Creations by JEllen

friday funny...

2012-01-27T02:26:00.002-05:00

funny friday...

2012-01-20T23:59:00.000-05:00

dreamy costumes...

2012-01-16T23:59:00.001-05:00

disney on ice

was in town

this weekend...

my daughter and i

never miss going

it is pure magic for her

she lives for anything disney

dare to dream

was the name of this

brand new show

i was silly giddy

when i was able to snag

front row seats

i absolutely love

being up close to

study the costumes

and i have found

when they are

in the first year of rotation

they really shine

i am of course especially

drawn to the creations in purple

whether they be dressed up mice

or gorgeous ballroom gowns

i'll have to admit though

i was also drawn to

minnie's new dress

with layers and layers

of red dot taffeta ruffles

i think it would be exhilarating

working with the

costume design team

for disney

even if just for a little while

a perfect day

2012-01-15T23:29:00.001-05:00

i thought

about

getting up...

...early

then decided to just

roll over

and take a late morning nap

after finally pulling myself

into the shower

i came downstairs

to find this really

special treat

compliments of the

fiveteen year old son

and his sweet friend

later in the day

the oldest called

along with his sweet friend

to wish me a happy day

early in the evening i

signed onto facebook

to have more than one

hundred birthday greetings

in the evening as i was placing

sarah's breathing mask on

she tenderly placed her hand

on my cheek and wished me

a happy birthday

then told me i was really old

melted my heart

i've never felt more loved

and grateful

thank you everyone

singing waiters not...

2012-01-14T19:28:00.001-05:00

it is no

longer possible

to deny...

...your birthday

electronic reminders

come from many

sources

i just want

to be clear though

it's not the singing

waiters

that annoy me

it's when my favorite eatery

sends me an invitation

for a free birthday meal

and the nearest one

is at least

one hundred miles

away

ohhh i can taste it now

whole grain tuscan linguine

with

parmesan crusted chicken

deep sigh

noodles and co

please, please, pretty please

come to cleveland

funny friday...

2012-01-13T22:56:00.001-05:00

chance encounter...

2012-01-08T17:41:00.001-05:00

i've often

wondered

what happened...

to the brides

who chose me to

create the gown for

their special day

there was usually

a specific reason

they wanted a custom creation

i would ask for

an explanation

it helped me understand the

direction we were going

one young woman

told me of a tale involving

ballroom dancing

it was a romantic story

their first dance would be

chorographed by their teacher

and so the dress needed

to accomodate

the twists and turns

this week at the quilt store

in walked

a new customer

she had been referred by a friend

we got to talking

and sharing

she seemed familiar

yet

nothing really clicked until

she wrote her name

on the email list

and i knew at that moment

it was annie

the beautiful woman

who wore this dress

almost seventeen years ago

still married with children

i forgot to ask

about the dancing

next time i will

hello 2012...

2012-01-01T12:06:00.000-05:00

2011 year in review

2011-12-31T22:30:00.000-05:00

i don't live by horoscopes...

Year 2011 Overview

'Change' is your middle name at this point, Capricorn. You've been through more personal transformation in the past two years than perhaps in your entire life. The upside is that you're getting used to the intensity of it all. It helps that you're realizing the futility in holding on to people and possessions that only stunt your growth. So many layers continue to be shed on a daily basis but this also gives way to unquestionable personal power. Pluto in Capricorn will carry on for another 14 years; so if this is just the tip of the iceberg, imagine who you will be on the other side of your metamorphosis.

This year the focus shifts from a lifestyle focused on gadgets, information and social networking to introspection, home and family. You are about to encounter your most uncensored raw self on levels as of yet unprecedented. Ready yourself, Goat, because this spring an explosion of fiery planets in Aries sweeps the very base of your horoscope getting you back in touch with some of your most primal instincts. Competition, aggression and the need for plenty of physical outlets ensue.

Some long-standing money issues are finally coming to a finish as the planet of illusion and delusion gets ready to move on to your communication sector. You've learned to use your discrimination in choosing where to invest and where to spend. For the next 14 years, instead of worrying about money leakages you'll be working on mindfulness to avoid spacing out. In any case, your way with words is apt to become poetic and inspired, which can only make the world appear infinitely more beautiful.

...yet last years predictions were so spot on, i would not have been able to write it better myself. so looking forward to what 2012 brings along...

funny friday...

2011-12-30T22:27:00.000-05:00

simply sweet...

2011-12-27T23:46:00.000-05:00

when i finally

awoke

from my nap...

...i realized there

were cookies

to bake

i hummed and

i hawed

and realized

the one's they really

want

take no time at all

peanut blossoms

and gingersnaps

sure enough

baked and gone

in no time at all

enough said...

2011-12-25T13:27:00.000-05:00

even for me

this is unusual

but then...

...i've never ever

worked in retail

for an entire year

in my life

wishing you all

a very merry christmas

new traditions...

2011-12-23T00:45:00.000-05:00

this little blog

of mine

has morphed into...

a personal diary of sorts

a place to write

my thoughts

in addition to

sharing creativity

it is also preserving

memories

in an electronic format

and this pic is one

i never wish to loose

julie and tj

how i love these two

they have been

growing up before our eyes

for several years actually

high school sweethearts

college comrades

and now

apartment dwellers

establishing

new holiday traditions

of their own

it's a marvelous sight

for this momma's eyes

and heart

the best kind of christmas gift

efaith restored...

2011-12-21T19:23:00.003-05:00

it's such a euphoric

feeling

to end the year...

...with my faith restored

in mankind

do you remember

my tale

of the broken smoky pfaff

with the seller

from h e double hockey sticks

then the ten paragraph

email from the attorney

at ebay

when i escalated a claim

that could have been

summarized

in one sentence

the ebay buyer protection plan

doesn't cover broken

stinky sewing machines

well believe it or not

after my ego recovered

i bid again on a pfaff 1475

and lost

so i sorta gave up

but oh how i love

that machine

best one ever made

i have a few groups

of young teens

waiting in the wings

for sewing classes

i can't wait to

get started

one more machine

would be ideal

in sarah's sewcial lounge

so i bounced back onto

ebay

and found one

i bid and i won

it arrived today

packaged perfectly...

in the best

of condition

even better

than my own

and included

a nice little note

from the seller

thank you mario

you made my day

and restored my faith

in mankind

ebay should thank you

i certainly do

making progress...

2011-12-18T23:14:00.000-05:00

i'm so very far

behind

in my paperwork...

...but it's quite boring

so to reward myself

each month i finished

i stitched one more row

i'm up to november

which means

ten more rows

of x-rated

are complete

loving luscious...

2011-12-17T18:29:00.001-05:00

and making some

progress

with the hand...

stitching

one of the most

frequently heard

comments

when i announced

i would be opening

a quilt store

nice

you'll be able to sew all day

not

doesn't happen often

until i started

my hand stitching project

i'm addicted

once again

the purple knickers...

