on friendship . . .

Thanks, Kelli.  Love you too!!!!

sometimes life doesn't turn out to be a bowl if cherries . . .

I am dangerous.  I started off wanting to make another tote similar to the very first one I made but a little larger.  Then I started thinking how much I would like it if it only had one shoulder strap and looked more like a hobo bag.  But I still wanted it reversible. made of canvas, and summery. 

So I called Joanie and dragged her off to Jo-Ann Fabrics to look for canvas.  When my nose failed to ferret out the stuff, I asked one of the clerks, who graciously showed me the entire back wall of canvas . . . 50% off.  Swoon.  After much to-do, I settled on a blue, yellow and white floral pattern with a complementary blue, yellow and white striped fabric and headed home to my sewing nook. 

I was working essentially off this pattern, which meant I had to create my own from scratch.  Call in the troops . . .  the 9TS obligingly helped with the angles and corners.  Good man that 9TS.  My first boo boo was that my fabric was not tall enough for the pattern and I hadn't bought enough to lay it the other way.  Sound familiar.  I do it every time. 

 No problem, I would just lay the bottom on the fold rather than cut a seam I was just going to stitch up anyway and get my extra 5/8" fabric back!!!  I am so smart.  Until I read on and really, I needed a gap in the lining from which to reverse the entire tote.  Back to cutting and feeling slightly more than dense. 

Everything was progressing fairly well until, even though I had carefully laid out the pattern on the striped fabric so the stripes would match, they did not.  I swear, an entire 3/8th of an inch of fabric yelled, "Up boys, scooch over a little and make her crazy." and they did.  Sigh,

So now I know, this is not going to be a reversible bag . . . not that the instructions ever claimed it would be.  And still the fabric was in revolt . . . which it tends to do after being sliced and diced, pinned and poked . . . not that I blame it.   I inserted, what would be the loop closure over a button, in between the lining and the outside, I was so careful to line everything up.  But the troops were on a roll and as soon as I looked away, their friends the pins, each moved a little off center.   The result is a mismatched closure.  No fear. I will tell people it is a creative decoration . . .

And so, it is completed.  Not quite as anticipated but bright and summery and happy go lucky.  YAY!!!!

or why i craft . . .

when we were in Antigua, we wandered out of the main shopping district to get more of a flavor for the town.  On the fringe, we found a tiny dress shop run by an older woman.  I was intrigued by a two piece pants/loose top outfit and tried it on.  As a one size fits all, it fit very well.  Comfy, islandy. cool.  I inspected the garment, looking for fabric content and washing instructions and found none.  I asked the woman if she had made it and she nodded her assent with a shy smile.  At less than $30 I knew it was going home with me.

Now as I am oft to do, I have worn the top several times but had yet to wear the bottoms.  When I pulled them out earlier in the week to check them out, to my surprise, I realized they had horrible bleach stains on one leg.

Since I hadn't worn them yet, let alone put them anywhere near the laundry room, they must have come that way and I had not noticed.  I weighed my options.  Since $27 was not a lot of money, I could just cut my losses and enjoy my top or I could shorten the pants and make them more capri like or . . . I could enlist the help of my black Slick Writer . . .  a permanent pen made for writing on all sorts of slick surfaces such as plastic, metal, etc.   And so I went to work . . .

While not perfect, I doubt if anyone is going to be down on their hands and knees inspecting the inside hem of my pant leg.  At least I hope not.

Just another reason for why I craft.  Snort!!!!

cheers . . .

there is something uber good about Tuesdays.  an hour and a half of really relaxing yoga, followed by lunch with good friends and then a solid two hour nap.  does it get any better? and then I started to think.  no, it really doesn't.

yoga is good for the soul.  good for the body.  good for what ails you.  it stretches and relaxes, calms and maintains, feeds and restores.  if you haven't tried it, please do.  it keeps me sane and any thing that can do that is . . . trust me . . . worth its weight in gold.

and never, I mean NEVER, underestimate the value of women.  other women ROCK.  they've been there, done that and can relate.  they raise you up.  they support you.  you can't make it through life without the power of friendship.  truly.

good food.  what can I say.  we walk into our favorite place and out come our drinks.  without the presence of a menu, our meals are served.  they know what we want.  they know how we like it.  they do it so well. 

Home for a nap.  relaxed.  content.  comfortable.  at peace.  the world it good.

so make time for yourself.  find something that takes you to a good place.  share it with friends.  cultivate it.  sleep on it.

You'll be so glad you did.

p.s.  this post was brought to you from the pool deck and a glass of cabernet.  Cheers!

cha-ching . . .

like most women, I love a good bargain.

I had seen this top in the Coldwater Creek catalog and was drooling:

the posted reviews were pretty good.  So after lunch, we headed to the store to check it out.

and then there was this necklace . . . .

 oh boy, I was in trouble. Total cost:  $109.91.  Ouch!!!

Until I discovered they were having a 30% store wide sale.  And then I started whipping out cards.  A coupon for the necklace . . . free with purchase.  A $20 off coupon.  A 5% discount with my club card. Total price:  $22.22 including tax.  YAY!!!!! 

It was a very good day!!!

today and tomorrow . . .

today:

deviled eggs made . . . check
Honey Baked ham picked up . . . check
Granny Smith apples sitting on the counter . . . check
vanilla ice cream . . .  cooling in the freezer
corn on the cob . . . ready to husk
Easter basket goodies . . . gathered

tomorrow:

potato salad to make
apple crisp to concoct
rolls to bake
family to enjoy

a blessed Easter to you all!

this post is brought to you poolside at the cave.  ok, my laptop doesn't take great shots but the wine is cold, the breeze is blowing and we are happy campers!!!!