My Swap Has Arrived!!!

And I love it all!! My young (and handsome) postman arrived on my snow covered doorstep at 10:30am bearing gifts for me from vicci!! As you can see I immediatley plopped my butt down in the living room and busted it open. Let me see if I can even begin to list everything that was included-
-caramels and truffles- Yum!
-a sampler of teas- I love tea!
-a variety of paper napkins and a spool of ribbon for crafty purposes which is always useful.
-2 aprons- a yellow and orange one with mushrooms on it(I'm diggin' the mushrooms) and a pink and blue smock style.
-a baggie of buttons.
-2 handkerchiefs- a vest one as well as one folded into a kimono shape that is way cool!
-vintage copies of Workbasket Magazine and a Woman's Day with Christmas crafts.
-a quilting book AND a craft book!
-a vintage flower pin and a great fruit necklace that ACTUALLY fits my neck! (Most don't.) I love the fruit!!
-a glass book! Or rather, a double framed plaque. And it's one I've never seen. Tres cool!
-a cute brown pot that is already on my craft table holding things.
-a beautiful peacock image. I'm really getting into this peacock thing....
-a hair thingy which is great because I have long hair!
Thanks again vicci! It's great! Now I have to get my butt in gear and mail out Elizabeth's package. The only reason I haven't mailed it out yet is because I keep finding more things to put in it! ;-)

I Never Thought Aprons Could Be Overwhelming

I like the apron I made but it's just not working out as well as I wanted it to. So in my search of the perfect cleaning apron, this is what I have come across-
- a quasi- make-your-own carryall apron from Martha Stewart Living.
- Instructions for a dish towel apron from Martha Stewart Living. (I guess Martha knows her aprons, huh?)
-Instructions for sewing a clean sweep apron at organizedhome.com.
-The ultimate in cleaning aprons- The "Hubby Helper". I'm not sure why they call it that. I think I would be more prone to buy it if the word "hubby" and footballs weren't all over it.

I also read in an old magazine in a waiting room this week that the ultimate cleaning helper would be a carpenter's tool belt. It has holsters and hooks for everything!

WTF Friday v.2.24.06 or "High Tech Quilting"

What will they think of next?

The latest technology in quilting is microchipping your quilts in case they are ever lost or stolen. They are then recorded at the National Quilt Registry. The interesting thing is that I can't seem to find an American National Quilt Registry online, I can only find an Australian Registry. Hmmmm....it makes me think they started the registry when they started chipping the quilts because you send your money for the chip and quilt information for the registry to the same address.

I'm giving swapping another go around.

Not that type of swapping.

A number of years ago I got involved in the now defunct "Get Crafty" message boards. Through these boards I signed up for and took part in a few "swaps". (Since I've had to explain this to everyone in real life, I figure I'll go ahead and explain it here, too.) A swap takes place when someone decides to organize one, sends the call out and people sign up. When signing up you also provide your mailing address as well as likes, dislikes, etc. The organizer then matches people up with one another, you receive your partner's information, go shopping and mail the package out. It's a great way to meet people and hey, who doesn't like to get packages in the mail?

I did a few of them through Get Crafty- a dollar store swap, secret Santa swap, ornament swap, scrap material swap, etc. I loved doing them but I have to admit I got burned a number of times. As in, I sent stuff out and got nothing in return. It sucked but it's the nature of the game. I pretty much stopped doing them because of this.

So, my new pal Elizabeth at my own little space has organized a thrift store swap and I'm way excited to start doing them again. I've already been to a few thrift stores with no luck but there are a few more to hit before the week is over. I'm buying for Elizabeth so I gotta do good on this one! Plus, both of our birthdays are next week so I might have to make this one extra special.

Let's Try This Again, Shall We?

I've posted about this numerous times over the weekend. Everytime I did it was gone the next day. Now that I think that I figured out the problem, I'm going to try it again.

I was originally asking what the item in the picture above is called. Holly figured it out and said they were "double framed plaques". I've been picking them up over the years for a buck or two at thrift stores or garage sales. You can, too, for me if you'd like. :-)

I've been invited to a Ladies' Margarita Night tomorrow night. It should be interesting considering the fact that I don't drink.

Testing..1..2..3...

I've posted three posts over the weekend and the next day they are gone. This is a test to see if it actually stays.

I finally have the complete set.

