Make Hay when the Sun Shines

Make Hay When the Sun Shines.

I've heard this through out my life and think it makes good sense.

My take on this farmers cliche is....Make Totes at Christmastime.

I have been buried beneath fabric filling orders 16 hours a day for a few months now. I confess I miss the blogging world. I miss my family, miss calling my Mom & Sisters and oftentimes miss the spirit of Christmas when I'm locked in the studio trying to meet deadlines.

But, there is one thing I know for sure. These two peeps make it all worth it. This year, during the busy season, I've tried to take "Cocoa Breaks" to enjoy the kids for short bursts of time. I'm not sure if they've even noticed, but, I know I cherish these few minutes of love & laughter in the kitchen. Today while sipping his cocoa, Little Man told me, "Oh, I really need this 1st cup of coffee today." Yea, me too.

Bit of a Funk

I've always dreamt of owning two homes. One would be a condo in a sky-rise in a major metropolitan city with a view of the bay. The other would be a historic victorian sitting atop rolling hills, surrounded by pastures, and a big red barn for my sewing studio, of course. Hubby and I have talked about this on occasion and he's never quite had the same vision as me. The hard work and disruption to our lives during remodeling wouldn't be worth it in his mind. Hmmmfffff.

Well let me tell you, he is so right.

Today is the first day in two weeks in which we do not have contractors in the house. I've always recognized the fact I need a routine, I need my house in order, I need to have supper planned and prepped before lunch and I despise people who can function with spontaneity.

I thought the sheer joy of having our flooring projects done would surely supersede the overwhelming feeling of losing control. NOT.

He is so right.

The P word is a four letter word in our house. I begin each morning with the question, "What is the plan?" In fact, each day, week, month, year is measured in terms of having a plan.

So you can imagine the funk I've been in by having my fridge & stove in the middle of the kitchen and having toilets in the bathtubs for 2 consecutive weekends. My poor kids would tiptoe down the stairs each morning and cautiously look at me to see, "is Mommy still in a funk."

The projects are complete. I feel myself beginning to thaw, to decompress. I've set aside my dreams of restoring an old victorian for now and will appreciate the fine craftsmanship of our recent home projects and not Plan another project unless it can be done while I'm away.

Happy Sewing

Welcome Home Autumn...

Crunchy Leaves Underfoot

New England Clam Chowder

Nana's Apple Pie

Country Roads all Aglow

Pumpkins & Scarecrows

Hayrides & Apple Cider

Mums & Gourds

Cheesy Potato Soup in Bread Bowls

to name just a few

We are so happy to see you!

I walked in on my Husband.....

........while he was looking at bedroom sets on-line. Can you imagine? Every girls dream! He informed me he would like to give me a bedroom makeover, new carpet, paint, linens, update our bedroom set, add a free standing fireplace, for my birthday/our anniversary.

He was hesitant to mentioned it as he wasn't sure if I would be happy about it. Are you kidding me?!!!! This was a few days ago....THAT is all I'm thinking about. Our bedroom is approximately 17x20....I've sat-n-stared and redesigned our bedroom 100's of times in my mind. After all, it has the original mint green paint from when we purchased the house....eeewwww.....no offense original owners, just not my cup of tea.

Which leads me to this post. I think it's only fair to share our last little makeover. While I was busy sewing, consumed with my little home studio, darling hubby did all of the research to upgrade our appliances.

Out with the old....

Just look at this fridge. Do they even make 'em like this any more?

In with the new...

I think he did a fabulous job, don't you?!

This is the look Sir Earl Grey was giving me while I stood on the kitchen table to snap the pictures....good thing he can't tell the kids!

These are the Moments that Define Us

The Quiet Times

Celebrating Nature

in Awe over our Surroundings

We send them out into the world to become fully functioning young adults, yet, it all starts right here, at home, celebrating our own faith, family & love.

We pray, as Mom's & Dad's that our decisions today encourage them to grow up to be compassionate, charitable, trustworthy and happy.

Quick Fix

As we get acclimated to the new school routines, I have been diligent about being in the kitchen while the kids do their homework at the bar each afternoon. Once dinner is prepared, I've been finding busy work for myself in the kitchen while they finish up their studies.

Today, I needed a quick fix for the junk drawer. Do you have a junk drawer...is it just that, j-u-n-k? Does your husband rummage through the junk drawer on a weekly basis, unable to locate what he's in search of - and you feel like you are failing as a stay-at-home mom (with a full-time sewing business) because you are losing control over the clutter?

Well, I've seen pretty organizers in the stores, but, am too frugal to upgrade mine since they are fully functioning organizers.

