Our house is a mess, so I picked up a bit today. The biggest challenge by far, though, was the craft room. It looks like a bomb exploded. And sadly, I haven't even designed the goods for Valentine's Card Club yet! 
Making progress on the CD holders for Liz and Jimmy in Colorado. Stamping, check. Printing, check. Cutting, check. Just gluing to go!
I recently discovered the True Up blog. It's all about fabric--she announces new releases and shares fabulousness multiple times a day. Love it! Today's post was about a new release coming this spring from Heather Ross. So dreamy and whimsical! Can't wait for this line!
So, technically I took this picture yesterday. It's the belly blanket I made for Cash. I made one for Lindsey before Cash was born. I loved it for Lindsey, and figured it could work for a boy or a girl, since they weren't finding out ahead of time. Then I met Cash, and he was ALL boy, making my super sweet dragonfly, hummingbird and flower blanket ALL wrong! So, now that blanket is on Etsy, and I made a new blanket, special for Cash, complete with robots, shuttles, puppy dogs, and the sweetest blue starry sky ever. Raf loved it so much he wanted to keep it for himself!
I got to visit with Mr. Cash and his momma for a bit this afternoon. Both were looking as adorable as ever. And look, he's even wearing a bee bib! A boy after my own heart.
You know what sucks about The 365 Project? Winter! I can't even get outside to take a photo before dark. So instead I get blurry shots. Lame! It'd be way cooler if there was a "Make this photo FAB" button in Photoshop. I need the accelerated course.
The latest on the house progress front. It probably doesn't look much like progress, but Raf was able get the door thresholds that we had ripped out framed in. Now we just need to get them sanded and painted before he starts putting up moulding.
Made my first sale via Etsy. Not really what I was planning on, but whatever--a sale is a sale, right?! This was the mini thank you note I sent with the CD holders, complete with embossed bee envelope. It was my first attempt at using my very own embosser--so exciting! Now I just need to find a less cheesy bee stamp.
Ok, so I forgot to take a photo on Saturday. Well, I didn't really forget. I was in training for work all day, then went to the City to have dinner with the 4.5 month prego Miss Magda, and forgot to take my camera with me. Boo! She's totally cute and showing...wish I would have remembered my camera! 
I started my Photoshop for Design class this week. I learned how to crop a crab off a plate and replicate a lemon slice. Pretty exciting stuff. It's a 5 hour class--you'd think it would drag terribly. Nope. Loved it and can't wait to start learning how to create my own stuff! 
Remember the ridiculous amount of canning jars my mother purchased as drinking glasses for the wedding? Well, one of the reasons I wanted to use canning jars was because I want to start canning, and I figure if I have 17 cases of jars sitting around the house, maybe I'll find some motivation! Oh, and they were adorable, but that's neither here nor there. In Chronological Order
| CROP | MONTH |
| Asparagus | March -April |
| Strawberries | Apr.10 - June 30 |
| Blackberries | June 1 - July 30 |
| Blueberries | May 15 - June 30 |
| Boysenberries | May 10 - July 5 |
| Cherries (more detail) | May 5 - June 30 |
| Apricots | May 10 to August 15 |
| Peaches | May 20 - September 5 |
| Nectarines | May 20 - September 15 |
| Olallieberries | June 1 to July 31 |
| Plums | June 1 - September 5 |
| Pears | August 10 - September 10 |
| Green Beans | June 15 - September 15 |
| Peas | June 15 - September 15 |
| Corn | June 25 - September 30 |
| Raspberries | July 1 - September 15 |
| Grapes | July 10 - October 15 |
| Apples | July 15 (early apples) - September 25 |
| Tomatoes | July 15 - September 15 |
| Okra | July 15 - September 15 |
| Almonds | August 20 - December . 13 |
| Figs | September 05 - October 31 |
| Persimmons | September 20 - October 31 |
| Walnuts | September 25 - Jan. 10 |
The weather was so awful this morning that I wore my snow boots. Then I got out of class and it was 70 degrees and clear blue skies. I looked super cool at that point.
The Satin Stitch Oval, mastered. I guess practice really does make perfect. Well, maybe not perfect, but pretty darn nice with a touch of handmade imperfection, at least!
It appears that the Waffle Sunday tradition has commenced in our home. The good news is: they're yummy! The bad news is: Waffle Sunday has thus far been accompanied by Mac & Cheese Sunday, which means my ass is sure to triple in size in 2010. At least the rain cleared long enough yesterday for us to take our first walk in ages!
Spreading the word about Craft Hope for Haiti. Crafters can donate handmade items to be sold in the Craft Hope Etsy shop. 100% of the proceeds will benefit Doctors Without Borders. 
The oval satin stitch. I'd like to end my post there, full of satisfaction that I finally figured out how to produce a clean satin stitch with this new machine. Unfortunately that's not the case. So, I need to ask some of you sewers out there (Val & her mom!) for some troubleshooting help!
And this tragic horibbleness on the bottom!
HELP!! What's the problem?!?! I even had some issues (again, only on the backside) with the straight stitches:
Had dinner tonight at Eddie Papas with Nena and Grace. This photo is on a huge canvas hanging behind the hostess booth. Those with a keen eye will recognize the fabulous bridesmaid dress that I borrowed from Gina for Nena's wedding!
The new sewing machine. Scary! And exciting. And so computerized and electronic and plastic. It feels weird! Not bad, but weird.
Remember that bullet on Raf's House List about creating a fabulous, blingy workspace for me? This is what I had in mind. More views here. I.Want.It.
Goodies from my ridiculously large Stampin Up! shipment. (Did I really order all this stuff?!?!) I'm especially excited about all this new ribbon goodness. And the embosser. And all the cool new punches. Oh and the stamps...
Pre Supper Club wine tasting. Note to Livermore tasters: the Peach sparkling wine at Big White House is yum-o!
We made bread and mac n cheese for Club. It was our first attempt at the M&C that Uncle Beve brought over at Christmas. Best ever. And easy! You can find the very popular recipe here. We added a few of the comment recommendations: a splash of milk to keep it creamy (worked well), chunks of ham, half a can of peas, and some cayenne. Mmm Mmm good, people!!
The Husband. Outfitted with most of his favorite Christmas presents--a hard core sander, a sweet Giddings pullover (Daryl, he hasn't taken it off since it got home), and his first pair of Carhartts. So cute.
Intense video bowling. We went to D&Bs last night to celebrate Monika's birthday and to have one last night of fun before Busia flew home to Poland. This big screen bowling game was definitely a family highlight of the night!
Here's the fabric I found. I love that your friend chose a pink and green color scheme for the new baby's room (and that I bought this fabric with you in mind without knowing that!) If this isn't perfect, let me know and we'll find a combo that is!
In other news, I need to find a back to match these fun little dots! Maybe some stripes.
And this fabric. {Sigh} I LOVE this fabric. It may be too much for a baby blanket. Or too Christmas-y of colors. Unless the mother was FABULOUS of course, then she wouldn't care. But then, it may be so incredible that it ends up nowhere but in a frame on my wall.
Even our weeds have flowers. I should probably be upset by the layer of weeds covering our backyard. I'm not. It's green, and lush, and beautiful. I'm going to enjoy it while it lasts.
Christmas decor in the picture window. You'll also notice the sweet jingle bell wreath I made on top of the mantle. I didn't have time to pickup ribbon for it, so there it sits. 
