tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74897575200829022852024-03-13T03:05:57.825-05:00Sew Fabulous Quilt ShopBelle and Buttercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02246236652261491841noreply@blogger.comBlogger322125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7489757520082902285.post-13873276533852434012014-12-04T17:40:00.002-06:002014-12-04T17:40:15.062-06:00Visit My New BlogPlease come visit me at my new blog and website, <a href="http://belleandbuttercup.com/">Belle and Buttercup</a>. It's all about my crafty adventures, my adorable pets and my simple, happy, beautiful, creative life.<br />
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Hugs,<br />
Jenny <br />
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<a href="http://belleandbuttercup.com/"><img alt="http://belleandbuttercup.com/" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhifD0BrKlsWdKtQqdJfB7_LEMZQAooLp04rO2bwwCFlWggDhX23PhvkDlnlO0yqvruNp82NEdLYR1Xqrayz5QsCrPYbwtFM8_7Q44irOnUDWmjZpBr_GbTUZBWATUNzltHW0kam235ieGL/s1600/-11.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Belle and Buttercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02246236652261491841noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7489757520082902285.post-3809371190865653082014-03-26T15:40:00.002-05:002014-03-26T15:40:58.653-05:00Baxter's 1st Birthday!!!<span style="font-size: large;">My sweet, snuggly, loving, curious, adventurous, adorable, joyful, precious baby boy Baxter is celebrating his 1st birthday today!!! It's been a day full of hugs and kisses and snuggles and love and fun and peanut butter pup-cakes and an oh so exciting trip to the pet store to pick out lots of new toys!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGFyLMtpeE6j2EDj8E_Ivbit2lXQWIn6l5Y3uYRnmnc48vKbaH6KEGabW5FKVhG5Cosy-K52V2AO3rnnbQm0GTjMW1s7VgeQHOi0YdklpRE7j2cGtrBdsu-Q5u3InzIOmZHwYVie_NW5Cf/s1600/-36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGFyLMtpeE6j2EDj8E_Ivbit2lXQWIn6l5Y3uYRnmnc48vKbaH6KEGabW5FKVhG5Cosy-K52V2AO3rnnbQm0GTjMW1s7VgeQHOi0YdklpRE7j2cGtrBdsu-Q5u3InzIOmZHwYVie_NW5Cf/s1600/-36.jpg" height="620" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">If you've been following along as Baxter has boldly navigated through his first year of life you already know that there was never a dull moment! Nope - not with a fearless puppy around! But let's not forget about all of Baxter's big accomplishments. He really has achieved a lot in a very short time!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">As you all know, he was on the cover of People Magazine's 100 Most Beautiful Special Edition...... </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXYeJOmM-998gxFvwRVKac8-k48Y5qbFIIphAHeduFkwemk1MoAN3FkxWj6HLz3RYBJ8z6sECox5BORmSSzugy-qiv5ITNwh-gSkvvRo6Bpm90p8iCv98c1ou5Q0ypXrh6xkKi0HEvJX0b/s1600/BaxterPeople2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXYeJOmM-998gxFvwRVKac8-k48Y5qbFIIphAHeduFkwemk1MoAN3FkxWj6HLz3RYBJ8z6sECox5BORmSSzugy-qiv5ITNwh-gSkvvRo6Bpm90p8iCv98c1ou5Q0ypXrh6xkKi0HEvJX0b/s1600/BaxterPeople2.jpg" height="640" width="494" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">And who could forget when he was named Time Magazine's Man Of The Year.....</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs6YKz62OB3TNPqk4mgoF033r1Bn3v4cMVXlpt_GzjfKpSVmJDyEsUfF9kokImmhjp7Ji2H-rDYXSX9gHdNj5W7SoJ5QC50m8wi-yUKt4PxdiL7PfczGHwmKzNuKEQ1ZfPCZH_hU5wq_LM/s1600/created.at.www.FotoTrix.com.jpeg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs6YKz62OB3TNPqk4mgoF033r1Bn3v4cMVXlpt_GzjfKpSVmJDyEsUfF9kokImmhjp7Ji2H-rDYXSX9gHdNj5W7SoJ5QC50m8wi-yUKt4PxdiL7PfczGHwmKzNuKEQ1ZfPCZH_hU5wq_LM/s1600/created.at.www.FotoTrix.com.jpeg.jpg" height="640" width="472" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">And oh my......BAXTER! Ummmm......there was also that time when he made it to the cover of Playgirl and was named This Year's Hottest Stud....</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih63ABAPkqijFSy6ceL3mlBNHVT1W3dwADpdG0ezUSrW1lviuF_kzlV_iGwnyUD8jAOQdDv33ZksBgcDa3BYS1u5XVMudkAsBn9duVps3U8OeJjKHJ2S-CpU_bjJnqq-77Inhk4W2pvrrs/s1600/BaxterPlaygirl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih63ABAPkqijFSy6ceL3mlBNHVT1W3dwADpdG0ezUSrW1lviuF_kzlV_iGwnyUD8jAOQdDv33ZksBgcDa3BYS1u5XVMudkAsBn9duVps3U8OeJjKHJ2S-CpU_bjJnqq-77Inhk4W2pvrrs/s1600/BaxterPlaygirl.jpg" height="640" width="512" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">But seriously.....there just aren't words to express how much I love this sweet little baby boy and explain how much joy he's brought to my life. Puppies have a magic that is just impossible to describe! I can only hope that I'm able to make him as happy as he makes me!!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Happy Birthday to my sweet Baxter Boo Boo! I love you so much and I hope your life is long and blissful and full of all the happiness and love in the world!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Hugs,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Jenny</span><br />
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<br />Belle and Buttercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02246236652261491841noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7489757520082902285.post-27084702513506356572014-03-25T20:16:00.001-05:002014-03-25T20:16:45.753-05:00Dazed And Confused<span style="font-size: large;">Wow......what just happened??? The last month been a total blur! I closed the shop and about two days later I came down with a most unpleasant case of the flu. Sore throat. Body aches. Fatigue. Congestion. And I spent the next two weeks either in bed or on the sofa.....but at least I had good company....</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVyqHugELHNRWU5inl4aeUMrIzB4x8ygfjzS4lWjpo7FPk-RoxKj4CPdiArLLw5NO3r1uF-AHxMFoElWyG2tY9ZCc66eweVCW-4x_34AoDRjBcVkKaawD9Wx7hzeYwZCepomJYfWBff0YD/s1600/-35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVyqHugELHNRWU5inl4aeUMrIzB4x8ygfjzS4lWjpo7FPk-RoxKj4CPdiArLLw5NO3r1uF-AHxMFoElWyG2tY9ZCc66eweVCW-4x_34AoDRjBcVkKaawD9Wx7hzeYwZCepomJYfWBff0YD/s1600/-35.jpg" height="630" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Baxter was a devoted companion and rarely left my side. Isn't it amazing how they just know when we really, really need them! His epic snuggling skills were very therapeutic....</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEN4cXbVNjWrSmPgdAFPA1WaqPBIZX__9EkGSH2QSnHC-8hkS55n8t2Mo6Fw92Kv62qqUnELGoe7Ua3C_nFFewZ-NgWe9z3KYmiLjPeSSN3LdFaSxV7O2OOECW9hLbuFq4peEBh4QDzVdK/s1600/-34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEN4cXbVNjWrSmPgdAFPA1WaqPBIZX__9EkGSH2QSnHC-8hkS55n8t2Mo6Fw92Kv62qqUnELGoe7Ua3C_nFFewZ-NgWe9z3KYmiLjPeSSN3LdFaSxV7O2OOECW9hLbuFq4peEBh4QDzVdK/s1600/-34.jpg" height="624" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Emma was also a dedicated caregiver.....</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1xh45R3gv7D_uMF8QkV0la2Nf_iHH9ce7zj0bE2BwsRG1lIGkI4ueGiPhu5jovsstuwEfPfGq7ZHT4zUx4AlWuc6Wwclo2CaAwe9s_nGw_efbOMhJgwy2Z36hWCCX4yDtC-wSB8XAdtJ8/s1600/-33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1xh45R3gv7D_uMF8QkV0la2Nf_iHH9ce7zj0bE2BwsRG1lIGkI4ueGiPhu5jovsstuwEfPfGq7ZHT4zUx4AlWuc6Wwclo2CaAwe9s_nGw_efbOMhJgwy2Z36hWCCX4yDtC-wSB8XAdtJ8/s1600/-33.jpg" height="630" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">And fortunately, I started feeling well enough to help her celebrate her 8th birthday on March 13th!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhKD0Fz-5knUXH9JIMvaduLpxcW9wuWZuws9PcKdsdtA_e1Vt-M-dNTMVh1gHHo4SwxKMU8SUQU9WLD4EYPgWJEl6o4nnDETt-ymU2US4W34LVJ9T9QywRnPvAvzo104Tda6NHHNegJ50t/s1600/-32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhKD0Fz-5knUXH9JIMvaduLpxcW9wuWZuws9PcKdsdtA_e1Vt-M-dNTMVh1gHHo4SwxKMU8SUQU9WLD4EYPgWJEl6o4nnDETt-ymU2US4W34LVJ9T9QywRnPvAvzo104Tda6NHHNegJ50t/s1600/-32.jpg" height="640" width="618" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">There were lots of hugs and kisses and homemade pup-cakes and a "Mommy and Me" trip to the park where we wandered around a very quiet and serene duck pond.....</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3da4ESI767Qi9irOjjJd3EcqrZNboAEBWuzVi9coNWkSvx_JlhN-rMNDzxjUYV0LFX4snWVyko2VQVuvoT__y7xA2BZgvyxUSR7AZ-Pzm59FjVT2-dKzdEQcZnxArU9L6emDIeM52nxq_/s1600/-30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3da4ESI767Qi9irOjjJd3EcqrZNboAEBWuzVi9coNWkSvx_JlhN-rMNDzxjUYV0LFX4snWVyko2VQVuvoT__y7xA2BZgvyxUSR7AZ-Pzm59FjVT2-dKzdEQcZnxArU9L6emDIeM52nxq_/s1600/-30.jpg" height="622" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> And enjoyed the beauty of a spring day in central California.....</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirRuEvp2rOZt3lCSPONiRPQKfhHjKDkHIKSHY3CYMLRjc0p7B2_U4ClgI45YWAtg4z4aBWOosTyJtNBXAFnncHIhHplajLQwbJ5Zwe1127D9oD4_KIilLofJIpHuBc14VoPuASbes7HP3T/s1600/-28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirRuEvp2rOZt3lCSPONiRPQKfhHjKDkHIKSHY3CYMLRjc0p7B2_U4ClgI45YWAtg4z4aBWOosTyJtNBXAFnncHIhHplajLQwbJ5Zwe1127D9oD4_KIilLofJIpHuBc14VoPuASbes7HP3T/s1600/-28.jpg" height="614" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">And tomorrow we have another HUGE holiday we're celebrating! It's Baxter's first birthday!!! My sweet little Boo is growing up so fast!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I can't wait to help him celebrate! And I can't wait to get all caught up and show you all of the cool things I've been up to but was too sick to tell you about! And I can't wait for life to get back to normal......even though I have no idea what "normal" is right now because I'm heading down a new path! But I can't wait to find out!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Hugs,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Jenny</span><br />
<br />Belle and Buttercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02246236652261491841noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7489757520082902285.post-14521852790403416802014-02-18T19:16:00.000-06:002014-02-18T19:16:00.795-06:00JENuary Recap!<span style="font-size: large;">I did it! I ran and I ran and I ran.......and instead of just running 140 Miles In JENuary, I threw in a few extra miles and ran 150 miles! And why am I only getting around to mentioning this now......a few weeks after the fact.....when I'd been sooooo excited about my 40th birthday running challenge???</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Well......the day after JENuary ended....which some people refer to as the first day of February, I came down with a very unfun sore throat, sinus, cold thing for about a week...</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And then Baxter came down with an "I ate my bully stick and I stole and ate my sister's bully stick and I ate a whole bag of doggy treats all in one afternoon" thing....</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And then Emma came down with a "my whole mouth is falling apart" thing!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCKOfGFMy7SmN9aymaqA4g3FZgcICjEbWd-txDfBey1wZOTxF5sys-NZVb_AR1U-52HscdtYEU0om9D8AeKPjQu1aV7ZwE_z9gvhVpLlYNXgYB7io2ALk9F7HjiuUd-l77E1mJ08syHh7F/s1600/-59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCKOfGFMy7SmN9aymaqA4g3FZgcICjEbWd-txDfBey1wZOTxF5sys-NZVb_AR1U-52HscdtYEU0om9D8AeKPjQu1aV7ZwE_z9gvhVpLlYNXgYB7io2ALk9F7HjiuUd-l77E1mJ08syHh7F/s1600/-59.jpg" height="512" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Poor, sweet, Emma had been acting kind of lethargic and withdrawn and sad.....and I won't even mention how "aromatic" her breath was.....and then I found one bad, loose tooth way in the back of her mouth. We promptly scheduled oral surgery and they found not one.....not two....not three....but SIX BAD TEETH! I won't go into the ugly details but apparently it was a pretty big, infected mess inside her precious little mouth! My poor baby! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwkBDgv0epfqBZ2X8V3mJQ1GHHsr-4cuCKuQZicCahwq2G-6SnjlvRVRhyphenhyphen5LQd1XfYDUOGl-j0Q3Cp8mEdj8rzrOr3ba5vX6b-0_hnuROglNF7EMcOhl-sAWHKwz6TOaQAasiuyYH-LYS8/s1600/-58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwkBDgv0epfqBZ2X8V3mJQ1GHHsr-4cuCKuQZicCahwq2G-6SnjlvRVRhyphenhyphen5LQd1XfYDUOGl-j0Q3Cp8mEdj8rzrOr3ba5vX6b-0_hnuROglNF7EMcOhl-sAWHKwz6TOaQAasiuyYH-LYS8/s1600/-58.jpg" height="502" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">And at the end of this epically stressful day, Emma and I were spoiled with surprise flowers from Col Sew Fab!!! Red roses as an early Valentine's Day gift for me....and a sweet, peach bouquet of Get Well flowers for Emma. Awwwww!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieD5gT4DTAh6cfsJ6L34FZJ6XbSzkqJ-rwwxxx1fX64bLQnNLOoqx3tss7bMoccwa4fjv-6SGeyqLJ8-kKXRrvpi7fEDClyaAyh3rnEZLWlXmPBezYFrcLtB6tmWJ8TcjoV9KBBxUp9M5j/s1600/-29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieD5gT4DTAh6cfsJ6L34FZJ6XbSzkqJ-rwwxxx1fX64bLQnNLOoqx3tss7bMoccwa4fjv-6SGeyqLJ8-kKXRrvpi7fEDClyaAyh3rnEZLWlXmPBezYFrcLtB6tmWJ8TcjoV9KBBxUp9M5j/s1600/-29.jpg" height="626" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">And after only three days, Emma was back to her normal, sweet, loving, awesome self! This dog is my hero!!! I know I wouldn't be acting the slightest bit pleasant if I'd had major oral surgery three days ago! Go Emma, go!!!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Hugs,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Jenny</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">P.S. How did your JENuary running/fitness goals go???</span><br />
