Tuesdays With Tag - Just Two Words...

 

 Hi, Everybody!

Those two words are...stoopid cat!

Used to be a guy could curl up on Mom's lap for a quick, cuddly afternoon kip, but not anymore. As soon as I doze off, Madame Meows A Lot jumps up and practically throws her big butt right on top of me! She's got no respect whatsoever!

She hangs out just long enough to disturb my peaceful snooze, and then she bounces off on her merry way again. One silver linin' though is that Crystal Heavy stays upstairs all the time and doesn't bother me in the least. Even so, I'm lookin' forward to milder weather so I can toss both their tails back to the barn. 

That day can't come soon enough for me, and even Bella is actin' squirrely around Claudette. They sniff noses, and then Boo assumes the play stance. Cat just tosses her head in the air and walks away. It is kind of fun to watch.

Let's see, now. Snow all last weekend and yesterday was freezin' rain. As a result, there were really no adventures for this week. Mom was gonna take us for a fun ride until the weather canceled her plans. We only went outside when we had to, and only for as long as it took to do our business. Then, right back to the house where we were all warm and cozy. There are lots of reasons why we'll all be glad when the weather breaks and spring is in the air. Time for a new season, I think. 

I'll see you again in seven. 'til then... 

"Be A Good Dog."

Teddy Tummies...

 

I received this photograph yesterday from my great-niece's mama. She added a note that said, "This is her favorite toy."  It had me grinning the rest of the day. Just look at her sweet face. I'm so happy she loves it.

It just so happens I was stitching on new teddy tummies when I received the message. I completed these by dinnertime. They're similar, but not exactly the same, as they're going to be new teddy bears for my twin great-nieces when they're finished. It's only appropriate that they not be matchy-matchy, as the young ladies are fraternal twins, so they're not exactly the same either. 

I'll cut out the fabrics for the bears today, and work on them after I get home from my hair appointment. I'll finish them soon. I may add more embroidery to the teddies, too, as the girls are five years older than "W" in the above photo. Theirs will be more "dresser dolls" than teddies they'll cart around with them, so they can be more intricate.

Tag will be back tomorrow, so I'll have extra time to complete these to share with you. He hasn't gone  shopping again since his last post, so who knows what he'll talk about with you. I'm as curious as you are! 

Sunday Scripture...

Proverbs 3:5-6

 

Saturday and More Snow...

Sleeping Hickory Hill Farm Apple and Hickory Trees

We all woke up to more snow this morning. By the time Andy had finished our other neighborhood drives (he's such a great neighbor to all of us), I'd managed to clear our sidewalk and half of the concrete in front of our garage. It makes it easier for him to move the snow if it's not so close to the buildings.

We had at least two more inches, and now the sun is out to dry off much of what's been plowed. It also makes for a brighter outlook over grey and cloudy, so I'll happily celebrate that.

I'm spending a little time in the studio, and then I'm going to finish embroidering those teddy tummies for my nieces. Right now, I'm overrun with paper, fabric and other things in my studio, so although my mind says "Clean this mess up, girl!", my heart says, "It's okay. Save it for a cloudy day." Today, the heart wins.  

Seriously, weren't computers supposed to diminish the amount of paper we had to deal with? It seems I have more than I ever had before, and I don't really like it. I think I'll need to add purging unnecessary paper to my "purge list", too. Tomorrow. 

Gotta Love A Farm Boy...

When I went to bed on Wednesday night, it was still snowing and blowing. We'd already had about 20" of snow dumped on us, and the yard was blanketed in a thick blanket of white. I wondered whether or not to cancel an overdue oil change for my Explorer, but I thought I'd wait until morning to see whether or not I'd be able to get out.

I awoke to the sound of heavy equipment. It didn't sound like the county plow, so I got up and looked out the window. Andy had brought out his big tractor with the rear snowblower attachment, and it was already shooting snow in a huge plume off his driveway.

By the time I got my act together and got dressed, he'd already finished two other driveways on our road, and in his usual circuit Hickory Hill Farm was the last stop on this route before he made the final pass back up his own driveway.

