Cotton Spice Blog

is online HERE - In a way it makes me sad. In another way, I feel so relieved! It was hard work, mainly due to the fact that it never made a dime. I think it was a good idea and I see another quilt magazine starting up online so I like to think of myself as a pioneer I learned so much in that 4 years - and I’ve poured everything into the new eZine…Ruby! Ya’ll know that already, and are probably sick and tired of hearing about it But it really is an awesome publication. It has turned out to be everything (design-wise) I wanted Cotton Spice to be, but it never went that way.

Kind of weird for the publisher/editor to say that, after all, wasn’t it my fingers working in Illustrator and InDesign? Yes, it was  - but all you creative, designing types know that a project takes on it’s own personality and it’s best to just go with the flow. If you fight it, it turns out baaaad.

Now…the REALLY BIG NEWS!!!!!!!!!!! The Cotton Spice website will NOT close!!!!! Oh no… I have big plans for that site. In the next week or so, we’ll be renovating the Quilt Shop to carry downloadable patterns for many crafts - quilting, knitting, crocheting, embroidery, cross stitch…whatever we can get our hands on! The One-Stop Pattern Shop!!!!  So stay tuned and I’ll keep you posted.

Downloadable patterns are really the way to go. I find myself ONLY buying patterns that I can download. I don’t want to wait for the US Mail!!! Takes way too long. When I want to make something, I want to make it NOW!!

Talk to you soon!

Come by and visit me

in my own sewing room! Imagine!! Remember my post about the vintage notions I received in the mail? Well, there was this box, which I opened and looked at briefly.

It had some pearle cotton from long ago, which I thought was pretty neat in itself! But I never looked ‘under’ the pearle cotton. Today I DID! Oh My Goodness!!!!! Look at this -

Yeah… the pearle cotton…but can you read the first label, where you see ‘20′? Ok, here’s a closeup….

And there are 3 full skeins, 3 partial but not by much and 1 little bit left.

I’m thrilled with my find.

I’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Miller - creator of Jazzy Jemz and her Artfire Shop

I’m a mom to a wonderful daughter. Army wife. Working on a fruitful business. My blog is about my life, giving tips for the handmade community and parenting.

Splat Mats are a stylish perfect way to prevent splatters, messes and flung food. Use under a high chair to prevent food splatter all over your floor. A must have for any mom with an infant or toddler.

This double layer fleece blanket has a satin trim lining. Perfect for blocking out the cold weather.
Generously sized to keep baby warm into his/her toddler years. Measures approx 36 x36 inches.

Jenn’s shop is full of trendy, pretty things for baby and Mom. Be sure and visit her!

See you tomorrow!

It’s the longest cold in the world, the worst cold ever to hit womankind, it’s the pits. I lost my voice for a couple days, I just can’t shake the darn thing. Now, I’m sharing it with my family

i’ll be back when I feel human again….

Yes I know it’s wrong You know how you get words mixed up? I was telling someone we got Rock Band and Guitar Hero for Riley for Christmas and that’s the way it came out. So embarrassing and so funny at the same time.

It never seemed to me that I’d be playing these games, but I am and it’s a lot of fun! Our living room looks like backstage at a rock concert with about 4 guitars, the set of drums, the microphone, the ‘equipment’. But what the heck. We live here, it’s not a magazine living room

I can usually play bass on medium and guitar on easy. I don’t play enough to get better at it. But Mike and I and Riley have formed our own band. While it’s fun to play… it’s also fun to SHOP! Last night, I had enough money to buy some new clothes, so I went and bought stuff. When it came time to buy shoes, I said they had to be heels - since that’s not something I can wear in real life. bought myself some kicky boots and boy do I look hot! lol…. on screen!

I made another outfit for my AG doll. This will be donated to the CFAC store, to raise money for the propane fund. I love to make doll clothes - they don’t take very much fabric, and it’s a great way to practice new techniques and just have fun. Who doesn’t love to play dolls?

100 Things

I got this from Cherri’s blog

The rules state:
Below are 100 statements. Bold or change the color of the ones you have done. hmmm… i don’t see anywhere that I can change color of text… so,the things I have done are BOLD.

1. Started your own blog - and here it is!
2. Slept under the stars - a lovely way to sleep!
3. Played in a band.
4. Visited Hawaii.
5. Watched a meteor shower.
6. Given more than you can afford budgeted to charity.
7. Been to Disneyland or Disney World World- Disneyland… a few times
8. Climbed a mountain.
9. Held a praying mantis.
10. Sang a solo. - Luckily for you all… NO!
11. Had stitches - more than I can count.
12. Visited Paris - drove through it, does that count?
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea.
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch - quilting, watercolor painting.

