Wreck This Girl Secret Pen pal Scavenger Hunt 2014

This winter I participated in a cool swap run by Wreck This Girl

 I  received a package

all the way from Australia!  So exciting. It had lots of little wrapped presents in it

Package number One

Contained a crocheted potholder by Katyha and an oven mitt with the flower of Australia in it. 

Package number Two

An awesome kangaroo tote bag...how did Katyha know I was a bag lady??? And a wooden kangaroo puzzle. Tanner will love that puzzle. 

Package number Three

Contained some stationary items...cards, envelopes, papers and some awesome Lego erasers!  (Something else I will have to share with my grandson Tanner!). Katyha confessed that she loves stationary bits!

Package number Four

Well, what can I say???  Chocolate!!  I do not have to share this with Tanner...it is gone, and it was delicious!!!

Package number Five

As described by Katyha...more stationary bits!  Photo frames, paper clips and (a fave) washi tape!!

The extra package

An awesome journal that Katyha named 'Recipes I Love'. Isn't her handwriting wonderful?  She then hand wrote several of her favorite recipes in the beginning of the journal, in her handwriting. I will add to this and treasure it forever!!  Katyha can be found at http://blog.lovekatyha.com or on Instagram @lovekatyha

The package I gathered up was sent to Florida to Bethany of Poeticpaper Post. 

This was bittersweet, I put this package together as my father in law was in the hospital dying. I had purchased and gathered everything before he went in the hospital. It was wrapped, packaged, decorated and mailed while he was in the hospital. That said, things like that tend to make me forgetful. So, since I did not take good 'before' photos, I am struggling to remember the contents. I do remember I sent a travel size package of Qtips...cause they make excellent impromptu paint brushes!  Also a couple of Sharpies ;my favorite markers, especially the brush ones), a roll of washi tape and some postcards (to represent me!). The postcards are vintage reproductions of Houston long ago!  Awesome!  I enjoy Postcrossing  I have a large stash of postcards, and a collection of written and stamped postcards from around the world!

I totally enjoyed doodling (mail art!) on the package!!   So fun, I hope Bethany liked her package. 

Life Goes On...

So much has changed since my last post.  

Shortly after my last post, my good friend, Alice Anjo, became one of God's angels.  It was hard explaining that to Tanner.  He had known her his entire life.  I miss her everyday.  Her blog is still up...it is a wealth of information.  http://aliceanjo.blogspot.com/

My father in law is currently in ICU, we need a miracle. (Jan 29, 2014)

This post has been a draft for a while, I need to just post it. (Well, the first paragraph was the draft). 

Life goes on, right?

Dyeing Fabric Workshop

Today was the Kingwood Area Quilt Guild's Workshop day. We went over to the talented Michael Cunningham's dyeing studio and dyed the day away. We did many new to me techniques. I really liked the quick and easy Shibori technique. It may take a week until I see how that one turned out!  There was traditional tie dyeing with rubber bands, too. We did some Deconstructed Screen Printing. 

Here's Michael giving us a demo. 

Here is Don after doing his D. S. P. We had two different screens. 

Here he is working on his Soy Wax Resist masterpiece. He added more colors (pink?) and then used a diluted Marigold dye for the background. This will make a great center panel in a quilt one day. Can't wait to see it all rinsed out!

Here's my Soy Wax Resist piece in progress. I used some Alicia Burke styrofoam stamps, painted hot pink dye over those and then painted the background with Chinese Red. Awesome color!  Cannot wait to wash these out in 16-48 hours!!!

Here's the book we used for instruction. I ordered me one from Amazon while on my lunch break. Stay tuned for photos if the dyed fabrics!

30 Days of Lists, Day 30

Wow!  The last day. What seemed like a monumental task, has not been quiet so hard as imagined. I completed most of these posts while laying in bed, under the covers (to keep the light out of the huz's eyes) on my iPhone, using the Blogger app. Crazy, huh?

I will have to think of some things to blog about in the next few days. 

Today, the last listing prompt is:

Today, I want to remember 

1. All the cute ways Tanner mispronounces words. 

2  How happy he was when I came home from retreat, and the big hug I got. 

3.  How beautiful Janell was in all those wedding dresses last week. 

4.  What a nurturing person that Jilla can be. 

5. That Gabriel is making progress towards going to a university. 

Tanner calls Gabriel Babe-riel   I love it! It is so wonderful to be loved by a grandchild. Best feeling in the world. 