All the snow in the foreground of this picture is actually what built up on the roof over our big porch. I took the image from the second story, (new) studio window. Even so, there was at least 19" of snow that needed to be moved, and where it drifted, it was even higher. There's no way I would have been able to get out onto the road the way our drive looked before Andy came to the rescue.

I gave him the loaf of bread I'd made for him and Shelly, thanked him profusely, and went and got dressed into proper clothes for my appointment. Thanks to our friend, the driveway was cleared again...until last night.

It was still snowing when I went to bed, and another 2" or so had fallen on the drive. The wind was driving against the house, and the temperature had dropped. Time to take down the "Let It Snow" snowflake door decor on our front door. I've had enough now.

Thanks to Andy for being such a considerate neighbor. I couldn't have moved a foot out of the garage without his help. I'm serious. You've really gotta love a farm boy.

A Good Day To Be Indoors...

 

It started snowing on Tuesday, and continued all day yesterday. My weather widget says we've had 19" of snow in the last 24 hours. It seemed to the dogs, cats and me that it was best to be indoors. With all the choices I had for how to spend my day (and Bella's Birthday), I decided to bake to be able to send goodies to Florida.

In addition to the French Palmier cookies I made two days ago, I'll be adding two loaves of fresh bread, half a dozen hamburger rolls, and a tray of brownies with caramel frosting (one of Handsome's favorites). One loaf of bread is for Andy and Shelly, and the long rolls on the lower right are for me. In fact, I ate one of them with slow-cooked roast beef for dinner last night. I had to test them to make sure the rolls I'm sending are up to par, after all.

Bella and Tag enjoyed their pup ice cream (blueberry flavored) and their doggy cookies, too, and Bella got lots of attention all day...when I wasn't in the kitchen.

All in all, I'd say this made for a satisfying and productive day. I cleared the walkway once, but it quickly snowed over again. Heck with it. I'll wait until the snow stops now. We're still expecting more today. sigh Uncle already!

Sharing Another Recipe...

 

 

How would you like to try a recipe that simple and tasty? It only takes two ingredients. Just TWO. These sweet treats looked like hearts when they finished baking, and they're seriously delicious. I came across the recipe on Instagram a few days ago, and as I had the ingredients in the house, I decided to give it a go.

 

They're called French Palmier Cookies, and the two ingredients are puff pastry and granulated sugar. That's it. There's a little bit of rolling involved, but you won't believe how good they are for minimal effort. They taste like miniature versions of the pastry called "elephant ears" around Wisconsin. They're sweet and slightly crunchy from the melted sugar.

 

Giving credit where credit is due, this recipe is from OurBestBites.com and HERE is the link to the recipe. Sara Wells has lots of delicious recipes on her site, so you may be tempted to visit her again after you make these!

This batch is going to ship to Handsome and his friends, but I'll be getting more puff pastry next time I go out. I do have a recipe to make my own puff pastry, but when Pepperidge Farm makes it so easy, why reinvent the wheel? I'll hold back a few, and as today is Bella's actual Birthday, these will likely be my treat while she and Tag enjoy theirs. Let me know if you try some at your house. I'd love to know what you think.

Tuesdays With Tag - Birthday Boo...

Headin' Into PetSmart

 

Hi, Everybody!

Let's get right to it today, shall we? We're pretty stoked.

It's Bella's Birthday Week!!

What do you think of a ball toy, Mom?

Mom took both of us to town to find Boo's Birthday gifts, and I really had a great time window shoppin'! We started out at PetSmart, but Boo stayed in the car so she wouldn't see our surprises ahead of time. I got to help pick presents.

Definitely Not! Bella Would Kill Me If I Got Those

I looked at these for a hot minute, and then decided against gettin' somethin' that would make her look like a chicken. I value my life too much!

What About A Stuffed Animal With A Squeaker?

Yeah. I didn't really think Mom would go for that either. If Boo left one of these somewhere - even for just a second - I'd have it gutted in no time flat. Mom said we were gonna pass on that idea.

