I'm so excited!

I've been working on this bag for a week. I've torn out all the stitching 3 times. I only had this tiny piece of fabric and didn't want to waste it. This is the first time I've done a set in zipper (with no instructions) and the second time to put in a zipper at all! I re-did that several times. The tote was a special order so I just couldn't give up. My daughter had some corrugated plastic so I made a bottom for the bag also. For a zipper pull, I used part of a black shoestring. If anyone has any of this fabric left I'd sure be interested in buying it. It is called "Bug" by Timeless Treasures and is probably 3 to 5 years old. I can't remember when I bought it. You can see the size of this bag if you look at the musical bag hanging on my daughter's shoulder a couple posts below. It's the same pattern modified.

Free online doll class

Have you ever thought about making a doll but just didn't think you could follow the pattern? Linda Misa is giving a free online class for the cutest doll! Check out her blog here for a link to her yahoo group and the lessons.

Gil singing

This is a link to my youtube. I put a video on of my son-in-law Gil and 2 others singing a song called Seven Bridges Road by the Eagles. Gil is on the right and working the machine. Frankie is on the left and Chip in the middle. I think their harmony is so beautiful! The darn thing took hours to upload!

Little Bag

Here is another bag. This one is of my own design. I did it first using paper towels so I wouldn't ruin the fabric. They were about 12x12 and the bag ended up about 11x11. It is made of 2 fat quarters, one for the outside and one for the lining.

Most of the people who come to karaoke have their own cd's. I made this little bag just big enough to hold one of the small cd wallets. It has a pocket for a pen and song slips and a velcro closure. Rhonda took with her the other night and got several orders! I'm surprised. LOL

Musical Bag

I decided to make my daughter a bag using this pattern. Beginners beware!! There is no real mention of seam allowance. I had to guess where to put the pockets and guessed wrong. Ripped them out and tried again. Had to undo a seam to sew one back in. I also guessed on the handle placement. I wasn't going to give up. The fabric costs too much to do that. So here it is. I'm not 100% happy with it but my daughter likes it.

Polka Dot and Rick Rack Swap

Sharon at the Red Geranium Cottage is hosting this swap. My partner doesn't know who she is yet. This is what I've made. The pincushion and handbag. On the handbag, the longer handle slips through the shorter one. It's so cute! The free pattern is here. I decided to throw in a few little goodies too. The little halloween bear, some scrapbooking borders, ribbon, coasters, notebook and a couple of dotted fat quarters. Sure hope she likes her gift!

Happy Birthday to Jane!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JANE!!!! If you haven't visited her at her blog JanesFabrics or at her store http://stores.ebay.com/Janes-Fabrics_W0QQsspagenameZMEQ3aFQ3aSTQQtZkm or her ETSY http://janesfabrics.etsy.com/, you should!!! She has a great birthday give away!

Raggedy Kids

Here are a couple of dolls I did many years ago from the book "Old-Fashioned Dolls and Toys" from Better Homes and Gardens. Over a period of about 6 months, I made 10 sets.

Giveaways

Just a quick one. You must get over to Aunt Mannys great blog and enter the give-away for the cutest witch potion bottles!

Aunt Mannys

Then, jump over here and wish Anna happy birthday and enter her give away! She made the cutest bag.

Around The Quilt Block

Dirty Mouth?.....

Dirty Mouth?




Clean It Up!










My daughter makes me laugh all the time. Some of you might not know this is a commercial on TV for a chewing gum.


We went to the beach today to see how Hurricane Gustav was affecting the waves. Sure was wild. Here are a couple of photos.

I really need to get busy and start sewing for real. I'm in a slump where I can start things but can't finish them.
I don't quilt except for a couple of things. Here is one:

It is a lap quilt I designed and made for Mom. The large pink stars are for me and my sister. The 2 outside big blue ones are my brothers. The pale blue in the middle is my brother who passed away. The little pink and blue ones are for Mom's grandchildren. The yellow background is Mom for she was the sunshine in our lives.

