Here I Am One Week Later

I can't believe it's been one week since my last post. The work week seemed to drag on forever. Once we hit Friday I was good to go. I came home from work and was very tired and thought the heck with it I wasn't going to sleep on the couch I was just going to lay on the bed with a quilt and take a nap and once I woke up I'd do a few things around the house. Sounded like a really good plan to me, NOT. I got all snuggled in and I was so tired I thought I'd be asleep before my head hit the pillow, guess again. I closed my eyes and they popped right open and there was no way I was going to be able to sleep. Something had to be done and done quickly. I called my best friend and told her we needed to do something like we used to do when we were younger. Yes I said younger meaning about 5 years ago. So in the car I went to pick her up and we headed to Shopko. I was on a mission to look for lamp shades for last weeks purchases and she was along for the fun of it. I ended up with three tops for spring and no shades. Nothing came anywhere near the size that I needed. Oh well we had a good time, stopped at Taco Bell on the way home to end the night.

Today I went with Jen for breakfast and then on to a quilt show. In the past this has always been my favorite quilt show around here. Well I'm not sure what happened but I was really disappointed this year. There weren't all that many quilts and there weren't all that many vendors. Don't get me wrong it was OK it just wasn't up to it's usual standards. I got no inspirations no gee I can't wait to go home and make that. Nothing, zip. OK then it was on to Target to look for lamp shades. We were able to buy two shades but nothing for the little lamp. I've been doing a little rearranging this evening so I can evenly space out the lamps. I have a very dark living room so the two extra lights is really helping. I also had a surprise call from Michelle last night and she found me two more glass lamps so she bought them. With those I'll be finally putting lots of lighting in the bedroom. In my apartment because of all the trees and the fact that there are no ceiling lights it's always dark. Tomorrow I'll put out a few doilies to place under my lamps and of course it will be cleaning and laundry day. I'd better go finish up for the night.

I've turned into a Junker

On Saturday with the help of Jen and Michelle I went to two more Goodwill Stores and ca me home with three more lamps and one more lamp shade. Now thanks to Michelle I'm hooked. All total for the weekend I spent a total of $14.95 and I have three really pretty crystal lamps and one very heavy wooden lamp that goes with with another lamp that I already owned plus 2 lamp shades. All the glass ones took was a little elbow grease. The taller of the two in this picture we took completely apart because once I cleaned the outside the inside really needed it too. What a difference it made it just sparkles. The little one we took apart also and at first we thought the base was plastic but when we took it apart to clean it, it too was crystal. Now all I need to find are matching lamp shades and a place to put them all. The wooden one just needed a little wood polish with a cleaner in it and it's fantastic. All of the lamps work just fine with the three larger ones all being three way lamps.

We had so much fun this weekend with Michelle and Louie and it was sad to see them leave last night. Yesterday the three of us ran around from quilt store to quilt store with a stop at a huge Ben Franklin we have that has just about every craft a person can imagine. They have the best fabric department with alot of Moda's and other great name brand fabric lines. When we got to Patched Works I bought another piece of a bitik that I'll be making another Miranda out of. That will be in another post complete with pictures. We drove along and laughed and sang our little hearts out. At one point we were having pie in honor of Jill's birthday. Jill you really enjoyed your pie.

So now look out ladies who knows what else I'll find on my next junkin run.



Happy Easter everyone.

SPRING????????

