You Go Girl!

Chicked-Out Chaise

You've heard of a tricked-out truck, right?  How about a chicked-out chaise?  Last year my husband's parents purchased new deck furniture.  I called dibbs on their old chaise.  Ok, I didn't have to call it.  Nobody wanted it but me.  Here it is.  Ubber comfortable, but a little...um...how shall I say it?  Ugly!  Sorry, sorry, sorry.  I don't want sound venomous.  I just call it like I see it.

But, have no fear. I had a plan.  A plan that I had hatched long before the chair came to live at my house.  I used to look longingly at this amazingly comfortable chair and think, "If only she was mine..."  Well, as fortune would have it, she is mine.  Last summer, I spent many hours sanding, painting, and stitching new clothes for her.  I finished the chair just in time to put her in storage for winter.  It was so much fun to get her out this spring.  She is now sitting smartly on my deck, all chicked-out, waiting for someone to sit on her. 

Since this picture was taken, I have added a shade umbrella and a planter of flowers.  Today I am treasure hunting for a side table. Once I have a table, I can languish in the sun with a tall lemonade to sip and a plate of shortbread cookies to nibble on.  I know, I know, it's far fetched, but a girl can dream...

Wishing you long sunny afternoons and tall glasses of lemonade,

Cassie

Meet Ruby...

The dog days of summer are certainly upon me (tee-hee!). Remember this little sock dog?  She has been sitting ever so patiently on my table waiting for arms and a skirt.

 

Tada! She is finally finished.  Woohoo!!  Let me introduce you.  Here she is...Miss Ruby!

Ruby was a hoot to make.  The best part, though, is that she is the fulfillment of a long-awaited I.O.U. She belongs to my little triplet girl, Libbie. 

When I gave Ruby to Libbie, she greeted the little sock canine with an enthusiastic hug and exclamations of love.

After the love fest, Libbie asked, "What should I name her?" 

I said, "If she belonged to me, I would call her Ruby."  I was thinking of her color.

"Ruby it is, then," Libbie said with a nod. Then she followed up by saying, "Hey, just like Ruby Redfort in Clarice Bean."

That was a connection I hadn't made, but it works for me.  I think I got extra "super-mom" points for that one since Libbie loves Clarice Bean books.

Just in case you are wondering, the pattern for Ruby came out of this book. 

 

 

Of course, I couldn't stick with the pattern.  I modified a few things, but it is very close to the dog in the book.  This was a super fun project. I think I will do it again.  With so many fun socks out in the stores, the creative possibilities are endless.  I have an orange sock with purple flowers on it. How cool would that be made into a dog? It probably won't be the next project I do, but it is certainly an idea in my head (along with about a billion others...).

 

That is all for now.

 

Wishing you happy dog days of summer,

 

Cassie

Red, White, and Blue (sort of...)

I hope every one had a safe and happy Fourth of July.  Before we left for the weekend, I finished this pencil roll. I must have been a little more Fourth-of-July festive than I thought, because the pencil roll is red, white, and blue (sort of??).  I used some bits and pieces of Amy Butler that I had in my stash.  I really like the french wallpaper print in Amy's Belle fabric.  At one time, I had it in three different colors!  I only have one piece of it left.

 

 

The pencil roll is a birthday gift for a friend of the triplets.  Emily, Becca, and Libbie  were sure that this little friend would love a pencil roll full of colored pencils since she likes to draw.  When they went to the party, I had to issue a gift certificate since the request for the pencil roll was made two nights before I left on my China adventure (That's a valid reason for an I.O.U, isn't it?).  I am pleased to report that I am making good on the gift certificate well within the bounds of reasonable time (applause appreciated, haha).  Some of my girls are still waiting for me to complete projects from Christmas gift certificates.  Oh, well...all in good time.

Thanks for stopping by.

Wishing you a happy day,

Cassie

Firecrackers Aren't For Sissies!