Boo's New Name Tag

 

We found a girly Birthday collar, and then we headed over to Animal Outfitters on the other side of town. We'd never been in their store before, but Mom was sure they'd have awesome dog treats. Then, she saw this... We got a name tag for Bella. This one has a pink heart on the other side, and although it's a little blurry, I'm sure you can read what's on it, except for the phone number, which Mom purposely obliterated.

 

"Bella"

"WMBBD"

(phone number)

Pup Cookies

We did find the special treats. These are bakery made in town, and are nice sized cookies for the Birthday Girl and me. Mom said we have to wait until Wednesday - her official Birthdate - to eat 'em. I can't wait.

 

She also bought some Banana/Peanut Butter, and Blueberry Pupsicles. I'm really lookin' forward to that! Carly's gonna be sorry she missed this party!

  

Liljegren's Suncoast Bella - 8 years old

Happy Birthday, Bella!

(World's Most Beautiful Black Dog)

 

I'll see you again in seven. 'til then... 

"Be A Good Dog."

Family...

L-r: Me, Niece #2, Nephew #4, my youngest sister, Jan Missing from photo: Niece #1

My sister, Lyn, was discharged from the hospital yesterday. Her husband took her home, and her two daughters were going home, too. Jan and I had planned to be in Milwaukee for brunch at the restaurant where my nephew is a chef, so I let the girls know we'd be there if they could join us. They said they didn't think the timing would work.

We were walking from our car to the restaurant when our nieces pulled into the lot to surprise us. Although our eldest niece, Jen couldn't stay - she had a 6 hour drive home to her kids - she did visit for a bit before leaving. Her sister, AJ joined us for brunch and we caught this group photo before we had to shuttle her to the airport to fly home. She'd planned to take an Uber, but these two aunties wouldn't let her do that. We were her Uber instead!

Nephew was responsible for creating some of the items on the menu, and I was most happy that one of his dishes was the one I'd ordered. It was a delicious dish featuring mushrooms with a cream sauce over toast, topped with a perfectly cooked egg, pickled onion and micro greens.

Our visit is just what our nieces needed after the week they've had, worried sick about their mom, and we had the added bonus of seeing our guy, too. Of course the visit was too short, but we were grateful for the time we had.

Sister isn't out of the woods yet. She has a lot of therapy to do, and without violating her privacy further, we're still very much concerned for her long-term prognosis. We'll continue our prayers, and support her as we're able.

Both nieces texted me later to let me know when they were each safely home, and I'm sure they were glad to sleep in their own beds. Today begins a new week with new challenges and tasks. I'm looking forward to meeting mine head-on. Tag will be here tomorrow with "all the news that's fit to print". I'll see you again on Wednesday.

 

Sunday Scripture...

1 Corinthians 13:13

 

Busy In The Studio...

Brynwood Kirby Crossbody Bags

I'm planning to list up the bags and wallets that didn't sell from my booth last weekend. This was a photo from before the show. Not all of them are still available. I need to photograph them for the listings, and I'm going to also list them in the Brynwood Facebook group with buttons to purchase direct from the post. 

I'm trying to keep myself busy, and all your prayers are helping a lot. Thank you again for always responding to my requests. 

I received an invitation to have a booth at another quilt show this spring. This one is in northern Illinois, so I have to check my calendar and decide whether an overnight stay (which is for a two-day show) would make for a profitable trip. I have about five new applications sitting on my desk right now. Decisions. Decisions.

I'll post my Sunday Scripture and be back on Monday with a new post. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend with the ones you love. 

Gratefully,

Distracted...

Heart Applique Quilt - Web image

 

I've been trying to keep my mind busy with some sorting and cleaning, but my head is in another place. The sister closest in age to me (all my siblings are younger than me) has been very ill for a while. Five days ago, she was taken to the hospital in grave distress and was subsequently flown to a Milwaukee hospital for urgent care. She has spent that time in ICU until today, when she is scheduled to be moved to an inpatient room.

 

She had surgery during that time, too, and my nieces have been keeping our family informed with updates as they're available. Visitation is limited to two at a time, so our mother, brothers and sisters have stayed away in favor of her daughters who both came from out-of-state to be with her. 