<br />Belle and Buttercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02246236652261491841noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7489757520082902285.post-91589521207064756962014-02-14T18:03:00.001-06:002014-02-14T18:10:33.257-06:00The Valentine's Day Tree!<span style="font-size: large;">Happy Valentine's Day! I'm spending today basking in the glow of the first of many year round holiday trees! I have wanted to do this forever so this white tree was one of the many JENuary, 40th birthday presents that I got for myself. Aren't I so sweet to shower myself with gifts like that???</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgww9eVGudY1XVCYU3Is_JpHqBJoDjPpf6mItKUaClHOtgq2ZFtGE0w7OqjDrBflIzEZgrc181nAgyHH3XehyphenhyphenlFHYgR8FBzeTYhxNnKDjzPimFL5lAfPCbeuL-nM8wsjyHfUMS5qGzedy7G/s1600/-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgww9eVGudY1XVCYU3Is_JpHqBJoDjPpf6mItKUaClHOtgq2ZFtGE0w7OqjDrBflIzEZgrc181nAgyHH3XehyphenhyphenlFHYgR8FBzeTYhxNnKDjzPimFL5lAfPCbeuL-nM8wsjyHfUMS5qGzedy7G/s1600/-6.jpg" height="526" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I had originally planned on making all of the ornaments by hand and my head was swirling with cute ideas! I was going to cross stitch or embroider or maybe hand paint all of the ornaments. It was going to be epic! And then I remembered that there are only 24 hours in a day and I only had one month to accomplish all of this. Reality can be sooo annoying at times.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Soooo....I decided a much safer plan was to raid my stash of Valentine's paper goodies which I'd been hoarding for a few years and make things a wee bit easier on myself.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisS_XiACD1H9uJhxwPy_Elppf5H3-34hJkhPmAsBDLJ16oest_M_vpFBnQynTlDt1imPIPPRdEcuhYVy7vnxs6JdWJ13HDnJM5XfQetTGCzg524X82rHB94YjM4Oo0OCLo1D8DRs3Rtp4J/s1600/-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisS_XiACD1H9uJhxwPy_Elppf5H3-34hJkhPmAsBDLJ16oest_M_vpFBnQynTlDt1imPIPPRdEcuhYVy7vnxs6JdWJ13HDnJM5XfQetTGCzg524X82rHB94YjM4Oo0OCLo1D8DRs3Rtp4J/s1600/-2.jpg" height="494" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">And even with the much quicker "paper plan" in place, the ornaments didn't get finished until last night! Nothing motivates a girl quite like the last minute!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcHewAhAhTQvNwbdacTvYKn8YRwxLrfuENybdXCtvi-d0N-SnmuZYAkOXV6w1cl-I1N6sJB7xtPKz_Ne9uCTRNefWjF9-qRsW4Y3NiEFpnPF3BgTNJWySZ0Ok4nN9m2DbstJyHXZnz8yE5/s1600/-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcHewAhAhTQvNwbdacTvYKn8YRwxLrfuENybdXCtvi-d0N-SnmuZYAkOXV6w1cl-I1N6sJB7xtPKz_Ne9uCTRNefWjF9-qRsW4Y3NiEFpnPF3BgTNJWySZ0Ok4nN9m2DbstJyHXZnz8yE5/s1600/-1.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">My cheery, sweet little tree is finally all dressed up and ready to celebrate! She's happily perched atop a table in the corner of my studio well out of reach of Baxter's curious jaws! This will definitely NOT be added to the list of "Things Baxter Has Chewed On."</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjm5lixM7xpYHDbMNo6OZd0AsNUSXCgi-inCsTRVid80zzH6rPfjYW94u1k3HqTeSLW_VkTPD5SDyxYaw_6sRJK9xCRhJy9B388tYrd8Bc8xVb6Qu59t0QmUTj6fblj32Axu6TSI5M16Ah/s1600/-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjm5lixM7xpYHDbMNo6OZd0AsNUSXCgi-inCsTRVid80zzH6rPfjYW94u1k3HqTeSLW_VkTPD5SDyxYaw_6sRJK9xCRhJy9B388tYrd8Bc8xVb6Qu59t0QmUTj6fblj32Axu6TSI5M16Ah/s1600/-3.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">And now I'm off to make pecan crusted fish with amaretto cream sauce, roasted veggies and a double chocolate silk cream pie. Which will be washed down with one of the bottles of champagne that we brought home as a souvenir from the Chandon winery on our trip to Napa last month. Yum!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hugs,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Jenny</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">P.S. If anyone has any advice or knows of any tutorials on how to take pictures of lit holiday trees using an iPhone, please let me know! </span>Belle and Buttercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02246236652261491841noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7489757520082902285.post-54990724076442559252014-01-23T17:56:00.002-06:002014-01-23T17:56:23.801-06:00Live The Life You've Imagined<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixX2AVhJ_6vljwQ5nDw9tOYJpdApZaJIs0eWQe7CK8l8kcia5Wvx5eLMRMrwldpkzFRDbJPt3QJ8VL_9S8k4g8fthy-XnYAKMTw3g1xhmqwBHaqgJHxrPBa3d_bw5L_nCJTr0GaU34fnTT/s1600/-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixX2AVhJ_6vljwQ5nDw9tOYJpdApZaJIs0eWQe7CK8l8kcia5Wvx5eLMRMrwldpkzFRDbJPt3QJ8VL_9S8k4g8fthy-XnYAKMTw3g1xhmqwBHaqgJHxrPBa3d_bw5L_nCJTr0GaU34fnTT/s1600/-4.jpg" height="550" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I have been keeping such a big secret and I just can't take it anymore.....I'm not good at keeping secrets......it's just so much easier to always tell the truth.....it means you have less stuff you have to remember. I would have been a terrible spy....if I had been captured, all they would have had to do is say "you really want to tell us everything.....come on.....you know you want to" and offer me a glass of wine and some cupcakes and I would have spilled my guts! Anyway.....where on earth was I.....oh yeah....my big news!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I am closing the quilt shop and following my dreams and starting an exciting new adventure! I can't tell you everything yet.....I'll wait until the new website for my new adventure is up and running so I can have that fun moment of "The Big Reveal"......so hey.....I guess I can keep some secrets, can't I? But I obviously had to tell you that the shop is closing because that means BIG Fabric Sales for you!!! Soooo.....as of right now<a href="http://www.sewfabulousquiltshop.com/"> everything in the shop</a> is 25% off the current prices and I have a feeling it's going to go fast! Please use the Discount Code word Adventure to get your discount when you place an order. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And if you want a little hint as to what I'll be doing next, here goes.....my passions have always been designing and creating things. And running a quilt shop just didn't leave enough time for those things. I'll miss my sweet, little shop but I know I'm making the right decision and I'm sooooo excited about it!!! And if you're wondering, the image above is my "Mood Board" for my new website. Looks pretty yummy, doesn't it?!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hugs,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Jenny</span>Belle and Buttercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02246236652261491841noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7489757520082902285.post-16323104879209867952014-01-22T18:13:00.002-06:002014-01-22T18:13:57.133-06:00Forty and Fabulous<span style="font-size: large;">My 40th Birthday Week has come and gone and it was full of everything I love - lots of sewing, good food, relaxing with Col Sew Fab and the fur babies, running, hot tub soaking and lots of champagne to celebrate. And so many sweet and thoughtful gifts too! Here are a few highlights.....</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Beautiful roses from my BFF of 25 years....</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicsHdus9Hcq_pOv3vj1MGh-RLELMrJgdBZ164TFYkd-UxsI4b4iAcuOPWR2oDPud6Jxfjzjxp4PMOB8ZHC_uGElWN9e68MxCXYiXdm6-jmjLNzxzxGfoiSv-YxMd4UoEZkTEkiWhnNy-eq/s1600/-27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Pastel 40th birthday roses" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicsHdus9Hcq_pOv3vj1MGh-RLELMrJgdBZ164TFYkd-UxsI4b4iAcuOPWR2oDPud6Jxfjzjxp4PMOB8ZHC_uGElWN9e68MxCXYiXdm6-jmjLNzxzxGfoiSv-YxMd4UoEZkTEkiWhnNy-eq/s1600/-27.jpg" height="640" title="Pastel roses" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">My favorite photo of Emma and Baxter blown up onto a giant canvas from Col Sew Fab's sister.....</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWxXQ7QnHDeNBltC2c9WAzHQz4uL3rXzDSaN89EDuSyG6UMis3PQg5wxG1FmuFaOHCKtpO6A1fzHsVY-nDmIu1O-0kyPWvLfrYA_1O2GH4-PI1DaJhkAphgTD3qwbGHmgxp-qKQsNPhUmG/s1600/-24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Blenheim Cavalier King Charles Spaniels" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWxXQ7QnHDeNBltC2c9WAzHQz4uL3rXzDSaN89EDuSyG6UMis3PQg5wxG1FmuFaOHCKtpO6A1fzHsVY-nDmIu1O-0kyPWvLfrYA_1O2GH4-PI1DaJhkAphgTD3qwbGHmgxp-qKQsNPhUmG/s1600/-24.jpg" height="480" title="Cavalier King Charles Spaniel" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">And a pile of wonderful goodies from Col Sew Fab. He knows me soooo well! What 40 year old DOESN'T want a mountain of Hot Pink Hello Kitty awesomeness for their birthday???!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdGQ6Hafvrz8-BbtqW0jH64xLub9aN032aUy49w3X69WZSa1ePPcdIyVHgbJ3wnx5r2faClObZHCExmOMzO0FNLq4G3ShaRor9MsPPE89gvZiYrlBHkqudGolWtEHv8iQLUiBpFZTw64Hq/s1600/-26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Hot pink Hello Kitty 40th birthday gifts" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdGQ6Hafvrz8-BbtqW0jH64xLub9aN032aUy49w3X69WZSa1ePPcdIyVHgbJ3wnx5r2faClObZHCExmOMzO0FNLq4G3ShaRor9MsPPE89gvZiYrlBHkqudGolWtEHv8iQLUiBpFZTw64Hq/s1600/-26.jpg" height="476" title="Hello Kitty gifts" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">And I gave myself the gift of time for crafty fun and spent soooo much time happily obsessing over fabrics and sewing blocks for the <a href="http://www.redpepperquilts.com/2013/08/economy-block-quilt-in-progress-tutorial.html">Economy Block Quilt</a>. I actually had to start setting alarms on my phone to remind myself to eat and let the dogs out to potty because I would get completely lost in these squares for hours and hours and hours.....</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX_wZ0UvX5EkFd_GMF42C9cfAY5q1g0o5XnjL7TP9EyZe8zCwGZrQaGiwOeDHZYKtLg6LpCeDw1WIa2TGYrVAj79EMB6H6QlVcE2lSGEWqd9Ru_ma8JfqRdv4oemWD528WX1kj1x2Rw7CL/s1600/-25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Economy block quilt fabric" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX_wZ0UvX5EkFd_GMF42C9cfAY5q1g0o5XnjL7TP9EyZe8zCwGZrQaGiwOeDHZYKtLg6LpCeDw1WIa2TGYrVAj79EMB6H6QlVcE2lSGEWqd9Ru_ma8JfqRdv4oemWD528WX1kj1x2Rw7CL/s1600/-25.jpg" height="480" title="Economy block along" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">And I'm well on my way to completing my goal of running 140 Miles in JENuary for my 40th on 1/14/14! 118 miles down.....22 miles to go!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hugs,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Jenny </span><br />
