I think there’s a blog prompt out there somewhere called wordless wednesday. This is gonna be my version of that. More pictures less words because I’m…emotionally drained, way behind on last weeks to-do list, still in my pj’s at 8:30 and meeting Nikki at Panera in an hour. So, quick recap of the past week in pics… 

I like how this has sortof a wooded whimsy look. And because I mentioned new clothes in the last post. This is my new favorite top, although you can’t see much of it here. You’ll have to trust me that it’s very cool. :)

My new bag. Still playing with a new design but this one I couldn’t part with. The original idea was to take it for one night to get some pics in real life rather than hanging on a hook and then sell it but all the little things I carry around with me have called it home. Oh, and it’s much cooler here now so I’ve hauled out my favorite shiny red shoes. They make me happy every time I wear them. :)

A night of sewing with Jill and then with Nikki and I’ve got 5 new bags posted in the shop. I’ve given up picking favorites. :)

An off-road derby on Saturday night that I got to see 4 of my nieces at. No pics though, rushed off to not miss Dan’s race and forgot to grab my camera. :( He did great though. We’ll have to wait for Kimmy to post again for the details.

And yesterday I received a little package in the mail from Katelyn with another super sweet card and my very own remote for my camera. Now I’ve got a tripod and a remote so no more excuses for not using my camera more often. Plus I can finally take better pictures of my purses. :) Oh, and there’s my new jacket from last weeks shopping trip. :)

Okay, off to finish getting ready for Panera and then work today and sewing with Jill again tonight. Tomorrow is a whole day of blog designing. First person to guess who’s banner this one is…

…wins a little RAK from me. (click image to view full size)

I’ve got 3 others that should all be coming together by tomorrow and I’m working on another FUN project for Tara that I can’t wait to share too. I got an email from her last night that actually said, and I quote…”I LOVE THIS MORE THAN OREOS!” That made my heart smile.

Kay, gotta run, back soon (hopefully) with more blogs to share, that recipe (sorry, just crazy busy) and a new revised to-do list template. I’ve discovered that certain areas need to include far more space. I also need to add a ‘long term goals’ area or something along those lines. Wow, this has turned out to be very wordy for a ‘wordless wednesday’ post. Sorry ’bout that. Now I’m gonna be late for Panera. Oy!

Have a great Wednesday!

First of all, Jill and I did spend the evening sewing Monday night and I’m finally posting some photos of our fun. We set out to create a completely new design and came up with what I do believe is our favorite purse yet. As soon as I decide which fabrics will match with the most things in my wardrobe I’ll be making one of these Lily Kate bags for myself. That is if I don’t snatch one of these currently listed in the shop as my own. :)

You can find these purses in my shop here. Jill’s been busy making Lily Kate bags ever since and if you’re quick you may find one in her shop. She keeps her store much better stocked than mine so you’ll wanna check back often.

So It’s been a rough day for a lot of reasons. For that matter it’s been a rough couple of months. In fact for the most part there hasn’t really been much about the year 2007 that I’ll probably hold any fond memories of. So lately I’ve been thinking that I might be overdue for a count-my-blessings post. Just a reminder of some of the little (and big things) in life that I do have to be thankful for. So here are a few things that came to mind as I’ve been thinking about this post over the past week…

• Fresh mowed grass (although that was Tuesday and the lines are beginning to disappear)
• Pixel’s growing bladder. She no longer has to be let out every 5 minutes (although now I’ll need to figure out another reason to make a dozen or more trips up and down the stairs each day because I think it was actually helping my figure)
• Hummingbirds that visit the flowers on my deck.
• Carnation Instant Breakfast (and a sister who keeps my cupboard stocked with cartons of it from Sam’s Club) :)
• Blueberry muffins at Panera with Nikki 
• Shoe-of-the-day pics from Jayne, love this girl SO much

• Video mail from the amazing and talented Katelyn, not to mention the sweetest card. She’s so good to me. :)

I really couldn’t ask for better friends. They’re so patient with me when I go days (sometimes even weeks) without checking in online or fall asleep on them while chatting (sorry Shari). I feel so blessed by the friends that I’ve met online. I know it doesn’t make sense to some but these girls mean so much to me.