Isn't he a cutie?

Until next time!

30 Days of Lists, Day 29

Next Months Plans...

October, a good month in Texas, the weather usually cools down. 

Things usually done in October are:

1. Raking leaves

2. Abigail's birthday party. She will be 5!

3. Finishing up Tanner's Halloween costume. He's gonna be a ninja. 

4. Halloween Party at the Smallwoods!

5. Start thinking about Christmas. 

I'm sure some wedding planning things will come up. Christmas will be here before we know it!

30 Days of List, Day 28

We started the day out at Whittington Bridal in Kingwood at 10am. Janell, Jilla and I were once again joined by my friend Fonda. By noon, she had said yes to a dress. It is made by an Australian designer, and has a Soanish feel to it. Besides being a lace dress, it is nothing like she went into this thinking she would get. 

By 1pm we were at Tanner's soccer game. Normal, crazy Saturday.  Janell and David headed to the airport around 4pm. 

Today's list prompt is:

In My Fridge...

Kraft Miracle Whip

Chelsea's Deli Spirelli 

Boars Head Mustard

Kraft 2% string cheese

Organic fat free milk

Organic chocolate milk

Greek yogurt, key lime pie flavor

Blackberry and grape jelly

Egglands Best eggs

Beer

Cottage cheese

A cantaloupe 

Apples, oranges

Land O Lakes unsalted butter

Fresh mozzarella cheese

It's kind of bare in there, we need to make a grocery store run!!!  I am a brand loyal consumer, a marketers dream!

30 Days of Lists, playing catch up

Oh my, how did I get so far behind?  Oh, I know...I went on a quilt retreat last weekend, stayed up late and got up early those days, Monday, the huz had a colonoscopy, at 6am, more lost sleep!  By Wednesday, I was caught up on sleep, but Janell and David arrived about 11pm!  Thursday evening was wedding dress shopping, today was just crazy, anyway...I am behind, and it is time to catch up!

Recent Dreams, List #22

I do not dream a lot as I sleep.  When I do, I don't remember them.

Dreams as in things I'd love to do...

1. Travel a whole bunch more, I'd love to go back to Germany.  I'd love to go to Scandinavia, the UK, western Canada (in the summer), Oregon, Australia, New Zealand...

2. I'd like my other two kids to graduate from college and fine a wonderful spouse

3. I'd like Janell's wedding to be whatever she wants it to be, and go off without a hitch

4. I'd love my auto-immune issues to be figured out!



Things People Don't Know About Me Because They Don't Bother to Ask, List #23

1. How I really am

2. I have a Computer Technology degree

wow, this is really hard!  I am an open book.  I am shy at first, but once I know you, you know me.  I will think more on this one!


How to Have a Better Day, List 24

1. No alarm clock needed
2. Breakfast, pancakes, crispy bacon, scrambled eggs, cooked by someone else
3. Starbucks black iced tea, unsweet, extra ice
4. A lunch date, possibly Red Curry
5. Some quilting time
6. Well behaved kids, and no drama!


My Family's Quirks, List 25

1. We're a nudist colony, lol
2. Poop seems to always be the dinner conversation
3. We keep our drapes closed (hum...may be tied to #1)
4. We love our science fiction shows
5. We've quit wrapping Christmas gifts, we give them in reusable grocery bags

There are probably hundreds more, but I think we are normal...though YOU may not!  :)

Rules For Being My Friend, List 26

1.  Honesty, Always be honest with me.
2. To be a fabulous friend, you have to have my same moral compass, which includes my political sense
3. Have a sense of humor!
4. Text me instead of calling me for a quick thing!

You might need to be a quilter and/or a knitter too!  :)  Honesty truly is the best policy!  Please do not lie to me!  I'd love it if you can tell good jokes, but at least have a sense of humor great enough to laugh when you hear a good joke!!!

Favorite Classes/Courses/Workshops, List #27

1. Twirling, when I was a girl
2. Finite Math at Brazosport College
3. Logic at University of Houston
4. Any Bonnie Hunter quilting class
5. Any Charlotte Angotti quilting class

Whew!  I am caught up!  Yahoo!!!!  Party at my house!