Happy 4th of July!  We will be spending the holiday and the rest of the weekend with family at the lake.  It is always a good time...lots of yummy food, lots of family fun, and lots of children with matches and small explosives!  Is this really a good idea?  Two years ago, I finally let the triplets participate in the madness. The day was such a  BLAST (pun intended) that it made the annual Christmas newsletter.  Here's the excerpt:

Suffice it to say, it is always lively and lovely at the lake, and never more so than on the 4^th of July. I love the 4^th of July. Family, friends, parades, swimming, boating, picnic food...what’s not to love? I’ll tell you what’s not to love! The fireworks. Not the big ones that are professionally manned, but the little ones that are put into the hands of mere amateurs. Since when is it a good idea to let children play with matches and experiment with explosives? I thought I was going to have a nervous break down this year! At one point, I counted 14 children, ranging in age from 3 to 13, dabbling in fire cracker wizardry. The kids seemed to set up in three different camps. One camp was trying to light 50 smoke bombs while simultaneously sending a chicken that shoots fire out its hind-end hopping through the smoke. One camp was lighting firecrackers and quickly stuffing them down a manhole in the road to see if there was any flammable sewer gas down there. And the third camp of kids was exploding a bee hive with a complicated set-up of firecrackers laced together with a long fuse. To add fuel to the fire, Uncle Chris Tucker, who should never be allowed to play with combustible material, was parting my hair with bottle rockets. Enough already!!! When Becca came up to me to complain about a punk burn, all I could say was, "Firecrackers aren’t for sissies!" I didn’t comfort her like I should have. I didn’t help her ice it like a good mommy would. I didn’t even pat her head and say, "Be tough, little girl." Firecrackers aren’t for sissies...this is "Mother of the Year" material.

Now you know my shame!  By the way, that is my favorite line from the movie NIGHT AT THE MUSUEM.  A close second is, "I'm gonna shoot you in the dang eye!"  Hey, I just realized that shooting someone in the 'dang eye' could happen on the 4th of July, too.  Yikes!!  I just might have another Calgon moment here!

Wishing you all a safe and happy Independence Day!

Cassie

By the way,  it's not all wild at our house on the 4th.  This was momentary madness.  Be assured that we are usually smoke bomb and paper popper people.  Really,  it's quite safe. Child Protective Services need not be called. LOL

 

 

 

We Really Must Do This Again!

A giveaway is a good time.  I read each one of your comments and clicked to your blog if you had one.  Fun, fun, fun!  The comments came from far and wide.  Ana lives in Spain. Cathi is from Ireland. Jenny wrote from Australia.  Karin, Angie, and Anna sent lots of friends to leave a comment.  In fact, Karin directed a gentleman to my sight.  I had my first ever comment from a guy.  You go, guy! 

I was going to do this drawing the old-fashioned way and pull a name from a hat.  I printed the comments and started to cut them apart...No, thank you.  I ended up using this random number generator instead. The random number generator chose (drum roll, please).......NUMBER 92. Christine from Auntie's Quaint Quilts left comment 92.  Anna from Thimbleanna sent her to my giveaway.  As soon as I get a mailing address, I will send the pincushion to Christine, and this little thank-you to Anna. Remember these?

   

It was a pleasure to "meet" you on my blog.

That's all for now.  Happy day!

Cassie

Oh!  One more thing. Jona is having a little fabric giveaway. Mary Engelbreit's Christmas Jolly fat quarters! Click over and leave a comment.

Positively Blushing!

I'm blushing from the top of my head to bottom of my toes... 

First, your response to my giveaway has been amazing.  I had my fingers crossed that someone would leave a comment I was hoping for maybe 25 comments, or so.  Well, last I checked, I had 75 and the comments are still coming!  Thank you for your response.  I feel special.  I can't wait for the drawing on Monday.  I'm also excited to investigate the blogs linked to the comments.  I'm going to have to carve out some computer time soon!

Second, Tonya, of Puddin' Pop, gave me the Arte Y Pico blog award. She is such a sweetheart and the amazing mom of seven children.  Check out her newly remodeled blog if you haven't already. 

I think this award has made it's way around blogland.  Most of the blogs I stalk have already received it.  Suffice it to say, any of the Blissful Blogs in my sidebar are certainly worthy.  If you have not received this award, consider yourself nominated!

