Death & Taxes

Finished!  Thank you to the geniuses at Intuit for creating Turbo Tax Deluxe!  (Did I mention my husband has worked for Intuit? :)  This is me tonight (1:33am) doing the happy jig:

May Day Petite Basket Swap

Recently I’ve enjoyed participating in a few different online swaps.  The latest of these (May Day Petite Basket Swap) is being hosted by the wonderful, Jenny Fowler, of Fated Follies.  The idea was to get a “petite” basket and fill it with little vintage goodies for your assigned swap partner.  You may see an obvious pattern in the swaps I’ve been electing to participate in (small, small, small). 

Over the last month or so, I’ve enjoyed collecting items for my swap partner, Stephanie Lewin of TartDeco, as I rummage through estate sale findings and antique store booths.  You’re not always exactly sure what your partner will enjoy most, so sometimes you resort to sending items that you yourself enjoy!  That was the case with me and the basket I sent this time.  I sent some of my faves for creating:  Vintage trims, linens, laces, ephemera, bookprint, sheet music, flowers, buttons, etc.  I hope Stephanie can make use of them!



I wanted to make sure the small items didn’t all fall out in transport, so I used a basket plastic for the first time.  I have to say that using my heat gun to melt the plastic around the basket was very enjoyable to my inner-pyro.  Here it is all sealed up and ready to go!

And here are a couple of pictures of the petite basket I already received from that on-the-ball girl!  I so appreciate her thoughtfulness in putting together this gift.

Embroidery

So one of my most favoritest friends gifted me with the sweetest little “Stitch Along Kit” from Amy Powers for my birthday back in January.  At the time I was happy to receive it just because it was so dang tiny, which in my book always equals ADORABLE.  Have I mentioned my love for all things miniature?   Just seeing this little kit all contained in a small round tin, complete with mini spool of black thread, mini book with instructions, and even it’s own little pair of scissors was a total delight for me.  Admittedly, though, it wasn’t until last month that I actually dug it up from “THE PILE” in the craft room.  You know “THE PILE”.  We all have one, right?  Mine has been growing since probably about August of last year.  Last Saturday I finally went in my craft room and “tidied up” a bit and finished clearing away “THE PILE” altogether.  Yippee!  What a refreshing feeling.
 
But, I digress.  (Which if you know me is so atypical for me—yeah right.)  Anyway, so sometime last month, after seeing everyone’s posts about their 39 Squares, I was feeling a bit left out.  Now, don’t get me wrong, I didn't feel left out enough to actually attempt the 39 squares project, but I figured I could be a part by working on the mini-sampler I’d received.



As it turns out, I really enjoy embroidery!  I’ve always admired the delicate work of others’ nimble fingers as found on vintage hankies, doilies, tablecloths, etc., but I never thought I would actually catch the “embroidery bug” as I have.  Thanks, Alisa!   It was with great delight  that as I sat watching all my manufactured drama shows (I LOVE me some “REALITY” tv!), I was able to simultaneously crank out fun little stitch after stitch.  I was thrilled with the ease of following Amy’s example and found great satisfaction in my completed formations.  I LOVED learning how to do a French Knot and how this enabled me to make the cutest little fluffy sheep ever!
 

After finishing my mini sampler, I decided to take on something slightly larger.  While I’m still a complete novice and know fewer than a handful of stitches, I ventured out to create images that I find beautiful.  I found a picture online somewhere of this vintage shoe and decided I could “eyeball” it.  (That’s SO typical Cheryl.  I don’t know why, but I have this  insane belief that if I see something, I will be able to recreate it without a pattern.  This overconfidence is ridiculous and I have absolutely no idea why I have it.  All I know is I repeatedly fall prey to this delusion!  Weird, I know.)  So, I got out my thread library and went to work.
It’s surprising how much time actually goes into creating something so small.  One who has never stitched, would not understand how something so seemingly trivial has taken a large investment of time and concentration.  I didn’t understand this, myself, until I spent countless hours on this shoe (and it’s far from perfect!) 



Knowing what I’ve invested in each piece, however, brings me greater satisfaction than I would have previously imagined.  Do other stitchers feel this way, too?

Friendship

Today I just wanted to state how very thankful I am for good friends.  Really good friends.  Friends who love me for ME.  I don’t have to pretend I’m something more than what I am.  They accept me with all my faults and love the good they see in me.  It’s hard to find friends like that when you’re an adult.  I’m so thankful Heavenly Father has blessed me with great and lasting friends.  Their love and kindness give me strength when I am weak and make my heart feel lighter when it is weighed down with sorrow and discouragement.  Thank you to my friends for your love.  You know who you are.  At least, I hope I’ve let you know how much I love and appreciate you so you DO know who you are.

Thinking of how thankful I am for friendship, I altered a couple of Vintage cards with two quotes that I like.  (Click on image to see it larger / more clearly.) Enjoy.



And a fun one: