Happy Bloomin' Tuesday...

I think Bloomin' Tuesdays are going to be a thing of the past in a couple of weeks for us in Colorado. Fall clean-up is happening in my garden. Out with the old, in with the new (next Spring). Thankfully, there are a lot of places in the U.S. where Spring-like weather happens all year long, so we'll be able to enjoy other's blossoms even when our soil is frozen hard as the proverbial rock! (It's 43 degrees this morning as I write this. A little chilly for this time of year, even by our standards!) Today I came up with a few choice photos of Fall flowers and colors. As much as I love the pinks and purples of Summer, my favorite colors are definitely the earthy tones of Fall. Hope you enjoy!

Make sure you scroll down to enter this month's Tote and Dwipe Give-Aways!

Head on over to Ms. Green Thumb Jean's for more Bloomin' Tuesday posts!

September Give-Away..."Retro Fall Flowers"

With the wedding looming on the horizon and a grandbaby due any day, I wasn't sure I would be able to pack in a Tote Give Away this month, but the baby isn't here yet and wedding plans are progressing nicely, so... it's time for a Give-Away!!!

This month I took a poll to determine your favorite Fall colors. The results came back that the majority of you favored the colors of pumpkin orange and dark chocolate brown. However, most of the other Fall colors had a positive showing as well. I hope this combination makes everybody happy! This fun, retro fabric has a dark chocolate brown background with bright retro flowers in all your favorite Fall colors! The Michael Miller fabric on the bottom of the Hang Up, called "Beatnik Blur" is the perfect compliment next to the retro garden!

September's contest will run through midnight on Sunday, September 21st. Monday morning, September 22nd, the winner of the contest will be announced. For this contest one name will be chosen from all those entered. The contest is open to all blogging buddies, relatives, and friends. Don't be shy!

Here are the rules of the contest:
1) The participants must live in the continental U.S. or Canada. (I will provide the postage.)
2.) Each person that makes a comment below will have her name entered in the Tote Give-Away contest. If you put a "shout out" on your blog about the contest, and come back and let me know through another comment, your name will be entered again.
3.) No anonymous comments, please. If you are not a friend or relative that I already know and love, please leave your name and a way for me to contact you (either an email address or the address of your blog). If I don't have any way to contact you, your name will not be eligible.
4.) This tote is not meant for resale. Only those intending to use the tote for their personal use may sign up for this contest. Thank you!

"Retro Fall Flowers" measures 14.5" by 12". It is fully lined, doubly interfaced, and has a reinforced fabric covered base for extra support. It sports two inside pockets and canvas straps.

Scroll down for the September Dwipe Give-Away!

"Retro Fall Flowers Dwipe" Give-Away

We're not only having a Tote Give-Away this month, but we're throwing in a Dwipe Give-Away for good measure! Staying with the retro flowers and Fall color theme for the month, I made this Dwipe out of the same fabric as the tote. Check out my sidebar to see how my diaper & wipes mini-totes are constructed. The little link is included on this Dwipe, but you'll need to fill it with your own diapers and wipes.

The contest will run through midnight on Sunday, September 21st. Monday morning, September 22nd, the winner of the contest will be announced. One name will be chosen from all those entered. The contest is open to all blogging buddies, relatives, and friends. You don't have to be a young mother to enter this contest. Anyone with little ones (grandmas, aunts, friends, etc.) in their lives are welcome to participate. Just give it to someone you love if you can't use it yourself!

Here are the rules of the contest:
1) The participants must live in the continental U.S. or Canada. (I will provide the postage.)
2.) Each person that makes a comment below will have her name entered in the Dwipe give-away. If you put a "shout out" on your blog about the contest, and come back and let me know through another comment, your name will be entered again.
3.) No anonymous comments PLEASE! If you are not a friend or relative that I already know and love, please leave your name and a way for me to contact you (either an email address or the address of your blog). If I don't have any way to contact you, your name will not be eligible.
4.) This Dwipe is not meant for resale. Only those intending to use the Dwipe for personal use may sign up for this contest. Thank you!

Oh My Goodness....

