Winter Wonderland

I don't know about your part of the country, but this is a picture of what we woke up to this morning.

It is beautiful as long as we can stay indoors, and as long as the power stays on. And we are praying that the power stays on!!

I know I've been away awhile. Who knew how much work it is to have an on-line store! I've been ordering fabric, unpacking fabric, and listing fabric. I'm still learning the ropes. One, is to get new fabric ordered as soon as possible. A lot of my Flights of Fancy by Paula Prass is on backorder and my order of Andalucia by Patty Young is slowly trickling in. Check out Patty's blog for some really cute things to make with her new Andalucia line of fabric.

I've kind of had baby things on my mind lately. My husband and I were surprised Christmas Day by the announcement from our son and daughter-in-law that we were expecting our 5th grandbaby (their 4th child). Now, how exciting is that! Of course, we don't know if it's a girl or a boy yet, but I saw these darling little baby booties and it makes me want to make a pair..maybe. But I thought I'd share them with you. Michael Miller Fabrics had a bootie contest and these are the winners of the contest. I can see why.

This pair was made by Bridget Baxter. Some little baby girl is going to already come into this world in style!

This next pair was designed by Rebecca Alkem. I love the little buttons.

And look at this darling pair made by Grace Mayorga.Don't you love the soles!

This last pair of booties was designed by Stephanie Leigh Sabbe. Who wouldn't want their little baby girl wearing a pair of these!

My last blog talked about the new policy that Westminster/Free Spirit had announced on MRSP pricing. It seems that they have delayed the implementation of that policy, so they can review it more thoroughly. It also seems that it is inevitable, but at least we get a break for awhile. If you want to know more about it go to http://www.trueup.net/?p=2327.
I hope to be better at keeping everyone up on what I'm doing. Until then....

Westminster/Free Spirit Change in Policy

As I announced in my fabric store, Wesminster/Free Spirit has made some changes in policy that affects A LOT of on-line shop owners. You can visit this blog to get a gist of what most of these changes are all about: http://www.trueup.net/?p=2327.

If there are any lines of fabric that you have really been wanting that are manufactured by Westminster/Free Spirt, I would suggest that now is the time to get it, before the price increase! Designers that will be included with this are Amy Butler, Tina Givens, Anna Maria Horner Jay McCarroll and more.

I'd love to hear what you think about all this!

I'm in Business!

Some of my new fabric finally arrived from Free Spirit, and am I excited!

Here is Garden Friends in mint by Jay McCarroll. They're so cute and whimsical. They'd look so cute as a little girl's dress or even for decorating a child's room.

Here is the beautiful Treetop Fancy by Tina Givens in brown. I think it would be beautiful made into a handbag.

I really hit the jackpot when my business cards showed up at the same time as my fabric. I was ready to hug the UPS delivery man, but I restrained myself. My talented and creative daughter designed the logo on my cards. I love the buzzing bee on the back, also.

And the cherry on top of the "ice cream" is my arrival of some of Sandi Henderson's new patterns.What little girl wouldn't want to wear something made from one of these!

All in all, I feel like a little girl in a candy store. Now I've got to get busy and get all the pictures taken and get this fabric out in my shop.

Be sure you come by my shop, make yourself comfortable with a latte or hot cocoa and drool over all these wonderful new fabrics.

I hope to show you my newest Michael Miller fabrics that should be arriving this week. So keep posted.

(Stop)
Oh yes, wait a minute Mister Postman
(Wait)
Wait Mister Postman

Please Mister Postman, look and see
(Oh yeah)
If there's a box in your truck for me
(Please, Please Mister Postman)
Why's it takin' such a long time
(Oh yeah)
For me to hear from that order of mine

There must be some word today
From my fabric distributor so far away
Please Mister Postman, look and see
If there's a box, a box for me

I've been standin' here waitin' Mister Postman
So patiently
For just a card, or just a letter
Sayin' my fabric's returnin' home to me

(Mister Postman)
Mister Postman, look and see
(Oh yeah)
If there's a box in your truck for me
(Please, Please Mister Postman)
Why's it takin' such a long time
(Oh yeah)
For me to hear from that fabric company of mine

So many days you passed me by
See the tears standin' in my eyes
You didn't stop to make me feel better
By leavin' me a card or a letter

(Mister Postman)
Mister Postman, look and see
(Oh yeah)
If there's a box in your truck for me
(Please, Please Mister Postman)
Why's it takin' such a long time

(Why don't you check it and see one more time for me, you gotta)
Wait a minute
Wait a minute
Wait a minute
Wait a minute
(Mister Postman)
Mister Postman, look and see

(C'mon deliver the box, the sooner the better)
Mister Postman

Some of you may not be old enough to remember this song. I changed up the lyrics a little. Okay, you can see I'm a little frustrated that my new fabric orders haven't arrived. I put one order in the day after Christmas, and I called to check on it this week. And, guess what?? It hadn't even been sent yet!

