All Signed Up

Here is one of the few projects I finished last year at Silver Bella. Mine is on the left. Well, registration for Silver Bella 6 (www.paperbellastudio.com/pages/silverbella.htm) started last night. I'm all signed up. Here is what I'm taking: It's Ornamental ,Reverse Canvas, Forever Love Bracelet, Grace To Grow, and Creative Mise En Place. I hope to see you there. I have to download my photos of what I made for Amy's Easter Swap (http://www.craftingbycandlelight.blogspot.com/) ....actually, you'll just see how I packaged them. It is supposed to be a surprise....I think. :) They went out in the mail yesterday....I had a hard time with the last one and hope that is not the one I get back. With my luck it will be. :) Blogger sucks today. Argh.

Confession is good for the soul

I am the biggest chicken shit when it comes to driving...the anxiety and panic make me want to reach for some Zoloft. I finally drove off post today....silly, I know. I've driven elsewhere...Columbus, Birmingham....you would think that basically a straight line off post wouldn't worry me...you would be wrong. I've had the car for the last few days....hubby went TDY...normally, I'd be happy about that, but Autism Boy has lost his mind. He emptied half a bottle of baby powder in my bedroom. Oy. He did do cute stuff...he gets to go swimming today...he wore his swim trunks around the house yesterday while saying "swimmy, swimmy". He doesn't do shorts and after awhile he realized they were shorts and wanted jammies. :) I digress. I went to Walmart today. I'm in an Easter Swap and my initial plan for my craft has not worked out. I came up with a new plan, but I didn't have the right supplies. I was going to wait for hubby to get home, but thought better of it. I'm friggin 38 years old...I can go get my own shit...by myself. Wow....Walmart on a Thursday morning is pretty quiet...nice. I got to look around at whatever I wanted. I treated myself to two new cds....Sara Bareilles and Pink. I got what I needed and headed home (one place a trip...baby steps). I did stop at the Post Thrift Shop on the way home....it is inside the gate, so it doesn't count. :) I'm quite happy with myself. I've been going out and buying the paper everyday...not a horribly far walk, but I'm getting out of the house. It works out really well when I've had an Etsy sale....there is a paper machine in front of our post office. The major things on post are a five minute walk from the house....very convinent (when I don't have the car....today was the first day I used the car). :) The flower....our first poppy...I took it weeks ago, but am finally posting it. Oooh....poppies are pretty ugly before they bloom...hairy nasty things. Another confession....horribly unpatient...still waiting for Teresa to list classes for Silver Bella....I check fifty times a day...argh....she is killing me. :)

Registration is nearing....

for Year Six of Silver Bella.....so excited. I'm signed on as a sponsor again....I couldn't help myself. It is kind of fun to come up with goody bag stuff. I did that and donated goods for giveaways last year. I packaged trim and lace in leftover baked goods containers...too fun. How I'm going to top that is my main question. If you have a shop/business....Teresa can always use sponsors. It is a great way to get your name out there. She just put a few photos from last year on the Silver Bella blog (on my sidebar). Registration starts on April 1st....April Fool's Day..I wonder if that is wise?? I hope to see you there this year. :)

P.S. I would leave a lot more comments for my fellow bloggers on Blogspot, but my computer hates me and I haven't figured out how to fix it. Argh.

Good Shopkeeper, Bad Blogger

I've been taking care of my neglected little shop lately. I've been going through my six rubbermaid tubs of trims, lace, and lingerie lace. I put the ones listed in my shop in two smaller tubs (one trims/lace and one for lingerie lace) and re-marked them for easier finding. :) I filled two other small tubs with what I love and want to keep (again, one for trims/lace and one for lingerie lace) and then the two largest tubs are full of everything I want or need to get rid of at some point. I spent most of this morning, pulling stuff out of the two large tubs to measure and photograph to sell. Kind of a bulk sale...instead of offering them up by the yard. They will be at discounted prices. If you ever wanted to start designing your own clothes (mostly lingerie) here is a chance to get some fun stuff. Unfortunately, Spring Break will soon be upon me and it probably won't happen until after that. I got a lot of other stuff listed as well...loads of books, some supplies and other stuff. As I unearth it, I've been trying to be good and get it photographed and listed. I got to take a break this afternoon...I got to go see my little Billy ride a horse. His Special Needs class goes on outings every Thursday and they have been horseback riding for the last two months. It was the last one of the school year, so hubby and I went and took photos. It was so cool, but it threw him off. They get to go swimming after Spring Break...that will be one happy autistic boy. He loves water.
Oh, before I forget...I'm hostessing the Tag Swappers Tag Swap again...we take turns. The theme is "Secret Garden". If you'd like to join let me know. You need to make 20 tags and get them to me by NLT 1st of May. We've got seven slots left. We do take newbies...not everyone can do it everytime and fresh blood is always good. I need a nap, but I signed up for an Easter Swap and need to start working on that. I know I'm not getting anything done next week. :)

Petite Inspiration Boxes- Flea Market Edition

This is what I received from Nicole.