This morning I contacted Dana at "Charmed Designs." I have a chocolate brown dress that I'm going to be wearing at the wedding festivities and I was wondering if she could use her expertise to make me a bracelet and earrings that would add some pop to that little brown dress. She worked her magic and just look what she came up with...

Don't you just LOVE it???

The Wedding Plans Continue...

This last week was a busy one with a little bit of tote-making tucked in between wedding planning and errands. All the "big ticket" items for the wedding reception in Colorado have been planned for and arranged. Venue - Cake - Flowers - Photographer - Caterer - Invitations. All those are taken care of and now we are down to planning the "little things." These little things take a lot of time and effort to collect, but they are also the fun touches that add so much to a reception! I've been collecting some of these things this week and had almost daily deliveries from different internet sources. Baskets for the napkins, a basket for the wedding cards, and a basket for the favors. Ribbon for the cake and to wrap around the little Chinese take-out favor boxes. Candles, votive holders, rocks... Yup, it's kind of hard to justify spending money on rocks, but unless you want to while away an afternoon finding, washing, and polishing little rocks, it's easier just to buy them. :o)

The Chinese take-out boxes are one of our cutest finds. Not only are they perfect in size for favors -- only slightly larger than the votive holder next to it -- but these particular ones are embossed with a sweet little floral print! Just love 'em!

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I'm in "warp speed" mode right now with the wedding planning trying to get everything organized because we have a little surprise that our family is expecting very soon! Yup, another son and his wife are expecting their baby any day now...and I do mean ANY DAY! So, when that little grandbaby arrives, this Grandma gets to drop everything, forget wedding plans temporarily, and hop on a plane to help the new mommy, daddy, big sister, and baby! Can't wait! (I'm so excited!!!!)

Sold - Sassy Sunflowers

"Sassy Sunflowers" is the perfect name for this playful, sassy Hang Up. I ordered this fabric a couple of months ago, and when it arrived I knew I wanted to save it for this Fall. Hopefully, this makes all those who favor "russet red" very happy!


This tote sells for the usual price of $45 for my 14 1/2" x 12" totes. It has all the usual features. Check out my sidebar to find more information about my totes and please feel free to email me with any questions you may have or if you would like to purchase one of my Hang Ups or Dwipes! The price of $45 includes shipping to the continental U.S. and Canada.

Sold - Pumpkin Passion

I may have been a little off my game yesterday morning as I struggled with fabric selection, but by yesterday afternoon I think I scored a touchdown. This gorgeous tote screams "Fall!" Love it! This is for all you "pumpkin orange" fanatics -- of which I am one. :o) These Moda fabrics are so luscious and rich in color and texture.

Feel free to check the sidebar to learn how my totes are constructed. If you are interested in buying one of my products or if you have a question, feel free to email me. My email address is on the sidebar. This tote is approximately 14 1/2" x 12". The purchase price includes shipping to the continental U.S. and Canada.

Ok, so this week I've hoped to please all the "dark chocolate" and "pumpkin orange" ladies with my two new Hang Ups. This afternoon I'm going to take on the "russet reds." This one is going to be a very unusual tote and I'm looking forward to seeing the end result. Stay tuned...

WHAT !!!!

(Refer to the post below.)
Ok, ok -- STOP!!! Enough already. I feel like such a loser. My confidence as a fabric picker-outer has been seriously compromised. It's a wonder I've sold any totes at all! My favorite choice was #3. Yup, the ONLY number that was NEVER chosen. I'm a little shaken. It may take some time to get over this. Geesh. Man alive. In need an ibuprofen, a diet Pepsi, bunches of chocolate and a bubble bath.

Help!!! You decide...

Have you ever had one of those days when you couldn't make a decision? I sat in front of my fabric this morning for far too long trying to figure out which fabrics to put together for one of my next Hang Ups. I couldn't come up with a decision for the life of me. Finally I had the brilliant idea of letting you all decide which fabrics to put together. You can thank me for narrowing it down to five choices. I even gave you an "out" (#6) just in case I've lost my touch and you don't want to hurt my feelings. ;o) I know that many more people visit this blog than comment on it, so please don't hesitate to leave a comment and a preference! Thanks for helping me out...

