It all started with a button...

What can I say...this button spoke to me...I AM after all...a product of the peace-love generation...and all things do come back...and I think peace should always be popular...so as a tribute to the era...and peace of course...I created a bag...
This was a fun bag...and it's going in my Etsy shop...I do need to make something more for my pathetic shop...I don't have much in there right now, because I have been busy with other things...but now I am determined to get some new product in there...

Here a close up of that bubble gum pink fabric...it spoke to me...yeah...I've been told I'm a bit loony in that regard...what can I say...

Some of the wool applique...I do love my wool...and for those of you who are into eco-friendly products...I used recycled wool...in other words...I buy old clothing and re-use the wool...

Can't have too much peace...can we...I only wish it were this easy to get some peace...this is a look at the inside lining fabric...a pocket inside and a patch pocket on the back too...this is the size bag I use for everyday when I walk...it holds everything needed for a walk...I.D., camera...yes...you never know when there's a good photo op, cash...I have been known to stop at the store on my walk, and even your water bottle...with space left to spare...oh and don't forget the outside pocket to hold your phone....

I accidentally put these pictures up in reverse order...this is a close up of a new blanket I just delivered to Project Linus yesterday...

I actually delivered two blankets...these are baby blankets...I like to rotate the sizes and for boy or girl...I like this pattern...it's quick and easy...and filled with love! Here's hoping these blankets give a big hug to a wee one who needs it!

And last...but not least...here's a bag I made and is being given away over at Brooke's site. Brooke is a great gal who I met last year when I first starting blogging. She and her wonderful family have faced some challenges in the last couple years that would stop most people...but her faith has kept them all going and she has a delightful site that is fun too! She is a true blessing to me and reading her posts keep me from whining about my minor struggles in life...go on over and check her out and enter the give away...

Enjoy your day, my friends...may you have peace and love in your journey today!!

It's that time of year again...

Yes, indeed...it's that time of year again...when our apple tree goes into full production...and boy...does it produce!! We planted this apple tree when we first moved to our house...roughly 27 years ago...it was so tiny...maybe a 3 foot stick...and now...well...she's a beauty!


Not only does she provide apples...for just about everyone we know and some that we don't and a food bank or two...but she gives us much needed shade over the long hot summer...

Her branches reach far out from her trunk...high into the sky...

Her branches are a bit gnarled and weathered with years...

The woodpeckers and other creatures have given her a beating...

But each spring she comes out of her winter rest...

She gives refuge and a nice perch to friends...

And produces like mad...

All of these wonderful apples...

Of course these apples are very tiny now...they will be ready to pick mid-summer...then she will make sure we have enough to get us through Autumn and produce a much smaller second harvest...

Oh dear apple tree...we have a love-hate relationship...I love the shade and the tasty apples...but the work ahead of me...well...let's just say for the next several months...she's a high maintenance gal...I guess I better start thinning out some of this fruit...

Enjoy your day, my friends!!

Fresh flowers delivered...

This is the latest bag I delivered yesterday to a client. I have made bags for her in the past...in fact she has been one of my best clients so far...this time, she said..."surprise me!"...oh no...what can I make...I have used this vase of flowers before, but not this big and not this way...so I thought she would like it...

She loves a black and white back ground...I chose this tiny damask...sorry the leaves got in the way...but my camera batteries ran out, so I have to show you this!

I love layering buttons...this silver one fit nicely inside the tan one...

and this heart shaped one looks perfect too on top of a plain white one...it's made of mother of pearl...

A peek at the inside...a key hook hangs down...more damask for the bottom and pockets...of course pockets all around! I liked this lining fabric too...a nice cheerful inside.

I am always a bit nervous when I deliver my bags...will the client like it...no need to worry...she liked this one better than the last one!! Yippee!! And she has friends who want to place orders...they just need to decide what color they want...

