I know some of you are waiting for the shop announcement which I promised would be mid-April.  It's about that time, isn't it?  Yes, it is.  I've been silently working on camera straps, getting them ready to sell.  But I hate to tell you, I can't give you a date, yet.  Production is right on schedule and all the other little bits are falling into place.  That's not the problem.  No, my problem is much bigger and beyond my control:  Federal Jury Duty.

I've been on call for jury duty since the beginning of March and thought I was going to escape an actual summons.  Until this past Friday when the letter came in the mail, that is.  So it looks like next week, I'll be at the courthouse instead of here, at home, opening my little shop.  I am not comfortable throwing the proverbial doors wide open and not being around my computer to handle any unforeseen problems.  Additionally, the time I do have at home will be limited and I know my attention will be needed elsewhere.  Something has got to give and this time it's the shop.  Sorry.

I will let you know an actual date just as soon as I can.  There is a slight chance I won't have to go in at all next week, but I am not counting on it.  Regardless, I will give you two or three days notice before I put anything up for sale.  Sound good?

I've been so busy - I am still working through my have-to's!  I am pretty pleased that all the laundry from our trip is officially done.  Woot!  Maybe I will get to the want-to's later this afternoon.

And the first good thing for this Tuesday?  I get to wear my February Lady Sweater one more time before putting it away for the winter season.  The second good thing?  Whole Foods actually had ground turkey so dinner should be a breeze.

All this positive thinking must be working.  I don't even care that it is 40 degrees and kind of snowing.  Happy Tuesday!

Hello there.  We're home from the sun, getting back in to our routines.  Yesterday morning, I woke up and decided that I need a plan to tackle everything I have to do and still have time to do the things I want to do.  You know what I am talking about....that elusive thing called balance.  I started by mapping out my week - writing down all the commitments, sports practices, etc.  Then I planned our meals and made a grocery list.  After I went to the store and cleaned up from lunch, I escaped up to the sewing room and frittered away the afternoon.  See?  Have-to and want-to, all in the same day.  This morning, I cleaned the cat box, returned some phone calls and thencleared my desk and cleaned out a closet.  I put dinner in the slowcooker and did some dishes.  Now I am going to treat myself with anhour of sewing before I have to get the girls from school.  It's my ownlittle reward system.  Have-to first.  Want-to second.  Hopefully, I can keep it up and manage to get a lot done in the meantime.  I'll let you know how it works out.

Heather is posting good things about each day on her blog this week.  I love this idea because it focuses on the positive which is so much nicer to think about than all those negative things that can get us down.  Good things on this Monday:

- Kate was up and dressed, ready to go before I even got out of bed.  She said she wanted to make my morning easier.  Love that.
- I cut all the daffodils from the yard and they are making me smile.
- I am happy to be home because I love it here.

I hope your day is full of good things and that you get your have-to's done so you can have some want-to's also.

I am so off my game.  I normally post in the morning.  I like posting in the morning - it just sets my day up in the right way.  And while I could write this all up and have it published tomorrow morning, it just doesn't seem right.  I guess this is a night posting week.

So hello.  This is me, earlier today, after I got off my duff and actually finished something.  It was some weekend sewing from, um, a couple of weekends ago.  I got my copy of Heather Ross's new book in the mail right after it came out and this was the project that jumped off the pages for me.  It's a very good book.  There are quite a few garments (really, garments...for me!) that I want to make.    This one, the summer blouse was first.  I had the pattern traced and fabric cut almost immediately.  I sewed it up pretty dang fast, too.  Completely doable in a weekend, if not a day.  It's those finishing details:  slip stitch, sleeve hems and button that always get me.  So today, I pulled it out of the laundry basket that houses unfinished projects and got it done.  And then I wore it.  Out in public (it was 79 degrees here today!) and I still have it on.  I'll call that a success.

I'd love to dish all the details - the sizing, the fabrics, the vintage button and the minor modifications - but you will have to wait.  I know it's totally a tease and completely unfair, but I think you'll like my reasoning.  You see, next week, there will be a guest appearance on the blog.  Yes - the first one ever.  And she's a famous, fabric-designing, book-writing, creative seamstress, illustrator and all-around great writer.  Can you guess who?  I gave it away, didn't I?  Yes, you guessed it:  Heather Ross! 

So, next Tuesday, March 17th is the date.  I'll be here, with Heather, dishing about some other projects from her book.  To entice you further, there is a giveaway planned.  Yay!  Until then, you can find Heather at the other stops on her blog tour.  Click here for the dates and details.  You can also visit Heather's blog, if you haven't already.  Not only does she spin good stories, she has a little design challenge going on.  Fun stuff, if you ask me.

Wow.  I wrote this in record time.  Maybe blogging at night isn't such a bad idea after all!  See you all later.

Good morning!

It's March - isn't that wonderful?  I have a feeling that this is going to be a great month.  To start, Emily is hosting a green week starting today.  You all know how I feel about green.  I'll be posting some green here and on flickr, too.

I am very honored and excited to be a guest at habit this month.  Habit spoke to me from the moment I set eyes on it in January.  Molly and Emily have a good thing going on.  I hope you will come visit me there as well.

I've been sewing and knitting and will share some finished projects later this week.  The studio, which is adjacent to our playroom, is expanding a little after a big toy purge and reorganization this weekend.  My hope is that the girls and I will all end up with a more usable space conducive to creativity.  We aren't quite finished yet, but when we are, I'll share that with you, too. I also have a few more surprises up my sleeve including a giveaway (or two!).  Believe me, you won't want to miss it!

Yes, March is off to a great start, indeed.

Hey.  How are you this final Friday in February?  I am great.  Still loving the yellow, as you can see.  I thought I would pop in between cleaning the house and staining some tables to wish you all a happy weekend.  I'm hoping to finish some projects I have started and maybe read a book.  Sounds easy enough, right?

Just a reminder that the mailing deadline for the Kids ATC Swap is TOMORROW.  Jane and Kate have finished their cards and will address their envelopes today.  Then it's off to the post office!  I am anxious to see what they get in return.

I'll be back here next week.  And by then it'll be March.  See?  Spring is right around the corner.

All the group emails have been sent out for the ATC swap.  If you haven't heard from us and you did indeed sign up before the cut-off last Friday at 12:00 p.m. Eastern time, email us at atckidswap@gmail.com.  Just a reminder that cards need to be in the mail by February 28th.

Next week is yellow week.  Look around you, see all the bright cheery spots in your life and take photos of them.  If you plan on playing along, email me at hillroad at bellsouth dot net and I will add you to the list of participants.  I am hoping that some advance notice will give you film shooters enough time to do your magic, too.

The auction quilts are finished.  I don't have photos yet, but will post some as soon as I can.

We have a wind storm coming through town today.  I swear I will scream and then cry and sob if we lose power again.  I am still working on other auction projects and the big event is this weekend.  Please, spare us.  If I disappear for more than a few days, you'll know why.

I think that is it.  Gratuitous beer photo below.  I just can't post without something to look at.  Happy Wednesday.

Seriously.

We had an ice storm last night and have been without power since 2:00 a.m.  Looks like it'll be 7 to 10 days before it's restored.  Yeah.

So, the Harris family is camped out at Burrow House.  Thank goodness for friends with electricity and wireless internet.  Woo hoo!

I made a little video to record the beauty this afternoon.  Not my beauty...lord knows, if I could have seen myself in the dark bathroom, I may have actually put some make up on or brushed my hair.  Oh well.

See you when order is restored.