Scrapbook love

My family also let me spend some time at the scrapbook store last weekend where I found all sorts of goodies - beautiful papers, peacock stamps, and other little treats.

But the highlight of the trip had to be this:

Star Wars and Lego products! I am envisioning clip boards and scrapbook pages and all sorts of fun things. Can't wait to dig into my new stash and start creating!

Cross Stitch love

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This past weekend my family took me to the cross stitch store. I found a few fun patterns (including one for a gift that I didn't post here) and learned a few things.

1) There is something inspiring about seeing models of the patterns up close and personal. To see the stitches, the beautiful linens, etc. makes me want to stitch all day long. 

2) Shopping online does not allow me to be inspired in the same way a trip to the store does. Unfortunately, the store is out of our way, and more expensive than shopping online. 

3) If I want the ability to be inspired by seeing finished work in person, though, I have to pay the higher store prices or the store will cease to be there. I've seen it happen countless times before.

So, I am looking forward to stitching up some new patterns and trying to hold on to the inspiration I felt this weekend for as long as I can. Then maybe another trip will be in the cards for me.

Mother's Day Perfection!

I enjoyed a perfect Mother's Day weekend. First, my son declared it "Mother's Week," so I enjoyed a week of extra hugs and kisses.

Then this weekend, there was minimal cooking at our home - we enjoyed a dinner out for Chinese, one day, a lunch out for past another day, and pizza and ice cream on a third. The only meal cooked here was my breakfast in bed for Sunday morning!

On Saturday my family took me to all my favorite places - the cross stitch store, the scrapbook store, and the bookstore.

Perfection! 

Later this week I'll share some of my "finds" from the weekend.

The year is a third over!

Hard to believe that we are already through a little more than a third of the year. One of the bloggers I follow, Christina Katz, blogged recently about her accomplishments so far this year. She encouraged her reader to do likewise. Here's mine:

1. I read 112 books from January 1 through April 30, 2010. That includes a good number of picture books, which are fast reads, but more "chunky" books, too.

2. I have maintained two blogs this year.

3. I started a new job

4. I have implemented systems to encourage my son to keep reading and keep working on the piano and they seem to be working.

5. I wrapped up the first year of Creative Writing Club at my son's school.

6. I made 31 journals for my writing club students.

7. I am 3 lessons away from completing the Apprentice course through Christian Writer's Guild.

Not as many things as I would have expected if you had asked me in January. But considering that I am working regularly outside my home now, I think this is pretty good. Feeling content with most aspects of my life, and still thinking about how I want to invest my energy and time.


So, how about you? Feeling accomplished so far this year?

The Dream Lives On

One of my goals for 2010 was to make a quilt. Then I started working and I pretty much scrapped all of my goals for the year. But my dream to make a quilt is alive again.

Thanks to U Create, I found this blog that walks readers through making your first quilt. It is easy to follow and I love the idea of creating with others. It's like a support group!

Just after finding this blog, I talked to one of the women who lead a quilting club at my son's school. As I looked wistfully at the quilts students have completed this year, she told me they quilt at the school for about 6 hours every Saturday. Six hours? Wow! And she said they have enough supplies on hand that my first quilt would be free....

I'm trying to be realistic about my commitments, but I think I might give it a try this fall. If I do, I'll post progress pictures!

Books, books, books

I've been enjoying a bit of a book bonanza lately.

Thanks to Michael Hyatt's blog (which is a great one, by the way), I won a copy of The Revolutionary Paul Revere.


Then, a few weeks ago I was invited to review the spring releases from a children's publisher, Tiger Tales (even their logo is cute!). I LOVED almost every title they sent me. It was such a treat! Some of my favorites were Bella the Birthday Party, The Fairy Ball (Bella), and The Best Pet Ever. I was all set to give the books away once I finished reading them, but my son grabbed two and put them on his shelf!


Then, the same week I received the books from Tiger Tales I got a copy of a book for middle-grade readers from a self-published author. I am still getting around to that one, but it looks promising.


It has been a good time to be a book-lover in our house!




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Happy May Day!