Lisa's Sew Fun

Run and Not Grow Weary...

2011-06-03T08:03:00.000-07:00

There's Ethan, in the middle. They thought that his "glow in the dark" shoes were funny. Actually, they are silver Nike's, not really glow in the dark, but when I looked at the picture I immediately saw God's blessing on Ethan and our lives. When we moved to Zavalla to help Ethan complete high school, we never even dreamed that he would do so well in sports, let alone in cross country running. But God did. I have always told Ethan that God has a plan for his life, as for all of our lives, and to me, this picture holds a spiritual message. God has used Ethan's physical stature to help his emotional and mental one. He has enjoyed sports and making new friends. This picture is him with his Fellow Christian Athlete's. The kids here have made Ethan feel welcome and included in their activities. I have always believed that God would honor our faith in Him, but I never hoped that we would see the benefits so soon! I thank God daily that he has blessed us with Ethan, and his sister, Erin. They make our lives more complete and joyful!

Good Clean Fun

2011-02-02T13:00:00.000-08:00

I think I have posted about this laundry soap recipe before, but I was making a new batch and decided to put it out here in blog land one more time. Thanks to nurse and friend extraordinaire, Wendy Linton, who first gave me this recipe. I have been using it for 2 years and still love it. So here goes.

You will need:

1 cup of borax

1 cup of washing soda

1/2 cup of grated Ivory soap

1/2 cup of grated Zote soap (found on the laundry aisle in store)

Stir all together and then process in blender or food processor just to get a finer powder and better combined mixture. Use 2 T per load and that's it! I did the calculations, and it only costs 6 cents per load. Here are a few pictures for show and tell:

Here's how all the packages look, except for ivory soap, but I think you know what that looks like :)
Grating up the Zote soap:

Mix up in bowl and then process a little at a time to get a good, fine powder mixture.

Find some pretty jars for storage and start doing laundry!

Here is the white hoodie that was involved in the bike accident that I mentioned in a previous post:

I did use a spot remover that you spray on before putting it in the laundry, but it came out snowy white with my homemade detergent. I was very impressed that all the mud was removed. I don't have an after picture right now, but you can take my word for it. It is so white and clean, and never going to go on a bike ride again!!!!!!

MS 150?

2011-02-02T12:31:00.000-08:00

NOT!

Maybe the LS 6! No, I am not about to attempt the MS 150, but I am determined to get in better physical shape and start riding my new bike that I got for Christmas. Just so happens that to my mom's and back is 6 miles, so that is where I will start.

Here I am heading off on the first trip!

As I was riding down the road I decided to try to take a picture so my readers could experience my trip sort of in 'first person'. So, I took the camera out of my handy dandy basket and tried to take a couple of shots of the road I was on.

And then, you know the rules of riding. If you look that way, you will go that way! I ran right into that muddy rut and fell all the way in that mud hole! (It was really deep) and it was not fun! I was knee deep in muddy water and socks deep in mud! I picked myself and my bike up out of the mud and started accessing the damage. I had only traveled about 1 mile and I didn't want to give up so soon, so I decided to ride the rest of the way.

Here is the muddy bike. Understand that this picture does not give good credit to how bad the damage was.

My left leg went in the deepest and so my shoe and sock were completely covered in mud. I had mud splashed all over me and also splashed on my brand new white hoodie! More about that later.

As I shook off the excess water, I noticed that a truck was approaching. The only vehicle on the road at the time and he stopped to check on me. He first asked me if I had intended to go in the mud. (I don't think he actually saw the accident thank goodness). I explained to him, that I really didn't want to go in there but hadn't been on a bike in a while. He asked me where I went to school..lol. What?? I told him my age.. and he didn't believe me. .said he thought I was in High School. Yea, right!!!! Anyway, I asked how much it was gonna cost to keep him quiet about the accident and he said, "$1,000". I then decided that if he talked and I found out about it I would just say that he ran me off the road! I think we parted with an agreement between us!

So, I finished the first leg of the ride and ended up at my mom's house. I couldn't go in because I was too muddy, but she did bring me a glass of water to have on the porch. When I knocked and she opened the door, I think I scared her. I had mud on my face and didn't realize it. I told her I had a wreck and she thought car wreck! Anyway, she almost didn't let me ride back home but I assured her that I was just fine and besides, I was too muddy to ride in her clean car! I made the ride back home with no more incidents or accidents. There was mud on my face, a big disgrace, but you will continue seeing me ride my bike all over the place!!!

All in the Family

2011-01-27T13:16:00.001-08:00

All but me that is. Of course, I am the one taking the picture. This was Christmas 2010 at Nanny's and that is Schotzie in Erin's lap. Her sidekick that travels with her everywhere. We had a great time celebrating Christmas and eating all the fun foods we allow ourselves on this special day. I had fun going all around and taking pictures. I think the youngest person there this year was 13, so not as much fun as when litte kids are present, but we had a good day and finished off with the girls going out to a movie. It was not so good...Hope we pick a better one next time!

Meet the New Addition to Our Famiy

2011-01-21T21:02:00.000-08:00

This is Gracie and she came to live with us right before Thanksgiving 2010. Our dearly beloved, Josie, died in September 2010 and we were grief stricken. Actually we were shamelessly, hopelessly, saddened and decided the only way to recover was to find another similiar pet to hold in our empty arms. Our daughter, Erin, found us Gracie on the internet and picked her up for us. It was almost love at first sight. Actually, she loves everyone at first sight. She greets complete strangers, both men and women as her long, lost, friend. She is so sweet and fun to watch. When she finally gets tired, she actually lets us hold her in our arms, but most of the time she just wants to run and play. She just discovered her reflection in the nighttime window this week and it has been so funny to watch her reactions. At first she barked at the other "doggy in the window", then when she realized the doggy wasn't afraid of her and wasn't going anywhere, she began to play. I keep trying to show her that it is just her in the window, but she just doesn't get it. Oh well, I will let her enjoy her new friend while she can. She will face reality soon enough!

Last Year's Last Project

2011-01-19T13:34:00.000-08:00

WAY BEFORE

BEFORE

DURING

AFTER

Tada! I started and finished this in two days, the first week in January actually, so technically this is this year's project. But as you can see from the "way before" picture, it has been in my garage for awhile. We were so blessed to get a great love seat from a friend for Erin's new apartment in Galveston. It has a small living area so we were looking for a love seat and happen to see an offer on face book for one that was just perfect for her. In great shape and very comfortable. Of course, not in her preferred colors so she asked me to slip-cover for her. Not my favorite task, but you'll do anything for your kids, right?

Anyway, I think it turned out great and it looks good in her new location. She is going with a beach theme since she will be living a couple of blocks from the seawall. She actually clocked it and can walk there in 4 minutes. Oh my, the life of a student. I don't quite remember my student days as quite so fun, but maybe I have forgotten?? It was fun moving her in and fixing up my space where I will stay when I go to visit. Yes, I have my own room with a very comfortable bed, so my "student get-a-way" is just waiting for me. I think I will wait until it gets a little bit warmer before I crash her pad, but I am sew looking forward to it!

It Pays to Be Flexible

2011-01-19T13:27:00.000-08:00

And sometimes it hurts just a little. I have been very negligent in posting to my blog over the winter months, so I am starting fresh today! I will go about my days looking for new blog material to be able to share with the world of blog readers. I don't get out much these days so it will require much creativity to be able to come up with interesting topics, but I will commit to giving it a good effort. Sew, check back soon and look for new posts!

Panda Cat

2010-08-27T15:09:00.000-07:00

Well, I don't usually let her sit on the dining table, but at least she is taking a bath! Do you have one of these at your house? She used to be thin, affectionate, energetic... but now she is fat and just lies around doing nothing! She doesn't hunt, never comes when called, etc.. She does still have a healthy appetite so I guess that is a good thing. She also generally stays outside in the garage. This was a rare occassion when she was let in the house and I guess she decided to take advantage of the "facilities" to get her grooming in. But, the dining room table? Anyway, the camera was handy and I just couldn't resist getting her picture in this pose. As you can tell, she is very excited about her camera debut!

Girl Crazy

2010-08-27T13:35:00.000-07:00

This is just about the sweetest picture I have ever taken. That is my tall, handsome, 17 yr old son walking across the parking lot with two of my great nieces! A few weeks ago they came to spend the week and we had such a good time. This is after our weekly Sunday lunch at Carlene's and the very beginning of our fun week together. We made play dough, played in the water, played dress-up, made paper dolls and had tons of other fun. We even had a short sewing lesson for the 2 and 3 yr old seamstresses. They are so much fun to be with and they are funny too. They just crack me up every time they visit. On the last night of their stay, I was letting them stay up a little later and we were just hanging out in the den eating cookies and playing. They were getting pretty rowdy, so I suggested they start settling down and start thinking about getting ready for bed. The 2 yr old jumped up off the couch and continued jumping up and down on the floor. I looked over at her and she said, "I'm sorry, I can't stop it!" How can you help but laugh at that? They so remind me of how fun it is to just play. I can't wait for their next visit!

A Few Before and Afters..

2010-06-28T09:33:00.000-07:00

SOME BEFORE SHOTS:

NOW SOME AFTER SHOTS:

Hello to all my faithful readers.. aka (mom). I know I haven't posted in a month, but I have been busy getting new material to post about! First off, the top pictures show a few items I picked up at the Second Blessings boutique in Huntington. I think I paid less than $5.00 for the whole lot. There is a lamp base, missing the shade, a tarnished and scratched up silver tray, a pot lid and a picture frame. Oh yeah, the top picture is a wall decor item that I wanted to redo with a martial arts theme.

