Back home...

I feel like I've been gone from the blogging world for forever. We flew home yesterday from the Nashville area after a two week stay -- me two weeks, my husband a few days. It's a good thing I have something to look forward to (lots of cupcakes and totes to make) or I would be in a sad state today. Truth be told, I'm in a sad state anyway. It was heavenly to be able to be there to help my son's family when they brought home their little one from the hospital. He is so adorable and his brother and sister are so enthralled by him. I also was able to be in the room when my daughter had an ultra-sound that told her and her husband the gender of their baby due in July... another boy! Here's a mosaic of our time spent with all of them...

I'll get back to the regular routine in a few days, but for now I'm just trying to catch up on being away for a couple of weeks. Why is that so hard? Anywho, check back. I'm going to whip up a couple of batches of cupcakes in time for Easter! Whooopeeee!

I'll also have another give-away the first part of April. Double Whooopeeee!

Could he be any cuter?

The answer to the above question is ... No! Blake is adorable and so are his siblings, Zoey and Reed. I think you'll agree they are all pretty special.

This grandma is one lucky lady!

Here's the whole family. I think there's something illegal about looking that good after just giving birth. Seriously, my little daughter-in-law is one beautiful momma!

He's here...

Grandbaby #6 has arrived. Safe and sound -- both mother and baby. A little bundle of love. Photos will follow in a few days.

Just waiting...

I'm on pins and needles. Grandbaby #6, a boy, is scheduled to come into the world on Monday. Tomorrow I'm headed to Tennessee so I can be stationed at "home" with the newborn's brother and sister while their mom and dad are at the hospital awaiting his arrival. It's an exciting time for our family and, like I said, I'm on pins and needles.

Because of all this excitement blogging is going to take second fiddle for a couple of weeks. I won't be around much, if at all. I am hoping to post a photo or two of these grandchildren and yet another that lives nearby. Yup, our best and most priceless creations are not made of fabric. That's for sure.

Thankful Thursday

What inspired me this week?

My mother-in-law inspired me this week. We had a long talk on the phone this morning. We don't talk nearly as often as we should. Life just gets in the way, but this morning neither of us was hurried and we were able to catch up on each others lives. My mother-in-law is one of the most nurturing individuals I've ever known. I've known two types of "nurturing" women in my life. I'll give this analogy. The first type is like a Summer thunderstorm. They roll into your life with enthusiasm and gusto filling you up with a downpour of good thoughts and encouragement. You feel a little overwhelmed when they depart, but you've been renewed all the same. The second type is like a shower in the Springtime. They replenish you with a steady drizzle of cool, quenching moisture and remain a regular source of nourishment throughout your life. My mother-in-law is like that shower in Spring. She has a kind, soft way about her that is rejuvenating. I got off the phone after talking with her today and felt revived. She inspires me by the things that she does, the person that she is, and the person that she believes me to be.

What surprised me this week?

My Lil' Girl Cupcake Totes are selling like hotcakes ... or should I say "cupcakes!" A nice surprise!

What moved me this week?

This week I've thought a lot about the many ways we are supported and comforted during trying times in our lives. A few individuals that I'm close to have been traveling rough roads recently. Although their experiences are very different in nature, in each case I have seen these individuals receive the help and encouragement that they needed. One time this aid came from a loving family member. Regularly the hand of a stranger made the difference. Several times relief arrived through a "coincidence" that cannot be explained. All are evidence to me that someone "up there" is watching out for us and aware of our needs and desires. I'm moved by that belief.

"First Love"

I went back to my First Love yesterday. No need to get worried. I'm not talking high school romances here. I'm talking totes. These last few weeks I've been baking lots of cupcakes and whipping up travel bags. It felt so good to get back to my first love -- Hang Ups (totes). I have amassed a roomful of Spring and Summer-like fabric for Hang Ups that I'll be making in the next couple of months. It's downright exhilarating to think of all the tantalizing fashions that will be created!

Speaking of creations... here's "First Love." I adore these vibrant, happy fabrics. So feminine and saucy! The three complimentary fabrics used in this tote were designed by Lila Tueller for Moda and are called "Woodland Bloom." Nothing like a little pink to put you in the mood for warm, sun-washed days and flower gardens...

Lil' Cherry Cupcake...

This has got to be one of my favorite fabric combinations so far. Love the bright pink stripe with the pink polka-dots! For your enjoyment pleasure...

The dimensions of this little tote are:11" tall (including handle) x 8" wide at frosting - 4" wide at bottom x 3" deep

Check it out...