 

We're not sure what the future holds for her. Her condition has been a roller coaster this past year, and she's very frail. We're all praying that she'll come through all of this, and in the meantime, my mind is barely able to focus on any tasks. I move from room to room, waiting for more reports.

 

I'm going to try to accomplish something positive today. I'll keep praying and trust in His will for my sister. Aside from being here if my nieces need me, it's all I can do. 

 

New In The Lineup...

 

 

When I'm bag making, I like to use the same lining fabrics in all my bags, unless I'm doing some specialty ones - like a Harry Potter or Tolkein-themed bag. I just received a shipment of new linings for my next bags. In fact, I really like these so much, I may have to make a bag or two with these as the exterior fabric. I'd just give them a Scotchgard™ treatment after sewing.

 

These are all slub canvas, which is heavier than quilting cotton, therefore not requiring stabilizer to make them more sturdy. I also choose lighter colored fabrics so it's easier to locate the contents of the bag. I rarely use a dark color unless requested for custom bags. I'm looking forward to using these.

 

It's been in the high 30s and 40s since the weekend, and most of the snow that was on the ground has melted. Today, however, we've got another winter weather advisory with snow predicted to fall this afternoon. I sure wish Mother Nature would make up her mind! Morning tea and then Tag, Bella and I have to run out for a few things before the weather turns. See you tomorrow!

 

Opossums and Friends...

 

I spent Monday working on swapping closets so the contents match the purpose of the room. My clothes are now in my new bedroom, and sewing supplies are in the room that is now my studio. I have much to sort through and purge, so this is going to take longer than just one day. I was gassed mid-afternoon and called it quits for the day.

I put a leash on the Corgi, and took him and Bella for a short walk and then let them run around a bit. These fabrics were waiting for me in the mailbox. When I feel the sewing machine calling to me (maybe next week), I'll turn these into new Matty Two-Zip bags. For now, I'll just look at them.

Tuesdays With Tag - Happy Valentine's Day...

 

 

Hi, Everybody!

 

I'm sharin' a perennial favorite from our days in Florida. I look like a kid!

I figure I should be dressed up for all my lady friends today. 

Mom, Boo and I are goin' for a ride in the Explorer today, and she's promised to find a few treats for us. Bella's Birthday is this month, so she's scopin' out ideas for the ol' girl, too. (She's only gonna be eight, so she's not too old.)

We're separated from Dad and Carly this year, but Mom already sent a card to Dad and she's makin' heart cookies to send off to remind him he's missin' all her great bakin'. We'll send along somethin' special for The Kid, too.

I'm goin' to put on my ridin' harness now, so I'm ready when Mom calls us to go for our ride. All of us at the farmhouse hope you have somethin' special planned with someone you love. Always remember, 

 

All You Need Is Love. 

I'll see you again in seven. 'til then... 

Happy Valentine's Day! 

Weekend Awesomeness...

#2 Granddaughter, me, Cindy G-H

Saturday was fabulous! The show was a huge success, and we had the best sales to date for my booth. Cindy was truly my right hand gal. She listened to my pitch for about ten minutes, and was completely competent to deal with customers on her own. She was a real pro, and I am so grateful that she offered to help in my booth.

I'd like to say I took loads of photographs, but we were still setting up the last of my inventory on Saturday morning before opening, when one of the vendors came into the booth and purchased a Nocturne Traveler. We were off to the races from there.

Our daughter-in-law and #2 Granddaughter came to see our offerings and thankfully, DIL took a photo of us. I'm so glad she did, because I never even thought of taking pictures after the show started. We were wonderfully busy.

Mid-morning, we were pretty busy when two ladies came into my booth with flowers. They asked if I was Donna, and said that these flowers were from my husband. I got a little teary-eyed through my excitement. I told them how he bought flowers for me for my first show forty years ago, and this was a complete surprise from my guy all these years later. (Of course, he's bought flowers for me in the interim, but not for shows.)