<br />Belle and Buttercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02246236652261491841noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7489757520082902285.post-56917086912519123492014-01-10T19:00:00.000-06:002014-01-10T19:03:19.900-06:00The Year Of Everything<span style="font-size: large;">Wow.....I have no idea where to begin and how on earth to summarize 2013. I fondly referred to 2012 as "The Year Of Nothing". Pretty much nothing significant or big happened in 2012.....and that's not a complaint......it was blissfully normal and routine......and then 2013 came along and was the complete opposite! It was "The Year Of Everything." It gave me the highest of highs and the lowest of lows and one epic challenge after another. My mind starts spinning when I think about everything that happened.....when the year started I had 3 cats, 2 dogs, I lived in Florida and I thought a 6 mile run was really long.....when the year ended I found myself living in California with 2 cats, 3 dogs and the belief that a 20 mile run is completely normal.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Soooooo.......here are the highlights......and lowlights of 2013..... </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">-I ran my first half marathon which was actually my own personal race called the "Run Bunny Run" on Easter Sunday.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">-Col Sew Fab got his dream job and we had to pack up, find a house and move to California in 6 weeks.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">-Sweet Daisy unexpectedly left for kitty heaven far too soon..... </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb752LVUvy3rWp2lypYO1l1njbWsIs8e3_K5tl6C3CdTg-Y0MFcVJOfbE76jvVaouwCVg-c9EfNsw1Xpx9smi5Mg0vYbon56QO6zw0LpjgzPqq_boS7_slUIJnILpYVxJNhLQuXwmN9mes/s1600/IMG_3752.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb752LVUvy3rWp2lypYO1l1njbWsIs8e3_K5tl6C3CdTg-Y0MFcVJOfbE76jvVaouwCVg-c9EfNsw1Xpx9smi5Mg0vYbon56QO6zw0LpjgzPqq_boS7_slUIJnILpYVxJNhLQuXwmN9mes/s1600/IMG_3752.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">-We found our dream house on the same day that Daisy left us......and there was a bouquet of Daisies on the coffee table of that house...... </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">-We took an epic cross country road trip from Florida to California in June with 2 cats and 2 dogs and moved into our new home.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">-Baxter joined our family 8 days after we arrived in California. He and Daisy were both born on March 26.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh9T21VRe1PjeTmMT-1GvUPp3h-CkYa-y0FBQxHVKyU2kAxueh5ap05MaCzI1qNJRFNiLpsHaFsB1bkc9LoP-bfrEwE2t3wzVgHmEXFoUhBCCGKkbDv0eCZri_JTYucXHH2JBGUIDdDlPp/s1600/IMG_4051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh9T21VRe1PjeTmMT-1GvUPp3h-CkYa-y0FBQxHVKyU2kAxueh5ap05MaCzI1qNJRFNiLpsHaFsB1bkc9LoP-bfrEwE2t3wzVgHmEXFoUhBCCGKkbDv0eCZri_JTYucXHH2JBGUIDdDlPp/s1600/IMG_4051.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">-Emma had a horrific health scare which thankfully turned out to be a mild health issue.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">-I became Aunt Jenny on August 7 to a sweet little baby girl named Aurora.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">-I went to an amazing, life changing and all around awesome retreat in September.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">-I ran a full marathon. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxEwf0KpxFOiHb04cBt9oLHujUsVw-ZvfQzpTUSXe8-dzvojFImEcMlHi7BiahOuwdhR5He5a8pww5_Ns834MieV6sn7KGvUb1Wrk0MGCgc2PaPBxtzoJ3SnmQT9LMVxDwebBbHCQxXA-S/s1600/-29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxEwf0KpxFOiHb04cBt9oLHujUsVw-ZvfQzpTUSXe8-dzvojFImEcMlHi7BiahOuwdhR5He5a8pww5_Ns834MieV6sn7KGvUb1Wrk0MGCgc2PaPBxtzoJ3SnmQT9LMVxDwebBbHCQxXA-S/s1600/-29.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">-I met my idol and favorite artist, Susan Branch!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">-And I didn't finish any projects.....not a single one!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And now I'm looking forward to seeing what 2014 has in store for me!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hugs,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Jenny</span></div>
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Belle and Buttercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02246236652261491841noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7489757520082902285.post-25780405296016796112013-12-31T18:25:00.000-06:002013-12-31T18:25:34.295-06:00JENuary!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLoI6z6sP6Q8OObnAR_EPwXmtgI2IQ_arlsSxyxmXyyhINYVAxZj46Nud718Luz_Thg37ZQ82MZD_sMItJnGYyk-va1iJFqqeOTZloUdrYzV35XVxLw92_r7dWiA0X6HreOJ0yK6SlAB6-/s1600/-6.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLoI6z6sP6Q8OObnAR_EPwXmtgI2IQ_arlsSxyxmXyyhINYVAxZj46Nud718Luz_Thg37ZQ82MZD_sMItJnGYyk-va1iJFqqeOTZloUdrYzV35XVxLw92_r7dWiA0X6HreOJ0yK6SlAB6-/s640/-6.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Can you feel the excitement in the air??? Not only is tomorrow the first day of JENuary........it's the biggest JENuary ever! I will be celebrating my 40th birthday next month!!! And no....the JENuary thing is not a typo. Long ago I decided to rename the month JENuary in my honor. As you've probably already guessed, I'm not one of those people who says that my birthday is no big deal. I plan on celebrating ALL MONTH LONG! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">As of right now, I have a 3 part celebration plan....</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Part One: I was inspired by the Mission Statement of Saucony (a running clothes company):</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: x-large;"><i><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">At Saucony, a good day is when we get to run.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: x-large;"><i><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">A great day is when we inspire someone else to run.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So here's the plan.......I'm going to run 140 miles in the month of January for my 40th on 1/14/14 aaaaand.....I want you to join me! I want it to be kind of like a quilt along......but we'll be running or walking instead! But don't panic.....you can drop the 1 and just run or walk 40 miles next month. Or 14 miles. Or 4 miles. I'm so, so, soooo excited that I already have a small group of awesome peeps on Facebook and Instagram that have said they're giving it a go! I really hope you'll join me for my Run or Walk Along. I'll be doing weekly updates about my progress....and I hope you'll be posting comments about your progress too!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Part Two: A week long Staycation. Yeah.....I know.....I just took one.....but it's my 40th birthday so this is no time to be practica<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">l or</span> responsible. Some people want a huge party for their birthday. Or a long, extravagant vacation. I just want to be at home with my pets and Col Sew Fab and hang out in my jammies while watching Netflix and working on all sorts of crafty projects! I'm sooooo cool!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Part Three: A weekend trip to Napa sometime next month. Because I love wine. And food. And wine. Did I already mention that I love wine???</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Well, Happy New Year.....but don't stay up too late....because we're going running tomorrow! Col Sew Fab and I have an exciting evening of sipping champagne, eating a nice dinner of tenderloin, bearnaise, creamed spinach and button mushrooms with warm, homemade chocolate chip cookies for dessert, watching t.v. and pretending that we're on the east coast so we can go to bed at 9:00! Like I said before.....I'm soooo cool!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hugs,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Jenny</span></div>
Belle and Buttercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02246236652261491841noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7489757520082902285.post-52870746592677039462013-12-30T20:12:00.000-06:002013-12-30T20:14:44.235-06:00Quiet Holidays<span style="font-size: large;">Is there anything better than a quiet holiday season at home full of your favorite things? It's my favorite way to celebrate!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Puppies in Christmas sweaters....</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxb3vI2GnDXW4YZ0WHx6lR57dPNFBlzPDYsSBicFqh3BqBbLNwfaM44qU_ubNhbovDMEPXL2T7_JjTqH8_wNvFTSFM6FDjmDiIqEyGOemTknWNehAcqCiSl-MXwxhqbI2V2POXKDmmK585/s1600/-38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Baxter the Cavalier puppy in a Christmas sweater" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxb3vI2GnDXW4YZ0WHx6lR57dPNFBlzPDYsSBicFqh3BqBbLNwfaM44qU_ubNhbovDMEPXL2T7_JjTqH8_wNvFTSFM6FDjmDiIqEyGOemTknWNehAcqCiSl-MXwxhqbI2V2POXKDmmK585/s640/-38.jpg" title="Blenheim Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy" width="640" /></a>Staycations with champagne minis and lots of sewing.....</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9tkNICsRdo_QjXAak7IWFUjthYB7b3FFHqd1mJNdMuC84YNijfjUnQvSoJDf02A04Xu_qMQuEVolPE4vLuVTMw9oW6dwtvn1DHdLLbg9LVl90CcjnHFYkuTwOHVOnrekO7JRV_lRAkvS9/s1600/-19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Hello Kitty champagne glass" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9tkNICsRdo_QjXAak7IWFUjthYB7b3FFHqd1mJNdMuC84YNijfjUnQvSoJDf02A04Xu_qMQuEVolPE4vLuVTMw9oW6dwtvn1DHdLLbg9LVl90CcjnHFYkuTwOHVOnrekO7JRV_lRAkvS9/s640/-19.jpg" title="My annual pre-Christmas staycation" width="640" /></a> The Twelve Days of Christmas in cross stitch....</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Ioh-wAR2FzT78tX1qOEDtcKwCuEcS0AwGNPGvkXmGreSKkFL1MwuxZVxSQzxBCZ0oAWq18n3Pi1p06q5M2fZ8kE-NAuHOcpLc8AANqYQqlji4dQxAakAKmMjHHkItLBj4rPfHy2eZcDO/s1600/-17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery cross stitch" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Ioh-wAR2FzT78tX1qOEDtcKwCuEcS0AwGNPGvkXmGreSKkFL1MwuxZVxSQzxBCZ0oAWq18n3Pi1p06q5M2fZ8kE-NAuHOcpLc8AANqYQqlji4dQxAakAKmMjHHkItLBj4rPfHy2eZcDO/s640/-17.jpg" title="12 Days of Christmas Counted Cross Stitch" width="640" /></a>Lots of yummy food to nibble on.....</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkU32KuZhlLaAZjqPyFRg6WTzlZqMWhoI54vifYZZwJOJnJtEPcU_I8mJguOLBCE63JdhDZoWEJ0d59nJ25FKFj49iyHqtuQ6srM36qJXZhuTvoI9OA_0-NyDm0WbQ9QQvwZt8JdBRa6Sc/s1600/-22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Holiday table" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkU32KuZhlLaAZjqPyFRg6WTzlZqMWhoI54vifYZZwJOJnJtEPcU_I8mJguOLBCE63JdhDZoWEJ0d59nJ25FKFj49iyHqtuQ6srM36qJXZhuTvoI9OA_0-NyDm0WbQ9QQvwZt8JdBRa6Sc/s640/-22.jpg" title="Christmas food" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And a quick Daycation to the winter wonderland of Yosemite.....</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIeLKW-FIkwbORyYI5qOb0xHdRJxdvXJ0gs5b5Ea8OPNAPukGMsXtWjz0cYEOAOqYY5a6Kh48fhah5tFjW73T_1eRXREvYSuXh0GGFEKNvxQlLAQS53FT4bHdK4RiGMhfrXpx88ii4hL9u/s1600/-21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Winter Wonderland" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIeLKW-FIkwbORyYI5qOb0xHdRJxdvXJ0gs5b5Ea8OPNAPukGMsXtWjz0cYEOAOqYY5a6Kh48fhah5tFjW73T_1eRXREvYSuXh0GGFEKNvxQlLAQS53FT4bHdK4RiGMhfrXpx88ii4hL9u/s640/-21.jpg" title="Yosemite National Park" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I hope your holiday season has been merry and bright, warm and fun and full of everything that makes your heart happy!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Hugs,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Jenny</span>Belle and Buttercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02246236652261491841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7489757520082902285.post-24571995840733888372013-12-11T19:36:00.001-06:002013-12-11T19:37:31.827-06:00Susan Branch<span style="font-size: large;">I can't believe I haven't told you all about this yet but I MET MY IDOL last month!