Steals, deals and left behinds

Here is my recap of yesterdays antics. First of all, spending the day with my good friends Tina and Debbie was the highlight of the whole day. We laughed so hard at times, commisserated over work life and the stupid things people do. Over all, it was a fabulous day.

Here are the scores I made at the antique mall and the things I left behind.
I was determined to be the person who did not spend the most money because I am usually the one who finds a great piece of furniture or something on the pricey side and have to have it. Granted it has a purpose when I bring it home to fulfill but still I spend way more than the rest. Not yesterday. I spent the least. I looked, really, but the only things that had to come home with me were these 3 pieces of Fiesta ware.

I am trying to enlarge my small oval platter collection to be used for Mexican night or soup and sandwich lunches. I have 4 and am adding slowly to them. So, I first found a single orange platter in one booth for $17. and held onto it. I kept thinking that I already had an orange one, which I do, so I kept looking. I came across another booth that had loads of Fiesta ware and found the red and yellow platters for only $9.00 each. So it didn't take me long to figure out that I could have 2 platters for $1.00 more than the orange one. So back it went. The biggest score though was the little cinnabar colored cup for, drumroll please, $1.00. So my grand total for the 3 pieces was $20.28

These are some other great deals that I saw that got left behind. A china set that is very close to my daughter's china pattern. This set is very elegant and was definetely priced right. I hope someone finds it that can really appreciate it and would not be afraid to use it.

That's right, 177 pieces for $165.00. What an elegant set, it would be a great set to base a mix and match chabby chic look on. I wish I had the space for it.

The next great deal that I passed up were these oak end tables. They were in excellent shape and they were only $45.00 a piece. You couldn't buy the wood and make them for that. I guess the only reason they were so inexpensive was that oak is not a popular wood right now in home decor but it is in my house. What do you think?

I really hated leaving those babies behind but DH said we didn't need them. (He knows the quality of oak as he made all the kitchen cabinets out of oak when we remodeled the kitchen. So I listened to him.)

Another great deal, I didn't take a picture of it, sorry, was a walnut dresser. It had 4 drawers, opened and closed freely, beautiful condition. $95. What I steal. I wanted it too.
It's alright though. I have more than enough and I don't need to be greedy.

Over all our day was wonderful. Breaking bread together, shopping, more breaking bread, and more shopping. Lots of talking, sharing, laughing, and promising to keep up this yearly tradition for many years to come. It was a great day.

Thanks, Tina, Thanks, Debbie for a glorious day. You two make my heart sing. Thanks for the memories. The only thing I regret was not getting a picture of you with your finds.

Have a great day and be kind to someone who needs a helping hand and be grateful for the good friends you have in your life.

Road trip

Martin Luther King Day. This is our day to go to the antique mall in Ravena Ohio. My friends from work and I have been going on a road trip for the last 3-4 years to this great antique mall for MLK day. It was one day that the clinic was closed that all of us could go together, usually one person had to stay to man the phones. So we are off. We meet, go in one car, stop for breakfast, usually Bob Evans, and then drive to Ravena, it is about 1hr 15 mins, from our breakfast stop. We have a great day visiting, searching for a great find and deal. We usually stop at Joann Fabrics on the way home. It is a fun day.

I was getting ready and looked out the windw to see a gorgeous sunrise, the photo does not do the colors justice but here it is. We should have a beautiful day for our road trip. Have a great one and remember to do something kind for someone and be grateful for something.
I am grateful for this day with friends.

Snow

It is beginning to look like winter outside, just in time for a trip to Harrisburg, a 3 1/2 hour drive. My sister-in-law and family are moving this weekend. Too bad it couldn't have been last weekend when it was 60 degrees and sunny. We have what we have and today and tomorrow are the days, we shall roll with the punches. This is what it looks like right now.

Out the front door.