1.

2.3.

4.5.
6.

Sold - "Cityscape"

I made this tote last night for my mother and named it "Cityscape." She has liked all the "city" Hang Ups I've made recently, so she ordered one up for herself. This tote is my larger version and this time I made a flat pocket on the front because I thought it was the best way to show off the fabric. It's classy and chic -- just like my mom!

Mag-nificent Giveaway!

Angie over at Leaping Thru Life is having a Mag-nificent Giveaway! She's helping out her niece's magazine fundraiser by giving away a year's subscription to a magazine of the winner's choice. Sweet! Such a great idea. Mosey on over to join the fun.

Guess which magazine I want to win?!?

Sold - Hot Chocolate Swirl

My sewing machine and I became friends once again and hung out together this morning. I couldn't wait to start working on some of my Fall-fabric Hang Ups! Here's one for all you ladies whose favorite Fall color is dark chocolate brown! This one is a beauty. Unfortunately, I can't really capture the metallic gold found in the fabric in a photograph. Frustrating. But trust me, that touch of metallic is there and it makes this fabric so beautiful and classy! Click on the photo to get an up-close look.

This Hang Up is my larger tote and measures approximately 15 1/2" x 12". It features a gathered outside pocket on the front of the tote. Both the fabric and the lining of the tote are fully interfaced. There is a roomy, two-compartment pocket inside, a removable reinforced base, and canvas straps. A fabric-covered button creates the perfect accent! Included in the price is the cost of shipping to the continental U.S. & Canada. If you would like to purchase this Hang Up, send me an email at the address on my side-bar. Comments are always welcome and appreciated!

PS - Don't you just love that sunflower peaking through the fence. Danged if that thing isn't stealing the show!

Bloomin' Tuesday

Fall is in the air in Colorado and nipping at our heels. We have had a few days in the last week that the high temperature for the day was in the 50's. Yup. The hot days of Summer are over. I'm not entirely bothered by these turn of events. Fall is my favorite time of the year. It felt really good to be able to put on some long pants and a sweater last week. Come mid September I usually start tossing out all of my container plants and winterizing my garden. (kind of sad) By next week most of my potted plants will be a sweet memory, so this morning I went out onto my patio and took some photos of some of my favorites. Geraniums.

Geraniums are a big bang-for-your-buck kind of plant. Their bold, bright colors can illuminate any garden. They are so hardy and don't complain (much) if you ignore them on occasion. I like a plant that can take a little heat. Impatiens are beautiful, but if you forget to water them just once they shrivel up, slump down, play dead and make you think you've committed murder. Geraniums don't play those games. They are the big, bad boys of my garden and they seem to thrive regardless of my occasional inattention. That's one of the reasons I love 'em!


The following photo is proof positive that Summer is over. Frost on the windshield. Autumn is here! Bring on the Indian Corn and the Pumpkins!




To join Bloomin' Tuesday or visit more Bloomin' Tuesday posts, visit to Ms. Green Thumb Jeans!

I'm Honored ...

A big thanks to Jean from Ms. Green Thumb Jean's and a new blogging friend from Tins and Treasures for presenting me with the "I Love Your Blog" award. How nice is that? I love it when people read my blog and comment -- I've always thought that was reward enough, but it's fun to get an award like this too!

I met Jean through Bloomin' Tuesday. She's the one that organized and instigated that fun Tuesday post. She has an awesome garden and a really fun, creative blog.

I was thinking the other day that I know a lot of folks by their blog's name and not by their given names and "Tins and Treasures" is one of those. The sweet lady associated with Tins and Treasures is a high school Family & Consumer Science teacher. She has a darling Etsy shop and an awesome blog. Check out both of these blogs!

Now I have the heady responsibility of naming seven of my favorite blogs. I love looking at blogs and getting creative inspiration from many different people, so picking just seven favorite blogs is next to impossible, however, here are few of my many favorites. Enjoy!

