You Go Girl!

We Really Must Do This Again!

A giveaway is a good time.  I read each one of your comments and clicked to your blog if you had one.  Fun, fun, fun!  The comments came from far and wide.  Ana lives in Spain. Cathi is from Ireland. Jenny wrote from Australia.  Karin, Angie, and Anna sent lots of friends to leave a comment.  In fact, Karin directed a gentleman to my sight.  I had my first ever comment from a guy.  You go, guy! 

I was going to do this drawing the old-fashioned way and pull a name from a hat.  I printed the comments and started to cut them apart...No, thank you.  I ended up using this random number generator instead. The random number generator chose (drum roll, please).......NUMBER 92. Christine from Auntie's Quaint Quilts left comment 92.  Anna from Thimbleanna sent her to my giveaway.  As soon as I get a mailing address, I will send the pincushion to Christine, and this little thank-you to Anna. Remember these?

   

It was a pleasure to "meet" you on my blog.

That's all for now.  Happy day!

Cassie

Oh!  One more thing. Jona is having a little fabric giveaway. Mary Engelbreit's Christmas Jolly fat quarters! Click over and leave a comment.

Positively Blushing!

I'm blushing from the top of my head to bottom of my toes... 

First, your response to my giveaway has been amazing.  I had my fingers crossed that someone would leave a comment I was hoping for maybe 25 comments, or so.  Well, last I checked, I had 75 and the comments are still coming!  Thank you for your response.  I feel special.  I can't wait for the drawing on Monday.  I'm also excited to investigate the blogs linked to the comments.  I'm going to have to carve out some computer time soon!

Second, Tonya, of Puddin' Pop, gave me the Arte Y Pico blog award. She is such a sweetheart and the amazing mom of seven children.  Check out her newly remodeled blog if you haven't already. 

I think this award has made it's way around blogland.  Most of the blogs I stalk have already received it.  Suffice it to say, any of the Blissful Blogs in my sidebar are certainly worthy.  If you have not received this award, consider yourself nominated!

Finally, I have been asked to teach a bag-making class for a mother/daughter summer arts series.  Well, I am flattered and excited.  The director of the program always calls me a fabric artist.  I giggle every time she says that because I do not consider myself an artist.  I'm a goofball that likes to play with fabric!  Anyhoo, I digress. The participants of the workshop will have varying levels of sewing experience.  I need a project that can accomodate a range of skills.  This is the prototype of the bag I am thinking about using for the class.  It can be as simple, or as spanky, as the participant wants to make it.  It is also reversible.  On this bag, I made one side plain.  The other side has an appliqued 'patch' on it. I think I will make a couple more bags using different embellishment techniques.  Hopefully, that will spur some creativity for those with more advanced sewing skills. 

 

As a parting shot....

 

Does it get any better than this?  Ahhh, summer!

Posie Pincushion Giveaway!

Whew!  I was hoping to get this post done this morning.  I've been overtaken by Monday madness!  My family usually spends summer weekends with extended family at my childhood home on the shores of a refreshing lake.  That means Monday is a recovery day---laundry, home-and-garden TLC, and grocery shopping.  When you add that to toting my girls to summer band, a ballet workshop, and a few friend stops here and there, you have the recipe for a Calgon moment.  Some of you are probably too young to remember the Calgon ads. I was a child when they were big. I'm sure some of you will remember, though.  "Calgon, take me away!!" 

Enough prattle!  I'm giddy for a giveaway.

 

I doodle-stitched some posies and turned them into a pincushion using Heather Bailey's pattern that I also used here.   The last pin cushion I selfishly kept for myself.  This one's for you. I hope you like it.

Here's how the giveaway will work...

Leave a comment.

Next Monday, I will print the comments, cut them apart, put them in a hat, and have one of my lovely assistants (a.k.a. daughters) draw one out. 

Not real original, I know.  But here is the kicker.  Tell a friend about my giveaway (if you think it's worthy??).  Have them mention you in their comment.  If you are credited in the winning comment, I will have something fun for you, too.  Perhaps it will be a set of applique dishtowels like this one?  Or, maybe I will have another pincushion ready to go.  Who knows?

Happy Summer,

Cassie

Moose, and Bison, and Bear...Oh, My!

The June snow has melted. Summer is here!  My family decided to spend the first official weekend of summer vacation in Yellowstone National Park.  We always have a good time in the Park.

The geysers and hot pots are intriguing.

 

The wildflowers always put on a glorious display. 

 

 

The vistas are amazing.

My favorite part of the Park, though, is the wildlife.  I am a complete NUT for seeing animals in their natural environment.  We saw lots and lots of animals this weekend.    Yellowstone has a huge herd of elk and bison. 

 

This time of year there are lots of babies...very cute!  We also spotted some cranes, a few bald eagles, a moose, three coyotes, an owl, a badger, and BEARS!  In four days, we spotted eight black bears.  All of them were close enough to see without the binoculars.  The most exciting bear encounter happened on one of our hikes.  We rounded a corner. A mother bear and two cubs were standing right in the middle of the trail. 

