Hey! I am in the Houston area for work. When I arrived Sunday it was 70 degrees! A big difference from Chicago! I drove to my hotel with the windows down like I wanted but I had to roll them up and turn on the air conditioner! It's a nice break!
Anyway I wanted to update you on my week. I had an unfortunate death in my family. My Aunt's husband (uncle by marriage) died last week. He had leukemia. It's very sad and a big loss to the family. Please keep my Aunt and cousins in your prayers.
As I mentioned in my last entry I had a pretty full week. One knitting/crochet meeting and three scrapbook meetings. It was very nice. The knitting/crochet group was small but very nice. I met three wonderful ladies. We worked well together and I can't wait to meet with them again. I worked on my sleeve for my cardigan. I got a lot done. I actually brought it on my trip to finish. I just completed using the last of my skein of yarn and I left the rest at home. I have about 10 rows left before I am finished. So when I get home I plan on finishing the skein then I will sew it together and have it completed by the end of the month! SWEET!
The scrapbook meetings I attended was fun. It's always a great time to get with friends with similar interests. Better yet I didn't spend too much money too. The first night was at Archivers with my meet-up group. I was able to put my page kits together for my Orlando trip. I also did this at the other meetings I attended. I am hoping to start working on my scrapbook pages next month. I would prefer to have many more kits ready when I get started. Wish me luck.
After work yesterday I found a scrapbook store called Scrapbook Junkie. I went in and browsed around. Very nice store. I found another nice store today. It's funny how I find these stores. I am just driving along then BOOM a store! Some of these stores are in small towns but they have lots of merchandise. I have been really good though. I have impressed myself. I have spent no money! I hope this lasts! I read the yellow pages and I found four stores in the area of my hotel. I think I will only visit two! LMAO! I don't want to push temptation.
Well I hope to update again this week. But do not expect photos. I left my digital card reader at home!
Smooches!
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Monday, February 18, 2008
Enjoying the holiday
I hope everyone is getting a chance to enjoy the holiday. I am relaxing and trying to do a few things around the house personally.
This weekend was a busy one for me. I ran errands and did some cooking on Saturday. Then I went and got my hair done. It's really cute! I like it has grown out some. Look for some new pictures. My brother also came home for the weekend so I spent the night at my mother's home. It was nice.
I am also proud to say I have completed one sleeve of my cardigan I am making. I started the next sleeve and I do have a ways to go. I do hope to have it finished by the end of the week. I haven't however started my chenille cowl yet. I really wanted to focus my efforts into finishing the major portion of the cardigan. I think I will work on my cowl when I go to Houston for work. I think it will be perfect for waiting in an airport for my flights. Wish me luck on that one.
Tomorrow I will meet with a new knitting/crocheting group. I am kind of excited! I can't wait to find more crocheters/knitters in my area. When the organizer first started the group she had the meetings in the early afternoon. Many people could not make it so she is trying to find a happy medium. I do hope this works. I had joined a sewing group back in November and I was very excited to find other sewers who were willing to get together. The organizer for that group has some personal issues and we never had a meeting. I was very disappointed. I was really looking forward to meeting some other sewers in my area. But what can you do right?
I also have plans to go scrapbooking at least three times this week. Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening. I am quite happy. I have many page kits and I cannot wait to work on them. I want to have some pages completed before I leave for Houston. I have spent a great portion of the day sorting and getting things ready for my scrapbook evenings.
Well this is just a little taste of my crafty life this week. I hope to have some pictures to share later!
Toodles!
This weekend was a busy one for me. I ran errands and did some cooking on Saturday. Then I went and got my hair done. It's really cute! I like it has grown out some. Look for some new pictures. My brother also came home for the weekend so I spent the night at my mother's home. It was nice.
I am also proud to say I have completed one sleeve of my cardigan I am making. I started the next sleeve and I do have a ways to go. I do hope to have it finished by the end of the week. I haven't however started my chenille cowl yet. I really wanted to focus my efforts into finishing the major portion of the cardigan. I think I will work on my cowl when I go to Houston for work. I think it will be perfect for waiting in an airport for my flights. Wish me luck on that one.
Tomorrow I will meet with a new knitting/crocheting group. I am kind of excited! I can't wait to find more crocheters/knitters in my area. When the organizer first started the group she had the meetings in the early afternoon. Many people could not make it so she is trying to find a happy medium. I do hope this works. I had joined a sewing group back in November and I was very excited to find other sewers who were willing to get together. The organizer for that group has some personal issues and we never had a meeting. I was very disappointed. I was really looking forward to meeting some other sewers in my area. But what can you do right?
I also have plans to go scrapbooking at least three times this week. Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening. I am quite happy. I have many page kits and I cannot wait to work on them. I want to have some pages completed before I leave for Houston. I have spent a great portion of the day sorting and getting things ready for my scrapbook evenings.
Well this is just a little taste of my crafty life this week. I hope to have some pictures to share later!
Toodles!
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Happy Valentine's Day!
I just wanted to say "Happy Valentine's Day" to everyone out there in blogland!
HAPPY
VALENTINE'S
DAY
Smooches to everyone!
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
GREAT NEWS!
Great news! Remember that ticket I received on New Year's Day for driving through the stop sign without stopping (which was not true!)? Well yesterday I went to court and I pleaded not guilty. The judge threw out the case! The officer referred to his ticket book when the judge asked a question. This isn't allowed. He should have known better according to the judge that he could not review notes during testimony. So she threw it out and scolded him. No fines! WOO HOO! I was very pleased. Those tickets were $105! I of course did not want to pay that price! I am one satisfied woman!
Well I guess I will move on to more good news. I have had a crafty good time lately. I have many photos on this entry so beware. The first group are cards I made at a Close to My Heart Seminar (CTMH). These are nice cards. Only one has a theme which was "Thanks". I guess I can make the others whatever I want.
Here is a nice representation of the bunch! These are all made from CTMH products.




