A "Fresh" New Day

    Good afternoon!  So, what's made my day today you ask?  That would be the opening of the new Fresh Market grocery store in Peachtree City, GA this week!!!!  If you've never been to a Fresh Market it's similar in scope and model to a Trader Joe's or Kowalski's Market.  They all have goals to offer more quality than quantity items with such things as fresh locally grown produce, meat, and dairy, as well as specialty and different grocery brands.  I have been to the market 2 times this week and even braved the large crowds to do it.  Let's just say this southern region of the greater Atlanta area was seriously lacking one of these markets and those that finally decided to set up down here will be having a major payday!  Residents from all over the area have been flocking all week to check it out.  All I heard in there were sighs of relief at the beautiful selection.  Smiles were on every face and the helpful staff were welcomed by the same kinds of conversations, "Do you know how long we've waited for a store like this," and "I'm so glad I don't have to drive across Atlanta now to do this kind of shopping!"

   

      I couldn't help myself and I went a little over board and broke my grocery budget for the week by picking up fun and different little treats and things while wondering.  I know this won't be an every week occurance, so I went easy on my guilt factor.  On my 2nd visit for the week I brought along my daughter and husband.  He went through the same momentary nirvana as me when he walked in and then went straight to the meat counter to drool.  He came back like a child begging to bring home the weekly deal of rib racks for only $3.99 lb.  We decided to change our dinner plans for the evening and indulge on the deal.  I kept my daughter happy by letting her try a few of the nummy treats from the chocolate, nut, and treat barrels they have (yes, it's ok to do this, they actually encourage you to try the stuff).  Her favorite were the chocolate covered banana chips. We also came home with some treat mixes, lump charcoal, fixings for caprese salad, mix & match six pack of beer, a half crate of strawberries for only $4.99, mango, pineapple, and my new favorite - blueberry yogurt covered pretzels!!!

Check out your local specialty market and make your day!!!!!

Burp Catchers!

I took on my 1st home made sewing project today.  I found a great burp cloth tutorial a while back here at Chickpea Sewing Studio.  The directions made it look extremely easy for a start project, so I picked up the items needed and set to work.  I have a few people I know who are currently expecting some bouncing babies, and burp cloths are a perfect gift in my mind.  I remember buying them for Emily before she was born since I didn't receive any as a gift, and I found the cuteness/functional factor lacking.  These directions use pre-made cloth diapers (I picked up a pack of six Gerber brand premium diapers) as the base and ask you to pick up the middle design fabric.  I found a few fat quarters that had some great designs and followed along. 

The longest part of this project was measuring the fabric, cutting, and then pinning it down properly.  I did it the night before, after Emily went to bed, so it would be ready the next day for her nap time ( I usually get about 2 hours a day to do what I want during this time...lol).  I took my time to get it as perfect as I could since the directions said to expect pulling and puckering of the fabric regardless.

  The next step was the quickest.  I think it took me more time to measure and pin than it took to actually sew all 3 cloths.  I won't pretend that I didn't have to stop on my first cloth a few inches in and rip it out (I used a different stitch than directed because I thought it looked like it would work better...it didn't...lesson learned: follow directions from the experts!).  I jumped back to the directed stitch then and was rolling along.  I also won't pretend that it was perfectly straight, but as I moved from the 1st to the 3rd cloth I got progressively better.

Not too shabby if I say so myself!  I think this project is a keeper! 

To those of you who are expecting...I hope you enjoy!!!!  I enjoyed making them!  :)

Pillow Play

I'm happy to announce that I have finished my 1st sewing project!  I really enjoyed the sewing class and the machine worked great (thanks Great Grandma Jean!).  My pillowcase turned out beautifully even though I did find my perfectionist personality challenged at several steps.  

Teresa and I were part of the 6 person crew that took this session of Adult Sewing Class at A Scarlet Thread.  She laughed to see she was the "oldest" one taking the class while the other girls there fought over who was the youngest.  Our teacher Laurie was well versed in teaching sewing and had the patience of a saint as we broke needles, jammed the machines, and found we came unprepared with things like thread and the correct bobbins.  In the end, it only took 6 hours from "meet and greet" our machine to a finished pillowcase.  At the end of the class I laughed at how all of us were so thrilled and shocked that we actually produced something that was both functional and cute! 

Here's a close-up of my case.  The pattern was really fun with this extra piece of fabric that adds a flap near the case and edge seam.

Here's Teresa's beautiful case and a close-up of her fun flap pattern and seam. 

Oh, I am so excited to start more projects now! I have a few lined up, so stay tuned for more sewing updates.  The dining room has already been turned into a sewing lounge!  :)

So Subversive!

