i heart linen

Still

See anything wrong with this picture? 

Well, the problem here my friends is that this hallway typically has two little toddlers playing and running in it.  My pumpkins started Summer daycare today.  I'm so sad.  I miss my babies, but it is a necessary evil.  I need time to work on the book and it's just impossible to do with them here.  I honestly feel like the worst mommy in the world today.  I'm so sad.  The apartment is so quiet and I'm still not quite sure what to do with myself.  I've got lot's to do, but this first day..........*sigh*....It's just really been hard for me to find some sort of rhythm.  It's a very different feeling for me, because they're with strangers and not my mom or Mel's mom.  *sobs* Anyhoo, time will make it better.

On a lighter note......Elijah got so excited when he saw the other children at daycare today.  Mel was holding him and put him down on the floor so that he could stand...........my little man took off walking!!!

Woohooo! \^O^/ *moonwalks*

Mel caught a pic of him with his phone.  We were inside the office that you see behind him and he walked right out the door to where he is standing in this picture.  Crazy huh?  I could never get him to take more than 2 or 3 steps before.  I guess the other kids just made him feel motivated.  I'm so proud. *beams* ^_^ 

Through the Looking Glass

Huge, huge, huge, tremendous, humongous, colossal, gargantuan (is that big enough? ^_^) thank you to all of you for your comments on my last post about my news!  It really means a lot and you've certainly managed to ease my mind a little, you've definitely given me a boost.  I was feeling a little unsure about it all.  I think it's going to be just great and I'm happy to "bring" you along for this journey with me. So stoked! Woot!

Have a good weekend?  I suppose mine was....hmmm.....enlightening.  Ever have one of those moments standing in front of the mirror, where you're sort of just standing there looking at the reflection, thinking......about.....well.....anything and end up having a sort of revelation?  I had one of those moments a few days ago, looking, thinking, watching, seeing, pondering.......so many thoughts ran through my head in that short moment in the privacy of the bathroom.

"Wow, I need to pluck my eyebrows......huh?! ANOTHER gray hair?!  Uuugh, this  over 30 thing is nuts!  Hmmm....heeeeeeeyy...a pimple....must be nearing that time of the month....I guess I have been a little bitchy the past couple days.....speaking of bitches.....haha.....no, let me not go there.......*sigh* ......I can't believe I'm writing a book.....wow......me the girl who hated to read books or even write book reports in junior high.....haha.....craaazzyyyy......my 8th grade teacher really tried to work with me, she was super cool.  I wonder what she's up to now?"

She was strict sometimes, but also had these funny little sayings.  She used to say, "That dog won't hunt!", whenever we tried to fib about our missing homework or something.  She used to make us show our work on math assignments to prove how we got the answer to a problem.  If we didn't she'd say,"Show me! I'm from Missouri, the 'Show Me' state!".  What the heck does that mean anyway? lol Anyone know the answer to that little bit of trivia? Why is Missouri called "The Show Me State"?  Anyhoo, I digress. She used to help me with my homework after school,  we played tennis sometimes,  I invited her to my confirmation......I had forgotten how much she helped me and how good she was to me.  She was one of those teachers that just really cared about her students and loved to teach.  She really left an impression on me.

Well, it occurred to me, as I stared at myself in the mirror, this person has played a part in helping build who I am today and here I am at a huge turning point in my life.....I need to let her know and say thank you.  So,that's exactly what I did.  I went online and actually Google-d her name and found her.  (Kind of scary that you can find someone via Google, but convenient, especially when you have good intentions.)  I called her and we played phone tag for a while, but I finally got to speak to her yesterday!  I just had to tell her about what I've been up to and how she was such an inspiration to me and just say thanks.   

It felt so good to tell her how I remembered so many of the things she taught me and that she was my most favorite teacher and well........geez louise, she rocks!  Why am I blabbering on about all this you say?  Well, I just think it's important to let someone know when they've really left an impression on you.  That's all. Our time here is so short, so let them know.  I wanted her to know that she was a damn good teacher.  Who knows if she's had other students call her up out of the blue or if I'm the only one.  But at least now she knows that she helped make my life super cool and that I appreciate her.

Go look in your mirror and then let them know.  I'll step down off of my soap box for today. ^_^

The little mirrors will be in the shop in my next update (this Friday?) if anyone is interested.  Happy Monday!

Geez louise!!

Okay, so I've gotten the go ahead and I can finally stop being Secret Squirrel and tell you my little bit of news!  Eeeeeep! I'm still in disbelief and can't even believe that it's happening, but it is!  Okay, okay, okay. Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh. Okay, okay, okay. Here it is, here it is, HERE IT IS! 

I have been given the absolutely, wonderfully, exciting, dream come true privilege of .....*drum roll* .......writing a book! I know!!!!!!!!!!!!!    *faints*  A book!  Nuts right?!  I still can't believe it either, but it's true.  I'm working on a book with Interweave Press all about patchwork(and linen) that will be due out in Fall '09! *backflips*

Yeah, it seems like a long time away, but we all know how fast time flies. 2009 will be here in no time flat and there is a lot of work to be done.  I'll be dragging you all on this journey with me, so I will post updates from time to time.

