Back at it

Good morning! I am hoping to begin blogging (for real) soon.  I have been having so much fun with Instagram and met so many creative friends that it has inspired me not only to share pictures but also to talk about things that I find interesting and important.  Many thanks go out to those who have inspired me with their sweet and positive comments about my pictures. I hope to talk to you soon.  I'm still learning how to design and use the blog...wish me luck.  Take good care.

Fabrics for monthly purse challenge

The paralyzed perfectionist (aka myself...) has finally decided on the fabrics to use for JemJam's monthly purse challenge based on Amy Butler's Style Stitches. The fabric on the bottom is a vintage chenille (I love chenille!) that I picked up at Feather Your Nest, an antique store in Lexington. The rest of the fabrics are from my stash; the solid is a light yellow color that is a bit stiffer than the others that I plan to use for the handle.  The trim is because I love bling, like pom-pom trim.  I am not sure I will use it, though.

I picked the colors from the wonderful Stampin' Up Color Coach after finding little satisfaction using the color wheel.  I need to add "practice color theory" to my to do list, along with taking a photography course.  Just buying an Olympic 12 megapixel was not the answer!

At Silver Bella, my friend Cassie had a beautiful bag made of chenille with a fringe of vintage black seam binding.  It was beautiful! She bought it a the Roundtop antique show in Texas, where she lives.  I wish I had a picture to show you.

Time to get started!

I never met a pink quilt I liked...

Meet Marilyn Monroe, my Yorkie. 

I follow Karla's adventures with her Yorkies, who wear pearls, pink whimsies, and other vintage attire. I love pink quilts. Monroe doesn't want to pose on a pink quilt...see how happy she looks to be on this pink towel?

One reason we got Monroe was so I could have a little lap dog who would wear pink ribbons in her hair and pink costumes.  The third night we had her, all two pounds of her leaped off the couch in a triathlete's dive onto the floor to steal a toy from her big brother.  In her three years, she has tutored me on how to love a Yorkie tomboy who has no intention of dressing like Nellie Oleson...anyone remember her from Little House on the Prairie?

I suppose I should say, meet my husband's Yorkie.... We love another dog, Joe DogMaggio, a ten-year-old Havanese, who is...ahem...also my husband's dog. I sort of serve as all three's personal assistant. (My husband is not so much a Yankees fan as he is a baseball fanatic...more on that later.)

Snow...again!

I just heard on Good Morning, America that every state except Florida has snow today, even Hawaii.  How many of us remember the August heat and wishing for snow? I am taking an online mini-course in Photoshop Elements from Kim Klassen.  I took a Photoshop course many years ago and loved it but forgot many of the technical aspects.  This is a photo I "shopped" for the first homework assignment.  Inspired by Rebecca Sower's blog yesterday about winter and longing for spring, I took a picture of this majestic cardinal at our feeder. Is the "snow" font too cute?  Have a great day; I am going to decide definitely on the fabrics for JemJam's purse challenge today!

Silver Bella!

Okay...I know it has been two months since Silver Bella and the wonderful time I had in Omaha. My friends and family could not believe that I went by myself, but I assured them that I would be fine all alone.  Well, when I got there, I was a bit intimidated by all the artists who were there and all those who seemed to have so many friends with them. 

When I headed down to the opening evening activity, I approached(meekly???) a sofa outside the ballroom, loaded down with the swap stuff I had brought.  (Thank goodness one of the swaps had already been mailed to the leader; otherwise, I never could've made it.)  Sitting next to me was a beautiful young woman who said something like, "Come on over and sit with us!" Her name is Cassie (or Cassandra) and she is from Fort Worth.  Her Silver Bella companion, Susan, also welcomed me into their group, and...what can I say?  The rest of the weekend was wonderful hanging out with Cassie and Susan from Fort Worth.

Thanks, Susan and Cassie, for your friendship and your warm welcome!

Fooling around with blog building

Friends, as you can see I have a lot to learn about designing a blog. There is this wonderful fairy out there...the graphics fairy...who not only gives out free blog art but also tells you how to add it to your blog.  Thank you, graphics fairy. With your help, I hope that I will soon have a readable, interesting blog.  The first step will be getting the title inside the frame. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Hello!

Welcome to my blog's first post.  I am just getting started and looking forward to posting.  In case you wondered, Emma  and Lida Mae  are my grandmothers, ladies whom I admire and work hard to be like.  They were expert gardeners and seed savers; quilters and crocheters; cooks and preservers; and wonderful home keepers. I will add pictures of them soon.