I also went to a CTMH scrapbook workshop too. I like these pages. The black and beige pages are my favorite. These are all made using CTMH products.



I learned something this weekend that made me gasp. I went to Michaels' and I was browsing the book area (which was hard because I really wanted to buy a book). I saw the Cherish book by CTMH in the store. There was only one. I thought maybe someone left it there by mistake. Then I went to another Michaels' and I saw many more. I was so confused! I didn't know they sold CTMH idea books at Michaels'. You could use your 40% off coupon and get it at a really good price. This book along with their Imagine idea book is a big hit with my friends. One had already purchased the book and I told her. She e-mailed our consultant and learned CTMH will be selling their idea books to broaden their market at Michaels'. They are waiting at least a year after the book is released. Isn't that something! I was totally shocked! Now my poor friend is a bit upset she purchased the book at full price. But what can you do right?
This is an 8 X 8 layout I made for one of my mother's friends. She is a very wonderful lady. She had a party last summer and honored me. She is so sweet. I made this to put into an album I made for her last year. I want to add pages for her now and then.
Well, lets move on to the needle arts. I was in Michaels', JoAnn's, Borders, Barnes and Noble and finally the library. I really wanted this book. There is this beautiful sweater called Icelandic I want to make. I found it at the library! Whoopie! I am adding this wonderful pattern to my library for sure!

This is the Quick feminine scarf I made this weekend. I found this pattern in the "At Home With Crochet", its a Leisure Arts Publication. I really like this pattern. I will make more and give them away as gifts. I did find some flaws in my scarf but it still looks great. I plan on making one for KimT who joined my "Play It Forward" post. So Kim if you are reading this get ready!

