Have You Seen This??

Probably - it's been all over the internet, like here and here .

But, did you know there is actually a PATTERN for this loveliness? Check it out on Spotlight Australia. It's the first one and is a free, downloadable pattern!

I think it's definitely better without the extra sleeve...

My Creative Space - well, not exactly... (and a freebie cross-stitch to finish)

You may remember this cross-stitch from here . I haven't gotten very far on it in a month.

This is a picture of it finished (in the pattern book).

I was making it for a charity I stitch for that makes blankets for children with terminal and life-long illnesses. You can check them out here. Anyway, each blanket has a deadline and there was no way I was going to make it this time. That's bad enough, but I really began to dislike the pattern and I know that I will never finish it, even for another child. I feel so guilty about this, but I've been talking long and hard to myself and have decided that I will just begin another one with no deadlines (where you don't sign up for a specific child) and go on with life. Also, I have a crochet blanket destined for Project Linus so I will finish up the loose ends (literally) on it and take it to my drop-off place.

Sorry this is so depressing, but I just feel so bad about it. I had decided that I would definitely, absolutely stitch for any child from Texas, and of course this one is -- so there you go, even more guilt...

Hey! I just had an idea -- if anyone reading this would like to finish it, I'll be happy to send it and a copy of the directions to you. It's on 14 count Aida, cut to 13"x13". I should add that I was only going to make the part with the fish bowl and the one cat on the right side so it would fit into the dimensions needed by Love Quilts. The fish bowl part is all half cross stitch. (You'll have to provide your own thread, however...)

Anyway, if you'd like it, please email me via the address on my profile page.

OK, time to get moving again. I'm going to go crochet some scarves and neck warmers for the shop. And then, very soon, start another cross-stitch.

Eye Spy - Something I Shouldn't Eat But Do Anyway

Oh Yeah...definitely Blue Bell

My downfall in life is ice cream -- and it absolutely must be Blue Bell -- and the top two are Cookies 'n Cream and Moo-llennium Crunch (totally decadent). If there is ice cream in the freezer, it calls to me like a siren song and gets me in trouble every time. I can't just have a little ice cream, I must have huge scoops of unprecedented size. As much as I can cram into my bowl.

So, to try to get past this, my hubby (who can eat only a tiny bit and be satisfied, the snake) started to buy it in the pint size. But no, this did not work -- we would finish the whole thing between us -- and definitely not evenly -- a bit heavier on my side. So, now I simply cannot have the heavenly Blue Bell around at all. Well, maybe every now and then ;)

But wait!! They've now come out with Blue Bell on a stick!!

I am saved!!!

(For more delicious gotta haves, go to bugandpop and join in!)

Great Giveaway!

Win this "Tweety" Pillow!

You could win this beautiful pillow from The Lavendar Tree -- just go to Resweater who's hosting the giveaway. I know I'm entering! Also visit The Lavendar Tree's Etsy Shop to see some really wonderful designs -- her pillows are amazing!

Resweater has an Artfire shop where she sells thrifted wool sweaters so you can do your own felting and making. She posts links to shops selling all manner of things made from felted wool -- definitely a must-see! I love to follow along and grab some ideas! Or just salivate... Or buy!

So, enter to win and then check out these shops -- remember Christmas is just around the corner :)

In the Front Yard, After the Rain

Mushrooms!

Little Elf umbrellas...

Patrick Swayze

I've had a crush on Patrick Swayze for a very long time -- something about the combination of a very masculine, rugged man who is also a wonderful dancer. The "rugged boy with a poet's soul" (from a poem about my astrological sign (gemini) when I was a teen, you know, the boy I would love and all that). Oh yeah, Dirty Dancing is another one of my favorite movies that I can watch over and over.

Rest in peace - you will always be remembered.

photo from here

Doin' the Mud Dance

A bug, a bug!


Doin' the mud dance....

This is what all that rain gets us -- Mud Noli! It's a shady area where grass will not grow...

Eye Spy and First Sale!

Eye Spy Season Change

Rain, rain go away... it's been raining since Friday with little let-up. Today has just been drizzle though. I tried to take a picture of the drizzle but all I got was puddles. So I guess that's our season change here in Texas! It doesn't get even cool here until October and sometimes later. I do remember taking the kids trick-or-treating and having to wear a coat but now it's still shorts weather. Global warming perhaps?

My backyard looks like a lagoon!!

See more eye-spys here! And I hope you're a lot drier!!

And, drum roll please!!

I got my first sale on Etsy!!! My store's been open since Sept. 1 and still doesn't have too many listings so I feel pretty dad-gum good about the sale!! I'm crocheting a little pumpkin baby hat right now to add to the Halloween listings. I have renewed etsy excitement!!!

Etsy and My Creative Space

Yahoo!

I finally got my Etsy shop set up! I'm still working on it but I guess you always are anyway. Right now I'm trying to get all those pumpkins listed! Good grief, figuring the shipping drives you nuts! I've got so many ideas, so little time.... but I'm so excited! I've wanted to open an Etsy shop for the longest time - I've been a shopper for almost two years - so I feel so good that it's finally done!

Now for My Creative Space for this week. Besides Etsy I've been working on this:

Can you figure out what it is? I'll give you a little hint (whispering) -- it's cross-stitch! Ha! Bet you didn't know that, did you? I can tell you this - stitching is so very relaxing. Maybe next week I can let you in on a little more...

Ooh ooh! Flash Dance is on tonight!! Oh yeah I'll be watching... it's one of my all time favorite movies! Love the leap over the chairs. I haven't seen it in years so gotta watch tonight! Love them dancin' movies : )

My Creative Space

Pumpkins!

Fall/Halloween is just around the corner!! I long for crisp, cool fall weather and leaves that actually change color. TX gets cool about November...

I'm working on the crochet pumpkins right now. The ceramic and wood stuff are things I had forgotten I had. I used to be in craft malls (when they existed around here) and this particular one closed suddenly when the manager ran away with the money -- the crafters' money. The owners closed the shop and when they reopened it, they absorbed it into their antique mall. So, since I had recently decorated my booth with Halloween, this was pretty much what was left. I was poking around in the shed yesterday, and opened a plastic bin and there they were! So I wiped everything off for good measure and took off ribbon or raffia. Now I'll cutesy them up again and they'll go in my soon to open Etsy shop! (Determined to have that done by Sunday)