I used the pot lid and lamp base to make a bird bath for my back yard. The birds don't use it yet, but I enjoy looking at it as it sits right next to the bird feeder. I turned the old silver tray into a message board. I used blackboard paint for the center, and some white and black paint for the border to create an antique look. Since the tray is metal, it also can be used with magnets. Hence, I created a magnetic chalk holder from an old pill bottle and used a magnet to attach to the tray. This little cutie hangs outside by my back door, which is really the only door we use. Of course, I had to march all the family members out there and point it out so they would know where to look for my messages. It had been hanging out there for 2 weeks before my husband saw it! And then only when I showed it too him. ( I wonder when he's going to notice the new car parked out there..:)?

And finally, the wall decor painted picture. I painted over the words and added some silhouettes that I found on the internet to create a martial arts themed print for the bathroom where I take my taekwondo classes. It turned out pretty good and gives me inspiration to maybe do a few of my pets or other interest.

While working on all of these, the garden was getting ready to harvest, so I will be posting about that next. Sew, sew long for now and please come back sew soon!

Alaska Cruise 2010

2010-05-25T19:53:00.001-07:00

These are just a few of the shots we took. All of my inside shots turned out blurry, so I will post more from Steve's camera later. We really did have a great time. Steve and I traveled with both our mom's, Melissa and David, Melissa's parents and a few friends from our church in Houston. The weather was perfect and we all had a lot of fun. We did get to see all of the highlights in Glacier Bay, Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan and Victoria, B.C.

We are happy to be back home and working hard in the yard and garden. This is the last week of school, so things will be changing up around here with a 17 year old around during the day. Of course, I could let him sleep most of the day but I think I had better help him stay on somewhat of a schedule. He can get up and do chores around here while I sleep all day though!

Steve has a church mission trip coming up, I have Vacation Bible School and Ethan has youth camp so we are sure to keep busy. Plus, I will be back traveling on the weekends with Spa Girls. Our next gig is in Maryland so I am hoping it is a little cooler there.

Check back in a few days. I have been getting some good things at the thrift shop and have already "fixed up" some stuff, so I will be posting about that soon.

This Brings Back Memories....

2010-05-03T16:00:00.001-07:00

Yesterday we picked berries! Dew berries that is, and we were able to find about 1/2 gallon. There are lots of red berries out there so in a few days I will be out there picking again. I remember growing up and having berries, sugar and milk with the just picked berries. So good, and no need to wait for a pie to be baked. Of course, I saved plenty for a pie as well. Actually, I was able to wash and freeze enough for two pies. My fingers are stained purple and I am still picking out thorns, but having fresh berries is so worth it! We also found tons of wild strawberries. I was so excited to find them until I tasted one. I don't think you are suppose to eat them. They taste awful! So disappointing, they are everywhere, and so pretty!

Also, I have been hard at work in my garden. The purple hull and cream peas are finally coming up. One of my tomato plants has about 6 tomatoes already so I am encouraged to keep hoeing and watering. I also have lots of okra plants coming up. Mom requested the okra. I am not a huge fan, but I like anything fresh out of garden, and I am thinking fresh okra and tomatoes with bacon will make a great meal this summer. Also, walking around outside is so pleasant. The honeysuckle is everywhere and the scent is very nice. Lots of bees around, making me want to go and get a bee box with one of those things in it that makes a honeycomb. I think I better ask some expert bee people about that before I try on my own.

Oh yea, C-Seale, our female cat, just had 6 kittens! They are so cute and she just brought them down so we can see them. She had them in the attic of the house about 3 weeks ago and we could not get up there to see them. I had no idea she would have so many. They are still very tiny, but fierce. They hiss and spit at us every time we try to pet them, but they are getting more friendly every day. They aren't even afraid of the big dogs, and they should be! See below for a picture of them at meal time.

Well, that's all for now. I am really going to try to post more often. I think about it all the time and take tons of pictures so that I can have new and interesting things to post. Sew, check back often and see what's happening!

My Guys Hard at Work!

2010-04-04T20:16:00.000-07:00

Wahoo!!! The work on the outside of the house has started! Steve and Ethan worked all weekend getting this end of the house ready for new siding. I helped a little bit too. I was in charge of hauling off the old lumber and all the piles of pine straw I had raked up in the front. By the end of the weekend, this end of the house was completely stripped and new insulation installed. There is still such a long way to go, but both guys were in good spirits and I think very pleased with what they had accomplished. I am so proud of them both. Ethan had to give up his entire weekend and didn't complain much at all. They did take a break on Saturday night to go and see Clash of the Titans and of course today we had Easter service at church with lunch following. I continue to tell Ethan that he is going to make some girl very lucky when he settles down since he is learning how to do stuff that most grown men never even attempt. I am sew blessed to have these guys for my very own!!!

For $3.00 and a Cup of Coffee....

2010-02-22T11:18:00.000-08:00

Forget that, for the price of a cup of coffee here is what $3.25 got me at the Zavalla Assistance Ministries (ZAM) today. A brand new bathroom sink, in perfect condition, 2 kid cowboy hats, 2 books, 2 creamer/sugar dispensers, a necklace of wooden beads, button jewelry and a blue ceramic candle stand. If you are wondering if I actually needed all this today, I would tell you that that is not even the right question to ask. "What will I do with it?" is the question I can answer! OK, here goes, the sink is for the rent house or anyone else's house that needs a new sink, for $1.00 that will save somebody a ton of money! The cowboy hats will be for my kindergarten Vacation Bible School class this summer. Our theme is "ranch something" and these will be perfect for my line leaders. The books will provide priceless hours of reading and leisure for me. The blue ceramic candle holder will be painted and probably turned into a pedestal for a bowl or plate. WAIT, there's more, the wood beads will be for a future project to be painted or covered in fabric. The creamer and sugar holders for their intended purpose and the button jewelry for something?? All this stuff for just $3.25 and new material for the blog..... PRICELESS!!!!

Snow Day!!

2010-02-12T12:26:00.000-08:00

We received the warning call last night that school would begin 2 hours later this morning, and then early this morning, we got the call that school was canceled due to ice and snow. I rolled over in bed, looked out the window, and yep, there as a little dusting of snow on the groud. Yelled at the kid that he could stay asleep, after his alarm went off 2 or 3 times, waking me!

Of course, by the time we got up, the snow was melted and everything was cold, wet and dripping. No ice, no snow, but one kid stuck inside with one mom and both of us bored!! On my way back to bed for a nap, I decided to check over my craft blog sites to see if I could get a little bit of inspiration, and it worked! I looked over at http://www.belladia.typepad.com/ and saw how to crochet a heart coaster. So, I went and got out my thread and worked on one. Turned out just like the picture! I might make a few more, but I got distracted by something else on her blog so I went to my button stash and made a few of these button paperclips... so, two crafts in one day. I think I have fulfilled my quota, so now I will go back to bed to try and take a nap. I just wanted to post the projects while everything was still out and fresh on my mind. Hope you enjoy!

Who's Ready for A Cruise?

2010-02-10T09:41:00.001-08:00

If you look closely, you will be suprised to see that Melissa and I made the Girl's Get-Away Cruise flyer along with Karen Kingsbury and a few of our other friends. Do you see me there with the towel on my head?? See I circled it:) Yep, that's right, The Spa Girls will be sailing away on our 3rd Girls Getaway Cruise with Premier Christian Cruises this October. We are so excited to meet all the new ladies that will be joining us as well as seeing some of our old friends! If you are interested go to www.girlsgetawaycruise.com or you can call 1-800-889-5265. If you register by Feb 12, there is a $100 savings. $50 savings if you book by April 16th. For both of you that read this blog!!! lol that is a pretty good deal. Oh yea, be sure to mention that you are with "the Spa Girls" when you sign up.

I Made 10 Things Today..

2010-02-03T08:31:00.000-08:00

And it is only 10:30 am....
1) a ham
2)my bed
3)a mess
4)my kid mad
5)a mistake
6)a right turn
7)a wrong turn
8)a phone call
9)a decision
10) a headache

See, you don't have to be "crafty" to make something. You try it...

Things I Would Like to Make Today

1)a friend
2)a difference
3)Jesus happy
4)Something good to eat
5)Progress

I'm sure it is all in the attitude. I am going to have a positive one today. A positively good one that is. I have much for which to be thankful. I choose to be thankful today!

p.s. (ok, ok, I didn't make my bed yet)

I Needed A New Purse!

2010-02-03T07:46:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago, I bought this beautiful fabric at JoAnn's with plans to make a small quilt.

I really like this fabric, but realizing I would not be making a quilt anytime soon, I decided to make myself a purse instead. I used Simplicity 2685 view A. And here it is.....!
It was a simple pattern and only took the afternoon to sew up. I'm not sure now how I will like it as a purse/bag, but I do like looking at it! I even used up some of the scraps to make myself a new key chain to match. Then, I had a few more scraps so I made a few more....

I realize that my picture taking ability, combined with poor lighting, and not knowing how to disable my flash, all combine to result in poor picture quality. I also know that other bloggers have pictures that are so much prettier in their posts. However, I am lucky to have even taken a picture, much less, managed to turn in around right, adjust the size, download to this blog and still live to write about it... so, I am thankful for these pictures, actually quite proud! So, if you can do better, please come for a visit and teach me how! Thanks sew much..