We backed away slowly and gave her plenty of space!  She was kind enough to walk out where we could see her.  Eventually, she took her cubs down an embankment and into the river to play.  Bears are way cool.  I was over the moon, I tell ya. I am thankful it was a mild-mannered black bear  standing in the trail. (I know she looks brown...black bear can be brown, cinnamon, or black.  Go figure!)  We've seen a few Grizzlies on our Yellowstone trips.  I fear this story would be a lot different if we had crossed paths with a Grizzly and her cubs!  

Last, but not least, I had some time to doodle stitch in the car on the way to and from the Park.  I have doodled something for you!  I am giddy with the excitement of my very own giveaway. Stay tuned...

Toodles,

Cassie

Flip-Flops or Uggs?

There is a saying in Montana...If you don't like the weather, wait five minutes.  It's true. We do have crazy weather that can change quickly!  This morning we woke up to SNOW...wet, heavy, slushy, white snow.  Lucky for me, most of my bedding plants are cozy and warm in the garage.  Usually I would have planted them  well before now.  Sometimes it pays to be a bit behind.  My perennials and self-seeding annuals are not so lucky.  They will have to dig out from under all this wet stuff.  The trees and bushes are also struggling under the weight of the gianormous snowflakes. I'm hoping that when the sun comes back out, everyone will stretch their little arms up to greet it.  It is a crazy opening to summer, for sure.  By Friday, our temperatures are supposed to be in the mid-seventies. 

The weather is putting a bit of a damper on end-of-the-school-year festivities for my girls.  But the year will come to a close regardless, I suppose.  In fact,  Hailey is done today.  Paige and the triplets get done at noon tomorrow.  Another year has danced by before my eyes.  I am pleased to report that it was a good year for all. I am ready for a relaxed summer schedule. 

My sister ordered a bag to give to her daughter's teacher on the last day of school. It's a little Ginger Blossom love.

I adore Ginger Blossom.  It looks fabbity on most any project.  Sandi's new line, Farmer's Market, looks yummy, too.  Hopefully Jona will have some in her store soon.  I can't wait to get my hands on it.

Happy Day,

Cassie

Birthday Girl

My first baby turned fifteen on Wednesday.  Fifteen...I remember fifteen.   Somehow it doesn't seem like that long ago. 

I treasure this girl.  Well, I treasure all my girls, but today it's about her.  To mark her special day, I think I will share a letter I was asked to write by her English teacher. Here it is:

Dear Ms. _____,

I am Cassie Jones, Hailey’s mom and friend. I know lots of things about Hailey. I know how tall she is, how much she weighs, and what color her eyes are. Beyond the outward appearance of Hailey, I know a lot of other stuff. Here is a slice of what I know...

• Hailey is a terrific big sister. She has an eleven-year-old sister and triplet sisters that are nine. They think she is cool.
• She is an excellent student. She works hard and gets high marks.
• Hailey has a strong moral compass and is trusted to make good decisions even if the decision is not the most popular.
• Hailey is quiet until she gets comfortable with a situation. Once she is comfortable, you will see her sense of humor and her wit.
• She chooses her friends wisely so that she is not put in a situation where she has to make tough choices.
• Hailey loves to dance, play the piano, and listen to music. She dances at Rocky Mountain Ballet. She went to Italy with the dance company last summer and hopes to go to China this year. I love to watch her dance. She makes it look easy.
• She reads for enjoyment. In fact, she’s been told to put her book down a time or two this past summer...Words we never thought we’d say!
• She is kind and reflects upon situations where someone is treated poorly or unfairly.
• Hailey knows she has our unconditional love and support. We don’t expect perfection, just her best effort.

When I think about Hailey, I wonder how a girl with everything going for her can be a laundry abuser. Couldn’t she just put her clean clothes away? Just kidding...I do wonder, though, what life has in store for her. Where will she live? (I hope it’s close.) Who will she marry? (Big decision!) What kind of career will she choose? (Make sure you love what you do.) How many children will she have? (She’ll be a great mom.) Will she always be able to eat like a pig and still be thin? (I hope so.)

I am so pleased with the beautiful young woman Hailey is becoming. She is a song in my heart and the apple of her dad’s eye. My hope is that she will always seek and embrace God’s perfect plan for her life, that her life will be one of contentment and peace, and when all is said and done she will hear her Father in heaven say, "Well done, my friend."

Thank you for the chance to share my thoughts about Hailey.

Sincerely,

Cassie

Right now Hailey is busy learning how to drive.  I am going to have some serious gluteous maximus muscles by the time this is over.  My bum-bum is flexed the whole time she is driving, even though I try to look like I am completely relaxed.  When I learned to drive, I lived in a very small town.  If you went the wrong way on a one-way street...oh wait, there wasn't any one-ways. If you didn't turn the wheel quick enough in a parallel park...oh wait, wait, there was only angle parking. Ok, if you didn't yield at a round-about...nope, no round-about.   You get the picture. When I learned to drive, the consequence for a mistake was learning.  For Hailey, the consequence for a mistake will be a wreck.  She is doing well, though.  I guess it is like most things.  If the bar is high, you step up. 

