My Favorite Things

summer stash challenge

Earlier this summer, I joined a "summer stash challenge" hosted by http://eileensattic.blogspot.com/. The challenge is to use only fabric that we already have on hand (NO BUYING ANYTHING NEW FOR THIS ... do you know how hard this can be to a fabricaholic?!) Right after I signed up I quickly decided what I wanted to do for this, but unfortunately, I then hurt my back and then everything was put on hold. Well, now that I am mostly better, I am trying to catch up on many things, and this summer challenge is at the top of my list.

This summer I turned the big 40, and I have had a little trouble adjusting. Around the time of my birthday, I came across a blog, http://pimpstitch.typepad.com/blog/, and in celebration of their new website, http://pimpstitch.com/, they were posting a new hand embroidery design to download for free every week during the month of June. The theme for each design was birthdays. These designs were absolutely adorable!

I decided that I would stitch each of these designs and use them as blocks to create my very own birthday quilt, commemorating my 40th. So far, I have completed only one of the embroidery designs, but I hope to speed this creative process up. The fabric that I am going to use for the rest of the quilt top is a collection of liberty of london fabrics. Can I just say, I love, love, love those fabrics. I have almost hated the thought of cutting into them ever since I purchased them, but I decided this birthday quilt would be the perfect home for these amazing fabrics.

I will keep you updated on my progress.

until next time,

melissa

girls getaway

Two of my friends, Kyra and Laura (aka Lucy and Ethel), and I just went on our 3rd annual girls getaway. This year we spent the weekend in Geneva, Illinois shopping, eating, and LAUGHING. The three of us periodically get together to go to movies, and do some shopping for the day in our area, and we always have a great time. However, there is something about spending a whole weekend together without husbands and kids, and most importantly ... schedules, that just brings out the carefree girl in each of us. Some of my favorite time was right before we fell asleep, and we would just talk, and talk, and talk ... there just doesn't seem to be enough time for that in everyday life ... so what a treat.

This summer, I planned our trip. So, back in March, I presented Kyra and Laura with these folders that I had made up with all of the information and details of our impending trip. As I mentioned earlier, Kyra and Laura also go by Lucy and Ethel. (if not already obvious, the names are from the characters from the "I Love Lucy" show. To be honest, I am not sure how they came to have these nicknames, but as time went on they decided that I too needed an alias. So, I became Betty. Evidently, Betty is a lesser known friend of Lucy and Ethel's on the show. I was ok with her not being as infamous as the other two, because, as you can see in the photo on the inside of the folders, she dressed VERY well.

We stayed at a hotel called the Herrington Inn and Spa, and it was magnificent. Not only did they come in at night to turn our beds down and turn on classical music for us, but they also brought us cookies and milk (in glass jars, no less). Needless to say, we felt very spoiled.

We ate at so many wonderful places in Geneva, but the establishment that really stood out to me was in Naperville, Il. (We stopped through Naperville on our way to Geneva) We went to a place called Cookie Dough Creations Co. (www.cookiedoughcreations.com). All I can say is that I was ecstatic over what I discovered when we walked in. Their specialty was a cup of ice cream with a very large scoop of raw cookie dough (sans the raw eggs) on top. They had at least half a dozen different flavors of cookie dough to choose from. Also on their menu was a cookie dough sandwich, which was two of their baked cookies with a scoop of cookie dough in between. Best yet, was that they sold pints of their cookie dough to take home ... I was all over that!!

Before we left to come home we took a few pics outside on our deck overlooking the Fox River. It was just beautiful ... the whole weekend.

kyra and laura

laura and melissa

until next time,

melissa

fun surprises

I have such thoughtful friends and family. Recently, my mom got back from a trip up to Northern Michigan, and while there, she stopped into an antiques store. She knows that I love to collect chenille blankets, so she purchased one that was rolled up and tied, based only on what the outside looked like. As you can see, the outside is fairly plain, but pretty.

I was absolutely thrilled when I opened it up and found the beautiful and colorful design. Not only that, but there was not one stain or hole ... fabulous!

A couple days after my mom surprised me with her fun find, my friend Lisa, dropped by my house with some treasures that both she and another friend, Karen, picked up for me when out at garage sales and estate sales. Well let's first start with the Smurf items. I have a love for all things Smurf ... I know something must be wrong with me, but oh well :) This is the first Smurf album that I have gotten, but I do have a collection of Smurf glasses that I am thrilled to add these to. I have yet to listen to the record, but I do have a reproduction record player that I plan on playing the album on ... can't wait.

Lisa also gifted me with some wonderful vintage bling, as well as with an adorable old gingham bed sheet. Just look at that sweet eyelet trim.

I can't believe I almost forgot one of my favorite items that Lisa brought over. It is a fabulous crocheted wool blanket. I haven't decided exactly how I want to use it yet, but oh, the possibilities!

I just can't resist closing this entry with an adorable picture of miss smurfette herself driving her perfect little pink car, alongside her equally adorable little cottage. Wouldn't you just love to have a cottage like this for a studio???

until next time,

melissa

I can't believe it!

