One Project Finished Today!

I will have to share more later, but I wanted to do show and tell for one of the things I did today.  I used the awesome Fabric Pumpkin Tutorial shared by Lynne over at A Simpler Time.   I had an old bedspread I got at an estate sale quite a while ago that I wanted to use for snowmen at first, but then I thought of this.  I really love how it turned out!  I am considering whether or not I want tea/coffe stain it or not.  What do you think?

  Gotta run for now, but will be back with more tomorrow!

I am working on some Fall patterns that I plan to share - hopefully by the start of next week.  I saw this little story and thought others might like it, too.  Be back before the end of the day with one of my projects!

An old Cherokee told his grandson, "My son, there is a battle between two wolves inside us all. One is Evil. It is anger, jealousy, greed, resentment, inferiority, lies & ego. The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, humility, kindness, empathy, & truth." The boy thought about it, and asked, "Grandfather, which wolf wins?" The old man quietly replied, "The one you feed."

A couple of cleaning tips

Let me start by saying I am no cleaning guru.  Not. Even. Close.  But I do like to find ways to make cleaning more efficient and easier.  Here are two tips - the first is a product that I have used with great results and the second is a little trick I discovered, but don't remember where I got the idea.

Whink Rust and Stain Remover is the best stain removing product I have ever used for laundry.  I use this all the time and on a variety of fabrics.  Last summer I was headed to a workshop and I stopped for coffee on the way.  Okay, it was really a combination of coffee and a little hot chocolate because I don't drink grown-up coffee. Ever.  Anyway, after I paid for the coffee I reached to pick it up from the counter and bumped it and it spilled. Down the front of my WHITE pants.  And yes, I had purchased a large serving size.  So attractive.  We won't discuss my need for therapy as a result of having to go to my workshop with those pants on.  That's another post.  Or possibly even another blog entirely.

When I got home, I used Whink on my white pants and in one washing they were as good as new!

I have also used it on shirts that have those embarrassing stains under the arms.  Works like a charm!

My second tip involves the dreaded topic of dusting.  I really don't enjoy this task, and I think that's mostly because as soon as you get the job done, it's time to do it over again.  This might be why I don't dust as often as I should... or maybe I can always find something better to do...  I am also  a little over the top about doing this job.  I can't stand it if there is dust left in the corner of something, or trapped between two parts of something.  You get the idea.  Well, I bought a paintbrush for just that job.  It's amazing how well it works for things like getting into the corners of the windowsill, or into the nooks and crannies of the keyboard, or into the wire wings of my angels.  I spray a little pledge on the ends of the paintbrush, and work it into those nooks and crannies and voila!  Dusting accomplished.  Til the next day anyway.

Frankly, I hope your day involves absolutely no cleaning, laundry, or dusting of any sort.  But if it does, may it be quick and painless. :)  Have a great day!

My Giveaway Wins!

I won two giveaways in one week recently!  I could not believe it when I won the first one, then I felt downright guilty when I won the second one.
My first win was with Samantha over at Samantha's Accessories.  Samantha is doing a Christmas in July event on her blog.  She has had posts almost every day in July that feature her Christmas patterns, tutorials and general fun.  I have been amazed by her generosity as many of her patterns are being offered for free download.  Samantha also sells patterns - she is so creative and her patterns are really fun!  Please go check out her blog.
Here are the wonderful snowman ornies that I won:

I just love them!! They are just so prim perfect - and they smell so wonderful! 

I am going to leave them up for a while - maybe they will help me cool off. :)

My second win last week was with Cheryl over at Country Quilts.  This is book #2 for Cheryl to get published.  It looks so amazing!  Cheryl was giving away an autographed copy.  When I signed up for her giveaway my thought was "I am so going to buy that at Material Rewards (my favorite quilt shop) when I see it there."  I don't really expect to win the giveaways.  I'm one of those weirdos who thinks it's fun just to enter sometimes.  Last week showed me that it's awesome fun to win, too!

So, big thank yous to Samantha and Cheryl for hosting giveaways!  I hope everyone will head over and check out Samantha's and Cheryl's blogs today. :)

I am headed off to get ready to go play.  My favorite quilt shop is hosting a Christmas in July event today and I decided that this is a great way to beat the heat!  I hope you are all staying cool where you are - please be sure to drink plenty of water. It's easy to get dehydrated in this weather!

Have a great day!

A quick tip

I have a pretty busy day today, but I wanted to tell this quick tip before I forget to do so.  I tend to have a candle going frequently, so I end up with a lot of end of the jar candles to deal with.  Well, I had several of those accumulated (I don't know about you, but I hate cleaning the last of the candle out of the jar), and my husband got into the act.  He dug out an old glass pitcher and started throwing the candle remnants into it.  Then he put the pitcher under my kitchen sink for storage.  And voila!  The world's best air freshener for under the sink was born!  It is amazing how much it helps to tame any smells from the garbage!  I know this may not be earth shattering news, but since I just added some more to the pitcher and it is actually quite full now, I thought I'd share.
Have a great day!

