Gift Giving Time

I've finished Kris bracelet and hopefully it will fit her now.  I didn't finish off all the rows and closure when I tired it on her last Wed.  So hoping this will fit. 


And I also made a phone plug for another buddy of mine.  It's in the mail so she should have it later this week. 

I think she likes green(s) so I added a green bead I had along with some Swarovski crystals and a little angle to keep watch on her!! 

I'm making good progress on my own cuff bracelet.  I love this pattern by Carol, at Sand Fibers.  I definitely will order some more of her patterns.  The bracelet I made for Kris is also from Carol.  You have to check out her blog and go to her Etsy page and check out some of her patterns!

I'm sure the Tigers are on TV tonight so that's where I'll be as I bead my cuff!  I do have to put the sleeve on Zachary!  I just realized I haven't posted him in his new environment/home!!!  Maybe I'll just do some sewing tonight then beading!  Tigers games seem to go on forever, so I'm sure I'll be able to work on both!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KRIS!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KRIS!  I know you'd rather be in Mexico with Darrin and kids...but hope you have a great day!!!

Love ya!

Beading or quilting??? What's a girl to do!

Before I get into my current hand work project...it's Kris' BD this weekend...so kids and I went purchased this plant to put at the end of their driveway.  Kris loves her flowers and plants.
This used to be a brick stand that held their mail box...but last summer it was gently 'loved' by Amber's tutor...she felt really bad about backing into it and demolishing it but I think it's a perfect spot for a plant!  You can see the mailbox Darrin installed last summer...


Looks nice...I also made Kris a bracelet which is below.

I couldn't finish it off until I was sure of the size and the closure Kris wanted.  The kids said silver and that's what Kris wants.  So I'm going to add a few more rows then add the silver closure.  

Feels strange to give someone a present and take it back right away!  This pattern is from Sand Fiber  , artist, Carol Dean Sharpe.  Kris' cuff pattern is  called the Log Cabin Braid Peyote Cuff.   I lover Carol's cuff patterns...so much so, I'm starting one for myself!   This one is called Dramatic Abstract Peyote cuff. 

Carol has a promotion that if you purchase two patterns, you'll get a third at equal or lesser value.  Her patterns are quite easy to read either by way of a graph or a word chart.  Very easy to follow!!!  

So off to do some beading then to puppy class tonight.  Kalee and I are trying to work on preparing to take the Good Canine Citizen testing.  We need this in order to take the testing for therapy dog (TDI).  

Happy Birthday, Kris!

Happy Birthday, Kris!!! Yesterday was my day with grand kids and they wanted to surprise 'mom' with dinner and cake. We invited Auntie Dawn and Uncle Jeff too (but grandpa was out golfing so he missed out!).
The kids were SO excited about the day. We took off early to get to the grocery store to pick up some items then off to Hallmark store. Darrin had left $$'s for the kids to shop as Amber had it set in her mind on what she wanted to get Kris. It was a special necklace you fill with charms that she saw around Mother's Day and it was the only gift she wanted to get her mom.


Nick found a beautiful butterfly clock (he also got a butterfly balloon, see a pattern here?) he picked out. It was very pretty with inlayed Mother of Pearl. He thought mom could take to her work office.

Here are kids working hard in the kitchen! We really did have fun! Nick learned how to remove the shells from garlic and how to chop safely with one hand - grandma doesn't want two hands on the cutting board!! He made the garlic bread and was quite proud of that.

Amber found out her mom's favorite cake is coconut so that's what she wanted to make.

Nick working hard on making garlic butter for the bread.

He was so careful in melting the garlic butter.

The kids even made up signs they hung on the mail box and in the garage wishing happy birthday to their mom. They were SO excited about every part of the day and couldn't wait for their mom to get home and see their efforts and taste their food!

Amber also made the meat for stuffed shells. We had a lb. of chopped sirloin but we did make over 40+ shells and ran out. What to do next? Well, Amber and I improvised and made stuffed cheese shells! And guess what? They were really good! Amber decided she liked them better than the meat! Who knew!

The only real upset was the cake. It did stick to the pan and kinda crumbled but it tasted great! Really was good! I brought some fresh picked strawberries so Amber and I cut them up and we all ended up putting them on top of the cake.

All in all the dinner turned out good and it was nice to sit with all the kids even though Uncle Jeff was telling how to get rid of chipmunks! Bad Uncle Jeff!