2011-12-14T23:45:00.003-05:00

twenty years ago today

that's how sarah and i

often start posts over...

on her blog

it's fun to see what

we were up to

twenty years ago today

at times i think

twenty years is so long ago

and then i look

at the photos

and it seems like

just yesterday

tonight

as i looked at what

we were doing

i huge wave of emotion

comes over me

first off

it's the purple velveteen

the true color doesn't shine

in the pics

tj's knickers were made

of a rich deep

luscious purple

the top of sarah's dress too

the matching plaid

was heavy, gorgeous taffeta

brought in especially for me

by jay broida the owner

of cutting room fabrics

he knew about my obsession

with purple

so on one of his

new york city buying sprees

he had me in mind

and my little girl

he was so excited to show me

i couldn't bring myself

to tell him

that sarah was not doing well

in fact

the doctors were

starting to loose hope

her lungs were

continually collapsing

filling with fluid

she was aspirating liquids

to cause pneumonia

that would not respond

to medicine

still i sat in my sewing studio

in the wee hours

of the morning

to stitch up this

matching ensemble

for brother and sister

today as i look at

these photos

i recognize there

was a greater journey

one of immense teaching

the brother

the one who stood beside her

who protected her

without question

is right beside her

nearly every single day

i truly could not be more proud

of the man he has become

my heart swells with pride

each time i see the two of them

i hear them

engaging in grown up

conversation

yet my heart allows them to go back

to the day they

were wearing

taffeta plaid and

fancy purple knickers

when life comes...

2011-12-12T19:26:00.001-05:00

together and

things start

to make sense...

have you ever

experienced

one of those times

i think i did
today

all those years of

snow plow sam lessons

followed by

hockey, hockey and more hockey

and then it ends

or so you think

a few years later

sitting in world history class

only by a series of very

unique circumstances

boy meets girl

hearts go pitter patter

girl is nationally recognized

ice dancer

without a partner

sounds like a movie

sarah and i have watched

over and over again

wonder how this one

will turn out

sure is fun watching

i always thought

a toe pick

would have been

a fine choice

angelina needs a family...

2011-12-10T15:18:00.002-05:00

it's the time

of year

when the angel...

...tree goes live

over on the

reece's rainbow website

it's the time

of year

when hearts soften

and funds are

raised

to help get the

sweet adorable children

born with down syndrome

living in orphanges

into the loving

caring homes

of a family

sweet

adorable angelina

with her beautiful

red hair

and big brown eyes

is almost four years old

she needs a family

now

or she is in danger of being

transferred

where her life

will be even less than it is now

and death

is likely

please help pass the word

angelina needs a family

if you can't be her family

will you please

consider making a donation

to her fund

by clicking here

familes are often out there

it's just the expense

of the adoption that

holds them back

help us give a holiday

miracle to angelina

i love december...

2011-12-05T22:21:00.000-05:00

it's the only

time

of the year...

...i can have

two heaping scoops

of my all time

favorite flavors

peppermint stick and

mint chocolate chip

i think i'll go

curl up

next to the warm fire

to eat my ice cream

delicious

funny friday...

2011-12-02T22:35:00.000-05:00

hand therapy

2011-11-28T23:04:00.000-05:00

i believe

the current

word is...

...retro

reminiscent of things past

remember when i introduced

hello luscious to x-rated

after some thought

i decided to take it back

a decade or two

ok maybe three

or nearly four for me

when all blocks

were stitched

hand

oh yes i can hear the gasps

you should listen when

customers come

into the store

and see me pulling the needle

through the fabric

while i'm walking about

i'm loving it

the best hand therapy

ever

does a great job on

the mind too

total relaxation

the end product

retro in the best way

although i've heard

that look is current once again

black friday...

2011-11-25T07:50:00.001-05:00

i'm so excited

about my

shopping...

...experience

never will you find me

standing in long lines

winding around a big box store

i let my fingers

do the shopping

on my favorite creative site

etsy

this little quilted beauty is by

tresa in molalla oregon

it will soon be hanging in

sarah's sewcial lounge

won't you consider

supporting artists

throughout the land

this holiday season

gratitude...

2011-11-24T12:53:00.001-05:00

purple profile...

2011-11-23T22:51:00.001-05:00

years ago

even before this

next photo...

was taken

a friend gave me a card

that reads...

you are a purple person if:

you are imaginative,

sensitive, artistic and

sophisticated

you have noble ideals

and a keen appreciation

of the cultural

you are alert, demanding,

foresighted, confident

resourceful,

spontaneous and highly independent

you take delight in the beautiful,

the gracious, the sensitive,

but maintain an attitude of

critical appraisal

you are active in the support

of things you believe in

and are concerned

with the pursuit of truth

and other human values

you take chances

and believe that you must do so

to make the most of what

life has to offer

purple is an exclusive

unique color

and it is truly a unique individual

who holds it dear

twenty years ago today

as i bared my shoulders

for the world to see

i did not see as much

of myself

in that message

as i do today

shattered dreams

2011-11-21T19:01:00.002-05:00

precious iris

sweet adorable girl

forever angel...

Iris Catherine Palma

7/7/10 ~ 11/20/11

...gone much too soon

for weeks i've followed

your daily struggles

open heart surgery

followed by complications

fluid filled

and collapsed lungs

infections

irregular pressures

pulmonary hypertension

plummenting oxygen saturations

then a complete code

each hour i relived the emotions

with stephanie and anne

as they were posted

you seemed to be following

the same path as my sarah

day by day

hour by hour

i felt the constant heartbreak

followed by

intense elation

when one tiny flicker

of activity on a monitor

gave new hope

i wanted so to believe that your

outcome would be different

that your mommas

would hold you once again

that they would see

your precious smile

instead what they have right now

are shattered dreams

and broken hearts

i know there were several girlies

waiting to take your hand

kristen, carly and lois

to name a few

a party in heaven

where that extra chromosome

is celebrated

in glory

i am sure

take it and make it...

2011-11-20T22:08:00.000-05:00

lusciously x-rated...

2011-11-12T20:07:00.000-05:00

my mind

and body

are aching...

...for some

sewing time

it's been much too long

since i've had access

to a machine

so tonight

i am sitting down

with needle and thread

thought i'd do something with

hello luscious

the newest release

from basic grey

it won't arrive in stores

until february

which makes

x-rated

a carrie nelson schnibble

the perfect pattern

for a

valentine

creation

11.11.11

2011-11-11T23:11:00.000-05:00

surround yourself...

2011-11-10T00:13:00.000-05:00

smokin' hot...

2011-11-08T23:12:00.000-05:00

flipped the page

in the

photo album...

...the one from twenty years ago

and found this

at first i was just going

to pass it by

then my honey came down

and told me

i looked smokin' hot

it was the reference

to fire

that made me

decide to scan it

just in case

i never want to forget

that yes

there was a day

when i'd show my legs

i also remember

finishing this outfit

on the way to the event

as john drove

i sewed

typical of our life

back then

wouldn't change a thing

though

conflicting emotions...

