Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Sushi Update


My little Sushi Bear made it through her dental procedure with flying colors! Granted, she lost 11 teeth, but she is now just as sweet to smooch as she was in 2003 when I adopted her! She can still chew with her back teeth, and her big canines are still in there, all nice and polished, just in case she needs to be intimidating!

Did I mention that she smells great? And has sweet smooches again? Love this!

Monday, March 29, 2010

Camping & Garden Fever

Hubby and The Little Guy had a great idea Friday afternoon.... to camp in the backyard. We had to set the tent up to make sure it was swept out before storing it back in the attic, and once that thing was positioned, the guys wanted to make good use of it.

I thought it would be a nice touch to get a fire pit. We've wanted one for over a year and have never splurged, so I thought this would be the perfect opportunity, especially with the nighttime temperatures staying in the 50's. The guys were on board with my idea!

But, fortunately for my stomach there were no s'mores. While we were at Lowe's we picked up a new Rosemary plant that we are hoping to not kill this year.

And here is a peek into our little garden that we planted a couple of weeks ago. We finally put one in! (We've only been talking about doing this for three years now.) I'm telling you that this little garden kit (also sold at Lowe's) is the way to go if you don't have a ton of yard space or if you don't want to rent a tiller. We literally had a garden in one hour's time! The boards hook and lock together, we put some ground cover in the bottom, then added soil, and before we knew it the plants were in the ground. We are so excited that we have tomato blooms already in place, and lettuce ready to eat!

Speaking of gardens, go here to see what I won today. I love winning things! A huge thanks to The Royal Sisters for their amazingly cute design that I can't wait to make.

Friday, March 26, 2010

This is my little Sushi Bear. She's getting pretty old. We're talking about 100 in doggy years.

On Wednesday she'll have to go in for some dental work, and I'm a bit worried about her. There are always risks involved with putting an elderly dog 'under' (or any dog for that matter) in order for a procedure to be completed. I'm praying she will come through with flying colors. And much fresher breath.

In the meantime, there will be lots of snuggling with The Sush this weekend.

Monday, March 22, 2010

Countdown to Easter

Another holiday is fast approaching and I am once again not ready for it. I keep hearing myself saying in my head, "This time last year I told myself that I would have x number of holiday crafts already prepared." And do I have any number of Easter crafts visible in my home?

No.

Matter of fact, my Valentine garland is still hanging from my mantle. Fortunately, I did manage to whip up a couple of super cute baby caps this weekend that I plan putting in my etsy shop. But, other than that, I didn't accomplish any holiday works of art.

So, just in time for those of you who are on the ball and would like to add another Easter decoration option to your craft list, check out what Heather Bailey blogged about and made available to her fans. Just click on the picture and you can hop right over to great fabrics & patterns, as well as this little tribute she created in homage to vintage Easter decor.

Now if you'll excuse me, I've got to try and pull my head out of where it doesn't belong so that I can make something Easter-ish before April 4th.

Friday, March 19, 2010

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

New Craft Cabinet

I'm excited to share pictures of my new craft cabinet with you. But, first let me show you what I started with.
This started out as a computer cabinet with sliding shelves which were perfect for reaching a keyboard or printer. Then we used it in our bedroom for a tv cabinet for awhile. After we remodeled our bedroom it became my sewing cabinet/unorganized craft storage facility.

This new cabinet is from Ikea. Hubby has two just like it for all of his photography equipment and gear review stuff.

Since we share the same work room, and we are trying to keep it as nice looking as possible, I told him I wanted one of the same cabinets for my craft storage. The black canvas bins on top are also from Ikea, and they have a nice zipper around the top to keep everything enclosed. My batting and poly fill stuffing is stored in them. You may not be able to see the pull tabs on the bottom, but it helps Shortys like me to get my things down from that high shelf.

I still need to get some uniform containers to organize my supplies better, which will most likely all be clear so I can see what is inside. So, eventually the interior of the cabinet will look more tidy. Until then you can see that I'm not completely finished with this project.

Since I no longer have the sliding shelves or space deep enough in this shelf unit for my cutting mats and my quilting hoop, Hubby was sweet enough to hang these for me inside the closet door.


