Taggies

I am planning to make more of my "taggies" this next week. I love blankies, but am even fonder of something that resembles a stuffed friend. So...I put them together -a softie and a taggie. Hmmm, what to call them "staggies"- no. Softie Tags, no. Any ideas?

My husband is home this week. I am so excited about this. We had a wonderful talk this morning about our lives together and with our daughters. We are developing a strict budget and family plan. We met with our girls shared our ideas with them. They seemed to like our ideas. They didn't like the cleaning and getting rid of stuff after the meeting, But the dreaming of family activities to participate in, that don't cost money, was fun to come up with together. Our long term goal will be a fabulous vacation next year. This year...careful spending, great family times and getting our lives together in order. In the mean time if anyone wishes to pass large sums of money our way...we would love to have our debts paid off sooner. Hehe. Chloe's words, "I wish money grew on trees." I am sure it will be hard, but is sure feels good.

Lilac Love

I am so happy that this little gal has gone home with someone special. I sure do love fuzzy purple wool.

I am finished with my craft fairs and just finished teaching three classes this week. I am so happy, but sad. Does that make sense? I am glad to not have the pressure of having enough product for a fair. I guess it is knowing that I have completed my commitments that feels good. BUT...I love it. I love making things. I love sharing what I have learned with others. I love it when someones face lights when they have made something they love. I like it when people love the things I make. Hmmmm. Happy thoughts.

Finally a Work Day.

Nina and I stayed home today. We were invited to a brunch with our girlfriends, but I forced myself to stay home. I have been so busy that I have not had the time to craft lately and time is running out before our first holiday show. Nina enjoyed creating today as well. She played with stamps, cut fabric for us to sew on the machine and traced cookie cutters. She really wanted to paint, but I was having a hard enough time getting my sewing done. I do love that she likes to do arts and crafts. She almost likes it too much. Does that make sense?

Have some great new softies to share with you. My friend Deborah, from my Frayed Edges Art Quilting group, brought me an awesome wool sweater all the way from Texas. It is funny how happy I was to receive a sweater, that I am going to cut up. I enjoyed her more then the sweater though. We just had our yearly overnight at Kathy's this past Sunday. All of us were there. I have some great pictures to share. We each brought a kit to share, with a holiday decoration to make. It is so great to have friends that you can share your life with and also enjoy crafting with.

Friends!

I have learned a lot this past week about friendship. Mostly, I have firmed up some of my own personal beliefs.

- I believe that when you love someone, it does not go away, change yes, but not go away.

- I believe that you should always look for the good in people and try to understand where they are coming from.

-It is okay to disagree, when you are friends, you have to talk it through.

-Relationships change...and that is okay. No one is bad or wrong.

-I find that when you are finding a lot of fault with someone, it often has to do with something within yourself.

-Don't hold on to negative feelings.

-It is natural to grow away from someone, this does not need to be a hurtful thing.

An old friend of mine sent me a note recently, I felt so good inside when I received it. So many years have gone by, but reading her words made it feel like we were back at our old jobs working side by side. She said to me that she believes that people come in our lives and got out and while they are with us we learn something from each other and then go on our way. I guess we have more work with some people then others. I hope this friend is someone that I get to see again. Our lives changed and we have both been involved in other things. She taught me so many lessons before, I think we have more to offer each other.

Sideways Pig

She is just as cute on her side as she is standing up. She has found a new home, but still makes me smile. She is made out of cashmere and just so happy. Not often do you here the words cashmere and pig in the same sentence, but boy do they work together. In fact, I think tomorrow I need to make more pigs.

vision

Been feeling a lot like my little friend above. Things haven't been clear - and may need to borrow her glasses. Actually my mom offered me a new mantra --- Divine Guidance moves me to new heights of wisdom and success. Trying to repeat it over and over as we make decisions about what action to take against those that have caused us great stress involving our failed septic. It is so hard to know what to do when others don't take responsibility for their errors. Excited to put it all away tomorrow and enjoy my Frayed Edges friends.

Elvira...

How can you resist a cashmere elephant? Much less, one with it's own toadstool. I so love making elephants. They seem to be enjoyed by others as well. Each fair I have participated in, I have sold the elephant. This last weekend, I sold almost all of my softies. It makes me so happy to think that others enjoy them as I do. I was even asked about possibly doing a show a gallery. WOW!

I have another show coming up and in between enjoying our company, I have been very busy. I found some neat sweaters today inspite of the out of towners collecting their sweaters at 'My" Salvation army. I think we need a sign..." Sweaters for locals first." hehe

Pandas, owls and dolls oh my!

I can can't seem to put the pictures where I want them.  Would love to hear from someone who is better experienced.  

I have spent a lot of time sewing and needle felting since I got back from CA.  I was so inspired in CA, but had to get ready for the Chinese New Year celebration that was held yesterday.  I had a great day.  Heidi and I  sold a lot of dolls and pandas.  I was very excited that all of my needle felted pandas sold.  Bart got a few pictures first and I will upload them to the computer to share.  I saved out this little owl to add to Emelia's owl collection.  Or at least I say that....I think I really liked him too.  While Bart and the girls enjoyed watching the dancing, I got to meet a lot of great families as well as see some of the old families I use to work with when I was an adoption social worker.  I sure do miss that work.    Crafting does take a close second though.     

                                                                                                               

Bart snuck this picture while I was staying up late to finish the pandas - 

Enjoying a family day today.  And trying to get through our laundry pile.  H