2011-11-07T12:44:00.000-05:00

from the moment

you look

into his eyes...

you know the day

will eventually come

it seems so far off

in the undefinable distance

it's easy to pretend

it will never happen

then it does

the day your baby boy

moves out

into the world

on his own

the funny thing

i've been hinting of late

sometimes in a subtle way

and sometimes not

still

he didn't seem

to be in a hurry

to flee the parental nest

then out of the blue

he tells me he is about

to sign a lease

turns out he has been looking

for a great many weeks

that's my boy

i should've known

mr independent with

a well thought out plan

he took me for a preview

but not

until he first took

his sister

which of course

melted my heart

last evening he told me

about a new

herringbone couch

a side chair

a chocolate brown table

he showed me

a stripped pillow

he was so elated

i was happy to share

in his excitement

until he told me

about buying a

king size bed

and that's when it hit me

he's leaving

for good

my baby boy

has grown into a man

in a flash

of an instant it seems

i had to fight the tears

from streaming down my face

i wanted to run and hide

curl up in a corner

so this is what it feels like

my head

tells me it's time to go

my heart

wants him to stay

somewhere

in the middle

i'm as proud as i can be

he'll always have a place to visit

and a permanent corner

in my heart

beautiful heartbreak...

2011-11-02T00:38:00.001-04:00

a beautiful yet heartbroken soul and friend shared this with me. i thought it perfect to begin the season of thanks and gratitude. it's such a powerful reminder those around us may be hurting much more than we know. yet through all the heartbreak therein lies the beauty...

would you like a pony too...

2011-10-31T22:43:00.000-04:00

when tj asked

to be a cowboy

for halloween...

...i asked if he'd like

a pony too

turned out to be the

most winning costume

ever

by all who wore it

over the years

today it turns up

twenty years later

a perfect visual

for what's about to happen

as the lone ranger rides

into the sunset

out there

on his own

not exactly

atop hi ho silver

rather

inside a red taurus

either way

he's holding the reins

in total control

so proud of you son

my two sons...

2011-10-28T21:38:00.016-04:00

fiveteen years ago today...

i was blessed

with the miracle

of a second son
two boys
i wasn't sure i was ready
or worthy
of such a responsibility
jeepers have i made
some mistakes
said a few unkind words
held an unrealistic
expectation or two
today i know this though
i would give
the sun
the moon
and the stars
for these
two divine creatures
two amazing young men
as different as night and day
yet both perfect
just the way they are
motherhood
i've come to realize
is the greatest of all blessings
full of challenge
wonderment and intrigue
i've also come to learn
there a few times that only an
i'm sorry
followed by
please forgive me
will do
each year they grow
so do i
and i hope to
be granted the gift of
continual learning
which will allow me to
share in their
splendor
for many years to come
happy birthday matt
i love you

quilt shoes...

2011-10-26T23:18:00.001-04:00

be honest now...

...could you resist?

me either

the best

impulse shoe buy

of my lifetime

well at least since i

turned fifty

when

comfort trumped

style and heels

love my quilter's keens

found my

harvest mary jane's here

believe...

2011-10-20T20:57:00.000-04:00

at long last...

2011-10-17T00:03:00.000-04:00

i've finally

found my

sewing machine...

...again

after being buried

under boxes and junk

for so long

the last few weeks

my body was craving the

motion of the machine

i started with a

little project

that was almost finished

love me some

chocolate and blue

from verna

by our favorite kate spain

thought that would

give me a boost to

jump back in with both feet

ugh ugh triple ugh

first i have to finish cleaning

the cutting counter

just never enough

hours in a day

a sugar valley beauty...

2011-10-14T18:13:00.001-04:00

do you ever

stumble

upon a photo...

...that just brings a smile

to your face

i had that experience

today

over on facebook

saw this beauty

posted on the gammill page

and i grinned

from ear to ear

love, love, love

the fabric and design

the colors are divine

so i clicked a few more

times to see just

where the picture

came from

sugar valley stitches

turns out it's not too far away

in bellbrook ohio

even found more pics

of the purple beauty

maybe one day soon

i can connect up with

amy bouchard

it's truly becoming a small

world thanks to that

other redhead

you know the guy

famous for starting this

facebook thing

no words...

2011-10-09T22:55:00.001-04:00

it isn't often

that i can't

find words...

...words of comfort

words of inspiration

words of wisdom

even words of criticism

yet tonight

i am just plain numb

unable to think

unable to read

unable to process

just a few short months ago

i posted on this very blog

one lite candle

in memory of one

sweet precious girl

carly elizabeth george

who was taken from this earth

much too soon

tonight

we have two candles

one for carly

and one for her brother brad

who lost his life

in a house fire last evening

the very house he and carly

shared memories

i do not know how this

momma and papa

joany and paul

can possibly survive

such a tragedy

two children

and all their wordly memories

gone in such

a short amount of time

just last month their daughter

ashleigh

a beautiful young woman

left for basic training

with the united states navy

how will she ever

regain her strength

i have no answers

only questions

and a very strong need

to reach out to joany and paul

in whatever way we can

to help them simply put

one foot in front of the other

the sadness is unbearable

please pray

a perfect plan

2011-10-07T23:06:00.003-04:00

october is national

down syndrome

awareness month...

...they say that nearly

twenty three years ago

at the moment

of conception

a somewhat rare

anomaly occurred
yet it would be

several months

before i'd know
for i was

blessed with a

a perfect pregnancy

a quick and easy birth

then early
the next morning

august tenth of eighty nine

the doctor shared the news

forty seven chromosomes

one extra for my girl

the shock

it rocked me to the core

i didn't understand

why were we the ones

to travel down this road

today as we stand

in our store
surrounded by bolts
of fabric you've selected

in your favorite team's
colors of scarlet and gray

there is nothing

that could bring

more joy

than to clearly understand

the absolute perfection

of the grand

and miraculous plan

courage...

2011-10-03T15:06:00.002-04:00

inspired

by the moda designers

sharing...

...memories about their

experiences

with country fairs

i dug into a box

with the pics

from the summer

i arranged for

my girl scout troop to

attend the ohio state fair

as i looked at lots

of really good photos

i came across this one

i look scared

to death.

and i probably was

fear of heights

it's always been there

yet i couldn't look like

a coward

in front of the girls

i was suppose to be

the leader after all

today

when i look at these photos

courage is what i see

it's not visible

to the naked eye

it was hidden deep within me

like a silent strength

i was traveling

with a group

of young women

trusted to my care

and

a very medically fragile daughter

one who could have collapsed

in my arms

at any time

without a moments

notice

at the time

i was given

loads of courage

to move beyond my fears

today

looking back

i'm not sure how i did it

but i did

renews my faith

that

one won't be given

more than they

can handle

today i am most grateful for

the good times

the memories

and the courage

it can move mountains

what if...

2011-09-29T21:34:00.002-04:00

the gifts in life...

