Asheville, North Carolina Here We Come!

So we've decided to go to Asheville in North Carolina. I first heard of this town/city through HGTV's Urban Oasis giveaway! I then went to Pinterest (where else!) and did some research on the area and now we're set to leave on Wednesday morning thru Sunday. I can't wait. It looks like a really fun place with lots to see and do. I'll be taking lots of pics along the way as I want to make another small (8x8) hardcover photo book with Shutterfly. I did this for our long weekend in Chicago a few years ago and love it. I will be making a kind of itinerary, not so that we have to go to certain places at certain times, but to list all the places of interest that we'll be able to pick and choose from depending on the weather. Plus a friend of mine used to live there and has given me some recommendations of some restaurants and sightseeing tips so I want to include those. I might make a small journal/notebook this afternoon whilst Hubby watches football (the American kind!) and a small pouch/pencil case to go with it. Hubby and I are getting excited as we'll be celebrating both of our birthdays (mines the 28th of this month and his is the 15th of October) and our wedding anniversary (Oct 24th). Then when we get back we'll be getting ready to re do our kitchen. We were at the kitchen appliance place again this morning narrowing down our choices. I'll probably do some before, during and after pics of that later.

Here are my photo-a-day pics for the week. Nothing very exciting but here goes!

The first pic is a wasp nest that was hiding in an umbrella. Next are some sunflowers that Hubby bought after we rearranged the living and dining rooms. Some fabric that I was trying out a pencil case with - it wasn't very good! A plant from work. Some sharpie pens and a "handle" to put my washi on. A sticky toffee pudding and custard that I brought home with me back in the spring and lastly a sale sign for a Sub Zero appliance from out latest trip to Gerhard's!

I was looking back through my photo-a-day pics and saw that I duplicated a photo - the cat hanger. I usually write down what I've already posted so that doesn't happen and I also note in my little diary what pic I took that day! Ooops is all I can say!! I'm off out back to sit in the sun for half an hour, so until next time...

I Love My Fabrics!

Well I finally ordered some fabrics from Gotham Quilts and Hawthorne Threads to get me started on some projects for my craft show. They are two awesome shops. I ordered two fabrics from Gotham Quilts and they arrived on Saturday - two days later

and I ordered six fabrics from Hawthorne Threads and they arrived on Monday.

I've got lots of ideas - Thank You Pinterest! - so now I need to sit down and start sewing!

In a weeks time Philly will be hosting The Pope and although we don't live in downtown Philadelphia we will be impacted by thousands of visitors travelling to and from the City. So with that in mind and the fact that Hubby will not be able to go to work we have decided to take a mini vaca. Originally we were thinking of going to San Francisco but as usual we've left booking our flight and hotel a little late and the cost keeps increasing! So now I'm trying to come up with some other ideas. I really want to fly somewhere but we don't really know where to go! I'll let you know what we decide.

Today we had some work done on our pool decking. A few years ago a large tree fell and landed on the decking pushing some parts lower than others. Today it was fixed and for the first time since living here, everything is even. Over the next couple of weeks we should be getting the pool tile replaced so next year it will be like swimming in a brand new pool! It's very exciting!

Here are my photo-a-day pix for the week

The first pic is of a hanger I saw at Forever 21. Next is a very fluffy weed! The bags are what I made for a previous craft show. The Chocolate Orange Jellies are delish from Trader Joe's. A couple of peppers left on one of my pepper plants. Some yummy Marmite and lastly my Crunchie that Twinnee had sent me.

I hope you're enjoying the fall like weather. We're still seeing lots of sun and warm temps and hopefully that will last a little longer.
Have a great week. Until next time...

Happy Labor Day

Hope you're having a great Labor Day weekend. We're spending ours at home with our kids and grand kids. Just posting this for my photo-a-day pics for the week.

The first pic is my Inchie prep for September. Next are some books the girls' and I have been reading - favourites from when my kids were little. A grasshopper on my passion flower plant. Trader Joe's yogurt - they're the best! Hubby and The Bean were playing playdoh with some little friends. BBQ dinner and lastly a cat hanger from Forever 21. Off to enjoy the last of this holiday weekend. Until next time...

Goodbye August!

Wow! It's hard to believe that September starts tomorrow. It seems like only yesterday we were making lists of things to be done (this summer) in and around our home and let's just say - some things were done and some were not!! I've kind of adopted this attitude - things can wait. There's way too much drama at work that I can't change, but life at home can be slow, relaxing and enjoyable! But, with that said, I do need to make a real effort to get ready for my Craft Show in November. Two months will fly by and I want to be ready. I did a little shopping over the weekend at AC Moore and Michael's and have lots of ideas buzzing around my head. Hopefully this week I'll have a few of them put together. My official start date is going to be the day after Labor Day. I will draw up a plan/schedule and go from there. I'm going to challenge (my word of the year!) myself to get this done with time to spare.

Today I need to prep my pages for my Inchies for September. I'm a little behind on August but will be caught up soon and then I'll show you both July and August. I forgot to do that last month. It's fun to do but I definitely need to keep my basket with that in close by as I forget to do it sometimes. I'm looking forward to seeing what Twinnee has done for this month. She's very talented with her drawing and watercolours, and has great ideas.

A pretty quiet week for me this week although Hubby and I did go to the Sub Zero/Wolf design place. It was fab! Lots to think about and a few more floor plans for the kitchen are needed!!