I'm excited about the progress so far!

Saturday, March 13, 2010

It has been a beautiful Saturday. Lots of sunshine and cool breezes. Trees are blooming and the honeysuckle will hopefully keep spreading!


Up at seven, sipped some coffee, began the weekend laundry, and listed out the errands that needed running.

My car needed a bit of tire mending... a screw and a nail were causing one to consistently deflate so patching was in order. Can you believe that I didn't have to pay a dime to have this repaired? I can't recommend Discount Tire enough!

Bridal Shower invitations for my lil' sis' shower in April were mailed at the post office. Copies were made at Kinko's. Strange sized batteries were purchased at Radio Shack. A deposit was made. My car was picked up. And we were back home and ready to tackle chores before eleven. The backyard was poop-scooped and weeded, then the couch started calling my name for a wee nap. I think I dozed for an hour and a half. Loved that.

Yard work in the front began... weeds to be pulled and grass that needed mowing for the first time this season. I left most of that for Hubby. Now I'm to work on my craft/sewing cabinet. Let's see what I can make of it...

But first, another cup of coffee. That couch is still calling to me, along with HGtv!

Friday, March 12, 2010

Did You Know?

I just found out I can make plarn! Translation: plastic yarn that can be used for crocheting or knitting. Check out this link to see how you can do it, too!

A big thanks to FutureGirl for sharing her story and letting me in on this little secret. Look at this great little coaster she made!

Now my only problem is getting some plastic bags. We take our own canvas bags to the store about 95% of the time, so I rarely have any on hand. At least now I know what to do with them the next time I have some on hand.

I'm so wow'd by this!

Thursday, March 11, 2010

WANTED: Thoughts on Motherhood

I love being a mom. Becoming a mom was the single-most life-changing event in my life so far. I've whined recently that my son is almost twelve years old, and he's changing. He's stretching his wings and requiring more independence and freedom. And I'm lost. I'm not sure where I fit in these days, so I'm having to do a bit of letting go so he can grow, and its the hardest thing I've had to do.

This weekend The Little Guy is going camping with his faj. Actually, they may even be hunting hogs. (Sidenote: wild hogs... aren't they very aggressive and can come charging at my son at any minute???) My son is sooooo excited about this weekend. Then Monday will kick off his Spring Break. I had wanted him to go on a Boy Scout retreat with Hubby, but The Little Guy's faj had other ideas, and it is the faj's week to have The Little Guy, so I don't have much of a leg to stand on.

The Little Guy keeps telling me he's going to be just fine. Hubby keeps telling me the same thing. My paranoid mind keeps seeing accidents and ambulances and all things uncool. That's how my mind works most days. I should probably take up yoga or meditation to help soothe those frantic ideas, but I haven't committed to such things as of yet. I'm better at staying stressed out. (Matter of fact my dentist just told me on Tuesday to relax my jaw and I had the hardest time doing that.)

So, being a mom these days is full of trying to keep that strong facade visible to my family, while in my heart and in the small silent stretches of each day I'm fighting back tears and worry.

I would love some advice from those of you who've been through the pre-teen years and can offer some words of wisdom. I'm open to ideas for emotional survival. I know that sounds dramatic since I will survive this time and the roller-coaster years beyond that. But, any help you ladies can offer about fending off the overly hormonal emotions that I keep finding myself buried in would be greatly appreciated.

Now, back to side-tracking myself with work. Isn't it funny how that can be a reprieve from familial realities sometimes?

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

So, I didn't make it...

Today my craft cabinet is still unfinished. A stack of crap-o-la is in the floor of the spare room my husband I share... he uses it to take gear photos and record videos for ITS and I use it for sewing and such. I'm sure he's cursing my name today. (for a couple of reasons, actually...) But there's hope!

It is raining here today... we've had a bit of pea sized hail... and this is good news for me. It means that the likelihood of my son's baseball practice being canceled for tonight is very high, which means I won't have to trek back and forth and I can have more time to work at home tonight.

I know that's very selfish of me. I'm sure The Little Guy would love to socialize with his teammates and burn off the stress from his day at school. So, I guess I shouldn't be too happy if practice is canceled. I guess I should just be patient and look toward the weekend which is only a few days away.