2011-09-27T00:21:00.001-04:00

as if

perfectly

on cue...

i turned the page

of the photo album

from twenty years ago today

and this picture is what

i found

a tiny tj

just three and one half years old

in my office

as the regional director

for united way

i had multiple offices

this is the one in geauga county

i'd often have a few tasks

needing completed

on a saturday

especially if i had taken

time off during the week

to tend to sarah's medical needs

i almost always

took tj with me

it gave him a break from being with

his medically fragile sister

and he was such a good boy

he would sit

very patiently

playing with the calculator

for hours if need be

he loved punching in numbers

and then seeing the machine

tape continue to spew

out until it reached

great lengths

then he would take

a red pen

and circle all the numbers

i had forgotten about those days

i suppose he was

destined to be a finance major

in college

all the way back then

which makes finding these photos

so perfectly timed...

...today

i handed over

the financial reins

of our company

american medical computing inc

to this boy

all grown up now

i'm confident he will do

an excellent job

take it to the next level

and beyond

and that my friends

will allow me to spend

more time creating

in the house of fabric

like those

chairs behind us

the minute the man

who had this job before me

moved out

i took them home for a weekend

and reupholstered them

with the fabric you see

gave the office

a twinkle of sunshine

tj i love you son

you've worked hard

you've earned the title

of cfo

dad and i are so proud

and honored to have you

in our family

it's fall y'all...

2011-09-25T22:48:00.000-04:00

it's probably

no make that

a definately...

...my favorite time of year

here in ohio

i love the colors

the cool chill

in the air

the food

pumpkin

anything and everything

warm tomato soup

my besty is from

panera

the changing leaves

and the dark nights

i get so much more done

in the evenings

when it's dark outside

the inside projects anyway

and that means

soon i should have a

spot to sew again

homecoming times three...

2011-09-18T18:32:00.000-04:00

it's different

this last

go around...

...maybe i no longer

sweat the small stuff

perhaps it's just

old age

or possibly

experience

i've got the pattern down

boy meets girl

girl takes charge

end of story

or perhaps i've learned

that kids really do

step up to the plate

treat them like young adults

and they will

show you just how

great they can be

such a pleasure to

watch this group grow up

this is our future

and a bright one it will be

how high can you go...

2011-09-12T23:44:00.001-04:00

the 9.11 memories...

2011-09-11T23:49:00.000-04:00

i continue

to read

the words...

matt, sarah and tj ~ september 2001

the flag belonged to a fire chief

their great grandfather hillick

...never forget

and i ask myself

how could we

that one day

changed the world

altered our thought process

forever

today as i watch

the replays

the new photos emerging

the memorial service

i am reminded

that life is so very precious

we are so vulnerable

yet stronger than

anyone of us can imagine

life goes on

what we do with it

is up to us

and collectively

as a team

we are stronger

for the experience

today

ten years later

i am so proud

of my country

for coming together

as one nation

mourning the great loss

yet celebrating

our courage

and our freedom

an ohio star

2011-09-10T00:01:00.000-04:00

the year was

nineteen

seventy six...

the 2011 jingle bell shop hop block from jellen's house of fabric

i had just secured

my drivers license

and looked for any

opportunity to take the car

for a spin

judie and bob rothermel

had just opened

schoolhouse quilt shoppe

so i signed up

for a class

an ohio star block

thirty five years later

how excited i am

to have been assigned

the ohio star

as the block customers

will receive when they stop

at our shop

during the northeast ohio

jingle bell shop hop

our first ever

i am thrilled to have been

invited to participate

hope you will join us

september 10-17, 2011

icing on the cake...

2011-09-04T16:05:00.000-04:00

found this

beauty

over at...

...cake wrecks today

and that means

it is

edible

all of it

posted by

a bunch of pants

no creations...

2011-08-31T22:20:00.000-04:00

this blog

is supposed to

be about...

...creations

my creations

but lately it has been

more about family

and friends

and

chocolate

so i decided i best

confess

and show you why

it's a mess

a somewhat organized mess

but still a mess

my little ole creative corner

is always the go to room

for all the stuff

gathered in other rooms

where repair is needed

even my design board

is down

so the work crew has access

the electrical panels

sigh

maybe tomorrow

we can start the clean up

at least i won't need buckets

for the task

for which i am grateful

oh heavenly bliss...

2011-08-29T23:23:00.000-04:00

how

i adore

thee...

...extra smooth & creamy

melt in your mouth

pure milky ecstasy

thank you hershey

for thinking

outside the bar

for selecting

purple foil

for selling

the experience

pure bliss

happy healing

2011-08-26T22:42:00.001-04:00

to the

one and only

blogzilly...

...the best blogging

man i know

if i were to send you

popsicles

these would be

the ones i'd make

they somehow

look like something

you'd create

grape for me

apple for you

for that's the flavor

i'm sure you'd

like to see

now that you're tonsil free

happy healing ken

now please

don't over do it

man creations

2011-08-24T08:17:00.002-04:00

it's the first

day of school

for the youngest

...which means the

obligatory photo

in front of the house

must be taken

the oldest just happened

to be walking by

so i pulled him in too

as i was uploading

the pictures

it hit me

with a little surprise

those are my guys standing there

two handsome men

the greatest of creations

time sure does fly by

yet the rewards just

get better each and every day

i am one lucky mom

so proud

and so very grateful

moving right along...

2011-08-18T19:27:00.000-04:00

today

was my very

last...

high school

freshman orientation

the last time

i will walk

the halls of the school

with my child

new schedule in hand

searching for rooms

trying to figure out

how to get

from one wing

to the other

in the allotted time frame

that task may be harder

for this last child

the halls are filled

during class change

with girls

i expect that might make

for some tardy slips

the smiles he gets

and gives

are worth it all

this kid enjoys

life and for that

i am grateful

and living

my last high school

experience

through his twinkling eyes

not if...rather when...

2011-08-15T18:50:00.000-04:00

i'd been warned

there were signs

still it was hard...

...bifocals

i heard him say

ouch

if that's not

a reminder

of getting older

actually

they are now called

varilux physio

that sounds better

soon i spotted

these

purple retro ray bans

just like louis lane

my honey

he needs them too

he picked black ones

just like clark kent

what a pair

we will be

one awesome year...

2011-08-10T23:40:00.000-04:00

today

celebrated...

...one full year of

jellen's

going from one

tiny little design studio

with a small stash of

purple fabric

one not as tiny little house

with a larger stash of

purple fabric

how nice of moda

to send us

amelia

on our

anniversary

a girl can brag...

2011-08-03T23:11:00.001-04:00

once or twice

in her

life right?...

...especially on the

celebration

of her twenty fifth

wedding anniversary

the one where

the hubby presented

his bride

that would be me

with a

matching set of

purple

and gold bling

so artfully designed

oh yes that

i believe is worthy of

a kiss or two or twenty five...

and a mention on this here blog

the one declaring my love

of all things

purple

and my love for you

dear john

for 25 years

our love has made

each day better

every moment is happier

any challenge is easier

and it's why i know

that there's nothing

we can't accomplish together

with every anniversary

we celebrate

our love grows stronger

and i feel more grateful

to be married

to someone as

wonderful as you

happy 25th anniversary

to the man i love

the answers...

