This has been a busy week full of Drs. appointments and infusions. Today, I don't have much going on-thankfully! My infusion was yesterday-it always makes me feel like I am just not on top of my game. Brain-fog, if you will. It usually lasts for a couple of days then I'm good as new (well-for me!) and ready to go. I found a website that shows you, step by confusing step, how to put a roll-over in your blog. For those that don't know what I'm talking about, a rollover is a feature that allows you to put your mouse over a picture in a blog, and see another picture, that usually is related to the main picture in the blog. Two for the price of one! Yeah! It's actually really cool for a before/after scenario. I've seen them but never thought much about how to do them because I really figured it's way over my head. It's all html code but I'll have to figure that out with my Web Design class anyway. In fact, the instructor accidentally sent me the link to the class information in advance of class starting. I got to read over a few thing before he shut me out! Dangit! I was enjoying a head start! Anyway, one thing I'll have to do is to set up my own domain name. I actually already figured that out last week! So, I may be moving this blog over to my own domain name. Since it's early on in my blog-life, I'm thinking it might be a wonderful time! And domain names are not that expensive. $10 a year-or something like that! You'd need to check out www.godaddy.com if you're interested. That's one of the most popular places to get one. I know there will be so much to learn in Web Design but I feel like I'm off to a good start.
I found a recipe on Pioneer Woman's Tasty Kitchen site that is a knock-off to Starbucks Vanilla Chai Tea. I had my first one yesterday during my infusion so after wards I got the stuff at Whole Foods and made the tea concentrate last night. It was so much better than I even imagined. It's not calorie-free, so not something I'd have every day but it sure was a nice treat on a cold day.
Ok-yeah-so I was going to put the rollover in to this blog post but I needed to upload before/after pictures of the living room remodel-that's taking forEVER so I'll have to play with that later! For now, I need to get busy making a purse or two.
See ya!
Charlene
Friday, January 14, 2011
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Snow Day Sunday
I love to watch the snow coming down like it is right now. It's sticking nicely, too.
So this morning I've been cutting out fabric for another purse. This purse is a clutch that Gale-Bird has had for years. She always gets compliments on it but sadly, it is about worn out. I was able to draw out a pattern yesterday and had some fabric that Gale-Bird brought for the exterior. For inside, I had a nice heavy-duty green twill on hand. All I'll need now is some leather for the handle and top edge. I'm thinking of going to the Goodwill store to see if I can find a leather jacket that I could salvage leather from. Looking at a J. Crew catalog yesterday, they had some large purses made of "vintage antiqued leather"-their words. Only a smooth $238! Here's a picture of the fabrics for this new purse, along with the old purse.
The fabrics are similar in color but the new one is missing a bird. :( The old one has some beading sewn on the front so I will probably try to do a little bit of that. I don't want to go crazy with it though!
That's what I'm doing this Sunday! I keep thinking I need to go get dressed but then I think "What the heck for???". Today is just one of those days that is meant to be a pajama all day, day. If we decide to run an errand (not likely since I don't do slippery areas very well!), then I'll throw on some jeans and a sweat shirt.
I also added a link on the left side to a web site where the blogger has tips for organizing. If any of you really know anything about me, you know that:
1. I'm a typical Virgo.
2. That means (all by itself!) that I love to organize! I am a bin/bucket/storage container addict!
3. I feel zen-like when everything is in its place. I think better. I can't help it-it's who I am.
If you could see my studio, you would understand. I love the Container Store! I could spend hours in their stores....that's why I have to stay away.
So, the website Organize and Decorate Everything is fascinating to me.
Have a great Sunday!
Oh yeah! I have a "follower"! I noticed last night! Of course, I think it's my daughter but hey! you have to start somewhere! This whole blog thing is new to me and I admit that it was a little scary yesterday when I decided to post my blog link on Facebook. It sort of puts you right out there! Oh well-it'll all work out! Things just do!
Charlene
So this morning I've been cutting out fabric for another purse. This purse is a clutch that Gale-Bird has had for years. She always gets compliments on it but sadly, it is about worn out. I was able to draw out a pattern yesterday and had some fabric that Gale-Bird brought for the exterior. For inside, I had a nice heavy-duty green twill on hand. All I'll need now is some leather for the handle and top edge. I'm thinking of going to the Goodwill store to see if I can find a leather jacket that I could salvage leather from. Looking at a J. Crew catalog yesterday, they had some large purses made of "vintage antiqued leather"-their words. Only a smooth $238! Here's a picture of the fabrics for this new purse, along with the old purse.