Lisa

I've Been Making Stuff.....

2010-02-03T07:33:00.000-08:00

Random pile of dominoes....

Pretty Necklace...

I just added some paint, scrapbook paper, charms and beads and now I have a pretty pendant made from a domino! It is like working with a very small canvas. I managed to get all the dominoes on the table, painted, but then I ran out of creativity and had to put them all away. The finished one is one that I actually made several months ago. In a few days, weeks, or months, I will get those painted ones out of their box and finish making them into beautiful necklaces. I have seen them for sale in stores and boutiques and sometimes they are quite expensive. Maybe, when I get some of the ones finished I will put in the lisassewfun.etsy store, so start saving your money now! One of a kind, customized, from an old domino, recycled jewelry, can be expensive!! sew kidding..... I will probably end of giving away for gifts, but don't worry Mom and Sis, I won't give you anymore, since you already have a couple! Sew long for now..

Life is A Beach

2010-01-18T09:56:00.001-08:00

Neither wind, rain, sleet, snow, ...... can keep me off the beach!

Here is the wonderful beach house that we return to yearly!

And here are my wonderful friends who make the trip fun no matter what the weather conditions!

Your real friends like you with no makeup, bad hair, baggy sweats, etc. So far they can like you that way for at least 3 days. Maybe longer, but we had to leave to return to the real world!

This is my Pray and Crochet group that I have been meeting with for over 2 years. They meet each week at CBC to pray and crochet for friends in our church. Since my move, I no longer get to go to all of the weekly meetings, but have been known to join in on the phone from time to time. Once we get our computer confidence up, we might even try the webcam so it can almost seem as though I am there! This weekend was our second annual retreat and we had a blast. After 3.5 days, we still had much to talk about. We learned some new crochet stitches, had great food and even learned a new domino game. New for me that is.

The weather was wet, windy and cold, but we still enjoyed just being able to visit and share what each family has been doing this year. We exchanged recipes and craft ideas. As a matter of fact, I was able to make a good Christmas craft list so that I can get started on next year's gifts.

Of course, what trip away would be complete without stopping at a few new thrift shops? We only found one, but I hit the jackpot. Found just what I was looking for so I will be posting my newest thrift redo in a few days. Sew long for now.

One Little Dausdhund Went Out to Play....

2010-01-04T11:55:00.001-08:00

With her three babies! Isn't this the cutest thing you have ever seen on my blog??? I got the pattern online at www.audreyandmaude.blogspot.com . It was designed by Cathy Porter and when I saw it I just had to order. I intended to make several sets for Christmas but this is the only one that was actually completed. It went to one of my "great grand" nieces. It has several parts that are sewn on by hand and I am waiting to see how they hold up to loving and playing before I complete any more of them. They are fun to make and take very little fabric, so I plan to make a few more in the future.

This was probably one of my favorite gifts to give this season. I probably had more fun making and watching the little dogs be created than anyone will have playing with them, and that makes it even more rewarding. I love that this year my preparations for Christmas were almost as enjoyable as seeing the receipients open their gifts.

Mom and I made several homemade items to give. She crocheted lots of hats and scarfs and we also made lots of fabric alphabet letters that went out to all the smallest great grandchildren to help them as they learn to read and spell. They didn't seem overly thrilled with those as gifts, but I think that once all the new, flashy and bright toys get old, they will find that these are a fun way to learn and play at the same time. I especially hope that my niece who homeschools her children will find many uses for them. We found the pattern online as well at www.ohsohappytogether.blogspot.com. And it is a free download. My favorite!

Sew, with Christmas behind us, we are starting to look forward projects we can do for the coming year. We each have a stack of ideas and plans. Let's just see if we can stay motivated to get some things finished. We already made 2 more scarfs, so we are already stocking up for next Christmas! YEA!

I Have Been Away from Blog......

2010-01-04T11:47:00.000-08:00

To all my faithful blog followers, you two or three know who you are, I am finally back at the computer. I took some time off for Christmas and to be sick, get well, get sick again, get well, get sick again....well I think you get the overall bad picture. School started back up today, so I decided to get back to work as well. I downloaded all my Christmas pics (never as many as I thought I was taking) and started looking through them for some interesting blog material. I'm still looking.

My computer is located in a rather cold part of my house and currently my feet and fingers are freezing cold, but nevertheless, I will continue looking around in my computer files for interesting material to blog about. (I know that is wrong sentence structure to end sentence with a preposition, but saying interesting material about which to blog, is just so "not me".) So, for my young, still in English class, followers, ignore all gramatical things you see here. This is not an English lesson!

I will be posting a few more holiday topics while they are still fresh in my memory, so I hope you will begin checking again for new and exciting news from me! Sew kidding!

Christmas Projects

2010-01-04T11:34:00.000-08:00

So, a few days before Christmas, I stopped off at my favorite thrift shop in Huntington Tx, Second Blessings, and found this cute picture in a blond wooden frame for just $1.00. Immediately, I had a vision for what it would become.

I went to my stash of paint and found these colors.

I started painting the frame until I got just the right affect I was looking for.

And here is the finished gift! I had previously traced off the three girls hand prints earlier in the month, and then I just traced them onto a piece of scrap fabric and embroidered in different colors that blended nicely with the frame. Beginning cost of frame, $1.00. Final cost of gift, priceless!

Little Christmas Dresses

2009-12-15T20:40:00.000-08:00

These are two of my "great" nieces that I had the privilege to keep this weekend. Of course, at the last minute, I decided they needed Christmas dresses to wear to church on Sunday. I had planned ahead just enough to have purchased red turtle necks shirts with hopes that I had enough fabric and trim in my stash to come up with something. So, late Saturday evening, during and after dinner preparations, I just whipped these out! I cut off the bottom of the shirts and gathered up some Christmas fabric and attached to make the dress part. When the girls tried them on I could see that they still needed a little something....... so, I looked through my trims and found this beautiful gold wired ribbon that I had been saving for something special, and this was it! The gold belts added just the right touch, don't you think? I still have one more dress to make for my other niece and will probably do that in the morning so I can get in the mail so that they can wear to their church this next Sunday. I can't believe that Christmas is almost here and then right around the corner a new year! Is it just me, or is time speeding up?

Sew it seems to me...... I will try to get in a few more posts before next year, lol.

New Baby Quilt

2009-11-04T10:35:00.000-08:00

This is going out in the mail today for my friend Meghan's newborn niece. I actually started and finished it all in one day and was prepared to mail it in time to arrive for the baby shower on Saturday. Just as I was about to finish, I checked my email and found out that mom and baby were on the way to the hospital. Sure enough, when I finally get something done on time, it is still late because baby decided to come early. The Baby arrived yesterday weighing in at 6lbs 6 ounces. I think this quilt weighs more than she does!! Anyway, I think it turned out cute. Meghan picked all the fabrics and just handed me the sack. So, Meghan, this is how it turned out. I hope you and new mom and baby like it!!

FBC - Zavalla - Trunk or Treat 09

2009-11-04T10:31:00.000-08:00

Here I am with my mom and that's my sister in the pilgrim outfit above. We parked in our church lot and gave candy from our trunks. Everyone that participated did great jobs decorating up their vehicle. Mom and I are dressed as beauty pageant contestants. You can't tell from the picture, but mom is Miss Understood, and I am Miss Demeanor. The weather was perfect and we all had a great time. Lots of kids came by to get candy and several parties on hayrides. Can't wait to decide what to do for next year!

Pretty Little Purse

2009-11-04T10:22:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I was looking through my favorite craft blog, www.oneprettything.com and I found this purse shown with a free pattern so I downloaded and made it all in the same day. Whoo Hoo! That's a first for me! The designer is Lazy Girl designs and you can find it here: www.lazygirldesigns.com. I will definitely be making more of these and experimenting with different fabrics. The website has a free download of the pattern. It is called the Noriko Handbag. Anyway, super fast to make and requires very little fabric. A great way to use up my stash!

I've Got Spirit Yes I Do.....

2009-10-29T14:43:00.001-07:00

At least I am trying anyway. The weather here is bad, therefore the light in the house is dark and gloomy, so you probably can't appreciate how cute my t-shirt is after I added some bling to the sleeves and neck. Tonight is "Meet the Eagles" night at the high school. Ethan is on the basketball team and we are excited to see him as they perform the drill they have been practicing. I don't know what position he will play but I am just very excited to see him out there finally. It has been a long couple of years and I feel like we are at last on the right track to getting him involved and successful in high school. So far he has done very well and we are sew proud! I will wait before I add his name and number to the back of my shirt, but I can't help wanting to show off just a bit. The gold sequins will be quite the understatement compared to how excited I am that he is out there on the court. Of course, this shirt will probably embarrass him but at least my kids can look back on their lives and know that I loved them and participated in their activities and showed some spunk and spirit while I did it! If you read my last post then you may have already figured out that I have still not started on the main "time sensitive" projects that I have committed to working on before I begin anything new. This shirt doesn't count does it?? Ok, I really am going to start working on the big stuff next! I sew promise!

Fabric Fun

2009-10-28T10:32:00.000-07:00

This, not so attractive:

Take some of this

And Get This!

