home stretch

Okay, I'm gearing up again after the holiday weekend. My new tutorial is almost - but not quite ready. I think it will make it's appearance tomorrow.

My holiday weekend was full of ups and downs and I think I'll just sum it up with these statements:

Rain gets old

Parenting is hard

Onion rings are awesome

Free fun is especially fun

Etsy is mysterious

Ice cream won't solve your problems but it really can make you feel better, at least for a short while

Profound, I know.

How would you sum up your holiday weekend?

distracted by cute

 It's really hard to concentrate on laundry, cooking, embroidery, children, etc. when this:

is just a few blocks away.
AWWWWW!

good grief

I'm coming up for air here for a minute to say "hello" and to hopefully assure readers that I have not abandoned "So September". I have manged to put way too many pots on my stove so to speak and am trying to keep everything simmering. It is requiring a lot of stirring and I must say the heat in the kitchen is starting to wear on me.

It's not a terrible problem to have - I just had a lot of ideas hit at once and instead of taking them one at a time (and perhaps actually completing one) I seem to have them all in progress simultaneously. One of my projects is the 2012 calendar panel - yes it's coming I promise! Then there are two more items and a really fun commissioned project. I'm also working my way through creating a tutorial to share. I haven't done that in ages and I have a project that I think is pretty cute and easy. The only thing is, I managed to make it as complicated as it could possibly be. Seriously, you will laugh when you see it. It's like I made a recipe for making ice cubes and it has 18 steps. I don't know why I do that! Anyway, I'm whittling it down to a more basic process that makes more sense than the mess I started with. So, I will be checking in still on my progress I promise and I can't wait to catch up on all my blog reading too.

they grow up so fast, don't they?

Remember these guys? They weren't the cutest kids but they grew up to be pretty little adults.

We ended up getting four out of five to make to butterfly stage although one butterfly was never quite 'right' and never ended up flying away, poor thing.

This is the closest thing we have had to a pet for a long time and is about as close as I am ready to come at this point. I know all the boys in the house (especially the 37 year old one) have puppy dreams but can you imagine how much fun a puppy would have with a box of embroidery floss? I'm not willing to risk it just yet.

thanks for sticking with me

get it, "sticking with me" like how magnets stick to stuff. And also like how I never hesitate to share a lame joke such as this one and yet you still read my blog - I do truly appreciate that!

Anyway on to the winner of the Sticky Sweet Magnet Set:

I hopped over to random.org and they told me to send a magnet set to:  #15 Melissa!

If you are a regular reader you may know that Melissa and I are friends (we're friends, right Melissa?) but I swear to you she did not slip me some gorgeous little felt thing in order to secure her winning position. I SWEAR.

And also let me mention that if you still would like a chance to win a SeptemberHouse treat or participate in some other great giveaways, stroll on over to my friend Carina's blog where there will be a SeptemberHouse gift certificate giveaway on May 11th. And stay for some awesome embroidery and crochet inspiration!

Thank you so very much to everyone who participated!!

what's that? a giveaway you say?

I know it's been ages since I have had a giveaway but I am back with a little one today. I'm also sharing a fun new little something from SeptemberHouse (again, it's been ages since there has been anything new over there either!). Introducing Sticky Sweet Sampler Magnet Sets!

These little guys were so fun to make. I decided on two color combinations: One called Summer Berry and the other called Melon Salad. I really had Summer on the brain at the time I guess. And they have super strong magnets on the back so they have real sticking power. These aren't just pretty decorative numbers, oh no, these are workhorses.

So, throw your name in the hat for a 4 piece set. The winner can pick which color combo. they like. Please comment anytime through Monday, May 9th and I'll anounce a winner on Tuesday.

Oh, and have a fantastic weekend too!

come what may

Spring marched through Minneapolis yesterday past crowds wrapped in hats, winter coats and gloves. She won't be stopped you know. We were happily among the onlookers attending what is one of my very favorite celebrations here: the MayDay parade and festival presented by the In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre.

This is a parade bursting with creativity, ideas, inspiration and enthusiasm. When I moved to the Twin Cities the first time, many years ago, this was the first big event I attended. After that I was pretty sure I had made the right move. Vince and I were both so excited to be coming back a decade or so later, but this time with our children.

They were impressed but also just a bit creeped out from time to time (I guess I can see that). And they were COLD but it was totally worth it.