Where have I been?

Apparently there has been an issue with Blogspot and the followers widget that was on the side. It was preventing me from entering my own blog for over a week...arghhh!
I had to remove it in order to log in so followers...sorry!
Anyway, many of you know I have 2 'perfect' grandsons and the crazy time we had when they stayed with us for a week...see post 2 or 3 down. What you don't know is that they don't call me Grandma or Nana or Meemaw....totally my name alone, they call me Baba. It was my son's way of being fresh when he was little and knowing if he said "Barbra" to me his life would be shortened! Anyway, I love having a special meaningful name for them. Imagine my joy upon seeing this on etsy:

Besides my being a purse-aholic, I also LOVE coffee and my kitchen has a coffee theme so combining all those loves in one bag? Priceless! Here's the other side:

This was made by Sasaki Creations by the talented and wonderful etsy seller, Barbara Sasaki. We had great communication about the bag and it arrived in record time. It is so beautiful with a great lining and a multitude of pockets. You will not be disappointed with a purchase from Barb. I feel like I bought it from a friend....go visit
Sasaki Creations.

Free Business Cards...

Check out the business card giveaway post here.
It is for 500 business cards for FREE!!! Great offer from 10oneworld.

I'd love to win since I'm tired of my cards. I went to Moo and even with a 1/2 off on the 2nd 100 mini cards I was reluctant to spend $37....am I getting cheap in my old age? Cautious? In fact I made this collage in Picasa thinking I'd use it on a card.




I'd rather spread $37 around on etsy!

Phew!!!

I know it's been awhile but much has been crazy here and now hopefully calming down. We had a yard/garage sale today and of course, it rained on and off so we're a little soggy but lighter in 'stuff'.
I've been making alot of the magnetic bookmarks and became very frustrated along the way. The laminating film I've been using sometimes bubbles, sometimes not. I can't figure it out to see if there's a common reason but problem solved.
I did have a wonderful order for them from an avid etsy buyer.
She purchased several and then ordered more.They are a gift for the members of her team for a Susan G. Komen walk. How sweet and wonderful that she's doing that!

The boys are home....

We made it! I'm not going to say it was all peaches and cream but it was mostly wonderful. They are very active, very scheduled and it was a complete turn around to our laid back, relaxing life style. I barely had time to read the newspaper (did I miss anything?) and had to squeeze in showers at odd times but we created many memories and established deeper connections. The parents' flights were uneventful (not like their departures) and they arrived home on time, though exhausted. We spent the better part of the next day cleaning. Should I describe the condition of the bathroom used by 2 little boys?...nah! But all is pretty much back to 'our' usual. I wouldn't have traded it for the world. After all, that's why we moved here.
How can you get upset with faces like these?!...

Seven Days

It is gorgeous outside today and DH and I went for a ride to a part of town we never knew existed...live and learn. We had lunch out and now I'm ready to nap. It's been a busy couple of weeks with holidays and company and appointments. Now we must rest up for next week's invasion! We are having the boys for a whole week, SEVEN DAYS, but who's counting? They are so well behaved alone and such terrors together we will need all the energy we can muster. With school and Little League and soccer and gymnastics we will really have an action packed SEVEN DAYS, but who's counting?! When your children are grown and out of the house your pace is altered dramatically....easygoing, relaxed and spur of the moment or not. With kids, well...you know! We've only had them for 2 days straight so this will be interesting. I've tried to get ahead on etsy stuff and promos so I can devote all my waking hours to them for all SEVEN DAYS! The little one loves my yarn and takes all the balls out of the nearest basket to 'wrap' the house. The buttons tend to get a bit scattered. The big one is better at entertaining himself and is actually quite helpful but SEVEN DAYS can be a long time. And of course I am worried a bit about the adults as they will be out of the country and don't speak the language. And as you may have guessed, they will be gone for SEVEN DAYS.
So you may not hear from me for awhile as I may be tied up (by the little one and the yarn) and just a bit busy for.....7 days!

More Paper

My fingers are starting to stick together but as long as there's nothing to watch on TV at night, into the studio I go and glue and paste and stick and adhere!
I thought these would be good thank you cards after a sale. Please, card makers, I pose no threat! This is just a paper fling for me. Off to knit now!

Paper

I realized awhile back that I have an issue with paper that takes many forms. I'm a newspaper-aholic, reading local papers when I'm out of town (I don't even know these people!). I also read the accumulated newspapers when we return home. I love printed, colorful napkins and paper towels. Love the smell of the pages in a new book, just opened. Always loved stationary when writing letters wasn't a lost art. But with computers, I love to print using unusual papers as well.
Once scrapbooking became so huge it was unusual for me not to take up the craft and I didn't but....oh, the papers! I had to find some way to use the glorious,fanciful,whimsical and even serious papers out there. One way is with my bookmarks. They're magnetic and the outside is covered with a lamination film so they last. LOVE paper!!!