Sew, today I decided to clean up in the sewing room just a bit. Which really just means, move stuff around and to another spot in the house which will have to be cleaned up as well! Anyway, I have a three projects that I need to finish this week and I get too distracted when things are messy. While I was putting away fabric that would distract me from my current projects, I came across this piece from Hobby Lobby that I just love. I don't have any plans for it just now, but I will, oh, I will. Anyway, I was afraid that if I put it away I would forget about it, so... I came up with a really quick project (less than 5 minutes) to make sure that fabric stays where I can see it so I will remember that I have it for inspiration. I took my old mouse pad that works great but looks bad, used the iron and some heat and bond stuff and ta-da: A newly covered mouse pad! Now, everyday when I get on the computer, I will see this fabric and dream about how I will use, someday, when current projects are finished. So see my dilemma, I wasn't suppose to do any other projects until these 3 are done and not only did I do another project, I had to stop and blog about it! I have all these great ideas, but I can't remember them. I even write them down sometimes, and usually I can't even understand what I meant when I go back to review my notes. I think I need a remedial craft class or something. Anyway, I must go now and finish cleaning off the dining table (where all the stuff from sewing room landed) and start one of the time sensitive projects that is waiting for me. I'll just run in here every now and then to gaze upon my new mouse pad with the cute fabric, and dream about what .....it........will......be.....some....day........oh well.........

Inspiration from the Flea Market

2009-10-27T17:36:00.001-07:00

Thrift Store Jeans and Dirt Cheap Skirt

Ta-Da

Recently I visited the bi-annual Antique's Market in Warrington and Round Top Texas. (Blogged about a few weeks ago). We found a cute booth I believe called Junky Chic or something like that and saw some really cool embellished jeans, so....... I copy catted their idea. Yes, this is not original to me, but I did end up with one of a kind jeans! I started with a $2.00 pair of jeans from the thrift shop, my favorite right now is Alley Cat in Lufkin, Tx. I then found a $3.00 skirt at a Dirt Cheap store in Mississippi. The zipper was broken and it was the wrong size, but it had the most beautiful embroidery work and the price was right. Right away, I knew what I could do with that skirt. So I did some cutting, some ironing and adhering and I ended up with a fabulous pair of jeans. I'm sure these sell for at least $alot somewhere! Maybe my Etsy store??! When I find some other good jeans at a great price I will make some and put in the store. I love thrift shopping and creating new looks so this project combined my two favorite activities. Plus, now I have some cool jeans to wear to our church's fall festival tomorrow. I am sure no one will believe that they only cost $5.00! I'm sew not telling.....

Etsy Store Finally Open!

2009-10-19T10:15:00.000-07:00

Whew, I finnaly did it and posted some items in my online store www.lisassewfun.etsy.com. Now I just have to sit back and wait for the sales to start rolling in! Right? I have way more where this stuff came from so help me out and get over there and start filling up your cart and crossing off your Christmas list. Just think, you can give homemade items to everyone on your list, and they will be delivered right to your door. If all goes well, I might even offer some already gift wrapped! Now that is service with a smile. You'll just have to take my word for it that I will be smiling... all the way to the post office and bank! Plus, if you mention this blog when you make your purchase I might even include a free gift! How can you top that? Ok, get busy, I am sew looking forward to your orders!

Just a Little Sewing Today

2009-10-07T11:45:00.000-07:00

Wow, who'da thought that you can make an entire wardrobe in just one evening? Well, for an American Girl doll that is. These cute little outfits will be going out in the mail tomorrow to two of my girl friends for their dolls. I hope they like the styles that I picked. As you can see there is a dress, pants suit, complete with blouse and vest, 2 night gowns and one apron. What more does a girl need? I wish it was this easy to sew for myself. I did make one dress last week but I don't like the way it fits or looks! Why can't I make cute clothes for myself? Is it because I am not shaped like a doll? Could that possibly be the problem? Well, anyway, stay tuned in because soon I am going to be making a dress form of my own body, with all it's imperfections. I may still not like what I sew for myself, but I can make sure that it fits from now on. I will be sure to take pictures of the entire process. Should be good for a few laughs! :)

Green House Work

2009-10-07T11:28:00.000-07:00

This is my mom's green house. My dad built it a long time ago and we decided that it was time for it to be cleaned out and remodeled. Mom emptied almost everything out and then I went in for the demolition. The tables were rotted and lopsided so I took them apart and Steve went over and rebuilt them. He has 2 of them ready to go and I think I will try my carpentry skills at one more. We plan to have it finished before it turns out cold around here. Mom has tons of plants that are going to need to be moved inside for the winter. She also has about a million of those black plastic planters you get when you buy plants from the nursery. I have banned her from buying any more plants until next spring. I don't even know if what she has will all fit in there. I do know that as soon as I left last week, she went out and planted about 25 peach tree seeds. "Now, where?", I ask you, "Are these going to go?" I might can build a small rustic table but I sure don't know how to build a green house addition! If they all sprout and start growing, she may have to move them inside the house.

Raining Cats and Dogs

2009-09-22T15:04:00.000-07:00

Aren't these just the cutest faces? They are so sweet and love everyone, even strangers! It is hard to train a dog to bark at strangers and not at everything else that moves in the night. Mena and Mac both just lay around all day, very relaxed and quiet and as soon as we go to bed at night they start barking. I have been out numerous occassions (whew big words..) with the flashlight to see what they are barking about. Don't worry, I'm in no danger, didn't you just read that they don't bark at people. I guess there could be a wild animal in our yard but hey, they would be hiding as well so I guess they just like to bark at the moon. Of course it could be a raccoon,oppossum or armidello (spelling makes me tired). Something has been digging deep small holes in the front yard. Anyway, I just wanted to put their pictures out there again. They are so loveable and very photogenic!

Look Who Came to Play and Stay?

2009-09-22T14:33:00.000-07:00

Friday, as I stepped outside, these fellows/gals were all curled up by my kitchen door. The mom is close (she is laying on the orange box). These are our neighbor's kittens but for some reason they like it here. We have big dogs, one little dog and lots of other cats, so I am suprised they aren't afraid. I take that back, they are afraid of the humans here and we are the only ones that don't want to eat them!! Anyway, they have been here for several days now and we have been contacted by their rightful owner. He emailed and asked us if his momma cat and her kittens were here. We thought there were just 4 but he had already given away one of them. We sure don't need anymore cats around here, but we love watching them play and cuddle. No wonder you hear about lonely old people with a house full of cats. I can so be that person. Even Steve, our big bad daddy of the house here, hasn't tried to run them off. He was the first one to feed them! Boy is he slipping. I think once he found out that their owner did have formal plans for their future, he relaxed. I hope we get to keep them for several more days. They are just the sweetest little things and I have fallen in love with at least one of them. I am hoping that one gets to stay permanently.

One of them likes to drink coffee with me and one is really good with plants? Which to chose?? No doubt it will be sew hard to decide!

Suitcase Slipcovers

2009-09-02T10:36:00.000-07:00

Do you have ugly, dirty suitcases? Well, when I first started traveling as a "Spa Girl"

we thought it would be fun to have lime green suitcases. They were so cute and very noticeable, until our first flight and then they were very dirty and embarrassing. Loving to sew like you know I do.., I decided to make a slipcover for our luggage. I have not ever seen any and I was sure if I came up with a good design, I could make them and become rich! The luggage was still in good shape and we hated to replace it just because of looks so I went into the sewing room and began my creative process. That didn't last long. I love to sew but I cannot make patterns or design anything, so I started trying to figure out how to do this. I had really cute pink and green polka-dot fabric but no real idea how to make it work. So, I spent the better part of the day measuring, thinking, drawing and finally cutting out and sewing the first prototype. I got it ready, placed it on the suitcase and proceeded to roll it out of the sewing room. It tore apart before I could get it out the door! I was devastated! The wheels were the problem. I had made these huge buttonholes for the wheels to fit through but as they starting to roll the fabric got caught up in them and tore. So, I sat there in the sewing room thinking that I needed something kind of stretchy for give, with a hole in the top for the handle and completely open at the bottom as not the get stuck in the wheels, but it had to fit down tight so it would stay covered. Now, as I was thinking about all this you might be interested to know that at that time all of the Spa Girl t-shirts were stored in the sewing room, so I was literally surrounded by stacks of shirts. Finally, I saw what I had been starting at all day. An big t-shirt fit all of my requirements. It is stretchy, has a neck hole perfect for the handle and is open at the bottom. Plus, as it is wheeled through airports, it is a perfect advertising billboard. I took one of the shirts off the shelf and it fit perfectly! I'm thinking that you could use your favorite sports team or your school shirt, anything you like and are proud to show. Now, no matter how ugly and torn your luggage is, it can have a brand new look and get some free publicity for your favorite cause. If you can't think of a favorite team or school to use then by all means, put a Spa Girl shirt on there. It is the "Practical" (P in Spa) thing to do. Don't you agree?

First Day of School

2009-09-02T10:25:00.000-07:00

After I dropped Ethan off for first day at his new school, I came home and saw tons of pictures of my friend's kids on facebook. He would not let me take his picture this year, so at the end of the day when I picked him up I took some secretly. By the time he got to the car window he made me put the camera away, that is why I don't have a very clear picture of him. He was making a mean face and I didn't want to post that! Anyway, he had a good day and I am so excited that he is going to the high school where I attended and graduated in 198.....?? Actually, one of my teachers has returned to teach high school math so Ethan will get to have one of my same teachers as well. The school is very small compared to Langham Creek in Cy Fair School district, but that is what we like so well. The kids seem very friendly to Ethan and are making him feel welcome. We are currently in the second week of school and so far so good. I am excited to be where my family can participate in his education and activities. His grandmothers will actually be able to attend a lot of his school functions. I can't believe it has been twenty something years since I attended there. It seems like just yesterday..... until I look in the mirror that is! Several of my fellow classmates still live in the area and it has been fun getting reacquainted and meeting their kids. We have prayed for this for a long time and as I know, God still answers prayers! And I am sew thankful!

