this if 55

I love when you look in a certain magazine and it shows photos of various women, stating this 40, or this is 50.  Well as slow as January is- usually recovering from the holiday indulgence of spending, and gifting and cooking and eating, start thinking about birthdays.  Both my grandmother and mother-in-law who have both passed from this world, had birthdays during this month. They were 3 days apart and a few years. One of my best friends for the last 30 years or so, also has her birthday during this month which happened to be on my mother in laws birthday.  I could never think of one with out the other although as women they are as different as night and day. With the passing of my friends birthday, I immediately think about my husbands birthday- Mr G and his sister who is born the day before him.

this is 55!

I still send real cards when I can,(time being the issue most often). I love a real card.  Unlike and e-card it stays around, you can look at it over and over again, and even if you only catch it in a glance, You KNOW someone thought about you.  I like the memories that real cards evoke.  My lovely aunt, bought me the same card 3 years in a row. I laughed because she liked the card so much she bought it 3 times.  I'm a card maker. I make my own cards when I have time. If not, or can't think of a good saying I'm out to buy one. I also like to occasionally purchase those cards with the annoying music in them sometimes.  Not always but occasionally they right song hits the mark!

 Here is Mr G enjoying some of his home brew made during Christmas break.

 Mr G opted to stay home and make beer the day of his birthday.  Now I know people who go to places that you can make beer, or wine and it takes them a little over an hour.  At our house its a several hour operation, that starts a few days ahead and takes all of one day, plus half of the next day to clean up. Mr G spent his day brewing and measuring, etc.  We ran out for quick dinner and then had friends over for desert and a few rounds of Boggle.
Happy Birthday Mr. G.  We Love You!

I can hardly believe its the 13 of july!

July 13th is my youngest brothers birthday.  Its so difficult to imagine that he is 45 this year. In my mind I still see him as a teenager most of the time, despite that he has served his country in the army, and raised a beautiful daughter. Perhaps that is because we all lived at home at the time, and when you move out you feel like everything with your parents stops growing.  I don't know.   he's the handsome one on the right with blonde hair and blue shirt.  My other brother turned 47 on the 9th of July. This picture of the 3 of us was taken in November last year.

 Oh how time has flown since my last post.  I've been working on several new hats for my etsy shop.  I will be posting these later tomorrow probably.  Trying to find a decent day for photos.  Meanwhile my basket is getting fuller.  I'm hoping to make arrangements with a local photographer to get photos in trade of some stock.  I did send a few off to a another photographer, but I haven't had any pictures returned yet.  Makes me sad, as I hoped to see something soon. 

Fourth of July was lovely, the weather was perfect, and we had friends over as did my daughter.  We still are able to set personal fireworks off so that was mandatory with my daughter and friends.  It was fun.  We made some delicious white sangria, fortified with apple brandy.  It was lovely along with the other 3 bottles of white wine we all managed to consume. 

Miss em finally got a seasonal job for the summer.  She will have about 2 months of work and looks like they are giving her about 20 hours a week.  So things are good.  Now just finalizing the visa /money situation. ugh.  Why do foreign countries think you have and entire years of living expenses and tuition sitting around in your bank account  ahead of time?  Were working ti all out, but it does crimp a thing or too until the visa is processed.

From the www.ballofyarn.etsy.com

My project this week has been a hooded scarf that is fabulous.  Its called the Enchanted hooded scarf by Karen 'abegglen and can be found  at www.ballofyarn.etsy.com
I love the romantic look of this piece and the scarf is long and wide, and the yarn is so soft and cozy. My daughter will be taking this London with her for the damp and cold winter.  She already keeps petting it and just a few more rows and it will be time sew it together and get a photo or too. Mine is done in a color called "parfait" and looks good with ginger hair. 

Looking for Labels

Blog will be short this week.  Celebrated daughters birthday!  She's officially and adult, but will always be my little girl.
I've been busy working on the shop. As I'm preparing items to get ready for my etsy shop, I need to find a good label maker.  I have a temporary solution but if anyone knows of a label company that makes nice labels, reasonably priced, I would love to know of them. 
And as today is absolutely beautiful after having such a dredge of hard rainy days, its hard to be inside, but with the sun shining through my windows it does offer an extra bit of energy to work. 
Sunny wishes to you!
~Treva

New Digs!

Well life around here has been quite busy.  My daughter will be turning 18 in two days, which in some ways is very hard to believe!  Who ever thinks when you bring that little bundle home from the hospital, that 18 years will pass so fast, as if you turned around, blinked and turned back.  It all seems a blur at the moment.
We've been dealing with so many things trying to get college information in and applications filled out.  We had to buy her a new car, following a nasty car accident during foul weather a couple weeks ago.  That was no fun either.  When i have to make big purchases, especially unplanned ones i always have a sick feeling in my stomach as if things aren't in my favor, but i know this time we were treated fairly as a friends lovely husband helped us with his contacts to get the best deal. 
And now after much contemplation I've decided to open an etsy shop.  Hopefully by the end of the week i will have all the finer details worked out and announce my shops name here.  I've been making baby gifts for years, since I first learned to do embroidery and handsewing at the tender age of 10.  I've decided to take the skills i've learned over the years doing fine hand work, as well as costume work, and just knowing what a parent needs for their little bundle and create a baby line of goods. 
Starting with lovely blankets that are crisp cotton on one side and flannel or minkie on the other side.  This was my daughters favorite type of blankie when she was little.  We did not have minkie then but she had the flannel on one side. and they were great for all year long.  When it was cold, you put the flannel side by your skin, and when it was warm you put the crisp cotton by your skin.  they made great blankies for tummy time, sitting and snuggling especially as she got older. I've been making these for friends over the years transitioning to minkie instead of flannel.  Some of the children call them "Butta" blankets, because the minkie is soft like butter feel. Each one is one of a kind creation.  I will also have binkie bibs, burp cloths, and eventually a few clothing items.  I love to create these items, because i know they turn into treasures.
Well that's it for today.  Hope you have a great week, and keep and eye out for my announcement of shop opening.
Treva