Fancy Holiday Dress American Girl Doll

Sometimes, but not always, when I see one of my finished doll dresses, I get so excited because it is exactly what I envisioned from its inception in my mind. This is one of those times!!! I truly love this dress. The colors are cool, like a snowy winter's midnight.

Midnight and Sparkles

From now to Christmas, my thoughts will have to turn to baking and cooking. . . so this is the last thing to go on my Etsy shop before Christmas. I do have one more sewing project to finish. . .an outfit for a special little friend.

Hope this Christmastide is especially blessed for each and everyone of you.

Y Blessings,

Nanci

Busy Days!

Like, everyone else, my posts have been few and far between of late. What's keeping me busy these days?

Schooling

Sewing

Crocheting

Baking Cookies

Caring for our Nursing Student, who has 4 impacted wisdom teeth extracted during Winter Break

Training a New Puppy who thinks she needs to TRAIN US on taking her out to piddle every hour on the hour.

Christmas Get-togethers

And just life in general. . .

But mostly I have been trying to get things on my Etsy Shop. Here's the latest -- my third Bitty Baby/Twin outfit. I decided to go trendy with this one, rather than do my usual traditional or historical outfits. I love seeing young girls in this style and thought it would be fun to dress a doll in it. It was sort of nice to step out of my mold for a while and shake things up a little.

I decided to add an extra piece so that some little girl can have two outfits and get some extra play from it. Not like anybody has minutes to spare this month, but if you do and you'd like to take a peek . . . here's a link to my shop.

I know I'm partial, but I love the hat. I guess it does what a hat ought to do . . .

top things off!

Do what's keeping you BUSY these days?

Here Comes Suzie Snowflake

Since the Christmas Season is here, I thought I'd show you a festive, little dress I made to sale on my Etsy Shop. This is one of the few Bitty Baby dresses I have made; I usually sew for the AG 18" dolls. My oldest daughter likes it so much, she said if she ever has a little girl, she wants me to make one just like this for her little girl to wear. Nothing like planning ahead. ;D

I had gone to a good deal of trouble setting up the background for this picture of for my shop and was pleased that it gave that Holiday ambiance that I was striving for. When I was done taking the photo, I checked the photo and was pleased with it. Then I took down everything that I had set up for the photo shoot and put it away. It wasn't until the next day when I looked at the photo again that I thought that the dress was missing something. It just didn't look quite finished. It was then that I realized that it needed something at the neck and sleeves to break it up a little. So I couldn't use this photo in my shop, and I just didn't have the energy or the time to set everything back up to get a pic with the same effect.

So I ended up using pics with the bows on the bodice that lacked the Christmas "look", but definitely improved the look of the dress.


I love the fabric for the skirt overlay. It's sheer organza with sparkly snowflakes.

Now, I need to go get started on one for an AG 18" Doll.

Foto Friday Challenge - Feet??????

I originally thought this week's challenge was LITTLE feet, and while I love kissably-sweet, pudgey, little baby feet, and love cute, pitter-pattering, little toddler feet -- they have been scarce around Brambleberry Cottage for such an ever loonnnnng time.

I will admit a little quirk of mine. As feet grow older, they are less and less appealing to me. So, you can see why this challenge could really be a CHALLENGE for me.

Now, I've said that there have not been any LITTLE feet around here for a long, long time, but that is not ENTIRELY true. As a matter of fact, there are these. . .

LITTLE eight-week old feet. . .

sleepy LITTLE feet that came to live with us at Brambleberry Cottage

about a week and a half ago. . .



Prancing, pitter-pattering, follow your nose LITTLE feet. . .



that just have to take a rest every now and again.



Now, if you would like to see some REALLY CREATIVE pictures of feet, head over to join Rebecca for the Foto Friday Challenge. See what next week's challenge is and join in the fun!