Does anyone know how to cross stitch?  I don't know exactly how, but the Subversive Cross Stitch site makes me want to learn this very minute!  The patterns are hilarious and creative, but are also often dirty.  I have found myself seriously considering learning and stitching these few obscene ones to grace my own walls - Pattern 1, Pattern 2, Pattern 3, Pattern 4.  I have also considered a few others as great house warming or other type gifts, but am pretty sure they wouldn't be understood as well by the giftee.  Today the site made me giggle with its new additions of Charlie Sheen quotes as well as new expecting a baby patterns.  I really want this bookmark and may just pick it up to stitch for myself at some point.  It's definitely subversive, but I can see myself laughing at it as a secret joke every time I read.  Plus, I have a few years before my daughter will be able to read...haha.

One other quick note, today is my 1st sewing class!  I am excited like the 1st day of school and am all packed up and ready to head out and soak up the sewing knowledge.  Yea! :)

Two Important Things

Good afternoon!  I have two small but important things to pass on to you all....
1. I have been reading a wonderful new book and have been swept up in it like I always get when I LOVE the story.  It's called A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness.  This book is right up my alley when it comes to my literature selections.  Some of my favorite stories include Pride and Prejudice or anything really by Jane Austen, The Twilight Series by Stephenie Meyer, The Women of the Otherworld Series by Kelley Armstrong, Author P.C. Cast and several of her series of books, The Drake Chronicles by Alyxandra Harvey, and the Fallen Series by Lauren Kate.  This book is written in a very intelligent way and you can tell the author really thought through all the characters thoughts, feelings, and connections with their world and other characters.  Harkness is also an expert on wine and history, so the story is so believable to me because its so involved.  Like so many of my favorite authors, she offers extras and things at her website.  One of my favorite things is when the authors list out the music they listened to that inspired them while writing the story or characters, and she does this as well.  I would recommend this to many of my friends to read.  Can I wait for the next two books in the trilogy?  Probably not!!!

2. Just a helpful reminder that it's now March and March (besides being Women's History Month) is National Craft Month!  So, to you all out there who have been interested in crafts - Get Out and Craft It Up!!!  What a perfect month to learn to sew!  :)

Beautiful Weekend

This past weekend was gorgeous here in the south.  It was so nice outside I wanted really badly to garden or even just roll around in the grass to prove I was enjoying the outdoors.  LOL.  I didn't do that, but the family did make efforts to play outside and BBQ a few times.  We even visted the Stars Mill Park so Jesse could practice with a new photography image.  Your supposed to take a still photo of the same thing over a few times in different exposures.  Then you can combine them into one photo later during editing and it's supposed to create a very realistic pic.  He tried this with the mill, but hasn't finished editing it yet.  I have posted a few of our photos though below from the day!

While out we stopped by our favorite weekend spot- Barnes and Nobles, and I picked up a how-to book about sewing.  I thought a easy read book with lots of photos would be helpful once I start to sew.  This book by Alison Smith looked like just the thing with all sorts of explanations on tools, techniques, and supplies!

I also started a new embroidery project.  I'm excited about it because it's a gift for someone who is expecting.  I don't want to give away the whole gift idea, but I have a little sneak peek below!

Artsy Fartsy

So, I have been really into nesting lately.  Meaning that I just want to clean, organize, decorate, and perfect my surroundings.  This seems to happen to me most years at springtime and often accompanies a need to also plant and garden...very weird.   I have found a recent love for artist Emily Winfield Martin.  Her paintings have a certain melancholic whimsy feel to them that I really love.  I decided the other day, while on a nesting tangent, to purchase some of my favorite prints of hers for our bedroom.  They came in the mail this week and I was so excited I found frames for them right away.  They will be up on the wall by the end of the day if I have anything to say about it!  I totally recommend that you check out both her blogs and her Etsy shop!

 The girl sleeping under the quilt print is so sweet I love the colors.   It's titled Cold Toes Warm Heart.  The print with all the cute little storybook houses is titled The One Tree.  I found the white frames at Joanne Fabric on sale to complete my artsy fartsy look. 

I have also been on a craft blog addiction.  I have been surfing the web from one craft blog to another and bookmarking any and all that are remotely interesting or helpful.  I must have over 50 of them saved under 2 different toolbar headings...lol. This may be why I have started back on my blog here recently with a new look and posting often.  The one bummer though, is that I have no followers...so for all I know I am the only one who reads my ramblings...lol.  Oh well, I'll keep it up and hope someone will eventually like me and find me interesting!