12.13.14 (almost)

I didn't get this finished yesterday which was the cool 12.13.14.  However because it is so fun to type it will be the post title for the day:)  I am using a header picture that I used in 2011 and it is really hard to believe how fast the years have gone.  I love the card with the three girls (a Lisi card I think). We don't have a Christmas tree yet but I had fun trying to make our house look more Christmasy!  I think lights make anything look better. Here are a couple of phone snapshots.  I also hung ornaments on the stairs but haven't taken a picture yet.

The lights look even better in person!

This is from IKEA:)

There have been so many fun ideas on different blogs.  Hope you are enjoying them.  Have a wonderful day!

Birthdays!

Today is just a personal post about how happy I am to have a birthday today!  I am blessed to have a wonderful husband who helps me in my (at least a week long) celebration.  Of course I am most thankful for every minute of life God has given me!  My three A's are definitely a blessing and my mother and siblings and mother-in-law and nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles, and friends are too.  It is a wonderful day even though it is cloudy and cold. I have not taken as many pictures this fall :( but here are some that hint at the beautiful color we enjoyed.  I hope you will have a day filled with blessings and a chance to be grateful for all of them!

I had to show the first snow fall!

I Like the Apple Watch!

Hello!  I am changing what I'm doing on this blog again.  The three posts a week was a good idea but it didn't work for me right now so I'm back to just posting when I can.  So today was a big day for Apple announcements and I think that the Apple Watch is a great!   Bigger screens for phones - a great improvement!  Apple Pay - probably an interesting idea but will I use it?  Not sure.  

So here is my picture of the day:

This is a notecard I recently made.  The bicycle was cut on the Silhouette Portrait.  The paper tape found on clearance at Target:)  Have a fun day!

Book Monday...

Well as they say "the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry"... So I am hoping that perhaps I will get at least one week done with my new plan:)  Since this is Book Monday I have changed the order and added a few things to the sidebar "Favorite Books".  Children's books have always been a favorite of mine.  One that motivated me to knit a pair of mittens is Sunny's Mittens by Robin Hansen.   If you or your children have any interest in knitting this is a great book.  Adding the thumb was the hardest for me but a good knitting friend can come to your rescue!  Another interesting knitting books written for kids but with lots of fun projects is  Kids Knitting by Melanie Falick.  I'm still hoping to try those spiral socks:)

Here is the picture of the day which really has nothing to do with knitting but love the colors:

Have a wonderful week and read a book and start a new craft!

Book Monday

Yes, I know it is Tuesday but I'm trying to follow my plan!  There are many types of books that I have in my library and a few favorites are listed here on the right side.  (This list will be reorganized soon:)  My book to focus on today is one I bought this summer from a book club sale.  The title is Patchwork, Please! and the author is Ayumi Takahashi  It is available from Amazon (just click on the book title).  It has a collection of fun "Zakka" projects and plenty of helpful instructions.  One of the things that I really like are the print fabrics (lots with type and some vintage inspired) and the natural linen she used.  I have been trying some online sources looking for these types of fabrics and will certainly share my sources if I find some.  Here is a picture of the book cover:

I will be using one of the projects for later posts.  Happy reading and sewing!  Just make something!

Reorganization!

As I have been thinking about the reason and purpose of my blog and looking for the direction it should take I haven't posted anything since April!  In the beginning my blog was more a pictorial record of my days (pictures I found interesting and also projects usually related to fiber).  When I read other blogs I have wondered if I should try and get more than my two followers/readers!  However, my research indicates it is probably not to make money that someone blogs but rather to share what they are doing with others.  I certainly can identify with Alicia Paulson's (Posie Gets Cozy) statement  "I love to make things".  Because I like to make things with fabric, yarn, paper, etc. my plan at this time is to focus on three posts per week.  Books, quilting, and a miscellaneous sewing project will be the first subjects.  Hopefully I will be able to include photos for each post. I am planning to start with Book Monday on the 18th of August.  I'm looking forward to trying a more organized approach to blogging and getting more done at the same time!  Here is a random photo from my summer:

May you be having a great summer!

Spring flowers...

We may not have flowers blooming in Michigan but there are definitely flowers in southern California!  I was blessed to be able to visit my daughter for a few days and was delighted with all the flowers in bloom.  A special treat was a visit to the Flower Fields (Carlsbad, CA) where there were probably 40 acres of ranunculus flowers in bloom!  Here are a few pictures:

May you have some flowers in your day!

Winter is Still Here...

Even though I love my sunflower picture it does not portray the winter we are still having in Michigan.  So before Spring really arrives here are a few pictures to finish the winter season.

Lake Michigan!  93 percent frozen this year!

St. Joseph, Michigan.  The lighthouse always looks good!

Maybe he is ready for Spring too!

Happy Kansas Day!

In case you didn't know today is Kansas Day!   Kansas became a state on January 29, 1861.  When I was in school we always learned songs about Kansas and had some sort of unit on Kansas history.  The song line "I was born in Kansas, I was bred in Kansas, and when I get married I'll be wed in Kansas" has always stuck with me! I think I have some sunflower (state flower) pictures somewhere but the black-eyed susan will have to be a stand in.  It helps me remember summer is coming!  So here is a cherry picture too:)

Have a happy day!!!

Happy New Year!

With that very original title I will begin my first blog for 2014.  I have written down some goals for the new year and hope to establish some new habits!  Here in northern Michigan we have lots of beautiful snow and very cold temperatures!  I love the fall picture I had as the header picture but decided I must get up to date and that means a winter picture. Here are a few more winter snow pictures:

Enjoy the snow while it is here!