For her handmade-with-love-from-mom birthday gift, I made her a key fob.  Seems appropriate, don't you think?

This is the easiest project ever! All it takes is a 3/4' strap, a D-ring, and a loopy-ring-thing to hold keys.  The whole project takes about ten minutes (for one).  I made three and let her pick her favorite.  She chose the Ginger Blossom one.  I thought she might. 

I was quite chatty today.  Thanks for hanging in there with me.

Later,

Cassie

Afterthought--I just had a revelation.  Eventually, Mr. Handsome and I will have to teach four more girls how to drive.  At one point, we will be teaching three at the same time...aaaaaah!  I guess I shouldn't borrow trouble from tomorrow, should I?

 

Go Figure!

Last time I went somewhere, I spent a combined total of four hours on a plane and eight hours in the car.  During the travel time, I completed these two doodles.

On the China trip, we flew out of Vancouver, Canada.  My Montana town does have a small international airport. I think it must have been a lot more economical to fly out of Vancouver because nobody in their right mind would choose to endure an extra customs stop and a L O N G bus trip on the heels of a marathon plane ride! The combined travel time total was 23 hours on the plane and twenty hours on a bus. I only managed to complete one doodle, even though I had way more time.  Go figure! (This picture is a bit wonky, but close enough!)

I'm not sure what I will do with these.  Any suggestions?

Toodles,

Cassie

Amazing

I am now home from a trip of a lifetime.  As guests of the Chinese government, we were shown the best of China in a whirlwind tour that took us from Beijing, to Guillin, to Shanghai, and a couple of small towns in between.  We walked The Great Wall, visited The Forbidden City, bicycled through the countryside, cruised the Li River,  toured a silk factory, shopped Chinese markets, ate exotic foods...I could go on and on. The girls danced two big performances and participated in a few cultural exchanges with Chinese dance students.  (A third performance was canceled because the nation was in mourning for the victims of the earthquake.) I won't bog down my blog with details of the trip. Instead, I will let my pictures do the talking.  You know the saying, "A picture is worth a thousand words..."

The trip exceeded my expectations. I marvel at the creativity of God every time I visit a new place.  There are so many unique and beautiful things to see in our world.  It is still good to be home, though.  I missed Mr. Handsome and the girls, for sure. I also missed seeing blue sky, brushing my teeth with tap water, and inhaling a fresh breath of air.  China is so beautiful but struggling mightily with pollution.  I hope they will recover their fresh air someday.

On a different note, thank you for the lovely comments you left while I was away.   I don't know when, or if, I will find time to respond to all of them.  I read each one with a smile, though. Thanks, again.

Glad to be home,

Cassie

PS--  Absence really does make the heart grow fonder.  Tinkerbell can't get enough of me.  I guess all is forgiven.  Whew!

Coming Home

Today I am on my way home.  Coming home is always good.  Two weeks is a long time to be away from Mr. Handsome and my little triplet friends! 

When I left, these little Forget-Me-Not flowers were blooming in my flower bed. 

I'm sure all the spring flowers are displaying their beauty right now. Lilacs, Flowering Crab Apples, Peonies... I can't wait to see the riot of color and to plant my window boxes.

I'm also anxious to finish this.  Libbie used her Christmas gift certificate on a sock dog instead of a bag. She wanted me to get it done before I left for China.  Try as I might, I didn't have time to complete it. It will be the first creative endeaver on my agenda when I get home.  All this little dog needs are some arms, a tail, and some clothes.  I wonder how long it will take me to get my life back in order so that I can have some sewing time.  Not long, I hope.

I'm looking forward to catching up on my comments and checking in on your blogs.  I've missed you!

XOXO,

Cassie

Pretty Kitty

My fluffy, long-haired, calico, kitty is now an exotic, sleek, velvety, lioness, princess, cat.  That's what we're telling her anyway.  The white hair puffs on my dark olive colored carpet finally got to me.  So did the occassional hair ball that she would cough up...Ewww!  I didn't want anyone here at home to have to deal with such yuckies while I was in China.  Before I left, I took her in for a hair cut. Here is the result.

At first, I though she looked comical.  Now I kinda like it.  I think she looks very avante-garde.  She feels just like velvet.  I'm sure that some ancient Egyptian culture would worship her as queen of the universe. To us, she is still just our calico cat, Tinkerbell, who is loved a whole bunch.  Go kitty!

It should be noted that kitty is not real impressed with her new 'do'.  She fakes a shiver every time I look at her.  Since her makeover, she has not slept on the end of my bed at night,  like she usually does, nor has she graced me with her presence in my sewing room.   Maybe my absence will soften up  her heart?