Just Hanging Out

2009-09-02T10:20:00.001-07:00

I am so excited that my new hammock is ready for hanging out. Erin brought this one back from Brazil this summer. She was there on a mission trip with Copperfield Baptist Church and before she came home she had about 2 hours to shop. I am proud to say that a "hammock for mom" was on the top of her list. I have had for about 4 weeks and she and her dad just got it hung this weekend when she came home to visit. Josie and I have been enjoying it ever since. Especially since the weather has started cooling off, it is a great place to spend a lazy afternoon. So, if you try to call me and I have forgotten to take the phone out there, don't worry, leave a message and I will get back to you later, or much later....

Good Clean Fun

2009-09-02T10:04:00.001-07:00

Start with these:

Do This

Mix it Up

You Get This!

Right up front let me state that this is not my original idea. I got the recipe for making homemade laundry detergent from www.littlebirdiesecrets.blogspot.com. Their recipe is slightly different than mine so go there if you want to do this yourself. I spent a total of $8.17 to make five gallons of laundry detergent. Mine did not want to dissolve and mix up well, so I have to shake it or stir it a lot before I use it. I have done one load of laundry and it seems to work very well so far. I added about 1/3 bottle of Calgon water softener to my mix. The original recipe does not call for that. I also used the big box of baking soda and their recipe calls for washing soda. Apparently there is a difference although I could not find the washing soda. The box shows that the one I bought can be used for laundry, and I found it on the laundry isle so I am giving it a shot. It might still need some tweeking, but it this should last me for several months and at 1.63 per gallon it is a great bargain. I also had lots of fun making it and my kitchen was very clean after I got done cleaning up my mess. If I ever run out of this I am going to try my friend, Wendy's recipe for dry detergent. She uses Zote laundry soap bar, ivory soap, washing soda and I think borax, I will double check. Anyway, she loves it and it only takes one tablespoon per wash. I will be sure to let you know when I try that recipe and how I think they compare. Now, off to do more laundry!

Gourmet Popsicles

2009-08-21T13:02:00.001-07:00

I found a great recipe at www.cooks.com recipe search for popsicles and fudgesicles. Popsicles have been my staple food item all summer long and the front porch swing is the best place to enjoy. That is how I have been keeping my cool all summer. I even enjoy the cheapest, plastic sleeve ones and so does my dog Mena. She likes the grape ones best and waits patiently for me to almost finish because she knows I will share the last bite. Anyway, I live several miles from the store and sometimes I run out so I was looking for a recipe that would be a little bit better than just freezing kool-aid (although there's nothing wrong with that!). I tried the popsicle recipe first:

1 (3 oc) pkg. jello, any flavor

1 pkg. kool-aid, any flavor

1 c sugar

2 c hot water

2 c cold water

They are soooo goood and actually have more of the texture of a "pink thing" remember those?

I tried out the fudgesicle recipe next for my 3 young friends that visited. It was a big hit as well.

1 (3 oz) pkg. chocolate instant pudding

1/2 c sugar

1/2 c cream

2 c milk

I also found these push up pop things at a kitchen store. They are for serving ice cream to little kids. You pack it in and then they can eat off the stick by pushing up from the bottom. I tried freezing the popsicles and fudgesicles in them and they work great. I filled them up, put the lids on and then slipped them through one of the shelf racks in my freezer. That held them in upright position while they froze. I am definitely going to get more of these the next time I find them. They were actually featured in this month's Woman's Day magazine. At least that is where I saw them first. The other containers are the regular ones for making homemade frozen treats. Even though school starts Monday, and Hobby Lobby already has Christmas decor on display, we know here in Texas it will hot for a lot longer. So, give these recipes a try and cool yourself off on your front porch while the hot summer afternoons are still here. Sew long..

Friends Reunite

2009-08-21T12:50:00.001-07:00

Campbell and Gator met a couple of months ago, but they still remembered each other when she came to visit this week. Gator loves Campbell and just about knocked us down trying to sniff her hair and face checking to see if she had sugar cubes in her pockets. Campbell loves anything outdoors so she made quick friends will all the animals. We had 2 dogs and 3 cats at the house plus the neighbor's horse next door and she spent a lot of quality time playing with them. They look sad today because they haven't had much attention since she went home. We can't wait for her to come back to visit. We took lots of pictures and I will post more later. Hello my little friends, I miss all of you!!!!!

Getting to the Point!

2009-08-21T12:27:00.000-07:00

Here are 2 of my friends that came to visit this week. I don't know why their mom's worry so much. They pretty much take care of themselves! He just got the archery set the day before and already he is doing great! His sister barely even got a scrape! Not really, we just set it up to give the mom a fright, but she picked them up yesterday and they were still happy and healthy.
I had so much fun playing with my friends. We fed the horse, played dress-up, colored, sat on porch swing, went to park and Boykin Springs, fed the goats, ate snowcones, ate homemade fudge pops, had weiner roast, made smores, laid down under the stars and talked about God and did a bunch of other stuff. Wow, in only 1 and 1/2 days. I can't wait for their next visit. I'm sure we can find a lot of other stuff to do (I can still hear Campbell in background doing her spooky laugh as I think about what to plan next!).

Before and After

2009-08-14T19:35:00.001-07:00

Gold Thrifted Frame

Pretty Pink Bulletin Board

Sewing Room Before

Sewing Room After

Just a few before and after photos to help keep me inspired. I might remind you though, that the gold frame was only purchased 2 days ago and I actually re-created it yesterday. Now, that is a super fast turn around. The sewing room, not so fast. Notice the pink desk. That was a project from last week. This is just about as neat as this room gets. I work in here a lot so the ironing board is always up. When I have company, I clean up all the sewing stuff (lol, by stuffing it somewhere) and fold up the ironing board. It almost looks like a guest room then. This week my two young girlfriends are visiting and I will spruce up the room for them. I will have to add another sleeping space but I am prepared. There is a blow up mattress under the bed and we will get that out and make a very comfortable sleep spot.

The weekend looms before me and I always feel pressure to do something extra around the house, but then I get stage fright, and end up doing nothing. It seems that no matter how much I get done during the week, I feel the need to do something major on Saturday. I guess left over feelings from working and school. Anyway, tomorrow my goal is to pay bills, vacuum all the floors (ulterior motive with that, I plan to vacuum in the morning to help son wake up at a decent hour), mop some of the floors and then crochet or sew. Plus, tomorrow is my 29th wedding anniversary. That is a long time and I feel that couples who stay married that long should get an extra stimulus check from the government or somebody. Hey, this is quite an accomplishment! Hubby and I will go out tomorrow night and celebrate with dinner out. Maybe I will get motivated and make that dress I was talking about earlier for something new to wear. Let's see, if we leave for dinner at 5:30, I need to start working on it by 4:00. That sounds about right. Don't you think sew?

Wait There's More (goes with article below)

2009-08-13T09:47:00.001-07:00

These are the goodies I found in the Goodwill "as is" store. I got all this loot for 1.00. Amazing! And, I have plans for all of it. The books are for me and a few of my young friends that will be visiting next week. I am so excited that Campbell, Eden and Lucas are coming to spend a few days. The plate which is very vintage looking will be a bird feeder in one of my gardens and the big mug, a planter for a small ivy cutting. However, the find of the day, the brown mug, is my souvenir from Washington D.C. where my best friend Melissa and her husband will be visiting next week. What's wrong with finding your souvenir before you go? Mel and I do it all the time. It is way cheaper and you don't have to worry about it breaking in transit. I hurried and called her so that she could stop worrying about what to bring me back when she goes. For just about .10 I have a good as new cup from Washington D.C. I bet when she goes there she will find the same one for at least 8.99 or more. So, I saved her money, time shopping and worries packing all for .10 for me PRICELESS for her! Now that's a good day's thrifting!

Goodwill to Me!

2009-08-13T09:38:00.000-07:00

So, mom and I decided to swing by the Goodwill store in Lufkin to do a little bit of treasure hunting. Look what I found! A platter/plate (1.49) which I will save to use for a cake plate when I take someone a cake for a gift and a gold, plastic, picture frame that has no picture. I know, how lucky you must think I am. I have big plans for that picture frame. Just keep watching blog, it will definitely show up again and for just .99 you will be amazed at the treasure it will become. Mom found a very nice Bill Blass blouse (say that 3 times fast) for 1.00 and a brand new scrapbook photo album for .99. Not bad for a day thrifting!