Pattern Sale at JoAnn Fabrics - First Half of December 2009

We've all been scurrying around trying to complete all the Christmas gifts we are making. Well, maybe not ALL of us, perhaps some of us haven't started yet. If you still need a pattern to make that special gift or holiday outfit, then here are the dates for the pattern sale at JoAnn Fabric and Craft Store.

THURSDAY, FRIDAY & SATURDAY

DECEMBER 3, 4, & 5

McCall's Patterns $1.99 each

(MSRP $5.25 - $16.95 each)

Limit of 10

No special orders -- Excludes "Easy Stitch 'N Save"

Vogue Patterns $3.99 each

(MSRP $8.95 - $30.00 each)

Limit of 10

No Special Orders

Foto Friday - Macros

It's Foto Friday at Renaissance today. Each Friday the participant's in the challenge link their photographs to Rebecca's blog to show how they have faired in the challenge posted the week before. This week's challenge was "Macros (close-ups).

It is said that a collection of a photographer's work reveals as much about the photographer as it does about the subject. If that is so I fear that what this collection shows about me is that I don't know how to choose. I was not near as pleased with this weeks collection of photo's as I was with my collection last week. These for the most part seem very "lack lustre" to me; nothing seems to really "POP". So Rebecca, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE give your input.

The second thing this collection reveals about me as I look at it is that I love textures -- I'm very tactile. If I am interested in something, I have to feel it. Is it soft? Is it rough? Is it prickly or downy soft. Does it feel icy-cold or is it warm and soothing?

For those of you managed to get this far, I will reward by sharing a little tip I figured out while photographing the seed pods below. You will notice that the seed pods below are VERY blurry. This is only one of um'teen shots of these that turned out blurry. It was just too small to get the camera to focus on it.

I kept trying because I'm bulldog-stubborn, but it just wasn't working. I was getting plenty frustrated until I finally struck upon an idea. I asked my daughter to rest a index card directly over it (as shown). so that I could focus on the card (which was larger, yet thin). She then took the card away, and I snapped the picture without moving the camera.

Voila, a fairly decent close-up (at least better focused than it had been).

Okay, now it's time for you to head over to Rebecca's to take a look at what others have done. The challenge for next week will be posted there as well. Why not join us for the fun? It's a great way to improve your photography!!

Pattern Sale at JoAnn Fabrics - Last Half of November 2009

For all of you who, like me, are procrastinators and haven't finished up your sewing projects for Christmas, I just want to remind us all that the time is growing short. (Don't shoot the messenger. . . that was just a gentle reminder) ;D Not to worry. . . patterns can still be found for a good price at JoAnn Fabric Stores on the following pattern sale days.

Saturday - Wednesday

Novermber 21 - 25, 2009

McCall's Patterns $1.99 each
(MSRP $5.25 - $16.95 ea.)
(Limit of 10)
No special orders -- Excludes "Easy Stitch ‘N Save”"

Simplisity Patterns $199 each

(MSRP $6.95 - $17.95)

(Limit 10)

No Special orders

Excludes "It's So Easy", "New Look", "Burda", & Simplicity Books

Thursday - Saturday

November 19 - 21, 2009

Vogue Patterns $3.99 each
(MSRP $8.95 - $30.00 ea.
No special orders
(Limit 10)

Time to Leave

At long last, creative juices and opportunity have merged supplying me with some photographs and enabling me to join Rebecca for her Foto Friday challenge. This first photo is of the small oak tree in our yard that reminds me of living death each late fall and winter. It wears its dead leaves all winter until the new buds push them off the limbs in the spring.



Our maple tree only had four leaves clinging to it. As I was focusing my lens on one uncooperative leaf, it had the audacity to let loose and drift out of the frame before I could even snap the shot. THIS ONE was a little more cooperative.

Some of you have already seen pictures of the leaves of this tree on a recent post, but I went out again this morning to take fresh shots. The folage on this tree seems to set it ablaze and persistently cling to the limbs long after other leaves have abandoned their trees.