But honestly I want to work in that room tonight! Oh wait... I'm also supposed to help Hubby with his business taxes.

Ok, that's another strike against my agenda for the evening. Looks like this weekend is when I'll get more accomplished. Stay tuned...

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Keep Up!

Since I opened my etsy shop I've felt like I just can't keep up. What's funny is that I have only had a handful of sales, so I'm not quite sure why I feel so busy! Maybe because they all happened within a week of each other...

Anyway, I noticed this morning when I checked my teeth at the dentists office (before he saw me) that I had dark circles under my eyes. That is one big deflate-r for me... circles, bags... I don't want them but know they are in my lineage. What is a girl to do???

I'm trying to promise myself that I'll get back in the habit of getting to bed by 9:30 pm. I have to get up at 4:45 am, so getting to bed on time really should be a necessity for me. That's hard to do though when I'm running around trying to get ready for the next day, or if we decide to squeeze in watching a movie at home before bed.

Tonight I need to finish up my craft cabinet re-do, which I can't wait to show you all. On Friday night we went to Ikea to get a new cabinet for all of my sewing and craft stuff. It looks so wonderful!!! However, I realized that I have too much scrap stuff that I'll never use, so I have a big black trash bag of old clothes I said I would re-purpose waiting to go to Goodwill. I'm finding out that if you're going to re-purpose something you should get on that project right away. Otherwise it just creates clutter. Which drives me and my husband insane. (Well, he would tell you I'm quite cluttery compared to him, but that's another post!)

Monday, March 8, 2010

Thank you, Oscar!

I'm so glad The Cove won Best Documentary! And I loved watching The Hurt Locker. Both of these movies will put you in touch with what is going on outside of our American borders. Add them to your movie list!

Thursday, March 4, 2010

You won't want to miss this!


I mentioned earlier this week that I had a surprise to share with you today, and I'm so excited that I can finally show you!

Today Linda is featuring my RuffleSkinny scarf and my etsy shop on her blog Craftaholics Anonymous! Please head over there and check it out. Did I mention she's offering a giveaway, too? So, for those of you who missed out on my giveaway you can try again on her blog.

You can now also follow me on Facebook and Twitter! Just search ShortysSutures.... I'll have links in my sidebar very soon.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Shorty's Update

If you haven't noticed already, please take a second to look at my banner and the button link on my sidebar. My blog designer, Lyndsay Johnson, has boosted my blog alter ego with a bit of an update. My banner used to read 'Presenting Securityville... a place for all things secure and insecure' and now it reads 'Shorty's Securityville... a little place for my creations.'

Those of you who already have my button on your blog please update your link with the new code, and those of you who haven't added my button... well, please consider snagging a copy today! I am honored for you all to have it.

Please tune in again tomorrow as I'll have a wonderful surprise to share with you.

Monday, March 1, 2010

Patterns

Sometimes I think that it is so much easier to follow a pattern than to try and make one. But, since I want to produce things that I can sell my goal is to come up with my own designs. (Like my RuffleSkinny scarf that you can find at www.shortyssutures.etsy.com!)

As you may already know some pattern makers don't permit you to sell what you make from their designs. I've acquired so many free and purchased patterns over the course of the past year that I can't remember which designer has what rules, so I just make things from someone else's pattern for my own personal benefit so that I don't infringe on anyone's copyrights. Plus, there seems to be some debate over the internet as to what you can freely make and sell, and what you must purchase a license to sell. So, I'll just steer clear of that whole issue until I can verify things for myself.

I sat and fiddled with a brooch for a couple of hours yesterday morning. I was on a roll at first. Then I talked myself out of liking what I made. So, I put the brooch down until I could stir up further inspiration. It just seems to need.... something.

That led me to begin my usual over-analysis process:

Perhaps I should just make more of what I already know how to, like the RuffleSkinny scarf. Perhaps I shouldn't worry about failure and just keep trying to come up with new ideas, no matter how much time it takes me. I guess that's what Benjamin Franklin would've suggested...

Do you sell what you make? And do you consider yourself to be a pattern maker or a follower? How much time have you invested in patterns or designs?