I've always kept my eye open for a green tomato pin cushion and in one weekend I found a green, yellow and pink one, too! If anyone ever spots a blue, orange or purple one let me know.

Valentine's Day was a bust. My husband's truck broke down on the highway on his way home from work so we had to postpone everything. Plus I had to have a root canal on Monday so I wasn't really up for anything yesterday anyways. My birthday is coming up soon so we'll see how that goes.

I am also on the hunt for "Big Boggle". We used to have it when I was a kid but we can't seem to find it. They are mighty pricy on eBay so if anyone comes across one I'll sell you my right arm for it. (I'm left handed so I won't miss it much.)

How to Make a Luminary for the Cost of a Candle.

In the same Ready Made Magazine issue that I found the baby food jar snowglobes in, I also came across these ingenius snow luminaries. I know luminaries are generally considered a Christmas time thing, but really, couldn't you use them for any special occasion? Or especially when there is snow on the ground? I've been waiting months to be able to do these because the snow is coming or going so fast that either there's no snow, or it's just not packing right, or it's too wet, or whatever. But I'm bound and determined to do it sometime before all of the snow is gone. I figure I've got until the end of May.

The article said to fill a balloon 2/3's to 3/4's full of warm water. Gently set it on top of a semi-packed block of snow. The balloon with melt through and slowly level out. Gently pull the balloon out and cha-ching! You have automatic luminaries sans the candle. No more flaming brown paper bags or those tacky plastic milk jugs.

*Sigh* This project combines two of my most favorite things- being frugal and getting crafty.

Fabric Finds v.2.11.06

Ever since I saw they were coming out with Elvis fabric again, I've kept my eyes peeled for it. So yesterday before a dreaded dentist appointment I thought I'd stop by the nearby JoAnn's to see if they had it in yet. After looking around for awhile I asked a salesgirl if she'd seen it and she said "Yes, but at Sprawlmart." Cha-ching. So guess where I went right after my dentist's appointment? And guess what I found? Yup, 6 different kinds of it at $4.44 a yard. (That's pretty cheap for novelty fabric like that.) I picked out a couple of yards that I liked when I spotted something else I've been wanting in the Keepsake Quilting catalog-liscence plate fabric.

For years I've been collecting fabric for a crazy quilt I'm going to do someday about me and my life. In it I plan on representing places I've been, things I've done, people, etc. The liscence plate fabric would be perfect for all the road trips I used to go on, especially in college. I figure I could incorporate a plate from every state I've been. we'll see.

Wife of the Year v.2.0

Some of you may remember my post about vying for wife of the year back in early December. Well, I think I'm at it again.

About a week ago I got a wild hair up my ass that made me want to make the perfect apron. I wanted one that could hold the following items-
-my cell phone- I always seem to be ther furthest away from it when it rings.
-my notepad and pen- I'm a constant list maker.
-my label maker, sometimes- I've named her Mabel. Get it? I actually use her alot.
-scissors- I can't believe how many times I go on the hunt for scissors.
-my micro fiber dust rag- my new best friend that can be found at the dollar store.
-anything else I might need.

The other requirements were that it was full length (I'm constantly spilling something on myself or leaving little threads from sewing all over me), that it looked somewhat retro and that it was a proper fit for me. Well, it looks retro enough with a cherry print on turquoise background. I even found some red rick rack to trim it with. It's a little too long for me and it gaps really bad in the bosom area, but I think with a little tweeking and few darts here and there it should be just fine.

The View From My Front Porch

It has been snowing all day. Big fluffy snowflakes that take forever to float to the ground.

New episode of LOST tonight. Woo Hoo!!!

