Pursuing More Than Purls

Dead End - Turn Here

2009-07-26T11:32:00.003-04:00

I have decided to move. Catch me here, at my point of view :)

Photo courtesy of CasadeQueso's Flickr photostream

Should I switch?

2009-07-26T09:31:00.003-04:00

Should I switch all my stuff here over to my heather's point of view blog? Of course, I will completely change the design (of course). I'm not really that into knitting anymore (knitting=purls), although I am still very much into gathering pearls ... of wisdom that is.

I know it's a big pain for me (and the 2 of you that follow my blog), but I'm kind of over the pursuing purls thing. See? This is why I am so darn complicated. I'm never satisfied with the status quo. Why can't I be a nice, laid-back type B personality person??

So what do you think? Switch over to the blog that's more me? Or stay here, even though I don't like the name any more.

Photo courtesy of karola reigler photography's Flickr Photostream

You Capture - Black and White

2009-07-25T14:47:00.003-04:00

The theme for this week's You Capture is Black and White. I have several in my archives that I like, but we're really supposed to try and not use archives. The idea is to get out and shoot. So here's a picture I shot this morning:

I ♥ clotheslines. They take me back in time. Not that I don't love my servant girl, Kenmore. Trust me ... I adore her! But clothelines just make me smile :)

Want to join in the fun? Come see others' photos and link up yours here :)

Holga! Holga! Holga!

2009-07-22T13:29:00.004-04:00

That's what I feel like I should be chanting right now. I'm sick and laying in the bed with my hubby's laptop. I"m facebooked out. I've read all the blogs I follow. So I decided to do a little research on my newest little obsession ... the Holga camera.

What is a Holga? Well, it's a cheap, plastic camera that takes photos like this:

and this:

and I want one. So I asked for one for my birthday and I hope to get it. Oh, and some film. It's a film camera. Takes 120 film, medium format. I've found a few developers online that look promising. And so I have been reading all about the Holga today and getting majorly inspired. I can't wait to get my hands on one!

Photo #1 courtesy of waspmeat's photostream; Photo #2 & #3 courtesy of oh gosh's photostream

When Cars Were Cars

2009-07-22T13:02:00.002-04:00

And when companies really cared about design ...

Braselton Bash Year One Car Show July 2009
You can view the individual photos here if you'd like :)

I ♥ Faces - Feet

2009-07-20T08:06:00.004-04:00

I had a picture ready of little dancing feet because they make me smile. But I just kept coming back to this one. I'm not sure why. Maybe because it's summertime and this photo just says "summer" to me. Maybe because it's 3 little girls that I know and love showing off their matching nail polish. Whatever the reason it makes me smile. I hope it makes you smile too. I ♥ feet :)

This is my first week entering I ♥ faces, but it promises to be fun! Hop over to the I ♥ Faces blog if you want to join in the fun too :)

Josephine take 2

2009-07-18T11:12:00.003-04:00

Jo Jo (as she is now affectionately called) has some new duds. I made her a little dress quickly yesterday afternoon. Here she is ...

Here she's sporting her new outfit

She is so happy to have some cute clothes to wear

Sliding down the slide ... I love this one :)

Love that face!
She makes me smile!! Can't wait to take her out and about :)

Josephine

2009-07-17T16:43:00.004-04:00

Sometimes when I'm surfing around on the interweb I see photos that people have taken of figures in various locations. Sometimes it's a kewpie doll, other times it's a Flat Stanley. Always it looks like fun. So today I went thrifting with a dear friend and we both bought dolls. Mine is more Kewpie and cute and hers is, well, creepy. I'm so excited to see the photos she comes up with her doll, whom she named Alice. She's very creative and an excellent photographer, so there should be some good ones.

I think this will be a fun project. I plan on taking Josephine with me everywhere I go and taking her picture in various locales. I need a new project. Something silly to get my creative juices flowing and I think this is just the thing.

So meet Josephine:

She's a little shy since she doesn't have any clothes yet!

Ahhh ... a close-up of that cute little face!

And here she's helping me search online for something for her to wear. I hope we find something soon!

later gator!

What is that?

2009-07-16T14:09:00.007-04:00

This week's theme for Thematic Photographic is "ODD". We went to the park and my youngest saw a pay phone near the entrance to the trails. I really don't think at that point she had ever seen one before. She's seen cell phones and the occasional cordless, but nothing like this. So she stood, staring at the phone, looking a bit perplexed...

Join in the Thematic Photographic fun!

