I Love Yard Sales!

Maybe once a month or so, my husband - who also loves yard sales - and I will get up early on a Saturday, put on our comfortable shoes, and, armed with Starbucks venti somethings, head out on a treasure hunt.

There's really nothing in particular we're looking for, but the fun is in never knowing what you'll find.  Although finding a box of pristine vintage fabrics or trims is pretty high on my list of things to look for.

Once, we found a lovely kidney-shaped oak writing desk for only $20, and another  time we found three vintage suitcase for $5 each - those are stacked nicely in the corner of my sewing room.  Just a couple of weeks ago we found a set of crystal wine glasses - all eight of them! - for only $5.

My husband even found a set of golf clubs in a yard sale several years ago - and for just a few dollars found out that golf wasn't his thing after all.

We always find hardback novels that were on the best seller lists only a month or two previous for $1 or $2, and there are always boxes of paperback books in gently read condition to search though as well.  Both of us have a weakness for books and inevitably bring home more than we agreed to before leaving out, but again, that's the fun of it.  When our bookshelves are groaning full, we just head up to Mc Kay's in Chattanooga and trade them in for more books - that's a fun day that usually ends up with a great meal overlooking the river.

There was even a period of time when we lived in Kansas that our youngest daughter, who was in her middle teens at the time and into sleeping late, would accompany us on our hunts.  This phase didn't last long, but we will always treasure those memories.

Another fun thing about yard sales is when we decide we've driven all over half of Georgia and either found nothing interesting, or as on some occasions, found way too many interesting things, and the hungries strike - we get to go to brunch.  Brunch is when we thoroughly discuss what we did or didn't buy and just kick back and relax for a while and enjoy some quiet time together before we head back home to begin the "real" Saturday stuff.

Looking ahead to this weekend, I see that the weather is going to be quite nice - no rain in sight - just a perfect fall day.  Yard sale signs should be sprouting up everywhere by Thursday evening...maybe even a community yard sale sign or two if we're really lucky.  I've gotten quite adept at picking those out form among the "House for Sale" and various other signs that clutter every corner and entrance to every subdivision.

My husband is heading back to Georgia as we speak - his ETA is Friday morning.

I'm thinking we'll be planning on getting up early Saturday and following the yard sale signs yet again, looking for that elusive something we didn't know we needed till we saw it.

Life is good!

Coffee Addiction - A Shared Obsession?

My husband thinks I'm a coffee addict.

The power went out Saturday morning just as I was heading downstairs to brew up a delicious, eye-opening (huge) mug of coffee.  Since I'm currently limited to only one cup, I make sure it's an extra large, highly-caffeinated one.

Power outages are fairly frequent and sometimes long lasting here in Marietta, especially on Saturdays, so this was no trivial matter.  It wouldn't be an issue if we had a generator, something that has been mentioned previously and thoroughly discussed a great number of times, but we don't.  I guess he forgets I drink coffee for his protection.

I had no way to make the mug of deliciousness that had totally occupied my thoughts all during my shower, anticipating that first sip and almost tasting the exquisite wonderfulness of it.

Clearly this was a crisis of epic proportion calling for immediate action.

There was only one thing I could do.

Off to Starbucks for a Venti Pumpkin Spice Latte!  Heaven in a paper cup only 1.2 miles away!

Of course, my husband came along for a Salted Caramel Mocha Latte, and it was only after he finished his latte that he accused me of being a coffee addict.

REALLY!!!???

Where This Woman Creates

Have you seen the latest copy of Where Women Create, that gorgeous, slick, pricy magazine from Stampington and Company?

In their words:  Where Women Create invites you into the creative spaces of the most extraordinary women of our time.  Through stunning photography and inspirational stories, each issue of this quarterly magazine will nourish souls and motivate creative processes.

Where Women Create is truly a beautiful magazine.  The photography is just as stunning as claimed, and will generate lots of "I wants" from me with every issue.

Except...I couldn't work with all that stuff surrounding me!  I'd spend all day marveling over the multitude of things in jars, plastic cubbies or baskets on all the various shelves or in the various cabinets.  When would I have time to create if I was out and about, busy collecting all those things?  And where do you go to find all that "stuff"?

