Coastal Cool??

Mr. SS talked me into coming back down to Long Beach for a few days. I'm thinking Ahhhh! Cool coastal weather...NOT...It has been in the hundreds until today and the humidity is suffocating.

My excuse to stay holed up in my RV with the air cranked up and sew, nap and (can't believe I'm admitting this) watch soaps.

I only went out once to check out a quilt store close by that I found on line. Not to be cruel, but it was such a disappointment. I am so spoiled by my favorite store in Bakersfield, Strawberry Patches. You have to check out Suzanne's new blog(click on her name) and website (click on Strawberry Patches)It is so darn cute.

Anyway when I walked out side, the heat took my breath away. So I made a quick stop at the grocery store and haven't ventured out since.

Lots of windows in the RV and I love light, so I sit where I can see outside with out "feeling" outside.

Today as I looked out the door, I see a squirrel in a tree teasing a cat. We are in a trailer park, not an RV park, but I love it here. It is an over 55 park and so quiet. Lots of big trees like the one in the picture. I have a little patio and yard (not that I've used it this time)

Can you see the squirrel (click to enlarge). This went on for 45 minutes until the cat and I finally got bored.

I made 6 of my little Girlie Girl Bags. Three to take to Strawberry Patches and three for a Faire, I am doing with some friends. Two of my friends are selling antiques and two are selling jewelry. The purses have been selling well at SP, so thought I would try them in a show.

I'm really challenged taking pictures in the RV, but here goes.

I made these mostly from fabric left from my granddaughter, Drew's back to school blouse.

I love using up fabrics I have on hand. I also found some little ceramic apple buttons to use on these that I have had since the early 90's, I think.  That makes these so much fun...using what I have on hand.

I brought this magazine with me, and some cute fabrics that I got at (yeah, you know) Strawberry Patches

I love the Tiny Treat Bags in the upper right hand corner.

So I made a couple of these.

Well, not these, but these

These take 20 minutes to make after they are cut out. No kidding. I cut out enough for all the grandkids.

But I'm wanting to embelish with ric-rac, bow and buttons and I'm not at home where my stash is, so decided to wait and finish the others at home. Could go to JoAnn's...but too hot...and besides, as I said above...love using up what I have and believe me, I have lots of embelishments...drawers of embelishments.

I did one more little project. My friend Ruth has this cute little flat wallet she carries coupons, money, cards etc. in and I thought it would be handy to have so I "borrowed" it and made a pattern to made this.

All made from scraps from another project.

It has two pockets. Don't think you can see them.

Really fast, easy project.

Mr. SS asked what it was called.

I said how about "Flat Ruthie" (after the friend who gave it to me)Uh-oh, that sounds funny. The Ruthie part, not the flat part.LOL

He didn't get it, but I was thinking about the "Flat Stanley" that kid in elementary school send around the US and have to take him everywhere they go and write about it.

I know, I have no imagination at all.

Well, speaking of Mr. SS.  He just got home from work and we are going to pack up and go back to

cool Bakersfield for the weekend.

What Will $5.00 Getcha at Good Will

On Saturday, I was on my way home from measuring for curtains for a nursery and as I passed by a Good Will store, my car just "pulled" right into the parking lot. I haven't done any thrifting for a while and really didn't plan on stopping...You all know how strong that "pull" can be, right?

I've been reading on some of your blogs about finding Vintage sheets, so for $3.00, this one really caught my attention. Further examination shows it is not Vintage, because the label says Shabby Creations, but this pink sheet with pink flowers and little green leaves found it's way into my cart. It is like new and full size. Lots of fabric...for what I don't know, but I have a few ideas

Next this dirty little shade for 1.00  got me. I do know what I'm going to do with it. I have been wanting to cover one of these with some of my embroidered linens, using  cute little crocheted trims along the edges. Paint that ugly knob at the top or change it.

I've decided to do a tutorial on this, so you can learn right along with me.

Another 1.00 find. I have big plans for this too, and will show that to you later. First I'm thinking it needs to be white.

Not bad for a late Saturday afternoon thrifting stop and $5.00, huh??

Bad Blogger... Good Recipe

I'm sure I have become the world's worst blogger. I looked at the date of my last one and said that cannot be.

I worked for a great while tonight getting pictures loaded for a Pink Saturday post only to discover at 7:43PM that I had to have it submitted by 8:00 EST.  So I'm already on tract with that one for next Saturday. Stay tuned because it is a doozie. I only have pink in one room, but it is pink, pink and more pink. I have 20 pictures.

I have been sewing alot, but forgetting to get pictures (yep, bad blogger). Nothing too exciting, but I like to share all I do.

Haven't even been keeping up with pictures of the grandkids like I should. Last Friday night I missed a good photo op when my sweaty 16 year old grandson came running up after his football game to give me a hug (In front of his team mates, I might add) Is that not just enough to bring tears. It did of course.