Horses

2009-07-15T13:50:00.003-04:00

I heart horses. Who doesn't, right? I stopped on the side of the road the other day and shot a couple of photos. The horses didn't seem to like my presence that day, so I only got a couple of good ones.

You Got Your Chocolate in My Peanut Butter!!!

2009-07-12T16:32:00.004-04:00

Remember those Reese's commercials? Was that the 70s or the 80s? I don't know, but I do know that God intended for chocolate and peanut butter to be eaten together :)

So it's my brother's birthday and since I love making cupcakes I am making some for him. His only request? Chocolate and peanut butter. His favorite combo. Yummmm. I settled on chocolate cupcakes, peanut butter frosting and mini Reese's to top them off.

Here are the recipes I used:

Patriotic Cocoa Cupcakes (obviously these aren't patriotic, but the chocolate cupcake recipe here in YUMMM)

Fluffy Peanut Butter Frosting

And by the way ... I am very proud of myself for only eating ONE of these!

Sleeping Buddy

2009-07-10T13:42:00.002-04:00

Flickr has a new way to explore. It's called Interestingness. I heart this photo that I found while exploring the last 7 days of interestingness today ...

photo courtesy of Jubala

Distant

2009-07-09T14:52:00.005-04:00

Thematic Photographic's theme for this week is distant. I just took this the other night and I like how the creek flows off into the distance :)

Join us for this week's Thematic Photographic!

2009-07-09T09:38:00.000-04:00

I should really write on here more .....

My New ~~ ETSY ~~ Shop

2009-07-07T14:14:00.000-04:00

Yay! It's up and running after a lot of work on the front end getting everything together and waiting for packaging materials to arrive in the mail!

I'm selling unique and custom stationery that I am designing and printing myself on my new wide format Epson Stylus 1400 printer!

One Crazy Chicken Designs ...... Check it out :)

These are a few of my favorite things .... part 1

2009-05-23T19:07:00.007-04:00

So I'm sitting here waiting for Brandon to come home from a car show and the girls are ~~killing each other~~ playing together (finally). I'm bored. Yes, there are a thousand things I could be cleaning right now, but I'm not. I'm here. So here are a few of my favorite things ...

cupcakes (of course)

photo: jbelluch

computers

photo: aLii

sewingphoto: tsuacctnt

thrift storesphoto: Thomas Hawk

little dancing feetphoto: me :)

rain

photo: steve took it

farmlandphoto: JamSki

cows (especially dairy cows)photo: *~Laura~*

fresh strawberries

photo: me :)

chickens

photo: heather

Brandon's home now ... off to Home Depot and Mellow Mushroom :)

So.The.Drama. ... and some randomness

2009-05-11T20:53:00.004-04:00

Do you watch Kim Possible? Well, the sitch here is there is major drama. So the drama. Oh. My. Goodness. Yes. I gotta over-punctuate to get my point across. Do you understand? *Sigh*

Random. I am feeling random these days, so this post will probably be just that. And maybe the next few. Heck, maybe all of them from here on out.

This weekend is recital weekend. And I am a backstage mom along with my dear friend, Sara. It's a long weekend, but it's all good. I plan on trying to take some good shots during dress rehearsal.

I'm trying to learn how to eat sustainable and locally. It's quite a paradigm shift, but I think I can do it. Heck. (There's the word again ... hmmm ... wonder why my 3-year-old says it so much???) If Caroline Ingalls could do it, then so can I. Hahaha. Who am I kidding. I'm not a fraction of the woman she was. As if. Oh my goodness. Did I just say "As if"?? I think it's time for bed.

I heart a messy sewing room.

Photo courtesy of Hot Rod Homepage's Flickr

Why Am I a Mommy?

2009-05-10T08:04:00.005-04:00

I am blessed.

You Mean The World ......

2009-05-07T08:08:00.002-04:00

Image courtesy of Mnlth's Flickr

Celebrating and Contemplating

2009-05-07T06:26:00.007-04:00

Tuesday was my oldest daughter's 9th birthday. Wow. Where has the time gone? I sit here in tears thinking about the presence of her short life in this world so far. How I wish I could go back and do it over. Seriously. I mean that with all my heart. I wish I could go back to the moment she was born and mother her all over again knowing what I know now. I have learned so very much in her short little life that has changed me for the better. I only wish I had learned it before she was ever born!

God bless her little, sweet heart. I have not done the best job that I could by her. I'm not trying to be all down on myself, it's just the truth. It is what it is.

I know that I can't go back and that it really does no one any good to wish that. So I try to press on. Philippians 3:14 says "I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back" (MSG), and I try to live by that. I do try. But trying is not doing and I fall short every day.