I must be honest and admit that this pic was staged, but I liked the stark contrast. I am truly excited about the photographs in this post because none were retouched or cropped -- something that is very, very, very (Did I say VERY???) rare for me. While the pics are far from top-quality, still they are very good for ME. I usually have to do a lot of fudging to make them look half-wise decent.

And now we come to that last variety of leaves that is so dear to my heart. . .

The LEAVES of a good book.

Thanks to Rebecca for hosting FOTO FRIDAY. Visit her and check out all the other great photos there.

Hmmm, What did ya say?

There are certain things I, as a child, was told a hundred times by my mother.



There are certain things that I have, in turn, told my own children a hundred times.



I remembered one the other day.

DON'T PICK!!!!!

Were my children "picking" in the French's Fried Onions I was using to make a green bean casserole?

Nope, but I was.

Y Blessings,

Nanci

Pattern Sale at JoAnn Fabrics - First Half of November 2009

As I typed the title of this post, this one thought came blasting into my mind

How can it possibly be NOVEMBER already?

Well, ready or not, here it is, and there's not a whole lot of sewing time left before the gift-giving season is upon us. If you need patterns to make some gifts for those you love, you'll be happy to know that Simplicity Patterns are on sale at JoAnn Fabric and Craft stores from Sunday through Saturday, November 8th through 14th for just one dollar each. This is a pretty good deal, considering that the manufacturer's suggested retail price for these patterns is between $6.95 and $17.95 each.

As usual, this does not include special orders, and there is a Limit of 10 patterns. Also, excluded from this sale are It's So Easy, New Look, and Burda patterns, as well as Simplicity books.

My holiday wish for you. . . May your seam ripper gather dust and your thread never break.

Y Blessings,

Nanci

Octobter's Bright Blue Weather?

From my youngest days, I have always loved autumn and one of my most favorite months is October. I think this is because of a poem my mother always recited this time of year about October's bright blue weather.

BUT, if you look at these pics I think you might have to say "October's dismal white weather". No blue skies in sight.

In the fall, this tree in our yard is my very favorite. It is always the first to put on its new autumn ball gown, and it is usually the last to shed it. The range of color is extraordinary; the leaves' palette ranges from a deep maroon to brilliant crimson to gold and palest maize.



Although the month is nearly over, and we haven’t seen a lot of October’s bright blue weather, it’s hard to fret too much. With so much color abounding, even rainy days don’t seem quite so bad.

Y Blessings,

Nanci

October Bush Bender

Last Thursday / Friday brought us quite a winter (uhhhhh...perhaps, I should say "autumn") wonderland. It doesn't have quite as nice a ring to it, but it IS a little more accurate.

It stuck around just long enough to steal some large branches from the trees, and was gone within two or three days. If it hadn't left its calling card of hundreds of broken branches in the area, you might not know it had ever stopped by for a visit.

It was amazing to see the trees and bushes bent to the ground with snow while, at the same time, my Ivy Geranium was still blooming in the hanging basket. The snow in the yard was about four or five inches deep. but as you can see in the pics the grass beneath the trees remained green and untouched. The heavy, wet snow clung to the leaves and boughs of the trees , but never reached the sheltered grass below.

Because the roadways were cluttered with large broken branches and power was lost, the schools in the area were cancelled. My kids were a little disappointed that our homeschool went on as scheduled, the only absentees were heat, water, and lights.

Pattern Sale at JoAnn Fabrics - Last Half of October 2009

Patterns are not on sale everyday, but for a few days each month JoAnn usually has certain manufacturer's sewing patterns on sale. Buy your patterns when they are on sale, and you save a bundle.

If there's a JoAnn Fabric Store near you, the pattern sale dates for the last half of October 2009 are:

Sun. - Sat., Oct. 18 - 24, 2009

McCall's Patterns 99¢ each

(MSRP $5.25 - $16.95 ea.) (Limit of 10)

No special orders -- Excludes "Easy Stitch ‘N Save”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Thurs. - Sat., Oct. 29 - 31

Vogue Patterns $3.99 each

(MSRP $8.95 - $30.00 ea.
No special orders (Limit 10)

Butterick Patterns - $1.99 each

(MSRP $6.00 - $16.95 ea.)
No special orders
(Limit of 10) Excludes "See & Sew"

Coupon - Heads Up!