2011-08-02T18:11:00.012-04:00

...were here all along

in the bottom

drawer of the big...

green file cabinet

tucked in the furthest

corner of the basement

the timing of the need

to replace the furnace

requiring moving

the file drawers

could not have been

more perfect

the last piece of closure

to the pain

of the past twenty five years

as i poured through the folders

i found things i had

never seen before

or at least don't remember

maybe that was intentional
my high school diploma
from the real glenoak

my graduate school transcripts

from ohio state

the awards i received

the leadership positions i held
job descriptions

my husband's college diplomas

a rebuttal to his first professional

performance review

my dissolution papers

our apartment lease

my acceptance letter to law school

the condo mortgage and deed

ahh the wedding file

which held lists and lists
not one including shari

and more lists

there were more revisions

than the white house

has for state dinners i'm sure

in the end

most were not invited

it was a small event

not what i envisioned

but it was easier that way

hindsight being double twenty

pause

this is where

the recovery begins

or rather ends

i would have taken back the night

not let it nearly destroy us

rather run

sprint for a destination

the rockies, the desert, the beach

but then again

maybe it was all it

was suppose to be

perhaps it played out

exactly as it was planned

preparing us for what

was to come

there are parts of the drama

that have not changed

not in twenty five plus years

yet the commitment

the love

have endured

bonded beyond measure

and that strength

was developing

from those first months

of that time so

many years ago

life is too short

to wallow in misery

i've read everything

in the file drawer

shredded the things

i'll never need again

never want to see again

i know the past year

or so has been

truly the happiest

of my life

in just a few hours

i am taking back the night

i am about to

marry the man

of my dreams

all over again

this time
there are no lists

no drama

no dress, no flowers, no dinner

just a man

and a woman

recommitting to love and to cherish

till death do us part

we call her julie...

2011-07-30T01:25:00.001-04:00

the students

will call her

the new...

...art teacher

so proud of you julie

on your newest accomplishment

elementary art teacher

wishing you much success

in your classroom

how lucky the little kiddos

will be come august

to see your bright

shinning face

and toolbox full of

creativity

family paybacks...

2011-07-27T22:27:00.000-04:00

i take full

responsibility

for the child...

i was diligently

entering new customer

data to the spreadsheet

for our store email club

i entered the name

thinking how cool

it must be

to have the last name

fabric

i even entered the email address

the zip

then i got to the birthday

8/5/1875

huh?

really?

then i looked a little

closer at the handwriting

tj my son

you should know better...

yo momma's got the camera

and the password

to this blog:)

time to share...

2011-07-26T01:21:00.000-04:00

for nearly

twenty years

i've collected...

...holiday ornaments

with a sewing theme

i've had a tiny tree

in my creative corner

for mostly my eyes only

haven't even put it up

the last few years

although i've added new

findings to the box

never in even my dreams

did i expect to one day

share this box

of holiday cuteness

yet tonight

my sarah and i

gleefully

arranged them on a tree

for all our friends to see

over at the

house of fabric

i had to dab a tear or two

as we stood back

admiring the room

for i recognize so clearly

the many hearts and hands

who made this all

possible

i am so very grateful

now wishing you a

very merry christmas

july style

the gift of love...

2011-07-25T14:01:00.001-04:00

there is nothing

greater

than the affection...

...of a child

their pure innocence

uninhibited censors

carefree boundaries

when you are a mother of a child

with greater challenges than most

that gesture can be delayed

some may never receive

an outward display
or if you're lucky like me
those tender moments
like a hand wrapping
around your arm
when you assist with a simple task
like threading the needle
last for a lifetime
just one of the many
extra special gifts
of parenting a beautiful girl
with down syndrome

in training...

2011-07-18T23:44:00.000-04:00

the boy

has to learn

somewhere...

...and what better place

than in

the fabric shop

thanks for all your help matt

i would not have been

ready without you

i owe you

one big cheesesteak

from penn station

an extra large fry

with vinegar

and one grape soda

the shirt...revisited...

2011-07-08T23:06:00.001-04:00

the last time

i wrote about

a purple check...

...shirt

it was being viewed

on the television

worn by someone

that we are not so fond of

yet i couldn't take me eyes off

the shirt

tonight

it's once again being viewed

on the television

worn by someone

this time

that i am very fond of

recognize that guy

in row six

wearing a purple plaid shirt

nice selection tj

hope you and julie are having fun

7.7.11

2011-07-07T17:35:00.000-04:00

July 07, 2011
Capricorn (12/22-1/19)
Sometimes you have to pick your battles. Right now your resources and energy could be running low -- and you won't be able to put out every fire that ignites. Your best strategy for this unpredictable day is to prioritize and be ready to compromise; you may have to swallow your pride to succeed at a goal, so be prepared for that. One of the smartest ways to manage difficult people is to take the high road. Let scheming folks find their fate without your involvement.

could not have said it better myself. thank you yahoo horoscopes:)

land of the free...

2011-07-03T01:09:00.001-04:00

home of the brave

so grateful

for the men...

...and women

and their families

who sacrifice so much

for our freedom

thank you

we appreciate your

committment and concern

for our independence

i feel so lucky

on this fourth of july

to be able to openly display

my appreciation

by combining two

mediums that bring

me such pleasure

fabric and paper

threads and stamps

hoping you too

have a creatively blessed day

flip fone friendly...

2011-07-01T00:26:00.001-04:00

i've gone

backwards

some would say...

...i traded in my smart phone

for a not so smart phone

i guess you could say

i went back to

a basic flip phone

it just works better for me

except i can never find it

in the bottom of my bag

lookie what arrived today

a phone pouch

made by the talented hands

of sandradembroidery

an etsy friend

it's just the perfect size

and colors

thanks sandy

i love it

hoarding no more

2011-06-27T12:17:00.000-04:00

it took me

a few

extra attempts...

...before i could go in

and really start dealing

with the task at hand

i found all sorts

of other unnecessary

tasks i would rather be doing

finally at six am

the morning the installers were coming

i could procrastinate no more

and so i dug in

cobwebs, mess and all

into the room

we had not touched in years

after several bags of clearly trash

a few boxes for the recycle bin

i discovered some treasures

amongst the junk

last night i went to

the office

who knew

shreading could be so therapeutic

i eliminated

about twenty five years of my life

in six short hours

and some of the painful memories

that went

along with it

simply by slicing papers and pictures

into tiny fragments

of fiber

today i awoke with a new energy

ready to tackle the next

set of drawers

in those file cabinets

signs of hoarding...

2011-06-24T08:14:00.001-04:00

seems a lot of us

have

at least one room...