Designing and making bags makes me happy and what makes me even more giddy is when someone is so pleased with my work and proudly carries their new bag around...I will never make a ton of money selling these bags...it can never replace the income I lost when I was laid off , but it fulfills me in ways I never knew existed...and I hope I can do this for a very long time!

Enjoy your day, my friends...I hope your day is filled with sunshine and flowers!!

Happy easter!!

The day started a bit dreary in our neck of the woods yesterday...it rained all night and into the morning...we were to host Easter dinner at our house...outside...I might add...but with so much rain...we were a bit concerned...but we made the most of the weather...and had fun... my sister, Debbie, brought some bunny ears with her...so we all tried them on for size...

Chelsey and Alex...they are Stella's Mom and Dad...

Debbie and Joe...Stella's Grandma and Grandpa...

Sarah...Stella's Grandma...

Brett and Sarah...Brett just got back last week from a tour in Afghanistan...Sarah's so glad to have him back!! We all are...Brett will join our family in September when he and Sarah get married...

Cindy and Vinod...Cindy is my younger sister...Sarah's Mom...

And the newest member of the family...Olivia...she is Cindy's newest Grand daughter...just 3 months old...I cut off her Mom's head...sorry about that...

Sadly, my boys couldn't make it up from San Diego...they were greatly missed!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter as well...I am so thankful for the sacrifice ...I count my blessings every day!!

Enjoy your day, my friends!!

I won! I won!!

Look what arrived in the mail yesterday afternoon...a wonderful prize from Cyndi! Cyndi is a wonderful blogger and a very talented and generous friend. Go check out her blog and you will agree!!My mind is whirling with thoughts of what I can make out of this...and then again...it's so pretty to look at the way it is!
Look at all the little goodies that were in the package as well! I thought I was going to have to show you a picture of the chocolate bunny with his head bit off or something, because Don noticed that there was chocolate around...and whew...it was hard to make him wait! Funny story...he saw the words candy bar on the Moda package and was ready to open that too!!
Thanks again, Cyndi...you're the best!!

A little Spring decor...

My sister had this hutch, table and chairs for years in her house...for maybe 15 plus years...she bought a new set and gave this to us. We took it to our very good friend and he sanded it down to the bare wood, repaired a bit of damage, and put on layers of poly to protect it. It's made of pine and I really like it alot! It sits in the eating area of our kitchen and I keep many old and new treasures in the hutch. I like changing out the dishes and other items depending on the season...

Right now I will show you what it looks like for this Spring...I am not a huge collector, but I like certain things...Fiesta Ware, vintage Pyrex and casseroles...and pitchers...

I love the turquoise and yellow Pyrex the best...this is my very favorite casserole behind these two new salt and pepper bunnies I picked up this year from Target! These loaf pans are a favorite too...

This yellow pitcher goes well with the Fiesta Ware, but it says Marcres Ovenware on the bottom. It also says it is made in the USA. I haven't researched that company...I just liked it...like that it was made here...and it works well with the Fiesta Ware! The bunnies in the basket are also salt and pepper shakers. I got them at a craft fair a few years ago. The plate in the background is new. It's part of a set.

Here's some of my Fiesta Ware and a cow milk pitcher. He was new when I bought him about 25 years ago. The bunny is an egg keeper with some glitter eggs in there now.

My son bought this cow cookie jar for me at a thrift shop. It is made by Otagiri in Japan and he said it is quite collectible...I like it and the fact that he bought it for me because I love cows was enough for me...there is a leaf serving plate and some leaf bowls in there too.

A Fiesta Ware pitcher...another bunny plate and a paper mache carrot. I have had this carrot for quite a few years...I always worry how it will hold up, but it is doing well...

Another casserole, some more bowls and a couple bunnies...that's it for my Spring decorated hutch...I hope you enjoyed seeing it..it was fun to show you!

The weather isn't very Spring like right now...it's pretty gloomy outside. I've been sewing all morning and I think it's about as warm as it's going to get, so I'm off to the back yard for some gardening...