If you are someone who likes to use coupons, you might be interested in checking this post on Merchant Maidens.

She gives links to some sites where you can get printable coupons.

Y Blessings,

Nanci

Pattern Sale at JoAnn Fabrics - First Half of October 2009

It's "slim pickin's" at JoAnn Fabrics this time.  It appears as if Simplicity patterns are the only ones on sale this period, but they ARE at a really GREAT PRICE -- 99¢.

FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY

OCTOBER 9 - 12 , 2009

Simplicity Patterns - 99¢ each

(MSRP $6.95 - $17.95 ea.)

(Limit of 10) No Special Orders

Excludes "It's So Easy", New Look,

Burda & Simplicity Books

Boohoooooooooo

I have been a busy little bee lately. . . sewing, sewing, sewing.  By improvising a L-shaped sewing area to accomodate my sewing machine & serger in our large family room, I am now able to enjoy my family in the evening and still get a lot a sewing projects completed.  The second benefit of this set up is that my dining room table no longer looks like this.  Now the area I set up is by no means "pretty" or "polished".  It consists of an old table resurrected from the basement and a board laid across two file cabinets that contain the kids school books.  (Sort of a locker for homeschoolers idea).
Anyway, everything has been going along GRAND until. . .

I turned the differential knob on my serger so I could gather a strip of material and promptly heard a little "snap" followed by the sound of a small piece falling down inside the serger.   Arrrrghhhhhh!     The very same serger that had been taken to the shop for another problem in the spring!  It had never been to the repair shop prior to that, and I have had it for nearly twenty years. I depend so much on it as a tool.  But far more than that is the great sentimental value it holds for me. Well, to "cut to the chase", Bill took it to the shop on Saturday morning. At least now, I know that they can still get repair parts for it.

I've decided that I'm not going to waste the two weeks or so until it is repaired.  Instead, I plan on cutting out the patterns for a lot of projects.  That way, when I get the serger back, I can get started right away sewing things.  My least favorite thing about sewing is cutting the fabric, so at least that will be all out of the way.

Y "To everything there is a season. . .
"

Nanci

Savory Flatbread Recipe

My family loves these flatbread sandwiches. We first tasted them at a restaurant, but they are on the pricey side. Our budget couldn't afford a steady diet of them at restaurant prices , so I began experimenting at home.

I found the original recipe for the flatbread here but I've really "tweaked" it to come up with my "personal recipe". There were quite a few comments on that site that the flatbread was too salty. So the first thing I did was to cut the salt WAY back. I also made the mixing process much easier by just mixing it in my food processor. I thought that the original recipe lacked flavor so here is my adjusted recipe.

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes (5 minutes each side)

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups White Whole Wheat flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons baking power
• 1/8 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 tablespoon pesto
• 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 cup ice water
• 3 tablespoons olive oil

Preparation:

Combine first 7 ingredients in food processor and blend thoroughly together. Add ice water and olive oil. Mix in food processor until ingredients form a soft dough.

Sprinkle a piece of parchment paper with flour. Form the dough into a ball and place it in the center of the parchment paper. Dough is slightly sticky. Sprinkle dough with flour and flatten dough to a thick disc. Cut into six equal wedges.

Form wedges into balls and roll out into thin 7 inch circles.

Place into an oiled hot iron skillet. Immediately prick the surface of the dough with a fork, sprinkle generously with garlic salt, and cook for 5 minutes over low - medium flame. Turn and cook five minutes more. Watch these flat bread disks closely because they cook fast.

This flatbread can be frozen for later use if you like. I usually place a little sheet of wax paper between them before freezing to help prevent them from sticking to one another. They are great to have on hand in the freezer, and they thaw rather quickly.