...i do

the room that everything

you don't want to

deal with

don't know what to

do with

or you just know

someday

you will have another

use for it

and so

the junk collects

dust

and cobwebs

until

the heating & air conditioning installer

says

we will need access to this

room

yikes...

stinking machine claim denied

2011-06-23T00:22:00.001-04:00

this is long but it is worth reading over to educate yourself if you are an ebay purchaser: this protection does not include smells or breakage if the seller calls somewhere and they are told what you think is broken is really not broken...

Dear Joyce,

Thank you for contacting eBay in regard to item #: 110699526315.

After reviewing your unique case, I see that you recently purchased a Pfaff Sewing Machine from the Seller - buttercreamdreams10. As I understand it, you purchased this sewing machine under the impression that: “it was Used, but worked fine – good working condition/no issues,” however, when you received it, you discovered that it had a strong cigarette smoke odor – This fact was not disclosed in the Seller’s original listing. I also see that you raised the concern that the machine’s faceplate is broken and easily falls off. I understand that this transaction was important to you, and I’m sorry to hear that it is not going well! Reading over the communication, I see that the Seller has called around to local sewing machine repair shops in your area to inquire about cleaning and servicing and was quoted a price of $59.00, which they refunded you. The Seller has also stated that after speaking with a Pfaff Dealer, they were told that:“the part (face plate) is not broken nor needs to be replaced but becomes loose as the machine ages.” I realize that you work with young adults with disabilities as you mentioned: “this (the smell of cigarette smoke) can kill the young adults that I work with on the machines. The majority of them have very bad asthma, respiratory conditions etc. There is no greater trigger for them to go into respiratory failure than cigarette smoke,” and you feel that the Seller did not disclose this fact in their original listing, or willfully withheld this information from you. You feel that the best solution is not a partial refund, cleaning, or repair, but a return of the machine back for a full refund. I can only imagine the frustration that you are going through as we are dealing with a very expensive sewing machine, but I wanted to take the opportunity to explain what our options are, and what actions we are taking to get this claim resolved.

I have evaluated your case, and after doing so, I have determined that the sewing machine was accurately described by your Seller. I came to this decision because as a policy, eBay Buyer Protection does not cover “Smells.” As a guideline to what is, and what is not covered, I have included some points to help you understand why this claim was decided in this particular manner:

-If the smell is part of the item being sold (ex: you purchase a rose-scented candle and you receive a peppermint-scented one), then it is covered under eBay Buyer Protection.

-If the description in the Seller’s listing states, “comes from a pet free, smoke free home” or the item is listed as “New” and you raise the concern that it smells like smoke, then this would be covered under eBay Buyer Protection.

-If the smell is evidence of something in the listing that makes it different from the listing. (ex: if a product is listed as “free of chemicals”, but smells like formaldehyde or insecticide when you it), then this would be covered under Buyer Protection.

In your specific case I have reviewed the Seller’s listing, and it does not make any mention of the sewing machine coming from a “smoke-free home,” nor did it mention anything about a smell of cigarette smoke. In addition to this, I see that the Seller was very cooperative in addressing all of your concern with regard to the broken face plate. I see that the Seller called places in your local area in an attempt to have the machine serviced and cleaned in order to resolve the smoke smell – even issued a partial refund of $59.00. Since this was not satisfactory for you, and because your primary concern was with the way the sewing machine smelled, I am not able to approve your claim at this time.

To avoid this frustrating situation in the future, please remember that bidding is meant to be fun, but remember that each bid you place enters you into a binding contract. If you win a listing, you’re obligated to purchase the item. I would also encourage you to contact the seller via the “Ask a question” link if you have any questions about an item before bidding on or buying it.

In conclusion, we are not able to approve your claim because I have determined that the Seller accurately advertised the condition of this sewing machine.

Joyce, we appreciate your membership since Feb 14, 2002. I see that you have purchased over $xxx.00 this year on our site and we really appreciate you as a Buyer. I see that your previous Sellers really appreciate your quick payments, and smooth transactions. This is the kind of behavior we really want to encourage our Sellers to have, so thank you for being such a great member! I hope that you do not let this one bad experience ruin a great buying history you’ve had with us so far. Please let me know if you have any more concerns.

Sincerely,

Wayne R.

eBay Customer Support

an affair to remember...

2011-06-22T21:56:00.001-04:00

today i met

michael miller

and fell head...

...over heels

in love

the heart pounding

sweaty palms

primal infatuation

kind of love

in reality

i didn't meet michael

as in michael steiner

or miller

as in kathy miller

but i didn't need to

the fabric spoke for them

i love the clean, simple lines

the color stories concept

and the feel of the fabric

the rep

that would be kurt

wasn't bad either

handsome, nice and proudly

showcasing his sarah and matthew

hey those names sound familiar

even more alike

he lives in grand rapids, mi

and so did i

michael miller fabrics

will be arriving in our house of fabric

but not for a while

sigh...

the waiting is the hardest part

mia kareen is home...

2011-06-21T04:34:00.003-04:00

this precious angelic

adorable little girl

stole my heart...

tucked away in an orphange

far away in the ukraine

simply because

she has down syndrome

mia and i share a birthdate

january 15

last year on our special day

i wrote a little about her

knowing she had just found her

forever family

was a great blessing to me

while sarah and i were away

at quilt market in salt lake city

we were able to

meet bree

mia's new sister

her new mom kecia and dad chris

were just about ready to leave

to bring her home

they have been gone

over a month

and just this week

mia is finally home

with her new loving family

another amazing miracle

made possible by reece's rainbow

smoky pfaff...

2011-06-17T23:48:00.000-04:00

on a silver platter

not exactly what i

was expecting...

guess that is what i get

for reading my daily

horoscopes

i bid on another

pfaff 1475

and won

or so i thought

it arrived today

first observation by my friendly ups man

the box is not the greatest

definitely not packed

like the others i've received

still i grabbed the scissors

delicately sliced the tape open

and was immediately

overcome with the disgusting

odor of rank, stale cigarette smoke

damn

i said over and over with each

item i removed

until

i was nearly sick to my stomach

then once i cut off the bubble wrap

securing the machine

this piece fell

onto the counter

i picked it up

upon closer inspection

the component that holds it in place

is clearly broken off

in disgust i put it all back into the box

and put it out on the back porch

where it sat

the rest of the afternoon

and each person who went by

commented on the smell

i went upstairs to my office

to gather the print out

of the ebay listing

no mention of smoke or

broken parts

i sent a message to the seller

she responded by calling

our local pfaff dealer

they told her it is normal for that

part to come off

happens with age

if they can't fix it

they will glue it

really???

hmm...

now i am suspicious

of all my other machines

that i have paid to have

repaired there

is glue holding them together

and that got me thinking

is there a greater message here

what am i suppose to learn

then it dawned on me

just as my horoscope read yesterday

i will be handed

a golden opportunity

on a silver platter

this old dog

just needs to learn a few new tricks

break old habits

now i get it

i think i will go exploring

for a new bernina

speaking of old dogs...

2011-06-16T19:24:00.001-04:00

don't ya just love it when your horoscope reads exactly what you want it to...