This is the scarf stretched out. It's really cute! I am pretty proud of myself.
O.K. I know you guys remember the cardigan I have been working on forever. Well my completion of this sweater was stalled. I ran out of yarn. I bought more but the color was off. I couldn't match the dye lot. I thought I bought more than enough but the sweater is turning out to be much larger than I anticipated. I decided to make the sleeves and trimming of the sweater out of this solid blue. It's the best I could do. I am a bit miffed at myself for running out of yarn but it happens. I do hope to get it finished soon though. I need to do both sleeves then sew it all together and od the trim. Wish me tons of luck on this one!

First, please excuse the blurry photos. I really tried working with my camera but it was late. This is a simple shrug I found in the Fall Interweave Crochet magazine. I thought it turned out wonderfully. I wore it to church and I received many wonderful compliments. I will definitely make many more. This took me about a week to complete.
BACK VIEW
I bought yarn for my KCAL (knit crochet along) with the Ebony Elite group. I found a crochet pattern I wanted to do with the group and I am too excited for words.

The pattern is called Chenille Cowl and I found it in my "So Simple Crochet" book by Melody Griffiths for Creative Homeowner. I am so excited. I hope its as easy as it looks. I would love to make more for gifts.
After I complete this pattern and the cardigan pattern I will then move on to the Icelandic cowl pattern. I am so inspired by this pattern. I will post a picture of it later. I think I have enough pictures on this post already!
Well I guess I will move on to more good news. I have had a crafty good time lately. I have many photos on this entry so beware. The first group are cards I made at a Close to My Heart Seminar (CTMH). These are nice cards. Only one has a theme which was "Thanks". I guess I can make the others whatever I want.
Here is a nice representation of the bunch! These are all made from CTMH products.
I also went to a CTMH scrapbook workshop too. I like these pages. The black and beige pages are my favorite. These are all made using CTMH products.



I learned something this weekend that made me gasp. I went to Michaels' and I was browsing the book area (which was hard because I really wanted to buy a book). I saw the Cherish book by CTMH in the store. There was only one. I thought maybe someone left it there by mistake. Then I went to another Michaels' and I saw many more. I was so confused! I didn't know they sold CTMH idea books at Michaels'. You could use your 40% off coupon and get it at a really good price. This book along with their Imagine idea book is a big hit with my friends. One had already purchased the book and I told her. She e-mailed our consultant and learned CTMH will be selling their idea books to broaden their market at Michaels'. They are waiting at least a year after the book is released. Isn't that something! I was totally shocked! Now my poor friend is a bit upset she purchased the book at full price. But what can you do right? This is an 8 X 8 layout I made for one of my mother's friends. She is a very wonderful lady. She had a party last summer and honored me. She is so sweet. I made this to put into an album I made for her last year. I want to add pages for her now and then.
Well, lets move on to the needle arts. I was in Michaels', JoAnn's, Borders, Barnes and Noble and finally the library. I really wanted this book. There is this beautiful sweater called Icelandic I want to make. I found it at the library! Whoopie! I am adding this wonderful pattern to my library for sure!This is the Quick feminine scarf I made this weekend. I found this pattern in the "At Home With Crochet", its a Leisure Arts Publication. I really like this pattern. I will make more and give them away as gifts. I did find some flaws in my scarf but it still looks great. I plan on making one for KimT who joined my "Play It Forward" post. So Kim if you are reading this get ready!

