I think I'm weird :)

Okay, I've decided that I'm a weirdo. I've become totally, and I do mean TOTALLY obsessed with French designs. BUT....I've also become totally obsessed with primitive designers (Stacy Nash, The Sampler Girl, etc), too. And then there are the Quakers that I adore. All are totally different. TOTALLY different. But..I love them all. I've decided that I love red and white. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it, hence my obsession with French designs. Then again, the primitive styles call my name and the Quakers are literally screaming at me. How can I decorate my house with all these differences? One room dedicated to each style?? Hmmm....I'm bumfuzzled. Any ideas and suggestions would be most appreciated. Also, it would be nice to know that I'm actually not weird - that others feel the same way????

Ohhhh, guess what I got today? Well, I haven't actually GOTTEN it yet, but it's on order. Antique monogrammed ribbon from France made in the 1920's. You think I'm not doing a major happy dance? Of course I had to call France to get it (can't wait to see the phone bill), but when I get my mind set on something, I'm a woman on a mission. When I saw the ribbon with CM on it, I nearly died three deaths. I couldn't pick up the phone fast enough. Since I don't speak French, it was best that I call and order so I could do it correctly. The lady, Stephanie, was oh so nice to me and spoke perfect English. :) I've also been on the hunt for some French linens, but have had no luck at all. I don't care if they are vintage. Actually, I'd prefer if they weren't, as I want to use them in projects for my Etsy store. NO LUCKY FOR ME. :(

I also have some Japanese fabric coming that I ordered from Etsy....coming straight from Tokyo. Gosh, next week will be a wonderful mail week for me. Woohoooo!

I've decided that I'm spending too much time reading blogs, but I've also decided that I don't intend to stop. I literally LOVE seeing what others stitch and craft. I have over 300 people on my Google Reader and have a heck of a time keeping up. I try so hard to read and post on them all, but it just doesn't happen. There aren't enough hours in the day. I do LOVE it when I hear from you all that visit. It puts such a smile on my face when I see that I have new comments. I know, I know, it doesn't take much to make me happy. My son would tell me to "get a life". ;)

Well, no pictures to share, but just wanted to check in. I hope everyone is having a wonderful week full of tons of stitching, knitting, crafting or whatever makes you happy.

I wish you enough!
Love,
Carolyn

Soooo much to share with you!

I haven't written lately because I really haven't had anything earth shattering to share with my fellow blogging friends. I'm going to try to catch up with you now. :)

First of all, I FINALLY have some of my stitching I can share with you. Cathy received her ornament from the Christmas Ornament Swap that I sent to her. Here is a picture of it:



I stitched this out of the 1999 JCS Christmas Ornament Issue and it's by the Sampler House called "No el".

I also recently received two blog awards and want to thank CindyF, Erynne and Wendy for them. I appreciate them so much! It's so nice to know that people enjoy my blog. I can't possibly decide who to give these too, so they are dedicated to all of my blogging friends. If you haven't already, you should check out these three creative ladies' blogs. I love hanging out there!

From my sweet Texas buddy CindyF:


Thank you, Miss Cindy!

And from sweet Wendy and dear Erynne:


Thank you, Wendy and Erynne! I appreciate it so much!

It does my heart such good when I have visitors to my blog, and of course I LOVE your comments! I've made so many wonderful friends from the commenters on my blog.

Guess what I did this weekend?? Well, I'll tell you what I DIDN'T do. I didn't put one X in anything, BUT I got to spend some time with new grandson and my sweet little Kaylabug. Ohhhhh how fun was that? Here is a picture of me stocking up on "sugar" until the next time I get to see Mr. Carter Man.




He seems sooo little. I had forgotten had tiny newborns are.

Here is my precious Kaylabug:



We took tons more pictures, and I may have to add more later. I just wanted to share a bit since it's been soooooo long. One of my resolutions this year was to post more on my blog. hhmmm....

For those of you that asked about the law that won't allow making baby items to sell, I don't know anything new. First of all, I spelled it wrong on my last post. I left out a letter. DUH! So if any of you tried to google it, you didn't find anything, I'm sure. The law is CPSIA (I left out the P before). I'm not sure if there are any updates on it, but I DO know that there are lots of people that are working on trying to get it changed (crossing my fingers here). In the meantime, I'm working on other things for our "new to come" Etsy store. I'm really getting excited, but also a bit apprehensive. A new venture, ya know?? Before it opens, I will be having a giveaway to entice you all to come take a peek. Sneaky, aren't I? LOL

Thank all of you that helped me decide what my "mystery scissors" were. I think those of you that said it was a candle snuffer are correct! Who knew??? I appreciate all of your help. It was driving me nuts trying to figure out how to cut my floss with them. LOL Mystery Solved!!

Well, DH has just taken the steaks off the grill, and my tummy is growling big time. I'll write more later, but for now....I's hungry!!!

Love to all, and I wish you enough,
Carolyn

Can you help?

My mother gave me these "scissors" as part of my birthday present, but I don't know what they are. They aren't actually scissors, as they don't cut. I've never seen anything like them, but thought maybe one of you could help me figure out what they are used for. The sewing basket was my grandmothers and the pincushion was my great-grandmothers. It's over 100 years old! I was so tickled to get them. I'm so sentimental anyway, and love owning anything that belonged to my family members. Sooo......anybody know what these scissor thingees are???? They came with the holder that they are standing up in. Color me confused.....