Lisa Loeb's #1 Single

Don't get me wrong. I don't want to slam Lisa Loeb, I actually kind of like her. Granted, I can't name one song other than "Stay" and I have no idea what she's been doing for the past 10 years other than trying to snag a cable show. (Does anybody remember her Food Network show called Dweezil and Lisa? Apparently the network doesn't because there is no mention of it on their site.) VH1 has been airing "#1 Single", a new reality show where Lisa Loeb is desperately seeking "Mr. Right", or rather "Mr. Right Now I Want Babies". It's sad really. I mean, I've been out of the dating loop for a few years now but I was single until I was almost 29, so needless to say a few things she does makes me cringe. As in, I was a dating disaster but even I knew better than to do THAT. a few cases in point-
1.) Hello Kitty is not a guy magnet. Nor are all of the pretty pink appliances you have. I've yet to meet a man (gay OR straight) who thought Hello Kitty was "cute".
2.) When meeting a blind date at a friend's house, don't bypass the guy for the food during introductions. It's not a good omen.
3.) After two dates with a writer and seeing your names together on page six for his book release party, don't get bent and repeatedly say "we need to talk" throughout the whole event. To say the kiss-of-death phrase as you are standing in line to get your book signed is strange to say the least.
4.) Don't listen to your friend/sister or whoever they are. When a guy pays your $300 bill at the Container Store after you stood at the checkout not even making a move for your wallet, it's not because he's "generous" as they are telling you. It is because he wants poon tang and paying your bill is his quickest way of getting there. I admire you for paying him back.
5.) Ditch the furry woodland creature fashion theme and pigtails. You yourself said you are 37 years old. It is time. The pigtails are a little over the top and the wool skirt with deer on it and a peek-a-boo zipper window that reveals Snow White has got to go. I like it, too, but I wouldn't wear it in public.
Gawd, I could go on forever. I've tried to watch the show but it's getting more and more painful so I think I may have to stop. Good luck to her though. And to put yourself out there on national TV like that takes a lot of guts. I hope she finds what she's looking for.

"A movie for anyone who's ever loved a book."

I watched The Stone Reader this weekend. I highly recommend it if you a.) like to read and b.) can easily become obsessed with something.

We got about 8 inches of snow overnight. At least it feels like winter again instead of summer being just around the corner. It's good to have a reality check now and again I guess.

I've almost got the quilt top done from the quilt I started years back. The squares are all together, I just need to put a border around it (to make it a bigger bed size) and decide how I'm going to finish it. I figure since this is an "experimental" quilt, I'll "experiment" with a different way of finishing it. Hopefully in a way I've never finished a quilt before. Exciting, eh? I also have everything together to start a couple of other different projects but I keep reminding myself I should Finnish this quilt first.

A Vacationer's Mecca

Some of you may know that the Superbowl is in Detroit this weekend. (I wouldn't have, except that I've been hearing about this one for years...) In honor of the event I would like to post the lyrics to a song I can't seem to get out of my head this week. It's called "Ode to Detroit" and was written by Wally Pleasant, A local, folksy, funny guy who played the college curcuit back in the day. Granted, this song was probably written over twenty years ago but I believe some of the same principles apply today.

Ode to Detroit by Wally Pleasant

Shoot someone and tell everyone you're from Detroit.
Steal a car and then tell them you're from Detroit.
Become addicted to a major narcotic and tell people you're from Detroit.
Join a street gang and act really idiotic, if you're from Detroit.

When the Tigers win the championship,
Pretend like it's really hip,
to get national media attention,
When you set a car on fire causing police intervention.

Rob from your neighbors and kill your friends, if you're from Detroit.
Receive public assistance and drive a Mercedes-Benz, if you're from Detroit.
Own a store that gets robbed four times a week, in Detroit.
And buy some crack cocaine right on the street, in Detroit.

Most people criticize it, and some people even eulogize it,
But the Mayor just gets really pissed,
And then he tells all the reporters "No problems exist".

Now I'd be shot and killed if I played this song in Detroit,
'Cause there's a City ordinance that says you gotta say nice things about Detroit.
But since I can't do that, I'm going to move away and be in route,
To a safer destination, like Beirut.

It's the most dangerous city in the universe.
If you drive into town, you'll probably leave in a hearse.
Or maybe get beat up by an angry mob, on national TV.

Each time I watch the local news,
I learn about kids killing each other for tennis shoes.
This makes me so depressed, that I decided to write this song as if I was on a quest.

I tell people that the place where I come from,
Is headed for oblivion.
And even though it's a nice city to write a song about,
Motown ----- is no town where I wanna live anymore.
No, no, no, no, no, no

Trailer Park Boys

A number of years ago my husband and I read a blurb in a magazine about a Canadian cable show called the "Trailer Park Boys". It sounded hilarious but even though we live within an hour of the border there was no way we were going to be able to see it. A few years later my husband's BF shows up at our house with copies of the first 3 seasons. Cha-ching. Last fall they were released on American DVD but there is an incredibly long wait to get them through Netflix so good luck trying.

News is they are making a movie that will be released in the summer of 2006. I'm hoping it's released in the States. I'm also hoping it's just as dumb as the show. We'll see.