She's so much like me. There are times that I stand back and watch her and even her mannerisms are like mine. But even though she's like me, she's not ME. She's LYDIA. I really need to remember that.

You see ... I've always known she was just like me and that is the problem. I don't want her to be like me. I have issues. I know you're thinking, "Don't we all??" Yes, we do. And I know that even if she wasn't like me she'd still have her own issues. I just hate my issues so much and I don't want her to have them. So I have always been very hard on her. Very. It seems any time I see something in her that I hate about myself I just come down so hard on her. Boy, oh boy, I am the poster child for Matthew 7:3-4. It says:

And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye?

I love her so much, but I'm not sure that I show that to her. So many times I hear myself saying to her, "Actions speak louder than words," when talking to her about her interactions with her sister. Every time I utter those words I cringe a little bit because I don't believe my actions show her how I really feel about her, how precious she is, how much she is truly loved.

I want to just enjoy her and be a good mommy to her. I want to relish the fact that she's sweet and unique and funny and talented and lovable and quirky and a really good kid. I want to just enjoy the moments with her and not worry about what may or my not be in her future.

I know that I need to heed the following words of truth:

Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes. (Matthew 6:34, MSG)

If you've read this far - thanks! I covet your prayers about this.

Colorful

2009-05-05T09:04:00.003-04:00

I apologize ... I know haven't been posting here in quite a while. I've just been so busy! But I saw this today and wanted to share it ...

Doesn't it just look lovely?

Photo courtesy of bookgrl's Flickr

Saturday Linky Love - 04.11.09

2009-04-11T09:14:00.006-04:00

I gotta come up with a better title for these Saturday Linky Loves! But I don't feel like thinking about it right now, so on with the show ...

I've been working hard this week making things and hanging out with the gir ls. Oh, and I just finished my quilted table runner. All that's left is to hand sew the back of the binding and I'll be done! I'm sad that Spring Break is over and we'll start back to school next Monday, but alas there are only 5 1/2 more weeks of school until summer - YAY!

I just finished making the beaks with icing to put on these cute little critters that I am making for Easter, so I thought this was a good time to take a break and give you some linky love :)

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Let's Sew ... a RevoluzZzionary Easter Bunny from Revoluzzza. Aren't these just adorable? And so incredibly simple to make! And I'm thinking that you don't have to have them just for Easter - you can use them for spring decor as well!

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Spring Chicken Pattern from Sew, Mama, Sew - he's just cute and since I love chickens (and can't have any of my own, real ones, that is) then these will have to do :)

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DIY Screen Printing from WhiMSy love - I am itching to try this ... looks simple enough and imagine the possiblities!

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Sew Your Own Produce Bags from Craft Stylish - I did buy the mesh to make these this week, I just haven't, but I plan on it!

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Necklaces made from Fabric Scraps from Cakies - I think me girls would really like these and we have tons of fabric scraps lying around :)

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Those are the highlights of my finds for this week. Have a wonderful Easter!!

Top Photo Courtesy of Offbeat Photography

I Heart Spring, Glorious Spr achooooo!!!

2009-04-09T07:48:00.010-04:00

I apologize for posting much and then not so much. I've been working on some things and just haven't had the time.

I heart spring. By the way, can someone explain to me why the words spring, summer, fall and winter are not capitalized? I mean, aren't they the names of specific seasons? And don't we capitalize specific names?? Sorry ... let me continue ...

I heart spring. But alas, it doesn't heart me. Maybe I heart spring in my heart, but my body doesn't heart it. Yes, I realize I am using the word heart instead of love. My daughter uses it all the time and I kind of like it when we're not really talking about real love, just something that we like a lot.

So I heart spring. But the pollen. Oh. The. Pollen! I live in the south and it's just crazy yellow here. And for me yellow = allergy cRaZiNeSs! Virtually no medicines can touch my allergies. Although some good friends turned me on to Zyrtec D and it seems to be working pretty well. Normally I will try natural "medicines" before trying actual medicines, but I'm scared to take bee pollen when I am so allergic to it! That's probably really silly ....

I guess all this pollen a good sign ... it's the sign of LIFE. And that's why I heart spring. Time to start again. Time for renewal. Time for LIFE. And I love life. Or "I love my life!!!" as my daughters love to scream out the windows when we're out for a drive in hubby's car. Isn't that cute?

OK, I'm really trying to stay on topic. I wonder why my daughter has a hard time staying on task?