June 16, 2011

Capricorn (12/22-1/19)
Teaching an old dog new tricks isn't hard when the dog wants to improve itself! You can sense something new starting in your life, so why not go with this feeling and make some personal changes? In order to take advantage of an upcoming transition, you'll have to let go of a few old habits. But one glimpse at your possible future will show you that all the effort will be worthwhile. Today you will be handed a golden opportunity on a silver platter.

It's a secret. I can tell you it is golden. Our friends are going to love it. Stitching friends that is:)

old dogs learn new tricks...

2011-06-13T22:29:00.000-04:00

i have been

quilting

for many years...

decades in fact

yet i have never

not one single time

pieced anything

using batiks

there i said it

hard to believe i know

not sure why exactly

as i love looking at them

finally

i decided the time was now

it helped that i fell in love

head over heels in love with

mango margarita

a spring 2011

hoffman bali pop release

i started out small

important for an old dog

learning a new trick

popsicle sticks

by atkinson designs was perfect

when i was finished

i had some leftover strips...

another first for me

an intentionally pieced backing

love how it came out

off it went to be quilted on friday

i can't wait to see

what diane does with it

with the last child...

2011-06-07T07:57:00.001-04:00

there is

a greater sense

of finality...

...this will be my last

junior high promotion ceremony

the last time of selecting

an outfit that fits

and works in a hot gym

the final speech from a

junior high principal

it's the day the 8th graders

officially become high schoolers

a moment of passage

from one level to another

a time for them to reflect

and prepare for

the next four important years

it also has a sense

of finality for me it seems

my baby

my last child

is growing up

way too fast at times

yet right on schedule

i'm so proud of you matt

you are finding yourself

with each and every day

and your place in this

life we live

i can't wait to see what

you do with your high school years

i know it will be a journey

one i am happy to be a part of

congratulations son

you're now officially a

brush arc

our nation's heroes...

2011-06-05T12:35:00.000-04:00

i so take

my life

for granted...

...often forgetting

the extreme sacrifices

men and women

and their spouses and families

are willing to make

for my freedom

today

dave leaves on a jet plane

not for vacation

that's for sure

rather for a dangerous mission

as described by his

commanding officer

for our country

for our freedom

i feel so privileged to have

met dave and his bride kim

on our recent trip to utah

kim is our beloved angel friend

kristen's sister

one of polly's amazing daughters

please help me pray

for dave's safety

and that of his unit

also for the families

waiting with concern at home

for his safe return

questions with no answers...

2011-06-02T23:54:00.000-04:00

there are times in life

when one must

rely solely on faith...

erin gaydos carlisle

2/18/1986 ~ 5/30/2011

...for there are no answers

no explanations

no foreseeable reasons

that such a beautiful

young woman

having just celebrated

her first year of marriage

her twenty fifth birthday

working in a field

of helping others

would be taken from her loving

husband, parents and family

so soon

erin's mother and i worked together

when my precious sarah was born

marianne was such a support

helping to link me to services

in the community

offering her ears and shoulders

as i needed them

i truly cannot imagine

the pain she must now be feeling

such a tragic accident

unfathomable to the human heart

i know their strong faith

will guide them through these

darkest of days

my prayers are with you

gaydos and carlisle families

the fallin' arches...

2011-06-01T07:30:00.000-04:00

i've always been

a flip flop

kinda gal...

...whether they're

in style or out of style

i have collected

quite the pile over the years

in as many colors

as i can find

in a big ole size ten

i used to wear them

everywhere

until late last summer

when my arches

started to fall

by then i just pulled out

the winter shoes

we've had just enough

spring now for me to know

it's time

time to head to a store

solely

for finding a pair

of sandals

with dare i say it

arch support

yikes

the slide on the other side of fifty

is mighty quick

so how do you like my new

wolky kukanas

purple no less

i'm pretty excited

better than i expected

and my feet seem

painfreely happy

like grandfather, like grandson...

2011-05-30T09:55:00.000-04:00

it seems to have

skipped

a generation...

that would be me

late last night

i left my father's house

where newly planted

perfect flower beds existed

this morning i awoke

to find my front yard

nearly complete

my son actively engaged

in leading the process

thanks tj

i truly appreciate your

hard work

words matter...

2011-05-22T19:29:00.000-04:00

spread a little kindness...

2011-05-15T05:45:00.002-04:00

my dream porch...

2011-05-13T22:08:00.000-04:00

supposing i had

a charming cottage

with a big...

...front porch

i would want

one of these

a purple rocking chair

to watch butterflies

sip lemonade

and listen to my favorite music

while reading a good book

found at aunt elsie's trinkets

within gardner village

west jordan utah

a must visit if you're in the area

riverton, utah

2011-05-12T12:49:00.000-04:00

for ten years now

i have been receiving

boxes from this address...

it is so thrilling to finally

see where they come from

this beautiful building

is bursting with creativity

and now i can understand why

nestled in the valley

between all these gorgeous

snow covered mountains...

we did not go inside today

i know shelli is in australia

so no chance

of meeting her this trip

sarah and i are having so much fun

i wouldn't be surprised

if we don't return one july

for a stampin' up! convention

you've gotta have friends...

2011-05-11T12:01:00.000-04:00

the feelings oh so strong

you've gotta have friends...

...to make that day last long...

how blessed and lucky are we

to look up

and see polly kirton

waiting for us

at the airport in salt lake city

we were shocked

yet so thrilled

touched beyond words

truthfully

two moms

two girls

two pillowcases

lives changed

friends forever

second sunday in may

2011-05-08T05:54:00.001-04:00

cracked glass...

2011-05-06T22:23:00.001-04:00

for sometime

i've been following

the life of

cayman

i love that little girl

and her momma kristen

and her papa mike

two days ago cayman

was showing signs

of shunt failure

it's not the first time

in-fact one year ago today

her heart stopped

went to the off position

she became lifeless

turned blue

mike and kristen

know what it is like

to have a child

in your arms

one second from death

a few months ago she again

presented the same

so her parents took her

to the emergency room

only this time

she became more alert

even playful

the doctor wrote in his notes

so insurance

denied the entire er visit

so now those bills become private pay

adding to their mountain of debt

three days ago

same thing happened

but this time

wiser to the ways of insurance

they got in the car and drove

to ann arbor's childrens medical center

once again cayman became playful

afraid to enter the er for fear

of denied claims again

they opted to wait it out in a hotel

what a dilemna

sounds crazy doesn't it

some reading their story

might think they're

thought process is off

but not us

no not john and i

we have lived this

same dilemna for years

played the same wait and see games

late last night i read on facebook

that after getting back home

to their small town in ohio

cayman in fact did

present with shunt failure

so mike called 911

then life flight arrived

so now insurance

will get to pick up that tab

as john and i layed in bed this morning

i told him about cayman's situation

we lamented about our

many similiar experiences

and how much we feel

for mike and kristen

and then i had to get coy

i remarked that i felt like

finally

just finally

we have a handle

on the finacial havoc

a medically fragile child

creates

the end of our

extreme medical debt is in near sight

i boasted, i bragged

and then i rolled over

started thinking

about what we will do

with more money

and that's about the time

matt called up

the back of the

van window had just shattered

as i stared at the pile

of cracked glass

it snapped me back to reality
a message well sent
and perfectly timed

i never must forget

the lessons

the sarah's and the cayman's

of the world

are here to teach

it's not about money and possessions

or bigger houses

it's not about new cars

or fancy vacations

it's about life

precious, precious life
and helping one another

happy birthday...