I finally did it ... I opened my etsy site today. So far, I just have a few things listed, but what a victory for me. My biggest challenge seemed to be figuring out the shipping costs. Please know, that if anyone purchases an item and the shipping cost ends up being less than quoted, I will certainly refund the difference. I plan on adding additional items throughout the weekend.

Below, are a tablecloth and a tote bag that can be found in my etsy shop. Please stop by for a visit when you have a moment ...

until next time,

melissa

It's good to be back!

Hello friends!

I want to begin by apologizing for my extended absence. Right after my last post, I injured my lower back and as a result have been dealing with a bulging disc. There have only been a couple other times in my life that I have experienced more pain than I did with this injury. Needless to say, it has sidelined me for a while.

I have been up and around for the last couple of weeks, but it is amazing how hard it has been to get back into the groove of blogging. I still spend endless hours reading everyone else's blogs, but I have been a little tentative about doing it myself ... just letting that goofy, insecure side of myself get in the way of the creative side of me.

I have so much to catch up on. There are several things that have happened over the last month that I want to share with you through pictures. I will try to post several times over the next couple of days.

To start with, I wanted to share with you my latest creative infatuation ... embroidery, both machine and by hand. This photo is of a tote bag that I created with a bird applique adhered to the bag using free motion embroidery on the sewing machine. I just love the contrast of the floral fabric used for the bird against the white background of the bag. I also added a little butterfly applique on the inside next to the pockets.

until next time,

melissa

vintage fabrics ... meant to be used

Not long ago, my mom purchased some pillows from me that I had made from vintage fabric. I purchased that amazing vintage blue floral fabric that you see below many, many years ago. I was saving it for just the right project because I could barely stand cutting into it. There is something about actually using some vintage fabrics, and not just collecting it in order to look at it and touch it from time to time, that can be very difficult! Well, I finally bit the bullet and decided to use some of the fabric on these oh so comfy pillows. Well, my mom purchased them from me recently at a show to use on her family room sofa. Wouldn't you know that Sophie, my mom and dad's dog, has taken to these pillows as her favorites. And you know, I wouldn't have it any other way. It is just a small reminder that all of these fabrics that some of us collect and treasure are meant to be used and enjoyed, by both man and "beast" (and a very cute one at that :)).

until next time, melissa

my very own fairy garden

My friend Lisa and I concluded our trip to Chicago over the weekend with a stop at my most favorite flower nursery in Illinois, The Growing Place, in Naperville, IL. Unfortunately, we only had 30 minutes to look around before they closed, but that was better than nothing.I couldn't believe my eyes when I came upon a whole display of items that could be used to create a fairy garden. Am I the only one, or has anyone else dreamed of creating their very own fairy garden? Well, I have wanted to do this for the last couple of years since I read about one in a magazine, but I just never have taken the time. Well, I couldn't resist some of the absolutely adorable fairy items that were for sale, so I purchased a few, and committed to making a garden of my own. I decided to start small, and create a little fairy wonderland in a small galvanized bucket. I am absolutely in love with it!

until next time,

melissa

flea market time ... yipee

This last Saturday, my friend Lisa and I took a little road trip up to Chicago to what was formerly known as the Chicago Antique Market. It was so exciting to experience, for the first time this season, the thrill of the hunt for that one amazing treasure (or as in my case most of the time, MANY amazing treasures).

Although I did discover several things that I just could not live without, my most fabulous find was "Victoria" (pictured below), a pink painted metal dress form. My daughter, Julia, named her when I got back home. As I have mentioned before, Julia just has a way of picking out the most perfect names for my inanimate objects. I came upon Victoria early in the day, so I was on cloud nine the rest of the afternoon, reveling in my discovery. I will post photos of Victoria after I decide exactly how I am going to properly display her. I have several ideas brewing.

I think of the last 3 photos as "bins of potential." It is so fun to scour through bins like these because you just don't know what you may find that will inspire you to create.

having fun creating

I have had some fun adding appliques to my aprons. I felt like they needed a little something extra, and the embellishments did just the trick. I have also been having fun creating "Jane". My oldest daughter, Julia, names the rabbits for me once I am completely done creating them. The names always seem to fit the personality I imagine that doll to have ... I know, a little crazy sounding, but fun none the less. I enjoy having my kids participate in the creative process.

until next time,

melissa

creativity in baking

Lately, I have not spent as much time as I used to being creative in the kitchen. That changed this weekend when I happened upon a blog site called Bakerella (http://bakerella.blogspot.com/). I needed to take a dessert to a church fundraiser meal, and I was inspired by these amazing cupcake bites featured on this Angie Dudley's blog. Mine certainly do not have quite the visual appeal that Angie's do, but I was very pleased with the outcome, and even happier with the taste. My daughter described them as "little bites of goodness". Isn't this the best part of being part of the blogging community ... sharing ideas with one another?!

until next time,

melissa