It's still in the early stages, so the title hasn't been decided on yet.  But we've got a pretty good list of projects that will be featured!  I'm so excited about this!  I feel ever so grateful to be given this opportunity.  I never imagined that starting a blog would lead to such things. There are so many talented crafters out there and it's hard for me to imagine why they chose little old dorky me for this.  But, I'm so thrilled and basically don't have the words to say how I'm feeling inside.   So I'll just shut up about it for now.   So there you have it....my news. ^_^

Oh! I almost forgot!  My bias tape! I was just telling Charlene a little while ago how I basically wake up in the morning thinking about fabric, sewing, and making things. So I got this kooky nutty idea to make some "patchwork" bias tape and put it away for future use and forget about it.  But they turned out too good not to share!

There will be some of these (minus the spools, those are mine, mine, mine, mine ^_^) in my next shop update (I'm thinking next Friday), for those of us who don't feel like making our own.  Trust me, if I wasn't in serious sewing mode like I am now, I wouldn't have bothered making them.  It's more work than I anticipated when I started. Duh.

Here is a green and yellow version that I'm working on. I kind of like how they look before I iron them up and make them all nice and neat.  *sigh*  I just love colors and fabric so much and I have such a hard time deciding which ones to use.....so I choose lots and mash them all together into patchwork.  Is that bad?  I think it's better that way.  Fabric mash.  That's what it should be called. ^_^ Yup, I'm a dork. Okay, I'll stop talking now.  *goes and sits in the corner*

All better........well sorta.

Yay! Everyone's better....well better than we were at least.  Everyone seems to have a bit of a cough now, but the worst is over.  Thank you for your comments everyone.  They certainly helped! You know when you're so ill that you almost forget what it feels like to be healthy?  That's how I felt and I'm sure the children and hubby did too.  Anyhoo....it's over now and I'm up for some blogging again! Woot! *does the running man*

Hubby's away at a conference in Minneapolis, so I let him take the SLR. Can I just tell you, it was like giving him my right arm!  I feel totally crippled without my camera! Nuts I know.  I've been reduced to using my phone's camera.  I know!  How inhumane! How can people live like this?!  Ugh!  Okay can I just be a teeny bit more dramatic? ^_^  I'm here complaining about my camera and I should be saying how much I miss my husband.  Who?  Oh yeah, I miss you too honey.  tee hee, loooooove yoooooooouuuuu. =D

Since I can't take any photos of new projects, you'll just have to suffer through photos of my two pumpkin-heads! Enjoy!

Gotta love the nose picking shot.  *rolls eyes*

Les Miserables

Yup, that's what my family and I are right now. Miserable.  Hubby came down with a fever Wednesday night and whatever bug he has, managed to work it's way through our little family system.  Being sick with a sick husband, 2 year old and 10 month old, added into the equation is no fun right now. So there won't be any crafting or blogging happening around here until all is/are well again.  Well, I'm off to go check temperatures again!

Yellowing

Happy Monday!  Hope everyone's weekend was divine!  Mine was busy, busy, busy! Ikea run, grocery shopping, spring cleaning, laundry, rearranging some of our rooms, worked on some projects, and the weekend is over.  *sighs*  Weekends should be 3 days long. Maybe I can start a petition to change that.

Huge thank you to you all for your comments on my last post!  Some really great suggestions as well, I took some notes! Thanks! And thanks to the folks at Craftzine for posting about my calendar. If any of you make a calendar I'd love to see it, let me know!

Sssoooooo.  I've fallen for yellow!  I know how can you not when it's all over the place these days.  I guess I'm a little late, but I'm finally hopping on the yellow bandwagon.  We even painted one of our walls yellow.

Some newly acquired 'yeller' stuff. The pot and the plant are from Ikea, I chose a succulent because my thumb is every color in the rainbow but green. Please don't fear for this little plant's life! I'm keeping my fingers and even my Technicolor thumbs crossed that I can keep this plant alive. 

The fabrics are mostly from Sew, Mama, Sew from a few weeks back so I'm not sure if they're all in stock still.

I think I've been so apprehensive with it because it's such a hard color to pull off.  I just can't bring myself to wear yellow clothing just yet, I mean I'm 5' 10". I feel like I'd look like a big ol' giant walking banana or something!! Not cool.  I'm sticking to fabric, accessories, and housewares for now. 

Mommy's day out

Happy Monday to ya! ^_^  How was your weekend?  Mine was just grand!  Saturday was one of those rare days that I got to go out and ramble around the city on my own without a giant double stroller and my two sidekicks.  It was my big day out and boy did I make the most of it! 

My first stop was to the new Books Kinokuniya at Bryant Park for my Japanese literature fix. The crafting section is so much larger than in the old store and I was just stunned when I came upon it.  I met a really cool woman by the name of Amy Lou there too....What up Amy Lou!!