That's what I'm doing this Sunday! I keep thinking I need to go get dressed but then I think "What the heck for???". Today is just one of those days that is meant to be a pajama all day, day. If we decide to run an errand (not likely since I don't do slippery areas very well!), then I'll throw on some jeans and a sweat shirt.
I also added a link on the left side to a web site where the blogger has tips for organizing. If any of you really know anything about me, you know that:
1. I'm a typical Virgo.
2. That means (all by itself!) that I love to organize! I am a bin/bucket/storage container addict!
3. I feel zen-like when everything is in its place. I think better. I can't help it-it's who I am.
If you could see my studio, you would understand. I love the Container Store! I could spend hours in their stores....that's why I have to stay away.
So, the website Organize and Decorate Everything is fascinating to me.
Have a great Sunday!
Oh yeah! I have a "follower"! I noticed last night! Of course, I think it's my daughter but hey! you have to start somewhere! This whole blog thing is new to me and I admit that it was a little scary yesterday when I decided to post my blog link on Facebook. It sort of puts you right out there! Oh well-it'll all work out! Things just do!
Charlene
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Did you know...?
I am a Scentsy consultant. Have been for over 2 years now. I haven't bought a candle since the day I became a consultant and I don't miss them at all. Here is the January warmer of the month....I haven't seen it in person, yet, but I have to say that I want to order the new scent bar soon! I always love anything fig smelling. This one sounds so good to me!
Call or email if you want to order anything this month-I can even have it shipped directly to you if you don't live local to me.
My Scentsy web address is: www.smellingyummy.scentsy.com
Call or email if you want to order anything this month-I can even have it shipped directly to you if you don't live local to me.
My Scentsy web address is: www.smellingyummy.scentsy.com
Talking to Myself....
At this point, I guess I really am just talking to myself. :) Oh well-this blog allows me to go on and on about nothing! I finally have finished Gale's purse! What a tough one! The velveteen that I bought was so thick, it made it difficult to sew through more than one layer. Anyway, I have just a couple of places to fix (totally me being picky!), and I can send it to Gale as her late Christmas gift! Whew! Not sure if I'm ready to make mine, yet.
On another note, I officially registered for my classes for the Spring semester. I really wanted to make sure that if I changed direction now, that I would be doing the right thing. So, I studied how many hours I needed in order to wrap up my Art degree and how many additional I would have to take if I focused on the Web Design degree instead. I found that there is a Web Design Certificate program which has many of the same classes as the actual Web Design degree program. And for my Art degree, I only needed 4 classes! Wow---I was so close-I couldn't believe it. I thought the smartest thing for me to do was to get those 4 classes behind me, and finish up the Art degree then to take the Web Design certificate classes along side. I think the WD Cert is good enough to get me work in that field. Plus experience! Joe needs some WD done for his business and it will give me good practice to do that for him when I become more familiar. So, to make this story shorter-I enrolled in a Physics, Philosophy, PE (I know-crazy!) and Web Design I class. All online-by the way! I would really like to get in and test for the Math because if I am able to test high enough-the Algebra would be the final class that I need to finish this Art degree up!
Ok-so below are some pictures of Gale's new purse! I hope she loves it....
And I made the Kindle pocket as well as a pocket that will fit her iPhone. Plus a pocket for things that girls just need to have with them. :)
On another note, I officially registered for my classes for the Spring semester. I really wanted to make sure that if I changed direction now, that I would be doing the right thing. So, I studied how many hours I needed in order to wrap up my Art degree and how many additional I would have to take if I focused on the Web Design degree instead. I found that there is a Web Design Certificate program which has many of the same classes as the actual Web Design degree program. And for my Art degree, I only needed 4 classes! Wow---I was so close-I couldn't believe it. I thought the smartest thing for me to do was to get those 4 classes behind me, and finish up the Art degree then to take the Web Design certificate classes along side. I think the WD Cert is good enough to get me work in that field. Plus experience! Joe needs some WD done for his business and it will give me good practice to do that for him when I become more familiar. So, to make this story shorter-I enrolled in a Physics, Philosophy, PE (I know-crazy!) and Web Design I class. All online-by the way! I would really like to get in and test for the Math because if I am able to test high enough-the Algebra would be the final class that I need to finish this Art degree up!