Finally, a Sewing Project

2009-08-12T19:30:00.001-07:00

Yesterday, mom and I made plans to go shopping and I planned to meet her at her house at 10:00 am. At about 8:30 am, I decided to make myself a new blouse to wear. Ok, stop right now and understand that this is very normal for me. I will go days without sewing, but then, as soon as the mood strikes, I am there! I had this fabric already picked for this blouse pattern so all I had to do was cut it out really fast, (make a few alterations) sew it up and then get a quick shower and meet her by 10:00. I did it and was only about 5 minutes late. How about that?! I love this blouse. This is my third from Simplicity 4177 and so far my favorite. The pattern calls for elastic around the sleeve, but of course, I left that out. Saved me about 20 minutes and I prefer the loose sleeve anyway. I lengthened the blouse as well thinking that it could also double as a dress, but it is not quite long enough. I had to guess how much to add to the hips when I lengthened and I guessed wrong, so it will just have to be a little bit bunched up, tunic style top. I still love it and wore it all day long. I used a little less than 2 yards of $2.00 fabric so the top ended up costing about $3.75. The next time I make this pattern and yes, I will make more, I am going to make it into a dress, with maybe a loose hip style belt. Even Ethan said he liked it on me when he had to take the picture, so I will definitely wear it many more times.

Inspired by a Movie - Julie and Julia

2009-08-12T19:10:00.001-07:00

Looking good

Almost ready!

Fried Pickles!
So, on Monday night my friends from the city went to see the movie Julie and Julia that has just come out. Of course, they called and invited me to join them, but since it was a 2.5 hour drive and we already had a doctor's appointment, I had to decline. The next day, Mel called to tell me that the movie was great and they all had a great time. So, I decided to invite my mom to go out with me to see the movie.

Before we left for the movie, I got on facebook and invited one of my friends from here, to join us at the movie when she got off work. I even suggested she call up her sister also to meet us there. Then, as often happens, I was distracted from the computer and did not return to see her reply. When mom and I got to the movie the previews had already begun so we were trying to feel our way in the dark to find seats. I heard someone wispering my name and it was facebook friend Debbie and her sister. I realized then that I had forgotten to go back and check to see if she would take up my invite. Good thing she came on anyway. We sat right in front of her and her sister and we all enjoyed the movie.

Now, about the movie. It was really good and was all about cooking. It made me so hungry just watching it. Ironically, it was about a young woman who was writing a blog.... hello, I am writing a blog.... she also had dreams to one day write a book.... hello, I have a dream to write a book. Anyway, tonight when I started making my son and me a "vegetarian dinner" of "fried pickles", I decided to take pictures and add it to my blog. So I did. Have you ever had fried pickles. They are yummy. I started with big, kosher dill, pickles. I sliced them up pretty thick, made up a batter of flour, egg and milk and then deep fried them until brown. To eat them, you just put them on a plate and then dip them in cold ranch dressing. You can eat with your fingers. And the best part... NO LEFTOVERS! Now, neither Julie or Julia demonstrated fried pickles last night on the movie, neverless, I felt very inspired as I cooked, ran and got the camera and took pictures of the process. I think that might be one of the symtoms of ADD, but that is what makes a blog so special. Right in the middle of everyday routine boring stuff, you can get an idea for the blog and then all of a sudden, something as boring as fried pickles becomes an inspiring article. At least to me it does. So, in short, I had something good to eat and new material for the blog. Plus I mentioned two friends names here, so there, I think this is a great blog entry!! Sew hoping you think sew too!

Things I Painted Last Week

2009-08-11T13:35:00.001-07:00

Kitchen Door

Return Air Vent

Josie's Bottom

My Fingernails

Mom's Bedroom Ceiling

Blue Desk, Now Pink

Blue Desk

Wow, I must be really tired. "Yes, I am". I painted and painted and painted last week. It all started when mom went out of town. I decided to finally paint her bedroom ceiling which was a very old gray/brown tile. It actually started out as white with gold veining that I think my Dad thought would help hide spider webs. That was over 30 years ago, and yep it did hide them. Anyway, I had been telling her I would paint it for about 5 years at least, so I finally did it. It turned out great. Then, I got inspired and decided to paint my sewing desk that I have been intending to paint ever since I bought it at a garage sale about 8 years ago. I painted it pink to match my sewing room and it turned out great. Then, there it was, the old dirty, half paint scrapped off return air vent in the farmhouse we are currently restoring. (restoring sounds better than fixin up). That led to the back door of the kitchen and that's when Josie curled up in the drop cloth and got kilz on her behind. After all that, of course I needed to do my nails. So, that is how one project can get you into trouble. I finally ran out of paint and rested. Wow, I don't even like to paint and am not good at it at all. I make huge messes and waste a lot of paint, but for some reason it all turned out well. This week I am resting, unless of course I decide to ......

Garage Sale Fun

2009-07-26T17:55:00.001-07:00

Melissa came up early for our Spa Girl presentation in Bossier City, LA and helped me with my first garage sale since I moved. It was held on Hwy 69 in Huntington, Tx. There were supposed to be a lot of other people selling stuff that day, but only 2 "vendors" showed up. Me and my mom's next door neighbor. We had lots of stuff to get rid of and we actually sold most of it. At the end of the day we were so hot and tired that we gave a lot of things away. We had so much fun giving stuff away that we might just have a "free" garage sale next time. I spend the entire day before cleaning out the barn (and taking Josie to the vet for injury incurred as I was cleaning barn) getting ready for the sale and then getting husband to haul everything to Huntington for us very early on Saturday morning. We stayed about 7 hours, got rid of almost everything and called the day a success. Here is the final tally of our days efforts:

Vet bill for pet injury 250.00

Booth rental 30.00

cold drinks 10.00

taking friend to eat

for helping 7.00

total cost 297.00

proceeds of sale 140.00

Cleaned out barn PRICELESS!!

Ok, I won't go into the garage sale business any time soon, but I did make some pocket money to support my garage sale vice. Sew long for now!

Drive Through Gardening?

2009-07-26T17:47:00.001-07:00

I think I have solved the problem of gardening in this Texas heat. Drive by gardening, in the air conditioned comfort of your own car. I actully discovered this by accident. My mom brought me a topsy turvey planter earlier this summer and we were experimenting by planting one of our tomato plants in it. I hung from the old clothes line because it was the best sunny spot that I had. As I watched my other tomatoes wilt under the hot Texas sun, I continued to haul water over to the hanging plant to keep it from dying as well. Finally, we were rewarded with one bloom and one tomato. I left it on the vine until it was ruby red and then on my way over to mom's one afternoon, as I drove by to check it, I just reached out of the car window and picked it. I told mom that next year, we will get a bunch of those planters and fill the clothes line with them. We won't have to pull weeds, dig in the dirt or even bend over. And as an added treat, we can just drive by there every few days to water and pick as the vegetables get ready. We shouldn't even have to break a sweat next year! Drive through gardening in the comfort of your own airconditioned vehicle. Why didn't we think of that sooner??!!

That Dingo Ate My Baby!

2009-07-26T17:31:00.000-07:00

Son and I were outside working in storage barn getting ready for garage sale when all of a sudden I heard my baby (Josie) yelp really loud and really long. I tore out of the barn to find her and she met me at the gate to the pasture. The other 4 outside dogs (only 1 of them is mine) were following along behind her acting very innocent... and that's when I saw it! I small slice out of her skin at the top of her right hip. I rushed her into the bathroom and started to try and render aid but every time I touched her she yelped really loud. I then did what all pet lovers do, I rushed her to the vet hospital 24 miles away. I called my mom from the car and she called around to find a place that was still open on Friday afternoon. I could tell my baby was in pain and I was in tears! When we arrived at the vet, they took her from me and went off to a back room leaving me standing there with her bed and blankie and in shock. They didn't even ask if I needed medical attention! So then, I found out she would have to stay a few hours until they could do surgery. Ok, now I am getting worried. Surgery? I thought we would probably just return home with a bandaid. "This is going to be very expensive, I began to think!" Later than evening Steve picked her up on his way home from work and found out that she was hurt way, way worse than I had originally thought. I laughed when I saw she had to wear the crown collar, but alas, the joke was on me. She had another wound that I had not even noticed on her tummy where one of the big dog teeth sunk unto her tender flesh. The Dr. had to mend her from the inside out and she actually came home with a drain sticking out of her stomach.

It has been 6 days now. The stitches are out, but she cannot take off the collar yet. Maybe tomorrow. Since her injury, she cannot go outside by herself anymore because we are afraid she will get bitten again. Soon we will visit the big dog's house and find out if we can work out a solution to our problem. The neighbor dogs all like to hang out here, but if they can't play nice, then.... well you know. They better not ever touch my baby again! You better believe I'm getting me a bee bee gun and learning how to use it. I might even join the NRA. Do they have a section for bee bee gun users?

Behold Old Things Become New

2009-06-23T19:49:00.001-07:00

I just finished this quilt tonight. Actually, the inside of the quilt is a very old quilt that my aunt wanted to save but it was coming all apart. I recovered the old quilt so that she can continue using it. The front is stripped pieced with Christmas prints that I had in my fabric stash, and the back is solid white from a bolt that I had purchased before my Walmart stopped selling fabric :(
I don't know the history of the original quilt that is sewn up inside this one, but I am pretty sure it was made way before we had laptops, digital cameras or the internet. I was just thinking how crazy it is that I recovered a tattered and almost used up old quilt with scraps I have been saving forever and then I took a picture with my digital camera and ran to the computer to post to my blog. Talk about culture shock. Or shockwave or something like that. It just feels weird!

Actually, I have been enjoying looking at lots of other blogs that show master quilter's work. This ain't one of them, but I feel like I have mastered something to finally get this finished! I have one more to go and I will definitely take a before picture of it. I am going to use fabric scraps from my stash again, and maybe even part with one of my beloved, thrifted, vintage sheets. So, keep watch for what I will sew up next!