Enjoy the day, my friends!!

Stella's First Birthday Party...

Yesterday, the most happening party of the weekend... was Stella's first birthday party...Here she is with her Mom, Chelsey, my niece, enjoying her special day... Anna took her in the jumper...she wasn't too sure about that though...I think it was the balloons that kept most of her attention...

Stella is enjoying getting her silles out with her Grandpa, Fred...

My cousin, Chrissy played a Happy Birthday song...

And then there was cake....

Stella did enjoy the cake...

Then the dancing started...there is always dancing with the Assef family...here are the Grandparents...my sister, Debbie, and BIL, Joe, doing some Persian dancing...

We had a great time, Stella had lots of fun...Thanks to Alex and Chelsey for a great party...and thanks Fred and Sarah for hosting the party at your house!!

Soups on...

It's a bit cooler...again...today, so I thought some soup would be good for dinner. We had left over roast from Sunday's dinner...so our special bean and vegetable soup came to mind. While I was cutting everything up this morning for the crock pot...I thought it looked so pretty, so I had to get out my camera and show you! I wish I had smell-a-vision because right now my whole house smells pretty darn good!!

Enjoy your day, my friends!!

Spring is back!!

I think Spring may be back for good according to the long term weather forecast...it has been quite nice in my parts the last few days. I just came in from a little gardening ...5 hours worth...I can't help it...I love to garden...and it was really nice out...a little hazy, but it's only about 72 in my yard. This is a little Red Japanese Maple I have on the east side of my yard. It gets shaded in the afternoon by our garage and it seems to like it here. It is about 3 years old now. I had wanted one of these for so long and now we have 2!! The color on it is such a vibrant red...I don't think my camera does it justice. It will turn a bit green in the Summer and them back to red in Autumn before it sheds it's leaves. On that same side of my yard in the sun...we have lots of flowers in bloom...here's some of them...

The purple violas have just taken over...I just wish I could get the other colors to do as well...I get so many seeds from these too!

Here's that same side of our yard going to the back yard...it has 4 White Birch trees... they are the multi trunk kind...they were planted at the same time as the Japanese Maple...we lost a large tree on that side and decided to redo the area...I'm so happy with it now...the moss is starting to come back now too...I always lose some in the winter, but it comes right back and keeps everything so cool out there under the shade of the trees...

Across from the Birch trees in a little planter I have a mix of vegetables and flowers. These are Sugar Snap Peas and their time of production will be over pretty soon as it warms up. I planted some cucumber seedlings in there under the peas and they will take over when the peas are gone. I like having a crop going there as often as I can. I have radishes in front of the peas.

It's artichoke season again too! We love artichokes at our house...our sons grew up with these as a special treat! They still are...We have 3 growing now...I hope we see some more soon! last year I think we got close to 30 for the season...it was wonderful!!

I have ranuculous...I can't spell... growing all over the place and some of them have gotten so many flowers that they won't even stand up straight, so I cut some to put on the window sill in the kitchen...don't look at my dirty windows...with so much rain ....they need a good cleaning!!

I have been pretty busy the last couple months inside and now it's time to be busy outside. I started walking again...I had a bum heel for months and it hurt to put shoes on, so I didn't want to push it, but it feels pretty much better now, but now my right leg is giving me trouble...I think it may be my knee...can you strain a knee sewing?? That's the leg I use for the pedal...maybe I wore it out...I have been sewing a lot lately!! Anyway...I decided to just use the tread mill and that way if my knee hurts I can stop and go and rest instead of being a couple miles away from home and then in pain...oh it's such a pain getting older!!

On another note...I just went outside to change the sprinklers...I'm giving my lawn a bit of water and I haven't the heart to change them quite yet because there are about 10 little birds taking a shower in them! I do have a bird bath!! Do you think they use that...no they only drink from it! Well a couple extra minutes won't hurt I guess!

Enjoy your day, my friends...I hope there is Spring where you are!!