Finally, I have been asked to teach a bag-making class for a mother/daughter summer arts series.  Well, I am flattered and excited.  The director of the program always calls me a fabric artist.  I giggle every time she says that because I do not consider myself an artist.  I'm a goofball that likes to play with fabric!  Anyhoo, I digress. The participants of the workshop will have varying levels of sewing experience.  I need a project that can accomodate a range of skills.  This is the prototype of the bag I am thinking about using for the class.  It can be as simple, or as spanky, as the participant wants to make it.  It is also reversible.  On this bag, I made one side plain.  The other side has an appliqued 'patch' on it. I think I will make a couple more bags using different embellishment techniques.  Hopefully, that will spur some creativity for those with more advanced sewing skills. 

 

As a parting shot....

 

Does it get any better than this?  Ahhh, summer!

Posie Pincushion Giveaway!

Whew!  I was hoping to get this post done this morning.  I've been overtaken by Monday madness!  My family usually spends summer weekends with extended family at my childhood home on the shores of a refreshing lake.  That means Monday is a recovery day---laundry, home-and-garden TLC, and grocery shopping.  When you add that to toting my girls to summer band, a ballet workshop, and a few friend stops here and there, you have the recipe for a Calgon moment.  Some of you are probably too young to remember the Calgon ads. I was a child when they were big. I'm sure some of you will remember, though.  "Calgon, take me away!!" 

Enough prattle!  I'm giddy for a giveaway.

 

I doodle-stitched some posies and turned them into a pincushion using Heather Bailey's pattern that I also used here.   The last pin cushion I selfishly kept for myself.  This one's for you. I hope you like it.

Here's how the giveaway will work...

Leave a comment.

Next Monday, I will print the comments, cut them apart, put them in a hat, and have one of my lovely assistants (a.k.a. daughters) draw one out. 

Not real original, I know.  But here is the kicker.  Tell a friend about my giveaway (if you think it's worthy??).  Have them mention you in their comment.  If you are credited in the winning comment, I will have something fun for you, too.  Perhaps it will be a set of applique dishtowels like this one?  Or, maybe I will have another pincushion ready to go.  Who knows?

Happy Summer,

Cassie

Moose, and Bison, and Bear...Oh, My!

The June snow has melted. Summer is here!  My family decided to spend the first official weekend of summer vacation in Yellowstone National Park.  We always have a good time in the Park.

The geysers and hot pots are intriguing.

 

The wildflowers always put on a glorious display. 

 

 

The vistas are amazing.

My favorite part of the Park, though, is the wildlife.  I am a complete NUT for seeing animals in their natural environment.  We saw lots and lots of animals this weekend.    Yellowstone has a huge herd of elk and bison. 

 

This time of year there are lots of babies...very cute!  We also spotted some cranes, a few bald eagles, a moose, three coyotes, an owl, a badger, and BEARS!  In four days, we spotted eight black bears.  All of them were close enough to see without the binoculars.  The most exciting bear encounter happened on one of our hikes.  We rounded a corner. A mother bear and two cubs were standing right in the middle of the trail. 

We backed away slowly and gave her plenty of space!  She was kind enough to walk out where we could see her.  Eventually, she took her cubs down an embankment and into the river to play.  Bears are way cool.  I was over the moon, I tell ya. I am thankful it was a mild-mannered black bear  standing in the trail. (I know she looks brown...black bear can be brown, cinnamon, or black.  Go figure!)  We've seen a few Grizzlies on our Yellowstone trips.  I fear this story would be a lot different if we had crossed paths with a Grizzly and her cubs!  

Last, but not least, I had some time to doodle stitch in the car on the way to and from the Park.  I have doodled something for you!  I am giddy with the excitement of my very own giveaway. Stay tuned...

Toodles,

Cassie

Flip-Flops or Uggs?

There is a saying in Montana...If you don't like the weather, wait five minutes.  It's true. We do have crazy weather that can change quickly!  This morning we woke up to SNOW...wet, heavy, slushy, white snow.  Lucky for me, most of my bedding plants are cozy and warm in the garage.  Usually I would have planted them  well before now.  Sometimes it pays to be a bit behind.  My perennials and self-seeding annuals are not so lucky.  They will have to dig out from under all this wet stuff.  The trees and bushes are also struggling under the weight of the gianormous snowflakes. I'm hoping that when the sun comes back out, everyone will stretch their little arms up to greet it.  It is a crazy opening to summer, for sure.  By Friday, our temperatures are supposed to be in the mid-seventies. 