The Sandwich

The filling for these sandwiches is only limited by your imagination, but I'll share our favorite just to spark your imagination.

Spread a scant amount of pesto on two flatbread discs. Sprinkle with a little Parmesan cheese. Add two slices of ham, two slices hard salami, and two slices of provolone cheese. Top with sliced tomatoes and diced onions. Sprinkle with garlic salt. Wrap in foil and bake in a 350 degree oven until it is warm throughout and cheese is melted.

Y Okay, that's all there is to it.

Now enjoy!

Nanci

Pattern Sale at JoAnn Fabrics - Last Half of September 2009

Patterns are not on sale everyday, but for a few days each month JoAnn usually has certain manufacturer's sewing patterns on sale. Buy your patterns when they are on sale, and you save a bundle.


If there's a JoAnn Fabric Store near you, the pattern sale dates for the last half of September 2009 are:

THURSDAY - SATURDAY
SEPTEMBER 17 - 19, 2009

McCall's Patterns $1.99 each
(MSRP $5.25 - $16.95 ea.)

(Limit of 10)
No special orders -- Excludes "Easy Stitch ‘N Save”"


Vogue Patterns $3.99 each
(MSRP $8.95 - $30.00 ea.

No special orders

(Limit 10)

Butterick Patterns - 99 cents each
(MSRP $6.00 - $16.95 ea.)

No special orders

(Limit of 10)
Excludes "See & Sew"

Y Blessings,

Nanci

ABSOLUTE DISARRAY!!!!!!!!!!!

Absolute (adjective) – positive, unquestionable (proof)

Disarray (noun) - a lack of order or sequence; confusion, disorder



I can’t quite believe that I am posting this picture. I’ve been appalled as I have looked at this table over the past several days. Too many projects going at once is my problem here. Are these projects that I don’t want, projects that have been forced upon me? NO! They are my personal challenges! They are ALL things I WANT to do, things I want to see if I am capable of doing.

What are these projects?

1. Well, there are very few patterns for the AG Doll, Kit, available. I have made many patterns for doll outfits that I have pictured in my mind or seen in a book. But no one, but me, has used those patterns. Long in the back of my mind, designing doll patterns to sell has been brewing. So a pattern for a Kit era dress is a perfect starting place because the clothing of the Depression Era was very simple. The pattern pieces are easy enough to design, simple measurements and math can do the trick there. Make the pattern up in fabric, adjust pattern. Make the pattern in fabric again until I am satisfied with the result.

What’s difficult? Making illustrations that truly are illustrative of the step that I am trying to explain. Putting directions into words and sentences that are clearly understandable. Fortunately, I picked a simple pattern to start with.

2. My next project is an entry for the Fair. I have greatly modified a pattern for a Civil War ensemble for an 18 inch doll. I have been tatting the lace edging for the blouse. I have completed the jacket, trimmed with soutache braid. I’m still working on the skirt and snood. I need to still start the hoopskirt. I am really excited about this ensemble, and I can hardly wait to see it completed.

3. Project Number 3, freezing bushels of green peppers for the winter.

4. Oh yes, did Imention we are nine days into our homeschool year.


Funny when you write it all down, it doesn’t seem like much at all. So then why are the normally tidy common areas of my house in such absolute disarray?

Y Blessings,

Nanci

Pattern Sale at JoAnn Fabrics - First Half of September 2009

Here's my bi-monthly notice of upcoming sale dates for sewing patterns at JoAnn Fabrics. Now is a good time to start working on those Christmas gifts you are planning to make. Patterns are expensive, and you can save a few dollars by buying your patterns when they are on sale.