Ok-so below are some pictures of Gale's new purse! I hope she loves it....
Thursday, January 6, 2011
The New Year is HERE!
We are 6 days in to 2011. So far, so good. We had a quiet and relaxing celebration with friends at the lake house in East Texas. So peaceful out there. It always gives me the chance to recharge and begin another week with a fresh start and attitude.
Big decisions lately....I have about 12 more hours to get the Art degree but realistically, as much as I love art and anything related to creativity-it really won't get me far in terms of a career. So, I did some research and think I will change gears and move forward with a degree in Web Design. A lot of the classes that I've already taken will carry over and I think I'll need about 24 more hours to complete. It seems crazy but it really made sense to me. Unfortunately, I won't be able to escape testing in to a math class but at least it doesn't have to be Algebra now! It can be just College Math. :) So, I've enrolled in Web Design, Digital Imaging and a database course (Access 2007). All online, of course. It's too hard for me to sit in a classroom for any length of time. Did I mention that I got my GPA up to 3.89 and made the Dean's list with a 4.0 for the Fall semester? Pretty proud of that! It's not so easy taking online classes. You have to be really committed to it. And I am! Anyway, so far this year has been good. I have no complaints!
I did try a new recipe on New Year's day-actually-a couple of new ones! But for breakfast Saturday morning I made strawberry stuffed french toast. It was soooo good! Joe is still eating the leftovers for breakfast. Really yummy. And of course on New Year's day-you have to have black-eyed peas and I found a recipe that was the best I've ever had. Even better than mom's! That's saying a LOT! I can't forget that I also made some Petite Vanilla Scones-similar to Starbucks. Again, another incredible recipe! If you want these recipes let me know and I will email the links. At some point I should probably take pictures of the things I make since that seems to be the standard blog trend. What can I say---I'm being lazy!
I have almost wrapped up the purse that I'm making for Gale-Bird. It's turning out so cute even though it has been a huge pain sewing through the multiple layers of velvet. I did add some custom touches though----I made an interior pocket that is perfect for an iPhone, a pen and makeup then on the other side I made a pocket that will hold her Kindle perfectly! Then, (she doesn't know this part yet) I applied some fusible webbing to some of cut out interior fabric with birds on it and ironed that on to the pockets. I will really try to post pictures when I'm finished. Should be done today! And I think with my issues of sewing through all of the layers of velvet, I am considering taking the ruffled strips to the seamstress and seeing if they can serge those edges for me. Depends on what they charge! But, it certainly would make my life easier. I think I need to invest in a serger soon. :) But, I also want a Silhouette! Tough decisions! Anyway, if I'm going to get anything accomplished today, I better get in gear!
Have a great day!!!
Big decisions lately....I have about 12 more hours to get the Art degree but realistically, as much as I love art and anything related to creativity-it really won't get me far in terms of a career. So, I did some research and think I will change gears and move forward with a degree in Web Design. A lot of the classes that I've already taken will carry over and I think I'll need about 24 more hours to complete. It seems crazy but it really made sense to me. Unfortunately, I won't be able to escape testing in to a math class but at least it doesn't have to be Algebra now! It can be just College Math. :) So, I've enrolled in Web Design, Digital Imaging and a database course (Access 2007). All online, of course. It's too hard for me to sit in a classroom for any length of time. Did I mention that I got my GPA up to 3.89 and made the Dean's list with a 4.0 for the Fall semester? Pretty proud of that! It's not so easy taking online classes. You have to be really committed to it. And I am! Anyway, so far this year has been good. I have no complaints!
I did try a new recipe on New Year's day-actually-a couple of new ones! But for breakfast Saturday morning I made strawberry stuffed french toast. It was soooo good! Joe is still eating the leftovers for breakfast. Really yummy. And of course on New Year's day-you have to have black-eyed peas and I found a recipe that was the best I've ever had. Even better than mom's! That's saying a LOT! I can't forget that I also made some Petite Vanilla Scones-similar to Starbucks. Again, another incredible recipe! If you want these recipes let me know and I will email the links. At some point I should probably take pictures of the things I make since that seems to be the standard blog trend. What can I say---I'm being lazy!