The weather is putting a bit of a damper on end-of-the-school-year festivities for my girls.  But the year will come to a close regardless, I suppose.  In fact,  Hailey is done today.  Paige and the triplets get done at noon tomorrow.  Another year has danced by before my eyes.  I am pleased to report that it was a good year for all. I am ready for a relaxed summer schedule. 

My sister ordered a bag to give to her daughter's teacher on the last day of school. It's a little Ginger Blossom love.

I adore Ginger Blossom.  It looks fabbity on most any project.  Sandi's new line, Farmer's Market, looks yummy, too.  Hopefully Jona will have some in her store soon.  I can't wait to get my hands on it.

Happy Day,

Cassie

Birthday Girl

My first baby turned fifteen on Wednesday.  Fifteen...I remember fifteen.   Somehow it doesn't seem like that long ago. 

I treasure this girl.  Well, I treasure all my girls, but today it's about her.  To mark her special day, I think I will share a letter I was asked to write by her English teacher. Here it is:

Dear Ms. _____,

I am Cassie Jones, Hailey’s mom and friend. I know lots of things about Hailey. I know how tall she is, how much she weighs, and what color her eyes are. Beyond the outward appearance of Hailey, I know a lot of other stuff. Here is a slice of what I know...

• Hailey is a terrific big sister. She has an eleven-year-old sister and triplet sisters that are nine. They think she is cool.
• She is an excellent student. She works hard and gets high marks.
• Hailey has a strong moral compass and is trusted to make good decisions even if the decision is not the most popular.
• Hailey is quiet until she gets comfortable with a situation. Once she is comfortable, you will see her sense of humor and her wit.
• She chooses her friends wisely so that she is not put in a situation where she has to make tough choices.
• Hailey loves to dance, play the piano, and listen to music. She dances at Rocky Mountain Ballet. She went to Italy with the dance company last summer and hopes to go to China this year. I love to watch her dance. She makes it look easy.
• She reads for enjoyment. In fact, she’s been told to put her book down a time or two this past summer...Words we never thought we’d say!
• She is kind and reflects upon situations where someone is treated poorly or unfairly.
• Hailey knows she has our unconditional love and support. We don’t expect perfection, just her best effort.

When I think about Hailey, I wonder how a girl with everything going for her can be a laundry abuser. Couldn’t she just put her clean clothes away? Just kidding...I do wonder, though, what life has in store for her. Where will she live? (I hope it’s close.) Who will she marry? (Big decision!) What kind of career will she choose? (Make sure you love what you do.) How many children will she have? (She’ll be a great mom.) Will she always be able to eat like a pig and still be thin? (I hope so.)

I am so pleased with the beautiful young woman Hailey is becoming. She is a song in my heart and the apple of her dad’s eye. My hope is that she will always seek and embrace God’s perfect plan for her life, that her life will be one of contentment and peace, and when all is said and done she will hear her Father in heaven say, "Well done, my friend."

Thank you for the chance to share my thoughts about Hailey.

Sincerely,

Cassie

Right now Hailey is busy learning how to drive.  I am going to have some serious gluteous maximus muscles by the time this is over.  My bum-bum is flexed the whole time she is driving, even though I try to look like I am completely relaxed.  When I learned to drive, I lived in a very small town.  If you went the wrong way on a one-way street...oh wait, there wasn't any one-ways. If you didn't turn the wheel quick enough in a parallel park...oh wait, wait, there was only angle parking. Ok, if you didn't yield at a round-about...nope, no round-about.   You get the picture. When I learned to drive, the consequence for a mistake was learning.  For Hailey, the consequence for a mistake will be a wreck.  She is doing well, though.  I guess it is like most things.  If the bar is high, you step up. 

For her handmade-with-love-from-mom birthday gift, I made her a key fob.  Seems appropriate, don't you think?

This is the easiest project ever! All it takes is a 3/4' strap, a D-ring, and a loopy-ring-thing to hold keys.  The whole project takes about ten minutes (for one).  I made three and let her pick her favorite.  She chose the Ginger Blossom one.  I thought she might. 

I was quite chatty today.  Thanks for hanging in there with me.

Later,

Cassie

Afterthought--I just had a revelation.  Eventually, Mr. Handsome and I will have to teach four more girls how to drive.  At one point, we will be teaching three at the same time...aaaaaah!  I guess I shouldn't borrow trouble from tomorrow, should I?