Then there’s Jill who has been my friend since kindergarten. We talk almost every day lately and I love that. She’s been there for me in so many ways and I could never thank her enough for her friendship.

And my new sweet friend Nikki. I should’ve added my apartment in general to my gratitude list and one of my newest favorite things about living here is my neighbor Nikki. Having moved out on my own this past February and going through a lot of months where I felt completely alone most of the time, Nikki has been an absolute Godsend. Our dogs are the best of friends. I have to get video of them playing together because it’s the most hilarious thing. But Nikki is the greatest neighbor I could ask for. She’s always up for a trip to Panera for bagels in the morning on my day off. She calls to ask if ice cream sounds good at 9:00 at night and we make a trip to Coldstone. When she gets off work at 11 I’m the only wierdo who’s still awake that late so she comes over to chat and doesn’t care if I’m in my pj’s and looking a wreck. Gotta love that. :)

These are just a few of the beautiful people that I am so blessed to call friends. In a year where I have lost more than I could’ve ever imagined they have been there with love and support and a good laugh when I’ve needed them most. I truly don’t deserve their friendship but I’m so glad they stick by me anyway.

And I have to ask for your prayers for another friend who just lost his mom to cancer. She died peacefully in his arms last night. He has been there for me through the absolute lowest points in my life and has never left my side and my heart breaks for what he has been through the past few months. I wish there were something more I could do to be there for him. Please keep his family in your prayers.

I’m off to work this morning and then plan to spend a majority of my long weekend designing blogs.

Have a blessed holiday weekend.

Kay, I’m on a break at work so this will be quick (hopefully). First in regards to the last post I realized after posting that I talk about wanting to do more photography and possibly make a little extra money at it in the same post as a really not so great photo of Pixel. I mean she’s cute and all in it but it was taken at night inside which is horrible lighting and I’m usually rushing to get the shot with her cuz within a second she’d have been back in the bathroom pulling a roll of toilet paper through the apartment. SO, I just want to acknowledge how silly that probably seemed that I would post a not so great photo in the same post as a discussion about wanting to make money taking photos. *blush* Also in response to some of the comments and emails (which have been awesome btw and I’m still working on responses to a few of them)…zippers - would LOVE to be able to offer them as a closure but I’m a bit of a perfectionist and zippers are sortof picky things to get just right so at least at this point I can’t imagine anyone would want to pay for the extra hour it would take me to include a well sewn zipper in one of my bags. But I’ll work on that. Maybe a trip to Utah and a week in Kim’s sewing studio and I’d be a pro at some of that fussier stuff. Wouldn’t THAT be fun?! :) Laptop bags - I have wanted to do these for ages and have lots of requests for them but here’s the thing…laptops are heavy. At least mine is. They’re also typically quite expensive. Personally I’ve just not gotten comfortable with the idea that something I make is responsible for keeping something that valuable from crashing to the ground and breaking into a million pieces. I also envision a laptop bag to have a zipper and ya already know now how I feel about those. SO, there ya have it on my current thoughts on those two items. Removable accessories, totally diggin’ that idea. And the green, black & white combo is SO happenin’. I think green is my new fav color of the moment so I’ll probably make two. :)

I did finish one up last night with some fabric that I found at one of my favorite fabric stores that’s normally dangerous to even walk into for me. I love looking through their remnants and found just enough of this denim-y blue batik fabric to make a purse out of. I can’t add a fancy picture here from work but here’s a view of the inside and if you’re interested it’s posted in my etsy shop for sale here.

And Kimmy and I just realized how perfectly it matches my outfit today. It’s really kindof a shame to sell it for how perfectly it goes so I probably won’t be heartbroken if it sticks around. Extra money’s always nice too though. :)

I still have that little tutorial (or really more like a creative tip) to share but don’t have the image to include here at work.

I also found a new software for doing blog posts in that I just love. I can’t use it here at work and I’m already missing it after only using it on one post. You can find it here. Check it out. :)

Kay, back to work. Lots more to post about so maybe I’ll be back later tonight with more. :)