Back to work

Surgery is not something that I would opt for very often and I have enjoyed a few days off, but it is time to go back to school. As expected, my substitute fell in love with 'my girls'...I've been teaching for 28 yrs. and can honestly say this is collectively one of the best groups I've ever had...all three classes! Really look forward to seeing them and the projects they have worked on in my absence.

Today I made another jon-jon for baby Jack and an 'airplane' outfit for Cooper. Maybe if the weather cooperates the boys can 'match' for Easter. My girls tell me they hated being dressed them alike, but they grew up alright! So will Jack & Cooper. It makes me happy for my babes to look cute.

Leslie also shared the 'lemonaid award' with me, thanks! Stay tuned, working on my list.

I'm honored...

The Gifting Gumshoe bestowed this lovely award to me! Thanks!
Per the rules: these blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbon of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award.

I'm relatively new to blogging and this is my first award so hope I'm doing this correctly. Below are my lucky picks!

1. All Things Southern & Preppy (Preppy 101)

2.. A Southern Accent

3. Confessions of a Preppy Bumpkin

4. Odom: Party of Five

5. Rach in the Real World

6. the smith family

7. Through Cooper's Eyes

8. Adventures of a Southern Newlywed

This is my heart

We gathered to celebrate our last March b'day and for once I remembered to snap a pic. Here are six of my reasons for living (from left to right) Rachel Ann, Lauren - holding baby Jack, Hanna, Cooper and Dana. Looks like Beau got her head in this shot too. We enjoyed pizza, cake & ice cream, but mostly just being together!

PS...we do have men in our lives...Danny & Dean were here, Brian was at work.

Nip, but no tuck

So the gall badder won and was removed on Thursday. Surgery went well. Other than the terribly bloated abdomen (which they say is normal) and the wobblier-than-usual head, I'm recovering nicely. To my disappointment the surgeon forget to do the lipo, tummy tuck and face lift...oh, well! we'll, save that for another day.

Made this precious jon-jon for baby Jack yesterday while I was 'resting'. The picture is not great, one day I will master the camera! These cute airplanes are one of my new embroidery designs and fonts, hope you'll visit BasementBags to see them all.

March is a big b'day month in our family. We're having our last of what seems like weekly parties today. Rach will be 25 tomorrow...that makes me feel old as dirt! Enjoy your Sunday.

Almost Monday, again?!?!?

Where did the weekend go? and I had an extra day...sort of. Spent most of Friday with the doctor, as my digestive system has been acting quite ugly! She asked a zillion questions, poked around, then ordered a bazillion blood test and an ultrasound...abdominal, not baby/pregnancy kind...Lord, help us if that were the issue! I remember those too-the excitement of finding out if it's a girl or boy (although 'back in the day' ultrasounds were still iffy on gender identification). This time the news will likely be gallbladder or ulcer or more of our yucky old friend, IBS. Hmmm, I think girl babies was much better news! Anyway...I'm just like "fix it already"! So tired of feeling blah and hopeful for some answers. Sorry this isn't my typical 'look at this cute stuff I made' post...didn't actually do much sewing this weekend-just needed to whine a little to someone other than poor D. To borrow the words of my heroine, "After all...tomorrow is another day' and I hope you have a fabulous Monday.

Crazy for Paisley

I l-o-v-e paisley and my #1(meaning oldest, not favorite) daughter does too. I'm thinking she'll be looking for a dress & hat to match this clutch for the upcoming Carolina Cup...isn't that how it works - accessories first?!?!?

Ahoy!

Maybe it's Spring Fever Frenzy or March Madness (for the basketball fans), but I can't get new products online fast enough. The new machine is amazing and it's exciting to make even more cute-fun stuff! I just added Onesies to the Basement Babies collection. The quality of this onesie is impressive: super soft 100% cotton, double stitched neck/arm/leg binding, three sturdy crotch snaps and lapped shoulders for easy on and off. Onesies are available in several sizes and colors and there are lots of design options. As I read blogs, seems like everyone is pregnant! Hope you'll remember this for a perfect gift for the baby in your life!

One for her, one for me

I adore the gift shopper with the 'one for her, one for me' philosophy. Everybody wins! It's getting hard to be in the basement so much with the gorgeous Carolina blue sky & sunshine peeking through the windows! Spring fever is setting in...hold on the weekend is coming!

Beau & Ru

Here are Beau & Ru with their 'doggie stuff' bags...cute canines, huh?