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil0UqAWIKA-DKUExZQuTt__MdxPguLodnyo2uj-pdxQ8On6v4hC8ODl9Dod2nz8yoo_WiINnoBf01KEOp9tnQMJV_g5AUau38jvCZPKqcUo5rr38tsmfP_xIYkcrRjsSejiUCJeieQlTtS/s1600/-33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Susan Branch signing A Fine Romance" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil0UqAWIKA-DKUExZQuTt__MdxPguLodnyo2uj-pdxQ8On6v4hC8ODl9Dod2nz8yoo_WiINnoBf01KEOp9tnQMJV_g5AUau38jvCZPKqcUo5rr38tsmfP_xIYkcrRjsSejiUCJeieQlTtS/s640/-33.jpg" title="Susan Branch book signing" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The most amazing artist EVER, <a href="http://www.susanbranch.com/">Susan Branch</a>, was doing a book tour for her new book, "A Fine Romance" about her journey through the English countryside and one of her stops was at the sweetest little quilt shop about 3 hours south of me. So, I grabbed my amazing friend <a href="http://ladykscraftroom.wordpress.com/">Karen</a> and off we went on a mini adventure!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It was love at first sight when I first laid eyes on her artwork 13 years ago. Everything about it was just so sweet and perfect and warm and full of joy and inspiration. And ever since I discovered her, I have been on a mission to gather up EVERYTHING that has her name on it - books, scrapbooking supplies, fabric, greeting cards, calendars.....if she makes it, I buy it!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCf6SkAgl8-6ayg0dcwu5G16JwO15GXXH-a1gNt4IKpVCl5FyMMMtXROnd1gsBEND043FE0obOLoESx9Ucx5qTTXUexqpTFV6hgfXq0whyphenhyphenuxaMSjxnRbjsLz1zlp_SVyTG8PZpRxn92awW/s1600/-31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Strawberry Patches Quilt Shop in Bakersfield, California" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCf6SkAgl8-6ayg0dcwu5G16JwO15GXXH-a1gNt4IKpVCl5FyMMMtXROnd1gsBEND043FE0obOLoESx9Ucx5qTTXUexqpTFV6hgfXq0whyphenhyphenuxaMSjxnRbjsLz1zlp_SVyTG8PZpRxn92awW/s640/-31.jpg" title="Susan Branch book signing at Strawberry Patches Quilt Shop" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I was absolutely giddy with excitement when I got to meet her! Fortunately, I didn't say anything too embarrassing.....although I do think the first words out of my mouth were "I am SOOOO excited to meet you." Hey, you should never postpone joy, right?! Why act cool when you can't contain your excitement???!!! Just go with it!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And Susan was just as gracious and kind and sweet and lovely as her paintings are. It was a fabulous day and I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to meet someone so inspirational who I admire so much! I can only hope that one day I inspire someone as much as she has inspired me!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hugs,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Jenny</span>Belle and Buttercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02246236652261491841noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7489757520082902285.post-24183965547810242922013-12-05T18:06:00.001-06:002013-12-12T10:02:15.761-06:0012 Days Of Christmas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrxbXPSpvCTwmkfm8AIZp1CXLdKwsZltGDIj8jrAFieCHJTVeUNMZwMmNEfFSfJdX_o0UpWtyw9kPWWbWZr1xE5hJSgSvS0ltqVHGmsqPbcUwBOTLHj0rpY2xbqQ-86xievCnI6m-xOlSi/s1600/-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery" border="0" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrxbXPSpvCTwmkfm8AIZp1CXLdKwsZltGDIj8jrAFieCHJTVeUNMZwMmNEfFSfJdX_o0UpWtyw9kPWWbWZr1xE5hJSgSvS0ltqVHGmsqPbcUwBOTLHj0rpY2xbqQ-86xievCnI6m-xOlSi/s640/-11.jpg" title="12 Days Of Christmas Counted Cross Stitch sampler" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Just thought I'd pop in for a minute to show you my latest project! I got caught up in the cross stitch frenzy going on over on Instagram and last Friday I caved......even though I was determined to not start another new project.....even though my addiction to cross stitch had been on the back burner for a few years......but I just couldn't help myself and I started this adorable <a href="http://thefrostedpumpkinstitchery.bigcartel.com/product/12-days-of-christmas-pdf-cross-stitch-pattern">12 Days Of Christmas </a>counted cross stitch sampler by The Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery over Thanksgiving weekend.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">It's a mystery sampler which I've never done before because.....well.....I'm kind of a control freak and the thought of starting something when I didn't know what the whole pattern looked like never appealed to me. But when I saw how cute the first row is, I HAD to throw caution to the wind and just do it! The second row comes out tomorrow and I'm seriously giddy with excitement!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And now I've gotta run.....no, not to get back to cross stitching....we're having a party for Col Sew Fab's work department tomorrow and I'm nowhere near ready. I have lots of fun baking and decorating and appetizer making ahead of me and I've gotta get to it!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hugs,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Jenny</span><br />
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<br />Belle and Buttercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02246236652261491841noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7489757520082902285.post-78495696412744588282013-11-14T19:21:00.000-06:002013-11-14T19:58:11.470-06:0026.2 miles<span style="font-size: large;">Well......I DID IT!!! I finally did it. On Sunday, November 3, 2013 I ran my first marathon. Yup.....26.2 very, very, VERY long miles!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This is Col. Sew Fab and I before the marathon (he ran the half marathon).....</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghLHuAF5RRkPoLDfqAru2aWlh3FQOosTVsSORBje5fCZbD_sGQKEFglQW86V1o_Bz4o5n3arhHg3JR2YrqYjNZ9FCq3bF6R772TDdaH_iefhholxAapaHszza7rjmeIAwLDQDiKTMtjzph/s1600/-29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Marathon running" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghLHuAF5RRkPoLDfqAru2aWlh3FQOosTVsSORBje5fCZbD_sGQKEFglQW86V1o_Bz4o5n3arhHg3JR2YrqYjNZ9FCq3bF6R772TDdaH_iefhholxAapaHszza7rjmeIAwLDQDiKTMtjzph/s640/-29.jpg" title="Fresno Marathon" width="480" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">And this is me crossing the finish line.....</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisdVhgwr7A-1RUi84omQBLTHS2vkaB2FbsZOXmzf5OBxJVv6ctPVQLAGVYZ_Ovv0Yv8EM3irrgrLOBQ4aFLE4EtUw7iFkxZNvAYPseaL2tX35eka_pgIY-wGKYMbivxqbxdYpJHXUXJm5A/s1600/49862045-MTH-2536.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="marathon running" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisdVhgwr7A-1RUi84omQBLTHS2vkaB2FbsZOXmzf5OBxJVv6ctPVQLAGVYZ_Ovv0Yv8EM3irrgrLOBQ4aFLE4EtUw7iFkxZNvAYPseaL2tX35eka_pgIY-wGKYMbivxqbxdYpJHXUXJm5A/s640/49862045-MTH-2536.jpg" title="Fresno Marathon" width="426" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">It was exhausting and exhilarating and epic and it made me feel kind of invincible. I went from being a non-athletic kind of girl to running a marathon in the course of two years. Pretty cool, huh?!</span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">It was also a bit overwhelming at first.....so much excitement and energy in the air....so many people around cheering on the runners....so many funny signs....so much to take in and soak up!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">But somewhere around Mile 8 when I was really starting to "hit the wall" my arch nemesis appeared.....yup.....SHE just couldn't leave me alone. Maybe you know her too....SHE is the voice inside my head who likes to tell me things like.....</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">"You can't do this."</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">"Everyone else is so much better at this than you."</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">"What makes you think YOU can do this."</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">"You're not going to succeed."</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And finally I decided that I'd had it with her! Enough is enough!!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, I told her "Shut up! Shut up! SHUT UP!!! I am trying to run a marathon here and it's really, really, REALLY tough and I don't have time for your negativity and shenanigans right now. I need to focus! I'm done with you! Buh bye!!!"</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And I left her in the dust and kept on running. And I haven't heard a heck of a lot from her since that day. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So much of the rest of the run is a foggy blur in my mind.....but I distinctly remember that at Mile 20 each mile became twice as hard as the previous mile. But all of the wonderful people that stuck around and kept cheering on the slow poke, stragglers at the end of the race really motivated me to keep pushing forward one step at a time and to keep giving 100%. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Wouldn't it be great if every day there were crowds of people that you'd never met cheering you on and telling you you're awesome???!!!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And finally......I saw the finish line.....and started to cry. Mostly because I was so overwhelmed and proud of what I'd accomplished.....but also because I was so darn happy that I was about to be DONE and didn't have to run anymore! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And Col. Sew Fab stuck around for HOURS after he finished the half marathon so he could be there to see me finish the marathon in 363rd place! How sweet!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Soooo.....if you're wondering.....</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Yes, I'm sooo glad I did it.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Yes, I'll do more marathons in the future.....but I'll probably do a few half marathons first!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Yes......I was incredibly sore and exhausted for several days. I knew it would be hard on my body.....but I was pretty surprised by how mentally draining it was too!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And I guess the moral of the story is.....</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">"If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right." -Henry Ford</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Hugs,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Jenny</span><br />
