New in the Shop~

I found these gorgeous, vintage dresses in the thrift store today!

There both listed in the shop.

Out of the mouths of.....Lucas!

Yesterday I got an order from a lady in France. So I headed to the post office ~ as did everyone else in The Woodlands. The line was all the way to the front door and Lucas and I ended up waiting in line about 30 minutes. Behind me was an older man who was completely engrossed in Lucas, watching his every move. In front of me was the UnaBomber's twin.

"Mommy, why do you have 2 bumps?"

If you know me in person, you aren't surprised that I didn't know what he was talking about.

"Is that just the way that girls are made?"

Ahh-haa!

Now I'm laughing out loud.

"Mommy, is that just the way girls are made?"

"Yes, and let's talk about this at home"

I started writing all these special little conversations down in a journal that I keep for each one of the boys. One of my favorite "special" conversations happened when Zachary was little. He asked me why I had written all over my thighs and I had to explain to him what varicose veins were.

Have a great day, everyone!

My Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies~

2 sticks cold butter, cubed and unsalted

1/2 cup sugar

1 cup brown sugar

2 tsp. vanilla

2 eggs

3 1/4 cups all purpose flour

1/2 tsp salt (I like to use the McCormick sea salt grinder set on the finest setting)

3/4 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp baking soda

1 1/2 cups semi sweet chocolate chips

1 Ghirardelli bittersweet chocolate baking bar coarsely chopped

1/2 cup pecans chopped so fine that they are almost powdery (optional)

Preheat oven to 350. Cream butter and sugars until well blended and fluffy. Add vanilla and eggs one at a time and beat until incorporated. Mix flour, salt, powder and soda in another bowl. Mix the flour mixture slowly into the dough until just combined. Gently fold in chocolate chips, chopped bar and pecans. Bake by tablespoonfuls on parchment paper lined sheet. When just starting to barely brown, remove from oven. They will appear underbaked but just leave them on the baking sheet for about 1-2 minutes until just "set" enough that you can get a spatula under them and remove them to another plate to cool. Yield: 3 dozen.

Random Friday

So I have the house to myself right now since Boys Club in in session tonight. And I think they're bringing a milkshake home for me instead of flowers~ Yummy!

Today was so productive. I finished my Easter dress (photos coming soon) and was able to make a simple shirred top. I have been wanting to try shirring for a while now and I really enjoyed sewing with this method. There are tutorials all over the internet if you are wondering how to get started.

In the mail today, I got the sweetest greeting card set from Man vs. George .

I had won a contest they hosted a few days ago and my prize was a pack of 6 greeting cards.

I wish you could see them in person as my pictures don't do them justice. They are really cute and well made using 100% recycled (and nice quality) cardstock.

I really love that the backs of the cards are decorated in addition to the fronts!

Finally, I made chocolate chip cookies last night using my fav. recipe. I'll post it sometime very soon for ya! Have the BEST weekend!

Boys Club

I love Boys Club.

And I love my husband even more for creating Boys Club.

Boys Club consists of Josh, Zachary and Lucas and formally meets about once a week.

This means when they are at club meeting eating pizza, milkshakes, talking about God, how to treat Mom and other girls, and whatever "secret" things they talk about~ I am at home sewing, listening to absolutely nothing but silence, reading, or sometimes just staring into space listening to my own thoughts.

And every time the boys have returned home from Boy's Club, I am gifted with a new bouquet of fresh flowers.

LOVE Boys Club.

Thanks, Husband~

For teaching our boys how to love God and love their Mom.

This is not one of the fresh bouquets, I mentioned in case you were wondering.

This is a gift from my youngest gentleman who picks a fresh bouquet of weeds for me each time he goes out to play :)

New in the shop~

Would love to know what you think~

Happy Birthday!

Happy birthday to my 7 year old!

I'm so proud!!!!

At this time 7 years ago, I was not in a very good mood.

Until 11:02 pm when you FINALLY arrived!

You made my heart smile then and you still make my heart smile.

(However you did make my heart jump this morning

when you asked me if you could get your drivers license now and get a motorcycle!

Yikes!!!)

And the winner is.....

Lauren Marsh!!!!

Congrats!

Thanks so much, Mercy, for letting us get to know you and providing this great giveaway! We all LOVE your shop!!!!

My newest treasury~

Birthday Party~~~

Still time to enter the giveaway!

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Happy early birthday Zachary!!!!!

Thanks to you and you for helping me pull it off!!!!

Contest

Still time to enter the giveaway!

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I wanted share with you a contest going on at one of my favorite blogs.

The contest is called "Ruffle Your Stuff" and you can enter any item that has ruffles on it.

(Fabric, paper, photography, etc)

There are tons of great prizes and

you crafty types will really be inspired by reading the blog.

Here is one of my entries into the contest:

It's made from what was once a little shirt.

I made this from the same shirt:

They're both available in my shop.

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On another note, Lucas has informed me that he wants to be a "Lobster eater" when he grows up.

Earlier this week he wanted to be a comic book hero, so I guess we are digressing.

Fabric

I love it.

I'd like to have an entire room full of it.

I'd go sit and stare at it when I got stressed.

Or just rub my face in it.

Meet Mercy of Fabric Solutions:

Tell us a little about yourself:

My name is Mercy and I live in Tampa, Florida. I was born in Kenya and grew up in a culturally rich African background. I have a deep love for my family and friends and I treasure every time I spend with them. I am engaged to my wonderful fiancé Richard and planning to get married sometime later this year. I am also currently working towards my graduate degree in MBA with a concentration in Entrepreneurship at the Huizenga School of Business & Entrepreneurship. I work at home sewing, embroidering and creating beautiful things with fabric. My studio is one of my best places to be because it’s very relaxing and the only place I can express myself through art & crafts. When am not designing, sewing or studying, I love cooking, music, movies, traveling, the mountains, the ocean and playing tennis.

How long have you had your Etsy shop and why did you decide to sell fabric and sewing supplies?

My favorite material to use is fabric. I love seeing all the different colors, and patterns that amazing designers come up with every season. I started my Etsy Store in July 2009. Initially my goal was to get rid of my fabric stash that I had not used for a while. As I was sorting through my collection I was reminded of how much passion I have for beautiful fabric. After making a few sales and receiving good feedback from my buyers and realizing how excited they were after receiving their fabric, I decided to expand my store to offer beautiful designer fabrics to all of the amazing talent on Etsy. I love when my buyers send me pictures of their finished products using fabric that they bought from my store. This inspires me and is the reason why I want to continue doing this. I am constantly researching for more designer fabric every time and for ideas on how to improve and expand my store. My goal is to be able to offer a more wider range of sewing supplies available for my customers.

Fabric Solutions offers such gorgeous fabric and patterns as well:

Mercy has graciously offered one of you lucky readers

this fantastic Amy Butler pattern for free!!!!! :

To enter:

Visit Fabric Solutions and find your favorite fabric print.

Return here and post a comment letting me know which one.

Make sure I have a way to contact you in case you are the winner!

Extra entries:

*Tweet about this giveaway. Let me know you did.

* Blog about this giveaway. Comment with the link.

* Make a purchase from Fabric Solutions. Comment with the item description and the transaction #.

I'll draw a name on Monday the 8th. Good luck!!!

Did you?

And the winner is.....

Aestraea!!!!

Thanks to all who entered!

Thanks to Megan!

Come back Wednesday for another one~