I thought I'd share a few pictures from our Friday adventures. First up look at poor Gertie. When last you saw her she was happily sitting on my patio and decked out for St Patricks day. Now here is Gertie not even one week later. She's so sad all covered in snow. Yes, I said snow. By Thursday almost all of our snow was gone. Spring was on it's way and how excited we all were. Got up Friday morning all happy because not only did I have off but Michelle and Louie were coming from Iowa. Wow what a rude awakening when I opened the door to let Murphy out and it was snowing and snowing hard.
Jen had already been in contact with our travelers and they were coming anyway. I called Michelle later and they were still on the road making slow but steady progress. They finally arrived safe and sound. Next we waited for Jen who got off of work at noon. She had terrible ride home because our plows were no where to be seen and yet it was snowing and snowing hard. Finally my door bell rang and when I opened up the door there I saw Jen and Holly. Jen was exhausted from her walk to my apartment. Now keep in mind she lives two buildings over from me. Her car had gotton stuck in her driveway and Mike had to come and get her out. Then she decided to walk to me it would be easier NOT. She came what she called across country and she was exhausted from tromping through the deep snow. By this point I think it's safe to say we had a foot of new snow. Oh I wish I had taken a picture of her then. She was covered in snow, she was using an ice chopper as a cane to help her and like I said she was exhausted and soaked because the snow was so wet. Holly on the other hand had a great time tromping through the snow to my house.
Next up we decided it was time to get something to eat so out we went. Louie was such a good sport and he drove. After our late lunch we headed over to our local GoodWill store. Now this one has been open for about a year and I've never been in it nor in any other GoodWill stores around here. That was fun. I picked up that lovely very heavy glass lamp for my livingroom complete with the shade and all for only $3.99. All I did to it last night was take Windex and clean the outside of the lamp. It looks so pretty sitting on my table doesn't it? From now on I'm going to be checking out the other thrift stores around here because I could really
use a few more lamps. So for my first "junkin" experience I think it went really well.
Today we're going to pick up Michelle and go to a few quilt stores in the area. Louie is going to go play pool all day at one of our local pool halls that he found last time they were here. Hopefully by tonight I'll have a few more pictures to share of our adventures.

Is it really SPRING?????????

I just opened the door to let the dog out and it's snowing like crazy out there. What happened to it's subposed to be SPRING???????? I want spring, I demand that we have spring. There I feel much better now that I vented.

Today I'm off for a nice three day weekend. I'm NOT going to let this snow spoil my day off. I have a few errands to run this morning and then our good friend Michelle and her husband Louie are coming for the weekend. I just talked to them and yes it's snowing, yes they are driving slowly, they are coming from Iowa. They will be stopping at some big Goodwill stores along the way and they should be in town by late afternoon. Michelle assured me that Louie doesn't mind driving in this at all. She said he was going 25 when I talked to her and he corrected her that he was driving much faster, 26. They do however sound like they are having a great time.

In a little while I'm off to do a few errands and one of them is to stop at my brothers to see how Mom is doing. I also stopped at Chocolate House, a big candy store yesterday on my way home from work and picked up a bunch of Easter Candy so they can make baskets for his two granddaughters. That was fun since I hadn't candy shopped for kids in a very long time. Let's just say as a great aunt I'm going to put them into a hyper sugar state.

OK I'm off to brave the elements and I'll be back later to post a picture of my finished Miranda. This is my first one I made and number two is cut out and waiting for me to sew on it today.

National Quilting Day

Hello ladies and HAPPY NATIONAL QUILTING DAY. I hope each of you gets time today to sit down and do some kind of quilting or to do some quilty something. Jen and I are going to a quilt show today and I've already been to one of my favorite quilt shops and picked up some fabric. Gotta run I need to clean since we're sewing here tomorrow.

Have a quilty day.

Gertie the Goose

It's time for Gertie to get herself all ready for St Patrick's Day. Today the sun is shining, the temp got to 40 and maybe just maybe there is a hint of spring in the air. Well I can wish can't I? Anyway I wanted to share Gertie with all of you.

She does have a couple of shovels standing behind her but that's just incase it snows again.

My first Miranda by Lazy Girl

On Sunday night Jen came over and used me as a test subject for a class she's going to give on the Miranda Day Bag. I had so much fun making it even though it's not finished yet. I just love the fabric I picked out and now the biggest decision is what type of handles am I going to use. The bag to this point went together quite easy. I've made a few other Lazy Girl designs but I think this was the easiest one yet. When I'm done I'm going to put on some jewels to jazz it up a bit. I even added purse feet to the bottom of then bag. You can't tell the pattern on the blue but it's a yellow flower and the inside is the same yellow. I've been trying for days to download these pictures but blogger was having some fits. I just tried again to download the inside but sorry no luck. When I'm finished with the bag I'll post completed pictures. I already have ideas running through my head for the next atleast 3 that I want to make myself.

I've been asked to explain what I figured out where the purse feet are concerned. In the pattern it would have you completely close up the bottom and then first put on the feet. I asked why? So, instead of pushing the feet through all the layers I pushed mine through the bottom, folded back the prongs and then closed up the bottom. That way nothing shows. Thanks for asking.