ALL WEEK LONG

SUNDAY THROUGH SATURDAY

SEPTEMBER 6 - 12 , 2009

Simplicity Patterns - $1.99 each
(MSRP $6.95 - $17.95 ea.) (Limit of 10) No Special Orders

Excludes "It's So Easy", New Look, Burda & Simplicity Books

FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY

SEPTEMBER 4 - 7 , 2009

McCall's Patterns $1.99 each

(MSRP $5.25 - $16.95 ea.) (Limit of 10) No special orders

Excludes "Easy Stitch ‘N Save”

Y Blessings,

Nanci

Whirlwind Week -- BLESSED WEEK!

I mentioned that last week was a whirlwind week for us here at Brambleberry Cottage, but above that it was a blessed week of visiting with those who are very dear to our hearts. As I began to write down the happenings of the week, I realized that it would be best to divide this account into a two separate posts. I can't believe I have NO pictures to share, but I was too busy just enjoying friends -- too busy for photographing the events. Anyway, last week went something like this. . .

SUNDAY

This was actually a quiet day. We worshipped morning and evening and were fed from God’s Word as expounded in two encouraging sermons. After Evening Worship, two close friends of our daughters came to stay the night -- one last summer get-together before they all return to their studies in the fall. I am so very grateful to God for the friendship shared between these girls.

MONDAY

Now, that there are two drivers among the girls, they are a little free-er to make plans to go places. They decided that they would go out for breakfast. While they were gone, I figured that I had better get moving and spent the morning making a dessert and a batch of flatbread for panninis to serve our much anticipated guests that were to arrive on Tuesday Night.

The girl’s friends went home in the afternoon, and we set about re-arranging the bedrooms for company accommodations.

Then it was time to pick up Bill at work. Our #1 Daughter was going to sign papers and pick up a car she had bought. She had worked all summer to buy a car to drive to classes. She hadn’t spent more than twenty dollars of her pay on herself all summer. She only paid a few preliminary costs to the college that she would be attending. The rest she diligently saved for the purchase of a car. However, when she and Bill began to look for a car about a month ago, she only had $3,000 dollars to spend, and that would leave her with NO money for BOOKS. She was so discouraged; she even despaired of being able to go to college. I encouraged her to pray. If the Lord wanted her to go to college, He would provide her with a car. A guy who works with Bill heard that she was looking for a car and approached Bill about a car his mother was planning to sell. She is 77 years old and for health reasons, her doctor told her she would have to stop driving. When Bill looked at the car and took it for a drive, it was in great condition, and the price was 1/3 of Meg’s savings. God has again provided!

After picking up her car, we made a grocery run. We needed some things with company coming.

TUESDAY

There was more cooking and preparation for our houseguests. I needed to make two more batches of flatbread and desserts. I washed loads of bedclothes and towels. We pumped up air mattresses and made beds.

I can’t tell you how GOOD it was to see them again when they arrived. I dearly miss this family and was thrilled to see them all again. I swear that the kids are a head taller than they were, and it was only last fall that we had seen each other. And oh my, you can tell that they are older – what a difference just a few months makes in a child. And then I got to see her for the first time – a precious little elf-babe. What a beautiful child! I got to hold her and look at her and thank the Lord for her. Of course there were hugs and kisses all around -- and lots of chatter as we all drank in each other’s company after the long drought of being apart.

<

WEDNESDAY

Next morning, we were up early. Little Miss was up first and came down to the kitchen to see how she might help with breakfast, but there wasn’t much to do as I was only dishing out breakfast sandwiches. Everyone was popping his own sandwich in the microwave. (SOME HOSTESS, huh?) ;D Well, I did have some homemade banana bread, does that redeem me?

We needed a quick breakfast, because together, both of our families were out the door by eight o’clock and heading off to meet the third family in our trio. We were all heading off to my favorite place - Kishacoquillas Valley - to spend the day together.

We all had such a great day walking through the Flea Market, the Auction Barn and just enjoying one another. How very grateful I am to the Lord that He had blessed our family with two such fabulous families! They have been an encouragement and an example to us countless times.

In early afternoon, we were off to a nearby State Park for a picnic lunch, volleyball, walks, and swimming in the spring-fed pond (for the brave-of-heart).