Here are just a couple of the dolls I've made.

One of my favorite things.....

...is insect photography. Just thought I would show you one of my favorite photos although if I had to choose it would be so difficult. The first photo is a Common Green Darner.

My favorite lady bug photo entitled "The Lady and the Rose"

I've been published!

Orlando Magazine emailed me a couple of months ago and asked about one of my photos. I said sure, you can use it. Well, I got my magazine. Pretty cool to see your own photo in print even if it is just a couple of lovebugs LOL!! Here is the photo they used. These things can be very nasty! They have a chemical in them that can strip the paint right off your car.
Here is a little info if you have never seen them. You haven't lived until you go through the lovebug season. They can drive you up the wall. Female on the left. Male is 1/2 inch and female 1/3 inch long.
The love bug (also known as lovebug, march fly, honeymoon fly, telephone bug, kissybug and double-headed bug) (scientific name Plecia nearctica) is a small flying insect common to the southern United States, especially along the Gulf Coast. It is most often known as a serious nuisance to motorists driving at high speeds when the insects spatter on their windshields in great numbers.
Lovebugs are a considerable nuisance to motorists. They congregate in unbelievable numbers along highways and the insects spatter on the windshields and grills of moving trucks and automobiles. Windshields become covered with the fatty remains, and vision is obscured. During flights, the flies clog radiator fins causing cars to overheat. They also get into refrigeration equipment on trucks causing them to malfunction. The fatty tissue will cause pitting of the car's finish if it is not removed within a few days.

The Beach and House hunting

We went to the beach today for a little. It has been over a year. I sure missed it. I was enjoying myself taking photos of the birds when this kid decided to run through them. I was pretty annoyed at first but got a great photo out of it.

Then we spent hours riding around looking at houses for rent. We found everything from $500 a month (eewwww) to $1500 a month (oooooh) and spent an hour in one talking to the guy about it. It had a lot of pros but almost as many cons. One con is all blue. All the carpets, the kitchen, the bathrooms....... I have all red, black and white for a kitchen. Well, we have to find something quick. I really need to have my sewing studio set up again.

Wind, Rain, Singing and Sewing

Tropical storm Fay went through. It didn't do much here but we are still getting a lot of wind and rain from the outer bands. There have been some beautiful sunsets as you can see from the photo on the side.

My daughter Rhonda and son-in-law Gil run a DJ and Karaoke business. I love to go sing. For the year we were up in Georgia I only sang twice. Since we've been back, not quite 2 weeks, we've been out almost every night. This old gal is pooped. I love taking pics, especially of the lights so here are a few photos. The first one is Rhonda and Gil. It was disco night.

Gil had just gotten done singing "King Tut". Everyone loved wearing this hat. LOL Here is one of the gals that was having fun.


This is my hubby of 26 years. It was Mike's 58th birthday.

And here is one photo of their lights. Isn't it pretty?

I almost forgot to say something about sewing! I'm in several swaps right now and finally getting to my machine to start sewing. One is Viv's Halloween Ball swap. One is Helen's Stitcher's Angel and one is a Rag Doll swap on FOCD.

So Sweet

You all are! Very nice of you to try to help me. Unfortunately I'm a show me, let me see type of person. I'll figure it out soon. In the meantime, if you want to see some of my crafts please go to my flickr account
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cjfinley/sets/72157594484836671/

Below is some fabric I bought in Moultrie, Georgia at
Suzanne's Quilt Shop just a week or so before we moved. We have now been back in Florida for a week and I'm waiting for this tropical storm to pass so I can get to the beach and take some new photos. I'm tired of the rain and wind.

I tried for an hour figuring out how to add this on the side bar.

hugsnkisses.typepad.com/hugsfromhelen/stitchers.html

You just have to go to this blog!! She is giving away the cutest things!!!

http://www.softinthehead.blogspot.com/