Thoughtless Thursday

I just love this great open space for a dining room and kitchen. Love the lighting too.

Farmer's Market Trip

My sweet Everette and I took a most interesting trip yesterday. I have been to the State Farmer's Market many times, but never like this.

We were greeted at the entrance by this great big cow. She is quite large as you can see, she takes up the entire trailer she stands in. Everette found this a little frightening and amusing at the same time. Even though she has grown up all of her 4 years of life around cattle, she is DEATHLY afraid of cows.

Our mission yesterday was to pick up apples (lots of apples) for my son's school. Little did I know that in the back of our farmer's market is a long building full of loading docks that houses a wholesale produce company. We followed the directions given to me by our Principal and found our way to door #4 and backed in. This is a little out of my area of expertise (not backing a truck, but going to such an establishment) but I made my way up to the little office right inside of bay #4. What I saw inside this building completely amazed me. I've never seen so much produce in my life. Not just veggies and fruit, but other things I couldn't imagine seeing. Hugh bags of dry peanuts were stacked half way to the ceiling. Pecans were plentiful too. I wish I had the time to really explore while I was there.

Okay, so this isn't my loading dock. I didn't get that many apples, but this is what it looks like outside. A little intimidating if you ask me.

The people were super nice and had my apples on the truck before I could pay and get back outside. They really made me feel very comfortable and like an "old pro" at wholesale produce shopping. I'd be glad to go back any day for another pick up. Everette made peace with the big cow and decided that she wouldn't mind going back too. :)

Thoughtless Thursday

Is it spring yet?

I can't stop thinking about warm weather and flip flops. I would love to be relaxing on this great porch right now. :)

I forgive you.

I usually get really annoyed when my favorite blogs aren't updated daily. Well, at least updated on weekdays. It isn't personal. It just messes with my morning routine.

1. Get myself ready.
2. Get children ready.
3. Drop Sand at school.
4. Return home.
5. Feed dogs.
6. Start laundry.
7. Read blogs.
8. Start to work.

It must go just like this. I don't like changes in my routine. :)

But today, after not blogging for most of the week last week, I now realize that life can get in the way of blogging. (Imagine that.) I, myself, have not felt compelled to blog. Life did not get in the way. I have just been dealing with a lot of emotions this past week. I really had nothing to say that was worth your time. I'm hoping to find some good solid answers to my emotional block and move away from it as quickly as possible and pick up my blogging pace.

I know that you can't hear it, but this post really does have a very light tone to it. I tend to speak and, I guess, write very straight forward. I say what I mean and mean what I say. There's usually not a lot of extra words added in to make it sound prettier or make it more interesting. But rest assured, I'm not nearly as miserable as the above paragraph may sound. :)

All this being said, I forgive all of my favorite bloggers (you know who you are) for not posting daily. I can relate. :)

Believe it

"Do not be surprised at the painful things you are now suffering. These things are testing your faith." 1 Peter 4:12-13 (ICB)

Sometimes life is hard. We could all use a reminder sometimes to just keep going.

Laundry Day

With all this laundry room dreaming, I decided to see what my fellow etsians have come up with to make laundry day a little more glamorous. Well, a little less workie (that's not a word, I know). They never cease to amaze me. I think I'd like to have a pink laundry room. After all, it is MY space. So pink was my theme as I window shopped. Click the image for a better view. Happy Laundry Day! Have a great weekend. :)

Thoughtless Thursday

Wouldn't it be nice to have this great big laundry room? I think I might even be able to get some work done here as well. Just me, my coffee, my laptop, and my sewing machine. My laundry room is tiny, so this could never happen in this house. Although, we could just convert one of the kid's rooms........

The wait is almost over

In January I went to a textile show in the big city of Birmingham. I went in anticipation of getting a hands-on look at some of the fabrics I've been dying to buy. You see, I can't just see a fabric that I use for my lines, I have to "touch-see" all of my fabrics. This makes it hard sometimes to order new things. But, I think it's worth the wait when we are talking fabric for our precious little ones. :)

So - I did some "touch-seeing" with a few new companies, but couldn't wait to get to my favorite company. As I am feeling my way around their booth, one of their reps. tells me of an upcoming arrival. I've been so anxious to see the "new arrival" since then. So imagine my happiness when I visited the designer's blog yesterday and found this:




This is Tanya Whelan's new, upcoming collection called French Hatbox. Isn't it lovely? Everything she designs is lovely. I am using a few of her fabrics from her current collections now and Love, Love, Love, them. This one follows suit and has such a calming feeling to it. I can't wait to see the finished line. I'm sure I'll dream up something special that will need some of this wonderful fabric to make it just perfect.

Another Feature and Giveaway!

Okay, all this featuring stuff might be going to my head. Not really, but it is nice to know that people do like my work. (They like me, they really like me!)

This week I have been featured on a great blog for people who love to save money. Who doesn't like to save money? No one I know, so - this blog is for all of us. She is a fellow Alabama girl who finds all the deals for us and just puts them out there for us to see and take advantage of. Thanks Jamie for all of your hard work!

This week we'll be giving away a pair of bow buttons or ponytail holders to two lucky winners. Oh, did I mention that you will pick the fabric and the letter to be monogrammed? Totally custom! So, if this looks like something you'd like to have, just go here to comment and hopefully win. Good luck! :)

Relief

French wallpaper Peasant Dress from my Spring line

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV)

Late last week, I along with many others, got some wonderful news! We've been given a whole year to comply with the CPSIA rules for testing on our products. We are not required to have testing results on our finished products just yet. And, I, like many others, was all set to close up shop and go in another direction. With the small amount of children's things I produce, I could not afford to have my clothing tested. I never for one second believe that the fabrics I use contain lead, but I am one to follow the law. I must set a good example for my children. :)

You can't image (or maybe you can) how much relief I felt when I read that there was a stay of execution on this order. You see, I love what I do. I enjoy what I do. I need the income from what I do. This isn't some little hobby for me. I work from home everyday to help support our family. God provided me with this opportunity to be at home and I am making the very most of it. I am a faithful servant and I had accepted that this is the Lord's plan and he'd show me what to do next once CPSIA was enforced. And now he has. I will continue on making the things that I love. I believe that the CPSIA will be amended before our year is up and everything will work out for me and so many others. Keep us in your prayers. :)

The Bible verse above came to me today via email. It is from a devotion I receive every weekday morning. I thought it was perfect for me today. Just a great little reminder. If you would like to receive the Girlfriends In God devotion daily you can click here to sign up.

If you would like more information on CPSIA, please visit the Consumer Products Safety Commission here.