<br />Belle and Buttercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02246236652261491841noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7489757520082902285.post-63187168600470737692013-10-28T14:17:00.002-05:002013-10-28T14:17:47.322-05:00Not At Quilt Market....<span style="font-size: large;">So I wasn't at Quilt Market this weekend. But you know what? I'm totally o.k. with that because I've been looking at the bright side.....</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I slept in my own bed all weekend..... </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I went for a long run in fresh air, under bright blue skies and along streets full of trees showing their glorious autumn colors.....</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtX0VWD7ZmwQHzwaSoNZnOmk8xFSc1Jb6ru7SoSrVPMNxozfCYAUW6QwCkOWBxRoBz4W-3czigRBiigP3nzM-YBdrx45QYA4LcCQVG08XaXiU3eTTfeVEDdKC-wvUph5_gNbsYEEwvNlYV/s1600/-14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Quilting Fabric" border="0" height="520" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtX0VWD7ZmwQHzwaSoNZnOmk8xFSc1Jb6ru7SoSrVPMNxozfCYAUW6QwCkOWBxRoBz4W-3czigRBiigP3nzM-YBdrx45QYA4LcCQVG08XaXiU3eTTfeVEDdKC-wvUph5_gNbsYEEwvNlYV/s640/-14.jpg" title="Autumn trees" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I made TONS of progress on my hexie quilt......</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFYF187Lxv8EpzE5JjEVFkIMAGFc2vWfGJRv3UF69ta08PmJkGpC-zO2j7M_Yudo9fx-wimLty-KIBgWUEje-JJUEa3Tsu6e4BbXslAtRFl3_An2Km_9uxYT4g88THtbeQVUFbHjQfT5dm/s1600/-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Hexagon quilt made from pink, green and aqua Lakehouse Dry Goods fabric" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFYF187Lxv8EpzE5JjEVFkIMAGFc2vWfGJRv3UF69ta08PmJkGpC-zO2j7M_Yudo9fx-wimLty-KIBgWUEje-JJUEa3Tsu6e4BbXslAtRFl3_An2Km_9uxYT4g88THtbeQVUFbHjQfT5dm/s640/-4.jpg" title="Hexie quilt" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I spent my days relaxing with Col. Sew Fab and the fur babies....</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And I felt like I was "virtually" at Quilt Market thanks to the all of the wonderful, inspiring, colorful, fun photos all over Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. All of the eye candy. None of the travel hassles!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And just when I thought it couldn't get any better.....</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I woke up this morning to a super cold, grey, blustery, rainy day......and I LOVE IT!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Because that just means today is full of fleece pants, hot cups of cinnamon spice tea, homemade mushroom soup, a warm, glowing fireplace and snuggling next to the fur babies as I work. Heaven!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi4jhbekyPNy7dZeZTQIMJrWpo6WyGcKSgWeqzWiIu5LtlgHMzsV9bD2PDxxSSRHWURkCq7F7dBYY2R9WtaLsSRXvvHbXL4SgnsdiQaUMSrgV5uS4_rC_a8X2R3vrdDpBe58-Mn8CcNpj_/s1600/-29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Baxter the quilt shop mascot" border="0" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi4jhbekyPNy7dZeZTQIMJrWpo6WyGcKSgWeqzWiIu5LtlgHMzsV9bD2PDxxSSRHWURkCq7F7dBYY2R9WtaLsSRXvvHbXL4SgnsdiQaUMSrgV5uS4_rC_a8X2R3vrdDpBe58-Mn8CcNpj_/s640/-29.jpg" title="Blenheim Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Puppy" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Hugs,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Jenny</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">P.S. Are you on Instagram? I'm a wee bit obsessed with it lately! I'm @SewFabShop. Who are you??? </span>Belle and Buttercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02246236652261491841noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7489757520082902285.post-65948467927831032722013-10-25T17:46:00.002-05:002013-10-25T19:45:32.289-05:00Still Hexie-ing Along....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHHf_8J0GdIV0jq7wOTfgqtOHmEjrVa_gqdOelGc3TqZt-nTHoj6bsw8pGCgt4C86OAqoUP7jyFc6i9nLqTotnP0TdSjCEVf6rDYXqbld10b2zG9L1wjTKwjxU_EyIxvB2EaKpyK_yWqtg/s1600/IMG_4061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHHf_8J0GdIV0jq7wOTfgqtOHmEjrVa_gqdOelGc3TqZt-nTHoj6bsw8pGCgt4C86OAqoUP7jyFc6i9nLqTotnP0TdSjCEVf6rDYXqbld10b2zG9L1wjTKwjxU_EyIxvB2EaKpyK_yWqtg/s640/IMG_4061.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It's finally coming together....</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I'm almost halfway there.....</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Bit by bit.....piece by piece.....a sweet, little, hexie quilt is coming to life....</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And as I'm sewing hexie after hexie.....I keep thinking......Oooohhhh.....I should do a Christmas hexie quilt.....or maybe a red, white and blue one......or maybe autumny colors......or maybe a bright one in shades of lime, aqua, pink and orange.....or maybe one with little motifs embroidered in the center hexie of each flower.....how cute would that be???!!! The hexie possibilities are endless!!!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYrRpjOUcJvwT2apVWcSAVKILxDBNe3GMqTkHxp1fM2wPhZ0J7MZGNsYXSiInnpXL-VTkVFxngaQ8UyCL4sM2OlGAtg1i7OkHgrCNa8B2astf_jIIjS4eUa1d_4t0r5ht53udmme7daf_q/s1600/Large+Hexie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Hand pieced fabric hexagon quilt" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYrRpjOUcJvwT2apVWcSAVKILxDBNe3GMqTkHxp1fM2wPhZ0J7MZGNsYXSiInnpXL-VTkVFxngaQ8UyCL4sM2OlGAtg1i7OkHgrCNa8B2astf_jIIjS4eUa1d_4t0r5ht53udmme7daf_q/s640/Large+Hexie.jpg" title="Hexie Quilt" width="640" /></a>But for now, I'm just looking forward to a weekend full of sewing hexies, playing with Vintage Valentine quilt pieces, sipping wine, eating warm, homemade chocolate chip cookies, snuggling with my fur babies and chillaxing with the fabulous Col. Sew Fab. Happy weekend to all! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Happy Sewing,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Jenny</span><br />
<br />Belle and Buttercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02246236652261491841noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7489757520082902285.post-22562703007432564012013-10-22T15:52:00.001-05:002013-10-22T15:53:45.780-05:00Things Baxter Has Chewed On<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2pgZD6Tgd9_IX-pY5SppnGM9c534AwKgd8tzT4YgXT4r5rE7bq3YoDtpW6-EDjN2FYfylAhKJUu6rDngLd88oesmMd_LLD06TIMmxZ_k1-nT_V5li3b-a6NW3Mu7ZJUoMR6BZDbq7CoAt/s1600/-26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Puppy on quilt fabric" border="0" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2pgZD6Tgd9_IX-pY5SppnGM9c534AwKgd8tzT4YgXT4r5rE7bq3YoDtpW6-EDjN2FYfylAhKJUu6rDngLd88oesmMd_LLD06TIMmxZ_k1-nT_V5li3b-a6NW3Mu7ZJUoMR6BZDbq7CoAt/s640/-26.jpg" title="Blenheim Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Puppy" width="640" /></a> </div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Oh, how I wish I would have kept a list of all of the things Baxter has chewed on since we brought him home four months ago. In the past two weeks alone he has chewed on......</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">A bundle of silk embroidery floss</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The plastic wrap that held a raw pork roast</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">A razor</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">A piece of slate from a patio tile</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Col Sew Fab's reading glasses</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And a bag of marshmallows. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">That last one was actually pretty darn cute. I was putting groceries away, I turned my back on him for about 5 seconds.....and when I turned back around he had dragged the bag across the room, torn it open and his face was inside the bag as he happily chomped away on marshmallows!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And a few other notable items that have been chewed on in the past few months....</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Col Sew Fab's wallet</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The lid to a gasoline canister</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">A random sharp, jagged piece of metal that he found in the yard</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Every snail in the yard</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Lots and LOTS of fabric hexies</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Spools of thread</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">A glow stick (one of those emergency, flare type of things)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">My needle book full of threaded needles </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Wine corks</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And a Christmas ornament with jingle bells on it</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnxHB1oZN7lWrIkTunJWlWB8hXYxE_aHLd2NFY3kNFmzJlR8gIfpiaiRy33x5I8hwBAImNgp3L_j1ElMn5rb3BMvbvu31vuU1ARRp_n0JiztP1Pvu_GXL5J6GwowShZyZIxBqmw6F-NKVu/s1600/-25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="quilt shop puppy mascot" border="0" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnxHB1oZN7lWrIkTunJWlWB8hXYxE_aHLd2NFY3kNFmzJlR8gIfpiaiRy33x5I8hwBAImNgp3L_j1ElMn5rb3BMvbvu31vuU1ARRp_n0JiztP1Pvu_GXL5J6GwowShZyZIxBqmw6F-NKVu/s640/-25.jpg" title="Blenheim Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Isn't he the best???!!! I love my little guy soooo much! Puppies are awesome!!!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Hugs,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Jenny</span><br />
<br />
<br />Belle and Buttercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02246236652261491841noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7489757520082902285.post-30447492948799435772013-10-21T13:38:00.001-05:002013-10-21T13:39:10.261-05:00Block Of The Year???<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaEViH1MfU2hgy-jPfsQ6cHZfE8V143M3RcNE83CcW-Nje2WFtvIi-GdXbYwaF_apwmOnrMGxuyiiaF2L-KvhEPW3Amk5Xy0UGZOfyaOt-8e2JAlLsA1MkJnE1A4KUy6EeG981FgPj05Fq/s1600/-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Vintage Valentine by Verna Mosquera of The Vintage Spool" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaEViH1MfU2hgy-jPfsQ6cHZfE8V143M3RcNE83CcW-Nje2WFtvIi-GdXbYwaF_apwmOnrMGxuyiiaF2L-KvhEPW3Amk5Xy0UGZOfyaOt-8e2JAlLsA1MkJnE1A4KUy6EeG981FgPj05Fq/s640/-2.jpg" title="Vintage Valentine applique quilt progress" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I've never made one of these really fancy, schmancy, highly detailed applique "Block Of The Month" patterns before.....but now I get it. I really, truly understand why they assume you'll need a month to do each block. I'm even considering calling mine a "Block Of The Year." That way if it takes me 2 or 3 months to do each block I can still feel good about myself for getting more than 1 block done per year! It's a logical way to boost self confidence and keep my motivation going, right?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Even with all of the tedious and time consuming steps of prepping a bazillion applique pieces I still love it. Every minute of it. There's something very soothing and calming about tracing and cutting and ironing and then seeing it come to life piece by piece.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And there may have even been a few squeals and happy dance moves once I had the first block haphazardly laid out on my ironing mat. It's just so pink and green and feminine and flowery and sugary sweet!!!</span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Now, I FINALLY get to move onto the sewing part. Yippee!!!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Happy Sewing,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Jenny </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">P.S. I'm using the Spray Starch and Freezer paper applique technique. You can find a <a href="http://www.sewmamasew.com/2011/05/easy-applique-the-starch-method-by-joanna-from-fig-tree-co/">great tutorial right here. </a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">P.S. #2 The pattern is <a href="http://www.thevintagespool.com/store/products/details/?product=102">The Vintage Valentine</a> by Verna Mosquera of The Vintage Spool. <a href="http://www.thevintagespool.com/store/products/details/?product=102">You can find it here.</a></span>Belle and Buttercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02246236652261491841noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7489757520082902285.post-87748067771301270132013-10-10T18:34:00.000-05:002013-10-21T13:39:56.551-05:00First Day Of Autumn<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj_ebUzEn2ZoFNbvwdB4AF68JwFwnpLbeipRBTBkVDzN1vkSMRfIbrJxYo76gDfXEafnsutPMYxt0_uxNdq8DO9k048ZwJXTXPv7vjgNmwFxWqqx7HtnwPKJMmicQs_Xa6VT8bUBV1iOcf/s1600/-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Vintage Valentine quilt pattern and Lakehouse fabrics" border="0" height="492" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj_ebUzEn2ZoFNbvwdB4AF68JwFwnpLbeipRBTBkVDzN1vkSMRfIbrJxYo76gDfXEafnsutPMYxt0_uxNdq8DO9k048ZwJXTXPv7vjgNmwFxWqqx7HtnwPKJMmicQs_Xa6VT8bUBV1iOcf/s640/-1.jpg" title="Vintage Valentine applique quilt prep" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Yesterday was the first "real" day of autumn to me.....