I've been working on a few projects these past 2 weeks and I thought I would share them with you:

First, I made those adorable fabric eggs I talked about on Saturday Linky Love a couple of weeks ago. I used a Moda Charm Pack that I had lying around and I just heart them. They're on my table along with the metal chicken that I bought from Hobby Lobby (by the way I got it for 50% off because someone forgot to take the sign down!).

Second, I have just about completed phase 2 of Spring Cleaning for Normal People - the kitchen. It has been cleaned and completely organized, pantry, fridge and cabinets. The only thing left is cleaning the floors and windows. I'm so thrilled about it. Decluttering really makes me relax - once it's done that is. There's just something about not having a lot of stuff that makes me feel like I have room to breathe! I have 3 huge boxes going to charity from my kitchen alone!

Third, yesterday was a day of just having fun with the girls. No cleaning. No projects. So we made spring hats (that's me in mine up there at the top - lovely, I know) and watched The Price is Right (I heart that show! and so do my daughters) ...

and we made Cupcake Cake Pops.

About the cake pops. YUM. YUM. YUM. They were quite labor intensive, but oh so worth the effort. Today I plan on buying yellow candy wafers to make the Easter chicks. I sent some home with my mom, who was over here helping me, and my Dad called late last night to tell me how yum they are. Shhhh ... don't tell anyone, but I just ate one for breakfast!

And last, I have been planning and thinking about my garden. I have transplanted my seedlings into larger pots and now I'm just waiting waiting waiting for April 15th (I'm in zone 7B - click here to find your zone!) to come and go so that I can plant them in the ground. They are doing great! I've never started seeds indoors before and I wasn't sure how they would turn out, but they are healthy and thriving and itching to get into the ground!

So that is my life for the past couple of weeks. I hope you are enjoying my Saturday Linky Love! I'm off to play with the girls!

Kitchen Spring Cleaning - Day 1

2009-04-06T15:21:00.004-04:00

Since it's Spring Break this week I thought I would tackle the next phase of Spring Cleaning for Normal People - the kitchen! Oh my! Thankfully, she breaks it down into manageable chunks that you can actually bite off and chew. So today began the daunting task of cleaning out my kitchen ... (*fade in Jaws theme*)...

I'm tired. I just finished a couple of the tasks ... cleaning all surfaces, decluttering counter tops and cleaning out the pantry. Again ... OH MY! My kitchen is in need of a serious overhaul. I'm done with those tasks for today and my next step is (*fade in Jaws theme again*) cleaning out the cabinets. I have to tell you that I am not looking forward to that. Not. At. All.

But it must be done. I'm off to rest up for tomorrow ...

Photo courtesy of blmurch's photostream

Linky Love April 4

2009-04-04T20:48:00.002-04:00

My linky loves for this week :)

I see so many things come across my screen and the pages of books that I want to make and do. Does anyone remember the Childcraft Encyclopedias? My favorite one was titled Make and Do. I have always loved working on projects, but lately it seems I have so many things that I want to do that I don't get any of them done. Does anyone know what I am talking about?

So I have decided that the best thing is for me to pick one project at a time to work on. I'm really bad about having my iron in 100 fires at a time. I think I'm changing my ways and going to focus on one project at a time. So here are the projects that I fell in love with this week:

Homemade Children's Books over at lovely design - aren't these cute? And super-easy too!

Bandana Skirt Tutorial at V and Co. - this is just too simple not to sew!

Simple Little Table Runner Tutorial at Moda Bake Shop - quick and easy using a Moda Charm pack (if you've not used Charm packs before, you must try them!)

Chickummyjig at Whipup - he is just so cute!

Cupcake Pops over at Bakerella - I bought the stuff to make these and hope to do it these week while we're on Spirng Break :)

OK ... it's late ... I've had a big day and I'm tired. Later!

Pursuing More Than Purls

Dead End - Turn Here

Should I switch?

You Capture - Black and White

Holga! Holga! Holga!

When Cars Were Cars

I ♥ Faces - Feet

Josephine take 2

Josephine

What is that?

Horses

You Got Your Chocolate in My Peanut Butter!!!

Sleeping Buddy

Distant

My New ~*~ ETSY ~*~ Shop

These are a few of my favorite things .... part 1

So.The.Drama. ... and some randomness

Why Am I a Mommy?

You Mean The World ......

Celebrating and Contemplating

Colorful

Saturday Linky Love - 04.11.09

I Heart Spring, Glorious Spr *achooooo!!!*

Kitchen Spring Cleaning - Day 1

Linky Love April 4

My New ~~ ETSY ~~ Shop

I Heart Spring, Glorious Spr achooooo!!!