This is the scarf stretched out. It's really cute! I am pretty proud of myself.
First, please excuse the blurry photos. I really tried working with my camera but it was late. This is a simple shrug I found in the Fall Interweave Crochet magazine. I thought it turned out wonderfully. I wore it to church and I received many wonderful compliments. I will definitely make many more. This took me about a week to complete.
FRONT VIEW
BACK VIEW
I bought yarn for my KCAL (knit crochet along) with the Ebony Elite group. I found a crochet pattern I wanted to do with the group and I am too excited for words. The pattern is called Chenille Cowl and I found it in my "So Simple Crochet" book by Melody Griffiths for Creative Homeowner. I am so excited. I hope its as easy as it looks. I would love to make more for gifts.
After I complete this pattern and the cardigan pattern I will then move on to the Icelandic cowl pattern. I am so inspired by this pattern. I will post a picture of it later. I think I have enough pictures on this post already!Cheerio!
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Pay It Forward
I will send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment on this post requesting to join this Pay it forward exchange. I don’t know what that gift will be yet. The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog. So basically, if you comment, you’re on. I’ll send you something crafty that I’ll make for you.
Once you sign up, copy and paste the above paragraph on your blog, and three other lucky people will be recipients of your handmade work. I got mine from Barb's Card Creations and Other Stuff. If you read my previous post you will see what she sent me. It was very nice. I will try to make something appropriate for the people who sign up for this. Please continue the fun on your blog. I will not promise your gift will come quickly but I will send it as soon as time allows. Possibly within a month.
Let the fun begin!
Smooches!
Once you sign up, copy and paste the above paragraph on your blog, and three other lucky people will be recipients of your handmade work. I got mine from Barb's Card Creations and Other Stuff. If you read my previous post you will see what she sent me. It was very nice. I will try to make something appropriate for the people who sign up for this. Please continue the fun on your blog. I will not promise your gift will come quickly but I will send it as soon as time allows. Possibly within a month.
Let the fun begin!
Smooches!
Thursday, January 24, 2008
I'm back AGAIN!
O.K. I am going to post what I have been doing for the past few weeks. This have been busy so I will start with the fun stuff!
This is the beret I made for my aunt's birthday. It was a very easy pattern I found in one of my books. I used the Lion Brand Bordeaux chenille yarn instead of the chunky yarn used in the photo. I made my aunt a boa scarf a few years ago with this yarn and I thought a hat would be a nice addition. I never made a hat before and I am really proud of myself. This project took around two hours to complete. I am very happy with the results and my aunt loves it. I even think my mom became jealous. She mentioned I never made her a hat! What a spoiled mama! LOL!
This is a picture of the top of the beret.

Very chic! I love my first beret! I plan on making many more for the future.

For January I think I went to at least six different scrapbook/stamping/cardmaking venues. I have begun to sort my photos for my Orlando trip and I am making page kits. I will explain and give examples of my page kits in a future post. Look out! There are some terrific ideas! Anyway here are some of the finished projects.
This is a two-page layout I made of my brother Keith. I really love this layout. The title says Photo Time with the subtitle point shoot snap. I love it! It's a scraplift from an idea book I bought for Close to My Heart Stamping Company called Imagine. I made this layout while I was at a crop at a local store. I pulled out a template and marked my page for stitching. The crop area was crowded and someone saw me stitching on my layout and screamed "she's stitching on her layout!" Everyone came running to see what I was doing. LMAO! It was too funny! They all wanted to see my template and watch me make a few stitches. I felt like the cool scrapper at the crop! I loved it! LMAO!
Second Page

This is a prize I won from Barb's Card Creations and Other stuff. She had a "Play It Forward Post". This will be an upcoming blog update so stay tuned.It's a cute little album for some pictures and journaling. I really like it. Check out Barb's blog. She makes the most wonderful cards. I am now addicted to the Stamping Bella stamps! They are so cute! I must have some!
Inside
I go to these monthly scrapbook classes at a Close to My Heart (CTMH) consultants home nearby. I wasn't able to make it to the December class but I was able to get the class projects. This is what we made.