Food Blogs I love:

• Bakerella - You will find some really fun, creative baking ideas on Bakerella's blog. (Hint: Never look at her blog when you are really hungry... there could be dire consequences.)
• Bake or Break - An absolutely awesome blog with beautiful photos of home-baked delicacies!
  

Photography Blogs I love:

• In a Soft Light - Mary is one talented lady. Every photo she takes is like a prayer.
  
• Muddy Boot Dreams - Another awesome photographer who has combined two of her passions - flowers and photography -- and shares them with us.
  

Creative Sources:

• Charmed Designs - Dana is an artist extraordinaire. She makes the most exquisite jewelry. Really beautiful works of art.
  
• Anna Maria Horner - This is a blog worth checking out -- lots of bright, vibrant fabrics.
• Artsy Crafty Babe - Another beautiful, creative blog. Luscious totes and quilts can be found here.
  

Like I said, picking a favorite blog is kind of like picking your favorite child -- an impossible task. There are so many that I enjoy!

Fall-ing in Love with Fall !!!

I love Fall! I love everything about it. The crisp air. The cool nights. The windy days. The leaves turning. Pumpkins, corn stalks, and chrysanthemums! The list goes on and on. But, most especially, I love Fall colors. I love the deep, beautiful, rich, earthy colors of Fall. The browns, the oranges, the golds, the rusts, the mossy greens, the russet reds -- I love them all. This last month I have been purchasing and hoarding away some beautiful Fall fabrics. I can't wait to start whipping them up into totes that will (hopefully) knock your warm little Fall socks off! Just thought you might like to see a little preview... Enjoy!

Here's a question for you... What's your favorite thing about the Fall season?

Wedding plans...

You may have noticed that I haven't been sewing much lately. There's a good reason for that. We are in the throws of wedding planning, and I just don't have much time for anything else. Maybe in a week or two I'll become reacquainted with my sewing machine...

This last weekend the bride and groom-to-be came for a visit. We kept an appointment with the florist where they picked, from among all the awesome choices, the flowers for their reception here in Colorado. They are going with a slightly Asian theme ... not an over-the-top, obvious Asian fare ... but more subtle, earthy Asian images. Oh man, it's going to be gorgeous! The bride chose different shades of pinks with a touch of lime green and a background of chocolate brown for her colors. Their wedding will be in October, so I think those colors will be so beautiful. Some of the flowers they chose were different shades of pink roses, pink tulips, pinkish orchids, Kermit chrysanthemums (green), and willow branches. "Earthy elements" will be represented with water, fire, wood, rock, and colorful flowers all in abundance.

We also ordered some small Chinese take-out boxes in chocolate brown for favors. We then added to the shopping cart some fortune cookies with fortunes inside that the bride and groom-to-be personalized themselves! The day before the reception we are going to dip the fortune cookies in chocolate and put a few chocolate sprinkles on them. Then we'll place two in each take-out box, add a little ribbon and a sticker with the Chinese symbol of "double happiness" -- which is a common symbol associated with weddings in China.

As if all that wasn't enough, they also picked out their cake. This is probably one of the easier appointments to be kept. You get to sit down and stuff your face with different types of cake, filling, and frostings. Yup, it's a tough job. We (my husband, daughter and I) sat back as the bride and groom carefully tasted each selection and made their decisions. After they were finished the rest of us descended on the possibilities with the enthusiasm of vultures to select our favorites (not that it mattered.) As far as I was concerned any of the choices would have done nicely. The bride and groom made the following decisions: Layer 1 - pumpkin cake with cream cheese filling and frosting; Layer 2: poppy seed with raspberry filling and cream cheese frosting; Layer 3: white cake with pineapple filling and cream cheese frosting; and finally, "Italian Ice" cake with apricot & pineapple filling and cream cheese frosting. All this will be covered with a pale pink fondant. Before the fondant is applied to the cake, they will run an embossed fondant rolling pin over the fondant to make a leaf pattern on the fondant. The sheet cake will have the Chinese symbol of the newly married couple's last name on the individual pieces. Awesome? I think so.

Yup, sometimes the ol' sewing machine has to take second seat to more important things!