Bearded Dragon

Love those days when I can spend time with my grandchildren.
And, today was one of those times.  While Mommy and
Ty went to their doctor appointments, Kohler and I ran
errands and then headed back home as he wanted to do
some sewing.

He loves it when we download clip art he likes, trace it
onto muslin and then let him "stitch" away.  He really is
getting better and it is so fun to watch him as he
concentrates on his stitches.

Today he chose to embroider a "bearded dragon" which
I simplified somewhat for him.  Think he did a great
job and he was very proud of his efforts.  He and his
mom will frame it this evening.

 

Cancer Totes

While catching up on blogs last week, I read Barb's
blog about making tote bags for cancer.  She posted the
website http://mjslostcause.wordpress.com and I
decided to check it out.  So glad I did!  I'm always
looking for a way to "pay it forward" for all the
kindnesses shown to me when I was going through
my cancer.  So this weekend I rummaged through
my fabrics and made five bags.

Then, remembering how my nose ran/dripped as I
went through chemo, decided to make matching
tissue holders for each bag.

This morning while I was talking with a friend who is
also making a bag to send, she mentioned that her
next door neighbor and also a friend of mine, has
been diagnosed with breast cancer.

So, I quickly cut out and stitched her a bag and
tissue holder.  Added a notebook, pencil, lotion,
hand sanitizer and will add some chocolate and
drop it off to her this afternoon.

I'm so grateful to have seen Barb's blog and learn
about these bags from MJ's website because now
when I learn of someone facing the rigors of cancer
I can make them a cancer tote.

Change of Pace

Every once in a while it is nice to do something different
that doesn't include stitching, piecing or quilting.  It
seems I've spent my spare time in the evenings doing
a little knitting for a good cause.

A good friend of mine has been knitting hats that
will go with a humanitarian group to South Africa April 1. 
When she asked me a week ago at church if I would be
interested in doing a few, I jumped at the chance.  It has
been awhile since I've knitted anything.   Must admit, I
have loved making these sweet little hats and thinking
about the children that may receive them.  So far I've
completed six. 

When she first told me they were to go to Africa, I
thought "why would you send winter hats there
when it is so hot?"  But, these will go to the southern
part of South Africa where they will be appreciated.

I am always touched by the kindness and goodness
of people as they reach out to help others.  And, I am
so grateful that occasionally I am able to participate
in these worthwhile projects.

March Finished!

....March Sunbonnet Sue stitchery that is!  Awhile back I
posted about finding these patterns that have been hiding
(from me) for many years and that I wanted to finish
the ones that were started and then work on the others.

Well, this afternoon I finished the March "Sue."  It only
needed a few little stitches and now it is done and
framed to be enjoyed through the month.

Now, I will have to get busy and trace the other
months and start working on them.  April will be here
before I know it.

Gratitude Sunday

Sunday's heartfelt tradition. A time to slow down, to reflect, 
to be grateful.  A list of gratitudes.

This week I am grateful for:

1.  Being able to attend church today and to be taught by
wonderful teachers and to feel the Spirit.

2.  The sweet expressions of love my son sent his sister on
her birthday.

3.  My daughter.  Thirty-five years ago, Thursday, she joined
our family.  What a blessing she is and has been to all of us.

Kerri's 1st birthday

Happy 35th Birthday

4.  My son and DIL who live in New Zealand and their desire
to keep active and healthy.  They just completed their second
half marathon.  I'm so proud of them.

We did it!

5.  That I have been able to complete the history of my
craft business, "fun things."  I have been working on this
for over a year and now it is one more thing I can cross
off my "to do"list.

Title Page and Me

fun things catalog

This was one of the last catalogs we printed.  We sold
both retail and wholesale to every state, Canada, Puerto
Rico, and Japan.

Page from Westream's Catalog in Japan

I'm grateful for the many businesses who
represented us state side and in Japan, as well
as businesses and individuals who purchased
items from us through our catalog and magazine
advertisements.

6.  That the little bird that flew into my patio
window recovered after a few hours of sitting in a
dazed state and was able to fly away.  I was very
worried that he was injured and would die.

7.  I'm grateful for sunshine!  After the past few days
of dark cloudy, stormy skies, it is wonderful to
have had sunshine today.  I loved walking to and
from church and feeling the warmth of the sun on
my face.

8.  And, as always, I'm grateful for my life, health
and family.

Memories Are Stitched.....

I recently came across this free stitchery from Kerryanne
while browsing the internet and fell in love with it.
I had just the place for it and couldn't wait to get
it stitched and framed.
 


















In my living room, I have a wall of pictures that
depict my parents, their parents, etc., when they
were young.  I wanted my children to know
that their grandparents and great grandparents
were young just like them at one time.

Also, have several pictures of me as a young
child to adult hood with my mother and sister,
plus a 5 generation picture beginning with
me and ending with my gr. gr. grandmother.
My four generation history books can also
be found there that my sister and I have
compiled.

So, I knew this would be a perfect little
addition...and it is!  I just love it and am
so happy with how it turned out.

Gratitude Sunday

Sunday's heartfelt tradition. A time to slow down, to reflect, to be grateful. A list of gratitudes.

This week I am grateful for:

Family 

I am grateful my daughter is feeling better after being
diagnosed with influenza.  Their whole family have been
quite ill and I'm so grateful they are getting on top of things.

I am grateful we could spend time together yesterday,
Saturday, celebrating Valentine's and my daughter's
birthday.  We had so much fun playing games:

Heart Stack

How many conversation candy hearts can you stack
in a minute without them falling over?

Cupid's Arrow

Blowing q-tips through a straw into a red heart-shaped
bowl.  Mom and Dad tied!

Cereal Rings on a Straw

Using one hand and a mini straw trying to get as
many cereal rings on it and into the cup in one
minute.  Harder than it looks!

Mitten Race

Race to put on over-sized gloves, unwrap candy, chew
and grab a "bubble" packing square, place on chair
and then sit on it to pop it.

Snow Shovel Race

Using a plastic spoon and only one hand, "shovel" as
many "snowballs" (cotton ball) into bowls as you can
in one minute.

Roll and Draw a Love Bug

Roll one dice and draw a love bug.  Each number on the
dice indicates a body part to draw...legs, arms, nose, etc.

Candy on Pre-Printed Paper

How quickly can you match candy to pictures on the
paper?  Yeah for Hailey!  She's our winner!

Thanks for choosing Pizza for your Birthday dinner!
We LOVE Pizza!

Getting a little help blowing out the candles!

I'm also grateful for these first two little blooms on
my crocuses telling me that Spring can't be too
far away.

I truly have much to be grateful for on this Sunday.