15. Adopted a child.
16. Had food poisoning.
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty back when they still let you.
18. Grown your own vegetables - green beans, carrots, beets, tomatoes.
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France.
20. Slept in an overnight train.
21. Had a pillow fight.
22. Hitchhiked.
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill.
24. Built a snow fort.
25. Held a lamb.
26. Gone skinny dipping.
27. Run a marathon.
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice.
29. Seen a total eclipse.
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset - many of them.
31. Hit a home run.
32. Been on a cruise.
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person.
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors.
35. Seen an Amish community.
36. Taught yourself a new language.
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied - right now actually.
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person.
39. Gone rock climbing.
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David.
41. Sung karaoke.
42. Seen Old Faithful, in Yellowstone Park, erupt.
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant.
44. Visited Africa.
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight - I lived on the California coast, I did this a lot.
46. Been transported by ambulance - when i had to have my gall bladder out, and once when I had a concussion.
47. Had your portrait painted.
48. Gone deep sea fishing.
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person.
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling.
52. Kissed in the rain.
53. Played in the mud.
54. Gotten a speeding ticket - yes, but only once.
55. Been in a movie.
56. Visited the Great Wall of China.
57. Started a business - started several.
58. Taken a martial arts class.
59. Visited Russia.
60. Served at a soup kitchen.
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies.
62. Gone whale watching.
63. Got flowers for no reason/special occasion - yes, from my sweetie husband :) 
64. Stayed the night in jail.
65. Cried so hard you threw up - yes… don’t care to revisit that.
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp.
67. Bounced a check - usually not on purpose, but once or twice because we needed food.(long time ago)
68. Flown in a helicopter.
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy.
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial.
71. Eaten caviar.
72. Pieced a quilt - oh my… way too many to count.
73. Stood in Times Square.
74. Toured the Everglades.
75. Been fired from a job - yes, from a copy store. They didn’t think I had the right stuff to ‘copy’.
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London.
77. Broken a bone.
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle.
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person.
80. Published a book - Log Cabin Quilts: A Brand New Story by Karen Murphy
81. Visited the Vatican.
82. Bought a brand new car.
83. Walked in Jerusalem.
84. Had your picture in the newspaper - when my book came out.
85. Read the entire Bible - over my lifetime.
86. Visited the White House.
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating.
88. Had Chicken Pox - when i was a child.
89. Saved someone’s life.
90. Sat on a jury.
91. Met someone famous - published quilters mostly. No movie stars.
92. Joined a book club.
93. Lost a loved one.
94. Had a baby - had 3!
95. Seen the Alamo in person.
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake.
97. Been involved in a lawsuit - I sued  over  getting fired from work, in Germany, when I had that concussion.
98. Owned a cell phone - still do
99. Been stung by a bee - owie!
100. Read an entire book in one day - probably one of of the Left Behind Books, or Jan Karon books

Have you signed up yet? Play Yarn Dash is the newest hide and seek game… for yarn shops/lovers! Brought to you by the creators of Quilt Dash

If you’ve Dashed at Quilt Dash you know how fun it is. Now, it’s time for fun for us knitters, crocheters, yarn lovers of all kinds! Our first Play Yarn Dash begins Feb 15 for 2 weeks. Got a favorite yarn shop? Tell them about it! The Quilt Dash has brought new customers to lots and lots of Quilt Shops… let’s spread the wealth!

I also invite you to put the Play Yarn Dash or Quilt Dash graphics on your blog. (Don’t forget to link them to the appropriate site)

Quilt Dash should be linked to http://quiltdash.com

and

Play Yarn Dash should be linked to http://playyarndash.com

Spread the word!

I had a dentist appt this week, for a temporary crown. To put it lightly, I do not do well at the dentist. I spend the first few days before an appt stressing over the upcoming appt, the day of the appt trying to convince myself I’m too sick to go to the dentist, the time in the chair takes FOREVER and I’m one tense muscle until that’s over, then the next few days I’m recovering from the overly huge adrenalin from all the stress. I also have fibromyalgia (not sure I’ve ever mentioned that here before) so the whole dentist experience takes a toll on my body.

I have found a wonderful dentist here, she’s a woman. And gentle. And understands. She gave me some happy pills (valium) to take the night before and the morning of. When I arrived, she had a special comfy cushion on the chair for me, and a fuzzy, cuddly blanket. She suggested I use Mike’s iPod which really helped. As far as the dental experience goes, it has to be one of the better ones. I was in the chair almost 3 hours.

The appt was on Wed, I didn’t start feeling myself until Thursday night. That’s pretty good for me! So, one more appt to go, to get the permanent crown and I’ll be done. I think I can get through this.

But with all that going on, I haven’t felt much like blog writing. :/