A Very Short Week

Today is Friday, September 18, 2009. It has rained most of the week here and doesn't look like it is going to be ending anytime soon. So another day in the house.

I received these wicked greeting cards from Cindy of The Shabby Hag yesterday. The cards are so cool and the packaging is just wonderful. The little gold pumpkin seal is a special touch! Thank you Cindy!

This week has just run by. I think it is the realization that hubby is leaving Sunday night and won't be back for at least thirty days. All of the years that we have been married we have never been apart more than three days. Figure I can throw myself into my work and the holidays. I am not prepared for this, never thought that I would have to be.....

Young son got the reality check Friday evening while dad and mom were talking. He is not a happy camper. "Dad is really leaving this weekend?", yes son, he is. Vanished to his room for a few hours and then became very clingy. Very out of character for him.

This will be harder on the oldest son and the youngest son. They are their fathers sons. Not that the other ones aren't close to him, they will miss him too, just not like the other two. Dad is the "fun" one. The one that they tell about the tree getting caught up in the vines while cutting it down or how long the rattle snake was or their "battle wounds". Mom doesn't want to hear this stuff, I worry about them enough without all of the details.

I did get to finish up a different style rag quilt tote last night, inspired by my daughter and three dream pillows that I will get listed maybe, sometime today on my site and my Etsy shop. If not today, for sure tomorrow. Will probably work all night Sunday, waiting on the phone call that says he made it there and all is well.

Today is a New Moon, don't forget to smudge and write those abundance checks!

Remember yesterday, dream about tomorrow, but live today. ~ Brightest Blessings ~

New Listings

Today is Thursday, July 2, 2009. It is a pretty day, sun is shinning and a gentle breeze. A perfect day. Watching the squirrels playing this morning. They are quick little critters.

I was thrilled a couple of nights ago when Sharon of SNL Designs sent me this background to use on my Twitter page. She is such an awesome person and just so talented. A real sweet heart to work with. If you need templates,banners, or avatars stop by and see Sharon!

I did get me listings done yesterday and started working on the Samhain Altar Cloths. I do believe that I will have them finished up today.

This is "The Now" rag quilt tote that I had finished and listed yesterday. I love the colors! The wooden button cover I had bought a while back, it was a pin. I couldn't believe how well it matched the colors on this tote. So I removed the pin back and replaced it with a button cover clip. It is available in my Bonanzle booth.

Trying to get everything finished up today so that I can enjoy a three day weekend with family. Hubby will be off the next three days and I can't seem to get anything done when he is home. So I need to get busy.

Have a happy, healthy, productive day! Brightest Blessings!

Brightest Blessings Expanding?

Today is Monday, June 8, 2009. Another cloudy day, the sun does peak through once in a while. This is the stag horn fern that we had taken apart to place on other trees and into a few baskets. We gave a couple away and the folks were thrilled with them. They don't require to much to maintain and are so pretty.

Working on expanding into another area for my business and am very excited about it. This area will be offered on my web site BrightestBlessings. I have been playing with the idea for a couple of weeks now and am ready to get to work on it. Will fill you in later with more details.

This is the fourth tote "Purple Daisy's" that I finished. It measures 12 1/2" x 9" with a 4" gusset. The straps are 2 1/4" with a 13 12" drop. Miss Bettye did a super job on the matching ceramic button cover. It can and should be removed before machine washing and drying. It has one outside pocket and 3 pockets on the inside. It has purple daisy's and other purple flowers and vines.

Full View Front

Back Side


Inside Showing 4 Pockets

Have to get going to the post office to ship out orders and then get to work on my new project.
Colors for the week:
Monday Gray
Tuesday White
Wednesday Yellow
Thursday Green
Friday Pink
Saturday Black
Sunday Amber

Have a happy, healthy, productive day! Remember to take some me time and enjoy the outdoors. Brightest Blessings!

Go Green Jean Rag Quilt Tote

Today is Sunday, June 7, 2009. We have had storms on and off again for the past week. Well since last Tuesday. Trying to attend to plants that need attention with these storms has not been an easy task. Not to mention those mosquito's! Oh are they bad! This is a picture of the Staghorn Fern that was taken off of one needed to be split up, it was huge.

Went to the flea market yesterday only to be rained out. So off to get groceries we went. It has been a very quiet weekend, most welcomed. Was able to get some things finished up and get family things done.

Here is another one of the totes that I finished up. I really like this one! It is made from a pair of jeans. Go green! This is my "Go Green Jean Rag Quilt Tote" . This was the first time that I had broken a needle was while making this one. Scared me when it happened. LOL

Full View of Front
Close up of Front
Inside Showing the Four Pockets

Close up of Back Side
One Side
And the Other Side

This one I made a clay button and added the daisy to it to match the tote. It measures 10"x 7" with a 3 3/4" gusset. The straps are 2 1/2" wide with an 8 1/2" drop also made of the jeans. Just the right size.

Remember tonight is the Strong Sun Moon, recharge yourself! Brightest Blessings!

Another Rainy Day, That's OK

Today is Friday, June 5, 2009. Don't know what to think of this weather lately. Yesterday it was so so. Today started out beautiful, so I threw a load of laundry in the washer. Just as soon as the washer stopped, here come the rain and thunder. Those big drops with lots of noise. It hasn't seemed to bother the critters at all. I can't believe how fast everything is growing, the lawn will have to be mowed again this weekend. There is a saying that a well manicured lawn has no life, if that is the case, mine is just full of life. LOL

I am going to list my new totes today on my website BrightestBlessings and only do one a day in my Bonanzle Booth. Bonanzle search is by the newest, so, that means you have to delete listings and redo them to get a higher search. No sense in doing them all at one time.