We talked for what seems like forever as we browsed through all the yummy selections before us.  It was so hard to choose just a few, you want to take the entire stock home!  I ended up leaving with two books, a new sketch pad, and some recycled colored pencils.

My next stop was to the City Quilter in Chelsea, my favorite place to shop for fabric.  Huge selection as you can see and the people there are super nice.  Spent quite a bit of time there and left with several happy prints to add to my stash.

Next stop.....downtown to Purl Patchwork in Soho!  My other favorite place to shop for fabric.  What else do I need to say about it.  Everyone loves Purl.

I left with lots of yummy yardage from there as well. 

Next I was back uptown to meet a friend for some lunch in the Gramercy Park part of town.  I decided to take a little stroll around the park to kill some time before we met.

Does anyone one know what type of tree this is?  I was so amazed by the beautiful purple flowers blooming all over the branch.  How cool is that?

Only residents around the park have access to it with a special key, so it's a private park. 

So not fair!

Some of the buildings that are around the park.....

How grand it the entrance to this apartment building?

Hard to believe there are homes like this in Manhattan.

I need yellow windows like this! So lovely.

Next stop...L'Express for lunch.....nice little French Restaurant....

Okay I'm stuffed now.....off we go to the Farmer's Market in Union Square...

This dog was such a sweet girl.....she was at the market for adoption.  I hope she found a good home.

Oh look!  A street fair! Let's go!!

Let's see....where did I go next? Oh yes! The Apple Store in the super dee duper trendy Meatpacking District......and then up the street for some dinner.....5 Ninth sounded good...

but then we settled on  Pastis.....feeling kinda French on Saturday.

So that was my day....I ate, drank, shopped, and was merry and ended up throwing myself into a cab at then end of the day, exhausted.  I felt like I had walked all over the city.  It was sooooo nice to be out on my own for the day, but I missed my little ones and my hubby so much the entire day!  And almost felt guilty for not being with them.  But not that guilty though, I'll probably run away next Saturday too! ^_^

Happy Earth Day!

Am I the only one who is loving green lately?  I wonder what it is about this color that I love so much right now........Spring maybe? ^_^

Our little flower pot from Ikea...my tulips don't seem to want to sprout much more than that this year....a green thumb is something I don't have......

Some of my recent fabric purchases.......the polka dots make me happy! *dances the polka dot polka*

This tote from the Gap.....I bought it online...it's enormous!

These yummy Japanese melon flavored candies.....green candy has the best flavor in my humble opinion

Our five dollar Goodwill chair......can you beat 5 bucks! Come on! Nuts!

My raggedy old flip flops that I can't seem to part with....I love these old "slappers" ..(what my mom calls them)

I'm hooked! Can't get enough of the green! So happy spring is finally here in NY....now if we can just put those jackets away for good I'll be one happy Rashida. What colors are you loving right now?  I'd love to hear or see what everyone's diggin' these days!

We're back!

Oh my, did we have a great time! Miami was sooooooooo much fun!  I love it! (As you can see my trip has inspired the blog's new look!)

I'm so sad, yet happy to be home.  The weather, the beach, my mom's condo, her store, my family...all just beautiful!  Luckily the weather is trying to warm up a little.  It's still not Miami though......*folds arms and pouts*
Here are some photos from our trip....we didn't take a lot though....we were too busy having fun!

Waiting to board our flight to Miami.......

iPhone + Dora the Explorer = Happy Toddler....

Beautiful day to be flying....

Bella ran up to this little boy at baggage claim....smacked him on the shoulder and screams "Come and get me!" and runs away....they had fun chasing each other while we waited.....

Tuckered out...our flight left NY at 6:30 AM ..We had to be at the airport 2 hours in advance, we arrived in Florida at around 9:30 am.......I'm really surprised neither of them had a meltdown on our journey......

My mom's place on the beach......

View from the balcony....

Fun on the beach.....

then fun at the pool......

Bella in one of the many dresses I made for her for our trip..... (I used this awesome tutorial from House on Hill Road and one of my favorite Alexander Henry fabrics.)

In my mom's shop......

Elijah in his fancy Guayabera shirt ........

It had just finished raining and the ocean was so, so calm........

Mel being risky with my camera.......

And how often do you get to see the sun rise?

*sighs* I had such a wonderful time.....our visit seemed to short......but I'm sure we'll be back soon. It was a much needed vacation and I'm feeling refreshed and ready to get back down to business.  Now I'm off to Bloglines to see what I missed!  Ciao! ^_^

Where in the world

Where has she been you say?  Well take a look.......

We're here on South Beach in Miami visiting my mother, checking out her new digs and her new shop. That photo is the view from her apartment!  Hence the reason the posts have been so scarce around here.  If you had the beach as your backyard would you be thinking about blogging and sewing?  I don't think so homie! ^_^  We'll be here a little while longer, so I'll see you all when I get back to NYC and we can catch up!