Getting Organized and Shopping in my own antique store...

I wrote in my last post about my need to get organized.  Well, I have been working away at it, and I am really enjoying it - yes, I said enjoying it!
I started with my kitchen counter which looked like this:

I have to admit that this isn't that bad compared to what it was a week ago - I had already worked on it quite a bit.  But I never seem to completely tame the mess - until now!  My counter is my dropping spot, and it's driving me crazy because it looks so messy!  So I decided to make that my priority on Friday.  I used several of the tips I found in the GO organize! book I wrote about in my last post.  

Well once I had manageable piles, I needed a way to contain them.  So I went shopping - in my own antique store. :)  At least that's what my husband called it when he created it one day while I was at work.  You see, this past Spring I dragged him to a couple of antique shops, and he started noticing that I already had a few items not in use at home.  So he made me my own antique shop - in our basement.  Think dark, dirt floor, low ceiling, a bit spooky - I think you get the picture.  Well, I have to admit that he did me a huge favor!  He got all my things organized for me and in one spot.  (At least the ones he knows about.)  Here are a few pictures of my antique shop:

What's that?  I should have warned you that it's not pretty?  Ooh, sorry about that!

 I knew there had to be something down there that I could use to help me tame the paper piles.  There was!

I decided to use this old tool carrier.  I had no idea where it came from, but I thought it might have belonged to Mark's grandfather.  But Mark came clean when he got home and saw it on the counter.  "You know I made that, right?"  What?  It's not an antique?  It can't be an antique because he is younger than me, and I am certainly not vintage - yet.

Here's a shot of the counter now.  Please forgive the 3 watermelons.  I was in charge of cutting up the fruit for a graduation party on Saturday - and yes, I didn't even think of moving them for the picture - nor any other random item you might spy.  

I used two old bed-springs to help me "file" the papers in the toolbox:

 I am not positive that I will continue to use the tool carrier, partly because I keep picturing it full of leaves, pumpkins, and other festive fall items.  But I know that I at least have a workable system for now.  I just need to make taming the paper a daily habit rather than monthly or - gasp - bi-monthly.

One of my next areas to work on is the laundry room.  I posted some lovely pictures of my laundry room a while ago - here.  At that time, the counter was relatively clutter-free.  Here it is today:

Yup - another catch-all spot.  Out of control, unsightly, annoying - you get the idea.  I think I am ready to tackle this today.  

Here is a close-up of one of the issues to be dealt with on that counter - warning it's not pretty!  We have been calling it "the carnage":

They were all on the windowsill when a wind storm blew in and they were knocked to the ground behind the washer.  I think they have been headless long enough...

Hope you all have a great day!  Stay cool!

Why isn't the phone ringing?

My sister, Libby, and I have a little joke that whenever I am going to do a cleaning job that I don't particularly enjoy - like mopping the kitchen floor - she calls.  Then I say, ""Oh thank goodness you called!  I was just about to mop the kitchen floor!"  (or clean the bathroom, or clean the garage or - well you get the idea...)  This has actually happened many, many times.
But alas, today I am about to do that horrible deed and no phone call.  Poop.

I do want to take a quick minute (What? Procrastinating?  Me? Well, maybe.) to tell you about a great new book I just got yesterday.  It's called GO organize!, and the author is Marilyn Bohn.  Marilyn is an organization expert and she has a great website and blog for you to visit: http://www.marilynbohn.com/
Here's the book:

I found mine on Amazon, but Marilyn is going to be selling them from her website soon.  I read the first two chapters last night and I was hooked!  Marilyn has such a makes sense approach to decluttering and organizing your home.  I have already started using the system she has outlined so beautifully in her book, and I am finding it very focused and motivating.  She has great tips like setting a timer and working for a set amount of time instead of working until you hate the job.

There is a neat story about how I found out about this book.  Marilyn and I both signed up for Amy's Great Pumpkin swap over at Bumble Bee Lane, and we are partners!  I told Marilyn in our first email exchange that I found it pretty ironic that I would be partnered with an organization expert for this swap (or any swap).  And maybe even fate.  :)  When I received Marilyn's email and first went to check out her website, I could easily see the MOUND of things I brought home from the end of the school year still stacked next to and on the kitchen table.  I think it might have been classified as borderline horrifying to someone who has an aversion to clutter.  And no I didn't take pictures of that!
This is another side to participating in swaps - you might just meet a person you really needed to know!

I must run now, but I will try to be brave enough to come back with some before and after pictures of my organizing.  But first, the kitchen floor and I must do battle!