Here is the tote that I said I would not have ever put these colors together, until this tote of course.

Front: Check out that Button Cover Miss Bettye made, it matches exactly! She has such a wonderful talent!

Back side of tote

The inside has 4 pockets. Check out the colors.
Full view

I so enjoy rag quilting. Ordered some fabric yesterday to make more altar clothes. Can't wait to get it. Have two quilts that I need to make one for my youngest and the other for a grandson. Hope that you have a happy, healthy productive day. BrightestBlessings!

A Designer Or Copy/Paste Cat?

Today is Thursday, June 4, 2009. It has been a rainy day here today. There have been storms on and off since Tuesday night. It has finally happened, my Miniature Japanese Magnolia tree has booth flowers and leaves both at the same time! Usually it has leaves and no flowers or flowers with no leaves. I am so proud of it!

I didn't get my totes listed yet, however I did get the pictures taken and measurements. That is over half the battle right there. I did get the attributes done in my Bonanzle booth listings today. If it isn't one thing it is another.

Had a friend visit me last night. Dang she was angry! When I found out why she was so angry, I was angry. Someone is now copying her work and selling it as their own. She is very good at what she does and works very hard at it. To have someone come along and copy it and I do mean copy it, and sell it as their own, well all I can say is EVERYTHING comes full circle! And to call yourself a designer? Copy and paste is not a designer, I think that is called plagiarism. When people decide to copy someone else, they should make sure that what they are copying isn't going to show up. By that I mean, we all have things that we add to make our work our own. It usually isn't something that is needed to make it work, it is just our way of knowing it is ours. Like the way an artist signs their art. I have things in each of my items that I know where they are located, no one else would, but I do. I also know that it is something that no one else is going to notice. My friend also has things in her work that isn't needed, however it makes it her work. So to YOU and YOU know who YOU are, you so owe her a heart felt apology. Then you need to make the folks that you sold to know that it isn't your work,your new design or your new layout, that it is stolen.

I will share with you the vintage napkin rag quilt tote that I made. "Something Old and Something New" I really like this one! It is a one of a kind, unless someone finds those vintage napkins to make another one. It is a smaller one and I really like that. When I had little kids I liked the larger totes or when we are going on a trip, but for everyday life I like the smaller ones.

"Something Old, Something New"
The outside is made of the two vintage napkins and the inside is made of new fabric.
Miss Bettye did a gorgeous job on matching the button to the fabric! She is just awesome!



This is the back.
The sides.
The inside has two pockets, large enough for your cell phone or keys or whatever.

I will share the other ones tomorrow with you. It is getting late here and still have a couple of things to finish up. BrightestBlessings!

Camo Tote Finished and Seeds Planted

Today is Sunday, March 29, 2009. It has rained a much needed rain here the last two days. My little dogwood tree is starting to get leaves and the big oak tree in the front yard, that two days ago had nothing but pollen, is now full of leaves. Got my sponges and gourds planted Friday, love to grow these. The earth is so fertile this time of year.

Finished up my daughters camo tote. I don't fully understand this trend of camo, however everyone seems to like it, even the females. There is even a pink camo design now.
Front

Close up of Front

Back side

Started cutting the fabric last night for my next project, and I am really looking forward to this one. I have no pattern to make this so it should be fun. Trying to find some fabric with children on it for a tote that I am donating for the St.Judes charity auction, have a little time to find just the right fabrics. That one has to be extra special, it is for some really extra special people.

Sales have been slow this month. However on the up side, a friend of mine told me she had "checked out" my Bonanzle booth and I really need to let her have some items in her store on consignment. So next week I will be taking items there.

If sales are slow, how in the world could I be so far behind on speical orders? I have seven projects that need to get finished up and new ones started. This flu has really kicked me, never had one to do me this bad.

Color for this week are:
Monday - White
Tuesday - Gray
Wednesday - Brown All Fool's Day
Thursday - Green
Friday - White
Saturday - Indigo
Sunday - Orange

Have a wonderful day, get outside, get into the dirt and have some fun!
BrightestBlessings!

Thanks again Bettye of Bonanzle Booth SomethingPretty!

Today is Tuesday, March 24, 2009 and a cloudy day it is. That's ok we really need the rain. My little Maple tree is looking very well, would love to have some of that fresh rain water. I finally went to the doctor yesterday, a five hour deal! Only went to make mom happy, she will be 75 in July. AuctionWally was on it too. Killed two birds with one stone. Now on 5 different meds, 2 twice a day, 2 once a day and one at three times a day. No we couldn't be all the same.

So I am supposed to have my voice back in four or five days. You would think that they would all love mom not having a voice. Grand baby #10 has been born, another boy. I haven't seen him yet. I know, I am bad, but by the time you have ten, well there is just no sense of urgency.
Kind of like baby #1 has a completed baby book, baby #2 is half filled out and #3 doesn't even have a baby book.

I have finished up my other tote, "Dancers". I really enjoy making these. This one is also for a friend. Truly hope she enjoys it. Bettye from Bonanzle Booth SomethingPretty also made the button cover for this one. She does such beautiful work and so sweet. If you don't see what you need, just contact her. She had drawings for me the same day and was within the week that I had them in my hand.

Here are a few pictures of the finished product.

Colors for this week are:
Monday - Silver
Tuesday - White
Wednesday - Topaz
Thursday - Crimson
Frinday - Purple
Saturday Blue
Sunday - Gold

If you have a few minutes, stop on over to my Bonanzle booth BrightestBlessings. Have an awesome day!