In the evening (not wanting to part from each other’s company) we decided to head off to supper together. It was ten o’clock until we got home that night. Exhausted little children were tucked into bed, and two mommies huddles side-by-side on the couch for a knitting lesson, all the time relishing our time together and catching up with the happenings in each other’s lives.

THURSDAY

We have a wonderful surplus store nearby. One side of the huge building is dedicated to fabrics, crafts, and home décor while the other side is dedicated to more manly items and pursuits. After breakfast, our older children volunteered to keep an eye on the “little ones” and get them down for their naps in the afternoon while we went to see what fabric bargains and the like we could find. By the time we got back, it was time for them to leave and spend the next few days at the home of the "Cornercreek Gang".

That evening I began work on the pattern for the doll dress that I displayedbin my last post. I wanted to finish it in time for Rebecca to take it home with her.

to be continued. . .

Time for Play

I have had a whirlwind of a week, but it has been absolutely wonderful and refreshing. I plan to give the "Reader's Digest" version of it later when I have a little more time. Dear friends have been in town, staying a couple of nights here and a couple nights with another friend who lives nearby (well, kinda nearby). Our three families have been making up for lost time and have spent several days together.

While here, she mentioned that she would be making her little girl a dress and would like to make a doll dress to match. Of course, my ears perked up at the sound of that, and I offered (well, okay maybe I did beg a little bit) to make a pattern for the doll's dress to match. What a great excuse for me to spend time doing what I love to do. Wink, wink!! So yesterday I made up the pattern and today, I tested it. It's been a good while since I made patterns for a doll that wasn't an 18" doll. Here are the results. . .

I worked out a few of the bugs, and it looks like the pattern is ready to give to her.

Now that I've finished, my excuse for playing with doll clothes is gone. So, I guess I better get crackin' at some grown-up chores. . . like preparing dinner. Oh well, it can't be all play.

Y Blessings,

Nanci

Pattern Sale at JoAnn Fabrics - Last Half of August 2009

Wow, this month (and this summer, for that matter) has slipped by me. I've been so busy with visitors here and more on the way, two birthdays in the the family this week, not to mention getting everything ready for our college-bound student ( I can't believe her classes begin next Monday). Well, anyway I almost forgot to post the JoAnn Fabrics pattern sale for the end of this month. It looks to me as if there is only Simplicity Patterns on sale this time, but it is a REALLY GOOD PRICE.

Before I give you the dates of the sale, I have a BIG FAVOR to ask of all of you. I would really like to know if my posting these Pattern sales is useful to anyone, so if you check out this post PLEASE just leave me a quick comment to let me know you find the info helpful, even if you come only to see the Pattern Sale info. I would REALLY appreciate this, it will help me to determine whether or not to keep posting the pattern sales and how much interest there is in them.

FRIDAY - SUNDAY

AUGUST 21 - 23, 2009

Simplicity Patterns - 5 FOR $5.00
(MSRP $6.95 - $17.95 ea.) (Limit of 10) No Special Orders -- Excludes "It's So Easy", New Look, Burda & Simplicity Books

If you have any Christmas projects or gifts in mind, it seems like this is a good time to save a bundle on the patterns.

Y Blessings,

Nanci

A Pleasant Surprise

Back in May, I took you on a quick tour of the flora around Brambleberry Cottage. I must be honest and say that my flower gardens have been neglected this summer. So I was thrilled when I returned home from taking our #1 daughter to work this foggy morning and was greeted by this sight as I turned in the driveway.

My Rose of Sharon bush which I had started from seed last fall and planted outside this spring has blooms on it!!! It has grown about 6" inches over the summer, but I never expected it to bloom this year since it has been as neglected at the rest of my flowers.

But bloom it has; and it was such a wonderful surprise! I have several shades of Rose of Sharons in my yard, but this deep pink is by far my favorite.


Rebecca, this pic is especially for you. See, I am paying attention to Foto Friday tips!!
Here's my macro shot.