I've Been A Little Down

2009-06-19T11:46:00.000-07:00

Down under in Australia at VBS that is! That's me next to last car with arms up in the air. I got to be with the kindergarten class as we had a great time on the Boom-a-rang Express! Every day we had Bible stories, great snacks and train rides. Yes, our recreation every day was to ride the train. It was so much fun. I got to ride the train one day and then decided that was enough for me. I almost couldn't get out of the car when the ride was over. It is really meant for little people. I felt like "Elf". We learned a lot about Australia and about how "It all Comes Back to Jesus". I had so much fun, I am going to sign up to teach again next year!

THROUGH THE EYES OF A FIVE YEAR OLD

2009-06-07T20:10:00.001-07:00

I am proud to say that I have learned a very important lesson this week from my five year old friend. My friend and her mom came to visit me and to see the new digs, aka old farmhouse. Ok, I was a little nervous about what they would think and how they would react to the huge difference between our city house and the farm house we decided to relocate to. There are many differences and no matter how much cleaning or decorating that goes on, at the end of the day, I still reside in an old farmhouse. Of course, they really came to see me, but we all know, as women, we love to see how someone else lives and does. Anyway, here is what I learned:

A five year old will run, laugh, have a silly grin and give you a big huge no matter how much stuff needs to be unloaded from the car or how bad she might need to go to the bathroom.

Five year olds don't know or care when you last mopped the floor.

They can't see how much of the trim has not yet been painted or even installed in many places on the ceiling or floor.

They don't care that the dogs lick their face or hair even when it has just been washed and fixed.

They don't notice that the grounds are severely overgrown and the gardens are full of weeds as they look in awe for the new tomotoes that are just beginning to appear in the leaves.

They think climbing through a rusty barbed wire fence and dodging cow patties is a big adventure.

They don't notice that the house slants downward as you walk toward the bedrooms down the hall.

A five year old does not even think to look behind the curtains to see how dirty the windows or the ledges are, or that the window is cracked and patched by a metal serving tray.

They don't notice that the study is in the laundry room or that the ice maker is missing and old fashioned ice trays are constantly being emptied and refilled.

Most of all, they don't care if my hair is fixed or my makeup is even on. They don't even care if I have lost or gained 5 pounds.

And most importantly, they thing blackened marshmellows roasted over a tiny fire and mashed between 2 graham crackers is the best dessert ever.

I miss my friend.

Nature's Pedicure

2009-06-03T08:55:00.001-07:00

Who says you have to go to an expensive Spa or Salon for a pedicure, or rather manicure? I watched my cat get up from a nap, stretch and then do his nails, all within 6 inches of each other. He didn't need a gym for stretching, no fancy sheets for good nap and no one forcing him to "pick a color". We really have added many complications to our lives in the effort to make things easier and more efficient. We should all look around at the life of luxury that our pets are living and take a lesson. Remember the verse in :Luke, chapter 12: "Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. I am going to think about this today.

Going Green

2009-06-03T08:52:00.001-07:00

So, in my efforts to conserve energy, save money, have new material for blogging, I decided to hang out a load of laundry. It was a beautiful, warm, Monday morning and I really wanted to let global warming work for me. Only problem, it is now Wednesday morning that the laundry is still out there. Do you think it is dry yet?

Boykin Springs

2009-05-30T11:09:00.001-07:00

This is a shot of a place I used to go often when I was a kid. Natual springs coming out of rocks and flowing through the forest. A little way over is a lake where we spent many afternoons swimming and having picnics. It was interesting returning with my kid so many years later. The park has been redone and is very beautiful. The creek is clear again and if you are brave enough you can wade all the way through. We only saw one little snake and it didn't even try come near us, so we didn't get too spooked. This is a great place to visit. About 16 miles south of Zavalla towards Jasper and a whole carload of people can spend the day there for only $3.00. I'm not sure what expense that covers but in today's economy it is a great deal. Call me if you want to go down there, I am a great tour guide.

A Trip to The Big City

2009-05-30T11:00:00.000-07:00

I sort of expect this where I come from , but not in the City!!!!!! I couldn't believe when I went to visit Mel that this was at her next door neighbor's. And she had just been kidding me about turning my old potty into a flower planter. This was too funny and I just had to get a pic for the blog.
We have been busy watching our garden grow and doing not a whole lot of anything. I have been suffering from tennis elbow (from painting!) so I had to stop with the home repairs for a few weeks. Looks like I am going to heal up nicely, so I will be back in the paint clothes with drop cloths everywhere soon. Oh yea, I am having company this week. A few of my girlfriends, and I just can't wait to see them. At least this time, I know for sure they are coming to see me and not my house!!!! Anyway, I rest easy knowing that they will not even be tempted to break a "ten commandment" after seeing my place. Just in case, I have a sign posted on the door: Thou Shalt Not Covet...... (don't worry you won't).

Sew long for now
Lisa

Tractor Day Finally Arrived

2009-05-09T06:35:00.001-07:00

This is the day for which he has been waiting for more than 12 years. The look on his face is him smiling with teeth! He knew this was going on the blog so it's his fault that he posed with such a silly expression. As a matter of fact, when I heard him pull up with the tractor and ran outside with the camera, I heard him tell Ethan that I was just getting new material for my blog! So, He Knows!! So of course, they cranked her up (she doesn't have a name yet) and drove around a bit. This morning he was up bright and early to get started. So over the sound of me typing, I can hear the tractor mowing outside and hitting lots of big stuff. Should look much better around here by tonight. I'll "sew" let you know how things are going!

How Does Your Garden Grow?

2009-05-07T19:14:00.001-07:00

This is number one son's garden. He has tomatoes and peppers so far. I have asked for some space for my 2 tomato plants and a few cucumber plants, but alas his garden is full and I must look elsewhere. I started a new plot only to find out from hubby that the water line ran through there. What, he thinks I am going to dig down that far and hard. No way, I was planning to just did some little holes with a spoon and get it done! So, tomorrow I will search the place again for a good sunny spot and dig in the dirt a little. I wonder how long before I can go out and pick a warm, vine rippened, red, luscious tomato and bite down into it, squirting seeds and juice everywhere, right in my own back yard? Don't worry, I will of course take a picture of it first for you all to see.

I Finally Sewed Something

2009-05-07T18:58:00.001-07:00

Finally, the bathroom curtains are finished. You can't see the long panel on the other side of the shower but it is there. It covers floor to ceiling shelves. I also hemmed the four long panels in the dining area and made a small valance for over the sink. I am so happy to be able to sew in my newly organized and somewhat cleaned out sewing room. On another subject, but same picture, notice the shower/tub arrangement on the right side of the picture. This was our first major purchase when we decided to move to the farm. Now, my husband, Mr. Contemplative, Compare, Shop Around, Think About, etc.. actually made a somewhat impulse buy for this kit. We walked into Home Depot on a Sunday afternoon for something (I have already forgotten) and noticed this very nice looking tub/shower kit on clearance for less than half the original price. Now, I am a great bargain shopper and was ready to snatch right up, but I was shocked that my husband was as excited as I was. He actually made me and our daughter stand there and keep our hands on it while he went after a large cart. We then had to wait with it in the front of the store while he went home to switch his car for our truck. Ok, now skip forward several weeks to when we finally got it installed and I got to settle in for my first bubble bath after working hard, hard, hard on the house. Let me illustrate the event: Imagine trying to bath your cabbage patch doll in your barbie bath tub! How had we miscalulated so badly? That tub is small and I am not, so I was totally shocked that I barely fit down into the tub. I would still be stuck there exept I let the soap float around some until I got slippery enough to crawl out. I couldn't even wash properly! Don't laugh, I love bubble baths. I need bubble baths, I must go on a diet so that I can fit into my bathtub, or it is just showers for me. I actually saw a kiddie pool at the Dollar General today and considered buying it for out behind the house. How sad is that?? It looks good though :(

Sew long for now

Lisa

You Can Have A Coke!!

2009-05-07T18:52:00.001-07:00

No Mena, that one is mine. You can have a coke!! Actually who told her I have given up diet Dr. Pepper at home, going on two weeks now. That's right, who does she think she is, the diet police?? Ok, so I cheated and got one at the store this morning. I was doing some work outside and just set it down for a minute. When I went back to get it, it was gone! I knew immediately what had happened. She had carried it across the yard and ran to move it when she saw me going after it. Don't worry, I did not drink it. I had to throw away. I am not that desperate!

Back at the Farm

2009-04-27T08:54:00.001-07:00

This room is the first to be finished and I love the way it turned out. When I returned from Alabama and walked into the house my son was mopping the floors. That was a wonderful sight to see. They know I like a clean house and so they were trying to hurry up and get things back in order since I had been gone. Well done guys, the house looks great. Steve got the sink installed in the bathroom so I can brush my teeth in there now instead of the kitchen! I will post new pic of that room soon. I have to finish painting the bathroom and kitchen this week so I will be adding those pictures to the blog. But first, a quick trip to "town" to get new phones, more milk and bread and maybe a new microwave..... Sew much still to do!!

Love ya
Lisa

SPF 30 - and a Good Hat

2009-04-27T08:49:00.001-07:00

She did look kind of funny for a few hours, but a lot of extra makeup blended everything quite well and she looked good for the show. She looks like she doesn't feel well, but don't worry, she was fine. I think she was "put out" because I kept looking at her and laughing. Maybe because I called her batman the rest of the trip. Actually though, this in our last night on the beach and we were both a little sad to be leaving. We were hoping to stay in the sand long enough to get tired of it, but it didn't work. That sand feels like baby powder. It was so white and soft. We have lots of good memories of our trip and even more good pics!