Please don't get me wrong - I am absolutely in awe of some of these studios, but I personally need open spaces and light!  While I draw my inspiration from patterns and colors of fabrics, too much of anything is sensory overload for me.

A spacious and clear cutting table, a bulletin board, a long desk of a comfortable height for my beloved Janome sewing machine, and my lovely mannequin, Betsy Madelyn, for modeling my creations are all I need.  I love the organization of my fabric on shelves with spools of thread in a large, penny candy type jar and buttons in another - bobbins do really need organization, but I'll figure out something soon - and that just about concludes the tour.

Well, I guess I could use a couple more jars for other items, but that would truly be all.

I hope I'm still the fabric artist my daughters think I am, even though I don't have all that space filled up with all that stuff.  If I'm not, I'm going to be really sad.

Does This Ever Happen to You?

Does this ever happen to you?

On my way to my day job (sigh), traffic was surprisingly light.  The sun was only medium bright, and the temperature was already in the mid-70's - not bad for July in Georgia.  In other words, just a lovely day in the making.  A Bob Seger CD was cranked up loud that I was singing along to, back windows down...and then it hit me.

That old urge to wander.  Far.

Only a couple of miles to I-75, turn left and go...home to Michigan.  Or, turn right and go south to a Florida beach and be lazy.

Oh the possibilities!

For a moment I let myself embrace the idea of either visiting family I miss so much, along with freighter-watching, fog horns, channel marker bells, waterfalls and the piney woods "up North".  Or, turn the other way to the delicious, fresh seafood of the Gulf, sitting in a chair on the white sands, watching waves and enjoying total relaxation under the hot sun, baking away my cares and woes.

I could imagine myself standing at the edge of Lake Superior, only the soft sound of waves lapping gently at my feet, the scent of pine and clean water mixing in the cool air, a hot cup of coffee in my hand and peace in my heart.

On the other hand, I could see myself on the Gulf coast, in a comfortable reclining chair under a big umbrella, bigger waves rolling unto the white sandy beach, the scent of salty sea water in the air with laughing children building their sandcastles nearby and seagulls squawking overhead.

Oh the choices I could make.

With the turn into work fast approaching, reality and responsibility took over.  I made the turn, parked by car, and went on in.

Daydream over for now.



I wrote the above a bit ago, as I debated, agonized and struggled with a life-changing decision of whether or not to leave the security of my day job to grow Gypsy Wind Designs.  Honestly, there were many sleepless nights, maybe even a few tears, and much talking with my patient and supportive husband over the time before the final step was taken.

All the angst was worth it - I do not regret for one moment the decision to make that leap, and truly I embrace the challenge I've made for myself.

Now the hum of my Janome is music to my ears - Michigan or Florida will have to wait a little more.

Here a Stitchery... there a Stitchery!

While it is true that one of my favorite things is sitting down at my beloved Janome with a piece of beautiful fabric and creating something, I really love making stitcheries.

The whole process – drawing words or pictures with a water-soluble pen, sorting through my stash of floss for the perfect colors, and then the actual stitching – is just so relaxing and enjoyable.  Because I work in a country primitive style, the words are not always perfectly straight and the figures don’t have to be photographic quality.  Cats and houses, words and pumpkins, snowmen and snowladies – anything my imagination leads me to.  It’s just plain fun!

Psychologists should explore the relaxing effects of the backstitch.  Sewing a picture has to be therapeutic.  No matter the stresses of the day or the noises around me, watching the needle moving and creating is almost meditative.

I remember back a number of years ago, at a show my husband and I did in a Kansas City, KS suburb.  I was arranging pillows stitched with clever sayings in what I hoped was an artistic display when a couple of fellow crafters wandered by.  Both ladies stopped, aghast, and said, “Oh my, those will never sell.  We’ve never seen anything like that before….”

I sold out.

And I was hooked on stitcheries from then on.  Not just because they all sold, but because I could do something I truly loved to do and share it with others.  I will never lose the thrill I feel when someone sees something I’ve created and their face lights up as they reach for it.

I am truly blessed.

All I need is muslin, warm and natural batting, a disappearing marker and an idea.

Ready to stitch!

Stitching...love this part!

All pressed and trimmed - this stitchery is ready to be made into a pillow.  This beautiful fabric is called Blueberry Crumb Cake - just perfect for a little country style pillow!

Finished!