Did you know Valentines day is 24 days away?

So how are you going to show the one you love just how much you love them? I signed up Women Living Well Blog "Be My Valentine Marriage Challenge". Every day I am to build-up, praise, encourage, love, praise my spouse. He's a pretty wonderful man and I am very fortunate, so I want to do this for him.

http://www.womenlivingwell-courtney.blogspot.com/

Who knew comic books would save me?

Originally uploaded by amysgreatadventure

I was slowly being buried by bits of fabric, with no where to hide. When Karen mentioned that Regena has said that she'd read on Totally Tutorials about using comic book backing boards for making mini fabric bolts. Karen posted hers after she'd gotten them all bundled and I loved how it looked. I ordered mine last week so I could have them this weekend for a major craft room overhaul. I love them!


See how tidy they look in the drawer? They are archival too so they won't harm the fabric.

I got mine on Amazon.

Have You Ever Done a Dream Board?

Well, I haven't but this is a new year with many new beginnings so I thought I would. My life objectives focus around 5 key things, God, Family, Home, Work, Hobbies and Interests.

Spring into Sewing!

Ok so most of you are either looking at snow out your windows or your teeth are chattering from the cold. So I thought I'd blog about something warm and sunny - Spring! Now that's it's dried up here in SoCo, I need to stick some bulbs in the ground in my garden. I did get my shallots all planted and some have started to sprout! I digress - back to spring sewing.

My idea was what would you be sewing to celebrate spring? I mean it's really just around the corner so if you are going to make something, you might want to get a plan right? For me, I want to make some simple beach cover ups (holiday coming in Mexico) and maybe a new gardening apron. I made these a few years ago out of my hubs old work jeans, but I gave them all away and didn't have enough left to make myself one.

I'd also like to sew a new table runner for the living room cabinet - something bright and cheerful.

Tell your ideas, maybe I can use your inspiration to actually sew in flip flops instead of woolly slippers.

Something New in 2011

Originally uploaded by amysgreatadventure

I have slowly been teaching myself how to knit via YouTube video tutorials. When I was in Seattle, Darling Susan (husband's cousin's wife) took me to Ana Cross Stitch in Anacortes. She planned it just right for their annual year end sale too. I got lots of great silk thread for stitching, some patterns and books. Then I strolled through their yarns...and fell in love with this 100% knobby wool yarn. I spoke with a very knowledgeable staff girl at the shop about it and how best to get started and she helped get the right size needles and gave me a great link to www.ravelry.com with tons of free patterns and help.

So far I have perled one row to give the end curl and and now knitting a basic knit stitch 18 stitches across until I make it long enough to be called a scarf.

In my efforts to try something else new, I made Braised Oxtails last night for dinner. For Christmas the hubs got me a beautiful Le Creuset Braising pan (in flame of course). I used it to make the oxtails and they came out wonderful if I do say so myself. Served them with rice and roasted beets.



What did you do new?

Christmas

Originally uploaded by amysgreatadventure

We had a wonderful time this year for Christmas. We spent it with my husband's extended family in Washington. They are the most fun and loving group of people. We were so blessed to be able to be a part of their celebration.

There were 13 people and 7 dogs in attendance and everyone had a festively good time.

2011 - A New Year

Originally uploaded by amysgreatadventure

I've never been a person for resolutions being put into place at the beginning of the year. I think resolutions are something a person does when ever they need to make them. For example, if you are low on funds in April, then you resolve to cut your spending and work on saving. If you waited until January to resolve to save, you could be so far in the hole, you'd take a year to get out of it.

So in honor of the anti-new year's resolution, I want to work on being happier, healthier, and homemade.