This is Me, Working......

2009-04-27T08:41:00.001-07:00

This view will inspire even the most burned out of workers, me included. So, I stayed here a lot over the last few days. The weather was perfect, cool in the shade and warm in the sun. We actually had one small rain shower the very first day when we arrived, but we think it was just so that God could say hello to us. When we stepped out on the beach there was a rainbow. That was our promise that God was giving us a special blessing and we had worship right there on the beach. We are so blessed with all of our Spa Girl friends and the great things they do for us.

We spent 3 days sitting on the beach, lots of long walks and reading. I think if the whole world could do this every few months, we would have much more peace. I used spf 50 sunscreen so you can't even tell I was there, but Melissa used spf 30 and you really could see a big difference. But hey, I'll let you decide.

Working Vacation?

2009-04-27T08:35:00.001-07:00

Don't you wish your office looked like this? I just need a bigger desk is all. As you can see, we had a great time (The Spa Girls) on our little side trip before heading up to Birmingham to speak at the Lifeline Children's Services fundraiser banquet. Dee Dee invited us to use her condo at Gulfshores, AL and we had a great time! We actually did some business, I mean really, you can be more creative when you are relaxed, at least Mel and I can! However, we didn't have WiFi so that is why I have been away for a few days. I will be adding more pics of the trip and the happenings over the next few days so keep in touch. Until then, remember, you are sewed loved!

Lisa

Update for My Dedicated Followers

2009-04-20T16:54:00.000-07:00

Hello out there. My computer at home has been very sick this week and there are no computer geeks in my neighborhood. Steve has been giving treatment and it should be well very soon. Until then, I am borrowing my friend's computer but it does not have any of my pictures on it yet, so.. I promise to try to download some of my newest pictures and add to the blog by tomorrow!

Until then, I had a great time visiting with my friends L.S. and E.S. last week. I also went fishing with Ethan and caught a fish!! It was so big it bent my rod but Ethan showed me how to reel it in properly so it would not break the line. Next week we are going to learn how to clean the fish so we can take them home and eat them!!

I am heading off for the beach in Gulf Shores, AL so I will be sure to add some picures of that too.

Love you Sew much
Lisa :)

Lisa's Sew Fun - NOT!

2009-04-05T10:51:00.001-07:00

Does it look like anyone can have fun in this room? We are headed off to Home Depot to buy yet another metal shelf. This will make five so far. 2 in kitchen, 2 in laundry/study and then one for the sewing room. Who am I kidding, I don't even think one will be enough, but will have to do for now. I have been to total frustration, camped out there, out on holiday and back again, sometimes all within the same hour. Yesterday, I was informed by someone (will not name names, but his initials are SS) that I was having a bad attitude. I totoally agreed with him, which did nothing to help the current situation.

He has been great at hauling and moving stuff as I sort through, throw around and repack the things that just don't fit. He has convinced me to have a garage sale. Can you believe it? Actually, I come off looking pretty smart leaving him thinking it is his idea, which translated means, he will help. Since I did not want to have one, I get extra credit for agreeing to it. So that means we have to box everything up into yet another catagory; garage sale. Currently we were working with three catagories, thrift shop, long term storage, and short term storage (which just means less secure location because long term storage got full). Since I have already worn out my welcome at the thrift shop we will be having the big MOVING SALE! SS wanted to have an estate sale but I informed him I would have to kill him first because that is usually held after someone has died and the house is empty. So, if you are headed this way, there will be lots of bargains. Until then, pray that I don't do something to make this thing become a bonafide estate sale!

Morning View

2009-04-05T10:37:00.000-07:00

This is the first thing I see when I wake up in the mornings. If you look closely, you can see the back of the rocking chair and then a sweet meadow in the background (sorry for poor pic quality. Hard to take shot of open window, it looks like a lake out there but it is just a meadow). The empty pillow beside me means that hubby has already gotten up to make the coffee. Sweet!

Finally Moved In

2009-03-28T18:25:00.001-07:00

I don't know why they call it moving in when we can't even move around in here. So, we finally got most of the stuff from Houston relocated to the farm house. This is the dining room still full of boxes to unpack. I have a new theory about moving now. When relocating to a much smaller space, just move the absolute, and I do mean absolute necessities first. Unpack everything and live there for a week. Then and only then, go back to the old house and pack up the rest of the items you just can't live without. For all others, store or donate to a worthy cause. I tried to make the decision about what to get rid of before actually moving in. Didn't work. Now, I have to unpack all of the boxes, look at everything, decide again what to keep and toss and then repack to send someplace else. Does this sound redundant at all to anyone but me? I still have a complete truck load at the old house, and really, besides my son's bed and maybe my desk, I don't even know what is still there that I really need. I think the decision to toss would come much easier if I had done it the other way. Anyway, that is a lot of words to say that basically I will be unpacking, sorting, crying, screaming, and then packing and delivering again before I can say that my work here is complete. By the way, who bought all this stuff and what the heck were they thinking anyway?? More updates later......

How Many Boxes...

2009-03-22T16:49:00.001-07:00

....does it take to pack up 28 years of living? A lot as you can see. Maybe 200 or more? And I pride myself on regular purging of stuff. Problem seems that the more I purge the more I replace or something like that. Anyway, I am wondering why I have so much stuff. How do you decide to not acquire things that you love? When we were early married and still in school it was because we just couldn't afford to buy stuff. But look at us now, we seemed to have progressed enough in our professions that we can buy most any stuff we want.... So, how do you stop wanting? I think one big answer is that you need to move more. That really puts all this into perspective for me. It is hard to decide what to keep, store or give away. What if I need something and have to re-buy it?? So anyway, that is my big concern right now along with, of course, who is going to pack the rest of this stuff and most importantly who is going to unpack it and where is it going to go? I have a strong feeling that by the time it is packed, loaded and unloaded I am going to be questioning if I really want it enough to unpack and find space. The big lesson here has been taught since Bible times. ...lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and rust do easily decay, instead build up treasures in heaven. I am asking God to show me what that means for me and my hobby of shopping and accumulating. I think maybe He has better things to occupy my time. The Spa Girls say that these days we tend to have so much stuff that our stuff has us! Do you know what I mean?

Tom Sawyer Look-a-Like???

2009-03-20T10:51:00.000-07:00

She does look like she is having fun doesn't she. This is Melissa hard at work on the living room primer job. We painted and sang old Christian songs at the top of our lungs, just that one day. The next day Melissa had to have some relaxation therapy for her pulled muscles in her back. I'm sure it was all the singing, not the painting and cleaning! Anyway, we got so much more done with the two extra hands. The house is almost ready for move day, just have a few things that need to be done, but they will have to wait until after the move. We are back home for the weekend to get everything packed up and ready for the movers on Tuesday.

This Mess is a Place??

2009-03-17T17:16:00.000-07:00

Ok, another shot of Spa Bear, and she is looking worried. The movers are bringing the furnishings in a few days and this place is still very messy. Not very 'spa like' that's for sure. Oh well, Spa Bear will go safely back into her box until the paint is put away and the sheet rock dust settles. What she doesn't know is that the furnishings and belongings of the new tenants here have not even been packed up yet, so there still a lot to do before this week is over!

Spa Bear Gets a New Room

2009-03-17T17:09:00.000-07:00

This room is the new sewing room. It is the palest pink and will be a great place for Spa Bear aka Teddy Graham to reside. She loves anything pretty and pink and right now the walls and floor are very pretty and clean. The only problem is that the room is very small, so it will be a challenge to get all the craft and sewing stuff to fit in there and still leave room for Spa Bear to have a relaxing place in the farm house. We will post another picture after the movers bring the stuff!

Dream Kitchen? Not!

2009-03-14T07:58:00.000-07:00

This is my old/new kitchen. Hopefully by the time I move in (week after next) the floor will be
updated and the drop cloths will be gone. My son spent several hours scrubbing the cabinets clean. I don't know how they became so dirty, but it appears that they had been deep fried in grease. Anyway, he was determined and he did a great job. Anyone notice that the dishwasher is missing. I think this kitchen was built way before dishwashers. I am not willing to sacrifice space for a portable dishwasher so I guess we go back to hand washing. The floor is getting placed in today so I will follow later with an "after" picture.

COME AND LISTEN TO A STORY.....

2009-03-13T14:13:00.000-07:00

This is the house where I and my family have happily lived for the last five years. Last October, we decided to sell this house and move to a rural area to begin a slower, simplier life. Yea, right!

We have begun an adventure that should take us a least through our son's high school graduation in about 3 more years. Our new home is located back in rural east Texas where I actually grew up and graduated from high school. We have had a small house there on about 20+ acres and we are going to relocate there with all the stuff from the big house. I have been telling my friends that we are downsizing and downgrading.... however, we couldn't be more excited. Even our 16 year old son is excited. We haven't moved yet and already one neighbor has invited him to ride his horse anytime he wants and the other neighbor has invited him to fish in his catfish pond anytime. He thinks he is actually moving to his "dream home". He may never want to grow up and leave! YIKES!

Anyway, please be reminded that this blog is really about my sewing and craft adventures, but as of right now I will be throwing in a lot of home improvement projects as well. I will be living in a virtual gold mine of DIY projects. So, keep checking back in for the progress on the move and the "fixin" up of the old homeplace. Check out the pics over on the side as well. See you soon!