Love this new shop, Messes and Mudpies. Among other things, isnt' that a great name for a shop that sells soap? Check out her products. They are unique and most of her soaps sound good enough to eat -- for example: Very Cherry Almond. Yum. After you look at her website, hop on over to her blog where she is having a $30 Give-Away to celebrate her 100th post and the opening of her shop. I did.

The contest will end March 16th.

Another batch...

My lil' cupcakes have been consumed. Every last one of them. It seems that I'm not the only one with a penchant for sweets. It's a good thing I whipped up a batch on Saturday! These will go in my Etsy shop later today. Yum. All fruity concoctions with sprinkles atop!

strawberry...


blueberry...


& lemon...

Wow...

Jen from Muddy Boot Dreams wrote a post today. Check it out! Let's just say my Hang Ups never looked so good. ;o) We have a mutual admiration society. Thanks, Jen.

Amazing...

This week some beauties were delivered to my door. All soft and dappled in sunlight, they made my heart go pitter-patter. I could almost smell their sweet fragrance. Take a peak... I apologize in advance for making you jealous.

These beautiful cards (and 9 others) came from Jen at Muddy Boot Dreams. Words cannot describe how beautiful her photos are. Check out her blog and if you have an occasion to need a packet of photo cards, consider ordering some from Jen. You will be sooo happy you did!

I've been baking...

Thank you so much for your enthusiastic response to my Lil' Girl Cupcake Totes. I really appreciate all your comments! Those of you who know me well know that when I get excited about something I pretty much let everything else in my life fall apart around me (not relationships so much, but they probably suffer a bit too) and I fully concentrate on the thing that is interesting me at that moment. Well, I had the house to myself for a few days this week so I could fully concentrate on baking some cupcakes. Yummy ones. Delicious ones. Even chocolate. Here's a sneak peak at what will be found in my Etsy shop later today...

Here's my two adorable little models (friends of the family)
with their pint size Hang Ups!

Their fee for this modeling job? You guessed it...
their very own Lil' Girl Cupcake Tote delivered later today!

Hey There, Cupcake !

The other day I was in a local fabric shop and came upon a pattern for a little girl's tote. This wasn't just any tote, it was a cupcake tote. I thought it was a cute idea and since I have occasion to make something for little girls (you know those adorable granddaughters I have...) I went ahead and bought the pattern with the intention of bringing it home and whipping up a dozen or so cupcakes. Unfortunately, when I stitched it up, I felt like the dimensions of the pattern were all wrong. Among other things the base of the "cupcake" was rectangular in shape and we all know that a cupcake slants upward. Well, at least the cupcakes I've eaten have angled upward ... and, honestly, I consider myself a bit of an expert.

So, I decided to change the recipe to my liking. I tweaked, and altered, and adjusted adding a little more sugar and spice and a little less flour. I topped it off with a generous dollop of frosting and crowned it with a cherry! Finally, it was a Cupcake I could be proud of...

So, tell me...
Do you think a little girl would find these good enough to eat?

The dimensions of this mini-tote are:

11" tall (including handle) x 8" wide at frosting - 4" wide at bottom x 3" deep

Funky Fresh Travel Bag

I've decided to have two lines of Travel Bags. I love the "Shabby Chic" line with romantic pastel designs, but I've decided to add a "Funky Fresh" line as well. I think this new line will appeal to another set of shoppers! It will have bold, bright colored fabrics -- often with a retro flare. This little bag is the first in this "Funky Fresh line... It's available in my Etsy shop.

So...here's my idea. Don't you think that one of these bags (or one like it), filled with a little crinkly Easter grass and a few chocolate Easter eggs would be a great little "basket" for a teenager or young adult for Easter. Me too. ;o)

Bloomin' Tuesday

Best deal ever! This past week, quite by accident, I found the best deal in cut flowers is found a day or two after Valentine's Day. As luck would have it when I went looking for cut flowers on February 16th, there were myriads of roses that hadn't been snatched up and they were being offered at drastically reduced prices. I took advantage of that windfall! Nothing better than a good buy. It's hard for me to say what color of rose is my favorite, but I do love a winter white rose... Enjoy!

If you'd like to see more Bloomin' Tuesday posts, go to Ms. Green Thumb Jean's!

Shabby Chic Bags

I made a few more Shabby Chic Travel Bags today. I'm trying to get as much sewing done as I can these next couple of weeks because I have a grandbaby due the first part of March and I'm going to be busy for awhile after he is born. (Yippeeee!) We're very excited for the birth of this little guy and we'll be so happy when he's here safe and sound. He will be grandchild #6. Yup, we're blessed. I'm grateful, I assure you. In the meantime, I'll continue to sew and count the days till his arrival!