In less than 15 minutes, I transformed my organizers with 2 sheets of scrapbooking cardstock.

I love my junk drawer!

Sew Happy

Oftentimes, people ask me if I ever tire of sewing. If it is repetitive work. Each time, I have to hold myself back from oozing with enthusiasm. I love to sew PERIOD.

I met a delightful woman from Michigan on the phone awhile back. A mom. A sister. A friend. A woman of faith. She is currently juggling life raising

F-O-U-R children ages 4 and under. WOW.

Amazingly, I hung up the phone inspired by her energy. Her ability to appear completely sane when realistically, she is probably sleep deprived, overcome with laundry, diapers to change and mouths to feed.

She ordered a set of totes from LBs Sewing Sanity to take on a trip with the kids and her sister. With each stitch, I was thinking about the children - ages 17 weeks to 4 yrs. Thinking about her being able to meet her sister for the weekend & the memories they'll share.

With each stitch, I was thanking God for the blessings I have that allow me to share my passion for sewing with others.

Happy Sewing!

Soooo Much More Than a Bowl of Green Beans

To the naked eye, this appears to be a bowl of beans. Just a hill of beans. A crock of beans. But, to me, it is so much more than that. The scent of the green beans. The texture of the beans. The snap of the bean. It's a flash back in time. It's a distant memory of yesteryear. A yearning to drift back to simpler times. My heart is overcome with nostalgia when I'm swept back to Cherry Hill Road.

Cherry Hill Road, my Grandparents home. A simple white Cape Cod home, surrounded by five acres of rolling hills, a small guest house, a horse pasture, numerous barns & chicken coops, a swimming hole and a picnic table.

Many a nights were spent sitting at the picnic table snapping beans for supper. Now, 30 years later, I look in my sons' eyes and wonder if one day, he'll remember snapping beans.

Sew Fun

When I should have been filing paperwork and updating my accounting records, I designed these darling little organizers. Once I started, I couldn't stop. It wasn't enough to sketch a drawing of the desired size, I then had to pick out the fabric. I most certainly had to make a prototype or two while the idea was fresh in my mind.

Before I even started, I knew in my heart, the 1st organizers would be for my niece & nephew. I miss them so!

Happy Sewing!

Fabric Fabric Fabric

Raise your hand if fabric speaks to you?

Do you ever stroll through the fabric store and feel the urge to cover your ears because several bolts of fabric know you by name. My husband will read this and certainly declare I've completely lost my mind, but, I know several of you ladies know exactly what I'm talking about...and if it's not fabric it's shoes!

While in New England, we visited a quaint Little Quilt Shop, Apple Tree Quilt Fabrics. I was vibrating with excitement. I had to remind myself to breathe as I was experiencing shortness of breath with several new Moda prints.

I could not leave these prints behind.....aren't they darling!

I plan to make a little girls apron with these two. I'm designing one to look more like a twirly dress than the traditional aprons I typically make.

I've come up with a few designs for Christmas stockings for these two.

And finally, coffee & donuts! I WILL make an apron that reads, "Will Cook for Donuts"

Can't wait to get started. Happy Sewing.

A Story About Frogs....

For us, it all started at Thread City Cafe in Willimantic CT. We noticed frogs everywhere. My favorite frogs were perched on spools of thread on the bridge in the center of town.

While dining at the Thread City Cafe we learned in the mid 1700's, during the French and Indian War, the towns people woke to unexplainable loud noises outside. The women and children were scared. The men prepared for battle while listening to the mournful noises, assuming the sounds were from the approaching Indians.

When the men marched to the perimeter of the town, they found 1000's of bull frogs in a pond that had dried up (records indicate either from drought or drained from a nearby mill). The horrifying sounds were from the remaining frogs in search of water. Although Windham did not have a newspaper at the time, word spread and this was referred to as the battle of the frogs. For generations, this story was shared and Windham took the brunt of many jokes. Now, it appears the towns people share a common pride with the frog story and it clearly plays an important part in Windham's history. Ribbit...Ribbit...

An Unplanned Day...

Ever have one of those days in which you wake up with absolutely nothing planned? Probably like most of you, this does not happen very often, especially while on vacation.

We had one of those days recently. Nope, nada, nothing planned. A day to recuperate after a few days in NYC. Well, this lasted a nano-second before I started texting my sibs. After all, we are home visiting family; shouldn't I spend every waking moment doing something?

Thus far, this was the BEST day of our vacation. My sibs came to the lake with their kids. No stories to share, jokes to tell, or news to announce. Just unconditional love & laughter only family can share.