Yesterday was our quilt work day. I managed to get 2 small zippered bags done, and my flip flop blocks for the raffle quilt. I also made another set of pillow cases once I got back home. The soup went over well, still had enough left over to bring back some for DH.

Speaking of DH, when he came home from school he had 2 basketball jerseys in his hands with a look that said I need you to do something for me. It seems that they have a new boy in school who plays basket ball who is 6' 5" and 325 lbs. and they need a jersey that will fit him so he is able to play basket ball tonight. So out of 2 shirts I made one that fit him. I did it up right then and he ran it up to the school (as BB practice was still going on). The young man tried it on and it fit. Yeah, because I had no idea how to make it any bigger. So he brought me back a pair of their shorts to put a side slit in them so that he could move less restricted. Hopefully, he will be able to wear these for the entire season. I have to do the home jersey today. At least I know what needs to be done and the best way to do it now. It will be easier. I will have to go to a game so I can meet this kid. I think I will know him without introduction. LOL.

Well, I will be off to Harrisburg this afternoon so I need to get to the studio and get some work done. Have a great day and remember to be grateful for something, (I am grateful that
s-i-l and family will be closer to us after this move) and do some kind deed for someone, (mine was the jersey yesterday.) Be safe and warm.

Quilting group get together

Today is our quilting group's work day. We get together, twice a month to work on our own projects, or to work some on the group raffle quilt, eat lunch and fellowship. It is a great time to exchange ideas and we have show and tell time to share our latest projects that we have completed or near completion. I have 2 baby quilts to share. I guess I can take just one because they are both identical. I plan on taking my items needed to make the blocks for the raffle quilt, then I can leave them with the rest. Many of the group will be going on a quilter's retreat next weekend so I am sure that there will be lots of talk about that and excitement. I need to get some lunch ready to take. I made a big pot of ham and cabbage soup yesterday, I think I will put it in my crock pot and take it to share for lunch. Yum and done.

I made this little zippered tote last night while talking on the phone with my sister in law. Yes that is how easy it is and how quick it is to put together. I did have it all cut out before she called, I don't think I could have done the cutting while talking to her.
Here it is.

My friend, Tina, gave me the pattern for this and it is available in 3 sizes. This is the small size. I made it for my quilt retreat secret sister. Now to get other small items together that she can put in it.

Well, that is it for today. Remember to do a kind deed for someone today (I ironed up a bunch of shirts for DH yesterday), and express gratitude for something or someone in your life.
Have a great and blessed day.

Organizing Challenge

I started a Clutter Free Challenge this week. It is 3 weeks long and designed to teach you how to get clutter free and organized. I am impressed so far with the challenge because the first 2 days we have dealt with the issues that keep us immobilized from dealing with clutter. If you want to find out more about this challenge I recommend that you check it out at http://www.glynniswhitwer.com The challenge started Jan. 9th so go back and read all the posts for this challenge. You can catch up by reading them all or just work one day at a time and do them as you are able to. I am really excited about the challenge like I said, it starts out by examining the issues of the mind and heart and not the physical clutter in our spaces. I will let you know how this progresses.

Another thing that I would like to start doing here, is to discuss how I go about designing a plan for quilting a customer's or my own quilt. So I don't have anything yet to share on that but I will.

I have found some really great blogs recently that I am enjoying. I found them through guest posts on the ezine, RooMag.com. It is a great ezine to encourage and uplift women. The first is the one I mentioned earlier, with the clutter free challenge. Another great site is http://www.beautyandbedlam.com. Jennifer does a great series on being a fashionista on a budget. I love the tips that she shares. The last one that I love is http://www.fieldstonehilldesign.com. I especially love Darlene's posts on defining and refining your decorating style. She offers design services that I hope to be able to use in the near future. I love her design boards that she puts together. I think that I can start to do something like that to help me get my rooms pulled together.