A dear friend of mine and I are opening an Etsy store in April. We've both been really busy making things for it, and I'm excited. I hope it goes well. What REALLY ticks me off, though, is that I had planned on doing a lot of specialty baby/children items (burp cloths, receiving blankets, bibs, etc) and now that new law is out (CSIA) and I have to go another direction. I have no clue what I'm going to do with all the baby flannel, minky, children's aprons, etc. that I've bought. It just aggravates me because it doesn't make any sense. (I hope I haven't already griped about this on here. I can't remember....it's late). ANYHOO that's why I don't have any stitching to share with you right now. I just finished stitching an ornament for the Christmas Swap that I'm in, but can't share it until the recipient has gotten it. Hopefully that will be sometime next week.

I hope to hear from many of you as to what our mystery "scissors" are. Even a guess will work. I love hearing from each of you, but lurkers are always welcome, too. :)

Have a great rest of the week. I'm going night night.

I wish you enough,
Carolyn :)

I'm literally blown away!

My birthday isn't even until Monday, and today I received TWO MORE wonderful birthday gifts! I don't know what I've done to deserve all this kindness from my stitching friends, but I'm just so humbled and appreciative!

First off, check out the wonderful scissor fob that Carol sent to me. I've always admired these on her blog, and now I'm a lucky recipient! WOOHOO!!

Front:

Back:


Isn't it beautiful??

Thank you so much, Carol!! I just adore it and will think of you each time I use it. (It's already attached to my scissors.) :)

Next I received a wonderful basket that literally took my breath away. I collect anything ladybugs, and my dear friend, Chris (no blog) made a point to see that I got plenty of them for my birthday. Look at this wonderful gift!

Before I opened it:


All the wonderful goodies inside:


Everything has a ladybug somewhere on it. Isn't it just the cutest? I have "known" Chris for over 15 years, although we've never met in person. Miss Chris, you totally outdid yourself this time. Thank you for everything!!

AND......drum roll please.......the greatest news is little Carter-man got to come home today!! YAY!! I'm so excited that he's finally home. I wish I could have been there to see Kaylabug's reaction. I can't wait to hold that little man. We plan to go up to Dallas in a couple of weeks, and I'll collect enough "neck sugars" to last me awhile. :) Welcome home, little Carter!! LaLa loves you so much!



I don't know why the right sides of my pictures get cut off, but if any of you know or have a solution, I would welcome it. It's so aggravating!

Thank you again, Carol and Chris for your kindess and beautiful gifts! I appreciate them and you both very much. :)

I also appreciate all of your visits and comments. They literally make my day!

Have a great weekend!

I wish you enough,
Carolyn :)

YAY!! Another early birthday gift for me!

Today was another great mail day. Woohoo!! Look what came for me today from my dear friend Barbara (Louie). This is my very first floss tag and I LOVE IT!! She also sent me a gorgeous skein of red Gloriana silk.....ooohhhh I do so love red!





Isn't it wonderful? On the back is an itty bitty heart - so cute. Louie, I love it, and what you wrote in the card made me cry (a good cry, though). You are a dear friend. Thank you soooooo much!!

I'm still in the organizing mood, and have been working like crazy in my sewing studio/craft room. When I get it all finished, I'll share pictures. Right now it looks like a bomb went off in it. LOL

Baby Carter is supposed to get to go home tomorrow. YAY!!! I'll keep you posted, and hopefully will have an updated picture to share soon.

Until next time, my friends....I wish you enough!

Love,
Carolyn :)

Lookie what I got!

Sweet Staci sent me an early birthday present, and I just love everything! The package was waiting for me when I got home from visiting with Baby Carter, and it was a major uplift for me. Look what I got!!



Her stitching and finishing are impeccable, and she knows how I ADORE anything red! I forgot to take a picture of the back, but check out her blog and see how adorable it is. She also has a link there for the pattern. :) She also knitted me some red and white dishcloths and sent me some finishing fabric that I had been looking for. Along with that was the sweetest card with sentiments that mean so very much to me. Thank you so much, Miss Staci! You are a dear friend. :)

Baby Carter is doing a bit better, but had some more breathing problems last night, so the doctor wants to keep him another five days in the NICU. :( I did want to share a more recent picture of him. He looks so much better without all the tubes, etc. I think he's a cutie and can't wait to get my hands on him!



Here's one of the kids bathing him. I love it. :)



I appreciate, as always, all of your prayers and good thoughts. Please keep them coming so that Baby Carter man can go home soon to be with his big sister, Kaylabug. :)

Thank you for visiting and for all of your wonderful comments. I appreciate them more than you know.

I wish you enough...
Carolyn :)

Happy New Year....can you feel the love??

I sure do. :) Baby Carter wasn't due until January 20th, but he decided to come early and was born December 30th. He has some breathing problems and an infection, but each day seems to be doing better. Here is a picture that I adore of him and his Dad. Yes...I can feel the love.



They were finally able to hold him today for the first time. Kevin said it was wonderful. :) I was up there for a few days, but came back home today. Carter has to stay in the hospital about a week, so I figured they would need me more when they got him home than they do now. Kayla was able to come up to the hospital to see Mommy and Daddy yesterday, and it was so sweet. She missed them as much as they missed her, for sure. I know it will be so hard for Shannon & Kevin to go home and leave the baby there, but hopefully it won't be for long. Kevin hasn't left her side except when he's in with Carter in the NICU.

If you have some prayers to spare, we would surely appreciate them. We want "little man" to get to go home soon and be healthy.

I hope you all have a wonderful New Year filled with good health, love, family, friends, and of course, tons of stitching time. :)

I wish you enough,
Carolyn