Something about Iris

They seem to always be wearing their Easter finery,

complete with bonnet, frills, and ruffles!

Happy Monday!

Spring vs Sinus

Dallas Blooms 2011, Dallas Arboretum

The Good Lord knew to bless Spring with awesome blooms in beautiful colors, under sunny skies.

It makes the accompanying allergy and sinus problems a tad more tolerable!

Now, if I could only unravel the mystery behind moving boxes.

Why is it for every one that is unpacked, two or three more always appear?

I am slowly making process, though.

Thank you for the many kind and encouraging messages regarding the recent closing of my brick and mortar store.  They mean the world to me, and have made this transition a little easier.

During the past eighteen months, my time at the store was limited due to health issues, medical appointments, and surgeries.  However, even when a business owner is not physically present at their business, they are still very much consumed by it.

I am enjoying a more relaxed schedule, and know my health will ultimately benefit from it.

There are still orders to fill and customers to help.

I continue to be grateful for the opportunity to help others keep stitching and creating, through my website.

I am also still planning to spend more time in my own sewing room, once that last box is unpacked, if not sooner!

Available here

One thing I often regretted as a business owner, was not having time to support other businesses -- especially other small local businesses.

As I have made daily runs to the Post Office with orders, I have also made time to reacquaint myself with other stores in my neighborhood.

While not a small or locally owned business, I did enjoy browsing through the nearest location of World Market the other day.  A few of the double insulated tumblers followed me home.

I plan on spending many sunny summer days sipping something delightfully cool and fruity!

May your weekend be filled with Spring goodness, and not too much pollen or too many sneezes!.

Dirty Hands, Happy Heart

Besides playing with fine fabrics and lace, I also love playing in the dirt!

Some might refer to it as gardening or working in the yard.

It has been almost two years since I was able to do this.

When the thyroid disease first began, a high heart rate prevented me from doing much.

Last summer, I learned double vision, combined with sharp gardening tools, could be damaging and deadly to both human and plant life.

Once again, I can play in the dirt!

Not only was I prevented from  gardening these past two years, my husband was unable to much.  He had his own health issues, and was often taking care of me.

Yesterday, we took advantage of warm temperatures, grabbed gardening tools and went to work!

Due to a more harsh winter than usual, and two years of neglect, there was plenty to do.

The deadwood was removed from my hydrangeas above.  The roses were finally pruned, along with other trees and shrubs.  Lots and lots of leaves were raked.

Good thing Mondays are pick-up for garden recycling and bulk trash.

There is still lots of work to do, and hopefully more warm Spring days to come.

Don't worry.

There was lots of soap and water, before I started to play with fabric and lace again!

"No occupation is as delightful to me as the culture of the earth,

and no culture comparable to that of the garden."

~Thomas Jefferson~

Tiptoe through . . .

the tulips!

The tulips are blooming in my yard!

May there be a sign of Spring in your corner of the world, too!

Spring is nature's way of saying,

"Let's party!"

~Robin Williams~

Winter White

We woke to winter white this morning!

While it is nothing, compared to what much of the country is experiencing, it means our part of the country is pretty much shut down.

There is a layer of ice under much of the snow.

Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport was closed earlier this morning for the first time since 9/11.  Some flights are now beginning to resume.

Schools, universities, and many government offices are closed.

However, if you are a Packer fan, your team has safely arrived at Cowboy Stadium for Media Day.

Four buses, carrying the team, were escorted to the stadium by a Department of Transportation sand truck!

The Steelers will have their turn in front of the cameras a little later today.

They most likely think it is ridiculous that a few inches of snow and sub-zero wind chills converts a bustling metroplex into a ghost town.

They are also probably a little disappointed they were not here last week while we enjoyed Spring-like sunshine and highs in the upper 70's.

It is a good day to stay inside!

Pumpkin Houses

I recently spent a delightful day strolling the grounds of the Dallas Arboretum.  It is truly one of my favorite spots in the city!