Two Scrapbook pages
I really like these projects. They are very cute. I need to find some photos for the two scrapbook pages. I really like the colors.
This is the beret I made for my aunt's birthday. It was a very easy pattern I found in one of my books. I used the Lion Brand Bordeaux chenille yarn instead of the chunky yarn used in the photo. I made my aunt a boa scarf a few years ago with this yarn and I thought a hat would be a nice addition. I never made a hat before and I am really proud of myself. This project took around two hours to complete. I am very happy with the results and my aunt loves it. I even think my mom became jealous. She mentioned I never made her a hat! What a spoiled mama! LOL!
This is a picture of the top of the beret.
This is how my aunt likes to wear it. Over to the side.
This is my cousin Angie. I thought her some singel crochet stitches and I might have a convert! Whoopie! She was getting the hang of it slowly. I talked to her recently and she was still practicing. I am very happy to have another crocheter in the family!
At one of my crops I decided to finally make a scrapbook page of my new home. I love this layout. It's simple but very beautiful. Please excuse my photos. I was in a hurry! LOL! This is my first home. I had a condo before but I finally got a house I really wanted in 2006. Things are going slowly but I will get it totally together and do a great book of my decorating.
First Page
This is a layout I started early this month with the Mocha Memories ladies quarterly crop. It's a scraplift from Creating Keepsakes Easy Patterns by Brenda Arnall. I didn't like how it was coming along. I wanted to try and use white paper as background. This is not a background color I usually enjoy using on my layout but I wanted to try it. It turned out O.K. I was happy I got a lot of pictures on it though. This was a chili cookoff at a campout with friends. I took pictures of everyone making there own chili. It was a lot of fun! I came in a close second! A girl named Amy made the prize winning chili which had shredded beef, cloves and other delicious things. It was very good! She did deserve to win!
Cover
Three cards
Well that is just a sample of all my projects. I have many more to come. I have been working steadily on my cardigan I am crocheting. For some reason I thought I bought enough yarn but I didn't. I had to go out and buy more to find the colors are off. I will use it for the sleeves and just make due. I really hate this but what I am to do right? I also have started on my shrug and it is working out well. I am about 90% done and I can't wait to finish it. I need to find some contrasting yarn somewhere. Wish me luck!
Monday, January 7, 2008
I've been tagged
Two Names you go by:
1. Cas
2. Kasey
Two Things You Are Wearing Right Now:
1. cream v-neck sweater
2. brown velour pants
Two Things You Would Want (or have) in a Relationship:
1. respect
2. friendship
Two of your favorite things to do:
1. crafts
2. socialize
Two Things you want badly at the moment:
1. To win the lottery
2. a milkshake which I will have as soon as I finish this entry!
Two pets you had/have:
1. Edgar ( my current fur buddy the cat)
2. Gladys (cat)
Two people you think will fill this out:
1. Stacey
2. Sheila
Two things you did last night:
1. I went to visit my friend Lori (the "kitty" as I like to call her)
2. Visited my mom
Two things you ate today:
1. A turkey and cheese sandwich
2. Some leftover fried chicken
Two people you last talked to:
1. James
2. mom
Two things you're doing tomorrow:
1. work
2. scrapbooking with my group at the local scrapbook store
Two Longest car rides:
1. Chicago to Louisiana (to visit my grandparents)
2. Chicago to the Chain of Lakes area in Wisconsin or Chicago to Salem, MO. (they both took about 8 hours and I was going to canoe with my group.)
Two favorite holidays:
1. Christmas
2. Thanksgiving
Favorite beverages:
1. Squirt or 50/50
2. Peach pop
2 People no longer alive who you'd like to talk to:
1. Paternal grandfather ( I never met )
2. Laura Ingalls Wilder ( I loved those books but I have some questions which need answering)
I am tagging a few people and hopefully they will tag others.
Adrienne
Sheila
Stacey
How about a quick weekend recap. Saturday I met with the wonderful Mocha Memories Ladies for a crop at Archivers. There were four of us and we had a good time. I completed ten cards and I worked on a 2 page layout. It's about 90% completed and I do not care for it. I tried to step out of my normal style but I do not like the results. I usually do not care for white background paper. But I used it along with some old creative memories papers. I didn't like how the layout turned out. It reminds me too much of a creative memories layout! LOL! But I will try to finish it and see if I can add some pizazz to it. You never know. The cards were from a kit I purchased from Creating Keepsakes. It's one of those we mail you a DVD and a mini kit and if you want it you pay $26.95. I had two of these kits and I am not purchasing anymore since I never watch the DVDs. But I was getting low on cards and felt I needed to at least make those. They are pretty simple but nice. I actually felt as though I got something accomplished.
