Thursday Thoughts

Happy Thursday friends! I thought I would stop by for a quick post this morning, before I head out of town for a few days. We are headed to a wedding in Chicago, so it will be a whirlwind weekend...a day of driving to get there and a day of driving to get home. Today is a day of last minute details before we head out on Friday. 

This week, I finished up a couple gifts and worked on charting for my fall cross stitch releases...I also worked on a couple new sewing/quilting patterns and started a needlework finishing order (Robin, your order is in progress). My never-ending to-do list still has sixteen major items on it and I find it hard to take time away...but it will be good to see friends in Chicago this weekend.

One of the gifts I finished up was a small travel toiletries bag. This was a new to me style of boxed bag and took a bit longer than I anticipated. I am happy with the end result, but if I was to make another one, I would definitely tweak the directions/pattern a bit. It is a great size and has a nice stability. I used three coordinating batik fabrics, to give it a more masculine look and have already shipped it off to the recipient.

In other news - I also finished setting up my Buy Me a Coffee page this week. In my latest FlossTube video, I mentioned that I have no plans of monetizing or adding ads to my blog or YouTube channel...I received several messages that suggested I should add a Buy Me a Coffee link, so fans of my content could support my work. For those who haven't heard of Buy Me A Coffee before - it is an easy way of supporting your favorite content creator(s) - by visiting a simple link, fans can "buy a coffee" and leave a message (they don’t even have to create an account). When I share a post, a video, a tutorial or a complementary chart/design that you find beneficial or helpful and you would like to help support my content and the time involved, you can visit my link. So, if you’re looking for a unique way to give me a little bit of extra support, feel free to Buy Me a Coffee - there’s absolutely NO obligation or pressure whatsoever, but the link is now available if you’re interested. Thank you to those who mentioned that I should set-up an account...I have always shared my ideas, posts, videos, helpful hints and tutorials completely advertisement/subscription-free because of the passion I have for all things needle and thread - and I will continue to do so!

I am off to get ready for our weekend trip. I have the wedding gift wrapped and I have started packing. I still have to finish up the laundry and do a little house cleaning (I like to return to a clean home). The dogs are packed and ready to go to the farm (boarder) this evening. I have plans to leave my website and Etsy Shop fully operational - any orders or correspondence received after 7:00 PM today will be taken care of on Monday evening...thank you for your patience.

For now, I will leave you with two photos I took of the kids yesterday - the first is on their bunkbeds (they have officially switched positions - now that Schatzi is getting older, it is easier for her to use the bottom bunk and our crazy boy Garin is excited to be on the top bunk!) - the second is outside my studio door last night, waiting for me to finish my work (Garin is extra fluffy - yes, he is super-shedding and I have to brush him and vacuum single every day!)…

A Postcard Afternoon...

Schatzi - 11.5 weeks - 28 pounds

Life in our household has been a little more hectic than usual...trying to balance a home-based business with a new puppy in the house is "insane" to say the least. I am working on finding a better balance...but for now, I have just accepted that things are going to be a little crazy in the coming months. Today I feel a sense of relief, as (late last night) I finished a gigantic deadline for a publisher that was completely stressing me out...and I actually got the Blue Ribbon Designs June Newsletter emailed this afternoon...and (fingers crossed) later today, I am really hoping the dogs allow me to do some much needed model stitching!

Yesterday afternoon, we took Schatzi to Raccoon River Park, to see if she likes the water...we walked her down to the lake, and after just a bit of gentle coaxing, she actually walked right in ...luckily I had my camera to commemorate the moment. It was a postcard afternoon, which was most welcome, after more than a week of severe weather, thunderstorms, and rain....I got a lovely photograph of the clouds reflecting on the lake...

I have had several messages asking me about my perennial garden I planted last year....first a photo from last year...then several photos from this year. I am happy to report, I just may have inherited my mother's green thumb after-all. Everything I planted returned this year, with the exception of one shrub....and I even moved a few things around a couple weeks ago to make the bed more eye-pleasing. My Knockout Roses are just starting to bud...and I am thrilled that my Spiderwort, Dianthus, Pincushion Flower, Cranesbill Geranium, Valerian, and Coreopsis are all in bloom...everything looks healthy and happy!

Perennial Garden 2012 - just planted..

Perennial Garden 2013 - after one year...

Valerian

Knockout Rose Bush

Coreopsis

Cranesbill Geranium, Chives, Lavender

It feels good to finally take a moment and catch-up with my blog readers...I have been missing you...I will do my best to get back to regular updates! I do have some sewing I *must* get to this week, as we are attending a wedding next weekend and I am making the gift...hopefully I will be back soon to share the project with you! I should also have some stitchy updates soon - I have a bunch of projects in the works...plus (if all goes well), I have a special road trip planned for Friday that will have lots of fun photos...
Wishing you a cheerful and productive week...