Paths and planting beds throughout the grounds are lined with over 40,000 pumpkins and decorative gourds, during the Great Pumpkin Festival.

There are pumpkins here,

there,

and everywhere!

In some places, the pumpkins and gourds fill the entire planting beds.

In other places, they become the plants! 

Surely you are familiar with pumpkin flowers, aren't you?

But, the main attraction is the Storybook Pumpkin Village!

Four walk-through houses are constructed completely of pumpkins and gourds.

I adored the green window trim on this little house!

Each house was unique,

 

and truly a work of art!

The Arboretum is not the only place to find delightful pumpkin houses, though!

This adorable little pumpkin house recently arrived by mail.

I am thinking it might actually have a slight advantage over those at the Arboretum.

The roof opens, and a drawer slides out to reveal yummy chocolates!

Nothing better than a day filled with pumpkin houses!

Sparkly Pumpkins, Part II

I could not stop with just one sparkly pumpkin. 

Now, I have a whole centerpiece of sparkly pumpkins!

As often happens with glitter, a little (or a lot!) was also stuck to me.

I decided to think of it as magical fairy dust and danced off to the local Texas Department of Public Safety office.  You may recall, from an earlier post, my concern about failing the vision test for my driver's license renewal.

With a little bit of magic, a bundle of good wishes from faithful friends and kind readers, and a whole lot of God's grace, I passed!

It is a small step on my road to recovery, but a big step on helping me still feel somewhat nomal.  While I still cannot drive too many places, I will at least be prepared for the day when I can!

If you wish to make sparkly pumpkins of your own, my inspiration came from here.

I used artificial pumpkins and gourds with MS Fine Glitter in Fire Opal and Copper.

Sparkly Pumpkin To Go

Make a sparkly pumpkin.

Add brown krinkle paper to a bright orange take out container.

Gently nestle sparkly pumpkin inside.

Add a bow, and it is one sparkly pumpkin to go!

Sent to a friend, along with wishes for all things good!

Halloween Treats, No Tricks

Truthfully, there was one needed trick -- grabbing a photograph before they all disappeared!

There is something about Halloween that just makes it impossible to avoid the candy aisles at the grocery store.  I am fortunate enough to live near a Central Market with large seasonal candy displays.  The candy is available by bulk, so you may purchase just a taste or whole bag.

I classify it as one of life's simple pleasures!

I am not normally a huge fan of licorice, except for these little Halloween Licorice Pastels.  They combine just the right amount of licorice and sweet candy coating!

New, at least to me, were Pumpkin Spice Malt Balls.  The white chocolate pumpkin spice coating surrounds a crunchy malt ball.  Yummy!

But the best was yet to be.

Chocolate covered candy corn!

It is only in autumn that I actually crave the childhood treat of candy corn.  Add a little chocolate, and who can resist? 

Since the candy dish is emtpy, and my tummy is happy, therein lies the answer!

Hoping your day holds treats of the very best kind!

Not Such a Scaredy Cat!

I just happened to find this darling shirt recently, and loved the little glow-in-the dark face!  It reminded me of fun glow-in-the-dark garments that my son wore so many years ago.  Unfortunately, the glow-in-the-dark print seems to prevent the true colors and cuteness of the shirt to be captured in photographs.  So, just use your imagination that those eyes have almost the exact yellow glow as a cat's eyes in the dark.  Those cute little ears and nose are really a bright orange!  The shirt also has little crochet trim around the wrists and neck.  Just sweet and not frightening at all!

Black is not my favorite color for young children.  Halloween is an exception to that rule.  I selected a Michael Miller by Paula Prass, Cobblestone in Black, for a pair of little ruffled pants.  The pattern is Jackie Clark's Britches and Bloomers.  The ruffle is edged with orange medium rick rack.

It looks a little like a costume now that it is completed, but Halloween is all about imagination and fun -- and candy!

Fabric, pattern and trim for pants available at http://www.bessiemary.com/

According to the Calendar

It is 90 degrees and the leaves are still green where I live, but according to the calendar it is Fall!