sharing some wise words.

I know a lot of what he had to say has been quoted recently but this particular "conversation" just really hits home for me!

“When I was 17, I read a quote that went something like: 'If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you’ll most certainly be right.' It made an impression on me, and since then, for the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: 'If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?' And whenever the answer has been 'No' for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.

Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure — these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.”

- Steve Jobs

Little pouches

Well I've been busy with the sewing machine and must really get my tired butt to bed, but before I do, I thought I'd just make a quick post.

These are a few little pouches I made for The Cat Corner to sell at a street fair this weekend. We have three little kittens, Fang Fang, Felicity and Felicia who need eye surgery. Their eyelids didn't develop fully in the womb and so if they are to avoid serious eye issues they have to have them fixed. It's going to cost around $1500 so we're trying all we can to raise some funds for them. Let's hope that they get is quickly and that the surgery and recovery is speedy and successful. I hope they still look as cute as they do now!!

Still here!

Well as much to reassure myself as to actually inform anyone who happens across this blog ;o) I haven't stopped creating and have been trying to find little pockets of time to do so. I'm still looking forward to having some dedicated space and keep telling myself that it won't be long now. Of course other areas of the home have taken priority but hopefully the day of declaring war on the spare bedroom is not too far off.

So first up I decorate some more candles. This is definitely fun and this little batch actually went towards raffle prizes for The Cat Corner. I made more than I will share here - just don't want to bore the masses (joking of course) silly!

Then it was back to stitching. Since moving across the pond and having fabric shops more readily available, I've found my love of stitching re-emerging. I'm so glad that I was opted to take Needlecrafts as an exam subject (for which I got an A by the way!) because I know most of the basic and more advanced techniques and can read a pattern etc., not something most young women know today sadly. Just wondering why with my love of colour and needles I didn't think more seriously about getting in to fabric and design as a career. But then back in the day most of us were encouraged to go in to office work - heck I decided I'd be a Shorthand Typist before I even really understood what that was. Of course I was influenced by my teachers but also by the fact that I was one of the best at both shorthand and typing in my year. Us Leo's just hate to be average at anything we do lol. But I digress, as I often will.

There have been a few little precious lads born around me recently - and so I decided to have some fun with some babygro's or onesies as they're called this side of the pond. I think they turned out pretty cute!

Then I found a source for good natural unbleached linen which seems to have made a resurgence. I love the stuff and when it arrived I opened the box and took a great big addict like sniff. The smell took me right back to my days working at the linen factory in Sandy Row, Belfast, and walking around the factory to sort out issues and time cards for the factory workers. Ahhh the good ole days lol. Anyway, I'd been following Rashida Coleman-Hale's blog and loved the look of the Zakka (Japanese cutesy in everyday objects) style and her tutorial for a little coin purse. Given I had some colourful scraps I decided to make a couple. They are definitely cute, but next time I'll be more clued in to doing some fussy cutting to get the patterns in the right places (hence half of a cat head in the first attempts), and also use softer interfacing. Mine won't hold coins and I'm not sure that changing the interfacing will make much difference - but they will hold credit and store cards or a little needled kit.

So now will I give them away or will they go in to future shop inventory!???? Decisions, decisions. I can't wait to start experimenting more with this fabulous fabric, now wonder if I can find a good source for reasonably priced quality IRISH Linen!

a discovery!!

Although I moved to the USA more than a year ago, all my boxes haven't been unpacked as yet.

Well today I got to the bottom of a couple of boxes of my craft stuff and I found something I'd been missing for ages ........... my Ultimate Glue Pad, all my glitters and Stickles.

Ohhhhh yea!!!!!!! Blingyness will now be resumed.

I also kind of consolidated some of my papers and embellishments and I've decided it will be most likely be mini books and albums for gifts this year. Really really must make use of some of the great stuff I found that I had forgotten about.

Guess between sewing and paper crafting I'm going to be busy. And on that note I must get off the www as I'm off to the other side of the bridge tonight to do some stitching with like minded ladies!

Missin ya already :o)

retro fashion.

Well I haven't made it yet, but I just got this pattern because I fell in love with both the wide leg pants and the fitted but simple jacket. This style of trouser (do you like the way I shift between UK and American english - so multi-lingual I'm getting lol!) really suits me and an unfussy jacket is to much more flattering to ladies who have been blessed if you catch my drift.

I'm thinking I could do light weight and floaty for summer, heavier for winter. Now I haven't made any clothing for years so this may take some time. In the meantime there have been a lot of little lads born to family and friends recently and I have an idea for some onesies/babygro's. More to come!

WOYWW - Pretty Candles

Well I haven't been very good at posting for WOYWW, but I have been working on these for a couple of days and just finished them today. I've seen these done by others and decided it was about time I had a go. A friend made me a scrummy Butter Almond birthday cake and I wanted to give her a little something as a thank you.

The candles were inexpensive and smell of clean cotton. I kind of thought you can't go wrong with that fragrance - smell seems to be such an individual thing, for example I dislike body products that make me smell like fruit - but I digress!

Anyway the Koi one made it's way to my friend, the paisley candles I made just because. Not sure if I will burn them or give them to friends. They were fun to do and now I want to buy more just to play with stamps and colouring :o)))

Ohh and just a shot of our current littlist resident at the Cat Corner. This is little Millie, she is small enough to fit in a coffee mug at around 5 inches from her nose to her btm. She's the runt of a litter of 7 that we rescued, and although she is the runt, she is definitely a feisty little fighter - you just want to try giving her a pill ....... well you don't actually, my finger still has a little bruise from her pin sharp teeth. She is adorable though isn't she!!

time to blog ....

because I haven't been very good at it lately. Doesn't time fly!

I have been keeping myself busy as usual. I redecorated our guest bathroom. It hadn't been done since my dear hubster moved in and whilst we are thinking of remodeling it, it definitely needed a little TLC. Just some paint, a few pictures frames (all at knock down prices) and a window treatment to give us more light and privacy at the same time. Fresh and clean with just a hint of beachy!

It's really hot here at the moment and the flowers are blooming nicely. It feels like being a kid again because so many of the flowers, plants and bugs (both good and bad) are all new to me. I'm loving the butterflies and hummingbirds. Two of the hummingbirds are getting quite bold and will come and feed whilst I'm out sitting or grilling (food not me!) on the deck. Hopefully I might manage to catch a picture of the little male who has the most fabulous red throat. The pic below is the bolder of two little females who call regularly.

The boys are very well settled and we are learning more about their little quirks and likes and dislikes every day. This is a favourite pose of our boy Checkers - and looks like he winked, just for the camera lol.

As for my other creative endeavours, I have been making some more cards when I can fit it in. I am aching to get on and do more creative things but there are so many other much more pressing things right now. Hopefully in the next few weeks we will have created me some more creative space and I can get stuck in to all those projects that are on the infinite to do list!

A card for the "pocket" card swap

This one was for the "What a woman Wants" swap, and who doesn't want good times with girlfriends!

And lastly one for the "Gatefold" swap, I'm loving these vintage sewing stamps I picked up on Ebay.