Exciting additions

So, Friday I hurried home from school, anxious to use the new embroidery machine! And a few short hours later, melt down! I had lots on the 'to do list' and the first attempt on the 'wonder machine' was a total disaster! I was too tired to figure it out and very frustrated to have this new toy and not know how to use all the features. Shot off a quick email to new online friend, K , and she responded right away with several great suggestions...thanks again! Anyway, I'm slowly but surely getting the hang of it. Completed all the orders and made some great samples to add to the website. Don't you love the slippers? Those are going in the Easter Baskets of some lucky girls! Thanks to my brilliant webmaster, hubby D, everything is posted and I'm ready for new orders to come rolling in! I added the totes, lunch bags (see above), and monogrammed onesies and diaper covers (bloomers)-hope you'll check 'em out. More Bib/Burp sets and caps will be coming soon.

Another doggie bag

We all know about sibling rivalry, but what about 'dog cousin rivalry'??? Or maybe it's really just a sister thing--either way, looks like this bag is getting dubbed as the 'doggie stuff tote'! That works for me, I just enjoy coming up with new designs. If you have a pet pal maybe you'll treat them to this cute accessory! It will be on the website soon.

For the love of dogs

All of our girls have 'inside' dogs and like children they have tons of doggie stuff to take along. We even have one 'career' dog that goes to work several days a week (her

'mom' has a pet friendly office-what a concept!?!?). Anyway, this should be a great tote for getting all of Beaus essentials from here to there. (BTW Beau is a girl, but the name works) Stitched this up on the 'new' machine - took less than 1/2 the time of the old one -think it's a keeper!

Church bag

Did someone say we are in a recession? Basement Bags has been a one woman 'economic stimulus plan' this past month-without government bail out money no less!
First the basement 'face lift' and then yesterday I went totally bonkers and finally bought a new embroidery machine. I'm an emotional wreck, such a huge decision. You see, although I love having nice equipment and supplies, I hate spending money! I am serious about my little business, but still consider it a 'profitable hobby'. I've been looking at this machine for almost 2 yrs....pricing it, researching it, watching YouTube video demonstrations, chatting with other small business operators...it's just intimidating to me...like buying the machine was saying 'you are doing this business stuff for real now'. I'm thrilled because with the new machines, my monogramming capability has increased tremendously. I can now do pre-made totes, lunch bags, hats...almost anything! Such ambivilance! Hurry summer vacation so I can really learn how to use this wonderful new machine! I stitched up this 'church bag'....just playing around-design could be larger, will take some practice to get everything just right. What do you think?

Not so bad

If you are a follower, you know my Saturday mornings & sleeping late are cherished. IF the alarm goes off, it's an accident, we (D) forgot to unset it and then I'm usually 'mad' (for a few minutes) - however today the alarm was intentionally set and I had to drag myself out for Saturday School. Just unnatural! And to make matters worse, it's a gorgeous, warm, Carolina Blue Sky kinda day. How funny, four inches of snow on Monday then five days later, 70 degrees. Anyway, school was not so bad and we have one make-up day behind us. Although I should be in the basement working, my new Threads magazine and the front porch hammock are screaming for me attention. Later.

Oh, joy!

Did I enjoy the day off? Maybe not so much since getting the call that we will make up the time on Saturday! But honestly...1/2 a day on Sat. vs. whole day of Spring break....gotta vote with our 'leader' on this one. And I really did enjoy doing the 'SuSu' (that's Grandmother at our house) thing today, so I'm not complaining. The four-day weekend sure spoiled me, could definitely get used to this schedule. I've always thought switching the allotment of days in the week and weekend would be a great idea....work two days, have five off...now that's a schedule!

Some of you might be wondering what happened to my WW updates, still on 'the plan', have just forgotten to share. I'm down 14.2 lbs!!! Feels good.

Sent out this purse & checkbook cover this morning (click pic to enlarge). Thank heavens for USPS click-n-ship and carrier pickup! My local guys do a fabulous job and are greatly appreciated.

Ya'll have a great evening now!

Questionable call

We have a wonderful Superintendent and he seems to make good decisions-but I have to question our 'no school' today. Yes, there is still snow on the ground- yes, the 'weatherman' said there would be 'black ice' everywhere- yes, the temperature is still below freezing, so the original two-hour delay made sense...but the early morning call informing me of no school???? Oh well, everything happens for a reason. I'm needed for 'Grandmother Duty' and am happy to be available. Too cold in the basement for sewing today!

Snow? without dancing?

It's true. It's snowing like crazy and I didn't even dance this time! Looks like we'll be getting a three-day weekend, it's all good. Guess we'll have a Saturday school or dip into Spring Break to make this up, but we'll just take it one day at a time.

I forgot to take pics of several orders before I packed they up...finish some really cute slippers and more zebra print checkbook covers. Above are some precious baby gift sets. Is that dinosaur adorable or what?

If you have wintry weather, be careful and have a hot chocolate on me!