I should've been as smart as my daughter and ordered BEFORE Christmas. I was just afraid that my box would come before we left for Christmas and would be sitting on my porch for a week. Oh well, patience has not been one of my virtues.

I know that the waiting will make it all worth it! You'll be sure and see me hoopin' and hollerin' when it comes and I'll be sure and let you know.

Happy Birthday to Me

Well today is my birthday. Honestly, it's just a day to me and sometimes I even have to stop and think, how old am I? Or, maybe, I'm trying to forget how old I am! Or, maybe, I'm just so old, I don't remember how old I am! Whatever. This day comes whether I want it or not. A friend of mine recently sent the following clip, and I thought it was perfect for, this, my birthday.

Old Age, I decided, is a gift. I am now, probably for the first time in my life, the person I have always wanted to be. Oh, not my body! I sometime despair over my body, the wrinkles, the baggy eyes, and the sagging butt. And often I am taken aback by that old person that lives in my mirror (who looks like my mother!), but I don't agonize over those things for long.I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly.

As I've aged, I've become kinder to myself, and less critical of myself. I've become my own friend. I don't chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn't need,but looks so avante garde on my patio. I am entitled to a treat, to be messy, to be extravagant. I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging. Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4AM and sleep until noon? I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 60 &70's, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love ... I will. I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the jet set. They, too, will get old.

I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten. And I eventually remember the important things. Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when somebody's beloved pet gets hit by a car?&nb sp; But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect. I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face. So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver. As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don't question myself anymore. I've even earned the right to be wrong.

So, to answer your question, I like being old. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every single day(if I feel like it).

Even after reading, this, I feel SO much better about my birthday. I pray God grants me many more years to spend with family and friends, and to enjoy being old!

Thanks for sharing it with me:)

"What's in a Name?"

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose
by any other name would smell as sweet."..Shakespeare



This is the name of my new internet business on Etsy.

My daughter, Marianne, my husband (the Accountant) and I wrote down possible names for 3 days!! It was actually the last name that we came up with that I used. I thought it was appropriate. I looked up some information on honeybees and the definition for "humble" and this is what I came up with:

More has been written about honeybees than any other species of insect. They're social insects. Female bees in the hive (except the queen) are called worker bees. The worker bees do all the different tasks needed to maintain and operate the hive. They take care of the hive! They remain active in the winter.

"humble" - not proud, haughty or arrogant.

Proverbs 16:18 says, "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall."

I hope my business lives up to these definitions. I hope to always be working hard to provide a quality product to my customers. I hope to always be humble in all I do, knowing that hard work and determination is how I want to operate. Also, I hope to have a teachable spirit and listen to the wisdom that others are willing to share.

I hope you all like my new business name and that you visit my site soon.

I hope to have my new designer fabrics from Paula Prass and Patty Young arriving soon!

Hello 2009!

The New Year has started and that means organization! I don't know about you, but I like things in their place. You know the old saying, "A place for everything, and everything in their place." Unfortunately, I have a husband that NEVER puts anything back in the same place twice. I guess we balance each other out.

Anyway, here is a project I did several months ago that I put above my desk in our laundry room. It lets me put photos, memos to myself etc. in one place. It's a memo board. I'm sure you've seen them in the stores, such as Hobby Lobby, but I needed one that was bigger. I bought an inexpensive bulletin board from Wal-Mart. Mine is 35" x 23". I wrapped it first with a medium loft batting and a fabric cut large enough to wrap around to the back and staple. I then took ribbon, measuring it out to slant from one side to the other. I placed upholstery tacks where the ribbon crisscrosses. I can change out and update pictures very easily.



One of my other favorite things are Command Hooks. I should have stock in that company. I use them for everything. I even hung up my memo board with one. I use them on the backs of bathroom doors, and even used them to hang up my wreaths on our front door. They're so easy to remove, and you'd never know you had anything on your wall. I wish I'd had something like them when I lived in the dorm in college, or in the apartment as newlyweds. You know, when you weren't supposed to put any nail holes in the walls.


This is on the back of our bathroom door.


I hope these easy projects might give you some ideas with some things you may need to organize in your home. January is a good time to get started.

I read a quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson recently, and I thought it was so appropriate to remember as we begin the New Year. It says,

"Write it on your heart that every day is the best day of the year."

I think I may even put this on my memo board to remember! I hope today was the best day of the year for you!