I hope that you check some of these out and enjoy them as much as I have. I also hope that you have a great day. Remember to do something kind for someone today (mine for yesterday was to hold the doors open at the medical clinic for a woman trying to get a man in a wheelchair inside). Also remember to be thankful for something today. (mine is for great friends who are there for you no matter what.)

Unraveling? or Breaking?

Today is Prime Timers group and errand day. I also have a Drs. appointment this afternoon, so it is a full day, DS also moves into his apartment today if all the paper work is finished. I had a fitfull sleep last night so this morning I am dragging. I hope that I get the energy to make it through the day without too much struggle.

There won't be too much work on quilting projects today I don't think, unless I can do some later afternoon or evening. I have a lot of things that are started that I need to make an extra effort to get completed. Do you find that it is more fun to start a new project instead of finishing up ones that are nearly done? Many times I just need to start on a fresh idea before I lose the passion for it and then I lose the passion for the other project that is near completion. I will take time to finish up my Tabacco Bay wallhanging that I started in October. I have the machine quilting to do but my thread is a bit finicky and breaks frequently so it was not a fun process. Here is a photo of it in case you forgot what it was.

The machine quilting is usually the part I love the most but not when I have trouble with the thread breaking constantly. I have been having the same problem on the baby quilt that I am working on too, different thread this time so perhaps it is not the thread. It is frustrating when you have good intentions and you keep having things happen that prevent you from completing what ever it is. But that is life, we can either get angry, give up on it, figure out another way to get it done. The most important thing to remember is that you don't have to do it by yourself. When life gets too messy, there is One who wants to be included in the mix of helping to straighten it all out. Jesus is always by your side and available to help no matter what. He is just waiting for an invitation to get His hands dirty for you. He doesn't insist on you letting Him help you but He is always there whenever you need Him. I think I am preaching to the choir this morning. I need Him. Come help me out, Lord. There is too much for me to cope with.

Well, I hope you have a good day and remember to be thankful for something, and do a kind deed for someone today.

Stitch and bitch group

During the winter months my good friend Tina hosts a group of wantabe quilters. She plans out projects that will help them build basic skills and helps them trouble shoot machine problems and over all it is a fun afternoon to get together outside of the office and decompress. The group usually changes from year to year in participants but she always finds great women who are eager to learn and who are a lot of fun to fellowship with and get to know better.

Saturday our project was to make pillowcases. Since many of the women are newbies to using rotary cutters it took some time getting accustomed to using them safely and accurately. I must say that everyone got at least one done and most people got a pair done. Here are some photos of our afternoon.

Tina has her studio set up nicely for small groups. This is her area designated for the machines. I am standing beside her cutting area to take this photo and her pesonal machine and an ironing station is behind me, right beside me to my left is another station for 2 machines. So all together she could have 8 people in but 6 is probably a little more comfortable for moving around and all. Can you see her fabric storage closet at the end of the room. She doesn't have her doors/design wall on them yet but look at all that fabric. (I know she has more in other places too.) Tina is very organized.

Here is a photo of one of the ladies, Sally, working on her pillowcase.

She made a beautiful pair of floral pillowcases. She had some sewing experience and went to town on her's. She did learn a new technique, as did all of us, and that was how to make a french seam.

And here is Tina helping Betsy with a machine problem. She is very good at teaching others how to use their machines and to trouble shoot problems.

I managed to get my 2 pillowcases done while still helping out and when I got home I whipped up my other 2 pillowcases that I had cut out. I plan on making Steeler's pillow cases for my son for his apartment. He starts college today and will move into his apartment tomorrow. I also have some beautiful floral fabric that I think I will use for pillow cases for myself. It is time to upgrade some of those older stained or otherwise dingy pillow cases.

Well, that is it for today. I hope that you have a good day and remember to do something nice for someone else, I already have (I lent my Jeep to DS to drive to class today so he doesn't have to drive his big old gas guzzler truck). Remember also to be grateful for something today that you have taken for granted for too long. Have a great day.