Challenge

Paula, over at Coffee Time At Home, has announced a challenge entitled "Need This?". I have decided this is a good kick in the pants for me to tackle some cluttered areas in my home on a regular basis. Here is the link http://coffeetimeathome.blogspot.com/

I decided to start with two drawers in my kitchen that hold various gadgets. One drawer is mostly for baking gadgets. Here is a before picture.

And here is the after picture. I threw away a few things and put several things in a box. Now there is just what I need, measuring cups and spoons, rubber spatulas, candy thermometer, biscuit cutter, pastry blender and a few funnels.

The second drawer is by the stove. It holds all the odds and ends that every kitchen has. Here is the before picture.

And here is the after. I am amazed at what I found. I threw a bunch of stuff away. Some of it I didn't even know what it was for. LOL I probably haven't organized that drawer since we moved in 12 years ago.

It now holds my garlic press, pizza cutter, soup ladle, spaghetti utensil, potato masher, and can opener.

I can't believe how good it felt just to do that small organizing. I am hoping to get brave enough to tackle some of the bigger clutters in my house over the coming weeks and months. Breaking it up into small chunks makes the entire task less daunting. Thanks, Paula, for a great idea.

Christmas in July

Hi Everyone,



I was reading through different blogs and I came across http://bluebirdquilts-lyn.blogspot.com/2008/07/giveaway-christmas-in-july-giveaway.html

Thought this might be fun. Check it out. Hmmm, I don't know how to get the link to be smaller. Blogging is relatively new to me. Maybe someone could help me. Thanks.



It also got me thinking about the various projects that I have been working on for the Christmas Craft Fair that the ladies in my new church put on every November. This will be the first time I am involved and am very excited about it.

These are three scraves that I knitted over the last few weeks. They are done with that fun fur and a soft worsted weight yarn for warmth. Left to right the are purple, red/black, and blue.

These are crocheted pony tail holders. I plan on making a bunch more in other colors. They are made with crochet cotton thread. I pick up crochet cotton whenever I find it at yard sales. Sometimes I make Barbie doll clothes or doilies. I haven't done those recently.

These are butterflies made out of crochet cotton thread. I plan on putting a magnet on the back. They look really cute all over the refridgerator. Who wouldn't want a bevy of beautiful butterflies. By the time the fair comes around, I will have butterflies of many colors.

I also have many baby bibs that I have made out of flannel and about a dozen purses. I plan on finishing at least one of the many quilt tops I have made. Not sure what else I will make, but I am enjoying these little projects.

Any money the ladies make at the craft fair will go to helping with the church's winter fuel bill. With today's prices, that makes lots of sense to me!

Is anyone else working on Christmas projects yet? Let me know.

Darlene

Lighthouse cross-stitch

I decided to start a new cross-stitch project to work on while in my air conditioned bedroom. I have had this one for awhile, but hadn't started it yet. I plan on keeping track of the hours I put into it, just out of curiosity.

I will begin the stitching today. We are in for some hot and humid weather, so it is a perfect time to start. I love lighthouses. Can't you just hear the waves crashing into the rocks? I plan on posting monthly updates on how it is coming along.

I have a number of cross-stitch and embroidery UFOs, probably close to the number of quilting UFOs. I am going to try and stick to this one to the finish. Hopefully, that will motivate me to work on the others. Stitching is a great project to do while watching television. It is time I got back into doing that.

Have a great 4th of July!!

Darlene