pick up the phone and call her so many times this week. Which is CRAZY, because I was there when she died, and I was there when they closed the casket, and I was there when they buried her. Well, not her, but her body. And I know, I KNOW beyond a shadow of a doubt that she is in Heaven and that she doesn't hurt any more. So why do I still want to call her?

And on top of it all, I still have to deal with the here and now. The past month was so surreal, like it wasn't happening to me, that it was a dream or a movie of someone else's life. But now, I'm home and I have to deal with my life here, and I really don't want to. I want to be asleep.

Oi. I guess I'm just rambling, and venting. I know it will take time. I just like control and I'm not in control right now. I guess I've never been in control. God has the ultimate control, always has and always will. It comes back to trust and faith again. Maybe one day I'll learn.