Four year old Jack had his first Soccer game last Saturday. Opps, forgot my camera. Besides that, I was a little late getting there and  after the game, he said "Mamaw, next week, I'll run faster and kick the ball harder. Will you be on time?" Not only am I a bad blogger, but bad Mamaw too.

Enough of this pity party. Let's have some

Butterfinger Pie

This is what you need:

Using a wooden mallet, I smash 4-5 Butterfingers in the wrappers.

Good for taking out those  "bad blogger" aggressions.

I like to make this when I first come home from the store with the ice cream, because it is already soft enough to slide out of the carton and into the bowl for stirring.

Add crushed butterfingers reserving some for sprinkling on top of pie and for garnishing each slice later.

Now stir until those bits of yumminess are well mixed in.

Quickly dump into Graham Cracker crust. Don't smooth with spoon...leave it mounded in center and sprinkle on some of reserved crushed Butterfingers. Now pop it into the freezer as it is already melting.

Oh darn, look what's left. Guess you know what I do with that.

Be prepared, because this is what you get...

(Don't you just love it when those new front teeth start coming in?)

when you show them this.

Even though he won't read this, Happy Birthday to my oldest son, Scott.  He came into our world 41 yrs. ago today and we are so blessed to have him in our lives.

Sew Sweet Sixteen

Can you say Sweet Sixteen about a boy? I guess I just did. Sorry, Kyle, but you were my first grandchild and are still Sew Sweet. 

I got to be in the delivery room when Kyle came into this world. He had a rough time of it and the cord was around his neck. It took him a long time to breath and my son Scott was holding on to me as we waited to hear him cry. He finally did start breathing, but not crying.

He continued to be the sweetest most "laid back" baby I have ever seen. Mr. SS says he slept the first 6 months of his life.

He still is that same "doesn't get too excited" kind of kid. He is so loving and such a good big cousin to the 10 cousins he has on our side of the family and the 6 on his Mom's side.

His other grandma calls him a "Gentle Giant". I still think of him as a "Teddy Bear".

Here are Kyle and his Dad, Scott, making me look like a midget.

Really, I think they were both standing on their toes.

We went to pick up his Great Grandma tonight and he drove my car.

He's always laughing.

He chose a Toy Story Ice Cream cake so he could give his little cousin the Woody and Buzz.

He plays football for Tehachapi High School(same as his Dad and his Uncles) and is the center.

He loves football and like his Dad and his Uncles, has played since he was 8 yrs. old.

I just can't possibly have a sixteen year old grandchild...can I?

Guess I do.

Happy Birthday Kyle Dennis Parks.

Back on Track

As you have noticed if you have checked in here the last few weeks, I have had a little "blog block" going on.  Last week was especially hard as we went to the service for my friend Suzanne' son. It was one of the most touching beautiful memoials I've ever been too.  What an amazing family.  I always knew that, but under the circumstances, I admire them all so.

That was on Friday.  To start that week off, Mr. SS woke up to heart attack symptoms on Tuesday morning.  He's okay and it wasn't a heart attack, but we didn't know what it was until a visit to the ER and a 3 day hospital stay.  He's had Atrial Fibrilation for 3 years and really needed his meds adjusted and was put back on a blood thinner.  None of his army of doctors could figure out why he had been taken off it. 

All is okay on that front now and we are thanking God for the warning so we could get back on track.

On to a lighter subject.

Remember, I went to Long Beach a few weeks ago to help my friend get her shop ready for a Fall Open House. I'm really not much of a Halloween fan, but I did get into the "spirit" as we were transforming her shop with all of the scary decor.

If I were to have a Halloween party, I would want this as my table center piece.

There were some quilted tableclothes, tablerunners and placemats that looked like this

Lots of scary stuff and some really cute stuff

I thought the cutest of the cute were the spider headbands

and the spider rings and braclets (necklaces too, but didn't get a picture of those)

The afternoon was spent demonstrating the painting techniques that MariEllen and I learned a few months ago at  a two day workshop.  The paints are Caromal Colours. We were way too busy to get any pictures, but I hope to do a tutorial soon.  It is a process of distressing furniture, that is easier than anything I have ever tried, and the results look so professional.

Dang...wish I had pictures of the demo.

If you are still with me, I have saved the best for last.

Since I have been blogging, I have met many wonderful, creative, caring and sweet women.

One of those, I have really developed a friendship with and she and her husband drove up from Desert Hot Springs to see me in Long Beach. 

This is my friend Barbara

 

Go check out her blog by clicking on her name.  She is just the sweetest lady and how sweet is her hubby Carl to bring her up to see me.

I think we could have talked for hours and never run out of things to say, but alas, I had to get to work and I'm sure Carl didn't want to sit around for "hours".  We will get together again soon.

Update

First of all, let me thank all of you who have prayed for my friend Suzanne and her family. Also for your prayers for me.

Jeff went to be with the Lord on Sept. 5th. You can go to Suzannes blog here and read her last two posts. 

Lots going on around here and sorry I haven't been here or around to your blogs much.

I have missed you all and plan on coming back next week and getting back on the blogging track.