This is what I made for Nicole.

This is what I received from Anita.

This is what I made for Anita.

Nicole has a blog (www.gibbysgirl.com) , but Anita does not. I had some problems with this swap...mostly second guessing myself. I am happy with how they turned out. I love what I got in return. :)

Mini-Fabric Collage Swap

This is what Sandi made for me.

This is what I made for Sandi. I hope she likes it.

I promise there will be photos next time

I need to take a picture of what I received in the mini-fabric collage swap. I did remember to take one of what I made. I re-opened the etsy shop...not much in it for now. I'm going to work on that this weekend. I hope you all have a great weekend. :)

A good way to start and end the month

Heather is hosting another Petite Inspiration Box Swap....sign ups are on now..but join quickly...the slots go quickly. www.speckled-egg.blogspot.com She is taking the first 50 players and they are due to your partners at the end of February. I've come to realize I have way too much stuff and this will be a great way to use some of it up.

Calling all knitters and crocheters

My sister just did a post about this project..it is awesome. If I could crochet or knit...I would be all over it....seeing as I have a special of my own. :) A lot of the state deadlines are fast approaching, but if you are a super knitter/crocheter you might be able to bust out at least one scarf. Here is the website: www.scarvesforspecialolympics.org/ If you can help, please do.

January is looking up

Well...we finally have a house, our stuff, cable, phone and internet. Both boys are in school and hubby will soon go back to work (it's about time....he's been up my tush for three months too long). It has been a long three weeks. It's going to take forever to dig out from all the boxes. I wasn't going to join any swaps, but A Swap For All Seasons offered up one too good to pass by..a mini-fabric collage. I even got Wendy to sign up for it. :) Fort Huachuca is going to take some getting used to.....it's in the 70's in January, but our yard is rocks. We have a tiny patch of "dormant" grass for a backyard, but a cool little courtyard thing in the front. I wonder if I can grow some citrus here?? I need some plants...soemthing green and colorful. Everything will have to be in pots...that is okay....that is what I've used the last three duty stations. I guess that is enough for now.....I am exhausted and hurt like hell. :)

Welcome to Arizona!

We finally made it to Fort Huachuca. Texas seemed to go on forever. :) The part of New Mexico that we went through went quickly. We made great time and go here around 4:30pm MT. We'll be in Army Lodging for awhile, but we are here and that is all that matters. I am going to miss out on some great swaps though...argh. What everyone waited until my household goods got picked up to decide to host some swaps?? Oy.

E-X-A-S

Man...we drove and drove and drove some more and we have yet made it to the "T" in Texas. Even Mr. Texas was getting sick of Texas. :) We had a good time visiting his adoptive family in Scurry this weekend. I will be happy to move on to another state though. Here's to hoping for New Mexico tomorrow.

Don't Mess With Texas

Especially, if you are married to a Texan. :) It took all day to go from Birmingham to Texas. It's been a really long day...time to rest. Happy New Year!!

Back In Birmingham

We are staying over in Birmingham for the night. We couldn't resist eating at The Olive Branch (and hopefully, Wan's) one last time. The Olive Branch has the best gyros ever. The best donar kebabs are in a little stand in front of Dehner's in Augsburg, GE....I digress. Yep...I'm on the evil laptop. I got to go into Anthropologie and I didn't buy anything...they had some great mushroom ornaments for 75% off...but the line was insane. We will be back on the road tomorrow...heading for Texas. If you haven't gone to your local B&N...go and get the Nov/Dec issue of Marie Claire Idees...great ideas...even if they are in French. If nothing else...you'll look cool toting it around the store. :)

Ho, ho, ho...

Merry Christmas!! It is snowing!!!! Friggin awesome! I guess it was Santa's way to soften the blow of his other present to us. Santa gave us a big ole PCS (Army Speak for moving time). I've been going through the whole house for the last month trying to get rid of stuff. I will be sad to leave...we've enjoyed living here in Georgia for the last few years. Billy's teachers wanted to keep him.....I said no. They pack us up in a few days and then we are off on the next adventure....Arizona. Road trip. :) So this will be my last post from Georgia. I have to pack up my computer tomorrow....I'd use my husband's lap top, but that piece of technology is pure evil and hates me. I hope everyone got what they wanted for Christmas.....Santa brought me a little Olivia dressed as an artist...hey, I was a good girl this year (for me). Take care and Happy New Year!!