HAD A HAPPY MOTHERS DAY

Started off Mothers Day at church with my church family. Then home to sew on my VesTotes, four of them. Had taken the vests apart Saturday night. Got all four put together and they look great.

Then off to Mom's where the whole famn damily gathered (except for MHN as he's still in Ecuador). MHNNL grilled burgers and hot dogs. Sister and MBN had all the fixins' prepared. We topped off our meal with strawberry shortcake. Yum. Best of all, though, we had a wonderful time visiting and catching up on "What's new with you?"  We all live within 15-20 miles of one another, but everyone's busy and we don't get together as often as we'd like. So, when we do, we have to make it count. It was great fun.

MBD posted some pics on Facebook that are so cool. Her and I when she was just a toddler. And one of the Chisam girls (from left to right Me, Mom, Sister; Mema seated). Don't you just love the hair!




Oh my Gosh! I look 12 in the pic of MBD and I.  Well, I was 12 when she was born! :) (NOT)

Okay. Back to the present. Speaking of presents. I received a lovely card and a VISA gift card from MSH; a sewing book from MBMD2 and hubby; a bracelet "The Story of Jesus" from MBMD1 and hubby; a hibiscus plant from MBD, MHSNL, MBGD and MHGS; and a phone call from MHMS.


The book is by THREADS and has more information than I can ever use (but I'm gonna try). The bracelet is awesome, comes with a card that shows you how to tell the Gospel with the beads in the bracelet.





And the hibiscus is already planted in my huge planter; gorgeous orange flowers.







Wonderful day. Wonderful family. Wonderful life. Thanks be go GOD.

Whoa, Nellie!

Okay. OVER a year since I last blogged. So sad. I've been thinking: I spend way too much time surfing the web instead of contributing to it. Besides sucking the time out of my life, it sucks the life out of me. No productivity. No good feelings of accomplishment.

No, I've not been depressed. It's just way too easy to get on the net and Pinterest or Facebook my life away. Both fun sites. Both way too easy to stay on and get nothing else done. They're like the candy and magazine displays at the checkout.

It's time to break the cycle. I'm thinking egg timer. Set that puppy for 15 minutes or so, and when it dings, that's it. Off the site I go and back into the studio to create wonderful things.

So, here we go, F&F (Family and Friends -- or -- Friends and Family -- whatever you feel more comfortable with), time's a-wastin'.

Besides all this deep thought, I also have some GOOD NEWS. Perhaps -- not perhaps -- for sure, that's what has inspired me to be more inspiring and get off my net.  Ready? Interest peaked? or is that piqued? Anyway:

I submitted three of my YAYAMADE items to GREENCRAFT magazine -- Tote-A-Tee, both regular and messenger styles; Milk Money, several pieces; and VesTote, two or three.  I received an email this week that VesTote will be included in the gallery section of the August issue.  I AM SOOOOOOO EXCITED. 

Now, keeping things in perspective, the gallery section is like the honorable mention section, where you get a page or half-page for a picture of your item and a brief write-up. But to me -- I'm so freaking excited! I'm going to be published!

So, I was thinking, why don't I get off my net and get more serious about this whole creating and blogging and promoting/marketing and selling thing. I mean, I love to create/sew bags and the like and I really enjoy selling them. I could use the money. So, here I am, blogging.

I HAVE created a few things. I'll be posting about those things, including pics. We all love pics. And I'll also post pics about some of my recent finds at my local thrifts and garage sales.

VEST TOTE 2

Olive green doesn't mean drab when it's covered with colorful embroidered flowers. This clever Vest Tote will turn heads while you shop and hold lots of goodies. It's another one-of-a-kind bag from the Green Line. Refer to model number VT2, $10.95.

VEST TOTE 1

Shop in style with this Vest Tote on your arm. This clever tote in patriotic patchwork of red, white and blue is roomy and will definitely be a conversation starter -- a one-of-a-kind bag from our Green Line. It's model number VT1 and sells for $10.95.