2011-05-05T23:27:00.000-04:00

to one of the

greatest

girls i know...

ok so i stole the cake

directly from cake wrecks

at least it is from the best

cake blog out there

and the message is just perfect

i truly would have baked

but i was up until

the wee hours this morning

working on something else

my sincerest wishes for

a great day julie

the gal who has also

stolen something...

my son's heart

and we could not be happier

happy birthday julie

we love you!!!

in the springtimes track...

2011-05-02T23:58:00.000-04:00

i did not

grow

tired of winter...

i was glad of the snow and the cold

i liked the weather when flake and feather

we're flying o'er field and wold

but now i am glad of the sunshine

that is calling the robins back

of the beautiful flowers

the long bright hours

and the bloom in the springtime track

by: margaret sangster

peeps...

2011-04-24T03:26:00.000-04:00

can you guess

what color

peeps i received...

interesting though

each box is a different

shade of purple

light, medium and dark

sounds like

i'm at the shop

picking fabric

for a quilt

happy easter peepsters

miss you carly...

2011-04-23T12:05:00.002-04:00

one year ago today ...

the world lost a beautiful girl

carly elizabeth george

1-2-2002 ~ 4-23-2010

she had a passion for purple

an infectious smile

a perfect set of 47 chromosomes

and an amazing family who

misses her so very much

our thoughts and prayers

are with you all

joany, paul and family

self portrait...

2011-04-20T22:50:00.000-04:00

how is it i flew

through 50

51 not so much...

my shoulder has been in pain for the past few months. i felt it rip one day this winter when i was lifting sarah's wheelchair out of the car. i complained. alot. i was taking more over the counter pain relievers than one probably should. yet, i did nothing else. until last night. as luck would have it, i fell on a sidewalk monday night, going into joann's of all places, and landed directly on the same shoulder. then the pain started shooting up into my neck. i still wanted to pretend nothing was wrong. until tj asked me what i would do if i was alone with sarah and she needed my help. ouch...that stung worse than the shoulder pain. only because he was right. son's you gotta love how they tell it like it is. so off i went to urgent care. the good news is nothing is broken. the not so good news is he suspects soft tissue damage. in the meantime, i get to wear this stylish sling for a few days. the crazy thing...after wearing this for just one day...my shoulder feels better already.

a can of joann worms...

2011-04-18T22:15:00.001-04:00

i've mentioned

a time or two before

that i love paisley

and when they are

as perfect as these

three and one half yards is my take

i like to make tunics

mostly for myself

this one has been

hanging in my stash for a while

april cornell does paisley really well

i found it in the clearance aisle

well not exactly an aisle

rather a click

on the fat quarter shop

actually

it was one of my first purchases
on kimberly jolly's site

i found this beauty today

love the colors

and the largeness of the paisley

and i had a coupon

for 50% off

which was a good thing

because the retail price was $9.99

now the shop i was at

is not close

i must drive a good 25 minutes

on a freeway

but i had another reason to be

in the area

so i stopped in

the beauty of joann's

it is open until 9 every evening

oh did i just hear a gasp

a collective gasp perhaps

why

why do i so often hear that

yes i do frequent joann's

almost every monday night in fact

my sarah has music therapy

just around the corner

i really am having a hard

time understanding the

extreme reactions

out there

don't believe me

my friend vickie

has a post

going right now

it has 192 comments

and a great give-a-way

i ask

can't we just be happy

afterall

there is room for all of us

at the creative table

if we play nicely

let's just encourage one another

and celebrate beautiful fabric

red, brown, blue and green...

2011-04-17T21:21:00.000-04:00

i don't really

know

how to start ...

this post

but here goes

last week i left

jellen's house of fabric

for the very first time

to attend a meeting

at ohio state university

i wrote about it at great length

on the store blog

i wanted to carry a bag

not my usual black leather

rather a hand crafted creative one

as a show and tell of sorts

i chose one that i had

ordered off an etsy website

by sandradembroidery

she left me a sweet message

on a post i wrote

and so i wanted her to see

the one i carried

now why is this picture

in front of a fire truck

well at the close of the meeting

the alarms went off

likely the result of construction

in the basement

as the men got off the truck

i thanked them for all they do

the man walking out beside me

was impressed he said

he never heard someone

thank firefighters before

well i said

i have a thing for the men in blue

so he told me to turn around

and snapped my picture

so now i have a photo

of that great bag

stitched with chrysalis

for sandy to see

and another memory

of me with a big red

purpley goodness...

2011-04-16T22:18:00.000-04:00

first comes

cabbage

then comes...

cupcakes...

seriously

how stickin' cute are these

little purple cupcakes

i am so curious

how does she do this?

friday night sew-in...

2011-04-15T08:45:00.000-04:00

this blog world

is full of

clever people...

such a great idea is this

a friday night

sew-in

we each get to stay

in our own sewing studios

in our own warm cozy homes

without filling the gas tank

which currently depletes

the checking account

we can slip into our pj's

yet together

we are a stitchin'

all around the world

click here to sign in

and follow along

it starts today

is it comfort food...

2011-04-13T20:29:00.005-04:00

a bedtime snack

pure addiction...

coffee ice cream with

chocolate sprinkles

it eases my aching shoulder

fills my hungry tummy

sooths my throbbing head

never
have i been so tired

never
has my body ached

quite like this

never
have my eyes been so blurred
yet never have i been
so happy

wearing cabbage...

2011-04-12T00:32:00.000-04:00

there are findings

that i believe

one must share...

...such as this cabbage

i've never understood

why it is referred to as red cabbage

when it is actually purple

yet that is not why

i bring this to you

no not a color debate

rather

a fashion discussion

would you prefer

cabbage

around your neck

or pizza

an ice cream sandwich perhaps

maybe an avocado

a sushi ring

might be the thing

i kid you not

i just discovered some amazingly clever

food

to wear

check this out

but not if you're hungry

your madness counts...

2011-04-11T00:01:00.000-04:00

have you heard

about the madness

as in march...

kate and me 8.14.10

...madness

not the basketball kind

the fabric kind

it seems we have been voting forever

it's the finals

finally

and guess what

my friend kate spain

is in the final round

not surprising of course

but we all know how elections go

if you don't vote

the wrong guy could win

now i don't have anything against

this other designer

but come on

central park

is the most amazing collection

ever

well the next one

terrain

is pretty spectacular too

but that will be in next year's

march madness

please click this link and

vote now

pretty please