Here are my photo-a-day pics for the week

The first pic is a succulent cutting that fits perfectly in my mini cup. The Tasty Cakes plant next door to Sub Zero/Wolf at the Navy Yard in Philly. A picture that was on the wall at Quest. Hubby brought home pretzels - they're his favourites. Some things I didn't buy at AC Moore and Michael's! And lastly, Sunday morning breakfast for one!! Love the Bavarian Cream donut!

Have a great week, until next time...

I'm On My Way!

It's a slow start, but I think I'm on my way with my Craft Show planning. Following the success of my little box pouch from last week - I took it to work and have already got an order for 4 as bridesmaid gifts - I'm definitely going to be making those. I'll do two sizes for sure and possibly three. I'm also thinking that I'll slightly change the shape for one of them. So of course I had to start thinking about fabrics and have been looking at gothamquilts.com and hawthornethreads.com I'll probably check out a couple more shops and then place my order. I've also been getting papers and cardstock together as I want to make some fun little journals. And I still need to play with my Bind-it-all!! So like I said - a slow start but it's a start. My biggest problem is the weather. It's hard to be inside when it's so nice outside! That's why I'm trying to get all my planning and ordering done now and then once school starts and Hubby goes back to work (he teaches HS) I can focus on the actual making of things.

We had a great weekend catching up with our friends after their family vacation to California. On Saturday night the four of us went out to try the new Bonefish Grill and then on Sunday we all went house hunting (for fun) and then over to Le Pain Quotidien for cake and coffee! They serve the best lemon tart with big bowls of milky coffee!!

Here are my photo-a-day pix for the week.

The first pic is the new pool - Hubby was bringing the mermaid pool from the front of the house to the back and somewhere along the way punctured it! Mini office clips from Crate & Barrel. Dear sweet Maddie having dinner! The beginnings of a Happy Birthday journal. My favourite little girls' pool shoes. Fish and chips at the Bonefish Grill and lastly a cute little tiled sink area in the house we looked at on Sunday.

Hope your weekend was a fun filled one. Until next time...

Goodbye Peanut

Early Saturday morning (3am) our dear little Peanut died. I knew it was coming as she'd stopped eating her cucumber and tomatoes. I wrapped her in a cozy towel to keep her warm and snuggled with her one last time. As sad as it is, I know she had a good life - nearly 6 years - and is back with Pixie again.

I miss them terribly but know that we'll be guinea pig parents again and will probably adopt from Pet Finder or a local shelter.

Last week I bought a napkin from Crate & Barrel - I've said it before and I'll say it again THEY HAVE THE BEST NAPKINS AND DISHTOWELS!! I decided to have a go at making a box pouch. I popped down to Joann Fabrics and bought a zip and lining fabric and came home to sew.

I was thinking of making these with matching notebooks and pens for my craft show but needed to make a practice one first as I didn't want any raw seams on show on the inside. I have to say I love how it turned out.

I know it's not the best photo but you get the idea! Now I need to decide how many I want to make and start sewing!! My girlfriend, who's also doing the craft show, is making quilted table runners, canvas aprons with an embroidered design on the front and some pin cushions. I'm also thinking of making some holiday pillows and some knitted items. So between us we should have a good selection of different stuff. More photos and lists to come! Oh and I almost forgot - I bought a Bind-it-all from Amazon last week. I haven't used it yet - I was hoping to try it this morning before work, but I've put my back out so will have to wait until the weekend. I think I did it when I was playing with The Bean and Sissy in the pool over the past few days.

Here are my photo-a-day pics from last week. I've given up trying to get caught up with the few weeks that I'm behind so I'm just going on from here!

The first pic is my application waiting to be mailed for the Craft Show. Next is an American Goldfinch along the side of the road. My Bind-it-all from Amazon. A window display at Crate & Barrel. This beautiful shell shadow box is on display at our local library along with a few others - everything is made from shells! Early morning in the parking lot at work and lastly Peppa Pig and Brother George waiting to be hugged by The Bean and Sissy (actually Sissy ended up with both!!). Hard to believe we're already halfway through August, so enjoy these summer days as Autumn will be here soon. Until next time...

Holiday Craft Show

So I finally decided, after going back and forth, to sign up for a Holiday Craft Show. I've printed out the registration form and will be putting it in the mail first thing tomorrow morning! You have to specify your craft, so I'm going with - knitting, sewing and paper goods. That should cover everything. This craft show will be benefiting the Make-A-Wish Foundation and in addition to a show fee, we also have to donate an item for the raffle valued at $20 - I'll pick that out once everything is made. I guess my first step to getting ready for the show will be to make a list of things I'd like to make and go from there. I'll follow the steps for planning and making from a previous post that I'd originally found on the wonderful Stitched in Color blog. Naturally I'll be looking at Pinterest for inspiration but I already have quite a few ideas buzzing around my head! I'll update as I go.

My July Inchies is just waiting for the background detail which should be done in the next day or so and then I'll post that and hopefully the beginning of August too.

I'm still catching up with my Photo-a-day, so these are for the week of Monday July 20th

Edmond sits happily on the end of the diving board! Just thought the shopping cart sign at Target was cute! We're looking at tile for the kitchen and this is not it! Maddie and Lucy waiting for some of my lunch. Two of the places we had dinner when visiting my son and girlfriend a couple of weekends ago - Nando's and El Paso - the fish was Hubby's dinner! And the cruise ship that's "parked" along I-95 in Baltimore that we passed. Have a great week. Until next time,,,