The Nocturne that we sold left a void in the center of my back wall display, so it was a perfect place to show off my flowers. We put a matching Kirby Crossbody/Bryn Clutch set next to the flowers, and it looked awesome. Again...no photos.

 

My BFF, Lee came to visit mid-afternoon and also brought a flowering kalancho potted plant for me. Another pleasant surprise to see her.

We stayed busy in our booth until about a half hour before closing. We had a chance to see the other vendors, and then packed up. It was a fast-paced, profitable, and great day. I'll definitely do this venue again next year. 

 

I do have inventory left, so I'll be posting those things over the next week to make it available for purchase. 

 

Sunday Scripture...

 

Psalm 139:23-24

Setup Day...

 

I will add just a couple things on Saturday morning, but this is my basic layout for my booth on Saturday. I'll take my dress form with me tomorrow for displaying my embroidered pendants, and of course, my Square station will be on my checkout stand on the left side of my booth. I also have an assortment of new patterns and books that will go on the black shelf display on the right side of the booth. 

I had a new banner created for the back wall of my booth, but couldn't mount it as planned Friday. I'm taking pant hangers to put it in front of the black pipe and drape in the morning. (I know that's kind of cheesy, but didn't have the actual hangers that I should use. I'll have those ordered for next time. For now, I'll do what a few other vendors are doing and use pant hangers.

It's nice to have everything set up. Friday night will be for resting. I'll share more photos on Monday. Have a great weekend! Wish me luck! (wink)

Bellas For The Show...

 

Sorry for the crummy photograph, but I took this at 2 am when I finished all the exteriors for seven new BW Bella Totes. They're all cork combined with sewing-themed fabrics. 

I'll do the linings this morning, and then I'm finished sewing for this show. The rest of the day will be spent adding the inventory to my Square listings and cleaning up my display pieces. 

I have a class reunion committee meeting tonight, and I'll load up my Explorer tomorrow morning. Tomorrow is set-up day, and my friend, Cindy will help me today and again Saturday at the show. We're both really looking forward to it, and I'm mostly happy that I'm finished sewing for a while.

I'll share better photos of these bags tomorrow, and then I'll slide into the weekend. We'll have precipitation all day today, but as long as the forecast holds for tomorrow we'll be good for loading into the exhibit hall. 

I have a little more to do in the studio today, so I'd better take care of the critters and grab something for breakfast. See you tomorrow!

More For The Show...

I thought I'd share a few finished projects that will be available at the quilt show this weekend. These are all faux leather Cutie Pie Key & CC Carriers. I have Corgis, lots of florals, and a few "on the farm" styles.

I've also added some fun glitter vinyl Cutie Pies, too. It will be fun to see which fabrics will be my best sellers.

 

I also decided to add hanging hardware and crossbody chain straps to four of my Matty Two-Zip Clutches. As you can see from the hardware, the chains are removable to just pop into a handbag, etc. While being on the smaller size, they're also perfect for a cell phone and other essentials to wear as a crossbody. 

I only did four with the hardware to see whether customers prefer it with the side hardware and chain, or if they just want the original version (I have three of those without the chain). I guess I'll have a good idea by Saturday night.

Today I'm making a few of the Bella Tote Bags in cork. I realized I didn't have one of my best sellers in the lineup when I did an inventory of what I have on hand. These will be a quick sew once the fabrics are chosen and cut. I'll show them to you when I finish them.

I realized that I didn't have a nice sign to brand my booth, so I stopped at the printers I used for ages when I had my needlework shop and design business decades ago. They're under new management now (no surprise), so I inquired about the job. I was tickled to learn that I could provide them with my desired information and, after accepting the proof mid-afternoon, was told I could pick it up on Thursday! I guess the stars aligned for that happy news.

We're getting down to the wire now, and I'm in pretty good shape I met with my friend, Cindy G-H, who'll be working with me in my booth, both for setup on Friday, and then all day Saturday. She has a quilt in this show, so I'm looking forward to seeing what she created. I'm getting excited, and so glad it won't be long until the day is here. I guess I'd better get back to work! See you tomorrow.