I have almost wrapped up the purse that I'm making for Gale-Bird. It's turning out so cute even though it has been a huge pain sewing through the multiple layers of velvet. I did add some custom touches though----I made an interior pocket that is perfect for an iPhone, a pen and makeup then on the other side I made a pocket that will hold her Kindle perfectly! Then, (she doesn't know this part yet) I applied some fusible webbing to some of cut out interior fabric with birds on it and ironed that on to the pockets. I will really try to post pictures when I'm finished. Should be done today! And I think with my issues of sewing through all of the layers of velvet, I am considering taking the ruffled strips to the seamstress and seeing if they can serge those edges for me. Depends on what they charge! But, it certainly would make my life easier. I think I need to invest in a serger soon. :) But, I also want a Silhouette! Tough decisions! Anyway, if I'm going to get anything accomplished today, I better get in gear!
Have a great day!!!
Monday, December 27, 2010
Things I love:
The obvious things I love are my husband and 3 grown kids. And of course my little yorkies, Sofie and Dakota. And my extended family and great friends that have come and even gone from my life...but other things I love are:
1. My KitchenAid! Love that piece of machinery! It was a wonderful wedding gift that I have no idea why I waited so long to get. It is vital to my cooking especially during the holidays when I'm doing so much baking.
2. My Canon G-11 digital camera! This is my 4th Canon. The color and quality is something that I am never disappointed in.
3. My Mac! Without my Mac, you wouldn't be reading this list! I was no always sold on the way of the Mac but now I am a believer. This computer is the most stable one I have ever had or worked with. I have had it for 4 years now and don't even have to knock on wood when I say that it has never, ever, ever, locked up on me and required a hard boot or reset. Apple has this thing figured out! And I see more "normal" people using them now so I believe they are becoming more user friendly or people are just getting more savvy....
4. My iPhone! Love it! Couldn't live without it! Wouldn't want to live without it! It is like air to me....
I'm a million percent certain that I'm forgetting something! I love a lot of things....but this is a start.
1. My KitchenAid! Love that piece of machinery! It was a wonderful wedding gift that I have no idea why I waited so long to get. It is vital to my cooking especially during the holidays when I'm doing so much baking.
2. My Canon G-11 digital camera! This is my 4th Canon. The color and quality is something that I am never disappointed in.
3. My Mac! Without my Mac, you wouldn't be reading this list! I was no always sold on the way of the Mac but now I am a believer. This computer is the most stable one I have ever had or worked with. I have had it for 4 years now and don't even have to knock on wood when I say that it has never, ever, ever, locked up on me and required a hard boot or reset. Apple has this thing figured out! And I see more "normal" people using them now so I believe they are becoming more user friendly or people are just getting more savvy....
4. My iPhone! Love it! Couldn't live without it! Wouldn't want to live without it! It is like air to me....
I'm a million percent certain that I'm forgetting something! I love a lot of things....but this is a start.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Christmas-Already?
I really can't believe it's less than a week before Christmas! But, I'll be happy when it's over! Last night, well, all day yesterday, I baked cut out cookies for Joe to take to some of his vendors and share with other work related people. Once the cookies were baked (186 of them!) and cooled, I started whipping up some icing and Joe, Gale and I decorated cookies! I don't think I really want to see any more of these this year. It was too many. But, I have to say, after all my years at trying cut out cookies and failing miserably, these are really the best I've had. The cookies are yummy and the icing is good, too. And they aren't nearly as difficult as I always thought. I think where I went wrong in the past was that I was rolling out the dough too thin. They always fell apart before I could even get them to a cookie sheet. These though are nice and think and really easy to transfer. I got the recipe and directions from this link:
http://www.bakeat350.blogspot.com Such a valuable source of information and wow! Gorgeous cookies! I dream of my cookies looking that good. For now, as long as they taste good, them I'm ok.
Well, happy Sunday! If you still have more shopping to do-have fun!
http://www.bakeat350.blogspot.com Such a valuable source of information and wow! Gorgeous cookies! I dream of my cookies looking that good. For now, as long as they taste good, them I'm ok.
Well, happy Sunday! If you still have more shopping to do-have fun!
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