</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The air was cold. The sky was gray. The leaves are starting to turn. But inside it was cozy and warm and the house was full of the scent of freshly baked rum cake and the sounds of snoring pups and purring cats.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">A <a href="http://ladykscraftroom.wordpress.com/">sweet new friend</a> came over with a loaf of homemade pumpkin bread for a day of sewing.....</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We talked and ate....and talked and ate.....</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And we even managed to get a bit of sewing done in between all of the talking and eating!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And I finally dove into a quilt pattern that I've been hanging onto and dreaming about and drooling over for eight long years - Vintage Valentine.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I happily retrieved my carefully selected pile of fabrics that were tucked away in a box. And this isn't just any pile of fabric.......this pile includes those fabrics that you hang onto forever and never cut into because you just love them tooooo much! But I'm being brave and throwing caution to the wind and using them in this quilt. I think I'll love them even more once they're in a beautiful quilt.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8HfYwzID_lyGk-1ayqSgiFCrcjAH44cJ6FPZIiUo5pHUBu-diN_DrT-UZO6KiTh4tUW40QfLXHRJdfBsXGLkO-sI_2k8xWdzPcpg28vnKLOxM8yEgFBpUyOkFgM6xdKItP6VI2NUKxMZx/s1600/IMG_3572.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Lakehouse and Lecien fabrics for pink and green quilt" border="0" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8HfYwzID_lyGk-1ayqSgiFCrcjAH44cJ6FPZIiUo5pHUBu-diN_DrT-UZO6KiTh4tUW40QfLXHRJdfBsXGLkO-sI_2k8xWdzPcpg28vnKLOxM8yEgFBpUyOkFgM6xdKItP6VI2NUKxMZx/s640/IMG_3572.jpg" title="Vintage Valentin applique quilt fabrics" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I'm still at the stage where I'm prepping the pieces for the first block.....the one in the upper left corner....</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6jZacAO4WbwKdxYEBpIT_nXqBAYtyk0O51-TBjVmZx8m2D6HgMGT5QdkK74IGt4TePjQ70jzFD6pv3ftG4wDQyxNzpKDsPZ1WySG8r6aGB5zTKvQPQUXcBW06-o8n9-uK6rbP7rWFC5UP/s1600/Vintage-Valentine-Quilt-cop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Vintage Valentine pattern by Verna Mosquera of the Vintage Spool" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6jZacAO4WbwKdxYEBpIT_nXqBAYtyk0O51-TBjVmZx8m2D6HgMGT5QdkK74IGt4TePjQ70jzFD6pv3ftG4wDQyxNzpKDsPZ1WySG8r6aGB5zTKvQPQUXcBW06-o8n9-uK6rbP7rWFC5UP/s640/Vintage-Valentine-Quilt-cop.jpg" title="Vintage Valentine Applique quilt pattern" width="635" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I'm not even at the sewing stage yet! This quilt is going to take a LONG time to make......but it definitely made my heart happy to see how the pieces and colors were all starting to come together. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And no - the hexie quilt isn't done yet! You know that I'm easily distracted! But since I don't have any other applique projects going on I felt justified in starting this new project. I feel you need to have at least one project from each of the "Craft Food Groups" going on at once - applique, hexies, pieced quilt, embroidery, cross stitch, doll houses, hand quilting, hand tying.....I know I'm forgetting a bunch......which ones am I forgetting??? But that just means I'm obligated to start projects in all of those categories to have a well rounded "Craft Diet," right?! If this theory is wrong, I don't want to be right!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Happy Sewing,<br />Jenny</span><br />
<br />
<br />Belle and Buttercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02246236652261491841noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7489757520082902285.post-59226457669221108042013-10-07T17:19:00.000-05:002013-10-21T13:40:36.969-05:00Magic<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.findyourlula.com/"><img border="0" height="457" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPP_MjptDjbpJqfV_ZSXGu8DqXREgHDg3u0gooHqhiPB3EBkQE7UX-8zSPrzQE6D4UQcTkfqNTwN8wieaQ52UFMexbc_VXcQUa4BLjl6FtfXvOHrB2lFr6u2QmcWJKoaaIEL2owlhHgSXy/s640/lula_logo_20130124151949.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Bear with me because this might get kinda long.....</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Back in February, the talented, hilarious and all around awesome Mary of <a href="http://spoolhardygirl.blogspot.com/">Spoolhardy Girl</a> told me about a creative design retreat she'd signed up for called "Find Your Lula." She thought I might be interested because there were going to be a lot of Illustrator classes and she knew that was my current obsession. There were also going to be life coaching, photography and some craft classes and the whole event was hosted/created by one of my favorite designers - <a href="http://www.thequiltedfishpatterns.com/">Amanda Herring of The Quilted Fish</a> and it was being held at a fabulous house in Park City, Utah.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I looked at it.....thought about it.....and then made my decision - NO! Come on.....I can learn Illustrator at home with online classes. And life coaching.....seriously! Pfffft!!! That sounds sooooo silly. And being trapped in a house full of people that I may or may not like.....yeah, right! No thank you! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Great attitude, huh?! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I'd also recently taken a bunch of online classes and most of them were a total waste of money so I was pretty apprehensive about spending money on ANOTHER class. Especially one that involved forcing my introverted self into a house with a bunch of strangers for four days!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">A few months went by and for some reason the thought of the retreat popped back up into my head one evening as Col Sew Fab and I were planning our whirlwind move from Florida to California. Maybe I just felt a pull deep inside of me to be brave and try new things and break out of my shell......maybe it was some desire to embrace adventure and change because so much adventure and change was being forced upon me....or maybe it was just the wine talking.....</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">But on a whim, I did it.......I signed up. I bought plane tickets. And waited for five months for the big day to arrive.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I thought about cancelling a million times. I was pretty sure I wouldn't be missing out on much. And I couldn't bear the thought of leaving my pets!!! It was going to be the first time that I'd EVER left Baxter alone.....the first time I would leave them all alone in a new house with a new pet sitter......and the worst of all.....it would be the first time I was going to leave my fur babies since <a href="http://sewfabulousquiltshop.blogspot.com/2013/05/daisy-march-26-1997-may-6-2013.html">Daisy died while we were off house hunting</a> in California. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Talk about an event that could scar a girl for life.....I'm already so paranoid about leaving my pets behind while I go on a trip.....and after my biggest fear became a reality back in May I just didn't know how I was going to do it. How on earth could I leave???!!! My heart would race and I'd get lightheaded at the thought of having to say goodbye, walk out the door and not see them for four days.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">But some nagging little voice inside my head.....probably the same one that convinced me to sign up in the first place.....also convinced me that I was about to become an agoraphobe if I didn't get the heck out of the house for a few days. So just do it! Go, girl, GO!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Soooooo......I packed my bags, faced my fears and headed out on my little adventure. And I am soooooo glad that I did.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">It's hard to find the words to describe just how amazing this retreat was......but the one word that keeps coming to mind is MAGIC. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbz5AeLjq5eE0eY-kUsa7cX8rKgHYuzT56Z8rEZbqIS2QHUiojN4cNRBfTABSS64iEr_DBT-ELQsJK9F3uMh-wxJBPuiGm_37_U7-HAyuw8FhjOok0yBKEopCZqSvgNU-zj-XVE_rhnlYN/s1600/8575262919_7559a6e084_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="544" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbz5AeLjq5eE0eY-kUsa7cX8rKgHYuzT56Z8rEZbqIS2QHUiojN4cNRBfTABSS64iEr_DBT-ELQsJK9F3uMh-wxJBPuiGm_37_U7-HAyuw8FhjOok0yBKEopCZqSvgNU-zj-XVE_rhnlYN/s640/8575262919_7559a6e084_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Amanda and the Lula Team showered us with gifts all week - adorable tote bags full of crafty and fun goodies, custom slippers made in everyone's favorite colors, fabulous name tags on our doors, a dreamy, colorful room full of a rainbow of candy and snacks, Smash Books (kind of like a scrapbook), a mountain of scrapbook supplies, trinkets and baubles to make an amazing necklace, a needle turn applique kit, aromatherapy samples, a book on discovering your strengths and a pewter "Dream Big" key chain were just a few of the fun surprises. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlUOMynkQkXxDYxXqGLQuWLtBY3TvQqJdnt3NZfzCUeWZ-b9h-1Tsm2PM_3R6MHMPzQAau0fA-Y7gPxqsh9I8iYq-EBBFzcUUL3Q_QRizcxo08knPPr3FeebZ8BCy9Ss5ndPyozfbYUJry/s1600/-9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlUOMynkQkXxDYxXqGLQuWLtBY3TvQqJdnt3NZfzCUeWZ-b9h-1Tsm2PM_3R6MHMPzQAau0fA-Y7gPxqsh9I8iYq-EBBFzcUUL3Q_QRizcxo08knPPr3FeebZ8BCy9Ss5ndPyozfbYUJry/s640/-9.jpg" width="577" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">My days were full of taking amazing classes learning all about Illustrator, photography, needle turn applique, aromatherapy, photography, stretching and alignment and running a creative business while wearing my pajamas ALL DAY LONG with my snuggly new slippers, learning amazing things about myself and feeling truly energized in the life coaching sessions, eating wonderful homemade food, watching the snow fall on the mountains, having hot cocoa with mounds of whipped cream every morning, making amazing new friends, coming out of my introverted shell, laughing hysterically at least 10 times an hour, watching hilarious videos, eating ooey gooey cookies straight out of the oven and basically feeling completely warm, cozy, inspired, energized, grounded, centered, rejuvenated, pampered and completely lucky to be spending time with such an amazing, talented, fun and awesome group of people.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyqftLTGlS3PrWVJMPC5sAYl1RL7cmxhPuvsjDlsQSP3ggoJyHo35MaCFEicOxup_8uu2aJXbHK9YjOVdjBg7sa42EmcE-pYtJ66UebgeJJpHeDLgAI41Oz3IJLS1hNUL10UEh1fJBTnnA/s1600/-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyqftLTGlS3PrWVJMPC5sAYl1RL7cmxhPuvsjDlsQSP3ggoJyHo35MaCFEicOxup_8uu2aJXbHK9YjOVdjBg7sa42EmcE-pYtJ66UebgeJJpHeDLgAI41Oz3IJLS1hNUL10UEh1fJBTnnA/s640/-8.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZkcqnxNFD_pcmXzGx-Pth5kpFRHDtFyNBK1jJLmL216Qnb3FoWRqtBgNYhIk6PeEWUrYiWkbtSi4iKPDQxVliqqkhrYGtKZTTPv9g-UxoFsfrh94XQBqOU3_Yo5ESjd8Bi_R-KZ-a-MxB/s1600/-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZkcqnxNFD_pcmXzGx-Pth5kpFRHDtFyNBK1jJLmL216Qnb3FoWRqtBgNYhIk6PeEWUrYiWkbtSi4iKPDQxVliqqkhrYGtKZTTPv9g-UxoFsfrh94XQBqOU3_Yo5ESjd8Bi_R-KZ-a-MxB/s640/-3.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Leaving Lula was like leaving a safe, warm cocoon but it's o.k because I'm ready to fly. Ummmmm.......apparently, Lula also turned me into a sappy, sentimental fool because I never would have said something so touchy-feely in my pre-Lula days! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And the cherry on top of my extraordinary week was that after I returned home and opened my suitcase I found that everything inside was covered in glitter from the goodies I brought home. What a fitting end to a totally magical and sparkle filled week!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Hugs,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Jenny</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">P.S. - #IMissMyLulaSistersAndBrother (It's a Lula thing.......)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">P.S. #2 - It was pretty awesome <a href="http://dougsterdesign.com/">learning Illustrator from a human</a> who I can
