A Special Giveaway to check out!

Diane Knott and her daughter Holly, have opened a NEW Etsy shop featuring their beautiful handmade items. Their shop link is:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/cottagebythepond

They are giving away the lovely pear, and the stuffed heart (made by Diane) and a beautiful handmade wristlet made by Holly. What a bunch of loveliness!!

You must go to their Etsy shop and look at all the items they have for sale there. YUMMY stuff!!
And go to Dianes' Blog and enter to win the three lovelies pictured above.
http://dianeknottsmusings.blogspot.com/

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I haven't been creating much these past days. I HAVE been cleaning and organizing my new sewing area next to my studio. It is almost done now and soon I will be creating fun things.
It isn't beautiful....not a finished area.....but I would call it functional! I think this is the first time I have ever had my sewing things all in one place. It should make it a lot easier for me to get around to sewing. It isn't too inspiring to sew when you have to drag everything out and set it up before you can even start. I even bought a BRAND new cover for my ironing board and it is all ready to go also.
I did make a PARIS inspired pillow for my Moms' 85th birthday. It was blue toile, blue ticking and some natural linen. I sewed a round lace doily on it, then a red PARIS label and finished it with some red stitching to set it off. Then in each of the four corners, I sewed some big red buttons. I was in such a hurry to get it done and in the mail so that she would get it in time for her B-day, I neglected to get any pictures of it.
I think I will make another one......it was awfully cute!! SHE LOVED IT!!!!!
Have a great day one and all....stay cool (It is supposed to be in the 90's today and humidity is a bear)
hugs, Sue K

PLENT-I-FUL!!!!

Each Spring, we plant tons of tomato plants. We are both tomato lovers and can eat them nonstop all day long! There is nothing in the world as delicious as a homegrown fresh tomato!

The past week we have been getting a few ripe ones here and there, and then Thurs. I went to pick, and there were 15 beautiful ripe red tomatoes, ready to go!! So we have been in tomato heaven.

How do you like your tomatoes??? Salt and pepper?? Hubby likes sugar on them (midwest thing, I think) or do you like them with a little vinegar and oil on them?? I like them all ways...except the sugar. We planted some Black Krimm tomatoes this year. They are a dark burgandy color and are they ever sweet and good. I can't get enough of them. We are going to be planting more of them each year.

Soon, my eggplant will be ready and I can hardly wait for them!!! I love to slice them long ways, a little olive oil, salt and pepper and throw them on the grill. Oh Lord, it is heavenly!!!

Have a lovely Saturday! It is really, really hot and humid here, so this afternoon, this old woman is going to go and float in our pool!!!

hugs, Sue

I HATE Spam!

It seems that I keep getting spam in my comments section and so far, I have just been deleting it when it happens. Tonight, I have changed my blog to moderation of comments. I will have to approve any comments left by you wonderful people. Isn't it a shame that the people that do these things don't have something better to do with their time?? Makes a mess for people like us just trying to have a little blog and share with friends.
Sorry for the trouble, but I don't know what else to do. Thanks for understanding!
Have a great night!
hugs, Sue

Traditions Lesson #D-8 done!

I am getting close to getting through my studies with Traditions paint, and the painting Modules that they offer. I started this journey over two years ago and have learned so very much. With four Modules (A,B, C and D) It is hard to believe that I am almost through Module D.
The above painting is a study of the color wheel, using foliage from different plants. I did enjoy painting it, although there are some mistakes....lol! And I'm not telling what they are. It took me months to get this lesson done, having to remix my colors once because my palette dried out
since it took me so long. Now it is done! I am going to take the rest of the summer off from my lessons and start again in the fall. I only have three more lessons to go and I will be done.
Woooohoooooo!!!!!

I have a bunch of "other" projects in the works, so I hope to be posting more soon. I am outside so much in the summer, that my studio gets neglected terribly. I will probably have to clean out the cobwebs in there when I start again. I plan to expand my studio into another room too, as now I need a place to store and work on fabrics. Instead of trying to cram everything into my current studio, I will clean out a place in another room and set up everything. I'll be more organized and everything will be close by that I need.

Thanks for taking a peek! I hope to be posting more often now!