After the crop I had a 12th night party to attend at a friend's house. We usually go to her home and have some hors d'ouerves, light her tree (she has a Victorian tree with candles), and play games. We played Taboo and Cranium. I enjoyed myself. I really like to play games. They are fun.
Sunday I went to church. Our church is currently holding service at a school due to some renovations. It was pretty crowded in there. It's usual for the beginning of the year. Everyone's resolutions are pretty clear! LOL! Afterward I visited my mom and then went to visit a friend who lives in the downtown Chicagoland area. Finding parking was a pain in the tushy! But I found parking. She made me some delicious lasagna and garlic bread. I didn't get home until late last night. I was exhausted!
So I consider this week getting off to a great start. I hope it ends the same way!
Smooches!
1. Cas
2. Kasey
Two Things You Are Wearing Right Now:
1. cream v-neck sweater
2. brown velour pants
Two Things You Would Want (or have) in a Relationship:
1. respect
2. friendship
Two of your favorite things to do:
1. crafts
2. socialize
Two Things you want badly at the moment:
1. To win the lottery
2. a milkshake which I will have as soon as I finish this entry!
Two pets you had/have:
1. Edgar ( my current fur buddy the cat)
2. Gladys (cat)
Two people you think will fill this out:
1. Stacey
2. Sheila
Two things you did last night:
1. I went to visit my friend Lori (the "kitty" as I like to call her)
2. Visited my mom
Two things you ate today:
1. A turkey and cheese sandwich
2. Some leftover fried chicken
Two people you last talked to:
1. James
2. mom
Two things you're doing tomorrow:
1. work
2. scrapbooking with my group at the local scrapbook store
Two Longest car rides:
1. Chicago to Louisiana (to visit my grandparents)
2. Chicago to the Chain of Lakes area in Wisconsin or Chicago to Salem, MO. (they both took about 8 hours and I was going to canoe with my group.)
Two favorite holidays:
1. Christmas
2. Thanksgiving
Favorite beverages:
1. Squirt or 50/50
2. Peach pop
2 People no longer alive who you'd like to talk to:
1. Paternal grandfather ( I never met )
2. Laura Ingalls Wilder ( I loved those books but I have some questions which need answering)
I am tagging a few people and hopefully they will tag others.
Adrienne
Sheila
Stacey
How about a quick weekend recap. Saturday I met with the wonderful Mocha Memories Ladies for a crop at Archivers. There were four of us and we had a good time. I completed ten cards and I worked on a 2 page layout. It's about 90% completed and I do not care for it. I tried to step out of my normal style but I do not like the results. I usually do not care for white background paper. But I used it along with some old creative memories papers. I didn't like how the layout turned out. It reminds me too much of a creative memories layout! LOL! But I will try to finish it and see if I can add some pizazz to it. You never know. The cards were from a kit I purchased from Creating Keepsakes. It's one of those we mail you a DVD and a mini kit and if you want it you pay $26.95. I had two of these kits and I am not purchasing anymore since I never watch the DVDs. But I was getting low on cards and felt I needed to at least make those. They are pretty simple but nice. I actually felt as though I got something accomplished.
After the crop I had a 12th night party to attend at a friend's house. We usually go to her home and have some hors d'ouerves, light her tree (she has a Victorian tree with candles), and play games. We played Taboo and Cranium. I enjoyed myself. I really like to play games. They are fun.
Sunday I went to church. Our church is currently holding service at a school due to some renovations. It was pretty crowded in there. It's usual for the beginning of the year. Everyone's resolutions are pretty clear! LOL! Afterward I visited my mom and then went to visit a friend who lives in the downtown Chicagoland area. Finding parking was a pain in the tushy! But I found parking. She made me some delicious lasagna and garlic bread. I didn't get home until late last night. I was exhausted!
So I consider this week getting off to a great start. I hope it ends the same way!
Smooches!
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