bombard with questions and I'm going to give <a href="http://soulsalt.com/">life/business coaching</a> a whirl
(being coached.....not becoming a coach!). The girl that thought it was going to be silly now thinks it's the coolest thing ever.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">P.S. #3 - I don't think registration is open yet for <a href="http://www.findyourlula.com/">Lula 2014</a> but as you've probably already guessed I would HIGHLY recommend that you sign up the second it's open! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">P.S. #4 - You probably already figured this out but I LOVED everyone there! </span>Belle and Buttercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02246236652261491841noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7489757520082902285.post-18170337609931372982013-09-23T18:28:00.002-05:002013-10-21T13:40:52.811-05:00Random Thoughts....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHSs6P4OXjpMP7yfLcT6pnglpJSvCOOxGqcMF4iVxtPBd38XvuavASacMl1V721PO0pzrO7nfdd1fsAMqoWpHJD5I0LZEofK2nZ7O059UBL2mux5ZeS3VyMaYd5KoLX3tOJ71wqYkJQl1b/s1600/-23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHSs6P4OXjpMP7yfLcT6pnglpJSvCOOxGqcMF4iVxtPBd38XvuavASacMl1V721PO0pzrO7nfdd1fsAMqoWpHJD5I0LZEofK2nZ7O059UBL2mux5ZeS3VyMaYd5KoLX3tOJ71wqYkJQl1b/s640/-23.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">That was the look on Baxter's face when I told him I hadn't blogged in 10 days!!! Or maybe it was just the look on his face when I pulled out the evil vacuum cleaner and he and Sammy ran and hid in the kennel together.....</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Anyway, here are a few random, scattered thoughts on what I've been up to lately.....</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Not much sewing going on because I have a new, big, super exciting, non-quilting project in the works and my head has just been spinning and going at mach speed with ideas for this new thing. Sorry to be so secretive......but all will be revealed in due time, my dear!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I ran 20 miles for the second time ever last Saturday. You may have already guessed this but running 20 miles is really hard. I mean really, REALLY hard. Like crazy, huge, am I totally nuts to be doing this kind of hard. But I did it. And I felt like some sort of invincible, running superhero after I did it because I never in a million years thought I could do something like that! I also felt completely exhausted and sore beyond belief after my run.....but lets just focus on the invincible superhero part, o.k.?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Baxter and I celebrated our 3 month anniversary together last Friday. Yes.....I remember these dates.....and yes.....I feel they need to be celebrated!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And wow.....that's about it! What's new in your neck of the woods?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Hugs,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Jenny</span><br />
<br />
<br />Belle and Buttercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02246236652261491841noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7489757520082902285.post-73096934056282353662013-09-13T13:35:00.000-05:002013-10-21T13:41:15.880-05:00Baxter Is A Big Deal!<span style="font-size: large;">Baxter has been in desperate need of a new harness and leash for a while now. He
was rapidly outgrowing his "baby boy" harness....it's been getting tighter and tighter......and the last time I put it
on him he yelped as I shut the clasp! Eeeek! I immediately unhooked
it fearing that he was going to break a rib if he took a deep breath
while wearing it!</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I searched all over the internet for weeks looking for the perfect
harness......because that is what a sane person does with their time. You obsess over
finding just the right harness for your dog. I found so many cute ones
but I really wanted to find one that matched his personality even
though Col Sew Fab said that Baxter doesn't really have a personality yet. And
I guess he's kind of right....Baxter's personality right now consists
of generic sweet, happy, loving, air-headed puppy. But there are small sparks of a real
personality starting to shine through. And as I searched high and low
for the perfect harness there were so many that were cute but they just
didn't mesh with his budding personality....</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Sailboats??? Cute....but it just doesn't "say"
Baxter. And he's kind of afraid of the pool so he definitely won't be
taking up sailing or any other water sports anytime soon.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Squirrels??? Again....it's cute.....but Baxter
isn't a big squirrel chaser. He kind of chases anything and everything
right now. He doesn't favor squirrels over the cats over the dust
bunnies over the laser pointer. If it moves he'll chase it.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Argyle??? Totally cute.....but is Baxter a prep? I
just don't know yet. Maybe he's more casual. Or more modern and trendy. Or more
outdoorsy and rugged. Who knows!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Well....it got to the
point that I couldn't put this important decision off any longer. When I went to
PetSmart today I told myself that I couldn't leave without getting a new
harness for Baxter even if it was just plain old solid blue. He HAS to
have a new harness NOW.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">And then I saw it! The one! After searching through the rows of leashes and harnesses something caught my eye......and the angels sang.....I had found the perfect harness that just screams BAXTER!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJm9FD40u8w3Gq8wD7Plgl0bMfN29ikZMipt9xFPQmwhJnu-j5UrmV0v0LMOs1_ucAxpKfo2wMRFPTDn1VcWt6fio0l15NxLfi1itO7bJhi_z7kdYVVBxZHuMgRFKabJTBGUg1VvW8ANHD/s1600/-21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="I'm Kind Of A Big Deal" border="0" height="457" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJm9FD40u8w3Gq8wD7Plgl0bMfN29ikZMipt9xFPQmwhJnu-j5UrmV0v0LMOs1_ucAxpKfo2wMRFPTDn1VcWt6fio0l15NxLfi1itO7bJhi_z7kdYVVBxZHuMgRFKabJTBGUg1VvW8ANHD/s640/-21.jpg" title="Baxter's New Leash" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Yup. "I'm Kind Of A Big Deal". </span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Why yes, Baxter......you are! You are a VERY big deal.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb5boC8MWeFfRuNOSjJ66Hnib2heUlu3y7i3ocSU4I07-i70IkbpKQLSv0OtSlLahLrNKMfBr_CrJypFQkEAGtXFKBI9q-OmQXvAW-BvphO6QVTW1V7w6LDeFIQAbYFHcDljU-0Nzx6B-O/s1600/IMG_4051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Blenheim Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Puppy" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb5boC8MWeFfRuNOSjJ66Hnib2heUlu3y7i3ocSU4I07-i70IkbpKQLSv0OtSlLahLrNKMfBr_CrJypFQkEAGtXFKBI9q-OmQXvAW-BvphO6QVTW1V7w6LDeFIQAbYFHcDljU-0Nzx6B-O/s640/IMG_4051.jpg" title="Baxter the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Puppy" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Hugs,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Jenny</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">P.S. If any of you have seen the movie "Anchorman" you will
understand the multiple layers of funny coming from the fact that I have
a dog named Baxter and he now wears a harness and leash that say "I'm Kind
Of A Big Deal." </span>Belle and Buttercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02246236652261491841noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7489757520082902285.post-90772316698505190462013-09-12T14:13:00.000-05:002013-10-21T13:41:28.158-05:00Throwback Thursday - Prom<span style="font-size: large;">Maybe I shouldn't have mentioned the big haired prom picture yesterday
because now it seems like everyone wants to see it. And since it is "Throwback Thursday" I guess today is the perfect day to share it. This "Throwback Thursday" thing won't become a habit.......I'm only doing it just this once.....but I guess it won't be too horribly embarrassing to show you a little blast from my past! So....here it
is....me.....at 18 years old....in 1992....all ready to go to the prom in my
re-decorated Laura Ashley bedroom. With our giant, fluffy, orange cat photo bombing the picture by rolling around on my bed in the background....</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRSjn7oRmoWRJBt0qExZvOuoQW4hCErrj9Y-Ja0nlSc5s3qopY4W2Ga62__0qKHRdy0dt8hCMCrSYbIvZ_XIQP_oP-MUlQQaKBzrc337-lGVDBIljuPGdRpLSOw0fFAXguDhGhn3VVOiZJ/s1600/2013_09_12_11_22_34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRSjn7oRmoWRJBt0qExZvOuoQW4hCErrj9Y-Ja0nlSc5s3qopY4W2Ga62__0qKHRdy0dt8hCMCrSYbIvZ_XIQP_oP-MUlQQaKBzrc337-lGVDBIljuPGdRpLSOw0fFAXguDhGhn3VVOiZJ/s640/2013_09_12_11_22_34.jpg" width="448" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">And me being me I just couldn't leave well enough alone when I bought the dress. You know......since it obviously didn't already have enough going on with all that lace and the big satin bow and the layered tulle skirt, I just haaaaad to sew sequin trim to the neckline and add individual sequins scattered across the skirt. Even back then everything needed to be a craft project! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">But my most vivid memory of that night happened shortly after
we left the riverboat restaurant in Cinncinnati where we had dinner before prom. The area was full of prom-goers and a random woman
came rushing up to me and enthusiastically semi-whispered into my ear
"That is THE BEST dress I've seen ALL night." </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">That comment just made my night. I felt so special
because of a sweet compliment from a stranger. And 21 years later I still
remember it as if it just happened moments ago. It's kind of nice to
realize that you might not be able to change the world....you might not
be able to fix all of your problems overnight.....or help everyone who is struggling.....but you CAN make a huge difference in one person's life with just the smallest act of kindness.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Hugs,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Jenny </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">P.S. I know it totally looks like the wall color didn't match the Laura Ashley wallpaper in my bedroom.....but trust me....it looked GREAT in person! Do you really think I'd ever tolerate mismatched colors - Gasp!</span>Belle and Buttercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02246236652261491841noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7489757520082902285.post-6300823475034557082013-09-11T18:04:00.000-05:002013-10-21T13:45:47.857-05:00Work In Progress Wednesday - Memory Lane....<span style="font-size: large;">Working on this hexie quilt has made realize something......my style and interests haven't changed much in my 39 years on this planet. Everything that I loved as a little girl.....pink and green, cats, crafts, baking, Hello Kitty, dollhouses and anything very, VERY girly are still the exact same things that I love today. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">My hexie quilt in progress today..... </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTPLSv-Kt5mNLQUHFLwYn2xs2p8tvl5DdlU14RW3x6mIIWAyFACxOyAsfKXPPX-Sdc9aPnymrNvLLMt_toCOBaSgNwl0ezkEduODXS5ZqlFa8p8f9v4M37vAH6ZvOObdHCR1Q82IA04bmq/s1600/IMG_3981.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTPLSv-Kt5mNLQUHFLwYn2xs2p8tvl5DdlU14RW3x6mIIWAyFACxOyAsfKXPPX-Sdc9aPnymrNvLLMt_toCOBaSgNwl0ezkEduODXS5ZqlFa8p8f9v4M37vAH6ZvOObdHCR1Q82IA04bmq/s640/IMG_3981.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">And a corner of my bedroom when I was about 12 years old.....</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNIBcrBfmepcR8E7hOKLHebJxLtDJVYvFM6t_6jGnr6lzuGf9IoEiIGMhkTZZ_bBVlzSXQj4T9uJ010zu-k-l6qPB_eqFinlwexxCzWhB9blhTlD2aC3gMAso21X6jqI5FSXMo7Bypzzlq/s1600/2013_09_11_15_05_53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="529" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNIBcrBfmepcR8E7hOKLHebJxLtDJVYvFM6t_6jGnr6lzuGf9IoEiIGMhkTZZ_bBVlzSXQj4T9uJ010zu-k-l6qPB_eqFinlwexxCzWhB9blhTlD2aC3gMAso21X6jqI5FSXMo7Bypzzlq/s640/2013_09_11_15_05_53.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Muffy the Cat - around 1986-87</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Wouldn't my hexie quilt fit in perfectly in my old bedroom? Don't you just love the wall paper? And oh my gosh.......the chevron crochet afghan! I was sooooo ahead of my time with that one! And the antique quilt on the wall. Oh wow.....how I wish I still had that......</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Isn't it funny how the smallest things can send you on a happy, little stroll down memory lane? </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Soooo.....other than a new found love of running and the fact that I'm no longer painfully shy (Yay!) or extremely impatient (I'm only moderately impatient now!) I really haven't changed much since this picture was taken over 30 years ago. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Hu9F1KMhJOQh-grAmTeK8zgfwN9xz02l87D5SiSaHbKDvN6y_HQtJO1S0nLgKp0UgzF4F2cdT6uDwi8cRniUqi8FCkOn2muh5R_5DyZN53q5n-hj9bUJu1H7QakqF3ufFdXwCAhr5AN-/s640/2013_09_11_15_05_53+copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="451" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Me and Kitty Paw - around 1979-80</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And now I'm going to go hide the photos I found of my huge prom hair....some memories are best left hidden away in a closet!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hugs from Memory Lane,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Jenny </span></div>
Belle and Buttercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02246236652261491841noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7489757520082902285.post-87035859700256129612013-09-04T19:19:00.000-05:002013-10-21T13:45:14.275-05:00Work In Progress Wednesday - Sabotage!<span style="font-size: large;">I'm almost there! Only about 20 more white hexies to go!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisA_R-VrNgePqv4VStpmARChscIrZeBZ7daTPeUik9I8czfnid8G-G-xJdNAGpZl9fnaqY9C2yUT7JjvypH0_84jEPzUUlqMQwgJFgdtnO1K9Wp0mLwAKwSe-F8H3l-eQzVSUwf7xkpXPG/s1600/IMG_3991.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Hexie quilt" border="0" height="475" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisA_R-VrNgePqv4VStpmARChscIrZeBZ7daTPeUik9I8czfnid8G-G-xJdNAGpZl9fnaqY9C2yUT7JjvypH0_84jEPzUUlqMQwgJFgdtnO1K9Wp0mLwAKwSe-F8H3l-eQzVSUwf7xkpXPG/s640/IMG_3991.jpg" title="White hexies" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">But as expected.....it get's a little monotonous making white hexie after white hexie after white hexie. Next time, I'm going to set up some sort of rule or system where I make 10 white hexies for every colorful hexie flower. The colorful hexie flowers will be like a decadent dessert after a healthy meal of white hexies.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvnEJkXrUPuePGdS5Wiz2SK1VhEvppnk6tengYGKhdiUBt7pPx8-z6286uN0YAqeQNLzwjc7AkW2RiXe0LEBNiEsB1J1GpNpp6j2e3AolRYrNg3kSRGMYeYXPMRKCVWvSApZ732RnpsnJU/s1600/IMG_3992.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Hexie quilt" border="0" height="489" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvnEJkXrUPuePGdS5Wiz2SK1VhEvppnk6tengYGKhdiUBt7pPx8-z6286uN0YAqeQNLzwjc7AkW2RiXe0LEBNiEsB1J1GpNpp6j2e3AolRYrNg3kSRGMYeYXPMRKCVWvSApZ732RnpsnJU/s640/IMG_3992.jpg" title="Hexie spacer flowers" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">It's really starting to come together....</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4uip-Kim6YcNquElZKxdWHWPGsx_mY-n4HtMciSzYIFzI0anjTBVncdje0Noe7nanZ4XiIQ9ujUAjjeQlphFXNqqY5pwFOWpzTEs9dAefHE2OzE1eunKCpEbQ5xADF-e-XiQmvUFITq90/s1600/IMG_3996.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Hexie quilt" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4uip-Kim6YcNquElZKxdWHWPGsx_mY-n4HtMciSzYIFzI0anjTBVncdje0Noe7nanZ4XiIQ9ujUAjjeQlphFXNqqY5pwFOWpzTEs9dAefHE2OzE1eunKCpEbQ5xADF-e-XiQmvUFITq90/s640/IMG_3996.jpg" title="Pink, green, aqua, yellow, periwinkle hexie quilt" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">And if a furry, little sabotuer would quit jumping up on the coffee table and stealing white hexies and my spool of thread I might have this quilt done in a week or two.....</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHFj1tEZTS_o5OEX3G8xTa7GRYBSubj7c6YAKKuYEgOQWngEdhhJ1auQWaA3C4XhxMuQvp8kYQ2AwhzTa7t4maZ9ds7Z_QcAS7doPGuanmdq38dq-KZWGKlS1eozVNgZCEdQS2mUoApm_D/s1600/1266471_696156950398631_2085189211_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy" border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHFj1tEZTS_o5OEX3G8xTa7GRYBSubj7c6YAKKuYEgOQWngEdhhJ1auQWaA3C4XhxMuQvp8kYQ2AwhzTa7t4maZ9ds7Z_QcAS7doPGuanmdq38dq-KZWGKlS1eozVNgZCEdQS2mUoApm_D/s640/1266471_696156950398631_2085189211_o.jpg" title="Baxter the Sew Fabulous Quilt Shop Mascot" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Happy Sewing,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Jenny</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.freshlypieced.com/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_77IEdnWaWF8ZqdFX23-XgVnc0xJj8VgDEC7gDIqMpj6bbfSMQs_ZLbPhIzCakrCOAJhPEWjWudX-w0H2mJszl0w6Nb95aWNesYE6rxphGIBDdIB-8Cf6cWpkv0AgPnhudalRJWqM6fNo/s1600/wipwednesdaybutton.gif" /></a></div>
<br />Belle and Buttercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02246236652261491841noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7489757520082902285.post-4839648111114679572013-09-03T13:13:00.000-05:002013-10-21T13:46:17.870-05:00If The Pets Went Back To School.....<span style="font-size: large;">Have you ever wondered what your pets would be like if they were people? All of this "back to school" talk online has made me wonder what my furry children would be like if they were going back to school now like all of the human children.....</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">First off.....Cassi really wouldn't be going back to school. That girl is 19 so we'll just say that she's already graduated and retired and now spends her days watching birds and puttering in her garden and telling stories about the days before canned cat food had easy open pop tops!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWqWjZ2weDruDLtFhzrBhbxIItro48mCM7G1PZRqsKelLWTWClPHPGxrBwgXg9VUspML1Rbt5aErK-RyTrcn5UcFStTGnGux3VlZUq7azHdxm6hJDAHKGO0G9Qk9LLa7GlRfDcNnLhEn9H/s1600/-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cassi the orange tabby cat" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWqWjZ2weDruDLtFhzrBhbxIItro48mCM7G1PZRqsKelLWTWClPHPGxrBwgXg9VUspML1Rbt5aErK-RyTrcn5UcFStTGnGux3VlZUq7azHdxm6hJDAHKGO0G9Qk9LLa7GlRfDcNnLhEn9H/s640/-6.jpg" title="Pets of Sew Fabulous Quilt Shop" width="480" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I think Bailey would be in high school. He'd wear skinny jeans, a black leather jacket and sunglasses and he'd ride a motorcycle. He'd be in the drama club and I'm pretty sure I'd be getting frequent calls from the school about him skipping class to go smoke catnip under the bleachers at the football stadium with his friends.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCoyPpQJ-WZ_Xlr_U0SbVy_v1L4ZvWeUS3v8JVlY61cNpuXLxiWF9f7h3MidJdDPh_xkiijerRSsBENC8xP4L9-cb0UTegYODnqzGzEX-j0UF3CoDPwnuFfVYDvuGt-aeoAhKnvtCjj0S9/s1600/-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Bailey the orange tabby cat" border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCoyPpQJ-WZ_Xlr_U0SbVy_v1L4ZvWeUS3v8JVlY61cNpuXLxiWF9f7h3MidJdDPh_xkiijerRSsBENC8xP4L9-cb0UTegYODnqzGzEX-j0UF3CoDPwnuFfVYDvuGt-aeoAhKnvtCjj0S9/s640/-8.jpg" title="Pets of Sew Fabulous Quilt Shop" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Emma would probably be in the 5th grade. She'd wear pleated, plaid skirts, cardigans and bows in her ears. Her favorite subject would be lunch and I think she'd take ballet lessons just so she could wear a pink tutu and a pretty tiara. She'd volunteer for the school fundraising bake sales so she could eat all of the cookies.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwhLt4KlpmJ6iPcHUiq0Zsn7wAY49r0Pvxddyhx6fIYdZ4T6gYbmHNVOZyR6cgllpXYILbwXdiJFcp8WCLfJvTwhoiyxSVNb4bP7ydpLO89VRYG5-Dn0FFGIcvdy8RMtvZPpTFJtIrdMiz/s1600/IMG_3267.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Emma the Blenheim Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Dog" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwhLt4KlpmJ6iPcHUiq0Zsn7wAY49r0Pvxddyhx6fIYdZ4T6gYbmHNVOZyR6cgllpXYILbwXdiJFcp8WCLfJvTwhoiyxSVNb4bP7ydpLO89VRYG5-Dn0FFGIcvdy8RMtvZPpTFJtIrdMiz/s640/IMG_3267.jpg" title="Pets of Sew Fabulous Quilt Shop" width="640" /></a> </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Sammy would be my super social, tom-boy in the 3rd grade. She would wear blue jean overalls and she'd be captain of the soccer team, the yearbook photographer, class president and a Girl Scout. She'd have the most badges and sell the most cookies out of everyone in her troop. I'd end up having to buy half of her cookies every year because Emma ate them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTMm5QgG3_a3JwFpodBFY90-TohXSncp1MwZAbg_d27cEDkbyIS9CBhPrByL5_HcUBFHu4itzFx3mZSrSLnW1e5vUUuu9Y0dFWwuImJ4_t6sz40ETgevtHg7Ed5T7Mmdx7mdVJKMSpJjGo/s1600/-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sammy the Golden Retiever Dog" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTMm5QgG3_a3JwFpodBFY90-TohXSncp1MwZAbg_d27cEDkbyIS9CBhPrByL5_HcUBFHu4itzFx3mZSrSLnW1e5vUUuu9Y0dFWwuImJ4_t6sz40ETgevtHg7Ed5T7Mmdx7mdVJKMSpJjGo/s640/-2.jpg" title="Pets of Sew Fabulous Quilt Shop" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">And Baxter.....sweet little Baxter.....he'd be starting Pre-K and he'd definitely be the most popular boy in the class. Everyone would want to be his best friend. He'd wear shorts with a button down shirt and suspenders. He'd excel at nap time and recess but would refuse to color inside the lines! And he'd definitely be the ring leader of any mischief that occurred in his classroom! Baby powder on the ceiling fan??? Yup - that was Baxter's idea!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG_5smnntF6ns7WietwRknwrI-fPxMw2bHGPkR_IOADzK34WrAoA9MWSptGkgFI1mhKP9SvDAHFGZ3u3M1BpULuCucW_GRgPqS2CUlR7CJP6Aq7wfsUf478Vm-fzxRr53drU97XBpl5Tae/s1600/-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Baxter the Blenheim Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Puppy" border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG_5smnntF6ns7WietwRknwrI-fPxMw2bHGPkR_IOADzK34WrAoA9MWSptGkgFI1mhKP9SvDAHFGZ3u3M1BpULuCucW_GRgPqS2CUlR7CJP6Aq7wfsUf478Vm-fzxRr53drU97XBpl5Tae/s640/-10.jpg" title="Pets of Sew Fabulous Quilt Shop" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Maybe you're just like me and have an inner monologue about these things too. Or maybe I've now confirmed what you've been wondering for a while now......is this girl totally nuts? Maybe I should just get back to sewing hexies now so I can fool you into thinking I'm completely normal tomorrow....</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">But seriously.....if you think like this too don't be shy! Tell me all about it!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Hugs,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Jenny</span><br />
<br />Belle and Buttercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02246236652261491841noreply@blogger.com5